Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

FOR THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.

"Deal justly with all, for an honest man is the noblest work of God."

MR. Geo. Hamilton, Sen. who is well known in Fayette county, to those who has been so unfortunate as to have any dealing with him, that did not terminate entirely to the wish of his discerning mind, has, from some of his late barefaced unfairness towards me, with respect to a recent settlement that took place between us, induced me to give a sketch of the same to the public, that no honest, credulous being, may be, by his appearance of honesty and upright demeanor, imposed upon.

For several years I have carried on a distillery, as I do now when the season is favorable. To my distillery, Geo. Hamilton, being a man of respectable possessions, had access personally, and by his orders, which were all verbal and numerous, got and carried away what whiskey he wanted for his family's use, and to regale and animate his friends, the staggery sons of Bacchus. My miller was a slave, to whom I had given orders to let Mr. Hamilton have what whiskey he wanted, not suspecting that he was capable of acting the part he did, the principles of which must have been borrowed from the nocturnal shades of satan's domains.

Last spring I proposed a Settlement to Mr. Hamilton, to which he consented--I produced my account of whiskey he had gotten, which he did not hesitate to deny, knowing I suppose from his experience in law, and by referring to similar cases which he might have been engaged in, that it was impossible for me to prove my account, without the admission of the distiller's testimony, which he also knew from experience was contrary to the laws of this state, for he is generally known to be no novice in the science of his law, the leading traits of which are the most glaring injustice.

He had gotten whiskey from my distillery in pints, quarts, half gallons, &c. to the amount of 19 or 20 gallons, which I gratuitously bestowed upon him, as a sacrifice due to the knowledge of the man---not being able to prove he had gotten the whole. Still I might have had testimony, (without which he settles no account however just) if his hat, the pledge of his wants, could have spoken when it accompanied his order, who was unknown to me. After I discovered Mr. H. was determined not to settle with me on principles of honorable fairness, I told him if he was so resolved, I should be reduced to the necessity, however disagreeable, of compelling him by law. He bade me do it with exulting raptures, for he glories in his own law, which is what I before mentioned. I thought I could discover some masked design in the venerable traces of his aged features---I knew him before, therefore found tenable grounds for my suspicion. If Mr. H. had have been a man of honor, possessing principles of honesty and fairness, I never should have taken this method of arraigning his conduct before a discerning public, where the blackness of his deeds must paint the man in his true colours, nor yet before the magistrates of Fayette county.

I am near 60 years of age, and it is well known in every neighbourhood where I have resided, that I do not possess a spirit of litigation, that I am not a troublesome man, as our magistrates tell Geo. Hamilton he is publicly, that his is the only solitary case of the kind that I ever have been engaged in since I became an inhabitant of this state.

Still the nefarious man, if as devoid of truth, as honesty, endeavors to impeach. my character, and blast it in the estimation of those who were present at our trial, and discovered his drift and despised his aim, by publicly telling me with a sarcastical smile "to recollect my conduct in the settlement when I kept a black-smith's shop---that I had carried my books before 'squire Robinson, (whose certificate I have hereunto annexed for the satisfaction of George and the public) that he told me to carry my old books home and burn them and make new ones." Endeavoring to impress the minds of the spectators with the belief that I had kept false books; but Mr. Robinson's certificate, which I here subjoin, will shew how far credit may be attached to the words or declarations of Mr. H.

CERTIFICATE.

These are to certify to all to whom it may concern, that I have been acquainted with William Sanderson since he was a young lad, and never heard any thing, not knew of my own knowledge any thing made appear against his moral character, nor to my remembrance was his books brought before me, as a judge, during the whole time I was in office.---Given under my hand this 25th day of August. 1806.

GEO. ROBINSON, Sen.

To conclude my remarks I, the complainant, was jockeyed out of about 14 dollars justly due me,. brought in debt ten dollars with costs, most of which I had before paid, but was unable to prove our previous settlement. Oh George! blush at thy iniquities, and remember that he who is vicious and unjust in his practices towards his fellow creatures, has a wicked heart and a diseased head. I do not design injuring Mr. Hamilton by this publication-- it is a tribute which I owe to justice. to myself, and the public----I only wish to remind Mr. Hamilton, that justice is necessary to the young, to the aged honorable, to the poor serviceable, and to the rich an ornament.

I am his, and the public's

humble servant.

WM. SANDERSON.