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diff --git a/old/14729-8.txt b/old/14729-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..23e44bd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14729-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2488 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Review and Exposition, of the Falsehoods +and Misrepresentations, of a Pamphlet Addressed to the Republicans of the County of Saratoga, Signed, "A Citizen", by An Elector + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Review and Exposition, of the Falsehoods and Misrepresentations, of a Pamphlet Addressed to the Republicans of the County of Saratoga, Signed, "A Citizen" + +Author: An Elector + +Release Date: January 18, 2005 [EBook #14729] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVIEW AND EXPOSITION *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Project Manager, Keith M. Eckrich, +Post-Processor and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. Produced from page scans provided by Cornell +University Library. + + + + + + + + + + + A + REVIEW + _AND_ + EXPOSITION, + OF THE + _FALSEHOODS_ + AND + _MISREPRESENTATIONS_, + OF A + PAMPHLET + _ADDRESSED TO THE_ + REPUBLICANS OF THE COUNTY OF + SARATOGA, + + _SIGNED_, + "A CITIZEN;" + + + PRINTED BY "ULYSSES F. DOUBLEDAY." + + + BY AN ELECTOR. + + + _BALLSTON SPA:_ + _March 1816_. + + + + +TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE COUNTY OF SARATOGA. + + + +_Fellow-Citizens_. + +The pamphlet signed "A Citizen," and entitled "A defence," &c. +generally known by the name of "The Book," has at length made its +appearance; and as was expected, this last effort of an expiring +faction, has excited no other emotions in the mind of an enlightened +public, than those of contempt and pity--Contempt for the miserable +arts of condign despair, and pity like that excited by an object in the +agonies of dissolution, or a maniac dancing in his chains. This +production should have been left to the oblivion which inevitably +awaits it, nor should my pen have been employed in its detection and +exposure, had it not been characterized by the lowest attempts at +concealment and treachery, falsehood and detraction.--Like _Iago_ in +the play, a wretched abandonment of character, a destitution of +principle, and a fiend-like thirst for _revenge_, accompany the author +thro' the whole of his progress, and appear to acquire additional +force, as he approaches the period of his downfall. That it is a +tissue, however, which it requires no strength to burst, will appear by +the examination of a single point on which the whole of the story is +made to rest. If the ridiculous charge made against two or three +individuals that they had cheated Mr. Young out of his nomination, +turns out to be the mere phantom of a disordered imagination, instead +of a logical deduction of truth, if the facts which have been urged in +support of this charge, are the mere creatures of misrepresentation, +prevarication and falsehood; this alone will settle the controversy, +and fix the imputation, upon its unprincipled authors. The loop on +which this absurd tale is made to hang, is the _frail and feeble_ +certificate of Ketcham, Gardner and Cowles. That I should be authorised +to apply an epithet more severe than that of frail and feeble, I take +it upon me to prove in the first place by the certificate itself, +compared with one which the same men issued last spring: And in the +next place by a plain statement of facts, given under the solemnity of +an oath, leaving it at present for _atheists_ and blasphemers, (for I +am sure none others will) to ascribe greater moral certainty to a +certificate carrying on the face of it miserable evasion, than to a +history sanctioned by an appeal to the Christians God. + +That this certificate is both suspicious and evasive, I appeal to the +pamphlet page 27. Why do they not tell their fellow-citizens, that +_they did not collectively or individually during that session charge +Young with ill-treatment towards them_? Would not this have been +perfectly easy if true? Why do they blink the question, and tell a long +story about a conversation which they held with Mr. Bunce, which +whether it was true or untrue, is totally immaterial? What do they mean +in a later stage of their certificate, by the _unsuspecting and_ +_unguarded conversation_, they had held with Mr. Bunce, and which they +were afraid he would make mischief of? Do they call the conversation +which they detail an unguarded one? Or was it some other conversation +and conversations which shall be proved upon them? Instead of saying +that they expressed no opinion to Bunce that "Young ought not _again_ +to be nominated," why do they not tell us, whether they or either of +them expressed any opinion to Bunce, or any other person, against his +nomination _the then next spring_? In Mr. Kasson's letter (p. 33) it +appears they told him that "_Bunce and another gentleman_" called on +them, with whom they held a conversation; whereas the one given in +their recent certificate is confined exclusively to Bunce. Read also +the following certificate of these men, which they gave to the public +last spring; in which they admit some other conversation which they +call _a free and unreserved conversation_, and protest against the +"treacherous perversion" of it. + + +"_To the Citizens of the county of Saratoga_." + +"Having heard that a private conversation of ours has been represented +to our Fellow Citizens in a light unfavorable to the character of +Samuel Young, Esq. and has been used to his prejudice, in the +estimation of his constituents.--We discharge a duty grateful to our +individual feelings, due to the feelings and character of a highly +useful, able, faithful and industrious Member of Assembly, and due to +our county, to express our _pointed indignation_ against the +_treacherous perversion_ of the spirit of a free and unreserved +conversation by stating to our fellow citizens, that we have always +lived in the most perfect harmony with Mr. Young, have had with him on +all legislative business the most cordial co-operation and concert: +that his uniform deportment towards us has been friendly and decorous, +and that we never gave an intimation of any wish or opinion against his +renomination to the Assembly.--HOWEL GARDNER, RICHARD KETCHUM, BENJAMIN +COWLES. _Albany, April 17, 1815_."[1] + +Whatever name these gentlemen, may have given to their conversations, +some times calling them _unsuspecting and unguarded_, and sometimes +_free and unreserved_, in order to determine their nature and place +them in a clear light, I shall now go on to shew the public what they +did say, and not stop to quarrel about names so long as I am sure that +public will be content with the things themselves. I challenge +incredulity itself after reading the following affidavits and +statements, to doubt one moment on the subject. + + "Isaiah Bunce & Thomas Palmer being duly sworn, say, that + they were at Albany in the early part of the late session of + the Legislature, and put up at the house where the Delegates + of the county of Saratoga quartered. That they and three of + the Delegates from said county, viz. Messrs. Ketcham, Gardner + and Cowles, conversed freely with each other on various + political subjects, and in one conversation they had with + these said Members, they told these Deponents, that they had + not been well treated by their colleague Mr. Young--spoke + freely of their unpleasant situation, owing to that + treatment, mentioning a number of instances illustrating the + same, both in the fall session and the then session of the + Legislature. + + "And these deponents further say, that they the said Ketcham, + Gardner and Cowles, did in that conversation, decidedly + express their opinion that the said Young ought not to + represent this county again in the next session--at the same + time signifying that they had no wish, that the talents of + Mr. Young should be lost to the county, but believed it would + be for his benefit, should he not be elected the ensuing + session--or language to that import. + + "And these deponents further say, that this conversation took + place while it was generally believed and expected, and so + expressed by the said Ketcham, Cowles and Gardner in + particular, that Mr. Young would in a day or two, be + appointed Secretary of the State of New-York.--ISAIAH BUNCE, + THOMAS PALMER. _Sworn the 5th day of May, in the Year 1815, + before me SAMUEL COOK, Master in Chancery_." + + "John Dunning being sworn saith, That in March last, He went + to Albany and there saw Benjamin Cowles Esq. one of the + Delegates from Saratoga, who told this deponent, that Samuel + Young Esq. had treated the Members of this county with + neglect, that their situation owing to the treatment they had + received from him was very disagreeable, or words to that + amount--mentioning instances of that neglect &c. + + "And this deponent further saith, That on his return from + Albany, he overtook Richard Ketchum Esq. then going to visit + his family in Stillwater--that he conversed with the said + Ketchum, on the subject of Mr. Young's treatment to them, who + informed this deponent the same as Mr. Cowles had done, and + related several circumstances confirming the same.--JOHN + DUNNING. Subscribed and sworn before me, Philo T. Beebe, one + of the Justices of the Peace in Malta, County of Saratoga, + the 4th day of May 1815_. PHILO T. BEEBE, _Justice of the + Peace_. + + "Amos Allcott being sworn saith, that Messrs. Ketchum, + Gardner and Cowles, three of the Delegates from the county of + Saratoga, some time in March last, when at Albany, told this + Deponent, that they had been ill-treated, or not well treated + by Samuel Young Esq. their colleague--and expressed their + opinion and wishes fully, that some other person than he, + should the next session represent this county in Assembly. + Mr. Ketchum in presence of the other two, said he had made up + his mind fully in favor of George Palmer, Esq. or Esek Cowen + Esq. being the man, to which the other two appeared to + assent.--Mr. Gardner however remarked, that _some said_ Mr. + Young might be sufficiently, mortified by not being appointed + Secretary of State.--AMOS ALLCOTT. _Sworn the 5th day of May, + in the Year 1815, before me SAMUEL COOK Master in Chancery_." + + "Lewis B. Edwards being sworn saith, That a few days after + Mr. Bunce and Palmer returned from Albany--Mr. Gardner Member + of Assembly, called at the office of the _Saratoga Journal_, + on his way home to see his family, and told Mr. Bunce among + other things, that Mr. Young had lost the Office of Secretary + of State, and that Mr. Porter was appointed. And further + remarked, 'it may be best to suspend the thing we talked of, + his loosing that may humble him enough, pride will have a + all'--or words to that import. + + "And this Deponent further saith, That about a fortnight + after this, Mr. Cowles one of the other Members of Assembly, + called at the Office on his return from Hadley to the + Legislature, and on Mr. Bunce, asking him whether Mr. Young + had treated them any better since his disappointment, he + replied he had not--and that Mr. Young had never yet even + asked them to walk to the House with him or words to that + effect. On the said Bunces enquiry whether he had mentioned + the subject to any of his friends while at home--he replied + that he intended to have done so to Esq. Rockwell, but he had + missed of him returning from Albany. Mr. Rockwell, as + appeared having gone to Albany while Mr. Cowles was going to + Hadley.--LEWIS B. EDWARDS. _Sworn the fifth day of May, in + the year 1815, before me SAMUEL COOK, Master in Chancery_." + +It is here proper to remark, that on the 18th of April, the day of the +McBain meeting; Judge Child, recommended that no publication he made on +either side, and that after election a meeting should take place +between the members and Messrs. Bunce and Palmer, and endeavor to come +to an amicable explanation. Mr. Stillwell, will well remember, that two +days afterwards he called on Mr. Palmer, with a message from Judge +Child, requesting him, "by all means not to publish any thing during +the election, relative to the conversation with the members," to which +Mr. Palmer readily assented. Notwithstanding which, the next day the +certificate of the members, were brought to the Federal Printing +Office, and several hundred copies struck off, with the knowledge of +Mr. Stillwell, who then kept his office within a few rods of the +Federal Press. Yet no contrary statements were published during the +election, nor until after two or three weeks had expired after the time +set by Mr. Cowles, for the members to meet Messrs. Bunce and Palmer. +The members were requested by several Republicans to meet; they were +finally publicly invited in the Journal, but contrary to the +expectations and wishes of a great portion of the Republicans of the +County, they did not come forward; and the above affidavits were +published. And here the controversy on this point might have ended; but +it seems the members, or rather the 'Citizen,' was not satisfied, and +he procures _another_ certificate from them, which may be seen in page +27 28 and 29 of that pamphlet. Compare their _two_ statements--examine +the above affidavits again--read the following certificates, and judge +for yourselves. + + "I hereby certify, that I met Benjamin Cowles, Esq. at Jones' + Inn in Halfmoon, _on his return home from the Legislature_, + on the 20th of April last, two days after the McBain meeting, + and we there conversed together on the subject of the + conversation he Messrs. Ketchum and Gardner, had with Messrs. + Bunce and Palmer, in Albany, (where it was alleged that they + Ketchum, Cowles and Gardner, had complained of vanity, + neglect and ill-treatment of Mr. Young.) That I expressed my + surplice to Mr. Cowles, that he, (Cowles) Ketchum and Gardner + should lend their names to an instrument denying the + conversation above alluded to, when he Cowles, Ketchum and + Gardner, knew they had not only complained to Bunce and + Palmer, but to myself and others. To which he answered, that + the certificate given by them was not given meaning to deny + any thing that had been said as respected ill-treatment, &c. + of Mr. Young, but only to re-but other things which the + gentlemen who called for the certificate, (among whom were + James Thompson, Esq.) represented to have been said. On which + I suggested the propriety of his calling on Bunce and Palmer, + at the Springs; and immediately getting his colleagues to + meet them, and have the thing explained, and prevent improper + use being made of their certificate; to which preposition he, + after expressing his regret that it had become public, + cordially acceded. I then parted with him on my way to + New-York.--AMOS ALLCOTT, _Ballston Spa, March 1816_." + + "I certify, that Mr. Cowles did on that day, (20th April) + call on Mr. Bunce as mentioned in the above certificate of + Mr. Allcott he had agreed to do, and after some conversation + on the subject, in which he admitted that he, Gardner and + Ketchum, had complained of Young's ill treatment and + haughtiness to them, and their expressing their opinion + against his being nominated as a candidate for that election + &c. he strongly solicited Mr. Bunce to have nothing published + in his paper on the subject, till he could go and see his + colleagues, Mr. Gardner and Ketchum, and get them to meet and + have the affair explained and reconciled, which he said he + would at all events endeavor to do before the next paper + should come out, [this being _Thursday_, and the paper not to + appear before the next _Wednesday_,] that he was then in a + great hurry, and must get home that night, but he would make + it his business to immediately attend to it; to which + proposition Mr. Bunce readily agreed, and promised Mr. Cowles + accordingly. This conversation was in the office of the + Saratoga Journal, in the room in which I was at work. The + next day however, information was brought to Mr. Bunce in the + office, that the certificate of the said Cowles, Gardner and + Ketchum, denying the conversation relative to Mr. Young, was + then striking off at Mr. Comstock's Office in this place, and + shortly after a _printed copy_ was brought into the office.-- + LEWIS B. EDWARDS. _Ballston Spa, March 1816_." + + "I certify, that shortly after the rising of the Legislature, + I saw Benjamin Cowles, Esq. in the village of Ballston Spa, + on his way home; And in a conversation with him relative to + the reports respecting Mr. Young, I asked him whether he had + not told Mr. Bunce and Palmer, 'that Mr. Young had treated + his colleagues with neglect, and that his treatment towards + them was haughty and reserved,' to which Mr. Cowles answered + in the affirmative. I further asked him if he did not tell + Mr. Palmer and Bunce, 'that he was convinced of Mr. Young's + vanity, previous to his being in the Legislature with him,' + and state as an example 'that while they were Supervisors, + they were appointed a committee to arrange or make out an + account, for the board of Supervisors, and that he the said + Benjamin Cowles, Esq. made out the account himself and + delivered it to Mr. Y. who copied and presented it to the + board of Supervisors, and claimed the credit of it himself.' + To all of which Mr. Cowles answered in the affirmative, and + expressed a wish that Mr. B. and P. would not publish any + thing concerning the conversation, as he was anxious to see + Messrs. Gardner and Ketchum, and have the affair reconciled. + He further stated that he did not think that the certificate + given by Mr. Ketchum, Gardner and himself, to Jas. Thompson; + Esq. did deny the conversation with Bunce and Palmer.--A.W. + ODELL. _Ballston Spa, March, 1816_." + + "I certify that some time in the month of February 1815, + Benjamin Cowles, Esq. came home from the Legislature on a + visit, that I saw Mr. Cowles at Ensign's Inn, in the town of + Hadley, in which town we both reside; and that we then and + there entered into a conversation concerning Mr. Young, and + that Mr. Cowles intimated to me that Mr. Young's treatment + was haughty towards the members, and said that he was + disappointed in his expectations in the treatment he received + from Mr. Young, and he further told me that he thought it + would be as well to send some _other_ man to the Legislature + the then ensuing year. + + "I further certify, that some time in the fall of 1815, I had + another conversation with the said Benjamin Cowles, Esq. on + the subject of the affidavits that had been published, + relative to the conversation said to have passed between + Isaiah Bunce and Thomas Palmer, and the members in Albany; + and that during that conversation he did not contradict the + statements published, but gave me to understand that the same + were true, and intimated that he had inconsiderately signed + the certificate published during the election. + + "I further certify, that Mr. Cowles was the first person, who + informed me of the ill-treatment the members had received + from Mr. Young, and that it would be as well to send some + other person to the Legislature the ensuing year.--BARRY + FENTON. _Hadley, March 1816_." + + "I, Jacob Thorn, of Galway, in the county of Saratoga; do + certify, that shortly after the affidavits of Messrs. Bunce, + Palmer, Allcott, Dunning and Edwards, were published, + relative to the conversation they had with Messrs. Ketcham, + Gardner and Cowles in Albany; I had a conversation with Mr. + Ketcham in Stillwater, relative to the affidavits published. + I told him if the affidavits were not true, he ought to + contradict them. He replied, that his _friends advised him to + say nothing about it_. I enquired of him the meaning of those + affidavits---and whether the facts therein stated were + true--to which the said Ketcham answered, that _they were + true_--but said he did not expect it would have been made + public.--JACOB THORN." + + "I certify, that some time in the month of March 1815, I went + to Albany on business, and called at the house where the + members of this county resided; found Messrs. Gardner, + Ketcham and Cowles, and made my business known. Mr. Cowles + said he would call and see me at my lodgings. Accordingly he + did; told me it was not according to his wish, that what I + had to offer in the business could not be complied with. I + then asked where Mr. Young quartered? He said he would tell + me; on the way, Mr. Cowles said there had been _a coldness + between the Speaker of the House, and the members from this + County, since he became speaker and expected to be Secretary + of State_, and on that account _declined going_.--JONATHAN + KELLOGG. _Northumberland, April 8th 1816_." + + "I hereby solemnly certify, that some time in the month of + February, 1815, (and I believe in the early part of it,) in a + conversation Col. John Prior had with me just after his + return from Albany, on the subject of candidates for the then + approaching election; he the said Prior remarked, that 'Mr. + Young was not so popular as he had been.' On my asking him + why, he replied, 'for his ill treatment to his colleagues, + having grown haughty, &c.' This I understood him to have + received directly from the said members, Messrs. Gardner, + Cowles and Ketcham. In the spring of the same year, after + Messrs. Palmer and Bunce had made known similar complaints, + that the said three members had made to them of Young's + treatment, I had another conversation with the said Prior on + the subject, in which he the said Prior intimated, 'he did + not believe the said members had told the said Palmer and + Bunce what they had pretended.' I then asked him, if the + members were not as likely to tell them of it, as himself, + and repeated to the said Prior what he had told me in the + winter, of the members having made the same complaint to him, + which the said Prior did not pretend to deny as having heard + from the members, nor having told me the same.--JOSEPH + MITCHEL. _Dated, Greenfield, March 15, 1815_." + + "I hereby certify, that in the early part of the winter past, + I had a conversation with Isaac Myers of Stillwater, relative + to the conduct of Richard Ketcham, late a member of the + Legislature; when he the said Myers told me that _he knew_ + the said Ketcham had _contradicted himself_, relative to what + he had said of Mr. Young; that _previous_ to the McBain + meeting, Ketcham had _denied_ to him, ever saying any thing + _against_ Young, or complaining of his treatment; but that + _afterwards_ he had _owned to several in his presence, that + he had spoken against_ Young, &c.--ASA B. JEWEL. _Saratoga, + March 25th 1816_." + +Other affidavits and statements might be produced to the same effect +but twelve or fourteen different conversations, at different times, +and, in presence of different men are already proved upon them, all +importing explicitly that Mr. Young had ill-treated or neglected +them--and shewing a desire on their part that Mr. Young should not be +sent to the Legislature the ensuing year. If then Mr. Young had an +undoubted right to a seat in the legislature, which would perhaps be +questionable upon republican ground, and was deprived of that right by +"management and fraud," with whom did this system of corruption +commence! and to whose account ought it to be placed? To that of his +colleagues, or other men whom their misstatements and falsehoods had +seduced? It may however, be very well to enquire whether these +declarations were ever made use of to any purpose, and whether Mr. +Young must have succeeded in his nomination, had these _free_ and +_unreserved_ conversations of his colleagues, been kept entirely out of +view; whether Palmer and Bunce, were alone in singling out the +candidate who was nominated, or whether some other person or persons +had not tho't of him even _before_ Palmer and Bunce went to Albany. + +Among the names which ornament the pages of "_The Citizen_," I observe +that of a _recent_ convert to the doctrine of "_Falsehood, Fraud & Co_" +viz: William Stillwell, late a Judge, and now Clerk of this county. +This political _Proteus_, together with a number of his, friends was I +believe, among the first to start Mr. Cowen as a candidate, before the +county convention, and was from time to time very importunate with him, +to consent that his name should be made use of for this purpose. From +the early part of February 1815, until he had got the Clerk's office, +be appears to have been Mr. Cowen's indefatigable supporter. At the +McBain meeting however, he was as active and diligent to get rid of +that nomination, as he had before been to effect it. Thomas Palmer, +Esq. the secretary of that meeting, together with. Judge Stillwell, +were chosen two of the committee to draw up the proceedings, and were +unquestionably in all respects the proper organ for that purpose. +Sensible of this, Judge Stillwell, the evening after the meeting, +_invited Mr. Palmer to his house_, where _they_ deliberately, and +without any _disagreement_ drew up the statement, published p. 24 and +25, of their pamphlet. They _jointly reviewed_ this statement the _next +morning--agreed_ in its correctness, and ordered it to be printed. +Shortly after, without the knowledge of Mr. Palmer or Mr. Cowen, +Stillwell _secretly withdraws_ this statement from the printing office, +and adopts and signs _another_ drawn up by Mr. Thompson, _differing in +many respects from the first_. This last statement the secretary +refused to sign, and his name was inserted as you will see by the +statement itself, p. 16, without his knowledge or authority. Having +thus boxed the compass and settled down upon _point no point_, it is +not surprising that when Stillwell lends his name to "_The Citizen_" +and appears in his Book, as the flaming advocate for "fair and open +conduct," and the zealous _detector_ of "fraud and duplicity," that he +should hypocritically _skulk behind the scene_, and keep himself as +much out of view as possible, in the strange and opposite parts which +he had acted. The singular course which this man (Stillwell) had +pursued both in and out of "the book," and especially his attempt to +shew that "Mr. Cowen's nomination was procured by fraud, &c." drew the +following sentiments from Doctor Clark, (who was one of the convention +which nominated Mr. Cowen) expressed in a letter to Thomas Palmer, +Esq.-- + + "_Moreau, March 12th 1816_. + + Dear Sir, + + Having seen and examined a publication signed "A Citizen," + purporting to be an apology and justification of the + gentlemen who composed the McBain meeting. In that + publication I observe a studied and systematic attempt to fix + on you and Mr. Bunce, the blame of having started Esek Cowen + Esq. as a candidate for assembly, and of having procured his + nomination by _fraud_ and _intrigue_. In consequence of + seeing Wm. Stillwell's name affixed to the proceedings of + that meeting, and being well informed that the said Stillwell + hath gone great length to justify the conduct of the said + meeting, in making void the nomination made by the county + convention, I feel myself constrained by a sense of justice + to declare, that some time on or about the 11th day of + February 1815, being in company with Esek Cowen, at the house + of Wm. Stillwell Esq., he the said Stillwell did then and + there introduce the subject of the then next election, by + saying, that himself and a number of others had conversed on + the subject, and agreed that Mr. Cowen ought to be a + candidate--That Mr. Cowen made objections, and mentioned to + him the names of several other gentlemen as being proper + candidates in preference to himself; to which Mr. Stillwell + objected, and urged Mr. Cowen with apparent zeal to suffer + his name to be made use of as a candidate. Sir, you are at + liberty to make such use of the above statement of facts, as + in your judgment you shall think proper. + + Yours, Respectfully, B.J. Clark. + + Hon. T. Palmer Esq." + +It will also appear _amongst other things_, by the following letter +written by John R. Mott,[2] who I believe is the second certifier in +"the book," that Judge Stillwell entertained sentiments opposed to Mr. +Young's nomination, as late as the _sixth_ of _April_. + + "_Saratoga, April 6, 1815_. + + Dear sir, + + It was late when I returned from Ballston, which prevented my + calling on you I had conversations with _several gentlemen_ + on the subject of the nomination, particularly with _Judge + Stillwell_, capt. Odell and Mr. Bunce, by whom I learned the + sentiments of Mr. Palmer, and find the whole to be opposed to + Mr. Young. I also saw Mr. Lee and Kasson. They were in favor + of Mr. Young on the principle of _what they called + sacrificing_ Mr. Young, if he was not nominated. The Milton + committee are Thomas Palmer, Joel Keeler and Daniel Couch, + junior Esquires. + + From yours, with esteem, + + Esek Cowen, Esq." + + JOHN R. MOTT. + + +Mr. Mott, one of the delegation from Saratoga, informs Mr. Cowen +another of the delegation from that town, that Stillwell and others are +opposed to Young. This presumption in Judge Stillwell, it seems could +not be endured, and he in common with others was marked out as a +victim. His name was originally connected with that of Palmer and +Bunce, in the letter of Kasson, dated the 12th April, p. 33, as being +concerned with them in "this _black business_" as he calls it, until by +making his peace, this _crow_ is suddenly changed into a _swan_, and +his name erased from the letter. + +If farther proof is wanting that the loss of Mr. Young's nomination did +not depend on any thing which fell from his colleagues, or any +individual exertion made against it, you may have it by calling on the +following gentlemen, who acted on the county convention, to wit: + + Avery Starkweather, John Pettit, Eli Smith, Joel Keeler, + Isaac Rice, Nathan Raymond, Jessup Raymond, Richard Dunning, + James Clark, Isaac Andrus, Solomon Parks, Nicholas W. Angle, + Billy J. Clark, Potter Johnson, Benjamin Burton, Joseph + Mitchell, William Taylor, Samuel Cook, Nathan Pardee, Joshua + Finch, John Brown, Samuel S. Barker, Isaac Brewster, &c. + +You will find among them many of the most respectable names in the +county. By them it will also appear how far Mr. Young's failure +depended on Palmer and Bunce, and how far it was regulated by public +sentiment. But, it is presumed that what Doctor Clark very properly +calls a _systematic attempt_, to fix a course of fraud upon two or +three individuals, and ascribe the result of that convention to them, +must appear as absurd and ridiculous in the eyes of the public, as it +did to Doctor Clark and his associates on the committee. + +But why spend a moments time in refuting so base a calumny; by +searching for argument and demonstration while it must be rendered +useless by conviction. Another year has rolled away; another convention +have met--have made a nomination for Congress and Assembly--They were +unanimous--Mr. Young is not nominated, nor even named for the year +1816. This too was not till the blood-hounds of imaginary fraud had +yelled their notes thro' the county, the quivers of malice had been +exhausted of their poisoned arrows, and "the book," that great gun of a +falling faction which they had been loading during the whole Summer +past, had gone off with a harmless explosion. + +It may not be amiss however, to examine the behaviour of these famous +pretenders to fair and open conduct, and see how far they practice what +they preach. In doing this, permit me to call your attention to the +following certificates. + + "I notice in the pamphlet signed 'A Citizen' lately + published, an assertion that the committee in the town of + _Milton_ in the Spring of 1815, 'was procured by management, + fraud and falsehood.' I attended the meeting in this town, + according to previous notice in the Journal for that purpose, + at which I saw Mr. T. Palmer and Mr. Bunce, but saw nothing + in them like either fraud or management. I voted in that + committee for Mess. Palmer, Keeler and Couch, but not from + any solicitations of either Mr. Bunce or Mr. Palmer, but + because I believed them the best men; nor had any one of + these, or any one else, then told me that the three members + had complained of Mr. Young. + + "James Thompson, Esq. was a candidate for the same committee, + and his partner, Alpheus Goodrich, Esq. wrote votes for the + said James Thompson; but I refused to vote for him, not, + however, from any thing I had ever heard either the said + Palmer or Bunce say against him. There was a large majority + for the three above named committee, but I saw no unusual + exertions, or any thing that looked like unfair proceedings, + in any one at the meeting who appeared to be voting the + ticket which I did.--EBENEZER DIBBLE. _Milton, March, 1816_." + + "I also was present at the above mentioned meeting for the + purpose of choosing delegates to the county convention. The + meeting was notified in the Journal, at Gregory & Hawkins', + on the day some of the town officers met there. The meeting + proceeded to organize by choosing Joel Keeler, Esq. chairman, + and Thomas Palmer secretary, and then without opposition, + voted to choose the committee by ballot. The candidates for + whom ballots were wrote, were, on one ticket, James Thompson, + Archy Kasson and Elias Benedict--On the other, Daniel Couch + jun, Joel Keeler and Thomas Palmer. Mr. Bunce was there; and + in the room, wrote votes for the latter three gentlemen, for + whom I voted, but not from the insinuations or persuasions of + any one. And I saw no intrigue, management or improper + electioneering in either the said Palmer or Bunce, or any one + else for that ticket; but believe every thing was conducted + fairly. + + "I had on that day, before I came there, heard of reports + against Mr. Young, but not from either Mr. Palmer or Mr. + Bunce; but to the best of my recollection from _Elihu Roe_ in + a conversation between him and _Deacon Stillwell_. I had + before heard no intimation of the same from any one.--EZRA + NASH. _Milton, March 1816_." + + "I was present at the republican meeting in Milton, in the + Spring of 1815, for the purpose of choosing a committee to + meet the general committee to make a nomination. I saw no + deception or intrigue on the part of either Mr. Palmer or Mr. + Bunce, nor any particular exertion of either of them to + procure the committee that were elected. Some time _before_ + the said meeting, I had understood that James Thompson, Esq. + of said town, had _expressed a wish_ to be one of the + committee, and at the above mentioned meeting Alpheus + Goodrich, Esq. _his partner_ took a very active part to get + him appointed--wrote votes and endeavored to get others to + take them and vote for the said Thompson, his name being on + the same ticket with Archy Kasson and Elias Benedict; but + they received at the meeting, which consisted of about + thirty, but very few votes, the other ticket, which I voted, + obtaining a large majority. And I hereby further certify, + that neither the said Palmer nor Bunce, both being present at + the meeting, had ever informed me, or given me an intimation + that there was any complaint against Mr. Young, nor did I + ever hear of any complaints against Young, from any one until + some time afterwards; and from the best of my recollection, + _Joel Lee_ was the first who informed me of these complaints + against the said Young.--DAVID DERRICK. _Milton, March + 1816_." + +It appears that in the town of Milton Mr. Archy Kasson, Elias Benedict +and James Thompson Esq. were candidates at the meeting in that town for +the choice of delegates in 1815.--That Alpheus Goodrich Esq. Thompson's +partner, in particular, acted decidedly in favor of "_Master Jimmy_" as +he calls him, perhaps with a good deal of propriety, and peddled +tickets with Mr. Kasson and his master's name on them. Now Mr. Thompson +whose situation in point of _popularity_ especially in his _own town_ +is not to be questioned, was very naturally surprised at his failure, +and could not in his own mind attribute it to any thing short of +"_fraud and management_." He had failed in despite of the combined +efforts of his partner and Mr. Kasson. Finding how poor doctor Child +had been cheated into a vote for three gentlemen whom Thompson +considered mere tools compared to himself, it leaves him no doubt on +the subject, and he can no longer avoid bristling with astonishment and +rage. Tho' several days before the convention met, a hue and cry was +immediately raised, and he repairs to court with almost the whole of +the McBain meeting at his heels--The convention till this year (1816) +had regularly met on the second day of April court. + +The evil of this practice had been long felt and deplored by the +advocates for freedom of deliberation in this body, without being able +to attain a remedy. The scenes of this day however have for a while +suspended, and I trust forever abolished the pernicious and degrading +practice of _court_ conventions. Tuesday gave them leisure to organize +their forces and reconnoiter the points of attack. On Wednesday these +veteran lobby members of a county convention each knew his post, and +each was prepared with his story. The members of the convention, living +scattered in different directions, some near and some in the more +remote towns, arrive in small parties of one, two, and three in +succession, which gives full leisure to the court hangers on to see and +discourse with them in detail, and the astonished members of the +convention the moment they arrive were thus assailed on all hands with +a universal cry of Young, Young, Young for the candidate. No scheme was +left untried, no pretence neglected, no argument overlooked, no path +unexplored to entrap, to drive, to persuade and to lead the convention +contrary to their old established practice, to nominate Mr. Young a +_third_ time as a candidate. Still despairing of success, Thompson and +his associates (I trust in God but few of them) change their ground and +become the _black and unmanly assassins_ of individual character. The +story of the pretended fraud attempted by Mr. Palmer, Mr. Bunce and +others, was administered in profusion, and crammed down with epithets; +not more than two or three of the convention having ever heard the +account given of Mr Young by his worthy colleagues, and its reaching +them thus for the first time thro' his huffing friends, it sounded +truly like "a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, signifying +nothing." Their pride was alarmed, and their sympathies excited, by +being told that Judge Spencer had first cheated Mr. Young out of the +Secretary's office, and that his wrath now burnt after him into the +county of Saratoga, and what was passing strange--pitiful and wondrous +pitiful was, that the Judge had thrust his hand so far into this dish +of woes as to employ in his service the press and Editor of the +Saratoga Journal.--Kasson's letter which appears in "the book," tho' +now altered by striking out Stillwell's name, arrives by _express from +Albany_, in season to make up for this dish, its last ingredient--But +Alas! to no purpose; the people's delegates nominate Mr. Cowen. + +I boldly and solemnly appeal to that convention whether they or the +most of them were not individually called upon, by Thompson or some of +those acting under him, and urged to support Mr. Young upon part or all +of the pretences above mentioned. In order to render assurance doubly +sure, these strong and noisy opposers of fraud, these high minded and +honest politicians discover another circumstance of which they quickly +avail themselves. One of the towns had neglected to choose a committee. +The ceremony of packing was immediately resorted to, and three men who +were ready to go all lengths with these upright gentry, presented and +palmed themselves upon the convention, as legitimate members. Thus +having been belabored incessantly for two-thirds of an April day, the +convention retire to their duty, and as usual ballot for the +candidates. After balloting and before the votes were canvassed, they +unanimously resolve, that the lawyer having the greatest number of +votes shall be considered the candidate, and the other rejected. After +canvassing and finding that Mr. Cowen had two votes more than Mr. +Young, it was again unanimously resolved that he be considered the +candidate. + +This _arrogance_ and _presumption_ in the delegates of the people, was +not tamely to be endured by the _court party_; and these high-minded +advocates of _Republican purity_ immediately cast about for the means +of correcting the evil. And what more easy and certain mode of doing +this, than to solicit and procure the friendly interference of +_federalism_, whose doctrine by this time appears to be in perfect co +incidence with their own? They could abhor coalition, management and +intrigue in the ranks of Republicans;--nay the intrigue which owed its +birth and maturity to their heated imaginations alone, was odious and +abominable in its fancied perpetrators; while they themselves were +basely courting the embraces of Federalism in secret; and building +their hopes of success on the vile basis of a _political bargain_ with +that party;--like a drunken clergyman who enters the pulpit heated with +his bottle, and excites your disgust by a long discourse on the follies +of intemperance. The high pretensions of these men to chastity and +plain dealing, will be better tested by reading the following +certificates;--the reader being first reminded that Mr. Elihu Roe and +James Thompson, Esq. are holden forth both in _the book_, and in these +statements, as twin leaders--a sort of _Castor_ and _Pollux_ or +_du_-umvirate in the tribe; and for this reason they are resorted to, +as furnishing together with a few subordinate officers, a clue to the +immaculate character which they and their friends so loudly claim. + + "I certify, that I heard Elihu Roe declare, to Jonathan + Minor, at the store of Epenetus White, that James Thompson + Esq. had at the last election, made overtures to the + federalists to support Samuel Young Esq as a member of + Assembly.--BURR WAKEMAN. _March 1816_." + + "Thereby certify, that I had a conversation with Mr. Elihu + Roe, in the store of Epenetus White, in the presence of Mr. + Burr Wakeman, in which Mr. Roe declared that James Thompson + Esq. did propose to the federalists, to support a federal + candidate for member of Assembly, if the federalists would + support Samuel Young, Esq. as a candidate for member of + Assembly at the election of 1815.--JONATHAN MINOR. _Ballston, + March 28th 1816_." + + "I, Gideon Goodrich, late of the town of Milton, in the + county of Saratoga, do hereby certify to my fellow-citizens; + that on the first day of election of 1815 in said town, where + I then resided, at St. John's Inn, where the polls of + election were that day held, in a conversation on the subject + of supporting Samuel Young, contrary to the general + nomination; Archy Kasson, a leading friend of Young admitted + in presence of a number of persons, that he had said that he + had rather have three federalists go to the legislature from + this county with Young, than not to have Young elected. On my + expressing surprise at such sentiments, from a man professing + to be a republican, he added he still felt or thought so. Mr. + James Thompson who was present, then replied, that he would + say he had rather have _seven_ federalist go with Young, than + not to have him elected--or any number that would not give a + federal majority,[3] or words to that import. + + "Having removed from this county, but now on a visit at my + old residence in Milton, and being called upon by those who + feel themselves abused in the support of the cause of their + country, no one will consider it officiousness in me, to thus + repeat what was expressed in so public a manner on that + occasion.--GIDEON GOODRICH. _Milton, April 19th 1816_." + + "I hereby certify, that shortly after the last spring's + election, but before the official returns of election in the + state were received, I was at the office of James Thompson, + Esq. in Milton, and remarked to him, that I was afraid the + legislature would be federal, to which the said Thompson + replied, that he was afraid it would _not be federal_, or + that he began to be afraid there would not be _a federal_ + house. I also certify, that during the election then just + past, I was by several of Mr. Young's friends in said town, + strongly urged to vote for a federalist, if by that I could + get a federalist to vote for Mr. Young; which I believe many + of them did, as I heard those friends of his repeatedly say + _they would barter_ in that way, if they could by it obtain + votes for the said Young.--BENJAMIN BENNETT. _Milton, March + 1816_." + + "I hereby certify, that previous to the meeting of the + committee to make a nomination for members of Assembly, in + the spring of 1815--I saw Archy Kasson in the village of + Ballston Spa, who commenced a conversation with me on the + subject of the then approaching nomination; and he solicited + me with much zeal to vote for Mr. Young in the + convention--And among other things, he declared, that he + would be better satisfied to have Mr. Young on the nomination + with three federalists, than to have four republicans without + him--And gave me distinctly to understand that if Young was + not nominated, he would not support the nomination.--ISAAC + RICE. _Ballston, March 1816_." + + "I, Simeon P. Allcott, of the town of Milton and county of + Saratoga, do certify; That I attended the election in the + spring of 1815, at D. Thomas' inn, in said town, at which + place I saw James Merrill of said town, and heard him declare + in the presence and hearing of a number of republican and + federal electors, 'that some people very fearful that a + _federalist_ would be elected from this county, but for his + part, he said that there would be no _harm in it_--it would + be a _good thing to have federals elected_--and that if Mr. + Young could be elected, he did not care _how many federals_ + were elected.' + + "I further certify, that I attended the election the + following day at Goodrich's inn, in the said town, and the + said James Merrill then and there made similar declarations + in the presence and hearing of a number of republicans and + federals; and the said James Merrill and others who were + advocating the election of Mr. Young, appeared to act in + unison with _the federalists_; and I saw a number of + _federalists have Mr. Young's name on their ticket_, and who + told me they voted that ticket.--SIMEON P. ALLCOTT. _Milton, + April 1816_." + + "I hereby certify, that a leading federalist, being as I + understood, one of the _federal_ convention from the town of + Northumberland, who met at the Court-House on the 14th of + April last, to make the federal nomination for members of + Assembly, &c.--informed me on his return home from that + convention, that James Merril, Esq. urged some of that + convention to place Samuel Young Esq. on their ticket, and + offered one hundred _dollars_ if they would _go halves_ with + Young's friends in the _ticket_ they should run at the then + next election, for the purpose of defraying the expences of + the election; and that the said Merrill took from his pocket + the _hundred, dollars_, and laid it on the table for that + purpose, as I understood it.--HENRY STAFFORD. _Saratoga + Springs, March 1816_." + + "I, Joseph Ogden, of Malta in the county of Saratoga, do + hereby certify; that I was at the inn of James Jones in + Halfmoon, a few days after the election of 1815, and Aaron + Morehouse of Ballston, and a leading federalist of Halfmoon + were there, conversing together on the late election. Mr. + Morehouse said he voted for Mr. Hamilton, the federal + candidate, to get a federalist in his town to vote for Mr. + Young; and the federal replied, that be voted for Mr. Young, + and that it was the understanding among some of the + federalists and _some_ of the republicans in Halfmoon, that + the federals should vote for Mr. Young, and that the + republicans should vote for Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Isaac Kellogg, + jun. was present at the same time.--JOSEPH OGDEN." + + "I, Isaac Kellogg, Jun. of Malta in the county of Saratoga, + do certify, that I was present and heard a part of the + conversation above stated by Joseph Ogden, and remember + hearing Mr. Morehouse state, that he voted for Mr. Hamilton, + and the abovementioned federalist say that he voted for Mr. + Young. I also heard another federalist of Halfmoon then + present, say that he voted for Mr. Young also; and I + distinctly understood from them, that there had been an + understanding between the federalists and Mr. Young's + friends, to support Mr. Young and Mr. Hamilton as members of + Assembly.--ISAAC KELLOGG, jun." + +It is also a fact, that Young's supporters did in two or three of the +towns _hide_ and _suppress_ the tickets printed by direction of the +county convention, for Mr. Cowen and the other candidates. + +These certificates and these facts serve then to explain how Mr. Young +came by a greater number of _votes_ than Mr. Cowen;--and no doubt is +left on this subject when on calculating from the _returns_, you +perceive that the _votes_ for Mr. Young and Mr. Cowen in the aggregate +exceed by a great number the whole votes for any other candidate on +either side, and that _one_ of the federal candidates received a _less_ +number of votes than the others. This would of itself shew as far as +the subject is susceptible of proof, a _bargain_ between _some_ of Mr. +Young's friends and _some_ of the federalists. Shortly after this +bargain which Mr. Roe speaks of, the McBain Meeting[4] was called, +where every exertion tended to produce a political abortion. + +I cordially join with "the book" in censuring the editor of the Journal +for resembling this meeting to a political _funeral_;--for I do not +believe that the lifeless _embryo_ which it bro't forth, ever raised +the tho't of a _funeral_ in its poor _distracted father_. And while I +could not have the face to vindicate him from falsehood in not making a +better distinction, I should feel the less inclined to deny his being a +savage, while I behold him wantoning with the wounded feelings of a +forlorn, hopeless and unhappy _parent_. If his personification had +embraced the meeting merely, he ought to have known that even the +_dead_ are not always unavenged, and that its ghost at least, would +have arisen from the tomb to flutter round and haunt the unhappy county +of Saratoga on the eve of the next nomination, in the form of a _book_; +that thing which like the poet is justly admired for giving + + "To airy nothing, + A local habitation and a name." + +We could hardly say of that book, however, as Hamlet said of his +Father's ghost that + + "He would take his word for a thousand pounds"-- + +Or why do we hear it insisted that the fault of keeping alive discord +and division in the county, is imputable to a few individuals named and +pointed out by it?--Aside from the base and unprincipled attempts of +Roe, Thompson and some of their co-adjutors, to prostrate the only +_republican press_ in the county, by a system of slander and +detraction; The public cannot have forgotten that Mr Young's _famous_ +colleagues were mildly and publicly invited to an amicable explanation, +which they refused and rendered the publication of affidavits necessary +in justification. The only reply which was received, was a still more +general, malignant and furious attack upon the press, not only from the +columns of the Schenectady Cabinet, but the foul lingo of Roe, Thompson +& co. with bitter complaints whenever that press either ridiculed their +folly and impertinence, or defended itself against their insidious and +secret attempts to effect its destruction. + +Amongst other things in order to create a pretence for their _book_, it +will be recollected that judge Child has authorised the charge of +falsehood against the Journal in its maintaining that he had threatened +to get a new press into the county &c.--Indeed the judge appears to be +remarkably well pleased with that production, not only by his long +certificates, but by a letter which he afterwards wrote to the printer +of the _Courier_, recognizing its merits and trying to _divide with +federalists_ the honor of carrying clothes to the army;[5] which it +seems was given him by the _book_ in order to render his standing as a +certifier more conspicuous, by uniting on his broad brow, both the +_military_ and _civic_ wreath. How far the _denial_ of this mock +_Cincinnatus_ that he threatened as early as May to get a new press, +"_with all his blushing honors thick upon him_," will satisfy the +public, may in some measure he determined by the following certificate. + + "I hereby solemnly certify, that on the last of May or first + of June last, when at the house of Judge Child, in a + conversation relating to the Saratoga Journal, and the + conduct of its Editor Mr. Isaiah Bunce, the said Judge then + and there made use of the following expression to me, viz. + 'You must remember that the friends of Mr. Young, are not men + of the _least property_, nor _least influence_ in the County, + and Bunce may have _another press set up by his side_ in less + than six months--That he [the said Judge] should withdraw his + support from him, and said that it was best for every one to + do the same, and then his press would fall of course.' And at + the same time said, that he had rather _support the federal + press at the Springs_ than the _Journal_. Shortly after this + I informed Mr. Bunce of the above conversation at his + office.'--JONATHAN WESTCOTT. _Milton, March 14th 1816_." + +Young and Thompson made similar declarations of their intention to get +another press about the same time, with which they have been often +charged, and it seems thought best not to hazard a denial in the +book--therefore no other certificate but the one relating to Child's +has been procured--And the judge's conduct would have been more +christian-like, had he written a letter exculpating the editor of the +Journal from an undeserved odium cast upon him by his authority, than +thus to have given it confirmation and support, at the same time +knowing it to be _untrue_. + +Of a piece with this however, appears to have been his previous conduct +about the time of his presiding over the _abortion_ at McBains. I +allude to his sending the history of that meeting with orders by +Thompson and Stillwell, to the editor of the Journal to print without +reading it. + + "I Lyman B. Langworthy, of the village of Ballston Spa, do + certify to my fellow-citizens the following facts;--That on + the night of the 20th April 1815, two days after the McBain + meeting--being in the office of the Saratoga Journal late in + the evening, James Thompson, James Merrill and Wm. Stillwell, + Esqs. came into the room. Immediately after being seated, Mr. + Thompson who acted as chief speaker, pompously displayed a + fold of paper which he wished Mr. Bunce to print off in the + form of Handbills by morning, it being then quite late. Mr. + Bunce wished to see it and its contents. + + "Here Mr. Thompson to my astonishment flatly refused, unless + Mr. B. would first promise on his word and honor that he + would _positively_ and _unconditionally_ agree to print it + _let it contain what it would_. This bro't on a long parley; + Mr. Bunce wished to see it if for nothing more than to shew + his workman its length, to learn from him whether it was + possible to execute it in the time allowed. Mr. Thompson + refused, and entered pretty lengthy into the subject, in his + _precise roundabout_ manner: asserting that it was _none of + his business what it contained_--that it was impertinent in a + '_mechanic_' to ask his employers the use or destination of + any work he should employ him to do; and frequently by way of + a _salve_ interlarding his conversation with '_we do not wish + you to do it for nothing Mr. Bunce, we have money enough_.' + After much chaffering between the parties, judge Stillwell in + a very candid manner, desired that the paper might be read, + asking him if it _contained any thing they were ashamed of_. + Mr. Thompson then looked to Mr. Merrill as for his opinion. + Mr. Merrill said with some warmth, 'he shan't see it.' This + brot' on considerable bickerings--crimination and + re-crimination between Mess. Bunce, and Thompson, which judge + Stillwell tho't rather indecorous, and quite earnestly + rebuked the two gentlemen for their wrath, and at the same + time said he thot' it high time to deliver judge Child's + message. Here Mr. Thompson apparently supposing himself only + entrusted with the charge, seemed not to understand.--After a + great deal of argument, the paper at last had a 'first + reading,' & was the proceedings of the McBain meeting, signed + by Child, Thompson and Stillwell; and was delivered to Mr. + Bunce, to shew his compositor, who was in bed. Mr. Bunce + insisted that some of the gentlemen should deliver the + message which judge Stillwell seemed to be so anxious about. + Here the three gentlemen were thrown into great + confusion--eyed each other as though each supposed the other + ignorant of what he himself knew. Judge Stillwell's + countenance seemed to labor with something which he was bound + to reveal; and Mr. Thompson noting this, desired judge + Stillwell _if he knew it to let it out_. Judge Stillwell then + putting himself in an attitude corresponding, as he appeared + to think, with the magnitude of the subject, began by saying + that judge Child had instructed him to say to Mr. Bunce, + _that he had always been a particular friend of his--had + always given him all of his business--and should be sorry to + withdraw it after the friendly intercourse which had + subsisted between them--that it was the earnest desire of + judge Child that Mr. Bunce should have the refusal of + printing it; 'but as a last resort say to him from me, that + if he refuses to print it as desired by Mr. Thompson, that I + forever withdraw my patronage from his press.'_" + +Here Mr. Bunce indignantly threw back the paper to Mr. Thompson, and +declared that under those circumstances he should not print it--saying +that after buffeting the storm of federalism, and the dark days of the +wars of our country, he little expected such treatment from one whose +duty it was to protect the press &c. &c.--and it was after much +persuasion, and partly through my own importunities, that he was +induced to print it. + + "Mr. Bunce's conduct through the whole transaction, which + must have lasted two hours or more, was _consistent, firm_ + and _independent_ to my conception, as was the others + _haughty_, _supercilious_ and _overbearing_.--Lyman B. + Langworthy. _March, 1816_." + +Here fellow citizens is the _iron club of power_ held over the head of +an editor of a _free press_, during an election--to coerce him and his +press into obedience to their dictates. What are we coming to when men +high in office use their offices, influence and patronage to control +the freedom of the press, which all the champions of freedom esteem the +organ and safeguard of our _liberties_--and attempt to compell it to +bend to their purposes--to sell itself and rush _blind fold_ on any +measure their interest or ambition may dictate? + +The independent conduct of Mr. Bunce on this occasion was probably one +reason among _others_ why the judge aided in the introduction of +another printer of the more _pliant sort_; who would more readily bend +to his purposes and serve as a pipe with which his friends Roe, +Thompson, Stillwell &c. could spit their venom thro' the county in the +more permanent form of a _pamphlet_. + +In this, with _three_ insolvent advertisements staring him in the face +from the _Independent American_, the judge denies, or sanctions a +denial, that he ever ordered an advertisement to be printed in that +paper _at all_. Unblushing impudence indeed!--Thus to ask the public to +pervert the eternal principles of truth and justice by giving credit to +such assertions as these. + +The examination of a few more topics under this head shall +suffice.--Indeed amongst the disgusting details of falsehood and +meanness with which that production abounds; you find many remarks +imputed to the Journal which it never made, while those which it has +made, on examination will be found strictly true. + +The writer of that pamphlet is guilty of falsehood in asserting that +the _editorial_ remarks of the Journal are not copied into other +papers. Not to mention others, they have been copied the year past in +several instances, by the _National Intelligencer_ at Washington, and +by _Niles' Weekly Register_ at Baltimore, two of the ablest papers in +the _Union_. The remarks which the book falsely calls a _scurrilous +attack_ upon the _Governor_, instead of being an attack on him, it so +happens that they were merely calculated to let the public know what +every republican had a right to expect, and which they in fact +_realized_ from our worthy chief magistrate in the season of peril +which dictated them.--They were such as he would himself approve, while +he would frown contemptuously on the _little fry_ who attempt so base a +slander in his name. Would to God the conduct of some of the governor's +fawning and pretended admirers could endure investigation like that of +this great and good man--the pride and ornament of his country! + +As to the charge against the Journal for asserting that the first judge +and others had combined to domineer and rule the people of this county, +you already have a taste of the judge's fondness for domineering over +some of the people, and over their press; and that other persons named +have _acted_ in concert with him is equally true and notorious;--And it +is hardly necessary to enquire whether they combined for the purpose, +or instinctively assembled like birds of the same feather, from a +common spirit of domination. It is false, however, that the Journal +ever made such a charge. This and a number of these remarks are only +suffering them to wear a coat which they themselves have cut out of +whole cloth, and which seems to fit them so exactly. That paper never +charged Mr. Young with any management or compromise with the +federalists, further than what justly resulted from his being chosen +_supervisor_ in _Ballston_ by _federalists_, contrary to the _regular +town nomination_, and his afterwards being complimented by the federal +paper as a modern political _Luther_, on account of his having quit his +own party in that town and submitted to federal policy, not denied by +the _book_--from his having _aided_ in the election of the _federal +candidate for Congress_ in the fall of 1812; and from his "at least" +conniving at _federal aid_, in the spring of 1815--all of which are +facts of too general notoriety to be denied. + +But the Journal did charge some of Mr. Young's friends with a +_political understanding_ between them and the federalists, which is +not only passed over in silence by the _book_, but proved by the +foregoing estimates and certificates. + +On seeing Mr. Young supporting, and supported in his turn by a Senator +or Senators of this state for office, the Journal did ask the question, +whether it was pursuant to an _arrangement_ on the subject between +them? This question was put in the Journal directly to Mr. +Young--taking it for granted that Mr. Young has adopted the language in +the book on this question as his own, this might be received as an +_answer_, had not a mere _question_ been first perverted into a charge. + +The Journal did also ask him the question, whether he intended to make +_one Joel Lee, clerk of this county?_ To which the book, replies that +he never promised any office to any man whatever. It is perhaps +necessary, in justice to the Editor of the Journal, to introduce the +following certificate, and leave this part of the subject without +farther comment. + + "I hereby certify, that shortly after the appointment of Wm. + Stillwell, as a clerk, of this county, I was in the city of + Albany, and conversed with Mr. Young on the subject of that + appointment, in which conversation I expressed my surprise at + his appointment, to which Mr. Young replied, it was not his + fault, that there was a petition for him from some of the + most respectable men in the county, and it would not do for + him to oppose it, but that his mind was the strongest on + _Joel Lee_ for that office.--ELI BEARDSLEE. _Milton, March + 1816_." + +Among others to whom Lee admitted he had been promised of _offered_ the +Clerk's office by Young, is Mr. Nicholas Smith, but it is thought +unnecessary to multiply certificates on this head. + +The writer of that pamphlet also displays his characteristic ignorance, +or stupid disregard to truth, when he says that the Journal ever +charged Young with receiving pay in three capacities, during the _extra +session_ of 1815. It never made the charge as it respected _that_, or +any other _year_;--but it so happens that during the _extra, session_ +of 1814, Mr. Young did receive $5 per day, which was the pay for a +member of the house, and $2.25 per day, which was the _extra allowance_ +on account of his being speaker. See New Revised Laws, Vol. I. p. 528, +and the act of April 18th 1815, called the _supply bill_, Sec. 15, by +which two acts, the wages of the Assembly are fixed at _$5_, and those +of the speaker at $7.25, and extended to the extra session of 1814. +Altho' the Journal _never_ made the charge imputed to it, yet you see +how easily and conclusively that charge might have been supported, had +the assertion ever been made. + +With regard to Mr. Young's receiving the pay of a Col. he never was +charged with having done this during any _extra session_. That paper +did insinuate that he at one time as aid to the governor received that +pay. And it is hardly worth stopping to enquire whether he did or not, +so long as we have _his word_ that the Governor _offered_ it to him, in +consequence of which he _agreed_ to serve. Whether he got the _cash_ +and gave a _receipt_ for it;--or it was absorbed in his _expences_;--or +laid it out to buy another press;--or yet _remains due_, is altogether +immaterial, so long as an answer is substantially made out to a +question raised by his _good friends_, and to which the public may +expect a reply: The following certificate is therefore given without +comment. + + "I certify, that a day or two previous to Samuel Young's + accompanying his excellency the Governor to New-York, in + conversation with Mr. Young at his house, he informed me that + while he was at Albany, from where he had but just returned, + he called on his excellency, who then informed him of his + intended expedition to New-York, and pressed him, Mr. Young + to accompany him; that he objected, and said that he should + be much pleased with the jaunt, but his business was such, as + to render it impossible; that the Governor urged him still + stronger, and he replied that he was wholly unprepared for + leaving home any length of time, and the Governor calculated + to go the next day or day but one--that the Governor told him + if he would accompany him, he would make him _an aid_ with + the _pay_ of a _colonel_, and _bear his expences_, and that + he would defer going until the next steam boat; that he + wished to take time to consider the Governor's proposals as + he informed the Governor--and soon after told him he would + accompany him.--SETH C. BALDWIN, Junior. _Warren County, + March 1816_." + +The Journal never charged Young with having informed Merrill that he +"was not now Secretary, but should be to-morrow." At it again Merrill. +Will you certify that you did not give a friendly hint to a gentleman +who was going to Albany, that you had a connexion who would make an +excellent clerk in the Secretary's office, and request his name to be +given to Mr. Young, to whom Young replied, _I am not now Secretary but +shall be to-morrow_? I believe an intimation to this effect was given +in the Journal, which you blink with as much ingenuity as though you +had been bred in the same school with Mr. Young's colleagues. Amongst +the great number to whom Mr. Young _did give_ the information that he +was shortly to be Secretary, _you_, then it seems were omitted! + +The facts disclosed in the following certificate, cannot fail to remind +one of the fable of the "Country maid, and her milk pail." + + "I hereby certify, that while riding in company with Samuel + Young from Ballston to Albany, when going to the _winter + session_ of 1815, the day before the legislature met, the + said Young informed me that he expected to be Secretary of + State when the republican council should be chosen; that he + could be a member of the _legislature_ and _Secretary of + State at the same time_, and _could reside at the Springs_ or + Ballstown in the summer, and do the business of Secretary in + Albany by Deputy, and that _these two_ offices would give him + a _pretty good living_, or words to that effect.--JESUP + RAYMOND. _Ballston, April 1816_." + +"Green--let me consider; yes, green becomes my complexion best, and +green it shall be." + +Mr. Kasson, was early spoken of by the _Independent American_ as an +applicant for the _Sheriff's office_, and as it appeals, was afterwards +a candidate for the county convention, and pledged to the support of +Mr. Young. In consequence of this, the Journal did ask the question to +Mr. Young, whether he intended Mr. Kasson as the Sheriff of this +county?--and nothing more. I think a farther inquiry was made whether +he was not authorised to purchase a "_mansion house_ for the _new +secretary_, in the village of Ballston Spa?" on which he preserves a +cautious silence. + +It is remarkable in this and other instances, with what industry _The +Citizen_ manufactures assertions to suit his own purpose, and then +denies them. Having at length exhausted his fancy in fabricating, +shaping and denying particular charges, hardly one of which ever +existed, he ranges up his whole artillery of vengeance;--the battle +becomes general:--And the famous Doctor Slop, the man midwife, did not +pour a more copious and continued shower of curses upon Obadiah, who +had tied his bag of instruments with hard knots, than is thus suddenly +let fly upon the devoted head of the Editor of the Saratoga Journal. +"_Really_" said the Frenchman to an old woman who had been storming and +fretting at Napoleon, "the Emperor, my master would feel himself +infinitely grieved, if he knew how hard your _lady-ship_ thought of +him." + +But it seems the Editor of the Journal "has indulged himself in a +course of low and vulgar sarcasms," tho' no particular instance is +pointed out. Thus the citizen, after sending his friend, Mr. Elias +Benedict, into the bar-room, to certify the _damns_ and _god damns_ of +Mr. Wilkins, suddenly becomes extremely modest and refined, and falls +to moralizing like Michael Cassio, after his _own_ drunken fit is over. +Mr. Bunce might really be esteemed far gone, had he reached the climax +of vulgarity which distinguishes the _citizen_ and his _book_. + +But says the _book_ in another place, "the manners of Mr. Bunce are +_coarse and vulgar_." I suppose an immediate allusion is here intended +to the _manner_ in which he treated _Stillwell_ and _Thompson's_ +supercilious proposition to agree to print their famous history of the +McBain Meeting, without reading it, under penalty of losing the first +Judge's patronage in case of a refusal. Perhaps they mean that he did +not on that occasion, turn out his toes exactly as he ought; or make a +becoming bow to so much mock consequence as surrounded them. I know not +in what language to describe their notions. We have already admitted +that Mr. Bunce does not pretend to vie in _purity_ of dialect with the +certificate of Mr. Elias Benedict. Suppose we also admit that he cannot +hold competition with Roe as a profound _linguist_--with Mr. Thompson +in _fairness_, _high mindedness_, _openness_ and _candor_--nor with Mr. +Linnendoll in belleslettres--and that he would not make so good a +_dancing master_ as Mr James Merrill[6] and leave the public to judge +whether coming short of these qualifications, he can be any way +tolerable in his person or polished in his conversation. + +But 'tis said again, that he has presented some of our citizens "in the +ludicrous attitude of being in chase of one of the wheels of a +_political hack_." This plain farmer-like simile has given great +offence, and perhaps justly, to the high and refined notions of certain +book gentry; who have been too much in the habit of _hunting_ an +_office_, or _chasing_ a _dollar_, to believe that the idea of so +ordinary an occupation, could ever have been connected with that of +such _great men_ as themselves. + +It may not be amiss to here remark, that Mr. Bunce was admitted an +Attorney of the Supreme Court in 1804; he settled in the village of +Salina in the county of Onondaga; shortly afterwards it was made a post +town, and he was appointed Post-Master[7] by the general government, +and continued in that office until he removed from that place. Soon +after his removal to Bridgewater, Oneida County, he was appointed +Post-Master at that place, and continued in that office until he +resigned on his removal to the county of Saratoga. During his residence +in the Western District, he attended with industry and fidelity to the +profession in which he was educated. + +Soon after the declaration of war he concluded to quit the practice of +law, and purchased the establishment of the Republican press of this +county, and became the editor of the Journal. + +Mr. Bunce has been a faithful, able, zealous and indefatigable +supporter and defender of our republican institutions, and of the +measures of our general and state government; and I confidently ask, +who ever accused him till this faction commenced their operations. +During the memorable campaign of 1814, he was not only vigilant and +faithful to our rights as an editor; but when danger threatened from +all quarters, he hired, equipped, and sent a common soldier into the +field for the defence of New-York. + +Several who were active in introducing Mr. Bunce to the republicans of +this county, after finding him too independent to bend to their +"_particular_" views, and after he had rejected with disdain their +proffers to surrender to them his rights as an editor, they formed +themselves into a court of Inquisition, and ushered forth their courtly +mandates "Bunce must be sacrificed" "the Journal shall go down," even +this proscription extended to his family, and to his fireside; and so +eager were certain of these factionists, that they formed a plan to +break up his establishment by _force_, and actually threatened _to +scatter his types_. This fact is too susceptible of proof to be denied. + +The republicans for a long time were silent spectators, while viewing +the persecution of their editor, and attack upon their own rights and +privileges; they fondly hoped, that time would cure the evil, and sober +reflection convince them of their error; but in this hope they were +disappointed, their persecutions encreased; and to them more certainly +to effect their object, and encouraged by the smiles of federalists, +they secretly brought a new printing press into the county--it was then +the designs of these men were more apparent--it was then the +republicans proclaimed their rights, and spoke to these "conspirators" +in language too loud not to be heard--too emphatic not to be +understood. And as long as these "conspirators" continue their press to +war against the rights and privileges of the people, Mr. Bunce as a +faithful centinel, will remain firm at his post. What though a gang of +office-holders should "in the mild spirit of Christian humility" (see +page 7 of the book) fulminate their maledictions against him; the +people will not be frightened into submission, nor the editor from his +duty. + +But the Editor of the Journal has abused some of us, say they--Does the +_truth_ abuse them? does the _exposition_ of the _foulest combination_ +that ever disgraced this or any other county, _constitute abuse_? Is +there such terrible majesty surrounding an _office_? No matter of what +_misrepresentations_ they are the authors of--No matter how _basely_ +and _shamefully_ they have _belied and slandered their neighbors_--No +matter of what deception, hypocrisy and intrigue, they are guilty--No +matter how long they have conspired against the rights and privileges +of the people--No matter how unbecoming, gross and absurd their conduct +may have been; if an independent Editor, in vindicating the rights of +the people, and those of his own, questions the propriety of their +conduct; they immediately skulk behind their offices, and impudently +exclaim, "_touch us not--we are privileged_." 'Pigmies are Pigmies +still tho' perch'd on Alps.' + +While I would not refrain from censuring the improper conduct of these +office _leaders_, I shall ever be ready to extend the hand of +fellowship to such as have been deluded by them--Nay, I would go +farther, let _them_ exhibit signs of repentance--let them evince a +determination to support our republican rights---let them cease to war +against the people, their editor, and individuals--let them remove +their _pensioned_ press--then shall they have my voice and my heart, to +intercede for them with an insulted and abused community. + +But faint indeed is the hope of a reformation in _that_ man who +violates all honor, truth and decency. Who but the author[8] of that +book would charge the Milton committee, of being the tools of "fraud +and management?" Who but him would affix the charge of "miscreants" to +the republicans of Galway, Milton, Greenfield, Saratoga, Malta and +Ballston? Who but him would have the unblushing effrontery to publish, +"_that the general committee in nominating Mr. Cowen, instead of Mr. +Young, committed an OUTRAGE on the feelings and wishes of their +constituents_?" [see page 8. of that pamphlet.] Who but the author of +that pamphlet would--but I beg pardon--read the pamphlet itself, and +you have abundant evidence of the authors views, his principles, his +heart and his designs. + +But the vengeful serpents of malice and persecution have not confined +their labors to _the book_, Early last spring, a thrust was made at the +Editor of the Journal, on the authority _it was said_ of Mr. Hackley, +late a member from Herkimer, who _(so Thompson said)_ had authorised +him to tell the people, that Mr. Bunce was unworthy of +confidence:--nay, to make use of a number of debasing epithets,--such +as would quadrate with the palate of Roe or Thompson, much better than +that of a gentleman like Mr. Hackley. But as this gentleman has +declined appearing in the book, and certainly never did, and never +would authorize Thompson to use his name for the vile purpose in which +he employed it, I barely glance at this circumstance as one article, +which would otherwise have been pressed into the Pandoras box which has +been so industriously served up for the public. + +Instead of atoning by a mild, moderate and conciliatory course of +conduct, for the injuries attempted, not only against an individual, +but the public, in endeavoring to put down and destroy a free press; +the project is set on foot of introducing and palming upon the county +another press;--a child of their own;--a copartner in all their labors, +their joys and sorrows. It is however, _one thing_ to introduce a +press, and _another_ to get the _people_ to support it. While a few +malicious imps, hungering for revenge, were "_grinning horrible a +ghastly smile, to hear their famine should be filled_;" the people in a +number of different towns assembled, and freely expressed their +sentiments on the fatal tendency of such measures; and animadverted +with freedom and spirit on the motives which prompted them;--for which +the book printed by the printer of their paper, stigmatizes them with +the epithet of _miscreants_; and treats the whole of their labors as +mere _cant and slang_; I suppose it must mean compared with its own +dignified and masterly pages. _The majesty of the people_ is truly a +_monstrous Deity_ in the eye of venal and sell-created consequence. It +is merely for repeating _some of the sentiments expressed at these +meetings_, that the editor of the Journal is assailed as the +arch-disturber of our political repose. + +_The Citizen_, in one place storms furiously at the allegation, that +the _Albany committee_ had advised them to remove their press. That +committee was appointed to inquire into the difficulties which agitated +the republican family in this county, and devise if possible the means +of removing them. Thompson as _chief cook_ of his own party, appeared +before them, with the book in his hand and Judge Child at his elbow _as +usual_; and I do believe the citizen from my very soul, when he says +they gave him no such advice. The committee were composed of _sensible_ +men; and after listening to his incoherent display of folly and +nonsense on that occasion, it would be literally casting pearl before +_swine_, to have given them any advice on the subject. + +Having established and considered some extraneous facts, for which I am +aware certain _gentlemen_ will not thank me especially as it may +disorder the thread of their own reasoning a little; I shall now +proceed briefly to consider the charge of FRAUD, FALSEHOOD, DUPLICITY +and CORRUPTION, as it appears in the book itself, on their own proof, +independent of the foregoing _memorandums_, leaving the memory of Mr. +Young's _colleagues_ and others at full leisure to be refreshed by +them. + +That charge it will be recollected, is the turning point of the +controversy;--the _vox et preterea nihil_, which _boils, and foams, and +wheels_ thro' _the book_, like a torrent thro' the _Augean_ stable, +collecting in its course accretions of foulness and impurity. For this +purpose, Mr. _Bunce_ and Mr. _Palmer_ are represented as a political +_Archimedes_, controlling at their will the destinies of the +county;--dictating the number and sort and deliberations of the county +delegates, prostrating the Speaker of the house of assembly; and +dealing _havoc, spoil_ and _ruin_ around them. Mr. Cowen is represented +as their associate, aiming at his own elevation thro' the lowest arts +of cunning and duplicity. But fortunately for the cause of common +sense, the touch-stone of these mighty maggots of the brain are the +_facts_ on which they are founded. And here let us for a moment take +them as they stand among the certificate gentry, and examine their +actual bearings;--in doing which I shall still have occasion to mention +names, who, if they have finally not much cause for self gratulation, +must thank their good friend _the Citizen_ for bringing them before the +public. + +The Motts[9] say, that on or about the 21st of March, Mr. _Cowen_ told +them that _Young_ was becoming _unpopular_;--that he had behaved +haughtily and disrespectfully towards his colleagues; and that a few +days before, he had been informed of this fact by several gentlemen to +whom they were referred. Now it will be recollected that Mr. Cowen and +John R. Mott were two of the _delegates_ from Saratoga, and as such +mutually bound to discuss with freedom the _allegation for and against_ +Mr Young, or any other person who would be a candidate before the +general committee; and Mr. Cowen at this time _at least_, had no reason +to doubt the truth of what Young's colleagues had asserted. He also +mentioned it to James Mott, who was spoken of as a substitute in the +event of his brother's absence. It seems he also conversed freely with +these men on the subject of _his_ having consented to be considered a +candidate, and (so James Mott says) examined the probability of his +success, by calculating the favorable state of the delegation. But it +seems that communications to these _leaky gentlemen_ on the subject of +candidates are not to be made under any circumstances with impunity; +and Mr. Cowen is to be censured as _criminal_ for giving that +information, which it would have been _criminal_ to withhold. The only +way to make his act in this respect _criminal_ is by saying, "he ought +to have known that Young's colleagues had _lied_." But it will be +recollected that this was impossible, for the public did not know them +_then_ as well as it does _now_; nor had Mr. Cowen yet seen their +_certificate_ which is herewith published, by which they acknowledge +_what the book_ is so anxious for Mr. Cowen to have assumed. He did +afterwards see it, and then (so say the certificates) bore public +testimony to his opinion of the merits of Mr. Young, as well as +afterwards by letter to judge Child. + +Thus does the charge of duplicity, made against Mr. Cowen, resolve +itself into a base attempt to fix upon him, what so snugly suits the +shoulders of others. It seems he finally bestows that justice upon a +_political adversary_, which the baseness and treachery of his +_colleagues_ and pretended friends had withheld. Am I acting the part +of an accuser towards those men? No. They have accused themselves. Why +are they again before the public? Had they hopes of skulking into +obscurity among the _motley_ multitude of certificates which throng the +folio of _the book_? or have they like one of the moral personages in +_Hudibras_, "_catch'd the itch on purpose to be scratch'd_?" It now +requires an eye less keen than that of a ministering spirit to pierce +the cob web veil which shields them from detection. + +But in the process of this investigation, we are led to the +consideration of a subject "_too awful for irony_." The interested +certificates of these men are ushered to a Christian public, and a +higher sanction demanded for them, by the author, than he is willing to +allow to facts attested under the _solemnity_ of _an oath_. One could +hardly have anticipated this _atheistical_ appeal to the credulity of +the public, even tho' human nature were as vile and monstrous in +_others_, as it appears to be in _that author_. But perhaps there was a +necessity for it, in order to preserve the _dark_ uniformity of his +production. If, as has been asserted more than _one_ of his prominent +certifiers (among whom I would by no means rank these men) are +themselves _atheists_, what could he swear them upon?--Upon the +evangelists think you?--He might as well swear them on Payn's age of +reason, or his own vile book itself. Where they "believe that their +miserable bodies must take eternal refuge in the grave, and the last +puff of their nostrils will send their souls to annihilation, they +laugh at the solemnity of an oath and tell you that the grave into +which they sink as a log, forms an intrenchment against the throne of +God, and the vengeance of exasperated justice!" Such is the character +which the writer fixes upon _himself_.--Such is the character which +several of his _disciples_ sustain in public. + +True, the falsity of an extra-judicial oath, carries with it no +_temporal_ punishment; but the _moral obligation_ remains to give it +validity. That _eternal reward or punishment_ which the _Citizen_ has +taken so much pains to blot out from the mind of his readers, will +still continue the delight and terror of the Christian, the eternal +fountain of his hopes and fears;--with him a sufficient motive to +truth, without the artificial and imperfect aid of _national law_. The +affidavits of four or five _credible witnesses_ were already before the +public, that Mr. Young's Colleagues did make a charge against him; but +it seems that every moral sanction must be trampled upon or trifled +with by the _Citizen_, to secure a triumph for his false and infidel +principles. He skips, like a grasshopper, over facts and premises and +propositions, and perches upon his pitiful assertions, which he wishes +the public to pervert into conclusions. Why did he not give these +affidavits lo the public?--He cannot surely complain that he forgot +them, for they appear to haunt his guilty imagination through the whole +of his progress; nor can he complain of wanting room. But the answer is +easy. He knew it would make his bait so very bad that even his own +gulls would not nibble.-- + +He was afraid of injuring his credit as an author even among his _own +sort_--for these affidavits prove conclusively and indubitably, that +not one jot nor tittle more was uttered against Mr. Young, than what +emanated from his own colleagues, in the course of the winter of 1814 +and 1815. + +It is still more remarkable so far forth as the charge of fraud is +concerned, with what logical precision _the Citizen_ pursues his +inquiry.--One is naturally led to expect from his _positive rant_, +nothing short of _point blank demonstration_ at least, that the fraud, +(which if there was any originated with Mr. Young's colleagues) had +produced the desired effect. That the attempt to cheat the people out +of this _mammoth legislator_,--this _sine qua non_ to their political +salvation, should have at least produced some influence with the men +upon whom it was exerted. Is there no _lost and wandering sheep_ ready +to return to the fold, and certify the delusions practised upon him by +these wolves in sheeps clothing? Even Mr. Thompson, whose attention is +apt to be otherwise directed, the moment he falls in conversation with +Palmer and Bunce, scents out the fraud with all the instinctive +keenness of a blood hound--Mr. Kasson on the same track, hardly the +length of a nose behind, and unwilling to be outdone in sagacity, +echoes the howlings of his leader. Judge Stillwell, tho' it seems the +dullest of the pack, follows hard and completes the choir; or in other +words Thompson and Kasson make a certificate that they _were not +deceived_, and Stillwell _endorses_ to give it a proper currency. + +Even Mr. Roe lays claim to the same spirit of discernment, tho' his +title to that claim might be questionable on another _ground_. He is +readily led into a conclusion that Mr. Wilkins must have visited the +Northern towns to procure Mr. Cowen's nomination; when it happens that +the committees in those towns had been chosen before his name had been +mentioned in them as a candidate, and before he had consented to be +considered one. Mr. Roe had much better have satisfied himself by +consulting the northern delegation on this subject. He is remarkably +_alert_ to detect a _fraud_ where there is none, but is willing to take +any thing upon _tick_ which accommodates his good friend the _Citizen_. +He certifies that he could not be deceived by the poor stories of +Palmer and Bunce;--But believing the public to be greater numbsculls +than himself, imagines that he can trick them into a belief, that the +gentlemen who composed the northern delegation (among whom are many of +the most respectable names in the county) are the mere creatures of +another's will. It is perhaps fortunate that this man is an exception +to the general law of nature, that _like_ produces _like_, or he might +have made _tools_ of the whole county convention. + +Who then was defrauded?--The Molts are by no means willing to admit +that this was the case with them. The Citizen cannot produce even one +poor certificate from any _one_ of the _county convention_, that they +were deceived or misled--neither Mr. Deake nor judge Child were of the +committee, and if they had been, they are both so good as to tell us +they were not gulled in that instance _at least_. John R. Mott, one of +the delegation from the town of Saratoga, according to his own +certificate had gone to New-York and sent Mr Olmstead who, with Mr. +_Cowen's consent_ (for it must have been by his consent that he acted +as a substitute) sat in convention, and voted for Mr. Young. Thus +ingeniously does the citizen rummage the chain of cause and effect, to +eke out his favorite conclusion. + +But stop, I confess I had like to have forgotten the certificate of Dr. +Child (Increase W. Child) a son of judge Child, one of the most +distinguished among the _dramatis personæ_ who figure in the book!--He +does go the length of saying, that he voted on the strength of Mr. +Bunce's representation. Voted for whom? For Mr. Cowen? O no.--But he +voted for a _committee_, who were to meet a _committee_, to make out +the _county nomination_!--And shocking to relate, poor Dr. Child was +galled into a vote for three of the most respectable men in the town of +Milton!!--viz: Daniel Couch jun. Esq. Joel Keeler Esq. late a member of +the legislature, and Thomas Palmer Esq!!!--It is derogatory to no man +in that town, to say that a more respectable delegation could not have +been procured. And what is more shameful still, one of those gentlemen, +viz: Daniel Couch jun Esq. whom the Doctor had thus honestly sent _to +vote for Mr. Cowen_, actually deceived his constituent, and _voted for +Mr. Young_!!!!--Doctor Guild's certificate is very happily illustrated +by the burlesque syllogism; _that Moses was the meekest man:--Solomon +was the wisest man;--And therefore St. Paul was ship wrecked_. The +conclusion of a fraudulent nomination, follows about as direct upon Dr. +Child's premises, as the shipwreck of St. Paul did upon the meekness of +Moses or the wisdom of Solomon. We should be almost led to suspect from +this specimen, that the Doctor is a greater _infant in politics_, than +in _dissection_. + +This famous pamphleteer is by no means more fortunate, when he +approaches the topic of the McBain meeting. The materials of which this +meeting was composed are now known as far as the book, which has kindly +given their names to the public. It consisted of one _first judge_. One +_Sheriff_ and one _Clerk_, appointed under the administration of +_Samuel Young_ Esq.--_George Palmer_ Esq. Master in Chancery, As't. +Justice, Justice of the peace, Post Master, &c, and whom _the book_ +holds out as the _expectant_ of the _Surrogates office_--_Roe_ deputy +Sheriff and _ci-devant_ constable--_James Mutt_--_James Thompson_ Esq. +who had kindly volunteered, as early as the 1st of April, to take the +interests of the county under his charge as _public prosecutor_ and +_States evidence_--_Alpheus Goodrich Esq. his partner_--Doctor _Nathan +Thompson_ his brother--Mr _Elias Benedict_ his client;--the one willing +to _receive_, and the other to _pay_ in certificates of the most +current stamp--_A justice or justices_ from Ballston, who knew their +political God-father--Dr. _Samuel Pitkin_, who acted as minister +plenipotentiary from _Milton_ to _Saratoga_, making thirteen, who it is +admitted, were from all the different towns enumerated in the caption +of the meeting viz: Ballston, Stillwater, Galway, Saratoga, Greenfield +and Milton. Add to these some others of minor note, and you make, as +the Citizen would have it, the number of 21 _or more_. The Citizen too +tells us he was there; but whether in the character of ---- ---- or +---- we are left to grope in the gloom of conjecture. + +Such was the formidable _Areopagus_ convened to purify the _body +politic_; to correct the poor misguided county convention;--and guard +the people against _being their own worst enemies_; such was the +assembly presented to the public as a _numerous and respectable_ +meeting from 6 towns out of 14 (judge Child and Dr. Thompson kindly +representing the towns of _Greenfield_ and _Galway_.) + +No sooner had this _numerous meeting_ assembled, than it was tho't +necessary to divide them into the proper committees;--This being more +_genteel_ and _parliamentary_ than to act in a body;--Accordingly +_Stillwell, Thompson and Palmer_ were created a committee to draw up +the proceedings of the meeting; _Child_ and _Stillwell_, a committee of +_Logic_ and _Rhetoric_, to call on _absent friends_ and get them to +consent that he _should resign. Mott_ and _Child acted_ as a _committee +of vigilance_ to pick up and report scraps of conversations and letters +from Mr. Gowen after the meeting was over. _Mott, Thompson, Kasson, +Stillwell, Roe,_ &c acted as a committee to report to the county, the +fraud which had deprived _Mr Young_ of his undoubted right to go to the +Legislature, whether the people were _willing_ or _not_. Mr. Elias +Benedict to draw up the proceedings of _Mr. Wilkins_ and _possibly_ to +enforce the statute for the suppression of Vice and Immorality;--and +committee of the whole to tell the county they had been there; and do +away the strange reports which had gone abroad, that they were a little +self-created body, without _precedent, authority or premises_, +resembling what saucy people would call a _faction_. + +All might yet have gone well, had not _Stillwell_ been such a miserable +_slouch_ at telling a story. It appears that Stillwell and Palmer had +written a history of the meeting for publication, in which _Mr. Cowen_ +tells the meeting, "that _they_ must be responsible if they act without +his absolute resignation." See p. 24 and 5. This presumptuous act +throws the Citizen into a whirlwind of passion; and he falls a _cursing +like a very drab_, at _Palmer, Bunce and Cowen_, apparently not +believing that his _friend Stillwell_ would ever have told so dangerous +a _truth_. He calls it a _farrago of nonsense_, after having before +asserted that _Palmer as Secretary_ had nothing to do with it; that it +belonged exclusively to the _committee of publication;_ and _then_ +recollecting that Palmer and Stillwell were a majority of that +_committee_, and consequently the _proper authority_, he takes another +leap, and says, that the _rough draft_ of the _proceedings_ were given +to _James Thompson Esq_ for wham he claims the _copy right_. + +Now altho' _Thompson_ is unwilling to be outdone in telling a story, +and tho' he had peaceable and quiet possession according to _the book_ +of the _consciences_ of _Stillwell and Child_, instead of telling the +public that _Mr. Cowen had resigned_, he says something which to be +sure would look "_like that_," _as the citizen says_, upon the first +impression; but which on being critically examined, contradicts the +fact on the face of it. Even the compound of jargon and inconsistency +drawn up by Thompson, and published in page 16 of the book, could not +be tortured into an _unconditional resignation_. Mr. Cowen is there +made to say, not that he _resigned_ nomination;--But that for reasons +there enumerated, "it was his _personal wish to resign his own +nomination_ &c. and he submitted to the decision of the meeting, the +question whether it would be most expedient to act on his _resignation +which_ he now made (_which_ must refer to the _personal wish_ before +expressed, for no other resignation is pretended) if the meeting should +judge a postponement impracticable, or to postpone acting until he +could have time to communicate to some of the particular friends of his +nomination (beside those who were present at the meeting) his reasons +for resigning, and procure their concurrence _before hand_ &c." + +Mr Cowen thus makes the concurrence of his friends _before hand_ a +_condition precedent_;--but the meeting disregard it--reject the +condition, and gravely resolve to accept _a resignation_, which had not +yet been tendered to them. Such is the rickety production which came +straggling before the public in search of the Secretary, who had +refused it the sanction of his name. In order to remedy this evil, and +"_throw it into form_" as the citizen would say, _his_ name gives place +to that of _Thompson and Stillwell_, who it is agreed are _larger_ men +than the Secretary,[10] and must therefore carry greater weight. Even +the certificate which follows, signed by nearly the whole of the +meeting, after going on to say that Mr. Cowen openly and publicly +resigned, immediately defeats itself by referring back to, and adopting +the statement drawn up by Thompson as a _candid, fair and faithful +statement of facts_;--and it is evident that such part of the +certificate as overshoots the premises upon which it is professedly +founded, must mean nothing more than to give a _construction_ advocated +by the Citizen, and which they esteem so necessary for their defence. +The certificate of Peters, Stewart and How, shew the miserable shifts +to which the Citizen and his friends were driven in order to bear +themselves out in their conduct. They are perhaps excusable so long as +they keep to the question of _construction_; but when they tax the zeal +of their friends with certificates and declarations so far beyond what +they themselves are willing to say--nay, which actually _contradict_ +the certificates and declarations that precede them, one is almost +induced to overlook the difficulties of their defence, and to suspect +the moral honesty--not of these men; but of those who have drawn them +into this singular situation. + +After all this round of certifying and reasoning, the shoe still +continues to pinch, and the first Judge again appears before the public +to help the defect. Altho' he signed Thompson's statement in which he +is careful to make use of the language employed by it, and the epithet +_personal_ when he speaks of Mr. Cowen's language, yet when he +afterwards hears of a distinction between _personally_ and _absolutely_ +he seems almost struck dumb with astonishment, and says he had never +heard of the distinction before. Now altho' the public will make all +rational allowance for the judge's want of distinction where Mr. +Thompson is concerned, yet I suspect they could hardly account for his +present lack of apprehension, unless he took that statement upon tick, +and signed without reading it. + +Still despairing of any thing like a defence upon this ground, the +Citizen at length, p. 24, dismisses his whole train of statements, +certificates and letters, & undertakes very learnedly and elaborately +to refine upon the distinction; and insists that if a man expresses his +_personal wish to resign_, it is to all intents and purposes a +_resignation_, and that no other was ever heard of; as if it was +impossible to consult the opinions of others, and make a _general +resignation_ depend upon their consent. All that it seems necessary in +that case, is for the McBain meeting to resolve to accept what they +thus are pleased to call a resignation, and nominate another candidate. +And this it seems accords with the sense of all the world on the +subject, both federal and republican. Thus the world are at length +after a lapse of ages, furnished with an easy recipe for a +resignation--a sort of _panacea_ to correct all the sores of the body +politic and produce a "_speedy composure of the public mind" "Tereatis +Risum Amici_;" and call no one a political quack playing off his +whimsical nostrums upon the people, whose mental repose lies so near +his heart. If the meeting are told that they _shall be responsible if +they act on a declaration thus limited_, keep it out of view as much as +possible, or say as the citizen does, p. 40, that it was only something +_like that_ or _out of season_, or some such thing. If a committee of +_three_ are chosen to publish the proceedings and _two_ of them write a +_farrago of nonsense_ which puts the whole together by the ears, in +order to decide the quarrel and "_speedily compose the public mind_," +let them raffle upon the question, and to see that every thing is fair, +appoint the _First Judge_ to hold the hat. Ancient history tells us of +more important controversies than this, decided in the same way; + + Old Hector was a wary chap, + At pitch and chuck and hustle-cap, + An old Scotch bonnet quickly takes, + In which he three brass farthings shakes; + Then turn'd his head without deceit, + + To shew them that he scorn'd to cheat; + And cries aloud, here goes, my boy, + 'Tis _heads_ for Greece and _tails_ for Troy; + Then turns the cap: _great Troy_ prevails, + _Two farthings_ out of three were tails. + +But it is time to lift the curtain, and attend more minutely to the +_chief jugglers_ who figure behind it. _The Sheriff and others_, who +sign the McBain certificate, alledge that Mr. Cowen (_according to +their construction_) not only _resigned his nomination_ but _did so_ +without any previous _request (as they perceived)_ It would seem from +_this_, that these men were kept as a sort of _puppets_ to dance in +accordance with the wires which actuated them, from behind the scene; +being thus, _according to their own account_, strangers to the +_pressing request_ made to Mr. Cowen, and the _arguments_ by which it +was enforced. They are excluded the main _performance_ and reserved for +the _farce_--probably for the _wisest_ of reasons, as there are certain +important parts which would be ruined in _vulgar hands_. It is time +that these men _should perceive_, if they have _not yet learned_ one +important fact among others, which their famous masters, _Thompson and +Child_, have thus hypocritically concealed throughout. For this purpose +I give the following extract of a _letter_ from Judge Child, written on +the subject of that _meeting_, the day after it took place, dated at +Greenfield, April 19, 1815: + + "We accordingly met, and had a free candid and friendly + _consultation_ with _Mr. Cowen_; and when he came to hear the + _communication from Esquire Cowles, Ketchum and Gardner_, on + the subject of Mr. Young's _conduct_ and _usefulness_ in the + Legislature;--_and taking into consideration all the + circumstances_, he cheerfully declared that, _in his + judgement_, it was best for him to resign being a candidate; + and use his influence for the election of Mr. Young;--but + that he _really desired_ an opportunity of _consulting those + friends_ who had exerted themselves to procure his + nomination, that were not present. It was stated to him that + they lived or at least _some_ of them, at such a distance, + that it would be very difficult to give seasonable + information to the county of his _resignation_ in favor of Mr + Young, should it be put bye till Thursday or Friday as he + requested;--and that the same _reasons_[11] _which convinced + him that it would be proper for him to resign, would satisfy + them on the subject_. Mr. Cowen _still_ tho't it would be + _the best way to proceed_ and the most gratifying to his + feelings, _to take time to consult his friends_." + +Thus you see Mr. Cowen was requested to resign, and the _arguments_ in +favor of that resignation founded upon the _famous certificate_, dated +Albany, April 17, 1815, published Ante, page 4--a statement +_jesuitically_ calculated to shew that the zeal of his friends had, _by +perverting the conversation of Ketchum &c._ aided in procuring _his_ +nomination. And when he expresses a _desire_ to consult his friends; +_an answer_ is ready, emanating from the same false and deceptive +source. Thus are the most _shameful arts_ employed to destroy his +_confidence in those friends_, and induce in him a reluctance _under +all the circumstances_ (as the first judge expresses it) against being +a candidate--You thus see their _rotten certificate_ made the +foundation for the _rise_--_progress_ and _result_ of that _meeting_. +Thus does the charge of DUPLICITY, FRAUD and FALSEHOOD recoil upon the +heads of those _arch-certifiers_, or _the men_ employed in _obtaining_ +and _giving currency_ to their shameful communication. + +It then in fact ceases to be a question what was _said_ or _done_ by +that meeting, or any member of it. For according to every principle of +reasoning, _divine_ or _human_; if the _whole_ was grounded on _fraud_, +the whole was a _nullity_, and possessed no _moral force_. "If" says +the book, "Mr. Cowen's _nomination_ was procured _by fraud_, it cannot +be called a _nomination_; and may be departed from with impunity." It +turning out on investigation, that his _nomination_ was a _perfectly +fair one_, and his pretended _resignation_ founded on the _grossest +duplicity_;--whether it was _conditional_ or _absolute_, whether it was +_personal_ or _general_, it is void, and unworthy the name of a +_resignation_. _Eternal justice_ disavows it; _Political justice_ +disowns it; and _common sense_ condemns the perversion. The +_nomination_ of _Mr. Young_, by a meeting thus _packed_ for the +purpose, by a few of _his friends_, was not only _void_ for that +reason, but it had its origin in the _same duplicity_, and was +therefore equally void with _every thing founded upon it_. + +Were Young's colleagues correctly informed, as to the manner _their +conversations_ were spoken of? or were they deceived by _Kasson_ and +_Thompson_ when they called for their _certificates_ at Albany? If the +_latter_, they had near one year before giving their _second_ +certificate, to correct the error. Why have they always shrunk from +investigation? Why in their _second_ certificate, contradict the +_first_? Why after having _near a year_ to _prepare_ it, does their +_second_ certificate _contradict itself_? As they now stand, they +present a more shocking _caricature_ of folly and inconsistency, than +ever _figured_ before the public. They have burst the bands of +political faith--They have melted the cement of affection, and driven +to a returnless distance, the best and dearest of friends. No man knew +what to say or think of what they said or certified--Individual ruin is +threatened, and the destruction of a _free press_ aimed at; while in +the political atmosphere all is uproar, disorder and confusion. + + --Alas.--"That _men_, + Clothed with a little _brief authority_, + Should play such antic tricks before high heaven, + As make the angels weep!" + +With these men however I have now done--But let their _Pander_ beware; +let him _pause and reflect_, ere it be too late--"Already are the +sluices of public indignation opened upon him--Already is he _drifted +along on the surface of the stream, the object of_ CONTAGION and +ABOMINATION"--AN ELECTOR. MAY 1816. + + * * * * * + +NOTE: The public will duly _appreciate_ the reasons for _postponing_ +the publication of the foregoing till _after Election_. The writer +hopes he has avoided the example of the _Citizen_, by not _descending_ +to the retreats of _private_ character.--Even the author of the book +has not been named. The character given of that author, ante page 30 in +note, is not intended to apply to any one named in that +pamphlet.--Indeed I hope for the honor of human nature, that however +_strange_ and _inconsistently_ some of these men have acted who have in +that production given their names to the public, yet that none of them +are so far gone as to prostitute themselves to the vile purpose of +writing such a work as that in which their names are interlarded. + + + + +NOTES + +[1] _Several hundred of these certificates were a day or two after the +McBain Meeting, struck off at the FEDERAL Printing' Office in this +Village, and circulated thro' the County during the election_. + +[2] _It will be recollected that the writer of this letter is the +famous conversation-monger, who together with his brother James Mott, +are made the instruments of proving duplicity in Mr. Cowen. John R. +Mott pretends that as early as the 1st of March, Mr. Cowen told him +that Palmer and Bunce were opposed to Young, &c and yet on the 6th day +of_ April _following, he very gravely informs Mr. Cowen by letter, of +the very facts which he says Mr. Cowen had told him before. This is the +man too who tells so much about_ private _conversation, and Mr. +Cowen's_ hesitating _to tell him names; and enjoining him to_ secresy, +_and who so very spunkily says that he called Gen. Dunning "a fool." +Mr. Cowen must, I think, feel himself greatly indebted to these_ +brother _certifiers for their honor and patriotism. This too is the +man, who sometime before wrote a fawning letter, asking Mr. Cowen to +give him an office (Assistant Assessor of the U.S.) which he had at his +disposal; to which Mr. Cowen readily acceded, and afterwards on another +written request, conferred the same office on his_ brother certifier +_James Mott. [The inhabitants of Halfmoon, will furnish ample +credentials, for their extraordinary_ attention _and_ correctness _in +the execution of their offices, One of these men shortly before the +election was appointed deputy to the Sheriff: He suddenly veers about +and becomes a convert to_ court _doctrine, and evinces his zeal in the +new cause he had espoused, by his_ anathemas _against his former +friends.] These brothers in blood, in politics and in virtue, +generously avail themselves of the advantages afforded them by official +intercourse with Mr. Cowen on business, and then patriotically tender +the fruits of their_ rotten-hearted _labor to_ "the citizen" _and his +friends as proofs of duplicity_. + +[3] _This was on the_ first _day of the Polls--but it seems by Mr. +Bennet's certificate, that as soon as the election was over, Thompson +flung off the mask, and exhibited his_ cloven foot _without reserve_. + +[4] _Altho' it is a fact well known that this meeting was projected by, +and the canting pretences which bro't it together and sent forth the +strange account which it gives of itself, originated with_ two or three +"demagogues," _yet it is a subject of real regret that a_ few honest +men _have suffered themselves to be duped by their shameful artifices. +It commenced with_ Mr. Thompson of Milton, _who during the summer past +has been very industrious in serving up and peddling little doses of +slander against_ Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Bunce, and others. _This man has been +a real political_ scold, _ever since he found himself capable of +throwing a little confusion into the ranks of the county; He is the +first_ male Xantippe _who has reduced the doctrine of scolding to a +system, and certified it in a_ book. _Of such characters there is +little hopes:_ + + "_Destroy his_ web and sophistry _in vain_, + _The creature's at his_ dirty work _again_." + +[5] _Altho' no man more sincerely rejoices in the charitable donations +of the people of Saratoga, for the relief of our brethren at_ Sacket's +Harbor, _than the writer of these remarks, yet he cannot avoid joining +in the general disgust at the vanity of Judge Child, in trying to +elicit public applause for himself. The judge cannot bear to hide his +charming light under a bushel. Instead of not suffering one hand to +know what the other is doing, he is not content with its being +published in a_ book, _but advertises his charity in a newspaper as a +man would one of his_ stray cattle. _From his liberal conduct to the +Editor of the Journal and others, he is perhaps excusable in calling +his charity about him as soon as possible, even if he offers a +considerable reward for it in the next advertisement which he puts into +his darling paper_. + +[6] By a new species of logic adopted by the author of the Book, a man +is accounted _honorable_ and _virtuous_ by the square foot of carcase. +Ergo, "a little man" in stature, comprehends all that is _hypocritical_ +and _wicked_. The _great man_, James Merrill, who is the subject of +this note, by the above rule is of course, the most _honorable_, best +informed and _religious_ man of the whole group, who embellish the fair +pages of that "book." It is proper that the public should know a little +of his _debut_ and _denoument_ as a political character. + +His _first_ notorious feat was performed in his first and last +appearance as a member of assembly, where his colleague by a friendly +rap on the knuckle convinced him that he was _endeavoring_ to read off +a _federal_ vote for a council of appointment, which a federal member +had assured him was more _legible_ than the one _prepared_ for him. + +The _second_ time as a quid of the _Burr_ stamp, and willing to spend +500 dollars rather than the republican candidate should succeed. + +The _third_ time in a _new_ character; with his name blazoned in large +capitals in recommendation of S. Van Rensselaer for governor, in +opposition to Daniel D. Tompkins in 1813. + +The fourth time in 1815, as the _sub_ agent and director of the McBain +meeting; still ready with 100 dollars, to divide the ticket with the +federalists rather than the regular nomination should succeed and Mr. +Young not be elected; swearing he had not _before taken hold since his +friend Burr went down_. + +On the _first_ day of election he is a flaming democrat. + +On the _second_ day, at the opening of the polls, he makes public +proclamation "for all those who did not intend to vote for Mr Young to +come forward and state their reasons, _and they should be heard_; and +that _now_ he had no objections that _three federalists_ should be +elected." + +On the third day of the election, "_it depended on a word, and the +types of the republican printer would be scattered_." A true sample of +"the mild spirit of Christian humility" Vid. _book_. + +[7] _This circumstance would not have been mentioned had not the +_CITIZEN_ boasted of the same office confering great honor on one of +his disciples_. + +[8] In treating of the productions of an author, it is customary to +give some account of his character, pursuits, &c. &c. This is usually +done by way of _introduction_ or _appendix_. I beg leave in this +instance to deviate from the regular method, and present him in the +more appropriate station of a _Nota Bene_. + +The author of that pamphlet is a _lawyer_ in _practice_ and a +_moralist_ by _profession_; by the former, he has acquired great +_booty_; by the latter a ---- and what is peculiar to himself (and all +'peculiar' men have their peculiarities) he never suffers his +_profession_ to interfere with his _practice_; and yet in _money +concerns_, he has been known to handle _both_, with great _adroitness_. +In his _practice_ his fellow townsmen are "pine plains men," in his +profession "a contemptible rabble;" and truly so, for the former tell +him "the farm you live on was once the soil of a revolutionary +soldier." This is truly saucey, for he acquired it by his _practice_. +The latter tell him, "you sued us for small sums due the estate of a +relative; you made us ten times more costs than the demands--you took +advantage of a then existing law, to oppress us; you feasted on our +misfortunes, and rioted on our distresses; till an _ugly_ law extended +relief to the '_rabble_'." + +One of these men living in an adjoining town, tells him, "I once owned +two farms; I own no farms now--They are swallowed up in '_morality_.'" +It is not yet ascertained, whether his rate of 40 per cent interest, is +regulated by his _practice_ or his _profession_. It certainly cannot +be, as has been supposed, in proportion to the wants of the distressed. +I am inclined to think his _morality_ often runs ahead of his +_practice_, in this case. + +A _good reputation_ is not common to all men. Our author has +practically demonstrated the truth of this position, and conclusively +shewn, that the _needy_ have an absolute right to filch a supply from +their neighbor; and has exhibited such powerful proofs in support of +_his_ claims, that he has actually obtained more than a _quantum +sufficit_, and conferred the surplus on some of his _needy_ friends. + +The misfortunes of his neighbor, forms the chief round in his _ladder_ +to eminence; it rests on the sanctuary of domestic afflictions, and is +supported by the tears of the widow and the orphan. Lo! Avarice claims +him for her own--Billingsgate yields her choicest flowers--Envy +entwines the glowing wreath--and malice triumphantly crowns him "lord +of the ascendant." + +[9] _The certificates of these men interlard several points of +conversation as minute as the souls which gave operation to their +memory; and which appear to be designed to answer no other purpose, +than to shew the extraordinary strength and accuracy of intellect by +which they are characterized. Their fixed attention to such matters may +serve as some excuse for the manner in which they executed their +offices of U.S. assessors. But I have had occasion to note these +gentlemen once before_. + +[10] _The Citizen is perhaps correct when he calls Mr. Palmer a_ little +man, _and Judges of his own_ favorites _by the quantity of_ matter +_instead of_ mind;--_Like the Italian Farmer in estimating the +qualities of a_ grave animal _no less famous for_ strength and dullness +_than for the_ length _of his_ ears. + +[11] _It seems that an effort was afterwards made to convince their +friends, by publishing several hundreds of the famous communication +from Young's colleagues, notwithstanding an express stipulation to the +contrary_. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Review and Exposition, of the +Falsehoods and Misrepresentations, of a Pamphlet Addressed to the Republicans of the County of Saratoga, Signed, "A Citizen", by An Elector + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVIEW AND EXPOSITION *** + +***** This file should be named 14729-8.txt or 14729-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/2/14729/ + +Produced by Curtis A. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/14729-8.zip b/old/14729-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc05d15 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14729-8.zip diff --git a/old/14729.txt b/old/14729.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2cfca1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14729.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2488 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Review and Exposition, of the Falsehoods +and Misrepresentations, of a Pamphlet Addressed to the Republicans of the County of Saratoga, Signed, "A Citizen", by An Elector + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Review and Exposition, of the Falsehoods and Misrepresentations, of a Pamphlet Addressed to the Republicans of the County of Saratoga, Signed, "A Citizen" + +Author: An Elector + +Release Date: January 18, 2005 [EBook #14729] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVIEW AND EXPOSITION *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Project Manager, Keith M. Eckrich, +Post-Processor and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. Produced from page scans provided by Cornell +University Library. + + + + + + + + + + + A + REVIEW + _AND_ + EXPOSITION, + OF THE + _FALSEHOODS_ + AND + _MISREPRESENTATIONS_, + OF A + PAMPHLET + _ADDRESSED TO THE_ + REPUBLICANS OF THE COUNTY OF + SARATOGA, + + _SIGNED_, + "A CITIZEN;" + + + PRINTED BY "ULYSSES F. DOUBLEDAY." + + + BY AN ELECTOR. + + + _BALLSTON SPA:_ + _March 1816_. + + + + +TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE COUNTY OF SARATOGA. + + + +_Fellow-Citizens_. + +The pamphlet signed "A Citizen," and entitled "A defence," &c. +generally known by the name of "The Book," has at length made its +appearance; and as was expected, this last effort of an expiring +faction, has excited no other emotions in the mind of an enlightened +public, than those of contempt and pity--Contempt for the miserable +arts of condign despair, and pity like that excited by an object in the +agonies of dissolution, or a maniac dancing in his chains. This +production should have been left to the oblivion which inevitably +awaits it, nor should my pen have been employed in its detection and +exposure, had it not been characterized by the lowest attempts at +concealment and treachery, falsehood and detraction.--Like _Iago_ in +the play, a wretched abandonment of character, a destitution of +principle, and a fiend-like thirst for _revenge_, accompany the author +thro' the whole of his progress, and appear to acquire additional +force, as he approaches the period of his downfall. That it is a +tissue, however, which it requires no strength to burst, will appear by +the examination of a single point on which the whole of the story is +made to rest. If the ridiculous charge made against two or three +individuals that they had cheated Mr. Young out of his nomination, +turns out to be the mere phantom of a disordered imagination, instead +of a logical deduction of truth, if the facts which have been urged in +support of this charge, are the mere creatures of misrepresentation, +prevarication and falsehood; this alone will settle the controversy, +and fix the imputation, upon its unprincipled authors. The loop on +which this absurd tale is made to hang, is the _frail and feeble_ +certificate of Ketcham, Gardner and Cowles. That I should be authorised +to apply an epithet more severe than that of frail and feeble, I take +it upon me to prove in the first place by the certificate itself, +compared with one which the same men issued last spring: And in the +next place by a plain statement of facts, given under the solemnity of +an oath, leaving it at present for _atheists_ and blasphemers, (for I +am sure none others will) to ascribe greater moral certainty to a +certificate carrying on the face of it miserable evasion, than to a +history sanctioned by an appeal to the Christians God. + +That this certificate is both suspicious and evasive, I appeal to the +pamphlet page 27. Why do they not tell their fellow-citizens, that +_they did not collectively or individually during that session charge +Young with ill-treatment towards them_? Would not this have been +perfectly easy if true? Why do they blink the question, and tell a long +story about a conversation which they held with Mr. Bunce, which +whether it was true or untrue, is totally immaterial? What do they mean +in a later stage of their certificate, by the _unsuspecting and_ +_unguarded conversation_, they had held with Mr. Bunce, and which they +were afraid he would make mischief of? Do they call the conversation +which they detail an unguarded one? Or was it some other conversation +and conversations which shall be proved upon them? Instead of saying +that they expressed no opinion to Bunce that "Young ought not _again_ +to be nominated," why do they not tell us, whether they or either of +them expressed any opinion to Bunce, or any other person, against his +nomination _the then next spring_? In Mr. Kasson's letter (p. 33) it +appears they told him that "_Bunce and another gentleman_" called on +them, with whom they held a conversation; whereas the one given in +their recent certificate is confined exclusively to Bunce. Read also +the following certificate of these men, which they gave to the public +last spring; in which they admit some other conversation which they +call _a free and unreserved conversation_, and protest against the +"treacherous perversion" of it. + + +"_To the Citizens of the county of Saratoga_." + +"Having heard that a private conversation of ours has been represented +to our Fellow Citizens in a light unfavorable to the character of +Samuel Young, Esq. and has been used to his prejudice, in the +estimation of his constituents.--We discharge a duty grateful to our +individual feelings, due to the feelings and character of a highly +useful, able, faithful and industrious Member of Assembly, and due to +our county, to express our _pointed indignation_ against the +_treacherous perversion_ of the spirit of a free and unreserved +conversation by stating to our fellow citizens, that we have always +lived in the most perfect harmony with Mr. Young, have had with him on +all legislative business the most cordial co-operation and concert: +that his uniform deportment towards us has been friendly and decorous, +and that we never gave an intimation of any wish or opinion against his +renomination to the Assembly.--HOWEL GARDNER, RICHARD KETCHUM, BENJAMIN +COWLES. _Albany, April 17, 1815_."[1] + +Whatever name these gentlemen, may have given to their conversations, +some times calling them _unsuspecting and unguarded_, and sometimes +_free and unreserved_, in order to determine their nature and place +them in a clear light, I shall now go on to shew the public what they +did say, and not stop to quarrel about names so long as I am sure that +public will be content with the things themselves. I challenge +incredulity itself after reading the following affidavits and +statements, to doubt one moment on the subject. + + "Isaiah Bunce & Thomas Palmer being duly sworn, say, that + they were at Albany in the early part of the late session of + the Legislature, and put up at the house where the Delegates + of the county of Saratoga quartered. That they and three of + the Delegates from said county, viz. Messrs. Ketcham, Gardner + and Cowles, conversed freely with each other on various + political subjects, and in one conversation they had with + these said Members, they told these Deponents, that they had + not been well treated by their colleague Mr. Young--spoke + freely of their unpleasant situation, owing to that + treatment, mentioning a number of instances illustrating the + same, both in the fall session and the then session of the + Legislature. + + "And these deponents further say, that they the said Ketcham, + Gardner and Cowles, did in that conversation, decidedly + express their opinion that the said Young ought not to + represent this county again in the next session--at the same + time signifying that they had no wish, that the talents of + Mr. Young should be lost to the county, but believed it would + be for his benefit, should he not be elected the ensuing + session--or language to that import. + + "And these deponents further say, that this conversation took + place while it was generally believed and expected, and so + expressed by the said Ketcham, Cowles and Gardner in + particular, that Mr. Young would in a day or two, be + appointed Secretary of the State of New-York.--ISAIAH BUNCE, + THOMAS PALMER. _Sworn the 5th day of May, in the Year 1815, + before me SAMUEL COOK, Master in Chancery_." + + "John Dunning being sworn saith, That in March last, He went + to Albany and there saw Benjamin Cowles Esq. one of the + Delegates from Saratoga, who told this deponent, that Samuel + Young Esq. had treated the Members of this county with + neglect, that their situation owing to the treatment they had + received from him was very disagreeable, or words to that + amount--mentioning instances of that neglect &c. + + "And this deponent further saith, That on his return from + Albany, he overtook Richard Ketchum Esq. then going to visit + his family in Stillwater--that he conversed with the said + Ketchum, on the subject of Mr. Young's treatment to them, who + informed this deponent the same as Mr. Cowles had done, and + related several circumstances confirming the same.--JOHN + DUNNING. Subscribed and sworn before me, Philo T. Beebe, one + of the Justices of the Peace in Malta, County of Saratoga, + the 4th day of May 1815_. PHILO T. BEEBE, _Justice of the + Peace_. + + "Amos Allcott being sworn saith, that Messrs. Ketchum, + Gardner and Cowles, three of the Delegates from the county of + Saratoga, some time in March last, when at Albany, told this + Deponent, that they had been ill-treated, or not well treated + by Samuel Young Esq. their colleague--and expressed their + opinion and wishes fully, that some other person than he, + should the next session represent this county in Assembly. + Mr. Ketchum in presence of the other two, said he had made up + his mind fully in favor of George Palmer, Esq. or Esek Cowen + Esq. being the man, to which the other two appeared to + assent.--Mr. Gardner however remarked, that _some said_ Mr. + Young might be sufficiently, mortified by not being appointed + Secretary of State.--AMOS ALLCOTT. _Sworn the 5th day of May, + in the Year 1815, before me SAMUEL COOK Master in Chancery_." + + "Lewis B. Edwards being sworn saith, That a few days after + Mr. Bunce and Palmer returned from Albany--Mr. Gardner Member + of Assembly, called at the office of the _Saratoga Journal_, + on his way home to see his family, and told Mr. Bunce among + other things, that Mr. Young had lost the Office of Secretary + of State, and that Mr. Porter was appointed. And further + remarked, 'it may be best to suspend the thing we talked of, + his loosing that may humble him enough, pride will have a + all'--or words to that import. + + "And this Deponent further saith, That about a fortnight + after this, Mr. Cowles one of the other Members of Assembly, + called at the Office on his return from Hadley to the + Legislature, and on Mr. Bunce, asking him whether Mr. Young + had treated them any better since his disappointment, he + replied he had not--and that Mr. Young had never yet even + asked them to walk to the House with him or words to that + effect. On the said Bunces enquiry whether he had mentioned + the subject to any of his friends while at home--he replied + that he intended to have done so to Esq. Rockwell, but he had + missed of him returning from Albany. Mr. Rockwell, as + appeared having gone to Albany while Mr. Cowles was going to + Hadley.--LEWIS B. EDWARDS. _Sworn the fifth day of May, in + the year 1815, before me SAMUEL COOK, Master in Chancery_." + +It is here proper to remark, that on the 18th of April, the day of the +McBain meeting; Judge Child, recommended that no publication he made on +either side, and that after election a meeting should take place +between the members and Messrs. Bunce and Palmer, and endeavor to come +to an amicable explanation. Mr. Stillwell, will well remember, that two +days afterwards he called on Mr. Palmer, with a message from Judge +Child, requesting him, "by all means not to publish any thing during +the election, relative to the conversation with the members," to which +Mr. Palmer readily assented. Notwithstanding which, the next day the +certificate of the members, were brought to the Federal Printing +Office, and several hundred copies struck off, with the knowledge of +Mr. Stillwell, who then kept his office within a few rods of the +Federal Press. Yet no contrary statements were published during the +election, nor until after two or three weeks had expired after the time +set by Mr. Cowles, for the members to meet Messrs. Bunce and Palmer. +The members were requested by several Republicans to meet; they were +finally publicly invited in the Journal, but contrary to the +expectations and wishes of a great portion of the Republicans of the +County, they did not come forward; and the above affidavits were +published. And here the controversy on this point might have ended; but +it seems the members, or rather the 'Citizen,' was not satisfied, and +he procures _another_ certificate from them, which may be seen in page +27 28 and 29 of that pamphlet. Compare their _two_ statements--examine +the above affidavits again--read the following certificates, and judge +for yourselves. + + "I hereby certify, that I met Benjamin Cowles, Esq. at Jones' + Inn in Halfmoon, _on his return home from the Legislature_, + on the 20th of April last, two days after the McBain meeting, + and we there conversed together on the subject of the + conversation he Messrs. Ketchum and Gardner, had with Messrs. + Bunce and Palmer, in Albany, (where it was alleged that they + Ketchum, Cowles and Gardner, had complained of vanity, + neglect and ill-treatment of Mr. Young.) That I expressed my + surplice to Mr. Cowles, that he, (Cowles) Ketchum and Gardner + should lend their names to an instrument denying the + conversation above alluded to, when he Cowles, Ketchum and + Gardner, knew they had not only complained to Bunce and + Palmer, but to myself and others. To which he answered, that + the certificate given by them was not given meaning to deny + any thing that had been said as respected ill-treatment, &c. + of Mr. Young, but only to re-but other things which the + gentlemen who called for the certificate, (among whom were + James Thompson, Esq.) represented to have been said. On which + I suggested the propriety of his calling on Bunce and Palmer, + at the Springs; and immediately getting his colleagues to + meet them, and have the thing explained, and prevent improper + use being made of their certificate; to which preposition he, + after expressing his regret that it had become public, + cordially acceded. I then parted with him on my way to + New-York.--AMOS ALLCOTT, _Ballston Spa, March 1816_." + + "I certify, that Mr. Cowles did on that day, (20th April) + call on Mr. Bunce as mentioned in the above certificate of + Mr. Allcott he had agreed to do, and after some conversation + on the subject, in which he admitted that he, Gardner and + Ketchum, had complained of Young's ill treatment and + haughtiness to them, and their expressing their opinion + against his being nominated as a candidate for that election + &c. he strongly solicited Mr. Bunce to have nothing published + in his paper on the subject, till he could go and see his + colleagues, Mr. Gardner and Ketchum, and get them to meet and + have the affair explained and reconciled, which he said he + would at all events endeavor to do before the next paper + should come out, [this being _Thursday_, and the paper not to + appear before the next _Wednesday_,] that he was then in a + great hurry, and must get home that night, but he would make + it his business to immediately attend to it; to which + proposition Mr. Bunce readily agreed, and promised Mr. Cowles + accordingly. This conversation was in the office of the + Saratoga Journal, in the room in which I was at work. The + next day however, information was brought to Mr. Bunce in the + office, that the certificate of the said Cowles, Gardner and + Ketchum, denying the conversation relative to Mr. Young, was + then striking off at Mr. Comstock's Office in this place, and + shortly after a _printed copy_ was brought into the office.-- + LEWIS B. EDWARDS. _Ballston Spa, March 1816_." + + "I certify, that shortly after the rising of the Legislature, + I saw Benjamin Cowles, Esq. in the village of Ballston Spa, + on his way home; And in a conversation with him relative to + the reports respecting Mr. Young, I asked him whether he had + not told Mr. Bunce and Palmer, 'that Mr. Young had treated + his colleagues with neglect, and that his treatment towards + them was haughty and reserved,' to which Mr. Cowles answered + in the affirmative. I further asked him if he did not tell + Mr. Palmer and Bunce, 'that he was convinced of Mr. Young's + vanity, previous to his being in the Legislature with him,' + and state as an example 'that while they were Supervisors, + they were appointed a committee to arrange or make out an + account, for the board of Supervisors, and that he the said + Benjamin Cowles, Esq. made out the account himself and + delivered it to Mr. Y. who copied and presented it to the + board of Supervisors, and claimed the credit of it himself.' + To all of which Mr. Cowles answered in the affirmative, and + expressed a wish that Mr. B. and P. would not publish any + thing concerning the conversation, as he was anxious to see + Messrs. Gardner and Ketchum, and have the affair reconciled. + He further stated that he did not think that the certificate + given by Mr. Ketchum, Gardner and himself, to Jas. Thompson; + Esq. did deny the conversation with Bunce and Palmer.--A.W. + ODELL. _Ballston Spa, March, 1816_." + + "I certify that some time in the month of February 1815, + Benjamin Cowles, Esq. came home from the Legislature on a + visit, that I saw Mr. Cowles at Ensign's Inn, in the town of + Hadley, in which town we both reside; and that we then and + there entered into a conversation concerning Mr. Young, and + that Mr. Cowles intimated to me that Mr. Young's treatment + was haughty towards the members, and said that he was + disappointed in his expectations in the treatment he received + from Mr. Young, and he further told me that he thought it + would be as well to send some _other_ man to the Legislature + the then ensuing year. + + "I further certify, that some time in the fall of 1815, I had + another conversation with the said Benjamin Cowles, Esq. on + the subject of the affidavits that had been published, + relative to the conversation said to have passed between + Isaiah Bunce and Thomas Palmer, and the members in Albany; + and that during that conversation he did not contradict the + statements published, but gave me to understand that the same + were true, and intimated that he had inconsiderately signed + the certificate published during the election. + + "I further certify, that Mr. Cowles was the first person, who + informed me of the ill-treatment the members had received + from Mr. Young, and that it would be as well to send some + other person to the Legislature the ensuing year.--BARRY + FENTON. _Hadley, March 1816_." + + "I, Jacob Thorn, of Galway, in the county of Saratoga; do + certify, that shortly after the affidavits of Messrs. Bunce, + Palmer, Allcott, Dunning and Edwards, were published, + relative to the conversation they had with Messrs. Ketcham, + Gardner and Cowles in Albany; I had a conversation with Mr. + Ketcham in Stillwater, relative to the affidavits published. + I told him if the affidavits were not true, he ought to + contradict them. He replied, that his _friends advised him to + say nothing about it_. I enquired of him the meaning of those + affidavits---and whether the facts therein stated were + true--to which the said Ketcham answered, that _they were + true_--but said he did not expect it would have been made + public.--JACOB THORN." + + "I certify, that some time in the month of March 1815, I went + to Albany on business, and called at the house where the + members of this county resided; found Messrs. Gardner, + Ketcham and Cowles, and made my business known. Mr. Cowles + said he would call and see me at my lodgings. Accordingly he + did; told me it was not according to his wish, that what I + had to offer in the business could not be complied with. I + then asked where Mr. Young quartered? He said he would tell + me; on the way, Mr. Cowles said there had been _a coldness + between the Speaker of the House, and the members from this + County, since he became speaker and expected to be Secretary + of State_, and on that account _declined going_.--JONATHAN + KELLOGG. _Northumberland, April 8th 1816_." + + "I hereby solemnly certify, that some time in the month of + February, 1815, (and I believe in the early part of it,) in a + conversation Col. John Prior had with me just after his + return from Albany, on the subject of candidates for the then + approaching election; he the said Prior remarked, that 'Mr. + Young was not so popular as he had been.' On my asking him + why, he replied, 'for his ill treatment to his colleagues, + having grown haughty, &c.' This I understood him to have + received directly from the said members, Messrs. Gardner, + Cowles and Ketcham. In the spring of the same year, after + Messrs. Palmer and Bunce had made known similar complaints, + that the said three members had made to them of Young's + treatment, I had another conversation with the said Prior on + the subject, in which he the said Prior intimated, 'he did + not believe the said members had told the said Palmer and + Bunce what they had pretended.' I then asked him, if the + members were not as likely to tell them of it, as himself, + and repeated to the said Prior what he had told me in the + winter, of the members having made the same complaint to him, + which the said Prior did not pretend to deny as having heard + from the members, nor having told me the same.--JOSEPH + MITCHEL. _Dated, Greenfield, March 15, 1815_." + + "I hereby certify, that in the early part of the winter past, + I had a conversation with Isaac Myers of Stillwater, relative + to the conduct of Richard Ketcham, late a member of the + Legislature; when he the said Myers told me that _he knew_ + the said Ketcham had _contradicted himself_, relative to what + he had said of Mr. Young; that _previous_ to the McBain + meeting, Ketcham had _denied_ to him, ever saying any thing + _against_ Young, or complaining of his treatment; but that + _afterwards_ he had _owned to several in his presence, that + he had spoken against_ Young, &c.--ASA B. JEWEL. _Saratoga, + March 25th 1816_." + +Other affidavits and statements might be produced to the same effect +but twelve or fourteen different conversations, at different times, +and, in presence of different men are already proved upon them, all +importing explicitly that Mr. Young had ill-treated or neglected +them--and shewing a desire on their part that Mr. Young should not be +sent to the Legislature the ensuing year. If then Mr. Young had an +undoubted right to a seat in the legislature, which would perhaps be +questionable upon republican ground, and was deprived of that right by +"management and fraud," with whom did this system of corruption +commence! and to whose account ought it to be placed? To that of his +colleagues, or other men whom their misstatements and falsehoods had +seduced? It may however, be very well to enquire whether these +declarations were ever made use of to any purpose, and whether Mr. +Young must have succeeded in his nomination, had these _free_ and +_unreserved_ conversations of his colleagues, been kept entirely out of +view; whether Palmer and Bunce, were alone in singling out the +candidate who was nominated, or whether some other person or persons +had not tho't of him even _before_ Palmer and Bunce went to Albany. + +Among the names which ornament the pages of "_The Citizen_," I observe +that of a _recent_ convert to the doctrine of "_Falsehood, Fraud & Co_" +viz: William Stillwell, late a Judge, and now Clerk of this county. +This political _Proteus_, together with a number of his, friends was I +believe, among the first to start Mr. Cowen as a candidate, before the +county convention, and was from time to time very importunate with him, +to consent that his name should be made use of for this purpose. From +the early part of February 1815, until he had got the Clerk's office, +be appears to have been Mr. Cowen's indefatigable supporter. At the +McBain meeting however, he was as active and diligent to get rid of +that nomination, as he had before been to effect it. Thomas Palmer, +Esq. the secretary of that meeting, together with. Judge Stillwell, +were chosen two of the committee to draw up the proceedings, and were +unquestionably in all respects the proper organ for that purpose. +Sensible of this, Judge Stillwell, the evening after the meeting, +_invited Mr. Palmer to his house_, where _they_ deliberately, and +without any _disagreement_ drew up the statement, published p. 24 and +25, of their pamphlet. They _jointly reviewed_ this statement the _next +morning--agreed_ in its correctness, and ordered it to be printed. +Shortly after, without the knowledge of Mr. Palmer or Mr. Cowen, +Stillwell _secretly withdraws_ this statement from the printing office, +and adopts and signs _another_ drawn up by Mr. Thompson, _differing in +many respects from the first_. This last statement the secretary +refused to sign, and his name was inserted as you will see by the +statement itself, p. 16, without his knowledge or authority. Having +thus boxed the compass and settled down upon _point no point_, it is +not surprising that when Stillwell lends his name to "_The Citizen_" +and appears in his Book, as the flaming advocate for "fair and open +conduct," and the zealous _detector_ of "fraud and duplicity," that he +should hypocritically _skulk behind the scene_, and keep himself as +much out of view as possible, in the strange and opposite parts which +he had acted. The singular course which this man (Stillwell) had +pursued both in and out of "the book," and especially his attempt to +shew that "Mr. Cowen's nomination was procured by fraud, &c." drew the +following sentiments from Doctor Clark, (who was one of the convention +which nominated Mr. Cowen) expressed in a letter to Thomas Palmer, +Esq.-- + + "_Moreau, March 12th 1816_. + + Dear Sir, + + Having seen and examined a publication signed "A Citizen," + purporting to be an apology and justification of the + gentlemen who composed the McBain meeting. In that + publication I observe a studied and systematic attempt to fix + on you and Mr. Bunce, the blame of having started Esek Cowen + Esq. as a candidate for assembly, and of having procured his + nomination by _fraud_ and _intrigue_. In consequence of + seeing Wm. Stillwell's name affixed to the proceedings of + that meeting, and being well informed that the said Stillwell + hath gone great length to justify the conduct of the said + meeting, in making void the nomination made by the county + convention, I feel myself constrained by a sense of justice + to declare, that some time on or about the 11th day of + February 1815, being in company with Esek Cowen, at the house + of Wm. Stillwell Esq., he the said Stillwell did then and + there introduce the subject of the then next election, by + saying, that himself and a number of others had conversed on + the subject, and agreed that Mr. Cowen ought to be a + candidate--That Mr. Cowen made objections, and mentioned to + him the names of several other gentlemen as being proper + candidates in preference to himself; to which Mr. Stillwell + objected, and urged Mr. Cowen with apparent zeal to suffer + his name to be made use of as a candidate. Sir, you are at + liberty to make such use of the above statement of facts, as + in your judgment you shall think proper. + + Yours, Respectfully, B.J. Clark. + + Hon. T. Palmer Esq." + +It will also appear _amongst other things_, by the following letter +written by John R. Mott,[2] who I believe is the second certifier in +"the book," that Judge Stillwell entertained sentiments opposed to Mr. +Young's nomination, as late as the _sixth_ of _April_. + + "_Saratoga, April 6, 1815_. + + Dear sir, + + It was late when I returned from Ballston, which prevented my + calling on you I had conversations with _several gentlemen_ + on the subject of the nomination, particularly with _Judge + Stillwell_, capt. Odell and Mr. Bunce, by whom I learned the + sentiments of Mr. Palmer, and find the whole to be opposed to + Mr. Young. I also saw Mr. Lee and Kasson. They were in favor + of Mr. Young on the principle of _what they called + sacrificing_ Mr. Young, if he was not nominated. The Milton + committee are Thomas Palmer, Joel Keeler and Daniel Couch, + junior Esquires. + + From yours, with esteem, + + Esek Cowen, Esq." + + JOHN R. MOTT. + + +Mr. Mott, one of the delegation from Saratoga, informs Mr. Cowen +another of the delegation from that town, that Stillwell and others are +opposed to Young. This presumption in Judge Stillwell, it seems could +not be endured, and he in common with others was marked out as a +victim. His name was originally connected with that of Palmer and +Bunce, in the letter of Kasson, dated the 12th April, p. 33, as being +concerned with them in "this _black business_" as he calls it, until by +making his peace, this _crow_ is suddenly changed into a _swan_, and +his name erased from the letter. + +If farther proof is wanting that the loss of Mr. Young's nomination did +not depend on any thing which fell from his colleagues, or any +individual exertion made against it, you may have it by calling on the +following gentlemen, who acted on the county convention, to wit: + + Avery Starkweather, John Pettit, Eli Smith, Joel Keeler, + Isaac Rice, Nathan Raymond, Jessup Raymond, Richard Dunning, + James Clark, Isaac Andrus, Solomon Parks, Nicholas W. Angle, + Billy J. Clark, Potter Johnson, Benjamin Burton, Joseph + Mitchell, William Taylor, Samuel Cook, Nathan Pardee, Joshua + Finch, John Brown, Samuel S. Barker, Isaac Brewster, &c. + +You will find among them many of the most respectable names in the +county. By them it will also appear how far Mr. Young's failure +depended on Palmer and Bunce, and how far it was regulated by public +sentiment. But, it is presumed that what Doctor Clark very properly +calls a _systematic attempt_, to fix a course of fraud upon two or +three individuals, and ascribe the result of that convention to them, +must appear as absurd and ridiculous in the eyes of the public, as it +did to Doctor Clark and his associates on the committee. + +But why spend a moments time in refuting so base a calumny; by +searching for argument and demonstration while it must be rendered +useless by conviction. Another year has rolled away; another convention +have met--have made a nomination for Congress and Assembly--They were +unanimous--Mr. Young is not nominated, nor even named for the year +1816. This too was not till the blood-hounds of imaginary fraud had +yelled their notes thro' the county, the quivers of malice had been +exhausted of their poisoned arrows, and "the book," that great gun of a +falling faction which they had been loading during the whole Summer +past, had gone off with a harmless explosion. + +It may not be amiss however, to examine the behaviour of these famous +pretenders to fair and open conduct, and see how far they practice what +they preach. In doing this, permit me to call your attention to the +following certificates. + + "I notice in the pamphlet signed 'A Citizen' lately + published, an assertion that the committee in the town of + _Milton_ in the Spring of 1815, 'was procured by management, + fraud and falsehood.' I attended the meeting in this town, + according to previous notice in the Journal for that purpose, + at which I saw Mr. T. Palmer and Mr. Bunce, but saw nothing + in them like either fraud or management. I voted in that + committee for Mess. Palmer, Keeler and Couch, but not from + any solicitations of either Mr. Bunce or Mr. Palmer, but + because I believed them the best men; nor had any one of + these, or any one else, then told me that the three members + had complained of Mr. Young. + + "James Thompson, Esq. was a candidate for the same committee, + and his partner, Alpheus Goodrich, Esq. wrote votes for the + said James Thompson; but I refused to vote for him, not, + however, from any thing I had ever heard either the said + Palmer or Bunce say against him. There was a large majority + for the three above named committee, but I saw no unusual + exertions, or any thing that looked like unfair proceedings, + in any one at the meeting who appeared to be voting the + ticket which I did.--EBENEZER DIBBLE. _Milton, March, 1816_." + + "I also was present at the above mentioned meeting for the + purpose of choosing delegates to the county convention. The + meeting was notified in the Journal, at Gregory & Hawkins', + on the day some of the town officers met there. The meeting + proceeded to organize by choosing Joel Keeler, Esq. chairman, + and Thomas Palmer secretary, and then without opposition, + voted to choose the committee by ballot. The candidates for + whom ballots were wrote, were, on one ticket, James Thompson, + Archy Kasson and Elias Benedict--On the other, Daniel Couch + jun, Joel Keeler and Thomas Palmer. Mr. Bunce was there; and + in the room, wrote votes for the latter three gentlemen, for + whom I voted, but not from the insinuations or persuasions of + any one. And I saw no intrigue, management or improper + electioneering in either the said Palmer or Bunce, or any one + else for that ticket; but believe every thing was conducted + fairly. + + "I had on that day, before I came there, heard of reports + against Mr. Young, but not from either Mr. Palmer or Mr. + Bunce; but to the best of my recollection from _Elihu Roe_ in + a conversation between him and _Deacon Stillwell_. I had + before heard no intimation of the same from any one.--EZRA + NASH. _Milton, March 1816_." + + "I was present at the republican meeting in Milton, in the + Spring of 1815, for the purpose of choosing a committee to + meet the general committee to make a nomination. I saw no + deception or intrigue on the part of either Mr. Palmer or Mr. + Bunce, nor any particular exertion of either of them to + procure the committee that were elected. Some time _before_ + the said meeting, I had understood that James Thompson, Esq. + of said town, had _expressed a wish_ to be one of the + committee, and at the above mentioned meeting Alpheus + Goodrich, Esq. _his partner_ took a very active part to get + him appointed--wrote votes and endeavored to get others to + take them and vote for the said Thompson, his name being on + the same ticket with Archy Kasson and Elias Benedict; but + they received at the meeting, which consisted of about + thirty, but very few votes, the other ticket, which I voted, + obtaining a large majority. And I hereby further certify, + that neither the said Palmer nor Bunce, both being present at + the meeting, had ever informed me, or given me an intimation + that there was any complaint against Mr. Young, nor did I + ever hear of any complaints against Young, from any one until + some time afterwards; and from the best of my recollection, + _Joel Lee_ was the first who informed me of these complaints + against the said Young.--DAVID DERRICK. _Milton, March + 1816_." + +It appears that in the town of Milton Mr. Archy Kasson, Elias Benedict +and James Thompson Esq. were candidates at the meeting in that town for +the choice of delegates in 1815.--That Alpheus Goodrich Esq. Thompson's +partner, in particular, acted decidedly in favor of "_Master Jimmy_" as +he calls him, perhaps with a good deal of propriety, and peddled +tickets with Mr. Kasson and his master's name on them. Now Mr. Thompson +whose situation in point of _popularity_ especially in his _own town_ +is not to be questioned, was very naturally surprised at his failure, +and could not in his own mind attribute it to any thing short of +"_fraud and management_." He had failed in despite of the combined +efforts of his partner and Mr. Kasson. Finding how poor doctor Child +had been cheated into a vote for three gentlemen whom Thompson +considered mere tools compared to himself, it leaves him no doubt on +the subject, and he can no longer avoid bristling with astonishment and +rage. Tho' several days before the convention met, a hue and cry was +immediately raised, and he repairs to court with almost the whole of +the McBain meeting at his heels--The convention till this year (1816) +had regularly met on the second day of April court. + +The evil of this practice had been long felt and deplored by the +advocates for freedom of deliberation in this body, without being able +to attain a remedy. The scenes of this day however have for a while +suspended, and I trust forever abolished the pernicious and degrading +practice of _court_ conventions. Tuesday gave them leisure to organize +their forces and reconnoiter the points of attack. On Wednesday these +veteran lobby members of a county convention each knew his post, and +each was prepared with his story. The members of the convention, living +scattered in different directions, some near and some in the more +remote towns, arrive in small parties of one, two, and three in +succession, which gives full leisure to the court hangers on to see and +discourse with them in detail, and the astonished members of the +convention the moment they arrive were thus assailed on all hands with +a universal cry of Young, Young, Young for the candidate. No scheme was +left untried, no pretence neglected, no argument overlooked, no path +unexplored to entrap, to drive, to persuade and to lead the convention +contrary to their old established practice, to nominate Mr. Young a +_third_ time as a candidate. Still despairing of success, Thompson and +his associates (I trust in God but few of them) change their ground and +become the _black and unmanly assassins_ of individual character. The +story of the pretended fraud attempted by Mr. Palmer, Mr. Bunce and +others, was administered in profusion, and crammed down with epithets; +not more than two or three of the convention having ever heard the +account given of Mr Young by his worthy colleagues, and its reaching +them thus for the first time thro' his huffing friends, it sounded +truly like "a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, signifying +nothing." Their pride was alarmed, and their sympathies excited, by +being told that Judge Spencer had first cheated Mr. Young out of the +Secretary's office, and that his wrath now burnt after him into the +county of Saratoga, and what was passing strange--pitiful and wondrous +pitiful was, that the Judge had thrust his hand so far into this dish +of woes as to employ in his service the press and Editor of the +Saratoga Journal.--Kasson's letter which appears in "the book," tho' +now altered by striking out Stillwell's name, arrives by _express from +Albany_, in season to make up for this dish, its last ingredient--But +Alas! to no purpose; the people's delegates nominate Mr. Cowen. + +I boldly and solemnly appeal to that convention whether they or the +most of them were not individually called upon, by Thompson or some of +those acting under him, and urged to support Mr. Young upon part or all +of the pretences above mentioned. In order to render assurance doubly +sure, these strong and noisy opposers of fraud, these high minded and +honest politicians discover another circumstance of which they quickly +avail themselves. One of the towns had neglected to choose a committee. +The ceremony of packing was immediately resorted to, and three men who +were ready to go all lengths with these upright gentry, presented and +palmed themselves upon the convention, as legitimate members. Thus +having been belabored incessantly for two-thirds of an April day, the +convention retire to their duty, and as usual ballot for the +candidates. After balloting and before the votes were canvassed, they +unanimously resolve, that the lawyer having the greatest number of +votes shall be considered the candidate, and the other rejected. After +canvassing and finding that Mr. Cowen had two votes more than Mr. +Young, it was again unanimously resolved that he be considered the +candidate. + +This _arrogance_ and _presumption_ in the delegates of the people, was +not tamely to be endured by the _court party_; and these high-minded +advocates of _Republican purity_ immediately cast about for the means +of correcting the evil. And what more easy and certain mode of doing +this, than to solicit and procure the friendly interference of +_federalism_, whose doctrine by this time appears to be in perfect co +incidence with their own? They could abhor coalition, management and +intrigue in the ranks of Republicans;--nay the intrigue which owed its +birth and maturity to their heated imaginations alone, was odious and +abominable in its fancied perpetrators; while they themselves were +basely courting the embraces of Federalism in secret; and building +their hopes of success on the vile basis of a _political bargain_ with +that party;--like a drunken clergyman who enters the pulpit heated with +his bottle, and excites your disgust by a long discourse on the follies +of intemperance. The high pretensions of these men to chastity and +plain dealing, will be better tested by reading the following +certificates;--the reader being first reminded that Mr. Elihu Roe and +James Thompson, Esq. are holden forth both in _the book_, and in these +statements, as twin leaders--a sort of _Castor_ and _Pollux_ or +_du_-umvirate in the tribe; and for this reason they are resorted to, +as furnishing together with a few subordinate officers, a clue to the +immaculate character which they and their friends so loudly claim. + + "I certify, that I heard Elihu Roe declare, to Jonathan + Minor, at the store of Epenetus White, that James Thompson + Esq. had at the last election, made overtures to the + federalists to support Samuel Young Esq as a member of + Assembly.--BURR WAKEMAN. _March 1816_." + + "Thereby certify, that I had a conversation with Mr. Elihu + Roe, in the store of Epenetus White, in the presence of Mr. + Burr Wakeman, in which Mr. Roe declared that James Thompson + Esq. did propose to the federalists, to support a federal + candidate for member of Assembly, if the federalists would + support Samuel Young, Esq. as a candidate for member of + Assembly at the election of 1815.--JONATHAN MINOR. _Ballston, + March 28th 1816_." + + "I, Gideon Goodrich, late of the town of Milton, in the + county of Saratoga, do hereby certify to my fellow-citizens; + that on the first day of election of 1815 in said town, where + I then resided, at St. John's Inn, where the polls of + election were that day held, in a conversation on the subject + of supporting Samuel Young, contrary to the general + nomination; Archy Kasson, a leading friend of Young admitted + in presence of a number of persons, that he had said that he + had rather have three federalists go to the legislature from + this county with Young, than not to have Young elected. On my + expressing surprise at such sentiments, from a man professing + to be a republican, he added he still felt or thought so. Mr. + James Thompson who was present, then replied, that he would + say he had rather have _seven_ federalist go with Young, than + not to have him elected--or any number that would not give a + federal majority,[3] or words to that import. + + "Having removed from this county, but now on a visit at my + old residence in Milton, and being called upon by those who + feel themselves abused in the support of the cause of their + country, no one will consider it officiousness in me, to thus + repeat what was expressed in so public a manner on that + occasion.--GIDEON GOODRICH. _Milton, April 19th 1816_." + + "I hereby certify, that shortly after the last spring's + election, but before the official returns of election in the + state were received, I was at the office of James Thompson, + Esq. in Milton, and remarked to him, that I was afraid the + legislature would be federal, to which the said Thompson + replied, that he was afraid it would _not be federal_, or + that he began to be afraid there would not be _a federal_ + house. I also certify, that during the election then just + past, I was by several of Mr. Young's friends in said town, + strongly urged to vote for a federalist, if by that I could + get a federalist to vote for Mr. Young; which I believe many + of them did, as I heard those friends of his repeatedly say + _they would barter_ in that way, if they could by it obtain + votes for the said Young.--BENJAMIN BENNETT. _Milton, March + 1816_." + + "I hereby certify, that previous to the meeting of the + committee to make a nomination for members of Assembly, in + the spring of 1815--I saw Archy Kasson in the village of + Ballston Spa, who commenced a conversation with me on the + subject of the then approaching nomination; and he solicited + me with much zeal to vote for Mr. Young in the + convention--And among other things, he declared, that he + would be better satisfied to have Mr. Young on the nomination + with three federalists, than to have four republicans without + him--And gave me distinctly to understand that if Young was + not nominated, he would not support the nomination.--ISAAC + RICE. _Ballston, March 1816_." + + "I, Simeon P. Allcott, of the town of Milton and county of + Saratoga, do certify; That I attended the election in the + spring of 1815, at D. Thomas' inn, in said town, at which + place I saw James Merrill of said town, and heard him declare + in the presence and hearing of a number of republican and + federal electors, 'that some people very fearful that a + _federalist_ would be elected from this county, but for his + part, he said that there would be no _harm in it_--it would + be a _good thing to have federals elected_--and that if Mr. + Young could be elected, he did not care _how many federals_ + were elected.' + + "I further certify, that I attended the election the + following day at Goodrich's inn, in the said town, and the + said James Merrill then and there made similar declarations + in the presence and hearing of a number of republicans and + federals; and the said James Merrill and others who were + advocating the election of Mr. Young, appeared to act in + unison with _the federalists_; and I saw a number of + _federalists have Mr. Young's name on their ticket_, and who + told me they voted that ticket.--SIMEON P. ALLCOTT. _Milton, + April 1816_." + + "I hereby certify, that a leading federalist, being as I + understood, one of the _federal_ convention from the town of + Northumberland, who met at the Court-House on the 14th of + April last, to make the federal nomination for members of + Assembly, &c.--informed me on his return home from that + convention, that James Merril, Esq. urged some of that + convention to place Samuel Young Esq. on their ticket, and + offered one hundred _dollars_ if they would _go halves_ with + Young's friends in the _ticket_ they should run at the then + next election, for the purpose of defraying the expences of + the election; and that the said Merrill took from his pocket + the _hundred, dollars_, and laid it on the table for that + purpose, as I understood it.--HENRY STAFFORD. _Saratoga + Springs, March 1816_." + + "I, Joseph Ogden, of Malta in the county of Saratoga, do + hereby certify; that I was at the inn of James Jones in + Halfmoon, a few days after the election of 1815, and Aaron + Morehouse of Ballston, and a leading federalist of Halfmoon + were there, conversing together on the late election. Mr. + Morehouse said he voted for Mr. Hamilton, the federal + candidate, to get a federalist in his town to vote for Mr. + Young; and the federal replied, that be voted for Mr. Young, + and that it was the understanding among some of the + federalists and _some_ of the republicans in Halfmoon, that + the federals should vote for Mr. Young, and that the + republicans should vote for Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Isaac Kellogg, + jun. was present at the same time.--JOSEPH OGDEN." + + "I, Isaac Kellogg, Jun. of Malta in the county of Saratoga, + do certify, that I was present and heard a part of the + conversation above stated by Joseph Ogden, and remember + hearing Mr. Morehouse state, that he voted for Mr. Hamilton, + and the abovementioned federalist say that he voted for Mr. + Young. I also heard another federalist of Halfmoon then + present, say that he voted for Mr. Young also; and I + distinctly understood from them, that there had been an + understanding between the federalists and Mr. Young's + friends, to support Mr. Young and Mr. Hamilton as members of + Assembly.--ISAAC KELLOGG, jun." + +It is also a fact, that Young's supporters did in two or three of the +towns _hide_ and _suppress_ the tickets printed by direction of the +county convention, for Mr. Cowen and the other candidates. + +These certificates and these facts serve then to explain how Mr. Young +came by a greater number of _votes_ than Mr. Cowen;--and no doubt is +left on this subject when on calculating from the _returns_, you +perceive that the _votes_ for Mr. Young and Mr. Cowen in the aggregate +exceed by a great number the whole votes for any other candidate on +either side, and that _one_ of the federal candidates received a _less_ +number of votes than the others. This would of itself shew as far as +the subject is susceptible of proof, a _bargain_ between _some_ of Mr. +Young's friends and _some_ of the federalists. Shortly after this +bargain which Mr. Roe speaks of, the McBain Meeting[4] was called, +where every exertion tended to produce a political abortion. + +I cordially join with "the book" in censuring the editor of the Journal +for resembling this meeting to a political _funeral_;--for I do not +believe that the lifeless _embryo_ which it bro't forth, ever raised +the tho't of a _funeral_ in its poor _distracted father_. And while I +could not have the face to vindicate him from falsehood in not making a +better distinction, I should feel the less inclined to deny his being a +savage, while I behold him wantoning with the wounded feelings of a +forlorn, hopeless and unhappy _parent_. If his personification had +embraced the meeting merely, he ought to have known that even the +_dead_ are not always unavenged, and that its ghost at least, would +have arisen from the tomb to flutter round and haunt the unhappy county +of Saratoga on the eve of the next nomination, in the form of a _book_; +that thing which like the poet is justly admired for giving + + "To airy nothing, + A local habitation and a name." + +We could hardly say of that book, however, as Hamlet said of his +Father's ghost that + + "He would take his word for a thousand pounds"-- + +Or why do we hear it insisted that the fault of keeping alive discord +and division in the county, is imputable to a few individuals named and +pointed out by it?--Aside from the base and unprincipled attempts of +Roe, Thompson and some of their co-adjutors, to prostrate the only +_republican press_ in the county, by a system of slander and +detraction; The public cannot have forgotten that Mr Young's _famous_ +colleagues were mildly and publicly invited to an amicable explanation, +which they refused and rendered the publication of affidavits necessary +in justification. The only reply which was received, was a still more +general, malignant and furious attack upon the press, not only from the +columns of the Schenectady Cabinet, but the foul lingo of Roe, Thompson +& co. with bitter complaints whenever that press either ridiculed their +folly and impertinence, or defended itself against their insidious and +secret attempts to effect its destruction. + +Amongst other things in order to create a pretence for their _book_, it +will be recollected that judge Child has authorised the charge of +falsehood against the Journal in its maintaining that he had threatened +to get a new press into the county &c.--Indeed the judge appears to be +remarkably well pleased with that production, not only by his long +certificates, but by a letter which he afterwards wrote to the printer +of the _Courier_, recognizing its merits and trying to _divide with +federalists_ the honor of carrying clothes to the army;[5] which it +seems was given him by the _book_ in order to render his standing as a +certifier more conspicuous, by uniting on his broad brow, both the +_military_ and _civic_ wreath. How far the _denial_ of this mock +_Cincinnatus_ that he threatened as early as May to get a new press, +"_with all his blushing honors thick upon him_," will satisfy the +public, may in some measure he determined by the following certificate. + + "I hereby solemnly certify, that on the last of May or first + of June last, when at the house of Judge Child, in a + conversation relating to the Saratoga Journal, and the + conduct of its Editor Mr. Isaiah Bunce, the said Judge then + and there made use of the following expression to me, viz. + 'You must remember that the friends of Mr. Young, are not men + of the _least property_, nor _least influence_ in the County, + and Bunce may have _another press set up by his side_ in less + than six months--That he [the said Judge] should withdraw his + support from him, and said that it was best for every one to + do the same, and then his press would fall of course.' And at + the same time said, that he had rather _support the federal + press at the Springs_ than the _Journal_. Shortly after this + I informed Mr. Bunce of the above conversation at his + office.'--JONATHAN WESTCOTT. _Milton, March 14th 1816_." + +Young and Thompson made similar declarations of their intention to get +another press about the same time, with which they have been often +charged, and it seems thought best not to hazard a denial in the +book--therefore no other certificate but the one relating to Child's +has been procured--And the judge's conduct would have been more +christian-like, had he written a letter exculpating the editor of the +Journal from an undeserved odium cast upon him by his authority, than +thus to have given it confirmation and support, at the same time +knowing it to be _untrue_. + +Of a piece with this however, appears to have been his previous conduct +about the time of his presiding over the _abortion_ at McBains. I +allude to his sending the history of that meeting with orders by +Thompson and Stillwell, to the editor of the Journal to print without +reading it. + + "I Lyman B. Langworthy, of the village of Ballston Spa, do + certify to my fellow-citizens the following facts;--That on + the night of the 20th April 1815, two days after the McBain + meeting--being in the office of the Saratoga Journal late in + the evening, James Thompson, James Merrill and Wm. Stillwell, + Esqs. came into the room. Immediately after being seated, Mr. + Thompson who acted as chief speaker, pompously displayed a + fold of paper which he wished Mr. Bunce to print off in the + form of Handbills by morning, it being then quite late. Mr. + Bunce wished to see it and its contents. + + "Here Mr. Thompson to my astonishment flatly refused, unless + Mr. B. would first promise on his word and honor that he + would _positively_ and _unconditionally_ agree to print it + _let it contain what it would_. This bro't on a long parley; + Mr. Bunce wished to see it if for nothing more than to shew + his workman its length, to learn from him whether it was + possible to execute it in the time allowed. Mr. Thompson + refused, and entered pretty lengthy into the subject, in his + _precise roundabout_ manner: asserting that it was _none of + his business what it contained_--that it was impertinent in a + '_mechanic_' to ask his employers the use or destination of + any work he should employ him to do; and frequently by way of + a _salve_ interlarding his conversation with '_we do not wish + you to do it for nothing Mr. Bunce, we have money enough_.' + After much chaffering between the parties, judge Stillwell in + a very candid manner, desired that the paper might be read, + asking him if it _contained any thing they were ashamed of_. + Mr. Thompson then looked to Mr. Merrill as for his opinion. + Mr. Merrill said with some warmth, 'he shan't see it.' This + brot' on considerable bickerings--crimination and + re-crimination between Mess. Bunce, and Thompson, which judge + Stillwell tho't rather indecorous, and quite earnestly + rebuked the two gentlemen for their wrath, and at the same + time said he thot' it high time to deliver judge Child's + message. Here Mr. Thompson apparently supposing himself only + entrusted with the charge, seemed not to understand.--After a + great deal of argument, the paper at last had a 'first + reading,' & was the proceedings of the McBain meeting, signed + by Child, Thompson and Stillwell; and was delivered to Mr. + Bunce, to shew his compositor, who was in bed. Mr. Bunce + insisted that some of the gentlemen should deliver the + message which judge Stillwell seemed to be so anxious about. + Here the three gentlemen were thrown into great + confusion--eyed each other as though each supposed the other + ignorant of what he himself knew. Judge Stillwell's + countenance seemed to labor with something which he was bound + to reveal; and Mr. Thompson noting this, desired judge + Stillwell _if he knew it to let it out_. Judge Stillwell then + putting himself in an attitude corresponding, as he appeared + to think, with the magnitude of the subject, began by saying + that judge Child had instructed him to say to Mr. Bunce, + _that he had always been a particular friend of his--had + always given him all of his business--and should be sorry to + withdraw it after the friendly intercourse which had + subsisted between them--that it was the earnest desire of + judge Child that Mr. Bunce should have the refusal of + printing it; 'but as a last resort say to him from me, that + if he refuses to print it as desired by Mr. Thompson, that I + forever withdraw my patronage from his press.'_" + +Here Mr. Bunce indignantly threw back the paper to Mr. Thompson, and +declared that under those circumstances he should not print it--saying +that after buffeting the storm of federalism, and the dark days of the +wars of our country, he little expected such treatment from one whose +duty it was to protect the press &c. &c.--and it was after much +persuasion, and partly through my own importunities, that he was +induced to print it. + + "Mr. Bunce's conduct through the whole transaction, which + must have lasted two hours or more, was _consistent, firm_ + and _independent_ to my conception, as was the others + _haughty_, _supercilious_ and _overbearing_.--Lyman B. + Langworthy. _March, 1816_." + +Here fellow citizens is the _iron club of power_ held over the head of +an editor of a _free press_, during an election--to coerce him and his +press into obedience to their dictates. What are we coming to when men +high in office use their offices, influence and patronage to control +the freedom of the press, which all the champions of freedom esteem the +organ and safeguard of our _liberties_--and attempt to compell it to +bend to their purposes--to sell itself and rush _blind fold_ on any +measure their interest or ambition may dictate? + +The independent conduct of Mr. Bunce on this occasion was probably one +reason among _others_ why the judge aided in the introduction of +another printer of the more _pliant sort_; who would more readily bend +to his purposes and serve as a pipe with which his friends Roe, +Thompson, Stillwell &c. could spit their venom thro' the county in the +more permanent form of a _pamphlet_. + +In this, with _three_ insolvent advertisements staring him in the face +from the _Independent American_, the judge denies, or sanctions a +denial, that he ever ordered an advertisement to be printed in that +paper _at all_. Unblushing impudence indeed!--Thus to ask the public to +pervert the eternal principles of truth and justice by giving credit to +such assertions as these. + +The examination of a few more topics under this head shall +suffice.--Indeed amongst the disgusting details of falsehood and +meanness with which that production abounds; you find many remarks +imputed to the Journal which it never made, while those which it has +made, on examination will be found strictly true. + +The writer of that pamphlet is guilty of falsehood in asserting that +the _editorial_ remarks of the Journal are not copied into other +papers. Not to mention others, they have been copied the year past in +several instances, by the _National Intelligencer_ at Washington, and +by _Niles' Weekly Register_ at Baltimore, two of the ablest papers in +the _Union_. The remarks which the book falsely calls a _scurrilous +attack_ upon the _Governor_, instead of being an attack on him, it so +happens that they were merely calculated to let the public know what +every republican had a right to expect, and which they in fact +_realized_ from our worthy chief magistrate in the season of peril +which dictated them.--They were such as he would himself approve, while +he would frown contemptuously on the _little fry_ who attempt so base a +slander in his name. Would to God the conduct of some of the governor's +fawning and pretended admirers could endure investigation like that of +this great and good man--the pride and ornament of his country! + +As to the charge against the Journal for asserting that the first judge +and others had combined to domineer and rule the people of this county, +you already have a taste of the judge's fondness for domineering over +some of the people, and over their press; and that other persons named +have _acted_ in concert with him is equally true and notorious;--And it +is hardly necessary to enquire whether they combined for the purpose, +or instinctively assembled like birds of the same feather, from a +common spirit of domination. It is false, however, that the Journal +ever made such a charge. This and a number of these remarks are only +suffering them to wear a coat which they themselves have cut out of +whole cloth, and which seems to fit them so exactly. That paper never +charged Mr. Young with any management or compromise with the +federalists, further than what justly resulted from his being chosen +_supervisor_ in _Ballston_ by _federalists_, contrary to the _regular +town nomination_, and his afterwards being complimented by the federal +paper as a modern political _Luther_, on account of his having quit his +own party in that town and submitted to federal policy, not denied by +the _book_--from his having _aided_ in the election of the _federal +candidate for Congress_ in the fall of 1812; and from his "at least" +conniving at _federal aid_, in the spring of 1815--all of which are +facts of too general notoriety to be denied. + +But the Journal did charge some of Mr. Young's friends with a +_political understanding_ between them and the federalists, which is +not only passed over in silence by the _book_, but proved by the +foregoing estimates and certificates. + +On seeing Mr. Young supporting, and supported in his turn by a Senator +or Senators of this state for office, the Journal did ask the question, +whether it was pursuant to an _arrangement_ on the subject between +them? This question was put in the Journal directly to Mr. +Young--taking it for granted that Mr. Young has adopted the language in +the book on this question as his own, this might be received as an +_answer_, had not a mere _question_ been first perverted into a charge. + +The Journal did also ask him the question, whether he intended to make +_one Joel Lee, clerk of this county?_ To which the book, replies that +he never promised any office to any man whatever. It is perhaps +necessary, in justice to the Editor of the Journal, to introduce the +following certificate, and leave this part of the subject without +farther comment. + + "I hereby certify, that shortly after the appointment of Wm. + Stillwell, as a clerk, of this county, I was in the city of + Albany, and conversed with Mr. Young on the subject of that + appointment, in which conversation I expressed my surprise at + his appointment, to which Mr. Young replied, it was not his + fault, that there was a petition for him from some of the + most respectable men in the county, and it would not do for + him to oppose it, but that his mind was the strongest on + _Joel Lee_ for that office.--ELI BEARDSLEE. _Milton, March + 1816_." + +Among others to whom Lee admitted he had been promised of _offered_ the +Clerk's office by Young, is Mr. Nicholas Smith, but it is thought +unnecessary to multiply certificates on this head. + +The writer of that pamphlet also displays his characteristic ignorance, +or stupid disregard to truth, when he says that the Journal ever +charged Young with receiving pay in three capacities, during the _extra +session_ of 1815. It never made the charge as it respected _that_, or +any other _year_;--but it so happens that during the _extra, session_ +of 1814, Mr. Young did receive $5 per day, which was the pay for a +member of the house, and $2.25 per day, which was the _extra allowance_ +on account of his being speaker. See New Revised Laws, Vol. I. p. 528, +and the act of April 18th 1815, called the _supply bill_, Sec. 15, by +which two acts, the wages of the Assembly are fixed at _$5_, and those +of the speaker at $7.25, and extended to the extra session of 1814. +Altho' the Journal _never_ made the charge imputed to it, yet you see +how easily and conclusively that charge might have been supported, had +the assertion ever been made. + +With regard to Mr. Young's receiving the pay of a Col. he never was +charged with having done this during any _extra session_. That paper +did insinuate that he at one time as aid to the governor received that +pay. And it is hardly worth stopping to enquire whether he did or not, +so long as we have _his word_ that the Governor _offered_ it to him, in +consequence of which he _agreed_ to serve. Whether he got the _cash_ +and gave a _receipt_ for it;--or it was absorbed in his _expences_;--or +laid it out to buy another press;--or yet _remains due_, is altogether +immaterial, so long as an answer is substantially made out to a +question raised by his _good friends_, and to which the public may +expect a reply: The following certificate is therefore given without +comment. + + "I certify, that a day or two previous to Samuel Young's + accompanying his excellency the Governor to New-York, in + conversation with Mr. Young at his house, he informed me that + while he was at Albany, from where he had but just returned, + he called on his excellency, who then informed him of his + intended expedition to New-York, and pressed him, Mr. Young + to accompany him; that he objected, and said that he should + be much pleased with the jaunt, but his business was such, as + to render it impossible; that the Governor urged him still + stronger, and he replied that he was wholly unprepared for + leaving home any length of time, and the Governor calculated + to go the next day or day but one--that the Governor told him + if he would accompany him, he would make him _an aid_ with + the _pay_ of a _colonel_, and _bear his expences_, and that + he would defer going until the next steam boat; that he + wished to take time to consider the Governor's proposals as + he informed the Governor--and soon after told him he would + accompany him.--SETH C. BALDWIN, Junior. _Warren County, + March 1816_." + +The Journal never charged Young with having informed Merrill that he +"was not now Secretary, but should be to-morrow." At it again Merrill. +Will you certify that you did not give a friendly hint to a gentleman +who was going to Albany, that you had a connexion who would make an +excellent clerk in the Secretary's office, and request his name to be +given to Mr. Young, to whom Young replied, _I am not now Secretary but +shall be to-morrow_? I believe an intimation to this effect was given +in the Journal, which you blink with as much ingenuity as though you +had been bred in the same school with Mr. Young's colleagues. Amongst +the great number to whom Mr. Young _did give_ the information that he +was shortly to be Secretary, _you_, then it seems were omitted! + +The facts disclosed in the following certificate, cannot fail to remind +one of the fable of the "Country maid, and her milk pail." + + "I hereby certify, that while riding in company with Samuel + Young from Ballston to Albany, when going to the _winter + session_ of 1815, the day before the legislature met, the + said Young informed me that he expected to be Secretary of + State when the republican council should be chosen; that he + could be a member of the _legislature_ and _Secretary of + State at the same time_, and _could reside at the Springs_ or + Ballstown in the summer, and do the business of Secretary in + Albany by Deputy, and that _these two_ offices would give him + a _pretty good living_, or words to that effect.--JESUP + RAYMOND. _Ballston, April 1816_." + +"Green--let me consider; yes, green becomes my complexion best, and +green it shall be." + +Mr. Kasson, was early spoken of by the _Independent American_ as an +applicant for the _Sheriff's office_, and as it appeals, was afterwards +a candidate for the county convention, and pledged to the support of +Mr. Young. In consequence of this, the Journal did ask the question to +Mr. Young, whether he intended Mr. Kasson as the Sheriff of this +county?--and nothing more. I think a farther inquiry was made whether +he was not authorised to purchase a "_mansion house_ for the _new +secretary_, in the village of Ballston Spa?" on which he preserves a +cautious silence. + +It is remarkable in this and other instances, with what industry _The +Citizen_ manufactures assertions to suit his own purpose, and then +denies them. Having at length exhausted his fancy in fabricating, +shaping and denying particular charges, hardly one of which ever +existed, he ranges up his whole artillery of vengeance;--the battle +becomes general:--And the famous Doctor Slop, the man midwife, did not +pour a more copious and continued shower of curses upon Obadiah, who +had tied his bag of instruments with hard knots, than is thus suddenly +let fly upon the devoted head of the Editor of the Saratoga Journal. +"_Really_" said the Frenchman to an old woman who had been storming and +fretting at Napoleon, "the Emperor, my master would feel himself +infinitely grieved, if he knew how hard your _lady-ship_ thought of +him." + +But it seems the Editor of the Journal "has indulged himself in a +course of low and vulgar sarcasms," tho' no particular instance is +pointed out. Thus the citizen, after sending his friend, Mr. Elias +Benedict, into the bar-room, to certify the _damns_ and _god damns_ of +Mr. Wilkins, suddenly becomes extremely modest and refined, and falls +to moralizing like Michael Cassio, after his _own_ drunken fit is over. +Mr. Bunce might really be esteemed far gone, had he reached the climax +of vulgarity which distinguishes the _citizen_ and his _book_. + +But says the _book_ in another place, "the manners of Mr. Bunce are +_coarse and vulgar_." I suppose an immediate allusion is here intended +to the _manner_ in which he treated _Stillwell_ and _Thompson's_ +supercilious proposition to agree to print their famous history of the +McBain Meeting, without reading it, under penalty of losing the first +Judge's patronage in case of a refusal. Perhaps they mean that he did +not on that occasion, turn out his toes exactly as he ought; or make a +becoming bow to so much mock consequence as surrounded them. I know not +in what language to describe their notions. We have already admitted +that Mr. Bunce does not pretend to vie in _purity_ of dialect with the +certificate of Mr. Elias Benedict. Suppose we also admit that he cannot +hold competition with Roe as a profound _linguist_--with Mr. Thompson +in _fairness_, _high mindedness_, _openness_ and _candor_--nor with Mr. +Linnendoll in belleslettres--and that he would not make so good a +_dancing master_ as Mr James Merrill[6] and leave the public to judge +whether coming short of these qualifications, he can be any way +tolerable in his person or polished in his conversation. + +But 'tis said again, that he has presented some of our citizens "in the +ludicrous attitude of being in chase of one of the wheels of a +_political hack_." This plain farmer-like simile has given great +offence, and perhaps justly, to the high and refined notions of certain +book gentry; who have been too much in the habit of _hunting_ an +_office_, or _chasing_ a _dollar_, to believe that the idea of so +ordinary an occupation, could ever have been connected with that of +such _great men_ as themselves. + +It may not be amiss to here remark, that Mr. Bunce was admitted an +Attorney of the Supreme Court in 1804; he settled in the village of +Salina in the county of Onondaga; shortly afterwards it was made a post +town, and he was appointed Post-Master[7] by the general government, +and continued in that office until he removed from that place. Soon +after his removal to Bridgewater, Oneida County, he was appointed +Post-Master at that place, and continued in that office until he +resigned on his removal to the county of Saratoga. During his residence +in the Western District, he attended with industry and fidelity to the +profession in which he was educated. + +Soon after the declaration of war he concluded to quit the practice of +law, and purchased the establishment of the Republican press of this +county, and became the editor of the Journal. + +Mr. Bunce has been a faithful, able, zealous and indefatigable +supporter and defender of our republican institutions, and of the +measures of our general and state government; and I confidently ask, +who ever accused him till this faction commenced their operations. +During the memorable campaign of 1814, he was not only vigilant and +faithful to our rights as an editor; but when danger threatened from +all quarters, he hired, equipped, and sent a common soldier into the +field for the defence of New-York. + +Several who were active in introducing Mr. Bunce to the republicans of +this county, after finding him too independent to bend to their +"_particular_" views, and after he had rejected with disdain their +proffers to surrender to them his rights as an editor, they formed +themselves into a court of Inquisition, and ushered forth their courtly +mandates "Bunce must be sacrificed" "the Journal shall go down," even +this proscription extended to his family, and to his fireside; and so +eager were certain of these factionists, that they formed a plan to +break up his establishment by _force_, and actually threatened _to +scatter his types_. This fact is too susceptible of proof to be denied. + +The republicans for a long time were silent spectators, while viewing +the persecution of their editor, and attack upon their own rights and +privileges; they fondly hoped, that time would cure the evil, and sober +reflection convince them of their error; but in this hope they were +disappointed, their persecutions encreased; and to them more certainly +to effect their object, and encouraged by the smiles of federalists, +they secretly brought a new printing press into the county--it was then +the designs of these men were more apparent--it was then the +republicans proclaimed their rights, and spoke to these "conspirators" +in language too loud not to be heard--too emphatic not to be +understood. And as long as these "conspirators" continue their press to +war against the rights and privileges of the people, Mr. Bunce as a +faithful centinel, will remain firm at his post. What though a gang of +office-holders should "in the mild spirit of Christian humility" (see +page 7 of the book) fulminate their maledictions against him; the +people will not be frightened into submission, nor the editor from his +duty. + +But the Editor of the Journal has abused some of us, say they--Does the +_truth_ abuse them? does the _exposition_ of the _foulest combination_ +that ever disgraced this or any other county, _constitute abuse_? Is +there such terrible majesty surrounding an _office_? No matter of what +_misrepresentations_ they are the authors of--No matter how _basely_ +and _shamefully_ they have _belied and slandered their neighbors_--No +matter of what deception, hypocrisy and intrigue, they are guilty--No +matter how long they have conspired against the rights and privileges +of the people--No matter how unbecoming, gross and absurd their conduct +may have been; if an independent Editor, in vindicating the rights of +the people, and those of his own, questions the propriety of their +conduct; they immediately skulk behind their offices, and impudently +exclaim, "_touch us not--we are privileged_." 'Pigmies are Pigmies +still tho' perch'd on Alps.' + +While I would not refrain from censuring the improper conduct of these +office _leaders_, I shall ever be ready to extend the hand of +fellowship to such as have been deluded by them--Nay, I would go +farther, let _them_ exhibit signs of repentance--let them evince a +determination to support our republican rights---let them cease to war +against the people, their editor, and individuals--let them remove +their _pensioned_ press--then shall they have my voice and my heart, to +intercede for them with an insulted and abused community. + +But faint indeed is the hope of a reformation in _that_ man who +violates all honor, truth and decency. Who but the author[8] of that +book would charge the Milton committee, of being the tools of "fraud +and management?" Who but him would affix the charge of "miscreants" to +the republicans of Galway, Milton, Greenfield, Saratoga, Malta and +Ballston? Who but him would have the unblushing effrontery to publish, +"_that the general committee in nominating Mr. Cowen, instead of Mr. +Young, committed an OUTRAGE on the feelings and wishes of their +constituents_?" [see page 8. of that pamphlet.] Who but the author of +that pamphlet would--but I beg pardon--read the pamphlet itself, and +you have abundant evidence of the authors views, his principles, his +heart and his designs. + +But the vengeful serpents of malice and persecution have not confined +their labors to _the book_, Early last spring, a thrust was made at the +Editor of the Journal, on the authority _it was said_ of Mr. Hackley, +late a member from Herkimer, who _(so Thompson said)_ had authorised +him to tell the people, that Mr. Bunce was unworthy of +confidence:--nay, to make use of a number of debasing epithets,--such +as would quadrate with the palate of Roe or Thompson, much better than +that of a gentleman like Mr. Hackley. But as this gentleman has +declined appearing in the book, and certainly never did, and never +would authorize Thompson to use his name for the vile purpose in which +he employed it, I barely glance at this circumstance as one article, +which would otherwise have been pressed into the Pandoras box which has +been so industriously served up for the public. + +Instead of atoning by a mild, moderate and conciliatory course of +conduct, for the injuries attempted, not only against an individual, +but the public, in endeavoring to put down and destroy a free press; +the project is set on foot of introducing and palming upon the county +another press;--a child of their own;--a copartner in all their labors, +their joys and sorrows. It is however, _one thing_ to introduce a +press, and _another_ to get the _people_ to support it. While a few +malicious imps, hungering for revenge, were "_grinning horrible a +ghastly smile, to hear their famine should be filled_;" the people in a +number of different towns assembled, and freely expressed their +sentiments on the fatal tendency of such measures; and animadverted +with freedom and spirit on the motives which prompted them;--for which +the book printed by the printer of their paper, stigmatizes them with +the epithet of _miscreants_; and treats the whole of their labors as +mere _cant and slang_; I suppose it must mean compared with its own +dignified and masterly pages. _The majesty of the people_ is truly a +_monstrous Deity_ in the eye of venal and sell-created consequence. It +is merely for repeating _some of the sentiments expressed at these +meetings_, that the editor of the Journal is assailed as the +arch-disturber of our political repose. + +_The Citizen_, in one place storms furiously at the allegation, that +the _Albany committee_ had advised them to remove their press. That +committee was appointed to inquire into the difficulties which agitated +the republican family in this county, and devise if possible the means +of removing them. Thompson as _chief cook_ of his own party, appeared +before them, with the book in his hand and Judge Child at his elbow _as +usual_; and I do believe the citizen from my very soul, when he says +they gave him no such advice. The committee were composed of _sensible_ +men; and after listening to his incoherent display of folly and +nonsense on that occasion, it would be literally casting pearl before +_swine_, to have given them any advice on the subject. + +Having established and considered some extraneous facts, for which I am +aware certain _gentlemen_ will not thank me especially as it may +disorder the thread of their own reasoning a little; I shall now +proceed briefly to consider the charge of FRAUD, FALSEHOOD, DUPLICITY +and CORRUPTION, as it appears in the book itself, on their own proof, +independent of the foregoing _memorandums_, leaving the memory of Mr. +Young's _colleagues_ and others at full leisure to be refreshed by +them. + +That charge it will be recollected, is the turning point of the +controversy;--the _vox et preterea nihil_, which _boils, and foams, and +wheels_ thro' _the book_, like a torrent thro' the _Augean_ stable, +collecting in its course accretions of foulness and impurity. For this +purpose, Mr. _Bunce_ and Mr. _Palmer_ are represented as a political +_Archimedes_, controlling at their will the destinies of the +county;--dictating the number and sort and deliberations of the county +delegates, prostrating the Speaker of the house of assembly; and +dealing _havoc, spoil_ and _ruin_ around them. Mr. Cowen is represented +as their associate, aiming at his own elevation thro' the lowest arts +of cunning and duplicity. But fortunately for the cause of common +sense, the touch-stone of these mighty maggots of the brain are the +_facts_ on which they are founded. And here let us for a moment take +them as they stand among the certificate gentry, and examine their +actual bearings;--in doing which I shall still have occasion to mention +names, who, if they have finally not much cause for self gratulation, +must thank their good friend _the Citizen_ for bringing them before the +public. + +The Motts[9] say, that on or about the 21st of March, Mr. _Cowen_ told +them that _Young_ was becoming _unpopular_;--that he had behaved +haughtily and disrespectfully towards his colleagues; and that a few +days before, he had been informed of this fact by several gentlemen to +whom they were referred. Now it will be recollected that Mr. Cowen and +John R. Mott were two of the _delegates_ from Saratoga, and as such +mutually bound to discuss with freedom the _allegation for and against_ +Mr Young, or any other person who would be a candidate before the +general committee; and Mr. Cowen at this time _at least_, had no reason +to doubt the truth of what Young's colleagues had asserted. He also +mentioned it to James Mott, who was spoken of as a substitute in the +event of his brother's absence. It seems he also conversed freely with +these men on the subject of _his_ having consented to be considered a +candidate, and (so James Mott says) examined the probability of his +success, by calculating the favorable state of the delegation. But it +seems that communications to these _leaky gentlemen_ on the subject of +candidates are not to be made under any circumstances with impunity; +and Mr. Cowen is to be censured as _criminal_ for giving that +information, which it would have been _criminal_ to withhold. The only +way to make his act in this respect _criminal_ is by saying, "he ought +to have known that Young's colleagues had _lied_." But it will be +recollected that this was impossible, for the public did not know them +_then_ as well as it does _now_; nor had Mr. Cowen yet seen their +_certificate_ which is herewith published, by which they acknowledge +_what the book_ is so anxious for Mr. Cowen to have assumed. He did +afterwards see it, and then (so say the certificates) bore public +testimony to his opinion of the merits of Mr. Young, as well as +afterwards by letter to judge Child. + +Thus does the charge of duplicity, made against Mr. Cowen, resolve +itself into a base attempt to fix upon him, what so snugly suits the +shoulders of others. It seems he finally bestows that justice upon a +_political adversary_, which the baseness and treachery of his +_colleagues_ and pretended friends had withheld. Am I acting the part +of an accuser towards those men? No. They have accused themselves. Why +are they again before the public? Had they hopes of skulking into +obscurity among the _motley_ multitude of certificates which throng the +folio of _the book_? or have they like one of the moral personages in +_Hudibras_, "_catch'd the itch on purpose to be scratch'd_?" It now +requires an eye less keen than that of a ministering spirit to pierce +the cob web veil which shields them from detection. + +But in the process of this investigation, we are led to the +consideration of a subject "_too awful for irony_." The interested +certificates of these men are ushered to a Christian public, and a +higher sanction demanded for them, by the author, than he is willing to +allow to facts attested under the _solemnity_ of _an oath_. One could +hardly have anticipated this _atheistical_ appeal to the credulity of +the public, even tho' human nature were as vile and monstrous in +_others_, as it appears to be in _that author_. But perhaps there was a +necessity for it, in order to preserve the _dark_ uniformity of his +production. If, as has been asserted more than _one_ of his prominent +certifiers (among whom I would by no means rank these men) are +themselves _atheists_, what could he swear them upon?--Upon the +evangelists think you?--He might as well swear them on Payn's age of +reason, or his own vile book itself. Where they "believe that their +miserable bodies must take eternal refuge in the grave, and the last +puff of their nostrils will send their souls to annihilation, they +laugh at the solemnity of an oath and tell you that the grave into +which they sink as a log, forms an intrenchment against the throne of +God, and the vengeance of exasperated justice!" Such is the character +which the writer fixes upon _himself_.--Such is the character which +several of his _disciples_ sustain in public. + +True, the falsity of an extra-judicial oath, carries with it no +_temporal_ punishment; but the _moral obligation_ remains to give it +validity. That _eternal reward or punishment_ which the _Citizen_ has +taken so much pains to blot out from the mind of his readers, will +still continue the delight and terror of the Christian, the eternal +fountain of his hopes and fears;--with him a sufficient motive to +truth, without the artificial and imperfect aid of _national law_. The +affidavits of four or five _credible witnesses_ were already before the +public, that Mr. Young's Colleagues did make a charge against him; but +it seems that every moral sanction must be trampled upon or trifled +with by the _Citizen_, to secure a triumph for his false and infidel +principles. He skips, like a grasshopper, over facts and premises and +propositions, and perches upon his pitiful assertions, which he wishes +the public to pervert into conclusions. Why did he not give these +affidavits lo the public?--He cannot surely complain that he forgot +them, for they appear to haunt his guilty imagination through the whole +of his progress; nor can he complain of wanting room. But the answer is +easy. He knew it would make his bait so very bad that even his own +gulls would not nibble.-- + +He was afraid of injuring his credit as an author even among his _own +sort_--for these affidavits prove conclusively and indubitably, that +not one jot nor tittle more was uttered against Mr. Young, than what +emanated from his own colleagues, in the course of the winter of 1814 +and 1815. + +It is still more remarkable so far forth as the charge of fraud is +concerned, with what logical precision _the Citizen_ pursues his +inquiry.--One is naturally led to expect from his _positive rant_, +nothing short of _point blank demonstration_ at least, that the fraud, +(which if there was any originated with Mr. Young's colleagues) had +produced the desired effect. That the attempt to cheat the people out +of this _mammoth legislator_,--this _sine qua non_ to their political +salvation, should have at least produced some influence with the men +upon whom it was exerted. Is there no _lost and wandering sheep_ ready +to return to the fold, and certify the delusions practised upon him by +these wolves in sheeps clothing? Even Mr. Thompson, whose attention is +apt to be otherwise directed, the moment he falls in conversation with +Palmer and Bunce, scents out the fraud with all the instinctive +keenness of a blood hound--Mr. Kasson on the same track, hardly the +length of a nose behind, and unwilling to be outdone in sagacity, +echoes the howlings of his leader. Judge Stillwell, tho' it seems the +dullest of the pack, follows hard and completes the choir; or in other +words Thompson and Kasson make a certificate that they _were not +deceived_, and Stillwell _endorses_ to give it a proper currency. + +Even Mr. Roe lays claim to the same spirit of discernment, tho' his +title to that claim might be questionable on another _ground_. He is +readily led into a conclusion that Mr. Wilkins must have visited the +Northern towns to procure Mr. Cowen's nomination; when it happens that +the committees in those towns had been chosen before his name had been +mentioned in them as a candidate, and before he had consented to be +considered one. Mr. Roe had much better have satisfied himself by +consulting the northern delegation on this subject. He is remarkably +_alert_ to detect a _fraud_ where there is none, but is willing to take +any thing upon _tick_ which accommodates his good friend the _Citizen_. +He certifies that he could not be deceived by the poor stories of +Palmer and Bunce;--But believing the public to be greater numbsculls +than himself, imagines that he can trick them into a belief, that the +gentlemen who composed the northern delegation (among whom are many of +the most respectable names in the county) are the mere creatures of +another's will. It is perhaps fortunate that this man is an exception +to the general law of nature, that _like_ produces _like_, or he might +have made _tools_ of the whole county convention. + +Who then was defrauded?--The Molts are by no means willing to admit +that this was the case with them. The Citizen cannot produce even one +poor certificate from any _one_ of the _county convention_, that they +were deceived or misled--neither Mr. Deake nor judge Child were of the +committee, and if they had been, they are both so good as to tell us +they were not gulled in that instance _at least_. John R. Mott, one of +the delegation from the town of Saratoga, according to his own +certificate had gone to New-York and sent Mr Olmstead who, with Mr. +_Cowen's consent_ (for it must have been by his consent that he acted +as a substitute) sat in convention, and voted for Mr. Young. Thus +ingeniously does the citizen rummage the chain of cause and effect, to +eke out his favorite conclusion. + +But stop, I confess I had like to have forgotten the certificate of Dr. +Child (Increase W. Child) a son of judge Child, one of the most +distinguished among the _dramatis personae_ who figure in the book!--He +does go the length of saying, that he voted on the strength of Mr. +Bunce's representation. Voted for whom? For Mr. Cowen? O no.--But he +voted for a _committee_, who were to meet a _committee_, to make out +the _county nomination_!--And shocking to relate, poor Dr. Child was +galled into a vote for three of the most respectable men in the town of +Milton!!--viz: Daniel Couch jun. Esq. Joel Keeler Esq. late a member of +the legislature, and Thomas Palmer Esq!!!--It is derogatory to no man +in that town, to say that a more respectable delegation could not have +been procured. And what is more shameful still, one of those gentlemen, +viz: Daniel Couch jun Esq. whom the Doctor had thus honestly sent _to +vote for Mr. Cowen_, actually deceived his constituent, and _voted for +Mr. Young_!!!!--Doctor Guild's certificate is very happily illustrated +by the burlesque syllogism; _that Moses was the meekest man:--Solomon +was the wisest man;--And therefore St. Paul was ship wrecked_. The +conclusion of a fraudulent nomination, follows about as direct upon Dr. +Child's premises, as the shipwreck of St. Paul did upon the meekness of +Moses or the wisdom of Solomon. We should be almost led to suspect from +this specimen, that the Doctor is a greater _infant in politics_, than +in _dissection_. + +This famous pamphleteer is by no means more fortunate, when he +approaches the topic of the McBain meeting. The materials of which this +meeting was composed are now known as far as the book, which has kindly +given their names to the public. It consisted of one _first judge_. One +_Sheriff_ and one _Clerk_, appointed under the administration of +_Samuel Young_ Esq.--_George Palmer_ Esq. Master in Chancery, As't. +Justice, Justice of the peace, Post Master, &c, and whom _the book_ +holds out as the _expectant_ of the _Surrogates office_--_Roe_ deputy +Sheriff and _ci-devant_ constable--_James Mutt_--_James Thompson_ Esq. +who had kindly volunteered, as early as the 1st of April, to take the +interests of the county under his charge as _public prosecutor_ and +_States evidence_--_Alpheus Goodrich Esq. his partner_--Doctor _Nathan +Thompson_ his brother--Mr _Elias Benedict_ his client;--the one willing +to _receive_, and the other to _pay_ in certificates of the most +current stamp--_A justice or justices_ from Ballston, who knew their +political God-father--Dr. _Samuel Pitkin_, who acted as minister +plenipotentiary from _Milton_ to _Saratoga_, making thirteen, who it is +admitted, were from all the different towns enumerated in the caption +of the meeting viz: Ballston, Stillwater, Galway, Saratoga, Greenfield +and Milton. Add to these some others of minor note, and you make, as +the Citizen would have it, the number of 21 _or more_. The Citizen too +tells us he was there; but whether in the character of ---- ---- or +---- we are left to grope in the gloom of conjecture. + +Such was the formidable _Areopagus_ convened to purify the _body +politic_; to correct the poor misguided county convention;--and guard +the people against _being their own worst enemies_; such was the +assembly presented to the public as a _numerous and respectable_ +meeting from 6 towns out of 14 (judge Child and Dr. Thompson kindly +representing the towns of _Greenfield_ and _Galway_.) + +No sooner had this _numerous meeting_ assembled, than it was tho't +necessary to divide them into the proper committees;--This being more +_genteel_ and _parliamentary_ than to act in a body;--Accordingly +_Stillwell, Thompson and Palmer_ were created a committee to draw up +the proceedings of the meeting; _Child_ and _Stillwell_, a committee of +_Logic_ and _Rhetoric_, to call on _absent friends_ and get them to +consent that he _should resign. Mott_ and _Child acted_ as a _committee +of vigilance_ to pick up and report scraps of conversations and letters +from Mr. Gowen after the meeting was over. _Mott, Thompson, Kasson, +Stillwell, Roe,_ &c acted as a committee to report to the county, the +fraud which had deprived _Mr Young_ of his undoubted right to go to the +Legislature, whether the people were _willing_ or _not_. Mr. Elias +Benedict to draw up the proceedings of _Mr. Wilkins_ and _possibly_ to +enforce the statute for the suppression of Vice and Immorality;--and +committee of the whole to tell the county they had been there; and do +away the strange reports which had gone abroad, that they were a little +self-created body, without _precedent, authority or premises_, +resembling what saucy people would call a _faction_. + +All might yet have gone well, had not _Stillwell_ been such a miserable +_slouch_ at telling a story. It appears that Stillwell and Palmer had +written a history of the meeting for publication, in which _Mr. Cowen_ +tells the meeting, "that _they_ must be responsible if they act without +his absolute resignation." See p. 24 and 5. This presumptuous act +throws the Citizen into a whirlwind of passion; and he falls a _cursing +like a very drab_, at _Palmer, Bunce and Cowen_, apparently not +believing that his _friend Stillwell_ would ever have told so dangerous +a _truth_. He calls it a _farrago of nonsense_, after having before +asserted that _Palmer as Secretary_ had nothing to do with it; that it +belonged exclusively to the _committee of publication;_ and _then_ +recollecting that Palmer and Stillwell were a majority of that +_committee_, and consequently the _proper authority_, he takes another +leap, and says, that the _rough draft_ of the _proceedings_ were given +to _James Thompson Esq_ for wham he claims the _copy right_. + +Now altho' _Thompson_ is unwilling to be outdone in telling a story, +and tho' he had peaceable and quiet possession according to _the book_ +of the _consciences_ of _Stillwell and Child_, instead of telling the +public that _Mr. Cowen had resigned_, he says something which to be +sure would look "_like that_," _as the citizen says_, upon the first +impression; but which on being critically examined, contradicts the +fact on the face of it. Even the compound of jargon and inconsistency +drawn up by Thompson, and published in page 16 of the book, could not +be tortured into an _unconditional resignation_. Mr. Cowen is there +made to say, not that he _resigned_ nomination;--But that for reasons +there enumerated, "it was his _personal wish to resign his own +nomination_ &c. and he submitted to the decision of the meeting, the +question whether it would be most expedient to act on his _resignation +which_ he now made (_which_ must refer to the _personal wish_ before +expressed, for no other resignation is pretended) if the meeting should +judge a postponement impracticable, or to postpone acting until he +could have time to communicate to some of the particular friends of his +nomination (beside those who were present at the meeting) his reasons +for resigning, and procure their concurrence _before hand_ &c." + +Mr Cowen thus makes the concurrence of his friends _before hand_ a +_condition precedent_;--but the meeting disregard it--reject the +condition, and gravely resolve to accept _a resignation_, which had not +yet been tendered to them. Such is the rickety production which came +straggling before the public in search of the Secretary, who had +refused it the sanction of his name. In order to remedy this evil, and +"_throw it into form_" as the citizen would say, _his_ name gives place +to that of _Thompson and Stillwell_, who it is agreed are _larger_ men +than the Secretary,[10] and must therefore carry greater weight. Even +the certificate which follows, signed by nearly the whole of the +meeting, after going on to say that Mr. Cowen openly and publicly +resigned, immediately defeats itself by referring back to, and adopting +the statement drawn up by Thompson as a _candid, fair and faithful +statement of facts_;--and it is evident that such part of the +certificate as overshoots the premises upon which it is professedly +founded, must mean nothing more than to give a _construction_ advocated +by the Citizen, and which they esteem so necessary for their defence. +The certificate of Peters, Stewart and How, shew the miserable shifts +to which the Citizen and his friends were driven in order to bear +themselves out in their conduct. They are perhaps excusable so long as +they keep to the question of _construction_; but when they tax the zeal +of their friends with certificates and declarations so far beyond what +they themselves are willing to say--nay, which actually _contradict_ +the certificates and declarations that precede them, one is almost +induced to overlook the difficulties of their defence, and to suspect +the moral honesty--not of these men; but of those who have drawn them +into this singular situation. + +After all this round of certifying and reasoning, the shoe still +continues to pinch, and the first Judge again appears before the public +to help the defect. Altho' he signed Thompson's statement in which he +is careful to make use of the language employed by it, and the epithet +_personal_ when he speaks of Mr. Cowen's language, yet when he +afterwards hears of a distinction between _personally_ and _absolutely_ +he seems almost struck dumb with astonishment, and says he had never +heard of the distinction before. Now altho' the public will make all +rational allowance for the judge's want of distinction where Mr. +Thompson is concerned, yet I suspect they could hardly account for his +present lack of apprehension, unless he took that statement upon tick, +and signed without reading it. + +Still despairing of any thing like a defence upon this ground, the +Citizen at length, p. 24, dismisses his whole train of statements, +certificates and letters, & undertakes very learnedly and elaborately +to refine upon the distinction; and insists that if a man expresses his +_personal wish to resign_, it is to all intents and purposes a +_resignation_, and that no other was ever heard of; as if it was +impossible to consult the opinions of others, and make a _general +resignation_ depend upon their consent. All that it seems necessary in +that case, is for the McBain meeting to resolve to accept what they +thus are pleased to call a resignation, and nominate another candidate. +And this it seems accords with the sense of all the world on the +subject, both federal and republican. Thus the world are at length +after a lapse of ages, furnished with an easy recipe for a +resignation--a sort of _panacea_ to correct all the sores of the body +politic and produce a "_speedy composure of the public mind" "Tereatis +Risum Amici_;" and call no one a political quack playing off his +whimsical nostrums upon the people, whose mental repose lies so near +his heart. If the meeting are told that they _shall be responsible if +they act on a declaration thus limited_, keep it out of view as much as +possible, or say as the citizen does, p. 40, that it was only something +_like that_ or _out of season_, or some such thing. If a committee of +_three_ are chosen to publish the proceedings and _two_ of them write a +_farrago of nonsense_ which puts the whole together by the ears, in +order to decide the quarrel and "_speedily compose the public mind_," +let them raffle upon the question, and to see that every thing is fair, +appoint the _First Judge_ to hold the hat. Ancient history tells us of +more important controversies than this, decided in the same way; + + Old Hector was a wary chap, + At pitch and chuck and hustle-cap, + An old Scotch bonnet quickly takes, + In which he three brass farthings shakes; + Then turn'd his head without deceit, + + To shew them that he scorn'd to cheat; + And cries aloud, here goes, my boy, + 'Tis _heads_ for Greece and _tails_ for Troy; + Then turns the cap: _great Troy_ prevails, + _Two farthings_ out of three were tails. + +But it is time to lift the curtain, and attend more minutely to the +_chief jugglers_ who figure behind it. _The Sheriff and others_, who +sign the McBain certificate, alledge that Mr. Cowen (_according to +their construction_) not only _resigned his nomination_ but _did so_ +without any previous _request (as they perceived)_ It would seem from +_this_, that these men were kept as a sort of _puppets_ to dance in +accordance with the wires which actuated them, from behind the scene; +being thus, _according to their own account_, strangers to the +_pressing request_ made to Mr. Cowen, and the _arguments_ by which it +was enforced. They are excluded the main _performance_ and reserved for +the _farce_--probably for the _wisest_ of reasons, as there are certain +important parts which would be ruined in _vulgar hands_. It is time +that these men _should perceive_, if they have _not yet learned_ one +important fact among others, which their famous masters, _Thompson and +Child_, have thus hypocritically concealed throughout. For this purpose +I give the following extract of a _letter_ from Judge Child, written on +the subject of that _meeting_, the day after it took place, dated at +Greenfield, April 19, 1815: + + "We accordingly met, and had a free candid and friendly + _consultation_ with _Mr. Cowen_; and when he came to hear the + _communication from Esquire Cowles, Ketchum and Gardner_, on + the subject of Mr. Young's _conduct_ and _usefulness_ in the + Legislature;--_and taking into consideration all the + circumstances_, he cheerfully declared that, _in his + judgement_, it was best for him to resign being a candidate; + and use his influence for the election of Mr. Young;--but + that he _really desired_ an opportunity of _consulting those + friends_ who had exerted themselves to procure his + nomination, that were not present. It was stated to him that + they lived or at least _some_ of them, at such a distance, + that it would be very difficult to give seasonable + information to the county of his _resignation_ in favor of Mr + Young, should it be put bye till Thursday or Friday as he + requested;--and that the same _reasons_[11] _which convinced + him that it would be proper for him to resign, would satisfy + them on the subject_. Mr. Cowen _still_ tho't it would be + _the best way to proceed_ and the most gratifying to his + feelings, _to take time to consult his friends_." + +Thus you see Mr. Cowen was requested to resign, and the _arguments_ in +favor of that resignation founded upon the _famous certificate_, dated +Albany, April 17, 1815, published Ante, page 4--a statement +_jesuitically_ calculated to shew that the zeal of his friends had, _by +perverting the conversation of Ketchum &c._ aided in procuring _his_ +nomination. And when he expresses a _desire_ to consult his friends; +_an answer_ is ready, emanating from the same false and deceptive +source. Thus are the most _shameful arts_ employed to destroy his +_confidence in those friends_, and induce in him a reluctance _under +all the circumstances_ (as the first judge expresses it) against being +a candidate--You thus see their _rotten certificate_ made the +foundation for the _rise_--_progress_ and _result_ of that _meeting_. +Thus does the charge of DUPLICITY, FRAUD and FALSEHOOD recoil upon the +heads of those _arch-certifiers_, or _the men_ employed in _obtaining_ +and _giving currency_ to their shameful communication. + +It then in fact ceases to be a question what was _said_ or _done_ by +that meeting, or any member of it. For according to every principle of +reasoning, _divine_ or _human_; if the _whole_ was grounded on _fraud_, +the whole was a _nullity_, and possessed no _moral force_. "If" says +the book, "Mr. Cowen's _nomination_ was procured _by fraud_, it cannot +be called a _nomination_; and may be departed from with impunity." It +turning out on investigation, that his _nomination_ was a _perfectly +fair one_, and his pretended _resignation_ founded on the _grossest +duplicity_;--whether it was _conditional_ or _absolute_, whether it was +_personal_ or _general_, it is void, and unworthy the name of a +_resignation_. _Eternal justice_ disavows it; _Political justice_ +disowns it; and _common sense_ condemns the perversion. The +_nomination_ of _Mr. Young_, by a meeting thus _packed_ for the +purpose, by a few of _his friends_, was not only _void_ for that +reason, but it had its origin in the _same duplicity_, and was +therefore equally void with _every thing founded upon it_. + +Were Young's colleagues correctly informed, as to the manner _their +conversations_ were spoken of? or were they deceived by _Kasson_ and +_Thompson_ when they called for their _certificates_ at Albany? If the +_latter_, they had near one year before giving their _second_ +certificate, to correct the error. Why have they always shrunk from +investigation? Why in their _second_ certificate, contradict the +_first_? Why after having _near a year_ to _prepare_ it, does their +_second_ certificate _contradict itself_? As they now stand, they +present a more shocking _caricature_ of folly and inconsistency, than +ever _figured_ before the public. They have burst the bands of +political faith--They have melted the cement of affection, and driven +to a returnless distance, the best and dearest of friends. No man knew +what to say or think of what they said or certified--Individual ruin is +threatened, and the destruction of a _free press_ aimed at; while in +the political atmosphere all is uproar, disorder and confusion. + + --Alas.--"That _men_, + Clothed with a little _brief authority_, + Should play such antic tricks before high heaven, + As make the angels weep!" + +With these men however I have now done--But let their _Pander_ beware; +let him _pause and reflect_, ere it be too late--"Already are the +sluices of public indignation opened upon him--Already is he _drifted +along on the surface of the stream, the object of_ CONTAGION and +ABOMINATION"--AN ELECTOR. MAY 1816. + + * * * * * + +NOTE: The public will duly _appreciate_ the reasons for _postponing_ +the publication of the foregoing till _after Election_. The writer +hopes he has avoided the example of the _Citizen_, by not _descending_ +to the retreats of _private_ character.--Even the author of the book +has not been named. The character given of that author, ante page 30 in +note, is not intended to apply to any one named in that +pamphlet.--Indeed I hope for the honor of human nature, that however +_strange_ and _inconsistently_ some of these men have acted who have in +that production given their names to the public, yet that none of them +are so far gone as to prostitute themselves to the vile purpose of +writing such a work as that in which their names are interlarded. + + + + +NOTES + +[1] _Several hundred of these certificates were a day or two after the +McBain Meeting, struck off at the FEDERAL Printing' Office in this +Village, and circulated thro' the County during the election_. + +[2] _It will be recollected that the writer of this letter is the +famous conversation-monger, who together with his brother James Mott, +are made the instruments of proving duplicity in Mr. Cowen. John R. +Mott pretends that as early as the 1st of March, Mr. Cowen told him +that Palmer and Bunce were opposed to Young, &c and yet on the 6th day +of_ April _following, he very gravely informs Mr. Cowen by letter, of +the very facts which he says Mr. Cowen had told him before. This is the +man too who tells so much about_ private _conversation, and Mr. +Cowen's_ hesitating _to tell him names; and enjoining him to_ secresy, +_and who so very spunkily says that he called Gen. Dunning "a fool." +Mr. Cowen must, I think, feel himself greatly indebted to these_ +brother _certifiers for their honor and patriotism. This too is the +man, who sometime before wrote a fawning letter, asking Mr. Cowen to +give him an office (Assistant Assessor of the U.S.) which he had at his +disposal; to which Mr. Cowen readily acceded, and afterwards on another +written request, conferred the same office on his_ brother certifier +_James Mott. [The inhabitants of Halfmoon, will furnish ample +credentials, for their extraordinary_ attention _and_ correctness _in +the execution of their offices, One of these men shortly before the +election was appointed deputy to the Sheriff: He suddenly veers about +and becomes a convert to_ court _doctrine, and evinces his zeal in the +new cause he had espoused, by his_ anathemas _against his former +friends.] These brothers in blood, in politics and in virtue, +generously avail themselves of the advantages afforded them by official +intercourse with Mr. Cowen on business, and then patriotically tender +the fruits of their_ rotten-hearted _labor to_ "the citizen" _and his +friends as proofs of duplicity_. + +[3] _This was on the_ first _day of the Polls--but it seems by Mr. +Bennet's certificate, that as soon as the election was over, Thompson +flung off the mask, and exhibited his_ cloven foot _without reserve_. + +[4] _Altho' it is a fact well known that this meeting was projected by, +and the canting pretences which bro't it together and sent forth the +strange account which it gives of itself, originated with_ two or three +"demagogues," _yet it is a subject of real regret that a_ few honest +men _have suffered themselves to be duped by their shameful artifices. +It commenced with_ Mr. Thompson of Milton, _who during the summer past +has been very industrious in serving up and peddling little doses of +slander against_ Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Bunce, and others. _This man has been +a real political_ scold, _ever since he found himself capable of +throwing a little confusion into the ranks of the county; He is the +first_ male Xantippe _who has reduced the doctrine of scolding to a +system, and certified it in a_ book. _Of such characters there is +little hopes:_ + + "_Destroy his_ web and sophistry _in vain_, + _The creature's at his_ dirty work _again_." + +[5] _Altho' no man more sincerely rejoices in the charitable donations +of the people of Saratoga, for the relief of our brethren at_ Sacket's +Harbor, _than the writer of these remarks, yet he cannot avoid joining +in the general disgust at the vanity of Judge Child, in trying to +elicit public applause for himself. The judge cannot bear to hide his +charming light under a bushel. Instead of not suffering one hand to +know what the other is doing, he is not content with its being +published in a_ book, _but advertises his charity in a newspaper as a +man would one of his_ stray cattle. _From his liberal conduct to the +Editor of the Journal and others, he is perhaps excusable in calling +his charity about him as soon as possible, even if he offers a +considerable reward for it in the next advertisement which he puts into +his darling paper_. + +[6] By a new species of logic adopted by the author of the Book, a man +is accounted _honorable_ and _virtuous_ by the square foot of carcase. +Ergo, "a little man" in stature, comprehends all that is _hypocritical_ +and _wicked_. The _great man_, James Merrill, who is the subject of +this note, by the above rule is of course, the most _honorable_, best +informed and _religious_ man of the whole group, who embellish the fair +pages of that "book." It is proper that the public should know a little +of his _debut_ and _denoument_ as a political character. + +His _first_ notorious feat was performed in his first and last +appearance as a member of assembly, where his colleague by a friendly +rap on the knuckle convinced him that he was _endeavoring_ to read off +a _federal_ vote for a council of appointment, which a federal member +had assured him was more _legible_ than the one _prepared_ for him. + +The _second_ time as a quid of the _Burr_ stamp, and willing to spend +500 dollars rather than the republican candidate should succeed. + +The _third_ time in a _new_ character; with his name blazoned in large +capitals in recommendation of S. Van Rensselaer for governor, in +opposition to Daniel D. Tompkins in 1813. + +The fourth time in 1815, as the _sub_ agent and director of the McBain +meeting; still ready with 100 dollars, to divide the ticket with the +federalists rather than the regular nomination should succeed and Mr. +Young not be elected; swearing he had not _before taken hold since his +friend Burr went down_. + +On the _first_ day of election he is a flaming democrat. + +On the _second_ day, at the opening of the polls, he makes public +proclamation "for all those who did not intend to vote for Mr Young to +come forward and state their reasons, _and they should be heard_; and +that _now_ he had no objections that _three federalists_ should be +elected." + +On the third day of the election, "_it depended on a word, and the +types of the republican printer would be scattered_." A true sample of +"the mild spirit of Christian humility" Vid. _book_. + +[7] _This circumstance would not have been mentioned had not the +_CITIZEN_ boasted of the same office confering great honor on one of +his disciples_. + +[8] In treating of the productions of an author, it is customary to +give some account of his character, pursuits, &c. &c. This is usually +done by way of _introduction_ or _appendix_. I beg leave in this +instance to deviate from the regular method, and present him in the +more appropriate station of a _Nota Bene_. + +The author of that pamphlet is a _lawyer_ in _practice_ and a +_moralist_ by _profession_; by the former, he has acquired great +_booty_; by the latter a ---- and what is peculiar to himself (and all +'peculiar' men have their peculiarities) he never suffers his +_profession_ to interfere with his _practice_; and yet in _money +concerns_, he has been known to handle _both_, with great _adroitness_. +In his _practice_ his fellow townsmen are "pine plains men," in his +profession "a contemptible rabble;" and truly so, for the former tell +him "the farm you live on was once the soil of a revolutionary +soldier." This is truly saucey, for he acquired it by his _practice_. +The latter tell him, "you sued us for small sums due the estate of a +relative; you made us ten times more costs than the demands--you took +advantage of a then existing law, to oppress us; you feasted on our +misfortunes, and rioted on our distresses; till an _ugly_ law extended +relief to the '_rabble_'." + +One of these men living in an adjoining town, tells him, "I once owned +two farms; I own no farms now--They are swallowed up in '_morality_.'" +It is not yet ascertained, whether his rate of 40 per cent interest, is +regulated by his _practice_ or his _profession_. It certainly cannot +be, as has been supposed, in proportion to the wants of the distressed. +I am inclined to think his _morality_ often runs ahead of his +_practice_, in this case. + +A _good reputation_ is not common to all men. Our author has +practically demonstrated the truth of this position, and conclusively +shewn, that the _needy_ have an absolute right to filch a supply from +their neighbor; and has exhibited such powerful proofs in support of +_his_ claims, that he has actually obtained more than a _quantum +sufficit_, and conferred the surplus on some of his _needy_ friends. + +The misfortunes of his neighbor, forms the chief round in his _ladder_ +to eminence; it rests on the sanctuary of domestic afflictions, and is +supported by the tears of the widow and the orphan. Lo! Avarice claims +him for her own--Billingsgate yields her choicest flowers--Envy +entwines the glowing wreath--and malice triumphantly crowns him "lord +of the ascendant." + +[9] _The certificates of these men interlard several points of +conversation as minute as the souls which gave operation to their +memory; and which appear to be designed to answer no other purpose, +than to shew the extraordinary strength and accuracy of intellect by +which they are characterized. Their fixed attention to such matters may +serve as some excuse for the manner in which they executed their +offices of U.S. assessors. But I have had occasion to note these +gentlemen once before_. + +[10] _The Citizen is perhaps correct when he calls Mr. Palmer a_ little +man, _and Judges of his own_ favorites _by the quantity of_ matter +_instead of_ mind;--_Like the Italian Farmer in estimating the +qualities of a_ grave animal _no less famous for_ strength and dullness +_than for the_ length _of his_ ears. + +[11] _It seems that an effort was afterwards made to convince their +friends, by publishing several hundreds of the famous communication +from Young's colleagues, notwithstanding an express stipulation to the +contrary_. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Review and Exposition, of the +Falsehoods and Misrepresentations, of a Pamphlet Addressed to the Republicans of the County of Saratoga, Signed, "A Citizen", by An Elector + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVIEW AND EXPOSITION *** + +***** This file should be named 14729.txt or 14729.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/2/14729/ + +Produced by Curtis A. 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