Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-07-25
10 the People of NAinois.
Kaskaskia, July Is, 1920.
FELLOW CITIZENS,

1t is greatly to be regretted that no
mans zeal and fidelity in the discharge
of his public duties can shield him
against the shafts of malicea and detrac-
ton. Perhaps no case exhibits more
striking example of this melancholy
truth than my own. II is well known,
that with an industry worthy of better
cause, | have been represented by my
enemies as an object of contempt and
reproach to the state while at Washing
ton. That | was SO little respected that
| could get nothing done, &c. &c. Not
contested with such insidious fa5rica-
tons and gross entations, one
of their most contemplate tools, whether
out of the abundance of his own malice,
or under the instructions of the head of
his faction, { will not dignity it with the
name of party | know not, attempted to
indict me for franking certain letters to
the Treasurer of this State, in relation to
the collection of our own nonresident
land tax. This unhallowed attempt to
prostitute the Office of grand Juror,
which he then was, to the promotion of
the views and wishes of faction, was to
put the finishing stroke to my character.
All this vile machinery was in active
operation in this state for my destruction,
while was at the post assigned me by
my fellow citizens, watching with anxious
solicitude over their interests. While
was faithfully, and with success as ex-
traordinary as unexpected, maintaining
their rights, a faction within the state
was, with an industry equal to my own
at least, decorating my reputation and
directing part of their efforts to my
destruction even at Washington, and
with it the destruction ofthe peoples in
terests. But that my success has
equalled the most sanguine expecta-
tons Of all reasonable men, even they
are forced reluctantly to admit. Dis
lodged as they are therefore, from their
supposed strong hold, my want of re-
spect and proper influence in congress,
the old charge is revived of my fraudu-
lently franking four letters to the state
Treasurer from Vanzandt and Rockwell,
In relation to our nonresident land tax
This charge found was their last hope
at the time of my arrival. 1t had been
lspread from county to county by some of
their itinerant missionaries of faction,
and in Franklin county found it so BUSH
ly circulated that felt it due to the peo-
pie whose ears had been filled with it, to
make an explanation of the affair. This
| believe was satisfactory to every candid
man who was present. / afterwards re-
duced the explanation to writing in the
following letter for the information of
those, to whom it could not be otherwise
explained.
| Here follows Mr.. Cook letter to the edi-
tors of the Illinois Gazette, published in the
last SPECTATOR
This explanation was made in hearing
Of the man who propagated the story,
and though convinced against his will
he is of the same opinion still" He has
returned to the charge in the last Illinois
lntelligencer, over the signature of g A
Voter" and says " that upon examina-
ton he finds the authority spoken of by
me was never given" / never said it
was-I only said that Mr.. Benjamin
Bond, OF Baltimore, advertised that he
was authorized by the Treasurer of Hi
nois, TO receive and give receipts, and
give regular discharges for tores, which
had or might thereafter accrue to the
state of Illinois. / had right to believe
that the brother of the Governor of this
state, and the uncle of the Treasurer by
affinity, was incapable Of publishing to
the world SO gross falsehood. / could
not believe that he would have placed his
relative under the necessity ofpublishing
him to the world, a liar. In that matter
1 do not mean to interfere. Mr..
Mclaughlin and Mr.. Bond may settle it
between themselves. shall however
be gratifed to find, that Mr.. Mclaughlin,
towards whom l had no hostility, may
be able to clear up so unauthorized an
affair. never meant to attack him
what have said and still say, is in my
own justification. 1t has been dragged
out of me by the friends Of Mr.. Ntzhugh,
lin, whose attacks have been marked
with no less malignity than industry.
Here is the advertisement of Mr.. Bond,
taken from the Daily National Intelli-
gcncer of the 18th Of March, 1920.
Every man will see that it supports what
have said.
"ILLINOIS TAXES.
" The subscriber having been authori-
xed by the Treasurer ofthe state Of ILL
nois to receive payments and give re-