The Arkansas advocate., 1831-08-03
TO THE PUBLIC.

I TO THE PUBLIC.
 Ashley, WoodrqD, aadtAe baiance Qffheas.
 In the Gazette sseutra,' paper de voted to Col. Sevier and Gov. Pope, e! EssPl0ntation" mcmcry,) bearing date Ju- 1 iy 2s, Buck Woodruff has appeared in Col. Ashley's defence, Tthe SLAVE is induty bound to defend the MASTER, and produces a9fdauits, certificates, 6rc. to disprove the following statement, made in Wednesdays Advocate:- .COL. ASHLEY AND HIS THREATS.
 sIn conversing the other day with Mr. BuRsEy, an honest. but humble citizen of our town, on the subject of the ensuing election for Delegate to Congress, we were told by him, that Col. Ashley held his note for S70 or S75, aud that he (AshIey) proposed to him, if he would pote for Col. Sevier, he would wait with him fer tie money, but if he persisted in his determination to VOTE for the FARMER and SOL DEER, he would institute suit against him for the amount, the moment he cast his vote. What say you to this ESreemen of A Arkansasg'
 Col. Ashley, it appears, Or Woodruff, the same thing, has procured Mir. Bus sy's affidavit, stating that the above is absolutely and unqualiiedly false" and that no conversation oi the kind was ever held with me or any other person.
 Now, fellow-citizens. read the follow lowing certificate, signed by three per sons of high responsibility, in relation to this conversation:
 LITTLE RooK, July 27, 1881.
 We recollect Uery distinctly to have heard ssiIitt Bussy, while sitting in Mr. Wil- sons front piazza, on the 26th instant, make use of language, a effect the same as was stated in the s' A rkansas Advocate" of this date, to hape been used by him.
 VIM. T. YE0MANS,
 BURK JOHNSON.
 JOHN K. TAYLOR.
 Does not this show coeclasiuely and iirres5stibly, that undue i'faence, (the same as dsh2ey exercised, ID relation to his uote,) was used to MAKE Bussy give tic atafiidavitlic aaii has? Does it not show that the old gentleman's tgnoranee was imposed upon? Why did Ashley go to where Bussy was at work, and tell'him that this matter MUST be CLEARED UP? And l would ask further, have they produced any e0idence to show that Ashley did not DRILL him, previous to his making this affidavit? No-but on the contrary, this willy man Ashley9 has induced this weak, i7literate, and im- beetle old man, to give an affidavit, 1 (penned by Ashley himseiE,) which he f7aew Tt thc time, 10 be ''absolutely and ,t,aquailfedly fdlse,'' as tho above certifi- cate will show.
 MT. Woodruff has taken some pains to procure a ''hGt fuW' of certificates, to prove that Bussy was s'duly so5er,' , when he made oath to the affidavit. In relation to this matter, have only to say, that Bussy, after he had signed the affidavit, Gas l understand it) and betore he made oath to it, in answer to ques- ton put by me whether he was then drunk or sober, he replied Gin the pres ence of tvo zrah1cSses) that he was DRUNK.
 "It will be seen, that MT. Bertrand has already endorsed for the responsibility of Mr Bnssy, and lie cannot now have the assurance to attempt to discredit him"
 A maa is presumed to De honest, until the fact other1oise appears. But when Il has been pro0ed that that man has been induced, by FEAR or other means, to swear to a ssdeiiterafe and sulyul fdtse- kood,' as in the present case, ] then say he has forfeited all claims to credit o,oe thought Woodruff to be an honest, Honorable, and truth-tclling man, but facts have ssace proved that otherwise was the case-that was mistaken in the 1aan-and the consequence is, that he has no claims on me or the public to credit for either. He has charged, in the very handbll now before me, thai |@Deslla's circulars were sent of in eve ry direction thro' the Territory, except Pulaski county" Well, here is LIE, uaf1ly and knozpmgly uttered, S'to gull nac unsuspecting.' It is susceptible ot proof. that this same circular he speaks of, was circulated in Saline Township, on the day otier they accre printed, and al- so in Desark Township, on Friday night or Saturday morning last, and