The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-07

been received And haiimporiance wouldbe attach
ed evidence involving right Of support consisting
Of nothing more than one iourneyman shoemaker
telling another when about setiing out "0Ha tramp
that she intended 10 come back againT
With regard 10 another case mentioned by Gen
Wall, Chat OF the young man Benn, ~ his own adj
missions make II necessary for me 10 say little Gen.
Wall arenaoasly objected TO his voting suppos-
ed al the time, and still of the same opinion that
Directing 10 vote, and challenging vote were tan
tamount, Bennett asserted he was of age-had lost
his parents-knew OF no record OF his age-had al
ways been told he would be 81 on the LIST Oct 1855
and knew OF no person better informed Of the fact
than himself. Now | have long known Bennett.
He has been for a long period in the employment OF
my Brother-in-law. He communicated his age
when first employed, and from that, and other cir
cunstances, am satisfied he was Of full age I re-
marked II was hard case TO put one To the proof OF
fact which was not susceptible Of proof that the
same objection might arise from year TO year, and
that some reason should be assigned for presumng
he spoke an untrulh. Gen. Wall made some remarks,
offensive certainly TO the young man, and concluded
BY saying that when person was challenged for
non age, positive proof should be required Of his
age
The General may pirate about his disinteresied
efforts to sustain the rights and redress the wrongs"
OF poor young men, but this was n case for which
he felt no sympathy Bennett happened to be on the
wrong sidel As 10 the assertion hthat on renewed
attempt to lost in his vote his own witness proved
his homage" is utterly nirne. lie aerer attempted
erote second time, and after the most diligent in
quiry am unable TO learn that any one requested
him 10 offer again. And as 10 his own wines"
he had none; but a few minutes AFTER he had retired
those who opposed his vote accidentally found one
Asa Sehooiey with whom Bennett many years ago
resided and who when inierrogaied as TO Bennell's
age said he would be 81 next Christmas" How
Schooley obtained his knowledge did not appear,
but was satisfied from no better source than my
0lrn.
In reference to Gen Wallis statement of the Sa-
mupl Tuff / nrp Mr. nil rla;,,
that matter, was present whenthe vote was given.
On Tni's retiring from the table he Immediate
Iy surrounded and catechised as to his vote he
seemed annoyed and anxious 10 escape. What he
said know not; il may be that he uttered in irony
what Is ascribed TO him. II may have been for the
purpose Of shaking of those who questioned him
with SO much pertinaciy, BY putting them false
issue. The fact was, however. they left Tutt who
Immediately retired, and Gen. wall al their head,
advanced towards Mr.. Wilson, an aged and respec-
table citizen and addressed him in rude offensive
and personal manner. lsad nothing but felt indig.
nant at the whole transaction.
The fact Of the case Is this, Of which was in
formed some weeks previous TO the election. Tut
had complained that he was old and poor, and that
the Jackson party" did nothing for him. They
gave him neither. employment nor necessaries-
They were liberal and kind acoat election time but
during the remainder of the year il it were not for
the Wigs he should starve He was tired Of
supporting such party" and intended hereafter
10 support the Wings, who he found were his best
friends.
Much is said by Gen. Wall in reference to the
following sentence from the extract" The mat
ter has given great deal OF dissatisfaction and will
not be repeated as we have Wing Judges" The
true import Of the sentence is misunderstood BY Gen.
Wall. The sentiment towards him Is of different
character, and is expressed in the WORDS The
spectacle acas hNniliating one"
viii state two cases analogous to those already
mentioned: The case Of Joseph Bulher, young
man whose parents have resided in an adjoining
He paS rad
and served his apprenticeship in this city, but BE-
cause he was absent less than than two weeks in New
York, leaving his clothes and nearly every thing he
possessed behind him. his vote was rejected
The other case is that of young Sap He offered
his vote, and the question was asked him If he was
OF age. He replied in the affirmative. | was stand
ing by at The time and strongly suspected he uttered
an mtiuth, bur because knew nothing TO the con-
ciplcs had previously expressed in BENEFITS case.
The vote was taken on his own allegation, and it
now appears he lacks twclvemonth OF being of
age. The reason of our dissatisfaction" was this;
Of the four cases mentioned, the two who were per-
mitted TO vote were against us and those who acre
not permitted TO Vote were for us. Ii is not necessa-
ry for me TO defend the judges. am conscious of
their upright intentions; they were anxious TO pro-
mote harmony and 10 prevent contention, and from
their desire 10 exhibit strict imparliaily had fallen
into an error inadvertently which was oppressive to
their own friends lam now happy 10 add that SINH
lar cases to those mentioned were not repeated
From what have said somemay suppose object
to the right and propriey OF publications similar TO
lake" in the only regret that have been the
unwilling instrument. Since il has appeared how
ever, now assume the responsibility, and request
you withdraw every qualification about mistakes"
am aware Of being engaged in an unequal contest,
and that veteran special pleader may possess many
advantages over an humble individual like myself,
but conscious of my own rectitude Of purpose and of
NE truth 81 all mhich hare asserted, | iearlessly
abide the issue
These are degenerate days. In times past we have
had our distinguished men, The Boudinott's, Bloom
fields Mcllvane's, and Griffith's, Of opposite poi-
cal principles. They TOO attended the polls and ex-
ercsed franchise belonging TO every citizen, but it
was to promote peace and harmony, and not 10 make
an exhibition of angry passions, pernicous in their
influence, and unbecoming in any one. The obli-
cations of Senator as we'll require him TO repre-
sent the honor and dignity Ct the State as well as its
other interests and the people should be as quickly
informed Of the degradation of as Of the betrayal
of another. To Gen. Nall belongs the honor so far
as have any knowledge of being the first person in
this city who has threatened the Judges in the
discharge of their duty. And now leave it for
others to decide whether " the spectacle hunt
hating oRc."
II were useless for me 10 say any thing in reference
to the tone and temper of the last paragraph of Gen.
Walls letter. The expressions deliberate liar"
and eocaydly eafitmniator' suppose are words OF
dignity when written by "graUe Senator" or per-
haps they are designed for so emphatic denuncia-
tion that must quail before them. For the truth OF
the extract" his own statement furnishes intrinsic
evidence to every unbiased mind, irrespective of any
thing have now said. And as for being co,cardly"
1t is the first time have been thus tainted. Or one
thing am certain, which is that do not fear GAR
nETT d. WALL But do fear and lament the degra-
daon Of my native Slate in the person of one of her
Senator'S and fear the influence Of corrupt adj
minis'ration over a servile and ambitious instru-
ment.
But am to be " an object for the slow and moving
Gnry tha(N al fnlyn Ill nfk o
people do not mistake" the object: the stigma de-
signed Tor another may perchance recoil upon his