Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-30


swer to the false and foul charge is concerned
we should be willing to leave the matter. But
something more than mere passing notice of
this odious and abominable plot against the good
name and honorable standing of six of New
York's worthest and most respected sons, is re-
quired at our hands. The Infamous attempt by
means worthy of the Spanish Inquistion, and
with instruments vile enough for the most UNI
prlncped employers and the most nefarious
purpose, to impcach the integrity and blast for
ever the character Of such men as Moses H.
GRINNELL of New York, deserves the execra-
ton of every honest man, and the severest CEN
sure of every Independent press. We might
have looked for almost any thing from despe-
rate party lettering on the brink of ovcrwhelm-
ing defeat but for plot so monstrous, so meas
urcless in its iniquity as this, we were indeed
unprcpared.
A brief summary of the principal features in
this transaction is all that our limited space al
lows. For months past the public has been pre-
pared by the mysterious givings out Of the lead
ing Van Buren, papers for "last card" which
was to win the Presidential game for Martin
Van Buren,. To BENJAMIN +. BUTLER common
rumor had assigned the keeping of this infalli-
BILE restorative of the party's waning strength !;
and to his judgement was confled the selection
Of the moment when the production of the "last
card would be attended with the most decided
and ardently desired success. On Friday
morning last, Mr.. Benjamin F. Butler played
this "last card" in the shape of an affidavit itself
based upon hcarsay of one Jonathan d. Ste
venson, charging the Wing party with having,
in the election of 1888, imported large num-
Der of voters from Philadelphia, and naming
Messrs. Grnnell, Bowen, Blatchford Draper
and Wctmore, as the managers Of this ,chole.
sale fraud.
Accompanying this principal piece, were sew.
eral others, unimportant in themselves, but in
troduced to give the proper colorng and consis-
tency to the tale. On the very morning of these
publications in New York, the Boston Post. and
Bay State Democrat, issued ertras giving a sy-
nopsis OF this startling Development" and, on
the authority of New York correspondents, as.
sorting Tthat Governor Se,card had been ar
rested, and was then on trial before the Polio
Couri for participation in these frauds, and tina
Moses H. GrinneH and x. c. Wetmorc, to es
cape similar treatment, had fled from The city,
These extras were doubtless distributed on the
wings Of the wind, and ere this it is not unlikel,
that the Cor Of New York has been posted al
orer Ner England as common felon, am
Messrs. GRrNNELL and WETMoRE held up Il
public scorn as .fugitires from, justice! TO the
South and West too, nay, in all directions, thi
same abominabe lie, magnitied more and NOR
as it passed from hand to hand, has been indus
trously circulated, and upon this "LAsT CARD
AN expedient so worthy of their system G
political warfarc--the partzans of Van Bure
relied to re.elcct their Chief
But for once ViLLAiNY has over.reached i,
self The individuals implicated by this aft
davit of Mr.. J. d. Stevenson, have had time t
spread before the public their unqualified con
tradcton, made under oath, of the whole story
Each one of them has put on record his affidav
that the charge is false and myounded in eac
and erery particular. And Glcntuorth, the per
soa whose admissions make up the sum and sub
stance of Stevensons affidavit, has himse
sworn IL that d. +. Butler, T.. $. District Al
torn,y, and Jesse Hoy, US. Collector, oOere
to diride their "ast cent or last crust ,riih hin
(Glentworth) if he ,could come foruard an
make proof Of these disclosures! Where sha
we look for a refutation more complete or cor
elusive than these aflidavts furnish to the who'll
fabrication! And what measure of indignatio
is too large for those who in their desperate en-
deavors to retain the power they have so lon
and so grossly abused, have engaged in con
spiracy so wanton and wicked as this But W
must pause, reluctantly indeed to-day, in tn
hope of resuming the subject Tomorrow Mean
while we invite every honest and impartial ma
to read and scrutnize the different statement
and aflidavits we this day publish.
TO THE PUBLIC.
The statement embracing charges against the sui
scrbcrs published in the Standard and other papcr
of this morning, has just been seen by US.
A regard for characters demands th
prompt, full and unqualified denial Of the agency Al
tempted to be imputed to US, of having at any tim
employed James B. Gentworth, or any other person
TO procure individuals from Philadelphia to vote g
the elections in this State.
The fact that persons were brought to this city
the fall of 1888, to detect fraudulent voters who wer
intended to be used by the opposite party has new,
been denied, and was well known and publicly avow
ed at the time.
This denial will be sufficient for the present to- D,
down the foul charges imputed to us,
In the meantime, appeal will be made to the tr
bunals ofJustce, to expose and punish the unprnc
pied individuals who have engaged in consplrac,
for malicious and political purpose affect our CHI;
ractcrs.
NJ II. GRINNELL
X. NJ. BKATCHFORD,
JAMES BOWEN,
s. DRAPER, Jr,
II. G. WETMORE
Dated New York. Oct. %, ls40.