Litchfield enquirer., 1840-11-05
TO THE ELECTORS OF THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
 DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF NEWYoRK. HN.J1u.. |S:,;.o1c 1nd (IonSf;i,,o11Ic

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
 DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF NEWPORT.
 Fel1o,o- Citizens and Constituents:
 Induced by peculiar circumstances, affect ing your interests and my character, to con- sent again to be proposed to your suffrages, deem it duty and a happiness to address you on the subject. As is we'll known 10 my friends and to most of you, the honor of be- ing your representative in the present Con. gress was not sought by me. It was accepted against every consideration of private advan- tage and personal comfort; it was accepted only that whatever my influence, character and services might avail in the support of cause believed by me worthy of my support, should not, from personal considerations, be withheld. The only reward in the service undertook was the honor you conferred and the satisfaction of faithful discharge of my duty.
 This term of service ended, l thought my self warranted in retiring, and have resisted all applications to change this purpose. But an attempt has been made to detraud the whole people of the United States by plot of which am personally one ofthe intended victims-impeaching my good name, and my title to the honorable office of being your representative, as having been procured by fraud.
 This attempt has originated in conspira- cy contrived by men in lucrative offices it has been carried on by degrading abuse of the forms of law; it has been made to bear at once upon all the now pending elections of the Union. Although am singled out as one of the victims, yet the success of this at- tempt is question of far more consequence to you than to me; a question of far more importance to the future than tho present. Because, if ifunprincipled and designing men, having at command a venal press, that press and themselves gorged with the public mo- ney, having the control of the post office and the ascendancy in the courts of justice, can be successful in effecting the election of a chief magistrate by frauds, then will such elections be no longer the reward of illustri- ous virtue or conspicuous public service. If this attempt by plot to clGInect such an elec- ton shall now be Successful, the highest of offices will on! / be the premium for the bold est frauds and the greatest pervcrsion of otfi- ciai station.
 The attempt to which allude, is that made before MT. Recorder Morris, to charge the election of 1888 to have been carried by frauds on the part ofthose who have honored me with their votes, and the manner in which the contriyers of the plot have endeavored to affect mo, brings me prominently to your view, as one bound to present it to your con- demnation.
 In relation to these charges, permit me, as one known to you from carly life as man of integrity and truth, to say that it is wholly untrue that on that or any other occasion, ever aided, encouraged, assented to. or ap- proved of any fraudulent procuring of votes from Philadelphia or elsewhere.
 never had any knowledge of any such votes being either procured, sought or given. Inever have contributed money or any other thing for any such purpose. Inever was pre- sent at any meeting, at any place, with James B. Glentworth. It is wholly untrue that at my instance, or with my knowledge, he was sent to Philadelphia, nor had ] any agency, di- this denial, intentionally make it, in the broadest form, to deny every illegal, dishon- orable or unfair means pretended to be charged in the papers taken before MT. Re- corder Morris.
 In entire innocence of these charges, per- init me to call your attention to the manner in which they have been got up and put forth.
 The Recorder of New York, Robert H. Morris, at the head of the criminal court of this city, departs from the usual practice of his place, and condescends to aid in the talk ing of dispositions intended to operate upon the public mind. These dispositions relate years ago, then pretended to be known, and slept upon till the eve of the present election. As judge of the Court of Sessions, he well knew that those who were proceeded against were to be tried before him; he we'll knows how important to fair trial it is that the judgments of the body of the people should not be prejudiced that the circulation of er parte dispositions, having the imposing form which he sought to confer on those then be- fore him, would render the procuring of an impartial jury impossible; and he could scarcely be insensible to the serious effect of such imputations upon all who were the sub- jects ofthem.
 Yet while the proceedings were pending before him, he allows copies of the deposit tions 10 be taken by the conductors of the press of party, and as am told, himself at midnight superintends the press, going from the bench to the printing office. with the pur- pose of their being spread to the widest ex- tent and with the greatest effect for the purpose of being made effective upon cleo lions in other states, too near at hand to ad- init of any contradiction, certainly of any contradiction under form equally imposing.
 My fellow citizens, was this acting as minister of justice? Did it show the honor of gentleman, or the fairness fan honest man1 Are political oppv2ents to be thus hunted down by beagles from the bench Are you safe if such proceedings are sanc- tioned! To you is now put the question, whether this de6lement of the ermine Chow costly a sacrifice to an upright judge } shall be permitted to achieve the success cfa trick!
 But this example in high place had its full effect upon the Subordnates. The slan- ders, once set on foot with the garb of official solemnitv were circulated with less of Scru-