The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-07-22
40 the Voters Of Lin Sale County

20 the Voters Of Lii, Sale County.
My name having been presented before
you, both by an independent announce
ment by my friends and also by the mass
meeting, as a candidate for sheriff at the
ensuing election, | have though! proper
to address TO YOU few words.
| have been sheriff Of tins county near
ly four years, during which time most Of
you have become personally acquainted
with me III all the relations of life. ]
therefore rely upon your own knowledge
to relute the electioneering stories circu-
lated against me. In asking you for you,
support at the next election, know Of no
way can do ii with more assurance thar
to refer you to the manner in which
have heretofore discharged my duty.
have been sheriff during times of great pc.
cunlary DISSATISFACTION every branch Of
business has been unsettled, and when
men were breaking up daily. In such
times it is difficult TO execute the duties
of sheriff with ability and safety. From
1888 up to 1912 | have settled with the
county and state for taxes to the amount
Of thirty thousand dollars, and now hold
vouchers showing that all my accounts
with the county and state are settled.
have compelled no man to ask me for lis
money twice when due by me officially.
although | have collected large amounts.
Every man who has transacted business
with me knows the truth of this declara-
ton. ] do not doubt that have offended
some. No man who discharges the duty
of sheriff as required by lalc can avoid
making some personal enemies, and when
such men neither respcc; morals nor rell-
glon, am not surprised they should avail
themselves of any and all means, no nG'-
ter V.tat, TO lraduce my character. These
remarks apply with peculiar force to three
or four individuals about Ottawa, whose
friendship ] have forfeited in consequence
of refusing to indorse their notes or some
thing of this kind, or by compelling them
to pay their legal dues.
have requested those men to reduce
their charges against me to writing and
give me an opportunity to relute them,
have told them would publish the whole
to the worldat my own expense, and see
that it was placed in the hands of every
voter of the county. Would they acccde
to proposition so fair! No this band Of
loving brothers know that their charges
against me would vanish quicker than
mist before the sun, and that they them
selves would stand before the community
like guilty assasslns on a mans character.
When | returned from Springfield found
these men engaged in systematic attack
upon my character, and | am now cred-
ed with their hand bills day or two be-
fore the election, giving me M opporluni-
~ 10 repel their attacks if even felt dis
posed. 1t strikes me, that in this they pay
poor compliment to the discrimination
and intelligence of the voters, nor do they
remember that the same kind of election
eerlhg has been more than once rebuked
in this county.
A writer in the las, Free Trader is sim
pie enough indirectly to charge me with
getting up the mass meeting and that too
for the purpose of obtaining nomination.
That meeting was called by men of both
parties, generally farmers, and now say
what "A Citizen" knows to be true, that
neither sought for nor refused nominal
ton in the mass meeting. did not take
one step to obtain it; and, without an ef-
fort on my part, TO receive nearly the una
nimous support of about two hundred and
fifty farmers, from every part Of the coun.
ty, | frankly acknowledge. | conceived to
be mark Of respect which shall always
remember with gratitude, the kindness OF
which can only repay by treasuring such
friendship in my mind, and, in case of my
election, attempting TO faithfully and i'm
partially discharge my duty. The writer
of tina, article also knows that, both before
and since the mass meeting, l have offer
ed TO go into democratic county conven.
ton, and, ii not nominated, l would no,
run; and he knows further, that the rea.