Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-10-12
COMMUNICATED.

when | conceive it to be necessary in self-deience
against unjust and groundless imputatons.
Il is true that so far as the public are concerned,
the discussion of the questions at issue between Mr..
b. and myself may not be of great importance; yet
having been publicly assailed, | claim ght pub
lcly to defend myself; and if, in 50 doing, happen
10 exhibit the conduct character OF an assallant
IN light which is not agreeable 10 himself, he GER
t1iniy has no reason to complain. he should have
examined the ground upon which he stood before
making the attack, and then, probably, he would
u.- ave been reduced to the unmanly extremity of
eal avorinr to enlist public sympathy in his behalf
ly attrbu:;nq to me low and scurrilous epithet,"
5~ch did not use, and by speaking of the fear
i.' odds" against him. which are to be found much
more in the weakness of the positions he has as
med and in the improperly of the course he has
pursued, than in any real want of ability to defend
nscf; for whatever else may be said of Mr.. B.
cry one who knows him will he willing to con-
ce le that he has talents of respectable order
esch as, if accompanied to greater extent by in
tegrity of purpose, would have secured to him an
eminence, at least among those protesting the same
political creed, that under existing circumstances
lie expect to attain, unless the party for
gets its duty to itself
am fully convinced that if Mr. B. during the
la political canvass, had acted more in accordance
with the dictates of his better judgment, than with
the promptngs Of few disappointed and dsafIected
asprants for Office by whom he was surrounded,
and who spared efforts TO prejudice his mind
against the nominations of the party by false and
slanderous statements concerning the motives Of
those who were active in the support of the ticket,
and concerning the nominees themselves, his course
would have been very different Having however
committed a wrong, he has not the magnanlmty
to own it-but endeavors to screen himself from
the odium to which he is justly obnoxious, and to
make show of justification for his conductsaby
trumpng up excuses, which will be found upon ex-
animation to be weak and trihing,as well ground
less. A poor excuse he may suppose to be better
than none but the public will be inclined to be-
lcve unless he urge something stronger than
vague and general charges, without, as he kaoaeS'
the least foundation in fact, against his party, in
gard to the mode in which the nominations were
made, and against one or two individuals whose a
gcncy in procuring certain nominations he greatly
oyerracs, that silence would have been the part Of
wisdom.
In this respect, his compecr, Mr.. Hale, has the
advantage; for, although he has not pretended to
set up any defence, he has the satisfaction of know
ing that matters have not been made worse by tu-
tile attempts at explanation, the only effect of which
would be to render the inconsistency and mpropri-
CIV of his course still more pal pabe.
Mr. i. reiteratcs, in substance, the charge made
against me III his electoneering handful, concern
ing the publication of an address to the democratic
electors of the county, emanating from the cor
responding committee. | stated fully in my first
communication, the circumstances under which
that address was issued, and need not repeat them
l-rc. Mr.. b. does not, in single PARTICULAR gain
nay the truth O. lh4; statement: indeed, he cannot;
yc' in view &C these circumstances, he persists in
liz understandable AMI ungcnylcmanly aspersion!
He is welcome to all the credit he can gain from
so dsingcnuous a course.
Concerning the assent of Mr.. James to the ad-
dress it may be well to state what | have learned
since the appearance of my former communication.
Capt. Sprague informed me that, in accordance
with my request, he did consult MIR. J. upon the
subject, who stated that he, ms a member of the
committee, would not have the least objection to
the publication of proper address. Capt. S. far
Their informed me that he handed the address to Mr..
James on the morning of the election, and request
ed him to peruse it, and if there any thing OBJ
lccuonabe in it, TO point out the Objectionable part.
MIR J. took no exception to any portion, and the
far inference of Capt. S. was that he was satisfied
with it. Mr.. James, however, in letter to Mr..
Hale, now declares that he had no knowledge Of
the address, and was not consulted with reference
20 it! Perhaps Mr.. James will explain. lie GER
miuly owes it to himself to do so.
Il may be in place here to refer to statement of
Mr. Bennett, that Mr.. James was at the Convcn-
-oo where he openly and warmly, and in my pre-
..r, rcpudiated its proceedings, and predicted that
nomination of certain individuals would prove
utter defeat of the ticket. Hence. argues Mr..
h ! could not have presumed had the concur
..aue of Mr., James to the address. This gentleman
.,5s not a member of the Convention and whatever
.2inions he may have entertained, If expressed at
u were prirdteIy stated. If Mr.. b. means that
soy opinion of Mr.. James adverse to the proceed
s. Is Of the Convention was expressed in my hear
.g, or 10 me-, he has, to a very mild term, mis-
atcd-for most positively declare that | have not
at any time heard him express any feeling or opn-
ion upon the subject, pro or con-and, farther, |
fully entertained t'c opinion, from what | knew of
Mr. James character as consistent and high mind
cd democrat and gentleman, that he would be far
from taking an open and decided stand against the
nominations of his party, particularly in his official
character as a member of the corresponding COM
mttee. ] cannot yet fully believe was mistaken
in this opinion, maugre all of Mr.. Benefits efforts
to place that gentleman in the same unenviabe po-
sjtion he himself occupies.
All this, however, conceive to be of but little
importance, on the ground that, even admitting the
truth Of ther dissent TO the address, these men hav-
ing in accordance with their own admissions taken
a stand aGaIns, ibe nominations Of the convention