The Arkansas banner., 1844-09-11
ANOTHER ISLANDER EXPOSED.

 meet and rcfutc any slanderwhchhis enemies might publish against him, the Gazette confined itself to hints and insnuatiuns, of general character,-and even they were exposed and refuted in the Col's circular of the 22d August. But so soon as he has left town probably not to return nntil after theeec- tion, charges against him boldly ventured upon, and specified in the hope. doubtless that no one here is sufficiently acquainted with his affairs to meet all these charges and set them before the pub lie in their true light To some extent this is true and to that extent, the Gazette, and its unprncpled correspondents may enjoy the qualification of helf malice. But SO far as iaets come tooHllnowledge, we shall lay them before our readers, that tyqh may Ike known and justice be done to the Ianderef, as well as to the slaadered.
 It will be remembered that 10 the charge of ''dis regarding the rights of the owners of improvements on the pnblc lands, Col Ashley, in his circular, de- clares that he ''never entered any mans improve ment, except in two instances by mistake; and, in those two instances the lands immediately and voluntarily conveyed to the owners of the improve ments, at Government pricc'' And this declaration will be sustained by the true history of all his trans actions in public land. But, so soon as Col. Ash leys back is turned and 1t is thoughhe will not re- turn in time to defend himself before the election, the Gazette, through a correspondent, signing him self ~pulaslli, contradicts the declaration, above cited by charging, in the form of interrogatoy, that Col Ashley entered land over the improvement of q Mr. Dapidsoa, and grievously -treated and oprress ed him. If this charge were true, it would justly subject Col. Ashley to eensue; and we should be tl,. Ir are enabled to thati is aot tfucindeed, that is in direct contradiction of the truth and that, so far from Col, Ashloy's having dealt unfairly op- pressvely with Mir Davidson he did all in his pow CT to render him kind service, and to relieve him of difficulty which had come upon him without Col. Ashey's knowledge, conniyance, or consent.- This ayernent does not rest merely upon author ity, but upon the authority of Mr. Davidson, him self who, although political adversary (beins de- eided lrdig,) comes forward, with the magnanimity of an honest man. and does justice to all parties by making plain statement of facts in the case. This will be seen in the subjoined letter. which he has sent to us for publication. This letter shews that so far from Col. Ashley's entering MT DaYidson's land, that his agent Mr Reed, acting under his in struetions-eto enter no mans improvement" re- fused to enter this tract he found that Mr. Davidson had an improvement upon it but Jones,4 who was present and ascerained the number, sold his information to LoomtS; and it was Loomis who demanded of Davidson an advance upon the Govern ment price. Afterwards, without knowing of the improvement, Col Ashley purchased of Loomis.- So soon however as he ascertaaed the true sate of the case, he offered olet Davidson take it all at cost and when he found he was unable to do this, he re- fused to take his money fer rent, but told him to live on it, as long he wished, ''rce of rent - Was this expressing him-was this @drving him from his land;" Trae BIr Davidson was ga poor man, with large family And his letter furnishes ample evidence that Col. Ashley not only sympa- thized with him, in his troubles but, also, extended to him offer of substantial assistance, of which one, who knows them, would ever suspect either tie edioro the Gazette, or the author of "Paasl' So much then, for this charge, Of horrible miscon- duet, against Col. Ashley, over which the Gazette and it's sevil genius-thc author of Pulaski have so long brooded, and at last hatched out when they thought their sanderous abortion would go ',un- whipt of justice, because of Col Ashey's absence It is proven to be lase by the very man, for whose poverty and ''lage family these slanderers profess ed to have so much sympathy; and il recos upon the heads of those who uttered it.
 Thus, it will be seen that theony charges against Col. Ashley, which have assumed shape sufficient y definite and specific to be taken hold of are, at once proven to be false. That such is the charac- ter of allwhichhavc been, or may be made against him. We deem it fair to suppose, and for our own part we have no doubt,
 Here is Mir. Davidson's letter. of which we have i spoken, and which fully exonerates Col Ashley from all censme. the Gazette have any sense of jus tice, it will repubsh this letter
 To tie Editor Qf the Bou,er,
 SlR-ln communication in the Gazette. of last week, have seen the following in- terrogatores addressed to Col. CHESTER ASHLEY:
 "7th, Did you not enter the improvement of MT. Davidson, [now of Pulaski county,l in Saline county, drive him from ii, not al- lowing him any thing for the labor he had bestowed upon the land,
 18th. Did not AH, Davidson, when heI found that you had entered his land, tender you government price for it?
 ..9lh. Was not Mir Davidson poor man, With large iamllY -
 Presumng that am the "Alr. Dayidson'' alluded to, l deem 1t an act of justice to Col. ASHLEY, that make plain statement of the facts, in relation to the matter. They are as follows:
 About seven years ago, resided in Saline county, in the vicinity of the residence of Mr, John Dyer, and had an improvement con- sisting of some len acres, which intended to enter, On application at the Land Onlee to enter the 10 acres embracing my.improye- ment, was informed that part of t had been entered by Col. Ashley. then went to Cols Ashley, for the purpose of purchasing Ii from him. He informed me, that he had not purchased it on his own account, but as the agent of a Company for whom he was entering lands; that he had entered large portion of the section, and could not sell portion without thewhole; but offered to let me have the whole haet, at the or{ejaal cost, If wished to purchase the whole This