The Arkansas banner., 1846-01-21
DB. BoRLAND,s STATEMENT.
IATTLE koeK, .Ian.

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 4 writer iu 6 late ssBanuer,o over the sig nature of Jefferson" has stated thal he could prove by me that Col. Ashley had pledged himself, prior to his election to the United States Senate, not 10 be a.candidate for reel especially against Coy Yeil5 and an other writer, over tire signature of "An Old Setter," has, subsequently, denied that such a pledge was ever made, or that 1t could be proven by me. Without admitting the right of anonymous writers, generally, 10 demand public statements of any kind, from any in- diVidllal ii his own name, feel bound to an- aver to the double call made upon me. in this instance, because the writers of 'Jel!er- son" and ',An old SeaIer,n are both person. ally known to me, and have had personal assurance that, if publicly called upon, 1 would publicly testify. This assurance l, al- so, gave Col. Ashley, prior to his departure for Washington City.
 When the General Assembly convened, ia this city, in November 1874, the Senatorial election was the subject of frequent eoaver- sations between Col CHESTER ASHLEY and myself He e7inced greatanXiety in relation l teit, and often asked my opinion of his chances of success; sQpposing. as he said, l that my habits nf constant and somewhat ius i limate, intercourse with most ol the members, enabled me 10 ascertain their intentions. My lnyarlable answer to these inquiries was that | l believed Goyernor ' ELI, # t candidate, would be elected but If he declined, then l thought he (Col. Ash!ey) would succeed, without any serious opposition. On one oc- casion, few days before the election, Col. Azl bo ,,yI l exciteneni and agitation than had eyer seen 1 him manifest before, asked me to walk with him; saying he had something of ln- l portancc to communicate. mention his eN- i element and'agiatiou of manner, because of tine decided impression of astonishment they made apon ne; exhibited, as they were, by one SO remarkable for his wary co0lnc5s and self-pesseason. Alier we had walked to i place beyond the hearing, and immediate ob serVahon, oi other persona, he repeated the Enquiry he had 70 frequently made of me, in relation to the election of U. $. Senator. Ny answer was the same as 1t had previously been. He, then, said htwishcd me 10 delv- t CT a message rem him 10 Gov. ' eII, to this teaect; ThatBe Ashley wished 10 be el ected to fill out the uneHpred portion ol the ] I9te Gov. FNItonas term, dad no longer; ana i that Coy. I ell could, then, be elected with out pPosion-ata0y rate, 01toW opposition .ffga tia; Us fe would luyc reached an age, by that time, when retirement from public hlle would be proper and desirade 10 hln; especially as he had many and extensive business affairs to seiee and arrange, for the benefit of his family, which would occupy, i exclusively, the remainder ot his lie. But, above all, he desired to be elected to the Sen ate, for the benefit of his family, ia the asay ot repataioa to eflaee, or counteract, the charges and imPufations which had 90 long and so Diuri0usly affected, not only his own reputation, but the standing and feelings of his family. He requested me to present these considerations 10 Coy. Yell; and to as ] sure him, if he (YeH) woald not interfere with him, in this, the first opportunity he had eyer had to rise, he would be perfectly satisfied with one election, and would aercr De z caRdidaie agaih, especiaHgagdinst Cor.
 EeH. objected to being the bearer of this message. Bnt the request was renewed, ur- ged with so much earnestness, and coupled i with such pathetic appeal i'll behalf of his family, that agreed to comply with 1t. 4 few hours afterwards, l called on Gov. Yell, and delivered Col Ashley's message. The Governors reply was just what expected, and was prepared, to hear He laughed hear tly; and desired me to say to Col. Ashley that the vacant seat in the Senate was not at his disposal, either for his own use or the benefit of another, nor had he at any time, been candidate for it; that he had neither i ther right norlhe disposition To receive pledges in relation to it; but. even ii he had, he should, certainly, not depend upon any pledge i which Col. Ashley could make; prelefing, as he had ever done, 10 depend, for office, upon Fthe people or their representatives. Having conmunirated Gov. Tells reply to Col. Ash ley, my agency, in this connection, ceased :; aitho the substance of tie Colenel's message, i as have stated il, was several times, after
 wards, repeated to me, not only by himself, but by, others who-said they had received il
 from him.
 With the importance of the foregoing state mem, or the influence the facts it sets forth may properly exert upon the characters or interests to which they relate, have nothing to dc. Being called upon for statement, have made it; and am responsible for i's tra'a only. sOLoN BOBLAND. i CERTIFICATE OF GOVERNOR ADAMS.