Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-02-27

permanent and lasting peace"
In order, sir to full and complete vim
dication of my own conduct, in every
thing that relates to this unfortunate con-
troversy, and to put this whole matter in
clear light before this house and before the
public, | trust | shall be INDUCED in the
statement of few facts, which, though
they may have no direct bearing upon the
strict merits of the question at issue, are
nevertheless important to my own jus,ifica-
ton, being calculated, think, TO release
me from any responsibility connected with
this contest.
After it had been ascertained that had
received a majority of the votes poled in
my county at the last August election, the
first intimation | received, that a difficulty
such as the one now pending, would grow
out of that election, was from my worthy
competitor himself, not confdentially, but
publicly given.
He announced as the impelling motive
to this contest, that some Of his friends had
staked considerable sums of money upon
the result of the election, and that they
were unwilling to give it up as long as they
could possibly retain it with honor. He
did not venture to allege that the public
felt themselves injured or aggrieved by the
result. or that even a respectable portion
of his own party, called upon him to pur-
sue the course he has seen proper to adopt;
but the pockets of few individuals had
been touched, and it was to protect their
purses, at the expense of much trouble and
inconvenience 10 the moral portion of the
community that he suffered himself TO be
led into this long and dsagreeable contro-
versy.
regretted much, sir, upon the occasion
alluded to, that found myself mistaken
in the estimation which had previously
formed of the character of my competitor;
for had regarded him as one of the last
men who would be willing TO prostitute
that holy safeguard of freedom, the ballot
Jor, to level with the card, dice or rou-
lette table; and had received the n,ma-
ton from any other source, should have
regarded it as one of the foulest ISLANDERS
ever uttered by the tongue of calumny.
am willing, sir. to make for him any
allowance which former friendship, and the
best wishes for his present and future wei
fare, can dictate, but if he has suffered
himself to become the willing cats-paw OF
others, less controlled by principle than
himself, he cannot expect TO escape the
burning which would otherwise be due Ia
those whose instrument he has unwittingly
suffered himself to be made.
The next intimation that received, that
| was, in consequence Of the favor con.
ferred upon me by the people, to have q
difficulty such as the presen; upon my
hands, was from the declarations Of an
individual entitled to full as much consid-
Grafton in this whole matter as my com
petlor himself; certain Er.LieutcnQn
Governor; now a prominent aspirant FOL
the higher Office Of Governor, who, as
have already intimated, previously did M
the honor to oppose me from the stump.
Thinking perhaps, that it would con
tribute somewhat to his chances to oblaii
the nomination to the office to which h,
aspires, 20 have the county in which b.
resides appear Democratic county, h
had manifested the deepest interest in tn
canvass between myself and Competitor
| was informed by the most credible an
,hority, that upon the evening of the elcC
ton, at precinct in the county, who
the returns as they first came in, wer
;; rather favorable to his relative, being elate
VIII VIC tCi tuibty VI itiS t'lSnl, Nv " "a
like that celebrated hero, John Falstaf
= (whom in obesity Of person he much re
,, sembles) with his hacked sword, Tourist
ing fifty dollar bill, challenging, in III
> windy language of the genuine bragadoci'
a bet TO that amount upon the result of tn
. election.
But. alas! the returns from a cer,ai
> Bldckc0tcr at length came in, the radiar
! beams Of hope disappeared from his cou'
= tenance, and darkness settled upon h
. brow!
y Stung 10 the quick at the unexpected IT
I. suit, and consuming with all the indign
s ton that fired his celebrated prototype,
o he emerged from the villainous bath whiC
:. he received in the bucEing basket, he can
r. into the town in which | reside, fumir
# with steam as hot as burning lava, sweariI
as terribly as uncle Toby represents Il
If British to have done in Flanders, that he
r. be id if my election should not be CO
l, tested; that the matter should be carrie
G. to Jefferson City and decided there
e. These statements, none Of which can
n. denied, may furnish this House with cl
" to the remote and moving causes viii
at produced this extraordinary contest. NJ
ne ney has been bet and lost, and a cloud h
Sc obscured the prospect of ambition; to !
ty move the latter and regain the former, Z
ny opponent presents petition to this Hot
lily charging me with having procured the CT
| tifcate of my election by illegal mea
is, and praying my election from the ST
ny which now occupy
81 A.