Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-01-27
False Testimony aud rosl play.

False Testimony aud Foul play.
Among the ten commandments, is one
which says, Thou shalt not bear false wit
ness against thy neighbour How have
the wings keptthis commandment, in their
Investigations and pretended exposures Of
bribery? Have they pursued such .
course as to show themselves sincerely de-
sirous Of elici.ing truth, and Of publishing
TO the world the facts just as they transpir-
ed, in order tina, the guilty might be con-
demned, and the innocent acquitted, in tho
public mind? Or have they, by publish
ing statements not made under oath, and
suppressing the most uninpeachable ties.
timony by which those published state
men.s are dismored, shown that their mo-
tives were impure and base? Let their
conduct answer. IF
We propose at this tins 10 notice only
one instance, TO wit; their efforts to impli-
cate Col. Patterson, cf Lie county. As
some of the most prominent wings are at
the bottom Of this affair, il is an instance
which VIII serve TO show the wing party
in lis true light more faeib'y than any
other one that could be adduced.
1. tho afst place, how have they rep
resented Col. Patterson 10 the world?-
They have represented him as having,
through Chapman, offered to loan Clifton
aud Conlee 5000 eich, for nine.y-nine
years, without interest, on condition that
they would vote for Gen. Dodge, his favor
ite candidate Tor U. $. Senator; and fur
Their, that he would en,er into bond to Cliff
ton in the sum Of $4,000, conditioned for
the procurement Of his, (Clitton's, } APP
poin'menl to Land Office. And how 90
they attempt TO prove this? BY cerliii-
cate over Chapnan's signature. Was that
certificate written by Chapman himself? :
No. twas drawn up by Dr. Sanford Of the
Senate, violent parlizan. Did Chapman
sign II wlliingiy? No; the facts show that
he did it very reluctantly When Doct.
Sanford produced it before the Committee,
he stated under oath, that he first drew
up another statement of the same transac-
ton, which Chapman refused to sign, say
ing that if some alterations were mad, he
would sign it--that he, Sanford, then
drew up this one, which Chapman consen-
ted to, and did sign.
Why was he not sworn to the truth of
that certiiicate9 The circumstances will
show the reason. Well, why did not the
Investigating Committee examine him under
oath? They did SO examine him, and that
too, before his certificate was published.
Did his testimony corroborate the stale
ments Of that certificate? 1t did not, but
on the contrary, proved them TO be absc
lutely false. Why,then, Gil they net publish
this sacorn statement, that the public mind
might render correct verdict upon the
charge made agains! Col. Patterson? We
leave cur intelligent readers to answer this
question for themselves, and to draw their
own differences as to the motives of the
designing demasogues who are SO deeply
implicated in bearing false witness against
their neighbor. Tia; answer must cover
the shig leaders with shame and confusion.
The certificate Of which we have above
stated the substance, has been published
by every wing press in the State, and also
by one prolessedly democratic sheet; and
in publishing it they have one and all ex-
claimed in we'll leigned holy horror against
the corruption which i. apparently disclos-
ed. We will now publish the substance
of Chapman's testimony, as delivered under
oath before the Committee, iha. the public
may compare notes, and see how well it
corresponds with the false certificate pub
lished by the whig press, and whatever Of
guilt it shows in Col. Patterson, let him
bear making some allowance, however,
for the high coloring which may have been
given to the picture, by the influences OPP.
Grating upon witness who holds an Of
flee under the whig party at the Capital.
CHAPMAS's TESTIMONY.
IFS reduced 10 ,oriting By .M'. Cochran, Wig
Chairman of The Committee -.furnishcdus
by Mr.. Leck, a member Of thai Commit
tee.
In answer TO general question with
reference to all that he knew concerning
any attempts a. bribery, SC,
Witness stated, in substance, that Col.
Patterson told him tina, he, ( witness, could
have $500 al any time, for ten, fifteen, or
twenty years. am positive often yaars-
without interest, proviyedI could get Cliff
ton to vote for Dodge. Patterson told me
that he could get Clifton into some Land
u ~.