Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-10-30
For the spy.l


The speech of Col Dewitt, at Horticultural
Hall, on Tuesday evening last, very poor
attempt to defend his course in voting against
this eensure Of Edmundson, in the Brooks affair
Because certain others, claiming to be Repub-
cans, voted with him in this matter, struck us as
being rather reason why they should apologize
for so voting, than an excuse for DeWitts voting
with them. Let every tub stand on its own bot
tom.
Col. DeWitts apology for elevating his cane at
the request of Bully Brooks, in the House, was
equally lame Why did not our representative
tell that miscreant, on that OCCASION that he had
no canes for such service
The statement in the Spy, that he had kept on
terms of intimacy and close communion with
Brooks from the time OF the assault on Summer
till now, Col Dewitt pronounced to be the ''most
unmitigated, wanton, fragrant violation of truth
ever penued." He said he had never had CONVEX
saton with Brooks, since the assault, except on
two occasions, on the first of which he came across
him in a store, and told him to his face that he
had by that act committed the "most wanton,
fragrant violation of Southern chiyary." That
he said was all he was required to say, as gen.
tlemen, all which duty required of any one The
next interview he had with Brooks, was in the
House, when he nterfered to prevent the threat
ened duel between him and Buringame
The statement published in the Spy that he
had agreed TO resign on certain occasion, and
sign with Mr.. Chaplin paper to that effect, drawn
up by the latter, Col. Dewitt pronounced to be
false in toto. He said he had never agreed to re-
sign 1t was true, as the Spy said, that he had
declined, previous to the convention, but he did
so on the expectation consideration that there
was to be union of all the supporters of Fremont
on one candidate for his successor. But the Col.
did not so state at the time. He made no condi.
tons whatever. His declaration was positive and
unconditional, as the following stat ement author
lzed by him, and acknowledged to be correct
statement of his position, by Col. Dewitt HIM
self on Tuesday evening last, shows. In the
Daily Spy of Sept. %, you said;-
"CoL. DEWITT DEcLINBD-We are requested
by Hon. Alex'r Dewitt, to state that he WILL
NOT BE A CANDIDATE for reelection to Congress,
UPON ANY CONSIDERATION"
1t strikes US as rather poor reason for violating
his own voluntary acknowledged positionbefore the
people of the district,fo Col. Dewitt subsequent
ly to eat his own words, retract his own declara-
lULi anu Iuu dBdlu IoE SoISfeSSi merely because
portion of his supporters did not choose to have
themselves represented in a convention called for
all the supporters of Fremont and Dayton to Sc
lect candidate in his place. What folly for him
to pretend that he could do no other than ac-
cept of another nomination, in opposition to the
peoples candidate. Had defeat been written all
over the walls of the building, he says he
would not have done otherwise!
The Colonel seemed to be very much excited,
and spoke with great deal of warmth He had
several extracts read from the Spy, by the chair
man Of the meeting, and proceeded to comment
thereon in rather severe terms, denouncng the
charge of being on terms of too great intemacy
with the shareholders, to such extent as to
weaken his backbone, &c. In defending himself
he said it not the best way to bait flies with
vinegar. He said he should ever continue to OPP.
pose the extension of slavery as long as God let
him live, though the heavens and stars might fall
He should not ntefere with {" the institution " in
other states, but should agitate " in Massachu-
sets. X.