The true Democrat., 1856-10-21
From Crawford County.

opinion, one step towards accomplishing the project.
 From Crawford County. Van Btren, 4th Oct, 1856.
 MIR. EDIToR-I propose to give you and the readers of the True Democrat brief sketch of what has been going on here for the last six or eight days; in doing so it is only necessary to speak of the contested election case of James M. Brown against Sutton F. Cottrell, for the office of sheriff, as nothing else has been spo- ken of or thought of during this time.
 The October term of our county court com menced on Monday, the 9th insant. The first business presented was that of the contested election case before referred to. Both parties were well represented by council William Walker, esq, Hon. J. J. Green and Gen. H.. Wilcox appearing for Brown the contestant; Jesse Turner, Solomon F. Clarke, John T. Humphreys, esq., and the celebrated Gumelas- tic Lawyer, for Cottrel. The court was full; {; every magistrate in the county, except one, were in attendance and participated in holding the court; William B. Robinson, justice, recently commissioned by the Governor to fill the va cancy occasoned by the removal from Van Buren township of James w. Langster, took his seat a member of the court. The coun- sel for Cottrell objected to him as competent member, on the ground that the commission was issued to William c. Robinson instead of oil, Id ,b (. the mistake in the middle letter was inmate rial, as William B. Robinson was the only Wm. Robinson in Van Buren township and the man recommended to the Governor to fill the va cancy caused by the removal of Langster, and the identical man intended to be commissioned, and that the court had no authority to reject him as he had taken the oath of office and was acting under color of authority
 The motion to reject Robinson was overruled; when Walker moved that the poll books and certificates of the judges and clerks of the se- veral townships in the county be examined and compared by the court, in order that the true result Of the election for the office of sheriff be ascertaned, which motion was objected to by the counsel for Cottrell, on the grounds that the cert ificates of the judges and clerks of the election in Rchland, Jasper and Mountain townships, were deficient in substance and form, and for that reason ought to be rejected in toto
 Deficient in this as contended by the counsel for the defence:
 Richland 7oaonship-J. NJ. Brown 96
 Sutton F. Cottrell, 23
 Jaspe,' To,onship-J. M. Brown, B Sutton F.. Cottrell, "A Mountain 15a0nship-J. M Brown, 75 Sutton F. Cottrcl, A When the certificates ought to have stated that
 1oonship of Richland-Jas. M. Brown for the office of sheriff received eighty six (86) votes. Sutton F. Cottrel for the same office received twenty three (z3) votes.
 7oaonship of Jasper-James M. Brown, for the office of sheriff received seventy three (73) votes. S. F. Cottrel for the same office re- ceived seventy four (74) votes.
 1o,Onship of Momtain-Jas. M. Brown, for the office of sheriff received seventv-fve (75) votes. Sutton F. Cottrell for the same office received forty four (44) votes.
 To obvate all difficulty on the score of infor- mality, want of substance, etc, 1 understood Walker to propose to open and examine the tickets in connection with the examining and comparing the poll books, by which means he contended there could not by any possibility be any chance to do injustice, as every ticket would unmistakably explain for whom it was cast. This proposition was opposed by the counsel for the defence The Gumelastic man was particularly eloquent in his opposition; he thought it would be course of proceeding unprecedented in the political history of the world. The idea of opening packages contain ing tickets would be an outrage on common sense. He had rather see any thing else take place, as many men had cast a closed ticket no wishing it known for whom they voted; under the circumstances he contended should the court allow the tickets to be opened, voters would be exposed, this he thought would be too bad.
 After speaking in opposition to Walkers pro. position about one hour and half this distin guished Jurist paused c few moments, and agair let cf, by saying, Having thus prefacea my re- marks, if the court please aOiU no,o proceed to ( ftuther investigation of Mis cause" What fol lowed in argument will not pretend to say being so carried off with the speakers esturc. | and tha alacticitv of b;c nacL and hool, th.. l could not notice any thing else. He threw hi. head further back, pitched forward quicker strengthened out easier than any living creatur, l have ever noticed performing any kind O feats had often heard story about him, t, the effect, that during the canvass in this coun ty for the Legislature two years ago. whil, making speech in one of las bursts of elo quence he bleO out q front tooth. Ihad not here tofore been disposed to give the story credit but after witnessing what came forth on th. occasion, cannot for moment doubt. In deed think it strange that he has front tootl left, knowing as do, that such gusts of ,oim as he beo out to-day often s,oeeps eueryiing befor them.
 After closing the arguments the court yer, sensibly and justly decided to compare the pol books and examine the tickets in connection with the mparison--Judge Collins, Justice Howell and Bobb dissenting. After which al adjournment until o'clock next morning tool place.