The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-04-03

To THE PEorLE OF DoueLAs CosNrr:

Justice to myself and friends require
from me word of explanation; as was
grosslynisrepresented and posted By cir
cular in false position on Monday, dur
ing the election for township supervisors
The County Board have had under con-
sideration the location of the County
Buildings, for three months; but asit was
delicate matter to locate and erect build
ings worth $4,000, and do it satisfactorily,
l kept deferring the matter and refused TO
consent to any location, before the old
Board went out of office, though every
influence was brought to bear for that pur-
pose. And so eager were some, who were
unable to control the board, that an act,
passed the Legislature, providing for three
commissioners to locate the buildings,
but from some cause it failed to become
law. Now If had been so corrupt, as
some charge, had plenty of time and
power to locate the buildings and so have
bound the county that they could not be
removed. This is well known to all.
In the mean time, the wants of theeoun-
ty became imperative. There was no place
to confne prisoners, and large bills were run
against the county at the hotels for board
ing and guarding them. The county was
in debt, no money in the Trearury, no
court room and clerks Office, and rents
high. To save great cost to the county,
built ::a..jail, furnished clerks officel and
took up bills at my own expense, when
no one would take the county warrants at
% cents on the dollar.
To economic, I held that those own
ing lots inthe vicinity of the county build
ings, should donate something towards
their erection; and did not say what point
of the town, preferred, as I wished to
draw a donation from the business men,
as any man of any financial tact would
do the same thing.
The other two members of the Board
were favorable to the side hill, on Bah
cocks land, near Robinson's house, as
being point nearest the people they rep
resented, and one on which the Court
House could have been seen nearly all
over the county.
Ny personal preferences were the busi-
ness part of the town, as my interest and
that of the people of Lawrence lay there,
but I stated, that if question should
arise between two points--the heights or
the river bottom in West Lawrence
would prefer the heights all the time
This is the position 1 took from frst to
last. But during the entire session of the
Board, neither Col. ELDRIDGE, nor any of
his friends, came into the court room one
time; hence they knew nothing of its
| action, but proceeded altogether on idle
rumors, as they did not wish to be in
| formed.
The Legislature, al its recent session.
| threw out the county officers and provided
a new election all over the Territory, as
| It was said, for the purpose of enabling
the Free State men, in certain localities,
who had beendefeated by fraud, to select
men Of their own choice. To say moth
ing about their power to do this, the office
of right belonged to me, the election being
a matter of form. Ny name was placed
on ticket, and some men took an
| apparent interest in me, prior to the
day Of election, as I presume, to place
| me under obligation to them in the event
of my success. Here the Colonel saw
A good chance for financial operation, In
locating the county buildings, letting the
contracts, and in using the county funds
i in their construction, being peculiar
ADEPT in this business, having had the
management of the Kansas aid fund
| In order to secure this position, false
issue must be presented. We must say
sithat Miller owns large amount OF prop
erty, in town proper, yet he is In favor
of putting the buildings on Baboock's
claim, therefore he is bought. Shall such
bribery be sustained?"
| Such was the false issue sprung upon us
suddenly on Monday morning. The
| rue issue was this, shall Col. Eldridge
| have choice in locating the buildings
| near his hotel; and have control of the
the court house fund, on which to start
| his wild cat Bank. whose charter makes
paper money legal tender.
| This was prize to great too be lost with.
| out an effort. Hence great excitement
about fraud was produced; free bal
| opened, and other base inducements Wers
given to certain persons to peddie tickets
| and utter slanderous charges.
| Such were the corrupt means by which
| [ was defeated. 4 defeat that I cared
| nothing about, as the Office involved
responsibility which / did not wish tt
assume, unless l was the uninhuenced
voluntary choice of the people. But m.
honor and reputation, which I consider o
far more value TO me than gold. demand
. | this public vindication. which / am fre'
to say, have only been questioned by
| those men who have spent SO much o
, their lives in public swindles, that lik'
| the deprayed debsuchee, they suspect al
. others equally corrupt with themselves.
The fact that represent SIS. 900 wort
, of lots in the town proper, and was pre-
pairing to build to the cost Of 5000 o
$1,000 more, makes the charge of takin
the county buildings OF the town sit
4 ...-v,alr r;fiicT1IoTs After this explains