, 1858-09-10

. - WHIDBY's ISLAND, Aug. Is, 1858.
10 The Editor Pioneer and Democrat
DEAR SIR--A short time ago l addressed note to
you for publication in reference to the charge of hin.
derng and obstructing the payment Of the war debt
that was made against me- and secretly and indus
trously circulated throughout the center and south
en portions of the Territory. At the time wrote |
knew but little about the operations that were in
progress. Since then have learned more Of the par
ticnlars of that singular inpsRtion. And l am
constantly being inquired Of by my friends II it is
possible that have endeavored to hinder obsruct
the payment Of the war debt have thought it due to
them and myself to give them the fullest assurance
that had done nothing Of The kind Now that the
ends of these fabrcatons have been accomplished,
can have no motive but TO set myself right with my
fellow-ctzens. The only person to whom | have
written, at about Washington, is the Attorney Cen
eral.
The circumstances under which wrote to the
Attorney General were the following: When it was
understood in my district that my commission was
about to expire and that steps had been taken At
Olympia to have my successor appointed, the people
Of my district Immediately got up petitions asking my
reappointment. Some Of them, indeed most OF them
demonstrated against the appointment of my success
or. These petitions not circulated in all the
remote settlements, and yet they contained the sigma
lures Of than seyeneighths of all the voters Of
my district. Under these circumstances, thought 1t
my duty to apply for the office. felt grateful for
the peoples fOTbeGranoe and indulgence in my feeble
efforts to serve them in this high and responsible po
sitiOn and more especially knew that ever since
there was an active and well organized force sustain
ed by immense patronage, permeatng all parts Of my
district and by the active and constant circulation Of
OF Misrepresentation and fasehoOd, was endeavOring
TO excite prejudice against me. While o judge is
constantly giving decisions upon questions in which
parties are deeply interested and excited, he must Of
necessity always decide against Of the parties
and even if be should always decide correctly IA thing
not to be hoped for) could not give universal salts
facton-sO that all that judge hope for is credit
for good Intentions and desire to do as near right
L.. IA l.. Nnr 1oair Inn
men by Of representations to arouse prejudice
against a Judge After all these efforts to excite
prejudice against me- not satisfied with their efforts
within my district, but pushing this manly enterprise
TO the extreme opposite side Of the Territory, it was
peculiarly gratifying 10 me- under the circumstances,
TO find that my district much inclined to sus-
tain me. Some Of the petitions forwarded In my be-
half discussed the exciting points on which our dele
gate and myself differed and in my letter to the At
torAey General made such explanations as occurred
10 me- together with reasons for the views entertain
ed, without calling IN question the motives ot our
delegate but expressing my wishes and hopes that he
might be successful in obtaining from Congress all
that was justly due us. No reference would have
been made TO these unpleasant matters had they not
been discussed in the petitions. l kept no copy Of
this letter. but It is the only correspondence have
had at Washington city, II must have been the fOun-
daton f there was any toundatlon) from which THIS
wonderful matter was manufactured. l have not
written 10 Judge Lander any other person at WASH
ington since the election Of present delegate,
than the Attorney General, and would be glad in
deed II some one that has shown such 6erceness on
my track and that knows how much have " OBJ
structed the payment Of the war debt would publish
that letter. that the good people could see and judge
for themselves how much had injured their pros
pects II the letter had any influence at all, (and
suppose il would be simply ridiculous to suppose that
letter on other subjects would have any, and only
referring to the debt to express hope that 1t
would be paid) 1t would be in favor Of its payment.
have been told that the petition against judge
Lander and myself represented that we were not
democrats With regafd to myself, | am willing to
confess that am not democrat according TO the
neio test. am not Stevens democrat nor Miller
or a Strong democrat but am SIMPLY democrat
without any prefix. | am also told that the petition
stated that did not act with the democrats in the
election Of 1857. This is false. only speak for my
self In circulating this petition 1t was frequently
read falsely by emitting my name, that it had the
appearance Of being against Lander only. Some oil
my friends have told that they signed it, trusting
Ia thing not uncommon) entirely to the reading Of II
BY the person circulating it. This, Mr. Editor is as
Nconcise statement as can make, and yet it is pro
lx am sorry to be under the necessity Of speaking
on subject on which Lacon says all people elo
quent "-one's self It can only be justified by thai
great law Of ure-selfprotection. Yours truly,
F. A. CHEN0WETH.