The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-02-03

a conditional promise of appointment in case
was left by the caucus and its members free
to appoint.
I'd. That never entered into combination
to prevent the caucus nominating the Journal
Clerks that never assented to any such
suggestion, but always advised the candidates
for that position to seek their nomination
there, and those whom was induced to favor
tried to help by letters and conversation
with members.
3D.. never, after my nomination and cleo
ton, tried TO evade any previous engagement,
When the only two--who, prior to the caucus,
had been pressed warmly by my friends and
whom, after repeated prging, had been In
duced to encourage or conditionally promise
for the two positions--came to me afterward,
! promptly and truthfully told them that
since last saw them the conditions had ma
terially altered, and that instead of three or
four candidates, there were no less than q doz-
en-, all warmly urged for an appointment by
members who had proved valuable friends
but that IL they could agree upon one Of their
number would appoint him.
4th. When they afterward came to me- and
said they had agreed to accept my offer. and
asked my assent to the plan they had agreed
upon, gave such an assent. ! had at the
time just left number of the influential
friends of one of them, and had told them
withdrawn, would appoint the other. After
they had exacted an assent to their comprom-
Use, (as Bamford's evidence shows. then they
told me its terms.
9Th. Though my promise bound me to al
low them to decide as to the withdrawal of
one by lot, yet | must say that see nothing
disreputable in that. mad as much assurance
of the competency of one as of the other
The plan of deciding by lot have seen adopt
oh in Iaric sn ,f I'm nf offipn Of
highest judiciary of the State Of New York.
1t is variously used in the governments of
many States to-day. The agreement of the
one to compensate the other for his unsuccess-
FIJI efforts for the office, or to divide with him
its emouments, was matter in which at
least was disinterested, and when gave my
Endorsement which their terms, Ito which be-
fore reading | had assented, out of Difference
to their friends who had also just proved
mine, it was 20 far as was concerned, a per-
sonal liability and sacrifice rather than in any
sense corrupt " barter or sale, T" as your CON-
mittee has stigmatized it. My effort to get
it discounted was, as Sayer himself testifes,
to relieve the distress of his newspaper bust
ness
9th The last occurrences had been hurried
into the space Of half an hour for when the
two men last called on me l was preparing to
60 to my homeward train. A remark OF
which believe never visited before)--a re-
mark that might have done better than
was doing in the disposition of that appoint
ment caused me much annoyance and anxiety
after / had left town, and in fact before |
reached my train and took the earliest mo-
ment to telegraph back from my railroad sta
tion to withhold action upon my endorsement,
and for Bamford to see the Hon. Mr. YOU
mans, or some other friend interested in his
,ss%, alo Gau inv
satisfactory as my own that my name might
not appear upon this note to render me liable
to suspicion of corrupt interest in it. When
| came TO Trenton on the following Monday,
found before had been here one hour that
the note had not only not been changed, as so
reasonably suggested, but the matter was a
town scandal, in which felt that | was the
most nnjustly implicated. The man holding
the note publicly claimed that by it he could
prove corrupt combination on my part and
could therefore coerce my appointments
Bamford testifies: that as soon as heard of
this state Of affairs promptly and peremp-
torily told him that with such a story abroad
that had Chartered " the office to him,
could not consent to his appointment that
while believed his assertions that he was not
to blame for the scandal, yet inasmuch AZ 1t
existed, the credit of myself and of the House
in which I was an officer required his displace-
ment but that should fully protect him in
the matter Of the note, and if now or in the
future could assist him in any way reason
ably in my power, should do SO. Then fol-
low new appointment, dictated only by con-
siderations of competency and worthiness.
Gentlemen Of the Assembly, l have stated
as briefly as fair presentation of the case
would permit the points upon which it seems to
have been decided. say again-asseveratewith
the solemnity Of a realization, that | have
that at stake in this matter which lifetime
of upright, honorable, kindly conduct can on
ly win--the priceless gem of a reputation as
aman, and an honorable man, assert with
full knowledge, a most painfully keen impress
sion of the whole evidence in this case, that
have here set forth all which it proves and
ask, and only ask, that it may be read by you
and the world before you adopt its UNJUST re-
lentlessly cruel conclusions
With respect, yours
JOHN CARPENTER, JR.