Chapter I: Part 1

A
REVIEW
_AND_
EXPOSITION,
OF THE
_FALSEHOODS_
AND
_MISREPRESENTATIONS_,
OF A
PAMPHLET
_ADDRESSED TO THE_
REPUBLICANS OF THE COUNTY OF
SARATOGA,

_SIGNED_,
"A CITIZEN;"

PRINTED BY "ULYSSES F. DOUBLEDAY."

BY AN ELECTOR.

_BALLSTON SPA:_
_March 1816_.

TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE COUNTY OF SARATOGA.

_Fellow-Citizens_.

The pamphlet signed "A Citizen," and entitled "A defence," &c. generally known by the name of "The Book," has at length made its appearance; and as was expected, this last effort of an expiring faction, has excited no other emotions in the mind of an enlightened public, than those of contempt and pity--Contempt for the miserable arts of condign despair, and pity like that excited by an object in the agonies of dissolution, or a maniac dancing in his chains. This production should have been left to the oblivion which inevitably awaits it, nor should my pen have been employed in its detection and exposure, had it not been characterized by the lowest attempts at concealment and treachery, falsehood and detraction.--Like _Iago_ in the play, a wretched abandonment of character, a destitution of principle, and a fiend-like thirst for _revenge_, accompany the author thro' the whole of his progress, and appear to acquire additional force, as he approaches the period of his downfall. That it is a tissue, however, which it requires no strength to burst, will appear by the examination of a single point on which the whole of the story is made to rest. If the ridiculous charge made against two or three individuals that they had cheated Mr. Young out of his nomination, turns out to be the mere phantom of a disordered imagination, instead of a logical deduction of truth, if the facts which have been urged in support of this charge, are the mere creatures of misrepresentation, prevarication and falsehood; this alone will settle the controversy, and fix the imputation, upon its unprincipled authors. The loop on which this absurd tale is made to hang, is the _frail and feeble_ certificate of Ketcham, Gardner and Cowles. That I should be authorised to apply an epithet more severe than that of frail and feeble, I take it upon me to prove in the first place by the certificate itself, compared with one which the same men issued last spring: And in the next place by a plain statement of facts, given under the solemnity of an oath, leaving it at present for _atheists_ and blasphemers, (for I am sure none others will) to ascribe greater moral certainty to a certificate carrying on the face of it miserable evasion, than to a history sanctioned by an appeal to the Christians God.

That this certificate is both suspicious and evasive, I appeal to the pamphlet page 27. Why do they not tell their fellow-citizens, that _they did not collectively or individually during that session charge Young with ill-treatment towards them_? Would not this have been perfectly easy if true? Why do they blink the question, and tell a long story about a conversation which they held with Mr. Bunce, which whether it was true or untrue, is totally immaterial? What do they mean in a later stage of their certificate, by the _unsuspecting and_ _unguarded conversation_, they had held with Mr. Bunce, and which they were afraid he would make mischief of? Do they call the conversation which they detail an unguarded one? Or was it some other conversation and conversations which shall be proved upon them? Instead of saying that they expressed no opinion to Bunce that "Young ought not _again_ to be nominated," why do they not tell us, whether they or either of them expressed any opinion to Bunce, or any other person, against his nomination _the then next spring_? In Mr. Kasson's letter (p. 33) it appears they told him that "_Bunce and another gentleman_" called on them, with whom they held a conversation; whereas the one given in their recent certificate is confined exclusively to Bunce. Read also the following certificate of these men, which they gave to the public last spring; in which they admit some other conversation which they call _a free and unreserved conversation_, and protest against the "treacherous perversion" of it.

"_To the Citizens of the county of Saratoga_."

"Having heard that a private conversation of ours has been represented to our Fellow Citizens in a light unfavorable to the character of Samuel Young, Esq. and has been used to his prejudice, in the estimation of his constituents.--We discharge a duty grateful to our individual feelings, due to the feelings and character of a highly useful, able, faithful and industrious Member of Assembly, and due to our county, to express our _pointed indignation_ against the _treacherous perversion_ of the spirit of a free and unreserved conversation by stating to our fellow citizens, that we have always lived in the most perfect harmony with Mr. Young, have had with him on all legislative business the most cordial co-operation and concert: that his uniform deportment towards us has been friendly and decorous, and that we never gave an intimation of any wish or opinion against his renomination to the Assembly.--HOWEL GARDNER, RICHARD KETCHUM, BENJAMIN COWLES. _Albany, April 17, 1815_."[1]

Whatever name these gentlemen, may have given to their conversations, some times calling them _unsuspecting and unguarded_, and sometimes _free and unreserved_, in order to determine their nature and place them in a clear light, I shall now go on to shew the public what they did say, and not stop to quarrel about names so long as I am sure that public will be content with the things themselves. I challenge incredulity itself after reading the following affidavits and statements, to doubt one moment on the subject.

"Isaiah Bunce & Thomas Palmer being duly sworn, say, that
they were at Albany in the early part of the late session of
the Legislature, and put up at the house where the Delegates
of the county of Saratoga quartered. That they and three of
the Delegates from said county, viz. Messrs. Ketcham, Gardner
and Cowles, conversed freely with each other on various
political subjects, and in one conversation they had with
these said Members, they told these Deponents, that they had
not been well treated by their colleague Mr. Young--spoke
freely of their unpleasant situation, owing to that
treatment, mentioning a number of instances illustrating the
same, both in the fall session and the then session of the
Legislature.

"And these deponents further say, that they the said Ketcham,
Gardner and Cowles, did in that conversation, decidedly
express their opinion that the said Young ought not to
represent this county again in the next session--at the same
time signifying that they had no wish, that the talents of
Mr. Young should be lost to the county, but believed it would
be for his benefit, should he not be elected the ensuing
session--or language to that import.

"And these deponents further say, that this conversation took
place while it was generally believed and expected, and so
expressed by the said Ketcham, Cowles and Gardner in
particular, that Mr. Young would in a day or two, be
appointed Secretary of the State of New-York.--ISAIAH BUNCE,
THOMAS PALMER. _Sworn the 5th day of May, in the Year 1815,
before me SAMUEL COOK, Master in Chancery_."

"John Dunning being sworn saith, That in March last, He went
to Albany and there saw Benjamin Cowles Esq. one of the
Delegates from Saratoga, who told this deponent, that Samuel
Young Esq. had treated the Members of this county with
neglect, that their situation owing to the treatment they had
received from him was very disagreeable, or words to that
amount--mentioning instances of that neglect &c.

"And this deponent further saith, That on his return from
Albany, he overtook Richard Ketchum Esq. then going to visit
his family in Stillwater--that he conversed with the said
Ketchum, on the subject of Mr. Young's treatment to them, who
informed this deponent the same as Mr. Cowles had done, and
related several circumstances confirming the same.--JOHN
DUNNING. Subscribed and sworn before me, Philo T. Beebe, one
of the Justices of the Peace in Malta, County of Saratoga,
the 4th day of May 1815_. PHILO T. BEEBE, _Justice of the
Peace_.

"Amos Allcott being sworn saith, that Messrs. Ketchum,
Gardner and Cowles, three of the Delegates from the county of
Saratoga, some time in March last, when at Albany, told this
Deponent, that they had been ill-treated, or not well treated
by Samuel Young Esq. their colleague--and expressed their
opinion and wishes fully, that some other person than he,
should the next session represent this county in Assembly.
Mr. Ketchum in presence of the other two, said he had made up
his mind fully in favor of George Palmer, Esq. or Esek Cowen
Esq. being the man, to which the other two appeared to
assent.--Mr. Gardner however remarked, that _some said_ Mr.
Young might be sufficiently, mortified by not being appointed
Secretary of State.--AMOS ALLCOTT. _Sworn the 5th day of May,
in the Year 1815, before me SAMUEL COOK Master in Chancery_."

"Lewis B. Edwards being sworn saith, That a few days after
Mr. Bunce and Palmer returned from Albany--Mr. Gardner Member
of Assembly, called at the office of the _Saratoga Journal_,
on his way home to see his family, and told Mr. Bunce among
other things, that Mr. Young had lost the Office of Secretary
of State, and that Mr. Porter was appointed. And further
remarked, 'it may be best to suspend the thing we talked of,
his loosing that may humble him enough, pride will have a
all'--or words to that import.

"And this Deponent further saith, That about a fortnight
after this, Mr. Cowles one of the other Members of Assembly,
called at the Office on his return from Hadley to the
Legislature, and on Mr. Bunce, asking him whether Mr. Young
had treated them any better since his disappointment, he
replied he had not--and that Mr. Young had never yet even
asked them to walk to the House with him or words to that
effect. On the said Bunces enquiry whether he had mentioned
the subject to any of his friends while at home--he replied
that he intended to have done so to Esq. Rockwell, but he had
missed of him returning from Albany. Mr. Rockwell, as
appeared having gone to Albany while Mr. Cowles was going to
Hadley.--LEWIS B. EDWARDS. _Sworn the fifth day of May, in
the year 1815, before me SAMUEL COOK, Master in Chancery_."

It is here proper to remark, that on the 18th of April, the day of the McBain meeting; Judge Child, recommended that no publication he made on either side, and that after election a meeting should take place between the members and Messrs. Bunce and Palmer, and endeavor to come to an amicable explanation. Mr. Stillwell, will well remember, that two days afterwards he called on Mr. Palmer, with a message from Judge Child, requesting him, "by all means not to publish any thing during the election, relative to the conversation with the members," to which Mr. Palmer readily assented. Notwithstanding which, the next day the certificate of the members, were brought to the Federal Printing Office, and several hundred copies struck off, with the knowledge of Mr. Stillwell, who then kept his office within a few rods of the Federal Press. Yet no contrary statements were published during the election, nor until after two or three weeks had expired after the time set by Mr. Cowles, for the members to meet Messrs. Bunce and Palmer. The members were requested by several Republicans to meet; they were finally publicly invited in the Journal, but contrary to the expectations and wishes of a great portion of the Republicans of the County, they did not come forward; and the above affidavits were published. And here the controversy on this point might have ended; but it seems the members, or rather the 'Citizen,' was not satisfied, and he procures _another_ certificate from them, which may be seen in page 27 28 and 29 of that pamphlet. Compare their _two_ statements--examine the above affidavits again--read the following certificates, and judge for yourselves.

"I hereby certify, that I met Benjamin Cowles, Esq. at Jones'
Inn in Halfmoon, _on his return home from the Legislature_,
on the 20th of April last, two days after the McBain meeting,
and we there conversed together on the subject of the
conversation he Messrs. Ketchum and Gardner, had with Messrs.
Bunce and Palmer, in Albany, (where it was alleged that they
Ketchum, Cowles and Gardner, had complained of vanity,
neglect and ill-treatment of Mr. Young.) That I expressed my
surplice to Mr. Cowles, that he, (Cowles) Ketchum and Gardner
should lend their names to an instrument denying the
conversation above alluded to, when he Cowles, Ketchum and
Gardner, knew they had not only complained to Bunce and
Palmer, but to myself and others. To which he answered, that
the certificate given by them was not given meaning to deny
any thing that had been said as respected ill-treatment, &c.
of Mr. Young, but only to re-but other things which the
gentlemen who called for the certificate, (among whom were
James Thompson, Esq.) represented to have been said. On which
I suggested the propriety of his calling on Bunce and Palmer,
at the Springs; and immediately getting his colleagues to
meet them, and have the thing explained, and prevent improper
use being made of their certificate; to which preposition he,
after expressing his regret that it had become public,
cordially acceded. I then parted with him on my way to
New-York.--AMOS ALLCOTT, _Ballston Spa, March 1816_."

"I certify, that Mr. Cowles did on that day, (20th April)
call on Mr. Bunce as mentioned in the above certificate of
Mr. Allcott he had agreed to do, and after some conversation
on the subject, in which he admitted that he, Gardner and
Ketchum, had complained of Young's ill treatment and
haughtiness to them, and their expressing their opinion
against his being nominated as a candidate for that election
&c. he strongly solicited Mr. Bunce to have nothing published
in his paper on the subject, till he could go and see his
colleagues, Mr. Gardner and Ketchum, and get them to meet and
have the affair explained and reconciled, which he said he
would at all events endeavor to do before the next paper
should come out, [this being _Thursday_, and the paper not to
appear before the next _Wednesday_,] that he was then in a
great hurry, and must get home that night, but he would make
it his business to immediately attend to it; to which
proposition Mr. Bunce readily agreed, and promised Mr. Cowles
accordingly. This conversation was in the office of the
Saratoga Journal, in the room in which I was at work. The
next day however, information was brought to Mr. Bunce in the
office, that the certificate of the said Cowles, Gardner and
Ketchum, denying the conversation relative to Mr. Young, was
then striking off at Mr. Comstock's Office in this place, and
shortly after a _printed copy_ was brought into the office.--
LEWIS B. EDWARDS. _Ballston Spa, March 1816_."

"I certify, that shortly after the rising of the Legislature,
I saw Benjamin Cowles, Esq. in the village of Ballston Spa,
on his way home; And in a conversation with him relative to
the reports respecting Mr. Young, I asked him whether he had
not told Mr. Bunce and Palmer, 'that Mr. Young had treated
his colleagues with neglect, and that his treatment towards
them was haughty and reserved,' to which Mr. Cowles answered
in the affirmative. I further asked him if he did not tell
Mr. Palmer and Bunce, 'that he was convinced of Mr. Young's
vanity, previous to his being in the Legislature with him,'
and state as an example 'that while they were Supervisors,
they were appointed a committee to arrange or make out an
account, for the board of Supervisors, and that he the said
Benjamin Cowles, Esq. made out the account himself and
delivered it to Mr. Y. who copied and presented it to the
board of Supervisors, and claimed the credit of it himself.'
To all of which Mr. Cowles answered in the affirmative, and
expressed a wish that Mr. B. and P. would not publish any
thing concerning the conversation, as he was anxious to see
Messrs. Gardner and Ketchum, and have the affair reconciled.
He further stated that he did not think that the certificate
given by Mr. Ketchum, Gardner and himself, to Jas. Thompson;
Esq. did deny the conversation with Bunce and Palmer.--A.W.
ODELL. _Ballston Spa, March, 1816_."

"I certify that some time in the month of February 1815,
Benjamin Cowles, Esq. came home from the Legislature on a
visit, that I saw Mr. Cowles at Ensign's Inn, in the town of
Hadley, in which town we both reside; and that we then and
there entered into a conversation concerning Mr. Young, and
that Mr. Cowles intimated to me that Mr. Young's treatment
was haughty towards the members, and said that he was
disappointed in his expectations in the treatment he received
from Mr. Young, and he further told me that he thought it
would be as well to send some _other_ man to the Legislature
the then ensuing year.

"I further certify, that some time in the fall of 1815, I had
another conversation with the said Benjamin Cowles, Esq. on
the subject of the affidavits that had been published,
relative to the conversation said to have passed between
Isaiah Bunce and Thomas Palmer, and the members in Albany;
and that during that conversation he did not contradict the
statements published, but gave me to understand that the same
were true, and intimated that he had inconsiderately signed
the certificate published during the election.

"I further certify, that Mr. Cowles was the first person, who
informed me of the ill-treatment the members had received
from Mr. Young, and that it would be as well to send some
other person to the Legislature the ensuing year.--BARRY
FENTON. _Hadley, March 1816_."

"I, Jacob Thorn, of Galway, in the county of Saratoga; do
certify, that shortly after the affidavits of Messrs. Bunce,
Palmer, Allcott, Dunning and Edwards, were published,
relative to the conversation they had with Messrs. Ketcham,
Gardner and Cowles in Albany; I had a conversation with Mr.
Ketcham in Stillwater, relative to the affidavits published.
I told him if the affidavits were not true, he ought to
contradict them. He replied, that his _friends advised him to
say nothing about it_. I enquired of him the meaning of those
affidavits---and whether the facts therein stated were
true--to which the said Ketcham answered, that _they were
true_--but said he did not expect it would have been made
public.--JACOB THORN."

"I certify, that some time in the month of March 1815, I went
to Albany on business, and called at the house where the
members of this county resided; found Messrs. Gardner,
Ketcham and Cowles, and made my business known. Mr. Cowles
said he would call and see me at my lodgings. Accordingly he
did; told me it was not according to his wish, that what I
had to offer in the business could not be complied with. I
then asked where Mr. Young quartered? He said he would tell
me; on the way, Mr. Cowles said there had been _a coldness
between the Speaker of the House, and the members from this
County, since he became speaker and expected to be Secretary
of State_, and on that account _declined going_.--JONATHAN
KELLOGG. _Northumberland, April 8th 1816_."

"I hereby solemnly certify, that some time in the month of
February, 1815, (and I believe in the early part of it,) in a
conversation Col. John Prior had with me just after his
return from Albany, on the subject of candidates for the then
approaching election; he the said Prior remarked, that 'Mr.
Young was not so popular as he had been.' On my asking him
why, he replied, 'for his ill treatment to his colleagues,
having grown haughty, &c.' This I understood him to have
received directly from the said members, Messrs. Gardner,
Cowles and Ketcham. In the spring of the same year, after
Messrs. Palmer and Bunce had made known similar complaints,
that the said three members had made to them of Young's
treatment, I had another conversation with the said Prior on
the subject, in which he the said Prior intimated, 'he did
not believe the said members had told the said Palmer and
Bunce what they had pretended.' I then asked him, if the
members were not as likely to tell them of it, as himself,
and repeated to the said Prior what he had told me in the
winter, of the members having made the same complaint to him,
which the said Prior did not pretend to deny as having heard
from the members, nor having told me the same.--JOSEPH
MITCHEL. _Dated, Greenfield, March 15, 1815_."

"I hereby certify, that in the early part of the winter past,
I had a conversation with Isaac Myers of Stillwater, relative
to the conduct of Richard Ketcham, late a member of the
Legislature; when he the said Myers told me that _he knew_
the said Ketcham had _contradicted himself_, relative to what
he had said of Mr. Young; that _previous_ to the McBain
meeting, Ketcham had _denied_ to him, ever saying any thing
_against_ Young, or complaining of his treatment; but that
_afterwards_ he had _owned to several in his presence, that
he had spoken against_ Young, &c.--ASA B. JEWEL. _Saratoga,
March 25th 1816_."

Other affidavits and statements might be produced to the same effect but twelve or fourteen different conversations, at different times, and, in presence of different men are already proved upon them, all importing explicitly that Mr. Young had ill-treated or neglected them--and shewing a desire on their part that Mr. Young should not be sent to the Legislature the ensuing year. If then Mr. Young had an undoubted right to a seat in the legislature, which would perhaps be questionable upon republican ground, and was deprived of that right by "management and fraud," with whom did this system of corruption commence! and to whose account ought it to be placed? To that of his colleagues, or other men whom their misstatements and falsehoods had seduced? It may however, be very well to enquire whether these declarations were ever made use of to any purpose, and whether Mr. Young must have succeeded in his nomination, had these _free_ and _unreserved_ conversations of his colleagues, been kept entirely out of view; whether Palmer and Bunce, were alone in singling out the candidate who was nominated, or whether some other person or persons had not tho't of him even _before_ Palmer and Bunce went to Albany.

Among the names which ornament the pages of "_The Citizen_," I observe that of a _recent_ convert to the doctrine of "_Falsehood, Fraud & Co_" viz: William Stillwell, late a Judge, and now Clerk of this county. This political _Proteus_, together with a number of his, friends was I believe, among the first to start Mr. Cowen as a candidate, before the county convention, and was from time to time very importunate with him, to consent that his name should be made use of for this purpose. From the early part of February 1815, until he had got the Clerk's office, be appears to have been Mr. Cowen's indefatigable supporter. At the McBain meeting however, he was as active and diligent to get rid of that nomination, as he had before been to effect it. Thomas Palmer, Esq. the secretary of that meeting, together with. Judge Stillwell, were chosen two of the committee to draw up the proceedings, and were unquestionably in all respects the proper organ for that purpose. Sensible of this, Judge Stillwell, the evening after the meeting, _invited Mr. Palmer to his house_, where _they_ deliberately, and without any _disagreement_ drew up the statement, published p. 24 and 25, of their pamphlet. They _jointly reviewed_ this statement the _next morning--agreed_ in its correctness, and ordered it to be printed. Shortly after, without the knowledge of Mr. Palmer or Mr. Cowen, Stillwell _secretly withdraws_ this statement from the printing office, and adopts and signs _another_ drawn up by Mr. Thompson, _differing in many respects from the first_. This last statement the secretary refused to sign, and his name was inserted as you will see by the statement itself, p. 16, without his knowledge or authority. Having thus boxed the compass and settled down upon _point no point_, it is not surprising that when Stillwell lends his name to "_The Citizen_" and appears in his Book, as the flaming advocate for "fair and open conduct," and the zealous _detector_ of "fraud and duplicity," that he should hypocritically _skulk behind the scene_, and keep himself as much out of view as possible, in the strange and opposite parts which he had acted. The singular course which this man (Stillwell) had pursued both in and out of "the book," and especially his attempt to shew that "Mr. Cowen's nomination was procured by fraud, &c." drew the following sentiments from Doctor Clark, (who was one of the convention which nominated Mr. Cowen) expressed in a letter to Thomas Palmer, Esq.--

"_Moreau, March 12th 1816_.

Dear Sir,

Having seen and examined a publication signed "A Citizen,"
purporting to be an apology and justification of the
gentlemen who composed the McBain meeting. In that
publication I observe a studied and systematic attempt to fix
on you and Mr. Bunce, the blame of having started Esek Cowen
Esq. as a candidate for assembly, and of having procured his
nomination by _fraud_ and _intrigue_. In consequence of
seeing Wm. Stillwell's name affixed to the proceedings of
that meeting, and being well informed that the said Stillwell
hath gone great length to justify the conduct of the said
meeting, in making void the nomination made by the county
convention, I feel myself constrained by a sense of justice
to declare, that some time on or about the 11th day of
February 1815, being in company with Esek Cowen, at the house
of Wm. Stillwell Esq., he the said Stillwell did then and
there introduce the subject of the then next election, by
saying, that himself and a number of others had conversed on
the subject, and agreed that Mr. Cowen ought to be a
candidate--That Mr. Cowen made objections, and mentioned to
him the names of several other gentlemen as being proper
candidates in preference to himself; to which Mr. Stillwell
objected, and urged Mr. Cowen with apparent zeal to suffer
his name to be made use of as a candidate. Sir, you are at
liberty to make such use of the above statement of facts, as
in your judgment you shall think proper.

Yours, Respectfully, B.J. Clark.

Hon. T. Palmer Esq."

It will also appear _amongst other things_, by the following letter written by John R. Mott,[2] who I believe is the second certifier in "the book," that Judge Stillwell entertained sentiments opposed to Mr. Young's nomination, as late as the _sixth_ of _April_.

"_Saratoga, April 6, 1815_.

Dear sir,

It was late when I returned from Ballston, which prevented my
calling on you I had conversations with _several gentlemen_
on the subject of the nomination, particularly with _Judge
Stillwell_, capt. Odell and Mr. Bunce, by whom I learned the
sentiments of Mr. Palmer, and find the whole to be opposed to
Mr. Young. I also saw Mr. Lee and Kasson. They were in favor
of Mr. Young on the principle of _what they called
sacrificing_ Mr. Young, if he was not nominated. The Milton
committee are Thomas Palmer, Joel Keeler and Daniel Couch,
junior Esquires.

From yours, with esteem,

Esek Cowen, Esq."

JOHN R. MOTT.

Mr. Mott, one of the delegation from Saratoga, informs Mr. Cowen another of the delegation from that town, that Stillwell and others are opposed to Young. This presumption in Judge Stillwell, it seems could not be endured, and he in common with others was marked out as a victim. His name was originally connected with that of Palmer and Bunce, in the letter of Kasson, dated the 12th April, p. 33, as being concerned with them in "this _black business_" as he calls it, until by making his peace, this _crow_ is suddenly changed into a _swan_, and his name erased from the letter.

If farther proof is wanting that the loss of Mr. Young's nomination did not depend on any thing which fell from his colleagues, or any individual exertion made against it, you may have it by calling on the following gentlemen, who acted on the county convention, to wit:

Avery Starkweather, John Pettit, Eli Smith, Joel Keeler,
Isaac Rice, Nathan Raymond, Jessup Raymond, Richard Dunning,
James Clark, Isaac Andrus, Solomon Parks, Nicholas W. Angle,
Billy J. Clark, Potter Johnson, Benjamin Burton, Joseph
Mitchell, William Taylor, Samuel Cook, Nathan Pardee, Joshua
Finch, John Brown, Samuel S. Barker, Isaac Brewster, &c.

You will find among them many of the most respectable names in the county. By them it will also appear how far Mr. Young's failure depended on Palmer and Bunce, and how far it was regulated by public sentiment. But, it is presumed that what Doctor Clark very properly calls a _systematic attempt_, to fix a course of fraud upon two or three individuals, and ascribe the result of that convention to them, must appear as absurd and ridiculous in the eyes of the public, as it did to Doctor Clark and his associates on the committee.

But why spend a moments time in refuting so base a calumny; by searching for argument and demonstration while it must be rendered useless by conviction. Another year has rolled away; another convention have met--have made a nomination for Congress and Assembly--They were unanimous--Mr. Young is not nominated, nor even named for the year 1816. This too was not till the blood-hounds of imaginary fraud had yelled their notes thro' the county, the quivers of malice had been exhausted of their poisoned arrows, and "the book," that great gun of a falling faction which they had been loading during the whole Summer past, had gone off with a harmless explosion.

It may not be amiss however, to examine the behaviour of these famous pretenders to fair and open conduct, and see how far they practice what they preach. In doing this, permit me to call your attention to the following certificates.

"I notice in the pamphlet signed 'A Citizen' lately
published, an assertion that the committee in the town of
_Milton_ in the Spring of 1815, 'was procured by management,
fraud and falsehood.' I attended the meeting in this town,
according to previous notice in the Journal for that purpose,
at which I saw Mr. T. Palmer and Mr. Bunce, but saw nothing
in them like either fraud or management. I voted in that
committee for Mess. Palmer, Keeler and Couch, but not from
any solicitations of either Mr. Bunce or Mr. Palmer, but
because I believed them the best men; nor had any one of
these, or any one else, then told me that the three members
had complained of Mr. Young.

"James Thompson, Esq. was a candidate for the same committee,
and his partner, Alpheus Goodrich, Esq. wrote votes for the
said James Thompson; but I refused to vote for him, not,
however, from any thing I had ever heard either the said
Palmer or Bunce say against him. There was a large majority
for the three above named committee, but I saw no unusual
exertions, or any thing that looked like unfair proceedings,
in any one at the meeting who appeared to be voting the
ticket which I did.--EBENEZER DIBBLE. _Milton, March, 1816_."

"I also was present at the above mentioned meeting for the
purpose of choosing delegates to the county convention. The
meeting was notified in the Journal, at Gregory & Hawkins',
on the day some of the town officers met there. The meeting
proceeded to organize by choosing Joel Keeler, Esq. chairman,
and Thomas Palmer secretary, and then without opposition,
voted to choose the committee by ballot. The candidates for
whom ballots were wrote, were, on one ticket, James Thompson,
Archy Kasson and Elias Benedict--On the other, Daniel Couch
jun, Joel Keeler and Thomas Palmer. Mr. Bunce was there; and
in the room, wrote votes for the latter three gentlemen, for
whom I voted, but not from the insinuations or persuasions of
any one. And I saw no intrigue, management or improper
electioneering in either the said Palmer or Bunce, or any one
else for that ticket; but believe every thing was conducted
fairly.

"I had on that day, before I came there, heard of reports
against Mr. Young, but not from either Mr. Palmer or Mr.
Bunce; but to the best of my recollection from _Elihu Roe_ in
a conversation between him and _Deacon Stillwell_. I had
before heard no intimation of the same from any one.--EZRA
NASH. _Milton, March 1816_."

"I was present at the republican meeting in Milton, in the
Spring of 1815, for the purpose of choosing a committee to
meet the general committee to make a nomination. I saw no
deception or intrigue on the part of either Mr. Palmer or Mr.
Bunce, nor any particular exertion of either of them to
procure the committee that were elected. Some time _before_
the said meeting, I had understood that James Thompson, Esq.
of said town, had _expressed a wish_ to be one of the
committee, and at the above mentioned meeting Alpheus
Goodrich, Esq. _his partner_ took a very active part to get
him appointed--wrote votes and endeavored to get others to
take them and vote for the said Thompson, his name being on
the same ticket with Archy Kasson and Elias Benedict; but
they received at the meeting, which consisted of about
thirty, but very few votes, the other ticket, which I voted,
obtaining a large majority. And I hereby further certify,
that neither the said Palmer nor Bunce, both being present at
the meeting, had ever informed me, or given me an intimation
that there was any complaint against Mr. Young, nor did I
ever hear of any complaints against Young, from any one until
some time afterwards; and from the best of my recollection,
_Joel Lee_ was the first who informed me of these complaints
against the said Young.--DAVID DERRICK. _Milton, March
1816_."

It appears that in the town of Milton Mr. Archy Kasson, Elias Benedict and James Thompson Esq. were candidates at the meeting in that town for the choice of delegates in 1815.--That Alpheus Goodrich Esq. Thompson's partner, in particular, acted decidedly in favor of "_Master Jimmy_" as he calls him, perhaps with a good deal of propriety, and peddled tickets with Mr. Kasson and his master's name on them. Now Mr. Thompson whose situation in point of _popularity_ especially in his _own town_ is not to be questioned, was very naturally surprised at his failure, and could not in his own mind attribute it to any thing short of "_fraud and management_." He had failed in despite of the combined efforts of his partner and Mr. Kasson. Finding how poor doctor Child had been cheated into a vote for three gentlemen whom Thompson considered mere tools compared to himself, it leaves him no doubt on the subject, and he can no longer avoid bristling with astonishment and rage. Tho' several days before the convention met, a hue and cry was immediately raised, and he repairs to court with almost the whole of the McBain meeting at his heels--The convention till this year (1816) had regularly met on the second day of April court.

The evil of this practice had been long felt and deplored by the advocates for freedom of deliberation in this body, without being able to attain a remedy. The scenes of this day however have for a while suspended, and I trust forever abolished the pernicious and degrading practice of _court_ conventions. Tuesday gave them leisure to organize their forces and reconnoiter the points of attack. On Wednesday these veteran lobby members of a county convention each knew his post, and each was prepared with his story. The members of the convention, living scattered in different directions, some near and some in the more remote towns, arrive in small parties of one, two, and three in succession, which gives full leisure to the court hangers on to see and discourse with them in detail, and the astonished members of the convention the moment they arrive were thus assailed on all hands with a universal cry of Young, Young, Young for the candidate. No scheme was left untried, no pretence neglected, no argument overlooked, no path unexplored to entrap, to drive, to persuade and to lead the convention contrary to their old established practice, to nominate Mr. Young a _third_ time as a candidate. Still despairing of success, Thompson and his associates (I trust in God but few of them) change their ground and become the _black and unmanly assassins_ of individual character. The story of the pretended fraud attempted by Mr. Palmer, Mr. Bunce and others, was administered in profusion, and crammed down with epithets; not more than two or three of the convention having ever heard the account given of Mr Young by his worthy colleagues, and its reaching them thus for the first time thro' his huffing friends, it sounded truly like "a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Their pride was alarmed, and their sympathies excited, by being told that Judge Spencer had first cheated Mr. Young out of the Secretary's office, and that his wrath now burnt after him into the county of Saratoga, and what was passing strange--pitiful and wondrous pitiful was, that the Judge had thrust his hand so far into this dish of woes as to employ in his service the press and Editor of the Saratoga Journal.--Kasson's letter which appears in "the book," tho' now altered by striking out Stillwell's name, arrives by _express from Albany_, in season to make up for this dish, its last ingredient--But Alas! to no purpose; the people's delegates nominate Mr. Cowen.

I boldly and solemnly appeal to that convention whether they or the most of them were not individually called upon, by Thompson or some of those acting under him, and urged to support Mr. Young upon part or all of the pretences above mentioned. In order to render assurance doubly sure, these strong and noisy opposers of fraud, these high minded and honest politicians discover another circumstance of which they quickly avail themselves. One of the towns had neglected to choose a committee. The ceremony of packing was immediately resorted to, and three men who were ready to go all lengths with these upright gentry, presented and palmed themselves upon the convention, as legitimate members. Thus having been belabored incessantly for two-thirds of an April day, the convention retire to their duty, and as usual ballot for the candidates. After balloting and before the votes were canvassed, they unanimously resolve, that the lawyer having the greatest number of votes shall be considered the candidate, and the other rejected. After canvassing and finding that Mr. Cowen had two votes more than Mr. Young, it was again unanimously resolved that he be considered the candidate.

This _arrogance_ and _presumption_ in the delegates of the people, was not tamely to be endured by the _court party_; and these high-minded advocates of _Republican purity_ immediately cast about for the means of correcting the evil. And what more easy and certain mode of doing this, than to solicit and procure the friendly interference of _federalism_, whose doctrine by this time appears to be in perfect co incidence with their own? They could abhor coalition, management and intrigue in the ranks of Republicans;--nay the intrigue which owed its birth and maturity to their heated imaginations alone, was odious and abominable in its fancied perpetrators; while they themselves were basely courting the embraces of Federalism in secret; and building their hopes of success on the vile basis of a _political bargain_ with that party;--like a drunken clergyman who enters the pulpit heated with his bottle, and excites your disgust by a long discourse on the follies of intemperance. The high pretensions of these men to chastity and plain dealing, will be better tested by reading the following certificates;--the reader being first reminded that Mr. Elihu Roe and James Thompson, Esq. are holden forth both in _the book_, and in these statements, as twin leaders--a sort of _Castor_ and _Pollux_ or _du_-umvirate in the tribe; and for this reason they are resorted to, as furnishing together with a few subordinate officers, a clue to the immaculate character which they and their friends so loudly claim.

"I certify, that I heard Elihu Roe declare, to Jonathan
Minor, at the store of Epenetus White, that James Thompson
Esq. had at the last election, made overtures to the
federalists to support Samuel Young Esq as a member of
Assembly.--BURR WAKEMAN. _March 1816_."

"Thereby certify, that I had a conversation with Mr. Elihu
Roe, in the store of Epenetus White, in the presence of Mr.
Burr Wakeman, in which Mr. Roe declared that James Thompson
Esq. did propose to the federalists, to support a federal
candidate for member of Assembly, if the federalists would
support Samuel Young, Esq. as a candidate for member of
Assembly at the election of 1815.--JONATHAN MINOR. _Ballston,
March 28th 1816_."

"I, Gideon Goodrich, late of the town of Milton, in the
county of Saratoga, do hereby certify to my fellow-citizens;
that on the first day of election of 1815 in said town, where
I then resided, at St. John's Inn, where the polls of
election were that day held, in a conversation on the subject
of supporting Samuel Young, contrary to the general
nomination; Archy Kasson, a leading friend of Young admitted
in presence of a number of persons, that he had said that he
had rather have three federalists go to the legislature from
this county with Young, than not to have Young elected. On my
expressing surprise at such sentiments, from a man professing
to be a republican, he added he still felt or thought so. Mr.
James Thompson who was present, then replied, that he would
say he had rather have _seven_ federalist go with Young, than
not to have him elected--or any number that would not give a
federal majority,[3] or words to that import.

"Having removed from this county, but now on a visit at my
old residence in Milton, and being called upon by those who
feel themselves abused in the support of the cause of their
country, no one will consider it officiousness in me, to thus
repeat what was expressed in so public a manner on that
occasion.--GIDEON GOODRICH. _Milton, April 19th 1816_."

"I hereby certify, that shortly after the last spring's
election, but before the official returns of election in the
state were received, I was at the office of James Thompson,
Esq. in Milton, and remarked to him, that I was afraid the
legislature would be federal, to which the said Thompson
replied, that he was afraid it would _not be federal_, or
that he began to be afraid there would not be _a federal_
house. I also certify, that during the election then just
past, I was by several of Mr. Young's friends in said town,
strongly urged to vote for a federalist, if by that I could
get a federalist to vote for Mr. Young; which I believe many
of them did, as I heard those friends of his repeatedly say
_they would barter_ in that way, if they could by it obtain
votes for the said Young.--BENJAMIN BENNETT. _Milton, March
1816_."

"I hereby certify, that previous to the meeting of the
committee to make a nomination for members of Assembly, in
the spring of 1815--I saw Archy Kasson in the village of
Ballston Spa, who commenced a conversation with me on the
subject of the then approaching nomination; and he solicited
me with much zeal to vote for Mr. Young in the
convention--And among other things, he declared, that he
would be better satisfied to have Mr. Young on the nomination
with three federalists, than to have four republicans without
him--And gave me distinctly to understand that if Young was
not nominated, he would not support the nomination.--ISAAC
RICE. _Ballston, March 1816_."

"I, Simeon P. Allcott, of the town of Milton and county of
Saratoga, do certify; That I attended the election in the
spring of 1815, at D. Thomas' inn, in said town, at which
place I saw James Merrill of said town, and heard him declare
in the presence and hearing of a number of republican and
federal electors, 'that some people very fearful that a
_federalist_ would be elected from this county, but for his
part, he said that there would be no _harm in it_--it would
be a _good thing to have federals elected_--and that if Mr.
Young could be elected, he did not care _how many federals_
were elected.'

"I further certify, that I attended the election the
following day at Goodrich's inn, in the said town, and the
said James Merrill then and there made similar declarations
in the presence and hearing of a number of republicans and
federals; and the said James Merrill and others who were
advocating the election of Mr. Young, appeared to act in
unison with _the federalists_; and I saw a number of
_federalists have Mr. Young's name on their ticket_, and who
told me they voted that ticket.--SIMEON P. ALLCOTT. _Milton,
April 1816_."

"I hereby certify, that a leading federalist, being as I
understood, one of the _federal_ convention from the town of
Northumberland, who met at the Court-House on the 14th of
April last, to make the federal nomination for members of
Assembly, &c.--informed me on his return home from that
convention, that James Merril, Esq. urged some of that
convention to place Samuel Young Esq. on their ticket, and
offered one hundred _dollars_ if they would _go halves_ with
Young's friends in the _ticket_ they should run at the then
next election, for the purpose of defraying the expences of
the election; and that the said Merrill took from his pocket
the _hundred, dollars_, and laid it on the table for that
purpose, as I understood it.--HENRY STAFFORD. _Saratoga
Springs, March 1816_."

"I, Joseph Ogden, of Malta in the county of Saratoga, do
hereby certify; that I was at the inn of James Jones in
Halfmoon, a few days after the election of 1815, and Aaron
Morehouse of Ballston, and a leading federalist of Halfmoon
were there, conversing together on the late election. Mr.
Morehouse said he voted for Mr. Hamilton, the federal
candidate, to get a federalist in his town to vote for Mr.
Young; and the federal replied, that be voted for Mr. Young,
and that it was the understanding among some of the
federalists and _some_ of the republicans in Halfmoon, that
the federals should vote for Mr. Young, and that the
republicans should vote for Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Isaac Kellogg,
jun. was present at the same time.--JOSEPH OGDEN."

"I, Isaac Kellogg, Jun. of Malta in the county of Saratoga,
do certify, that I was present and heard a part of the
conversation above stated by Joseph Ogden, and remember
hearing Mr. Morehouse state, that he voted for Mr. Hamilton,
and the abovementioned federalist say that he voted for Mr.
Young. I also heard another federalist of Halfmoon then
present, say that he voted for Mr. Young also; and I
distinctly understood from them, that there had been an
understanding between the federalists and Mr. Young's
friends, to support Mr. Young and Mr. Hamilton as members of
Assembly.--ISAAC KELLOGG, jun."

It is also a fact, that Young's supporters did in two or three of the towns _hide_ and _suppress_ the tickets printed by direction of the county convention, for Mr. Cowen and the other candidates.

These certificates and these facts serve then to explain how Mr. Young came by a greater number of _votes_ than Mr. Cowen;--and no doubt is left on this subject when on calculating from the _returns_, you perceive that the _votes_ for Mr. Young and Mr. Cowen in the aggregate exceed by a great number the whole votes for any other candidate on either side, and that _one_ of the federal candidates received a _less_ number of votes than the others. This would of itself shew as far as the subject is susceptible of proof, a _bargain_ between _some_ of Mr. Young's friends and _some_ of the federalists. Shortly after this bargain which Mr. Roe speaks of, the McBain Meeting[4] was called, where every exertion tended to produce a political abortion.

I cordially join with "the book" in censuring the editor of the Journal for resembling this meeting to a political _funeral_;--for I do not believe that the lifeless _embryo_ which it bro't forth, ever raised the tho't of a _funeral_ in its poor _distracted father_. And while I could not have the face to vindicate him from falsehood in not making a better distinction, I should feel the less inclined to deny his being a savage, while I behold him wantoning with the wounded feelings of a forlorn, hopeless and unhappy _parent_. If his personification had embraced the meeting merely, he ought to have known that even the _dead_ are not always unavenged, and that its ghost at least, would have arisen from the tomb to flutter round and haunt the unhappy county of Saratoga on the eve of the next nomination, in the form of a _book_; that thing which like the poet is justly admired for giving

"To airy nothing,
A local habitation and a name."

We could hardly say of that book, however, as Hamlet said of his Father's ghost that

"He would take his word for a thousand pounds"--

Or why do we hear it insisted that the fault of keeping alive discord and division in the county, is imputable to a few individuals named and pointed out by it?--Aside from the base and unprincipled attempts of Roe, Thompson and some of their co-adjutors, to prostrate the only _republican press_ in the county, by a system of slander and detraction; The public cannot have forgotten that Mr Young's _famous_ colleagues were mildly and publicly invited to an amicable explanation, which they refused and rendered the publication of affidavits necessary in justification. The only reply which was received, was a still more general, malignant and furious attack upon the press, not only from the columns of the Schenectady Cabinet, but the foul lingo of Roe, Thompson & co. with bitter complaints whenever that press either ridiculed their folly and impertinence, or defended itself against their insidious and secret attempts to effect its destruction.

Amongst other things in order to create a pretence for their _book_, it will be recollected that judge Child has authorised the charge of falsehood against the Journal in its maintaining that he had threatened to get a new press into the county &c.--Indeed the judge appears to be remarkably well pleased with that production, not only by his long certificates, but by a letter which he afterwards wrote to the printer of the _Courier_, recognizing its merits and trying to _divide with federalists_ the honor of carrying clothes to the army;[5] which it seems was given him by the _book_ in order to render his standing as a certifier more conspicuous, by uniting on his broad brow, both the _military_ and _civic_ wreath. How far the _denial_ of this mock _Cincinnatus_ that he threatened as early as May to get a new press, "_with all his blushing honors thick upon him_," will satisfy the public, may in some measure he determined by the following certificate.

"I hereby solemnly certify, that on the last of May or first
of June last, when at the house of Judge Child, in a
conversation relating to the Saratoga Journal, and the
conduct of its Editor Mr. Isaiah Bunce, the said Judge then
and there made use of the following expression to me, viz.
'You must remember that the friends of Mr. Young, are not men
of the _least property_, nor _least influence_ in the County,
and Bunce may have _another press set up by his side_ in less
than six months--That he [the said Judge] should withdraw his
support from him, and said that it was best for every one to
do the same, and then his press would fall of course.' And at
the same time said, that he had rather _support the federal
press at the Springs_ than the _Journal_. Shortly after this
I informed Mr. Bunce of the above conversation at his
office.'--JONATHAN WESTCOTT. _Milton, March 14th 1816_."

Young and Thompson made similar declarations of their intention to get another press about the same time, with which they have been often charged, and it seems thought best not to hazard a denial in the book--therefore no other certificate but the one relating to Child's has been procured--And the judge's conduct would have been more christian-like, had he written a letter exculpating the editor of the Journal from an undeserved odium cast upon him by his authority, than thus to have given it confirmation and support, at the same time knowing it to be _untrue_.