Chapter III: Part 3

It then in fact ceases to be a question what was _said_ or _done_ by that meeting, or any member of it. For according to every principle of reasoning, _divine_ or _human_; if the _whole_ was grounded on _fraud_, the whole was a _nullity_, and possessed no _moral force_. "If" says the book, "Mr. Cowen's _nomination_ was procured _by fraud_, it cannot be called a _nomination_; and may be departed from with impunity." It turning out on investigation, that his _nomination_ was a _perfectly fair one_, and his pretended _resignation_ founded on the _grossest duplicity_;--whether it was _conditional_ or _absolute_, whether it was _personal_ or _general_, it is void, and unworthy the name of a _resignation_. _Eternal justice_ disavows it; _Political justice_ disowns it; and _common sense_ condemns the perversion. The _nomination_ of _Mr. Young_, by a meeting thus _packed_ for the purpose, by a few of _his friends_, was not only _void_ for that reason, but it had its origin in the _same duplicity_, and was therefore equally void with _every thing founded upon it_.

Were Young's colleagues correctly informed, as to the manner _their conversations_ were spoken of? or were they deceived by _Kasson_ and _Thompson_ when they called for their _certificates_ at Albany? If the _latter_, they had near one year before giving their _second_ certificate, to correct the error. Why have they always shrunk from investigation? Why in their _second_ certificate, contradict the _first_? Why after having _near a year_ to _prepare_ it, does their _second_ certificate _contradict itself_? As they now stand, they present a more shocking _caricature_ of folly and inconsistency, than ever _figured_ before the public. They have burst the bands of political faith--They have melted the cement of affection, and driven to a returnless distance, the best and dearest of friends. No man knew what to say or think of what they said or certified--Individual ruin is threatened, and the destruction of a _free press_ aimed at; while in the political atmosphere all is uproar, disorder and confusion.

--Alas.--"That _men_,
Clothed with a little _brief authority_,
Should play such antic tricks before high heaven,
As make the angels weep!"

With these men however I have now done--But let their _Pander_ beware; let him _pause and reflect_, ere it be too late--"Already are the sluices of public indignation opened upon him--Already is he _drifted along on the surface of the stream, the object of_ CONTAGION and ABOMINATION"--AN ELECTOR. MAY 1816.

* * * * *

NOTE: The public will duly _appreciate_ the reasons for _postponing_ the publication of the foregoing till _after Election_. The writer hopes he has avoided the example of the _Citizen_, by not _descending_ to the retreats of _private_ character.--Even the author of the book has not been named. The character given of that author, ante page 30 in note, is not intended to apply to any one named in that pamphlet.--Indeed I hope for the honor of human nature, that however _strange_ and _inconsistently_ some of these men have acted who have in that production given their names to the public, yet that none of them are so far gone as to prostitute themselves to the vile purpose of writing such a work as that in which their names are interlarded.

NOTES

[1] _Several hundred of these certificates were a day or two after the McBain Meeting, struck off at the FEDERAL Printing' Office in this Village, and circulated thro' the County during the election_.

[2] _It will be recollected that the writer of this letter is the famous conversation-monger, who together with his brother James Mott, are made the instruments of proving duplicity in Mr. Cowen. John R. Mott pretends that as early as the 1st of March, Mr. Cowen told him that Palmer and Bunce were opposed to Young, &c and yet on the 6th day of_ April _following, he very gravely informs Mr. Cowen by letter, of the very facts which he says Mr. Cowen had told him before. This is the man too who tells so much about_ private _conversation, and Mr. Cowen's_ hesitating _to tell him names; and enjoining him to_ secresy, _and who so very spunkily says that he called Gen. Dunning "a fool." Mr. Cowen must, I think, feel himself greatly indebted to these_ brother _certifiers for their honor and patriotism. This too is the man, who sometime before wrote a fawning letter, asking Mr. Cowen to give him an office (Assistant Assessor of the U.S.) which he had at his disposal; to which Mr. Cowen readily acceded, and afterwards on another written request, conferred the same office on his_ brother certifier _James Mott. [The inhabitants of Halfmoon, will furnish ample credentials, for their extraordinary_ attention _and_ correctness _in the execution of their offices, One of these men shortly before the election was appointed deputy to the Sheriff: He suddenly veers about and becomes a convert to_ court _doctrine, and evinces his zeal in the new cause he had espoused, by his_ anathemas _against his former friends.] These brothers in blood, in politics and in virtue, generously avail themselves of the advantages afforded them by official intercourse with Mr. Cowen on business, and then patriotically tender the fruits of their_ rotten-hearted _labor to_ "the citizen" _and his friends as proofs of duplicity_.

[3] _This was on the_ first _day of the Polls--but it seems by Mr. Bennet's certificate, that as soon as the election was over, Thompson flung off the mask, and exhibited his_ cloven foot _without reserve_.

[4] _Altho' it is a fact well known that this meeting was projected by, and the canting pretences which bro't it together and sent forth the strange account which it gives of itself, originated with_ two or three "demagogues," _yet it is a subject of real regret that a_ few honest men _have suffered themselves to be duped by their shameful artifices. It commenced with_ Mr. Thompson of Milton, _who during the summer past has been very industrious in serving up and peddling little doses of slander against_ Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Bunce, and others. _This man has been a real political_ scold, _ever since he found himself capable of throwing a little confusion into the ranks of the county; He is the first_ male Xantippe _who has reduced the doctrine of scolding to a system, and certified it in a_ book. _Of such characters there is little hopes:_

"_Destroy his_ web and sophistry _in vain_,
_The creature's at his_ dirty work _again_."

[5] _Altho' no man more sincerely rejoices in the charitable donations of the people of Saratoga, for the relief of our brethren at_ Sacket's Harbor, _than the writer of these remarks, yet he cannot avoid joining in the general disgust at the vanity of Judge Child, in trying to elicit public applause for himself. The judge cannot bear to hide his charming light under a bushel. Instead of not suffering one hand to know what the other is doing, he is not content with its being published in a_ book, _but advertises his charity in a newspaper as a man would one of his_ stray cattle. _From his liberal conduct to the Editor of the Journal and others, he is perhaps excusable in calling his charity about him as soon as possible, even if he offers a considerable reward for it in the next advertisement which he puts into his darling paper_.

[6] By a new species of logic adopted by the author of the Book, a man is accounted _honorable_ and _virtuous_ by the square foot of carcase. Ergo, "a little man" in stature, comprehends all that is _hypocritical_ and _wicked_. The _great man_, James Merrill, who is the subject of this note, by the above rule is of course, the most _honorable_, best informed and _religious_ man of the whole group, who embellish the fair pages of that "book." It is proper that the public should know a little of his _debut_ and _denoument_ as a political character.

His _first_ notorious feat was performed in his first and last appearance as a member of assembly, where his colleague by a friendly rap on the knuckle convinced him that he was _endeavoring_ to read off a _federal_ vote for a council of appointment, which a federal member had assured him was more _legible_ than the one _prepared_ for him.

The _second_ time as a quid of the _Burr_ stamp, and willing to spend 500 dollars rather than the republican candidate should succeed.

The _third_ time in a _new_ character; with his name blazoned in large capitals in recommendation of S. Van Rensselaer for governor, in opposition to Daniel D. Tompkins in 1813.

The fourth time in 1815, as the _sub_ agent and director of the McBain meeting; still ready with 100 dollars, to divide the ticket with the federalists rather than the regular nomination should succeed and Mr. Young not be elected; swearing he had not _before taken hold since his friend Burr went down_.

On the _first_ day of election he is a flaming democrat.

On the _second_ day, at the opening of the polls, he makes public proclamation "for all those who did not intend to vote for Mr Young to come forward and state their reasons, _and they should be heard_; and that _now_ he had no objections that _three federalists_ should be elected."

On the third day of the election, "_it depended on a word, and the types of the republican printer would be scattered_." A true sample of "the mild spirit of Christian humility" Vid. _book_.

[7] _This circumstance would not have been mentioned had not the _CITIZEN_ boasted of the same office confering great honor on one of his disciples_.

[8] In treating of the productions of an author, it is customary to give some account of his character, pursuits, &c. &c. This is usually done by way of _introduction_ or _appendix_. I beg leave in this instance to deviate from the regular method, and present him in the more appropriate station of a _Nota Bene_.

The author of that pamphlet is a _lawyer_ in _practice_ and a _moralist_ by _profession_; by the former, he has acquired great _booty_; by the latter a ---- and what is peculiar to himself (and all 'peculiar' men have their peculiarities) he never suffers his _profession_ to interfere with his _practice_; and yet in _money concerns_, he has been known to handle _both_, with great _adroitness_. In his _practice_ his fellow townsmen are "pine plains men," in his profession "a contemptible rabble;" and truly so, for the former tell him "the farm you live on was once the soil of a revolutionary soldier." This is truly saucey, for he acquired it by his _practice_. The latter tell him, "you sued us for small sums due the estate of a relative; you made us ten times more costs than the demands--you took advantage of a then existing law, to oppress us; you feasted on our misfortunes, and rioted on our distresses; till an _ugly_ law extended relief to the '_rabble_'."

One of these men living in an adjoining town, tells him, "I once owned two farms; I own no farms now--They are swallowed up in '_morality_.'" It is not yet ascertained, whether his rate of 40 per cent interest, is regulated by his _practice_ or his _profession_. It certainly cannot be, as has been supposed, in proportion to the wants of the distressed. I am inclined to think his _morality_ often runs ahead of his _practice_, in this case.

A _good reputation_ is not common to all men. Our author has practically demonstrated the truth of this position, and conclusively shewn, that the _needy_ have an absolute right to filch a supply from their neighbor; and has exhibited such powerful proofs in support of _his_ claims, that he has actually obtained more than a _quantum sufficit_, and conferred the surplus on some of his _needy_ friends.

The misfortunes of his neighbor, forms the chief round in his _ladder_ to eminence; it rests on the sanctuary of domestic afflictions, and is supported by the tears of the widow and the orphan. Lo! Avarice claims him for her own--Billingsgate yields her choicest flowers--Envy entwines the glowing wreath--and malice triumphantly crowns him "lord of the ascendant."

[9] _The certificates of these men interlard several points of conversation as minute as the souls which gave operation to their memory; and which appear to be designed to answer no other purpose, than to shew the extraordinary strength and accuracy of intellect by which they are characterized. Their fixed attention to such matters may serve as some excuse for the manner in which they executed their offices of U.S. assessors. But I have had occasion to note these gentlemen once before_.

[10] _The Citizen is perhaps correct when he calls Mr. Palmer a_ little man, _and Judges of his own_ favorites _by the quantity of_ matter _instead of_ mind;--_Like the Italian Farmer in estimating the qualities of a_ grave animal _no less famous for_ strength and dullness _than for the_ length _of his_ ears.

[11] _It seems that an effort was afterwards made to convince their friends, by publishing several hundreds of the famous communication from Young's colleagues, notwithstanding an express stipulation to the contrary_.