Part 2
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.'