Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1859 — MR. THORNBURG'S SECOND LETTER. [ARTICLE]

MR. THORNBURG'S SECOND LETTER.

Hanging Grove, Sept. 19. A/r. Editor: I was more diverted and amused at your reply to my inquiries, than instructed. You commence by saying that you can demonstrate to my satisfaction that they are nothing but rumors; but in your long and labored article, admit substantially the charges that I made, with the exception of the Barkley vote. You also regret the harsh terms I used when speaking of transactions in which honorable men were concerned. I said as much in mine, but did not know of language more appropriate or adequate to the occasion. You say the officers of the Board in Barkley township, were Parkison, McCurtain and Shepard, and that in conversation with Mr. Parkison, he stated that he read every ticket, and that Mr. Moore’s name did not occur on any of them. These truly are gentlemen whose characters are above suspicion, and from the statement made by Sir. Parki son, and information from other sources, I am satisfied there was no fraudulent intent but think the gentleman is honestly mistaken about there being no vote given there for Mr. Moore. At the time of writing my other article, I did not know who the officers of the Board were, and do, hereby, take back any insinuation made derogatory to their characters. You say the polls were opened at eight o’clock for the accomodation of some who wanted to leave town in the forenoon, and that there was no harm in it. I hope you do not intend to say that, after a set of men have made a law governing the Convention, these men have a right to violate it with impunity, and deprive a portion of the persons who had consented to be governed by it, of its privileges; and that there is no harm in it. No, sir—you are a- man of too much sense to say so. I am satisfied, and think that I can show to any candid mind, that a secret clique does exist in Rensselaer that would like to own the Republican party, and that they had determined to run a certain ticket, whether it was nominated or not; and I am also satisfied from circumstances, the obvious intention of opening the polls at so early an hour, was for the purpose of facilitating that party, and do say, if such is the case, it was unfair, let who will be concerned in it. There is a Republican, whose character is above reproach, stated to a Republican, that he was afraid we would get devided so that we could not elect our ticket, for the town had determined to run a certain ticket any how, whether they succeeded in getting the nomination or not. Some time before the Convention, certain men about town professed to be in favor of of nominating country candidates. You say that the vote shows that the people do not mind their leaders. Yes, or that such declarations were made for the purpose of secreting and covering up this secret organization until they could accomplish their designs. Now, I do think that the opening of the polls at so early an hour, and the declaration of this honest and zealous Republican, and these professions, is enough to carry conviction to any unprejudiced mind that there is something not right. Why did you not announce it in your paper, the day before the convention, that you found it necessary to open the polls at an

early hour if there was no bad design in it. This is some of the unfairness I spoke of in my other communication. I never thought for one moment that there was not as many votes given there as was stated in your paper. Why did you not answer my question relative to the vote there last year! The vast difference between the vote of the two years shows that there was an unusual interest manifested, and that every stratigem was used to put this town ticket through at all hazzards. The vote in Convention, in Marrion township, last year, I believe was eighty-five; this year it is nearly double that. You say the Keener voters were all good Methodists, and that they wanted to go to camp-meeting on the day of the Convention. If I mistake not, the camp-meeting spoken of did not commence until Friday. Now, Mr. Editor, do you believe there would have been one vote cast in that township, on that Thursday, had it not have been for an understanding between the leaders of Keener township and the leaders of this secret clique, to defeat the division of the county north and south! In conclusion, ta-ing the published programme as a law by which to be governed, any court of justice would say, under these facts, throughout Marion and Keener townships, correct the Barkley vote and I think that would change the ticket said to be nominated, because they met contrary to its provisions. You say that I come forward as the friend of Mr. Moore. I here fay, once for all, that I come lorward as the freind of right and justice, and an enemy to trickery and skullduggery, let me find it where I will. Yours, truly, Thos. Thornburg. P. S.—l find there is still a hard feeling toward me in Barkley, and, in order to set me right before their, I wish the above through your press. That is the way in which I made the statement and in this way I wish to take it back. The terms used in speaking of their transactions is all that I feel that I have done wrong in; if you do not publish it, I must think that you want the censure to rest on me.