atement 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.