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JAMES 30 '-IE, of Alamo memory, whose charac.
ter, at the time, stood fair any mans in the
Union, applied, in 1928, to the late Robert Crit
tenden, and myself, then in partnership, to attend
to the confirmation Of divers land claims, before
our Court. We were employed at specified fee,
and presented the applications, in accordance with
the forms Of Law. Before the trials came on, at
my suggestion, the witnesses were called into open
court, and there examined, by the Court. Upon
this examination. the witnesses supplied such ey.
dence, that the Court, and all who heard the wit.
nesses. became fully satisfied OF the genuinepess
and validity Of the claims and, accordingly. the
Court confirmed some ninety, or ono hundred
claims part ofthem presented by Crittenden and
Ashley. and the residue by Others After this.
Crittenden and myself agreed to receive, in sat.
isfactIon Of our fee, certain number of these
confirmed claims; and they we're, accordingly,
some five or six claims each, convened to us
Those thar fell to my share, disposed of to w ri
Gus persons, who located them. Some months af.
forwards, the Government alleged that these
claims wore spurious; and instituted proceedings
to cancel andannul the confrmations. Upon this,
Immediately notified those persons to whom |
had sold. that no pay ments would be required of
them, until the matter should be decided lnves.
tigat'on proved these claims to be spurious. and
the combinations were set aside. After this. |


liz
for the claims thus sold. That the Court and the
Attorneys were imposed upon, in this case. by
land claims, Is true. But we had no
other means of ascertaining or knowing their H.
validity, than possessed by the Court that pass.
ed upon them. Moreover. do not admit that, as
an Attorney, am responsible for the Justice of
my clients cause. in such case, any more than |
would be responsible for the crime of a murderer.
whom might be employed to defend In this
whole business. Mr.. Crttenden and myself were
rs unfortunate as the Lawyer who defended
counterfeiter. and, supposing him to be innocent,
was imposed on by the payment Of his fee in coun-
erfeit money.


Again:-l have been charged with dsrega riding
he rights ofPRE- EMPrIoN CLAIMANTS. and of OWN
ERs OF IMPRovEMENTs.in the entry of Lands, for
myself and others. This is a foul faisehood. At
ne public sale of Lands, at Little Rock. in 1885,
ne only one at which purchased land. | notified
ne bidders, of all improvements; and the owners
we're uniformly suffered each to enter his own.
'e' 'er entered any mans improvement, in my life
except IN two instances, by mistake and, in those
wo instances, the lands were Immediately and
voluntarily conveyed to the owners of the improve
nents, at Government price.


Lastly:-i hear that ave been charged, from
The ''stunP," with having received public money
rom the a'e Capt Collins; the cha rye intmating,
n addition, that his defalcation was in part attri
'utable to ne. This is gratuitous and malicious
sIander. ] never received dollar Of public mo.
ney from Collins. | have borrowed money from
him. and lent money to him frequently, in small
sums. On one occasion, only, did a sum of anv-
ever pass between US sand then | re,
ceived of him IS 900 in gold, to take up draft
drawn upon him, by the late Col. Rector, for the
sum Of 5000, payable in the State Bank. at Lit.


lie Rock and which duly paid at that Bank
This was no transaction Of my own; but was,
alone for the accommodation Of Capt. Collins, as
he expected to leave the city, and might not re.
urn in time to meet the draft. All these tran.
'actons between Capt. Collins and myself we're
closed, some time prior to his death. and full re-
;epts were passed, duplicates Of which are now
q my possession.


For many years, engaged in extensive business.
10 most parts of the State, l can confidently ap.
paal TO all with whom have had business transac.
tons, for the fairness and correctness which have
ever characterised all my dealings. The Widow
and the Orphan, whom It has been falsely in,imat.
ed that have oppressed, have uniformly found me
aiding them by all reasonable means in nv power
And challenge any respectable man to point to
solitary instance wherein have failed L, prove
myself the firm and steadfast friend of the Widow
and Orphan. ~


In the public empovments in which have been
can proudly say that even the malice of
my enemies has never charged me with any
thing wrong. As Director in each of the Banks,
can appeal TO their respective minutes to show
tina, my course adverse to all hazardous Ioa rs
and improvident issnes. And as Commissioner to
sell one million of. State Bonds, my agency was
fully approved by the Bank and Legislature.


In conclusion, while | regret that circumstan-
res. as repugnant to my feelings, they are dis
to those who imposed them upon me- ha We
required me to come before the public in defence
OF my private reputation, feel confident that an
imr,rtial-and candid people will justify me in what
have said, and sustain me in the proprety of my
course. | have no disposition to assaH others,
however Vulnerable they may be. ! only seek to
defend myself, in the enjoyment of that respect
from my fellow men. TO which a long life of con-
scious rectitude of purpose and conduct, entities
me. ! ask no more.


Should there be other charges, of wrong doing,
against me. which now know not of. will thank
any respectable man to bring them forward.
here pledge myself to refute them before the bar
Of an enlightened public opinion.


Z Should any one desire to see the papers to which
have referred, as being in my possession. and
sustaining the statements j have made, they ma
be found in the hands Of Mr.. v m. T.. Woodruff.
with whom shall leave them during my absence
from the city.


Respectfully, y


CHESTEA ASHLEY