Kentucky Gazette

For the Gazette.
THE ORACLE AT FAULT.
Wonderful as it may appear, it is nevertheless true that the oracle on Jordan's row has failed at last; and after giving a full, fair, and decisive answer in relation to the list of candidates in favour of the Old Judges, has been compelled by 'superior power,' to change his prediction and submit to the dictation of others. In the Reporter of the 24th of April, Mr. Smith says that Messrs. Payne, Breckenridge and True were last year nominated by two persons, and that the whole party acquiesced. This year the ticket is nominated by about fifty persons, and that he thinks it very extraordinary that any person should object to it. He said that Messrs. Breckinridge, Flournoy and Warfield are 'good men and true' and that 'there can be no good grounds of objection,' either to the men or the mode in which they were brought out.
It will be recollected that in the succeeding Reporter the oracle says that the relief party are sadly perplexed about their candidates. He says they have been busy in devising plans,—have been coaxing and wheedling old court men to serve in their ranks—they have been polling the country to get a set fit for their purpose &c. &c.
What have the old Judge party been doing all this time! Some time in February a grand supper is given to the gentry of the party here, together with a few choice spirits from Frankfort and Louisville who happened here by accident. One of them in particular was one of the missionaries who was active in bringing from his retirement an old man of Jefferson County last year, although he resided fifty miles distant himself. This choice selection met and after a pleasant evening party, the good people of Fayette County were favored next morning with a list of those who were fixed on to represent them in the succeeding legislature. This may be called the first effort. But it would not do.
The party did not approve of the ticket. There was one gentleman on it who must be shuffled off, or the managers of the wires found that the subordinate agents in the machine would not work. The names of Breckenridge and Flournoy were retained, Richardson rubbed out, and E. Warfield substituted. The oracle thought surely he might safely go ahead on that list, and accordingly comes out in full in favour of it, and is convinced that no person can object to it. This was the second effort. But still it would not do.
Why? The oracle said positively that Messrs. Payne, and True will not serve again. Then why should any person be opposed to the ticket! Still it was found that it would not do—that the substitute was perhaps worse than his principal, and that it be necessary for him to make a speech in the papers and back out. Well but after all who can be gotten in his place? As a third effort the ticket is reorganized into Breckenridge Flournoy & TRUE.
After polling the county—after spurring, some forward and with more difficulty holding others back, after coaxing and wheedling first one and then another either to stay in or come out,—after caucuses and missions—after attempts to bind the good people to vote according to bond at the dictation of a few, the die is cast for the third time, and until some other change takes place, it will remain as it is now cast.
But what becomes of the assertion of the oracle that Mr. True did not wish a re-election? Verily there is a fib somewhere, but where, I will not even guess. I know that Mr. True did say, very shortly after the first effort, that a compromise should be made,—that his old court neighbours were in favour of a fair settlement of the dispute,—that they even wished him to come out as a candidate on that side,—that the ticket then announced could not and ought not to succeed. Then you know however his name was not on it. How he will compromise that little matter I do not know, nor can I even guess, unless a report which I heard yesterday be true viz. that he is still as much in favor of a compromise as ever, if any constitutional mode could be suggested. If that be his ground of defence, it is certainly a very pretty little way to arrange the difficulty, however unsatisfactory it may be to those who are in earnest about the great question of peace, good order, and constitutional government.
SPECTATOR.