The Hillsborough Recorder

To the people of Orange, Wake and Person,
Fellow Citizens,

It becomes necessary for me again in this way to obtrude myself on your notice. I had hoped that the two gentlemen with whom it is my lot in the present instance to compete for the honorable station which you will soon be called upon to fill, would have sought your suffrages on the ground of their own merits, and not have descended to low tricks and cunning devices to deprive me of that support and confidence which a number of my fellow citizens have appeared willing to give. In making a tender of my services to the people of this district, I trust I was actuated by the purest motives, by a sincere regard for your welfare and that of our common country. It was not expected, when I became a candidate, that there would have been any other than Gen. Barringer and myself. Since that time, however, Dr. Craig has also declared himself a candidate for the same situation. Residing in the same county with myself, he has thought it necessary, in order to unite the good people of Orange in his support, to circulate reports through the district having no foundation in truth, and in violation of that charity and good feeling which should characterize honorable and high-minded citizens. He has asserted at one time, that I have leagued with Gen. Barringer in opposition to him; at another, that the people of Hillsborough had brought me out as a candidate to cripple his election; that its citizens, and even some of my near relations, would support his election in preference to mine; and lastly, he has told the people, after I had assured him to the contrary, that I would withdraw from the contest.

With regard to the first charge, I unhesitatingly pronounce it to be false, and made without one particle of proof. I would appeal to you, and ask whether, in my public addresses, I have not at all times when opportunity permitted, though in a respectful manner, differed from the political course which Mr. Barringer had pursued while in congress. As to the second charge, I need not attempt to prove its absurdity, for the fact is known to most of you that I became a candidate several weeks before the doctor, and after he had told several of the citizens of Hillsborough, as well as myself, that he had declined being a candidate. I would also state, that I first declared myself while professionally attending Person county court, and before any citizen of Hillsborough knew that I had any intention of the kind. With respect to the support which the citizens of Hillsborough may be pleased to give me, I would say, that the relation of whom the gentleman speaks has more than once declared his intention of supporting my election, and I have reason to hope that many others of the good citizens will give me their suffrages.

The gentleman seems to claim your suffrages on the ground of his exclusive support to the election of Gen Jackson. "Mysterious communication," once addressed to the editors of the Raleigh Register, in the hand-writing of the doctor, franked by him as post-master, and signed "Samuel T. Gates, secretary," calling a general meeting of the friends of Messrs. William H. Crawford and Albert Gallatin, at Mason Hall, in Orange county," has been often talked of, but not denied nor explained by the author, nor has he informed us where this secretary of his own manufacture resides, or whether he be an ideal or a real bona fide personage.

One word with regard to General Barringer and I will close this address. It is my good fortune, for so I must esteem it, to have an extensive family connexion in Wake, all of them respectable and worthy citizens. The gentleman has asserted while in Orange, that even my relations in Wake would not support my election. This was, to say the least of it, truly unkind in the gentleman. Some of them have since been at my house, others I have heard from, and I would assure the honorable gentleman that he has been much and wilfully mistaken in his assertions. I have reason to believe that none of them have made any declarations of the kind, either to the gentleman himself or any body else: and if he will take the trouble to inquire of them, I have no doubt but that most if not all of them will satisfy him that he is wrong in his calculations.

It is, fellow citizens, none other than one of those electioneering tricks for which the honorable gentleman has been so long and deservedly distinguished. Since I has been a candidate I have been much among you. Your kindness deserves my warmest gratitude. I now place all my pretensions in the present contest into your hands; do with me as you please. I love my country, I would sacrifice my life, my all, in defence of her liberties; and whether I be the object of your choice or not, it will be my highest ambition, my greatest pride, if I can in any way, either in public or private life, be serviceable to you, or to my country. It was the advice of the great apostle of liberty, that man should not live altogether for himself, but some for his country. Following this advice, I have made you a tender of my services, and if others be preferred to me I shall enjoy the consciousness that I have manifested a willingness to serve you.

Your friend and fellow citizen,
NATHANIEL J. PALMER.
Hillsborough, July 23d, 1829.