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(My few friends had collected near, & I saw
that they were pleased so far) I proceeded & said
that when I became a candidate, I was not so
silly as to flatter myself, that I would escape
the arrows of calumny & detraction. No candidate
that I knew of had yet been so fortunate
in this country - no- not even the venerable,
hero of Kings Mountain then present,
who had consented to become a candidate for
the office of Governor, on the sole condition
that war was declared against England.
He had not escaped - foul charges had been
made against him - but he cared as little for
them, as the stag did, for the gad flies, that
lit upon his horns. And young & humble and
friendless, as I might be supposed to be, I could say to
my accusers - to my opponent, that their attacks
upon me had created in me not one moments
[uncareness?] - on the contrary I ought to
be thankful to them for affording me, a good
excuse for proving to the peoples, who I was
& what I was - to prove to them in fact, that I
had a character of which I had a right to be
proud - & of which I was proud, [lined out words]
but in relation to
which under ordinary circumstances, I would
be indelicate to speak (Here I read various
letters, certificates &c. to prove my character
from my boyhood up) I then remarked, that
I had never thought about their charges against
me, & of the instruments used in collecting
evidence & propagating it - the one being a lame
pedlar & the other a hopping deputy Clerk with
out having my risibility excited, & it always
brought to my recollection Homers description
of the Prince of Slanderers.
"Thersites clamoured only in the throng
"Loquacious, loud, and turbulent of tongue
"Awed by no shame, by no respect controlled
"In scandal busy, in reproaches bold