The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-10-01

phy, that Tie end soia saactfy the n'cGAS, the act
of which you accuse me, may, perhaps, DC con.
sidered as mere triling peccddit5o, win whlch
honor and integrity have no concern out, or'
do not admit the maxim, nor can view IL as
triiling charge, but an accusation which "ouiu
repel with as much adherence, at least, as
would charge of theft. Yes, cir, consider
fcderalist. more especially " a violent federal
ist.n aiding too in the editorial department oil a
federal paper, who should, at the same llme,
lend similar aid to the cause democracy, II not
more despicabe, yet a more contemplate
character than common thief.
Pertains. as have meyer considered you any
tbino more than a mere instrument in the hands
of the "master jugglers behind the scene, IT
might be expected that should not address yon,
but some master juggler."-Of that, hereafter
as it NAV be but as you have avoTei your
self the writer of the article above quoted, you
are certainly entitled to be considered It's author,
and am at full liberty TO treat you as such.
Whoever has known my political character
and conduct, Sir, viii without hesitation declare,
that whether my opinions are right or wrong,
with regard to those opinions have never been
found wayering or inconsistent. This you wei
know; and even If you have ever had any intor-
nation to the contrary (toidch doubt uery nauch)
you also know, that there are hundreds, 6eStdes
ausetf whom il wsuld be as much impossible To
persuade that you ever betieced your absurd as
sertion concerning me, as il would be 10 per-
suode yourself of It, You say, Sir, that the as
scrtion is g no conjecture of yours. | fully be-
lieye that--nay more--l have entire conviction
that, never in your life, have you evel suspected
that your assertion is true--if my suspicion that
tie whole is merely yo,tr olrn inrention docs you
wrong, yon can easily shew it, BY exhibiting
proof to the public that your assertion : comes
from testimony positive and direct" and that in
the Statesman dated the fifth Of tins month (Sep-
ternber) YOU can point out at least three pieces
written BY MIR. Hopkins"
A denial of your SANDER is now unnecessary,
because you well know, that, upon the applica-
ton of the Editor of the Statesman TO a magis-
tIate, l have been subjected to the modification
of making my affidavit, and giving under oath
fiat deliGt 10 ereJy part Of your assertion.
Now, Sir, unless you produce the direct ana
positige testimony which you say you possess, you
must. inevitably, rest under the same iInputation,
which would stgrnatize my former sidHderer, did
he not STROUD himself IN darkness in order to es-
cape--but, Sir, you cannot SO escaYc, for you are
not, like him, concealed.
will not pretend TO say, Sir, that man may
not, conscientiously, advocate democratic prin-
ciples. believe it to be possible, under certain
circumstances-an so long as he docs it opon
far and honest grounds, he, certainly, has equal
rights with his political opponents but there
has been great latitude of transgression against
fair and honest principles in the editorial depart
ment of the Argus, which if you have ever re-
fected at all upon the subject, must, | think,
have produced in your mind some whisperings Of
doubt, at least. Perhaps, Sir, am more fasti-
dous than you in this respect; for believe that
the COOL deliberate assassin OF reputation, would,
upon sufficient temptation, and without much
scruple too, WELD the assassln's dagger TO take
purse. And believe, Sir, it will always be
found, in the end, that such course will not af-
ford valuable support 10 any cause.
But aside from all this, which is Of minor i'm
portance, your paper has, at times, by adj
hitting communications which the world may
consider editorial adopted a course in
other respects, which may possibly deceive the
public foe time, and prove that there is fund
Of cuIiibi!ity III the people but you will
find, that that part of the people, whose good
opinion, alone is valuable, will, ultimately, dscoy
er the frauds practiced upon them, and estimate
them according TO their demerit. The more en-
lightened part of the community, Sir, believe
that an Indifference to truth, IN the management
of political controversy, IS as criminal and repre-
hensibe, as like indifference in the other con-
Germs Of life. They believe Sir, that the end
will not sanctify the means" and that the man
who adopts regular course of public deception,
and steps aside from truth, whenever circumstan-
ces temp. him to do SO, would practice like de-
ception to cheat in a bargain-would practice
deception in any thing else-in fne-that he
has his price for any act Of iniquty whatever.
believe, Sir, that even if no suggestions Of con-
a man, yet, that the deIlded people, at some time
or other, will detect him--wIl rightly estimate
his conduct--and ascertain too, whether his dis
crepancies are the result ofwant of intelligence
want of refection-or want of principle.
j. ID. HOPKINS.
September 28th, 1922.