Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-02-10

TTICc, JUSTICE OF the PeaCe.
Charles S. Edison, District Surveyor.
In the Miners Free Press of the Cd inst. is
published letter from EDWARD LAxcwonTHr
Esq. purporting TO be statcmen, Of the at.
fairs Of the Miners Bank Of Du Buque, and
containing an allusion 10 ourselves. which we
deem worthy passing notice. The entire OBJ.
ject Of the writer seems TO be to misead the
public with regard 10 the Bank and ourselves,
and create an unjust preju lice against both,
without cause. 1t is not our purpose to enter
into discussion with Mr.. L.. in defence OF
the Bank, but in order to justify ourselves in
the course We have thought proper to pursue
in relation TO the crusade which has been car
ried on against the Bank, we shall allndc TO
such of his statements as are calculated to cree
ate wrong impression on the public mind. to
the injury Of the place. He says 1.-THE first
instalment was paid to the Commissioners.
and they supposed it had been deposited in
the bank at t:alcna, but it has been ascertain
ed that instead Of deposit. it was returned
there to pay loan Of the principal stockhold-
ers, excep, about $4,000" This is no, the
case. The money was deposited in the Bank
at Galena. and certificate Of deposit for the
amount taken, subject to the order Of the Mi
ners' Bank.
Again he says, "many persons who had
but little stock. Immediately sold to the larger
stockholders. receiving therefor Michigan
(Manchester and Jackson county money, The
officers Of the bank telling them it was the on
~ money they had" In all cases ofevidence,
the Withholding Of a part. is equal to the pro-
pagation Of falsehood. Just so ia this cas-.
Mr.. langwor.hy conveys the idea that the
money paid by the larger stockholders, 10 The
small ones, was altogether in Michigan bills.
while the fact is. the Messrs. Lanswor,l,ys
received in payment for their stock $50 rs in
specie. and the remainder, after dcduc.ng the
amount due the bank from the n. of few hun
dred dollars, was paid in paper. for which they
can purchase mineral "a, $40 per ,hons md.
In abiding to us, he says, The Editors Of
the Iowa News have refused 10 publish, any
statement calculated Ia injure the credi, Of the
Bank. They appear 10 prefer darkness TO
light on this subject" The falsiiy Of this
assertion will be fully proven by Statement.
Of the facts. o. the evening Of the dih Of Jan
uary. Edward Lanaworrby called a, This Of
fee. and enIuired if it WAS too late to receive
and insert communication. On being an-
swered in the negative. he said he had prepa-
red one on the subject Of the bank, and ex-
pressed an apprehension that it would he re-
fused inasmuch as one Of the Editors was
Director Of the bank. lie was promptly told
that that made no difference. The commune
cation contained statements which, if true,
would greatly injurc the bank, lie was told that
il would be Submitted to the senior editor, and
lifts statements were correct, il would appear
next day in our paper When examined, it
was found to contain false statements, and
written in manner unfit TO appear in prin,
having the least claims to responsibility, and
the reasons for its refusal given in our next.
The author had trumpeted it forth 10 the PEG.
pie that he had handed in the com unicalion,
and next day all the excitement which his
thrilling eloquenee, in divers lectures on bank
ing and grammar. could raise, WIS up, and our
paper, for the time being, suffered no lido.
On the evening ofthe 18th, the junior editor was
called upon, and the publication Of com,nu-
nicaiion, yctmn,cr'ffen, TO contain personal a.
buse Of one Of The Directors Of the Bank, was
demanded. and TO be published, too, without
the knowledge OF consent Of the senior editor,
which he refused, telling ,hemhe would pledge
himself TO publish no communication until it
was wsitten and found to be worthy of it.
Previous to this, measures had been taken
70 have its affairs examined by Committee
ofthe Legislature. with view Of breaking The
charter. Knowing this TO be the case, we n.
timated the intention Of closing our columns
against any thing on the subject until tho ex-
summation took place. when we hoped the die.
affected would become satisfied.
Thus. for refusing TO publish tho false state.
msnts Of one who has no access to the books
Of the bank, and incompetent TO mako report [
Of It's affairs, and unwritien communications,
we are accused Of .preferring darkness TO
light" Wecan pass over lis ungencrous and
uncslled for remarks made - the crowds who
listened to what was said next day. concern
ing the junior editor and his promises, as 10
most Of them they are both known, but we
aIs unwilling that his accusations in the Free
Press should 70 uncontradictcd.
The accusation that We ''prefer darkness 10
light. comes from a quarter least to have been
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