Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-06-16
For the Maumee Express.

Mn PRINTER.--The editor of the Toledo
Blade, in thai part of his article having refer
ence to my communication on Mr.. Forrers af-
fidavit, has fully exemplifed the nature of that
"Littlensss" which arises from "local contro-
versy," and "the style and temper In which it
is too apt to be conducted"
Speaking on this subject, he says, "we do
not see why its (Mr. Forrer's affidavit,) publi-
cation in the Blade, should prove the occasion
of SO much sensitiyeness on the part of the
editor of the Express, and his correspondent
x, when the former admits that it contained
nothing so very objectionable, and the latter ex-
pressly says the facts contained in that affda-
Wit, the people living at the Foot of the Rapids,
have never pretended to deny"
My communication contained nothing but
facts in relation to the navigability of the RI
yer. The object of it was simply to show
that Mr.. Forrers affidavit would create mole
unfavorable impression abroad, than would be
warranted by existing facts. To prove this, it
was only necessary to state, that steam boats
and schooners of three and four hundred tons
burthen, were daily arriving and departing
without accident. But because | admitted
what no honest man would deny, nor any hon
orable man carp at, the editor of the Blade,
much to the discredit of his head or heart, or
with design to quibble merely, extrinslcates
the expression from the argument in connec-
ton, and places it before his readers in form
which would represent the author as conceding
every thing to Toledo, and all that Mr.. Forrer
had said about the river.
Now should be the last person, Mr.. Prin-
ter, to notice this Websterian show of supe-
riority and high-mindedn had the editor
equally well sustained his candor. But it is
affectation, bordering on hypocrisy, for the ed
itor of the Blade, to avow an opinion of insen-
sibiity "to the sensitiveness' of people here
at the publication of Mr.. Forrers affidavit.
The editor knew at the time he published it,
that among some it would create unfavorable
impressions of the river. He knew that it
would diminish the force of certain facts in
their effect upon the reputation of Toledo.
He published it with that design, and no other;
for he knew that were it not for the existence
Of the towns above, greater destiny than now,
awaited Toledo. That same reason induced
him to speak of Mr.. Forrer, as the 1present
Commissioner, and late principal Engineer as
if these appellations were an nequiyalent for the
confidence ofthe community in his exaggerated
representations. The same reason accounts
for the last paragraph Of the article contain
ing that gentleman's statement relative to the
depth Of water for half mile below the side |
cut, and the accompanying differences of the
editor, as well as for the little flourish succeed
ing, concerning the rise in the river the pre-
sent year. Now, if after making any one, or
all Of these over-wrought statements, the
Blade has the mendacity to say that it can see
no reason for our sensitiveness, it says that
which it cannot credit. 1t is uncandid, un-
kind, ungenerous. 1t does indeed dwindle
local controversy into " littleness which
ought to create "aversion" in every honorable
mind. 1t contaminates whatever, whenever
and however It touches All are led by it toI
ascribe the editors hostility to us, to fear
weakness--a consciousness of being In the
wrong-to any thing sooner than high mind
ed 3aversion" to the style, temper. or & lit-l
8eness' Of local controversy in these oual-j
fcafione fhev s,,,,st oj,,d.4k.x 4 4 c,iI