The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-26

t THADDEUs STEVENS AND HIS CALuMNIAToRs.-
The following letter has been handed to us by
friend ofMr Stevens, for publication in the Gale
DOMAIN that the end for which it was written might
be answered, viz to disabuse the public in this
quarter of the SANDERS which have been propagat.
ed respecting the writer through the medium ola
subservent neighboring print. 1t has been, we
arc told by Mr. SIS. friend, put into the hands of the
editor Of said paper, who absolutely refused TO pub
lish it, retract the calumny to which he had
previously given currency. Candid people can
draw their own conclusions of the character ola
paper when it has been guilty of misrepresentation
innocently or otherwise, and when plainly inform.
cd of its error, doggedly refuses to make due and
honorable correction. There are persons in this
wide world whose rotten morality seems to be a
sufficient justification for them to act upon the ex.
ecrable maxim, "that lie persisted in is equivalent
to the truth" Mr. Stevens has won for himselfa
fame that cannot be greatly injured by common
slanderers. The fruits of his aboIs in the cause
of Common Schools in his adopted State, aside
from other noble deeds, will forever exist bright
memorials of his talents, genius and philanthrophy;
and il the present and future generations of youth
in Pennsylvania over have occasion TO bless any
man, that will be Thaddeus Stevens; for to
him, and to him almost alone, is the State indebted
for its present Common School System, which s
rapidly elevaling its youth in intelligence and NOR.
al virtue, and throwing around her institutions
protecting shield.
"GETTIsRuRe, PENN JAN. 90, 1889.
To the Editor Of the North Star:
SIR-A friend of mine in Vermont informs me
that you have lately INDUCED in eliminating
through the medium of your paper. The exact
charges that you make, am not acquainted with,
as have ceased to take your paper ever since you
apostatized from anti-masonry, abandoned the adj
vocacy of the supremacy of the laws, and
ed the weapons of the Lodge. But understand
you have charged me with being public defaultcr.
seldom answer any of the ISLANDERS with which
the whole revolutionary press throughout the Union
have assailed me, since have be en- deemed of suf.
fcent Importance for mmoIation. Nor should |
notice yours, were they not published in my native
town, and county, where my relatives, and many
of the companions of my youth, reside.
During the past summer have acted as President
of the Board of Canal Commissioners of this Com
monweaIth. AS to being defauIter, the laws of
Pennsylvania do not permit the Canal Comm s-
sioners to disburse any of the public money. They
into contracts, but the money is paid by the
State Treasurer to the Superintendent, and neuer
to the Canal Commissioners on their order In
short, I never received dollar of the public mon
ey except my salary. l never drew any from the
Treasury elsewhere; any charged
TO my account ] do not, and never did owe tho
Commonwealth dollar, but it is somewhat in my
debt.
Irepeat make this statement, not to undeceive
you other Van Buren, Editors, who have
believed what you said but have been merely try
ing to deceive others; but TO relieve nay friends
distance from the apprehension that there
the least semblance of truth in any thing you have
stated With proper respect,
Your obi. servant,
THADDEUS STEVENS"