Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-07-11

which the latter received, at the FIRST FIRE, slight
wound IN the breast
Certain rumors and statements circulating ihro'
the community before. and since the meeting took
place, as TO the cause which led TO IT, induced US to
ask Mr. Howard for the facts, which. from sense
of justice to his own character, be has consented
we might lay before the public. The cause which
led TO this meeting being one in which all must
feel an interest, we therefore submit the facts to
the community that they may draw their own de.
ductions as to which Of the parties to the affair
is justiiable IN the eyes Of God aad man.
II seems that two editorial articles appeared in
the MississipPian Of the 9Th Of June, the one CEN
suring the former policy Of the Union Bank, and
tho other condemnng the recent attempt made by
It's directors to sell the state bonds, in possession
Of that Institution, for its deprecated paper
Some six days after these publications appeared,
president Runnels addressed the following note 10
Mr. Howard:
Jackson June ! lth ls40.
V. F.. HowARD Esqr.
SIR My attention has been called TO two pie
ces published in the Mssssippian Of the 9th inst
One of them headed Union Bank" and the
other in reply to correspondent of the Liberty
Advocate, who signs himself "Fiat Jusil,ia."--
In the former OF which, the following emphatic
words are used and applied to the Directory of
, the Union Bank. "a more nelarous scheme
was never devised by the architects Of their coun-
l try's rum" And in tho latter the following Lam
| i. H.. IL.
same bank. - lie Fiat Juslitia) thinks for
sooh, because the swindlng career of the Di.
rectors Of tho Union Bank has jeopardzed the
: prosperity Of the Stockholders Of the Bank"
= The object Of this communication is simply to
, enquire Of you, whether or not J6A are the author
i Of either Of the productions above referred to, and
!. at the same time,l would enquire of you To know
. whether you are the author, Of any Of the abusive
: epthets heretofore published in the same paper,
! and applied to me individually.
l. am yours &c.
Signed II. G. RUNNELS.
To this communication Mr. Howard made the
following reply;
JACKSON, June II, 1910.
Hon. ii. G. RUNNELs,
SIR; IN reply to your note Of his morning,
have TO say, that am the author Of the article in
the last MIssissippiaD headed Union Bank
1t was written by me during the absence Of the
: Editor from the State although the paper was
issued few days after his return.
My object in the article was 10 discuss great
public policy, which considered open to debate
by every citizen. The article was not intended
TO apply exclusively 10 the directors of the Unior
Bank, but 10 all those who advocated an ex
change oiihe State bonds for the present issues
OF that Institution. Nothing Of personal char
n meter was intended IN relation to any one bu
simply condemnation of what conceived wron,
* policy. II, however, any gentleman feels hmsel
AN injured. hold myself responsible to him. as on
N. gentleman TO another.
&C. am not tho author of the second article au
L. ded to in your note, nor am the author of an
"abusIve epthets" heretofore published IN tn
y, same paper and applied to "you individuality
~ ! do not write in that style.
Your Gull sir has been informal but | have fore
gone all ceremony.
am not the Editor of the Mississippian a
you must be aware. In such cases i, is the dul
&c of the party aggreved to apply to the Editor, but
Tho am responsible for any production of mine. witt
er out regard to the press in which it may appear
- Yours SC.
-" Signed We. HOWARD.
!. challenge to fight duel was the response
-. this communication, which accord ding to our sem
!. ofproprley. comedies every thing that one &C
a. tleman can ask Of another. The reader will o
-, serve first, that the article alluded TO was EDITOR
~ and that Genl. G. NJ Price was editor Of d
70. Mssssippian at that date and was alone resPo
AZ sibe for any thing appearing in editorial type.
= the next place, that Runnels evades Genl. Pri
=. altogether, and demands Of an individual havi
70 no connection with the press whether he is /
author Of tho two articles referred to, and lacks
~, the additional sweeping interrogatory--" are y
the author Of any Of the abusive epithes here
90 fore published in the same paper and applied
!, :, me individually" To these interrogaores WI
..5 is Mr. Towards replyl That he is the author
one Of the articles, but that nothing Of perso
character was intended for any one but sim
condemnation Of what he conceived wrong p
: ICY" and that /" he never was the author Of
Il abusiveI epthets published in that paper and
piled TO Runnels individually"
-" From these facts. il is obvious 10 the most
pel6cial observer, that there was no ground
r.. fastening deadly quarrel upon Mr. Howard.
repeat il, and without fear Of contradiction, tina,
w." man actuatsd by The feelings of true chivalry,
al point out any thing in the foregoing corrcsp
dence or in the communication which led TO i
9 Justify the course Of Mr. Runnes. There s,h
ever an under current to this affair. which Vi
=. discovered uuravels the whole mystery aOc
IL. to such conduct.
The fate and fortune of President Runnes