, 1840-05-23
FOR TIE JOURNAL.


95th April last; not SUI prlSed at his numerous
misrepresentation and misstatements, but at
the tone, style. and object oft. Iappeal to you
Mr.. Editor, and TO every reader of your paper,
to bear witness that every line have written
for it has been in reply 10 "attacks," (whether
% pitiful' or otherwise, | leave for the public
to judge or the wings, whig party, and wing
measures, and that in every instance | have
carefully abstained from any thing like a per-
Sonai application OF my remarks. but have
confined them 10 the subject matter of your
correspondents, and to their assumed names.
Such a course | considered rot only eminent
ly proper in itself, bu! as due to your courtesy
in extending tie use Of your columns for the
discussion of questions of public interest,"
How far we of the opposition, have been met
in this fair and honorable mode of discussion
by correspondents on the other side, | leave
10 the public 10 determine. But in order TO
show that they, or some of them at least,
have departed from the legitimate and honor
able discussion of public questions, it is mere
ly necessary to call the attention OF the rea-
der TO some of their communications. First.
then. in the Journal Of the 29tt Feb. last.
"a Laaourer," having neither facts nor argu-
ments TO advance in support of his cause,
resorts TO the most pitiEul and contemplate
effort TO point out the supposed author of the
article to which he was unable to reply.
Then again, in the Journal of the 2lst
March. "RoIIa." being in the same predica.
ment ofhis fellow "Laborcr." and not daring
''poSitivciy' to contradict my statements or
arguments. gives the public a very ldbored.
criticism on the style and the person of the
supposed author, by way, | suppose, of show-
inc off his rit and literary attainments.-
These articles. however, are unworthy of
further notice, and are only referred 10 now
in order 10 show that their authors are either
incapable Of dignificd and gentlemanly dis
c~ussion, or else are actuated by feelings of Il
mean, personal malice. that they are too weak
TO conceal. now return 10 the communi
- ~Cincinnatus." who, not content with - fol-
lowing in the footsteps of his predecessors in
their ~undignifed aud pitiiul efforts TO give
the discussion 4 personal aspect, INDUCES in
a strain Of "%vulgar abuse and vile billings
gate that have few parallels in newspaper
controversy; but not only SO, it exhibits in.
ternaI evidence Of q deliberate aim 10 con.
vert this discussion into q private, personal
quarrel. What other motive could have JUS,
titled the use of such terms as I. base, spoil
teal dishonesty "moral integrity Of the
writer "knave," "perfectly dishonest, =
&c. &C.? | invite the public to re-peruse
my remarks, and judge for themselves wheth-
er there issanv thing in them to Justify such
language; whether there is any attack on
the "character' public or private, of any in
dividual whatever, other than the name sign
ed TO it, and am perfectly willing to submit
it TO the decision of a community of honora-
bic men, whether his language is such as is
'known to, or countenanced by honorable
men, Ii is true, | controverted the state
mentS of .Cincinnatus,' and proved them TO
be false, ridiculously false; and if any evil
dence were still wanting to prove them false.
the statements of his private secretary and
"friend' "Junius," conclusively prove it, as
| shall hereafter show. But in attacking the
statements of "Cincinnatus,:' did | attack the
character of any private in9iridual? Who
is ~"Cincinnatus!' know not | am sure
His 'friend" and secretary says, he Is a "high
minded and honorable private citizen, who
has grown grey in the service of his coun-
try" This may be true for aught | know,
nor have | denied it. But in what public
service has he "grown grey?" Has he
been a cabinet officer or governor, or sena-
tor, or member of congress, or oficeri in the
army? have been a reader of the newspa-
pers of the day for fifteen years and upwards,
and do not r~ecollect to have ever heard of a
General or Colonel or Major Cincinnatus, or
of any other public man in America of that
name. Then sir. how could | know that he
had 'tgrown grey in the service of the coun,
tryr' do not even know any "private CT
tizen'' of that name. How then can " Jun
ius" justify himself in making his assertion
concerning my "attack" on a L" high minded
and honorable private citizenl" | suppose
he thinks people may guess who it is, and
therefore we must be mute. Well, sir, if they
do guess who his ''friend" may be, why am |
to be blamed for it! But the real secret of
his wrath consists in the fact that | have ex-
posed and laid bare, the miserable falsehoods
and Misrepresentation Of his " friend" who
being able TO sustain himself in the con-
test, has taken shelter behind his friend "Jun-
ius'' who has come to his rescue" "Save
me from my friends; from my enemies | can
defend myself" was the remark OF some
III. - |