Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-28
From the NesO York Evening" Post 22d ms
MR.. MlTCHEL,S FORGERIES.

w al SltGcI Was awe tllto WIN tu- +.
mors of forgeries said to have been committed
to large amount by late member ofCongrss.
1t turns out that the Gorgeries were made on ,
drafts purporting to be drawn by the Bank of
Orleans at Albion, on the City Bank of Alba
ny, and that the person by whom they were
negotiated was Chas. f. Mitchell. lie went
into Wall street on Teusday, and was intro
duced to several brokers, whom he persuaded
to discount the drafts, which were endorsed
by himself. Last evening the drafts were re-
turned from Albany, as torgeues, and Mr..
Mitchell not being found at his lodgings, it was
| presumed that he had absconded. About the |
same time. letters were received from Phila- |
delphia, containing several forged drafts, made |
/ BY the same bank Of Orleans on the Merchants |
bank of this city, and endorsed by Mitchell. |
| The drafts, in both cases, were for various
amounts, from three hundred TO two thousand
dollars.
This Mitchell was member of the last Con-
press, from the Niagara District, IN this State
and for the last eight years aas been resi-
dent at Lockport. He was extensively enga-
ged in the four-mil business, when he was
elected to Congress in 1856, and re elected
in 1898.
The following letter has been addressed BY
the honorable gentleman to the Editor OF the
Courier:
"Sir: AS the circumstances connected with
my name, together with the public station
have held, will give rise to a good deal of COM
ment, deemit not improper to make bret
statement of facts-leaving each to form such
, opinion respecting them as he shall chose.
sit always has been the case, so it will be
z again, that as soon as public reproach attaches
. to the naue of an individual who dad been
deemed respectable before, instances are
: sought and fabuiously pointed out in previous
{. history to show that he. always has been an
u unworthy member of society. / cannot hope
IT to be an exception to this pervading rule; and
dare to say, that there will be found plenty o
IS nersons readvsto swear that had always beer
d very considerable rascal Now, | own thai
: 10 TO this day, never IN the whole course o
J. nv life, have [ done on act with the intention
y of iniurng any human being, or of wronglnG
az anv man out of one cent. ] have committed
IN some very great errors-partlV my own part.
q through othprs--but never, never before to~da.
20 a crime. How many persons have been ben
az Gifted by my good offices, It IS not Tor me t
Y saw. But might appeal 10 the whole popu
IN lation of the county ofmy late residence to bea
~ testimony to my fair and honorable DEALING t
u nv lberality, and to my uniform kindness,
ne ali who was brought into contact with.
y
to arrived there, did not know human sol
Ut in the county: was just out ofmy minority;
rs carved out nv own path; was successful
10 business; made money rapidly; had regimen
of friends-that is when | was making none
hts peru fast; rose to distinction among my fello
IRA men and in about eight years after arriving
ma the DISTRICT Twas elected Representative
Congress-, and under circumstance peculiar
Ecu gratifying TO my personal vanity; Tor whilst
= received in the district majority oil over 9
hundred, not another personpn the same tich
received any majority at al-lncludmg be
counties. am willing to permit that there
shocking sight of hmnbug IN this world, a
especially at this dav and date-but whetf
the peopie of the 33d Congressional were hu
buped into electing me to Congress, wher
was not worthy, il is for them to decide
:, have been accused by my enemies OF oeing
II great 1ntriguer-of being great schemer
politics, and suppose now that nave scne
ed in other matters they will take upon the
selves no doubt great credit Tor their sagac
in thus early characterlzng me-
81 might tell a tale that would be very Int
estino ia a GREAT many people, but | hay
time now to do i'll am gong to that reg
where expect to find many just as good as
self and quite as good rs them leave bel
nd me.
yea 81 write this calmly, early in the morn
after sleepless night. What my feelings
no one can imagine. have before me
environed with eminent peril. shall ,
wanderer all the days Of my life, in an unkn
land, leaving behind me friends and KIND
that are nearer and dearer to me than my
hearts blood, who must all share IN the
Grace which attaches to me. leave be
me nv wife and children! May God II
his protecting arm around them, IS all tn
cansay. Am not punished sufficiently
we're for all | have done? Why death &c
were absolute relief but cannot embrac
have canvassed the whole ground over
fully. There were three alternatives pre-
ed to me.
"To remain and meet my fate IN the ey
'am all who know me, to commit suede or I
the country. | have just decided upo1
latter. and for the single reason that
'a'ii possibly yet live TO rescue my name IRON
~ sticna which rests or shall rest, upon
C. F. MITCHEl
an. B. | shall be pursued no doubt
will be useless. shall not be brought
for if T were to be overtaken | have pre-
fiown myself with two contingent friends eltl
which will spare me the modification oil
Wrought back like a felon. Death, were
anv Circumstances, preferable TO that.