Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-06-27
q Libel Smi0.

Care frl readers Of the State Sentinel will remember
that we published last week, a COMMUNICATION addressed
'to tho -u,cr. Of Marioa County, IN reiai'pn to the man
her in winch Mr.. Lands, the Treasurer of Marion coun-
~ hat performed hi. official duties.
We stated in the same paper, that owe did not take
any (meaniny moraD responsibility upon ourselves for the
impuiaiious against The Treasurer, because the writer Of
the communication WIS unknown TO us, aud believed to
be n Wing" We had no desire whatever to make per
sonal or political warfare upon him. so Gar from that,
we did not choose TO permit II to be inferred by our ST.
lence that We even taoady admitted the truth Of the char
ges. or that We were disposed 10 let the weight Of our
own influence, however ruhing, DC east IN the balance
asaIns, the chances Of his reelection.
We further said, that "sone of those charges had been
matter of common talk, and whether True or not, no harm
could be done by putting them in a tangible shape, 50
that they might be retuted if untrue. This we consid-
cred equlvalen, 10 a tender Of our columns 10 Mr Ian
dis, To dispute the charges, If he saw proper. We en-
deavored 10 imagine ourselves in his own position, aud
We thought We were DOING HIM a favor instead of an IN
Jury, in suffering these reports to assume a tangible
shape, instead Of travelling through the thousand chan
nel~ of irresponsible rumor, poisoning the public mind,
perhaps unIu>lly, against him.
But another aud still stronger reason Cor the %publica-
ton we then stated To be, that the matters IN question
were 'of great interest to lhc people, who have a right
TO know whether their agents be faithful or unfinhiul.
An honest oficsr we thought could not take offence al an
investigation of his conduct. Like gold tried by fire, he
would come out Of the furnace purer than before. And
we did not think 50 III of Nj. Lands as to suppose he
was quite a. bad an officer n some affirm, and that there
fore we should excite wraihful feelings where " g only
intended to do Sc vice 10 him as well as TO the public.
Our paper was hardly ISSUED on Thursday last, how
ever, before the Sheriff Of the County very politely
waited upon Us with a urt for libel in favor Of Mr. Lam
dis, and claiming the very modest sum of tro thousand
dollars damoges a pretty fair penalty truly, # 1t should
ever be recovered, for doing, as Paul Pry would say, ga
good natured thing, = W. supposed that if the pubiica-
iion were really hbeilous, the old English law was still
IN force, holding the printer as well as the author Of II
responsible. But ~ further supposed, that Mr. Lands
against whom we never either personally or pro-
fes>ionalIy, uttered n word Of disparagcmeni, would be
able To discriminate between a desire on our part To- do
hun real service, from any assumed disposition malicious
~ To impure hun IN the slightest degree, which We then
as well as now. utterly d,scIaim.
Mr. Lands did not choose 10 have a word Of explana-
ton with W, previous to serving US wi'h this writ. lie
must have known by our first editorial notice, that we
were ready to make him instant reparau"n, II We had
done him unmreniior n injury. But for some reason,
best known To- himself aud his advisers, he did not choose
TO seek for it in tina, honorable aud gentlemanIy spIIt IN
which II had been rendered to him without asking.
During The past week we have heard 1t repeatedly
stated, that the object was, not sd much to make none,
out Of us, (of which by the way there would be a poor
prospce,) as ii was 10 gag and silence our press IN regard
20 the official conduct oi the Treasurer. We had hal
concluded, Notwithstanding this, aud various other ru
mors not TO trouble the public with our personal con
cerns-aIways an observation-disclosures therefore to say no
thing abo Ut the writ, until the matter could be tried. Mr.
Lands, we think, must have anticipated rs much b,
mesmeric or other process, Tor ON Tuesday he favored Us
with the following, of which he requested the puLIica
ton.
To the Citizens Of Marion County.
An Anonymous publication appeared in the Sentinel o
last week, charging me wi h m.iessarce IN my tfhce q
Collector. A. have no disvo itOn 10 engage in a news
pa r controversy. either with The publishers Of that paper
ortheir concealed COZ respondent, have only { say, thai thu
charge made against me. cf violation Of law, aud of my ffcia
duty, are false and without the shadow Of uundation, AM
can efnanate cnly frm political hOstilit,, or pc soma
m7liJBiry. A. have commenced a prueoution against ih'
publishers OF The sentinel, for the libelious publication,
prefer to- await AID abide ite legal 'nvestixauon OF TN
matter. and the decision which will be made BY the Cour
and a Jur, OF the county. JACOB LANDS.
June %, 1871.
Now, seine persons seem 10 have a queer notion abou
the Obligations OF newspaper editors, and thus note is
a remarkable instance of it. Mr.. Lands has ap
peaied To the lac fmr the redress ofallesed our grievance
and by what right OF lu-trce or courtesy can he have tn
cheek To ask Us, under such circumstances, for such al
act of grace II is one Of the curses al EdItorialism-t
quietly suffer yourself To be morally Impdled alive for Tia
benefit oi your enemies.
Bu, there = "A n otJeot in this card of Mr. Lands not
be disguised. IL is intended 10 be- n velghly %rclulallo
Of all ,mputation~. while ii IL in fact nothing but Il mer
DENIAL nj most, and not a very graceful or self confidei
one at that. Let ii pass. however, for wha, it is wortl
IT Mr.. Lands should see fit To carry out his threats, "
shall Of course do the best we can, TO Justify oursclv,
before not onl, a jury, but the TeoPfe of the county, 4
whose good alone we have incurred, UNIV llingly so Il
as we ne personally concerned, tins responsibility. "
should have been better pleased had Mr.. Lands Prosecu
ed the author Of the Impulailons against him. lie AT
mitied To " that he Lnenr HIM that he = a Uhis. aud
member Of the Uhig State Central Committee Of Indiana
We dislike To be involved in quprreis between Wing
we have orher business more than we can easily atten
10. Bu, # Nr. Lands says IT mast be So, why 50 II mus
Since me service OF the writ, we have inquired mi
the matters involved, and we think from what we la,
already discovered, that all that MIR l.. can make oil US
such a prosecution, before an ~inielligen, Jury, will hard
compensate him for the loss of his office, which this ste
of hs viii not help him 10 retain, If there l. any JustI'
or good sense left IN The people of Marion county.
The last Card.
Know We, all men. that your humble servants. Il