Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-05
IsMc E4itor.ofMe Ennairlr:

T1tic Edjior:of he EaYair0:
The last Cun'ry Wing contains two grossly
false and liAt!ous articles concerning mc-pro-
lc>sedly written. one hy resident Of ~ ccomach,
the other b. rcs;len, ol the Eastern Shore, g.
morally. ain full; satisfied that no onc ought
to notice slan!ers cmdnating from any person
not possessed ot maElincSs sufficient 10 ;vow his
name; Tor, he might, in so doing, be descending
To the level of those unGer,n@s OF Tie party, who
are esteemed Tor their willingness iu worry and
bite such pcrsGs a. their superiors have the ma
lice and the yc!om 10 a>Sail--bu not the fairness
Ia assail at through the intervention Of another.
Nor j, i; now with The view ot noticing the iRdi-
r'|aG's who have thought proper thus 10 detdmc
me- that ask a short space in your paper; bal aS,
dgrn" The pas Summer. laanv icuct-Writcis in
the Wing have thought proper 10 dan their mis-
Sc> al me, an. AZ these las communications, rs
pecally The one signed Eastern Shore" have
presumed 10 assign the motives q! NY political
conduc:. take the liberty Of saying, in telly Ia
these, and 10 al others ul like character that may
hereafter appear, that tie motives therein ascrhcd
10 me for my opposition Ia M C'agS party, and Tor
my visit 10 tie Eastern Shore are taiss an' star
de'0ms in every partcnar-and caGlj have orr
ginaied only in ih@ dark rccrsses OF hear, ac-
Guaintcd with its own dcprav;y and conscious
that The selfish and dishonorat!c motive that il
attributes 10 me. would BE tie controlling princi-
PIE OF lis own conduct.
The statements al facts in those articles are in
many instances incorfcct-particuiaIl ii what
passed relative 20 tie Distribution question: and
i, cannot IN, excite nv as:onishmca,, thft any
rersoa. protesting IL know enough aloai Il lral.--
action 10 pretend 10 write is history shout have
committed such fragrant hlunder>-al il favor
of his own pauy-as are committed in detailing
my transactions Of this Spring and of the earlier
part oil the year many of which as stated are
directly the reverse oi ile truth as is known 10
the bulk oi my constituents, and Ia all persons
who know enough abou, nv conduc, Ia justify
them in presumng 10 write about il in The public
papers But as the writers of these articles have
no authority 10 call on Inc Tor an expose OF ms
transactions. and as cannot value the good Opt
Mon of men who are capable Of the coninc; they
have manifested To- ne. but on tho contrary deem
their ccn>uic the highest compliment such a.
,hcy c.n bcsiow. shall decline giving further
answer 10 their charges Than 10 say, hat as yc!
10 one Of my nciglhors OF constituents has been
found base enough 10 publish such talunDcs
against me- and rejoice that my Own district
contains no; the author Of their birth. 70 vague
surniscs and Idle charges, unsupported by any
thing that has name, | give no repl'; but |
invite any Of the delegation ffo!a the district |
represent, who NAV feel 81 disposed, 10 a.sal me
before my constituents whenever they please,
abou, tie Convenlion-and IT, with the aid of
these delegates testimony. com. oil sccold besi,
then mark me down as a smpleton. II inter-
mcidlcrs AMI busv-hoics who wish 10 scl some
no!orc,y by writing against nc in The rcrspa-
pc:s, shall pay no sort OF regard but shall treat
lhcn with absolute contempt.
And now permit inc 10 say, tha, shaf not
hereafter notice newspaper a@Sa''ts-and more
especially will not notice Any coming iron per
sons who had IN opportunity. as these had a,
Manpevillc TO attack me face to face, and who
waited till my back WAS turned. and until had
reached the Western Shore. before their bat-sics
were opened upon me.
Yours, truly
LEMUEL J. BOWDEN.
WILLIAMSBURG Semi IN 1871