, 1845-01-18
TWE T..
BowIing-Green,"-.J Jan. is, 1854.


Those of our readers who have seen
the missouri Journal" Of the 4ih inst,
will doubtless remember an article which
appeared in that sheet duplicating r.
s. BLANNERHAssErr, a distinguished
lawyer and politician of ST. Louis, with
"a certain band ofcounterfeiters recently
detected in Lincoln county. The ap-
pearance ofthat gentleman in our town
on Monday last in connection with the
publication of so reprehensible an arti-
Gle, has given occasion 10 no little COM
'ment upon the course of the now distin.
,guished editor of the Journal. A feel
ing DISBURSEMENT, amounting to indig-
nation, was visible in every counte-
nance upon the appearance of that print,
ond general expression ofsurprise was
Heard among our citizens. To a~sscci-
ate the name Of one OF our most distin-
guished men in the columns Of a public
journal, with those of confessed villains,
upon the mere floating rumors of the
day, was certainly well calculated TO
bring down upon the author of so i'm
prudent a step the censure of all good
men, everywhere. 1t is true, the edi-
tor says he was actuateG by a feeling Of
patriotism in exposing crime and ferret
ing out the authors Of the heavy iniu-
ries sustained by our citizens. 4 puer-
lie reason truly for SO high handed and
unauthorized a course! If Mr.. Blan-
nerhassett had been gully, was ii not an
act Of injustice 10 the community, TO Mus
furnish him timely uarning TO escape the
penalty Of G hw whicA he had been sup
posed to hare riolated! Tds this the
means TO bring guilt 10 Ike bar efjastice!
Still the Journal editor, "felt il lis du-
ty"-"that he might expose dishonest
menH-to give these men the means of
escape. But is it right thus publicly to
brand with infamy the most humble citi-
zen in our community, when there is
naught against him a the malicious
voice o. rumor? Shall an honest fame.
the fruit of a pure and upright life, be
placed within the unfeeling grasp of any
editor who dares assail ii? If this IL
cense be allowed the press it is but a
mighty engine of oppression and terror,
that has but TO illuminate lis arbitrary de-
crees against our citizens, in order to
Ia, I ann ffTefaitest Reputation. II
however, the readers of that veracious
sheet will examine into the past course
ofthat paper, they will discover that this
is not the first or second cause of offence.
The recklessness with which the editor
assailed one of our best citizens-wc
mean Mr.. Wood-during the last politi.
cal canvass, was noticed by many. Sub.
sequently, he alluded to a conversation
had in the court house, between two O
u citizens and intended Of course 10 b.
private-and more recently, he record.
a conversation had with a gentleman il
Ashley-and, Lama ike, he spits at hin
his poisonous slime. And now, he pub.
fishes to the world, the name Of a dis.
tingnished citizen of St. Louis. as enga.
ged in a "nefarious work." upon a "ver.
bal statement, received from Troy,'
which statement, we have reason to be.
lieve, he wasunauthorized to make pub.
lie. He will yet learn that it does not
do to retail through the Journal, every
private conversation that may reach his
ear.
But "John Henry" is a man capable
of mighty actions. All must concede
that he wields his editorial pen with as
much Indifference to consequences as he
in by-gone days, poised his sword upon
the memorable plains Of"Plumb Creek
and darted at the breast ola Spanish foe.
But his chivalrous deeds upon the bat
tie field will sink into insignificance
when compared with the efforts of his
genius. and the glory that must cluster
around his name, as the murderer of pri-
vate character. The soldier claims our
praise whilst the editor demands the un-
qualified admiration of all, as a tribute
due to his bold career. Ore dash of his
pen inflicts a wound as cureless upon
reputation as any eve incurred by the
rash enemy who dared bid defiance to
his unerring sabre.
But the greatest men will sometimes