Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-02-28
VOL. III.
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Herald.
~The Chippewa Country


country North of the wisconsin," /
little thought of provoking contro-
versy, or that any responsible man
would gainsay or contradict what !
stated as jacts. from my own personal
observation. But it seems that Mr..
Spencer more than half questions the
truth of some things ] have said, as TO
the character of The country and he
will not believe in the opinion ! adj
vanced, as to the probable population
of the country " even though it were
asserted by all Prairie du Chen, with
the strongest kind of backing"
OF all this do not complain. He,
or any one else has right to question
any mans statements or opinion, and
such questions can only be settled, in
general, by argument or proof; though
in this case, as to the opinion, on the
future population of the country north
of the Wisconsin, the future alone can
decide. And if he and | live ten or
twenty years, and that portion of the
Territory north Of the Wisconsin does
not have greater population than the
portion south Of it, then | will acknowl-
edge that his opinion was better found
ed than mine. And if it proves to be
the other way, and the census of the
country and the representation from
the north, proves the fact, | presume
he will knock under: though possibly.
even then, as he now more than half
questions things have stated as facts,
he may be suspicious that false returns
have been made.
But as to the facts in my statement
which he questions, it might be cues
ton of ueracity between US. And
though | am not disposed to subject
myself to the arbitrament of the public
mind with any man Of whom have
no knowledge, yetfrom the fact that
Mr.. Spencer has been announced as
your agent in Beet0wn, and with the
affix of Esq. to his name, take it for
granted that :you, at least, have conf
dence in his honor and integrity, and.
If | mistake not as to the origin of the
title of Esq, the people have the same
confidence in him, or they would not
have elected him Justice of the peace.
Allowing, then, these two evidences Of
responsibility to be good, j shall cheer
fully submit the controversy between
us. as to matters of fact, to the decision
of the public: and, in the main, shall
take his own story from his "year of
residence at the Falls OF Chippewa,
for evidence from which to decide
against him.
| confess, that in any controversy.
should prefer less Of sarcasm than Mr..
Spencer has seen proper TO use.-
Truth, and only truth is my object, and
it should be his. 1t is what the public
wish, and of which they have much
need, as to "thc country north of the
Wisconsin - aud as controversy,
properly conducted ELECTS the truth,
can but hope this will be the result Of
this slight conflict. But, as Washing
ton said to Braddock, 4" when you fight
Indians. you must meet them in their
own mode of warfare, or not be on
equal footing with Them" And as you,
sir, are rather a spicy kind of Editor,
and as, from the increasing popularity
of your paper, ! infer that the majority,
at least, of your readers have a spicy
taste, hope shall not be deemed as
wanting in respect for Mr.. Spencer, if
l should spice little after his own
sort.
Bat, as to the facts. said that the
Chippewa is navigable to the Falls
This, Mr.. Spencer, in substance, de-
mics, and compares the Chippewa with
Grant river at Barber's mill" Will
Mr.. Spencer risk his character for
truth upon this assertion? Does he,
indeed, mean to say that the Chippewa
river at the falls, is no larger than
Grant river at BARRIERS mill 20 His
language will admit of no other con-
struc.ion. Well, now for the proof
And out of his {" own mouth" or from
his own pen, he shall be judged.
He says" almost every year, during
the Spring freshet, steamboat might
run up to the falls, providing the cur
rent was not SO strong as to prevent
her from performing the trip before
the water fell. and the rest Of the sea-
son canoes of light draft might go up
and down with safety" Now, let il
be remembered that he compares the
Chippewa river ut the falls with Grant
river at Barber's mill Bot can a
sf-9-rf,Co. Il. n