The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-06-26
A CARD.

Anumber of the Mississippian of the 9th
inst. having been this moment placed in my
hands by friend, I proceed to notice very
cursorily, the strange card contained therein,
over the signature of "Jo. Bell" 1 regret
the necessity which has arisen for remarking
upon this unfortunate gentleman at all, and
in doing so, hope, not for an instant, toI
disregard the monitions of a true christian
commiseration for human frailty When I
was first informed that this reverend indiyid-
ual had made himself not a little active at
the various places of public resort in the
city Of jackson, in the propagation Of a re-
port, nor proved to be tulse and utterly an
founded, in connection with the controversy
which occurred between Gov Quitman and
myself at the capitol few weeks since, l
felt some surprise, not unmingled perchance
with chagrin; but l certainly was not at all
inclined to attribute to Mr. Bell, motives,
by any means so censurable, as those which
would seem to have actuatcd him in the pre-
paration of that ill-starred production of his
pen, which am now for a moment review
ing. The card of Mr.. Bell is erroneous in
its statements of fact in several respects,
which viii proceed concisely to specify
l. Il Is not true that, when called at Mr.
Bells house, on the night of the 18th ult.,
l found him sitting in 'the room with his
sick family" As man ofhonor, I solemn
ly ayer that 7 found him az room, sitting
alone, calmly reading newspapers, and that
I saw no one Of his family during my stay at
the house but himself
c .. Il IS not true that l entered the house
without announcing myself" knocked at
the outer door on reaching it, and Mr.. Bells
voice invited me to enter
). s. It is true, that, on getting to the par
f lor, as described by himself, requested him
o in perfectly courteous language, to give me ;
statement of what he understood to have oc
cured between Gov. Quitman and myselfcon
! nected with the delicate question raised be
tween US at the capitol, and, at the SAM
time told him that [ desired this statemen
!. for the purpose Of basing upon it, friendl,
J demand upon Gov Quitman, for an. expla
= nation in writing of what he had actual,
said, and of which discovered, some of hi
10 political frieuds to be aiming to take an un
"a fair advantage. I also said to Mr.. Bell, tina
being compelled to quit town next morning
re and being unwilling to leave my reputation
y at the mercy of my enemies during the tern
!. of my expected absence, deemed it quit
60 important that should obtain his statemen
i that night, with view of placing the affai
70 in proper position for adjustment before
y should return to jackson. When he declir
= ed doing me this simple act of justice,
was somewhat irritated but I feel certai
that I used no positively insulting Language
I believe he did say that he chad an ave.
sion to giving statements about personal ma
: ters;" but as he had clearly done so in thi
7. particular case, to my detriment, coul
Of not perceive any Improperly in his doing $
on once more, in order to enable me to corrcc
ng the injurious report that he had been frien,
OF ly enough to put in circulation coneernin
IN me.
st 4: If Mr.. Bell uttered any language tn
pc night of an insulting character in Lis int
M view with me, certainly did not hear i
q and am the more confident on this poin
s because I am somewhat in the habit Of ]
. Isenting language personally insulting in
nature at the instant of its employment, Al
hc it would seem that I did.nothing Of the Iii
- ~ ION this occasion.
nix 5. Mr.. Bell says that he supposed Chat
ten was armed when / came to his house. Ne
Yls- er was this gentleman more seriously nist
ii ken 1 had, not even q pea-kaife. in nay poe
ch, 6. I regret to hear that I was 50 near I
as ing run through by swora-eane; and 1
= not a little chagrined at hearing that our eli
nv ical Secretary Of State IS N the habit
md walking about the streets Of 50 peaceful
eP- city, with wespon Of 50 deadly chagac
I ~ IN his right hand, suppose though bel
ate q restster, and having heard somueh Of !;
for IN the State lights camp about sheddi
blood in civil strife, he thaight it bceonli
mp in him to show linlsel equal to tie eFis
- Several OTTER errors not less palpa5le,