American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-08

WASHINGTON, October 6, 1851.
SIR: am sorry that the errors and charges
contained in your pretended reply to my letter
to Gov. Johnston compel me to appear again
before the public.
My first letter was enormously dated the
l7th 1t was finished early on the morning OF
the 10th, and mailed at nine o'clock the same
day. The editors of the Baltimore Sun noticed
its reception in their paper of the 17th 1t is,
therefore, not true that went to Chris tiana,
and wrote it after first seeing you. Nor does
your reference to the dates" give you the de-
sired clue"
Z When we assembled in the courthouse at
Lancaster, on Tuesday, the 10th ultimo, the
States Attorney told us that he was alone, and
that he desired aid. We went and secured
counsel to assist him. When the case was about
to be opened, you came into court, was intro
duced to u.s. and took your seat upon our side !;
but you had not considerable conversation
with me on the subject" nor did you do any
thing that proved to me that you were much
interested in the matter. 1t was after leaving
the courthouse that learned, upon good au-
thority, that you did nothing toward securing
or Fastening the arrest of the murderers; MOI
has it yet appeared that you did. And although
y
Johnston that all the steps have been taken
consequent upon the lamentable affair."" you
will not say it was at the Governors instance
that Mr.. Thompson and Mr.. Reigart went to
the scene of the rebellion. As for yourself, you
took two steps-very safe ones too-and those,
suppose, were the steps counseled.
You say "give credit to the public authori-
ties for doing every thing necessary to bring
the transaction to light, and the offenders to
justice" That did not include all the public
authorities of the country in that remark, you
too well know. l meant especially the State s
Attorney and the Alderman; for until they
reached Christiana nothing had been done in
issuing writs and making arrests.
My course, you say, has been "extraordi-
nary" Was it not extraordinary that Cover
nor of Pennsylvania should array himself
against sovereign law of the land, and lend his
official aid to trammel its operation Was it
not extraordinary that my father was murdered
by a band Of negroes, encouraged by white abo-
litionists? Was it not extraordinary that no
step was taken by the officers of the neighbor-
hood to arrest the perpetrators Of the outrage
until late in the afternoon Of the second day, and
then not until help had come from distance2 ?
Was il not extraordinary that though the United
States authorities were upon the ground almost
as soon rs those Of the State, the Executive Of
the United States took deep interest in the
vindication of the laws, while the Governor of
the State showed an indifference that almost
amounted to connivance? And was it not most
extraordinary that the Governor should write q
letter to defend his neglect of duty, containing
many grave errors and misstatements? Under
such circumstances, it has been found more
easy to call plain and honest statement of the
facts extraordinary" than to disprove it.
My letter to the Governor was written by
myself without suggestion, dictation, or aid of
any one, Your insinuation, therefore, in regard
to its authorship and intent, is as ungenerous
as it is untrue. That insinuation has the merit
however, Of exhibiting great adroitness in polit-
ical jugglery.
But you "cannot consent to be placed in q
different position from Gov. Johnston" Wen,
| cannot help that. Gov. Johnston has placed
himself in = position not far removed from
odium; if you are resolved to stand with him'
then indeed you are par mobile Jratrum.
]. s. GoRsUoH.
Hon. Thomas E. Franklin.