Democratic banner., 1851-02-03
Ma. PIcKINs:-

MR. PicKENs:-
Dear &r:-When / penned the c~ommunica-
zion Of Dec. 4ih, l had every reason 10 believe it
was the last time that ! shonld be calld on TO
reply to my friend Judge Berkeley.
Although he had made charges and laid down
assertions in his prior articles, TO establish which
he claimed to have 'better authority than his
naked assertion" get / knew thia to be q vain
boast-a windy assumption of truttfulaess, when
none existed. And although the avowed object
Of my last article was to invite the disclosure Of
that formidable authority, yet I felt confident that
rome would be brought to ~light-that no man
could be found so base and unprincipled, a. TO
become the suboFnsd witness Of the worry Judge,
and thss forfeit his honor and his character, by
attempting TO veil falsehood with The garb Of
truth.
The position to which my friends spleen and
III temper have reduced him, is very ~unenvisble,
though, perhaps. the natural result of q weak
mind, embittered by political reyerses. Instead
Of submitting with patience 10 the decree Of The
people, which fore from his brow the honors Of
County Judge, he ungardedly suffered rage to
take possession Of the iiHgetenement fitted up for
the habiiation Of reason. Instead Of that meek
ness snd humility that should characterize the
conduct Of the prudent and discreet man, under
such circumstances, we have witnessed a singu.
lar exhibition Of puerile anger, strinkingly SINH
lar to that which urged his great prototype. q
short time since, to abuse all Of his old friends.
/ desire to notice but . few things contained
in his last. and then leave him to T.yel in his
thoughts. Judge Berkley says: 'In the
hra place ] am denounced by Capt. G. fer abe-
trayal Of confidence, in mentioning his intention
to vote for Mr.. Fagg to some ofthe Benton men,"
This is all a mistake. have no complaints Of
that character 10 make, for the best reason in the
world, and that 10, that no confidence was ever
seposed. What / do complain Of is, that Judge
berkleY should, from sone unknown motive,
nave misFepresented me prior 10 the election.
ihd atfeTtCnTds re-asserfsd it by q formal publ
cation. Il u the falsehood Of the statement, and
not "betrsyal Of confidence" that constitutes
The substance of Judge Berkley's wrong.
sparkling of his version Of the matter in my
hst. ] expressly stated that "the utter impossi.
bility Of its atrilthfnlness. IL apparenton ito face"
But, taking The matter as related by him, errone-
Gus a. it was. it might well be questioned by hon.
ortbie men, whether the Judge was not either q
fsAcherous or a very querulous man--neither
Of which good man and friend should be.
Therefore / stated, sin addition to this, If the
matter csre true. as stated in that article, (mean-
inag bis. / might call upon all honest men TO
place their own construction upon the act Of q
mai" 30.
~ then gave q history Of the whole thing, to
The best Of my recollection, not one item Of
which Jndgs Berkiey specifies and contradicts,
nef viii be attempt 70 de It. He, however, in
fodnces the certificate Of Thomas Patton, upon
% irrelevant issue, to prove that q ruusor, simi-
~ 70 bis unlounded statement, had reached nv
ears p,isr - The speaking at Paynesyille, and
sadsasofs to show from my articles that I had!
aassd thists bethe first time ] had ever heard Of
y; Now, let ~ see how be arrives at this
- Fetends toquots from me % follows: "News
% him during the speaking Of Payne.vile,
slst, that,H whatP-Judgs Berkiey says,
Ebis report was in circulation in regard to-
eyl Intention Of yelling for Clark Fagg'
Ez4eFeseatative."
- ne refer 70 my Articie and zee what I
tI Ping the speaking 1t Paynssyills,
. ns'@ lnot that sakt aisporf iDas