The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-02-14
SOMETHING PERSONAL.

SOMETHING PEkSONAL.
81. p. Owens, Esa.-Dear Sir: In
the Minnesotian of this date, / observe,
in your leading article, pointed attempt
to ridicule and cast odium upon Judge
Meeker. To say MOTH
ing of the wrong in thus bringing into
contempt the character of an officer
clothed with the sacred ermine Of the Jul
dietary, your idea of the course OF policy
which ought to be pursued by a Whlge ed
itor towards Wing officers, must be very
different from mine, if you deem these re-
peated attacks upon the gentleman re-
ferred to, right and justifiable. y = \ n
"Yours Respectfully,
"BENTON WING.
"&. Paul, Feb. Hh, 1852"
REMARKs.---Our friend, "Benton
Whig, (which, by the way, means, we
presume, Wing of Benton county, Min
nesota, and not the anomalous character
ola Wing of the Tom Benton school Of
politics-writes considerably more in the
same vein; but the portion we have quo
ted contains the gist of what he wishes to
express. We are pleased that he has
addressed us. We are always glad, when
any of our friends take exceptions to any
thing we write and publish, TO find them
so expressing themselves, boldly and open
ly, and not going behind our back to say
that which they conceal when meeting
us face to face. The Wings of Minneso-
ia, one and all, have right to look to the
Minnesotian as a reflex of their views,
touching public measures and public men;
and when its editor fails in this, it is their
duty, or the duty of any individual among
them, to remind him of the dereliction.
He, in no wise, wishes to set himself up
as supreme dictator to his party, after
the fashion Of neighbor of the OPP
position but is ever solicitous of the ad-
vice and counsel of all his Wing brethren,
in matters touching his political duty
He claims not to be infallible; and is
equally liable to err, and perhaps more
liable than men generally. If COLLECTING
opinions exist among the Wings of the
Territory, which is well known to be the
case at present, it is presumed that the
opinions of the majority should be taken
as the rule of action. This we have in
variably endeavored to do; but at the
same time have no anathemas to hurl at
those who compose the minority-ever
keeping in mind the fact, that they have
just as great rights in the enjoyment of
their opinions as the majority have in
theirs. And, as in the present instance,
whenever any Wing thinks it his duty to
differ with us, he shall always have can
did and respectful hearing in these col
umns, so long as we control them. He
need not, whoever he may be, trouble him
self to run over into the ranks of the OPP
position, and pour his griefs into the ear
Of the editor Of the Democrat, in order to
get what he wishes to say before the pub
lie. He need only embody his views in
proper and respectful language, to ensure
them place in the Minnesotian.
But touching Judge Meeker. In the
first place, while we believe the preser-
walton of public order, and sound state
OF public morals, requires that the acts
and opinions of a pure and high-minded
Judiciary should ever be respected and
reverenced, we cannot subscribe to the
doctrine that the sacred ermine" should
encase its wearcr in an armor impervi-
Gus to the sword of Public Opinion, when
welded by the power of Honesty and JUS
tice. None of us would treasure as our
guide in matters of religion, the counsels
OF the priest whose cassock skirts were
befouled with the filth of the grog-shop
and the brothel. Then why revere and
respect the ''ermine' Of the Judge, who
presents fair exterior, while all within
Is "rottenness and dead mems bones?"
To the charge of attacking a g Wing
officer" we plead not guilty. We defy
Judge Meeker, or any of his friends, to
point to single act of his by which be
can claim to be a "Whig officer The
mere circumstance Of his appointment by
a Wing administration, especially when
we take into consideration the fact, that
the appointment was made-not for any
merits or claims of the appointee himself
but to afford General Taylor an opportu-
nifty of doing favor for one of his earli-
est and most influential friends, (Hon.
Truman Smith should certainly not en-
title him to that distinguished appellation.
siBy their fruits ye shall know them. !"