The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-04-20
For The Okla Star

For The Okla Star.
Mr.. HALL Since you have allowed CORES
pondent to personally assail me upon the strength
of surmse, by such illusions cannot be msta-
ken, you will not, am persuaded, refuse me the
just privilege of defense through the medium in
which have been attacked.
To =" RAvESNA :"-l ou will not dispute the
correctness of the conclusion, that portion of your
communication, in the last issue of the Ohio Star,
was intended for myself: with what justness is to
be determined. Your accusations are of SO gem
eral nature, while the bitterness they are con-
veyed in is SO intense, that am at loss TO either
disc yer the cause or account for the effect. How
ever, you will not, presume, deny the inference,
when say, that nothing but an honorable solic-
taton for the reputation of friend or the convic-
lions ofa conscience i'll at ease, would lead any man
to express himself, as you have there done, in the
unguarded language of passion, without consulting
his understanding: the former, fear. viii suffer
more from the folly into which your resentment
betrays you, than from any attack, however meri-
ted, that may be made upon him while the latter,
alas if you persevere in adding injury to injury,
will lose the sharpness of sting that now writhes
you, by the increasing usensbility of heart that it
will have to overcome.
Assuming as granted that do the writing for
the Portage County Whig, you p oceed, with uu-
mercful rigor, to indirectly accuse me of having
betrayed the cause of Temperance, and of evin-
cling hostility to the regularly nominated Township
Board of Education. As these are the only spe-
cifc charges in your communication, am | wrong
in concluding that from these proceeds the unmeas-
ured abuse you heap upon me? How unpleasant
will be the reflection, to such patriotic mind as
yours mast be, when you consider that you have
inflicted such severity upon person entirely in-
nocent! From this you will remember, hence
forth TO temper your indiscreet hastiness with a
measure of prudence.
Since my residence in Ravenna, have not writ
ten a word either directly or indirectly, concern
ing its local politics, eitler rast or resent nor al
uded, in the most distant manner, 10 any indivd
ual presented candidate at its local elections
nor have l written or indited any paragraph to
which you have alluded, ond upon which you rest
the whole of your complaints, reproof and abuse
of myself yet have remained no Indifferent spec
tator to the progress of Temperance Reform. and
should equally with yourself,have regretted any at
empts to defeat its success. The fact of being
uuacquaiuted with the candidates upon either tick
et, which you point out in your attack upon my
coaduct is sufficient, were there no other reason
to impose upon me the courtesy of silence. This
have strictly maintained. Had you extended
the same courtesy TO me, which you SO highly COM
mend, and which from the same rsason, you should
hay ,bca theea had hp no for this
reply. But while you recommend civility, you
depart the furtherest from its practice. Allow me
to add, that can discover nothing, either in the
garbled extracts you have giyen from its columns,
or ia anything in ihe Whg, to induce belief that
its editor is hostile to the Board of Education,
treacherous to the cause of Temperance while
oo the other hand, there is much favor the opin
ion that he is sttsfed with the former, and has
given to the latter seady adherence, the more
forcble as it is ilustrat ed by consistent example
How unfortunate it is that all men have not your
eiftyof discernment and kethness Of penetration;
and how still more unfortunate that one SO iuvau-
ably gifted should lack the prudence TO direct mud
the ani.tl ness to apply, its commendaton or re-
proof in such manner mig soften its business
with tir rnildness of charity.
You charge me withhavng hired cut my pen, -
and with p osiutIng its employ to tho creation
of falsehnod and the circulation of caumny lis
true that demand a compensation for the labor OF
my mind as for that of my hands !; but that have
used either to the injury of another, deny most
positively. Your assertion is unsupported by q
single fact and is unworthy of further notice; but
flhere be solitary fact TO support your charge,
demand you TO produce it at once, or retract your
accusation. am willing TO suffer whatever is de-
served, but shall resent with proper SPIRIT unmer-
tied abuse.
The style and language you have selected is SO
contrary TO the cx ted professions you assume,
that it is deserving of passing notice. Affecting
the character of public censor, you degrade the
speeability of the office by violence of temper and
unnecessary vindictiveness. Reprovipg me for
abuse, you do not hesitate to fill your mouth with
a eoarseness of language that would commend you
in bawdy-houseanG apotheosize you at Billings
gate. Indeed, you to delight in scurrility of
expression, and string together the most unmean-
ing twaddle and vulgar epilhets with as much sat
sfacton as an idiot jabbering at the moon l con-
fess that you are master of this species of rhetoric
cessfui in disgusting. Had L an inclination, 1
should not contend with you in this field: the dis
parity between US would be too apparent, and the
infamy of blackguard be awarded in your favor
at the first onset. While do not envy the pos
session of such talents, l pity you the wretched
notorlety they may gain for you. But what can
be thought of one who renders himself so absurd
a paradox! Demanding respect from others, you
are the last TO render it yourself. Deprecating
SANDER, you pedlle it at wholesale. Endeavoring
to shield tie innocent. you aim blow at the guilt
less. Admonishiug the young against degrading
employments," you set aside the force of your ad-
monition by the precedence ofau opposite example.
Age appears TO have improved your abilities an
accomplished reviler, by extingushing whatever
you may have possessed in youth.
Another effort, and you may succeed iE reuderiug