New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-27
TO THE PUBLIC.

Fro- TIE PiaGSeishia North 4neriafa =.
statement having appeared in The SaHady ;nsT-
cury purporDg TO give an authorized sccounl OF au
alleged difficulty between Mr.. Cooper, President OF
the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company, and myself
and that statement having been transferred 70 me
columns Of The Pvblic Ledger 1t is proper should
furnish the facts precisely a. they occurred $50
On the evening Of Monday, the 18th inst, whlle
was engaged in my professional duties a. my once,
Mr.. Harry Connolly handed me the following mote;
WASHINGTON House.
PssfeRt, Ns9df u s .,tsptcu b.. JUS,
beer called 10 an editorial article in The AOh Amie1n and
Ess :s S.. Sa' S. Of h %h vuadsr a bsh psc.
&e and false pr-ten'es and a n me cry ag
with unless the sharp and secure pro-
ee'.e Of the penal laws can be e..i3, spPiied .,
fully the above remarks intended 70 apply 70 ne
"a in whst esuectl The rsh, which eyery has
maintain his character and sooi the one which 10,
In making this eaupon yo1 II the remarks are INTENDED
TO be .PI,sa 20 ~ a,arT Sa . h. reed from the s.
pcion they likely will be obliged 70 you io
/ am Sir, your obedient, humble :.rysnt, ,
On the following morning, al as early an hour as my
business engagements permitted prepared the ioi-
lowing answer:
SIR: received your note last evening By the hands Of MI
Conrey Ard avail myself OF the hTs Leisure which offers TO
Fepy ,-. - =, - s,.;., .,.i.l. IN
The North Monday last intended 10 apply 20
INST ibe5eoye decline TO snswer h The srce to which you
refer public natue concerned public even1 AMI ts
Sou bs1e esed il asserted in general terms what
unconrsdoied public statements had elsewhere particularly
Get forth. but IL made sl1sion 70 ary individual
In declining to the question you have proposed am
controlled BY conviction Of duty As the conductor Of pub
the meaning Of the articles publish At the same time
@ % .Sphs s Column. s I'd sSd a
hold ready on all proper CS6Si,9R, to He,t
Hon J.si! coofsS, Washington House ~ -
This vas sealed and inclosed in an envelope, adj
dressed to Mr.. Connolly, with the following note:
PHILADELPHIA, Sept 10, 1854
DEAR SIR: inclo.e herewith a reply to the note you
handed me a.t evening awe bi. direction At the request
of Mr. Cooper Very respectfully ygMVr'M cMcHAE1
HAIRY CossELLy, Esq 7th and Chestnut
On Wednesday evening Mr. Connolly again called
at my Office and handed me the following letter:
MoRroy McMIcHAEL. Esq sir; Ny friend. Mr
Cooper has received your note OF the 18Th inst sent 70 HIM
as it relieve him from the mputaon conveyed in
your article of Monday it entirely 50 in respect to the
thing you publish In mskrs the call in his note OF the 18th
inst MI Cooper deie ne 70 express to yoa that he reeos
independence. But for personal mPutaton be 10 happy
that you with bis views in admitting personal
respon sbity.
now desire to my own part as the friend Of M
Stt he ncobyenience in doine n here: and Won eoneur
with in this view OF the beg will where .nd
what will suit your convenience to receive further
Mr. Cooper admits that while customary under the cir
which you stand 10 each other that should
convenient receive his in another urdc
tion that he has night to insist that you should do So will
be Obliged to you for answer on this point
NeryresPeeh1hy' yours A 4si; coxys,tv
Desiring to satisfy all the requirements of the occs
sion, on Thursday IN, rning placed Mr. Connely's
letter with the prece ling correspondence, in the
hands of Mr.. VIM. ID. Lewis and Mr.. Charles Henry
Fisher assuring them that should be governed in
any future action on the subject entirely by their d.
the afternoon of that day Mr. Lewis and
Mr. Fisher informed me that they had determined:
LIST That the paragraph referred 10 in Mr.. Coopers
letter and the subsequent correspondence did not
furnish sny ground for the proposition contained in
Mr. Connolly letter, and that must decline its &C
ceptance.
3D. That to admit the personal responsibility of the
conductor OF public journal for his structures on
public affairs would in their Judgment, be detrlmen-
ial to the interests of the community, and dlvest the
press of lis most important prer0gatiye
These views embodied in the following letter:
PHILADELPHIA, Sept p, 1854
DEAR SIR: As the application made in note Of yes,sr
aay involves principles which In their quences affect the
integrity Of the public press have SVEN to it the
While recognize TO fullest ell my responsibility
for whatever appears the columns Of The Nor ~e-eas
for they may be presented unable to perceive that Mr.
Cooper "a; any sst under ssos q iays
reply 10 his communication Of the lsih inst the article 10
lie events; and its comments had public bearing In the
parts OF II TO which he called attention asserted Ia
terms what uncontAdlCted fVOAc h-n
esew here particularly set FORTH but made no auson to
A" any individual"
II the conductors Of public journals should permit them
selves be held personally responsible for their structures on
public Affairs there would be At end 10 al independ
Of the PTess; and and outrage might go unPan-
shed and unrebuked. cannot consent by example TO
ncion such pretend pnvl-se Of nterer.
with the sfsifs Of and should the journal
control offend this wsy shall hold myself justly amensble
bat do claim and WI exercise the neh. OF commenting
frankly and freely all matters Of public concern and upon
conduct Of al who stand In public relsion. them
Very respectfully, yours. &c, MORTOS MeMIChAEL
To HARkY COSLLLY, Esq
As Mr.. Fisher was absent from the city during
Thursday afternoon and night | had no opportunity
of submitting this letter 10 his inspection until Friday
morning. When it was 80 submitted, II met his en-
tire approval as it had previously done that OF Mr.
Lewis, and it immediately thereafter sent to Mr..
Connolly.
In the course of the same morning received the
following from Mr.. Connolly:
PHILApEIPHIA. Fridsy. Sept y, 1854
MORTON MeMIcHAEL, Esq-DeGr ST. have jus, received
your note n which you decline give the Per9ni
lion which MI Cooper had ngh TO expect Unaef thee ei'
eumstsnees DO further correspondence nsees4rl
Respectfully, yours, HAkhf CosNLLLi'
This is the only correspondence or intercourse
have had with Mr.. Cooper, or anybody representing
Mr.. Cooper, on the subject referred to-