Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-18
FOR Ink WING.


My attention has been called to a publication OF Mr.
goldman ID. Bennett of Pusyvans, in the Wing of the
esth July, which demands some notice from me-
win not undertake decide whether the subject Of
the address is Interesting to the pubc-Mr Bennett has
considered 1t So and alternative left meshd there.
fore, poapology needed for my obtrusion upon public
attention.
propose to notice, briefly possible, the facts
whether real assumed stated in the address aud
of courtesy which may exis, in it, pass by, that
is but mere matter of taste with the writer. G
think proper, in the beginning, to remark that Mr.
Bennett is an entire stranger me, gentleman with
whom never had transaction OF any sort aud whose
person have never Thus situated towards each
other he has deemed il necessary to make very
ran.ed assault me- in order to repc what he concevcs
to be an mpuation upon himself Of having passed Mr.
J. H. Smith City dollar note Of questionable character.
aud declining to redeem it AN mputation which, i
such rests upon him, has not been made by Regard
les, of our relative situations strangers each other
in the transaction he has chosen the better way
ope-atnr himself to shift the mpuatiou around aud fix
il upon me. How he succeeded will now be noticed.
WISH particularly to invite attention to the only cir
cupstsucc relied upon by Mr.. Bennett in support OF the
position that mistaken" and did the
same note 10 Mr. Smith which he had paid to me. The
history of the transaction, presume, familiar and
need not here repeat it. Mr. Benefits whole argument
against me- viii be remembered, based upon what
shall call the false hypothesis of my being appraised the
time passed the to Estes that its genuiuess
doubted This Mr. b. seizes upon circumstance
elusive show that falsely represented to Mr.. Smith
that had kept the money wrapped to itself and there
fore had the of knowing from whom l got it;
who had been thus careful would have been
so ncautious afterwards pay away the money when
informed it was questioned, to preserve no means
oideny, and actually to destroy the only means bad
whole strength Of his argument Take this away and his
publication is barren and pointless. Whether this ouu
da,on swept away, and with il the splendid superstrcc
Of logic wit and sarcasm, let the following certificate
OF Mr.. Estes determine
HALIFAX G. H., Aug 9Th, 1854.
DO hereby certify that A. l.. Easley informed
by had any inmation that had any suspicion
the genuineness of fifty dollar note paid the
sth OF February, 1854 by said E,sey, which
turned the morning by Of young men Mr..
Essley a counterfeit bill. We had some suspicion at
the time but said nothing about il to him. but after
he left examined carefully and thought to be
counterfeit, aud ii was returned as before stated
F. b. ESTES,
OF the firm of Estes & Avery.
did not otherwise inform Mr. Smith.
Whs, is Mr.. Benefits position now: He chose in
sute comparison of his position and mine;-to make
an issue that he passed to Mr. Smith, counterfeit
note. had the Of knowing that the paid TO
Estes got OF Mr.. S. Has he the of knowing that
the Mr. s returned him no, the he paid
hmy has not the strength of his consisted alone
in what he supposed be the weakness of mine: When
he supposed be had in indefensble petition he
pressed with unsparng hand. He will not complain if
indulge with equal freedom upon his position especially
as he has furnished RE the evidence himself.
stated that had the means of knowing that the note
paid TO Estes received from Mr. Smith, There will be
of 'pliusibity" hope now when | stated that
when paid Mr. Estes. knew | had fifty dollar note
got OF Mr.. Smith wrapped to ITSELF and money got
from Mr. Dobbs similarly wrapped, with each gentlemaus
name the wrapper which was all the money had 1t
is true, when paid the money, il being ques-
toned from which parcel got IT, whether part from
each, made impression me. When Estes clerk.
Young Mr.. EiTundson, brought the day,
had vague impression, not the result of examination
reflection that the nifty dollar note paid them bad taken
from among the money received from Mr. Dobbs so
stated 20 him. IL a matter of consequence to
him, and the remark merely casual, might have
known TO the contrary Of the time but for the furry OF
the moment: for gave him another note and
he left my house. continuing reflect the subject it
occurred to that took the fifty dollar bad just
handed him, from among other notes There no other
with the fifty dollar received from Mr. Smith
and but ty dollar note among the money received
of Mr.. Dabbs On examination found | had but
one label, and that had Mr.. Dobbs' name on il ana
no fifty dollar in it. / could then be other
wise than satisfied that paid - Estes the day before the
fifty dollar received of Mr. Smith, and il being the
last threw away the wrapper aud that the one had lust
handed EdmundsOu, received from Mr.. Dobbs Ia
conversation the subject the day with Mr. Edund
think made the correction These are the data
upon which acted in returning the note Mr.. Smith
and which, suppose, satisfied him, he would we
taken it back. lie knew had OF knowing that
the note returned was the same paid Estes
Mr. Smith returned the note endorsed IN letter Mr.
Bennett. He will allow TO examine his course, and
how he know that he had paid that
Mr.. Smith In recurring Mr. Smiths first letter to
Mr. Bennett it will be that Mr.. Smith does
mpar TO Mr. Bennett the important TACT that the had
been out OF his possession Mr. B. does know bu T.
that Mr. s. has had it a the while. In this Of his
knowledge Mr. Bennett does say tina. be had never
that note before. He does say that he did not
pay to Mr.. Smith, that he will take it back
He says, though that he has of knowing from
whom he got the money be paid Mr. Smith, and that about
that time he receiving and paying out very large
hahl hat.
Smith has not had the possession all the time, and with
out committing himself all institutes enquiry upon
that subject lie If the is returned on him il
has found stopping place. Mr.. Smith responds Mr.
Benefits enquiries and informs hin through whose hands
the has passed, and how long it remained in each
Mr. Bennett looks cautiously along the for the point
most vulnerable. He that IL remained longer 10
hands than any other and he from the account he b
Of it, discovers great Inconsistency in my conduct.
locates his attack there He then concludes that
mistaken, and assumes very different attitude towards
Mr.. Smith-s very sure he the note before
declines to take it back, and returns it TO Mr. Smith,
Why did he not act thus while he did know that
Mr.. s. had KEEP, the note since il paid to him
He certainly knew well before, after, whether be
had ever the note before 1t enclosed him.
That knowledge did result from the awkward position
in which he supposed placed IL could ONLY result
from supposed skill he possessed in detecting counterfeit,
noneya skill which he must have believed be quite
perfect much so, that in receiving and paying
away "iarge amounts" he could have been imposed
upon by that note. Well concede that Mr. Bennett is
able expert in that particular knowledge his
confidence in his skill it should have been equally
before, il after, he asceraned that the note
had been ont Of Mr. Smiths possession for considerable
time, ard that nearly months had elapsed after
ceiyed it before | paid il away.
is, however, matter of concern TO rne what oo
cured between Mr. Smith and Mr. Bennett and had he
confined himself only to what existed between him and
Mr. Smith, aud permitted Hr. and myself settle our
matters, these remarks would not have been made
Mr. Bennett, supposing he make out a conclusive
against me- with great shou OF faifness proposes
reefcuceand with very tender regard for tho rights
Of others and mCdesty truly commendable. prescrbes
the obligations aud pledges the kind Of evidence aud
the principles which shall govern the decision, and, al
loving participation in those particulars takes from
also Ill Participation 10 choosing the umpire II
not DC remarkable that did notice such proposition
But hi1 II been free Of objection had nothing TO settle
With Hr. BsnH,n.
10 this connection will notice a remark in an extinct
Of Mr. Smiths letter Of the Gth Of July published by
Mr. Bennett n Mr. Smith meant by the remark that
would decline sny proposition which would involve the
probability Of my paying the my dolsfs7 TO Gay that
was doggedy obstinate or, that the OF hly doars
would dcte me irom opening the matter 70 be adjusted
in way uueIceptonabe among gentlemen, he does me
trg Il