Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-03-29
Mr.. PLEAsASr, March 18th 1855.

To the Editors Of the Hawk-E,e.
Gentlemen: Through the politeness of a
friend have been favored with a pcrusal OF
your issue of the 9Th inst. In it find an
article in relation to the silly conspiracy got
ND against me at the Office of Hall & Thomp-
son, in your city.
You do me, would fain believe, uninten-
tionallv, greater injustice and deeper injury
than do my enemies themselves. You speak
of my having been "unfortunate in choosing
my confidential associates" In a former
article, referred to by you, had been very
particular in apologizing for having been
founi in that place and company. If was
at all ssunfortunate" it was in having business
at that office. The association, therefore,
was the result of accident, and not Of choice.
You seem to think, also, that l was equally
"unfortunats in picking she subject for my
DISCOURSE" Those subjects were amonr the
most common on the tapis. They were be-
ing discussed in all circles, parties and sects.
And the editors of the Hawk-Eye to the con-
trary, notwiths andlng. can perceive Nd
evidence Of q lack of discernment in my
remarking upon those subjects and the men
named even IN the presence of the company
there assembled.
l tell you that no human discernment, no
manly sagacity, could have forescen the
base purposes to which that frank and free
conversation would be perverted.
Perhaps if my associations with rufians
and blackguards had have been of more
intimate nature, might have had kind of
discernment equal to that which some others
may be supposed to possess from their ssup-
fortunate contiguity.'
Again, you speak of my being victim Of
"misplaced confidence This | deny.--
There was no particular "confdence'' about
it. At least there was no other 'sconfiaence''
than what every gentleman exhibits when
he supposes himself conversing with gentle
men. said nothing there but would say
before the whole wor |, with like incite-
ment. How could l, who all my life long
have been accustomed to mingle only with
honorable men on terms of intimacy, con-
ceive it possible that creatures so nearly ap-
proximating in form and color, to gentle
men, would so faisify, change all to, and
misconstrue the few simple and honest senti-
ments and opinions there gave utterance
to-
Really, gentlemen, after your flourish
about "discernment" one would hardly be
prepared for what follows.
The dirt thrown by these creatures seems
literally to have filled your eyes. You do
not see things as they are. 1t is all sheer
nonsense about their having any design in
drawing me out on any subject, unless it
was IN regard to my contesting the seat of
Augustus Hail.
You seem to give them sort of credit for
cunning, when you should simply charge
them with meanness.
1t was not until the conversation d occur
red, that they thought of prostituting it to
their base purposes. The whole thing orig
mated in desire to prejudice me, and bene-
fit another. How far one of the parties
may have been Influenced by feeling Of
gratitude for services rendered in former
contest, wherein poll books seemed subject
to spiritual agencies, will leave the Hon.
Daniel T. Miller, to imagine.
That there were men in that Office who
would not engage in any such vile transac-
action, believe. At least that they would
not lend their names for its endorsement.
But Col. Thompson | regret to find was not
one OF these. 1t is in vain for him to at
tempt to skulk behind man of Wood.
The whole thing is now too apparent to
deceive the most unsophisticated. AT the
time of the conversation be was known and
spoke OF himself. as the editor of the Ga
zette. That report never found place in
its columns without an undefstandina.-
The present concert of action and unit, of
purpose between himself and scape- goat, is
quite remarkable, and inconsistent with the |
dea of Thompson's innocence in the matter.
| will, however, say in this connection,
hat | had no knowledge Of his disclaimer
previous to the writing of my article pub
ished 10 the s'Observer.' In fact, nv arti-
lie was in type. or nearly so, before the pub
icaticn Of that disclaimer.
In regard to the new matters thrust for.
yard with so nue. alacrity and apparent
usto, by Col. Thompson, in his second edi-
ion of vleness, have only to say.
lie pretends 10 narra,e remarks made by
ne in regard to ind,vidudis-a species of
conversation held peculiarly sacred even by