Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-03-08
.ALAs POOR YORICK.,

OlsCOuES0ae luAt ne Is TIC Victltn Oh ''inlSplic-
ed confidence" he need not now be told. 1t
seems incredible that any man of any discern
ment, should take occasion in the presence
of the company named. to remark upon the
subjects and individuals named in the man
ner acknowledged by MIR. Clark himself. But
the whole matter is one of no earthly conse-
quence to any one. The thing as stated in
the last Gazette, by Col. Thompson,is, wheth-
er correct or not, Of no possible consequence
save and except to the victim himself.
In the first version Of the matter, as it APP
peared in the editorial columns of the Gazette
an attempt was made to make little politi-
cal capital out of it. Now in their last is
sue the whole matter is turned to personal
and malignant attack upon Mr.. Clark, by
representing him as foolish boastsr, dis
paraging his political friends in the presence
of his adversariss. And much as Col. Thomp-
son wishes to be considered above retailing
private conversation in his own Office, he now
comes forward with matters that did not APP
pear in the first version of the matter-mat-
tiers about which there was no dispute, be-
cause there had been no disclosures.
And further he inserts an abusive personal
attack upon Clark, written undoubtedly by
DR.. Harvey, and signed by one James
W. Woods, whe according to his own
showing, ought to have been kiched out Of
any gentlenans Office where he presumed to
take seat. His communication given be-
low, exhibits in all its beauties, the scope
and aim of the whole business. Few men of
any party, arc to be found any whore, who
would have engaged in such transaction as
this, taking their own showing for it. OF
course we only refer to those who have APP
peared befor the public in published state
ments. 1t is an effort to blast a man in the
estimation of his friends, make him the butt
of ridicule, by retailing conversation,
which according to the showing of the con-
spirators, was made with the utmost freedom
and reliance upon the forbearance usually
found among gentlemen. Here is Mr.. Woods
article. If anything were wanted to demon
strats the scandalous and discreditabIe in
tention of the movers, and their treacherous
and vindictive purposes nothing better could
be desired than the following:
To w. THOMPSON.
Editor GdSette:-I see in the "Iowa
Weekly Observer" of March LIST '55, long
wlnded article over the signature of Rufus
l.. Is. Clark, addressed to you IN relation to a
conversation at the Office of Hall and Thomn-
son in presence of myself and c,s.ners.
Inc burden OF his Complaint seems to be-,
that you should have betrayed private CONT
dence in maAing private conversation, as he
is pleased to term it,) the subject of news
paper comment. Now sir, entirely exoner-
ate you from that charge. The article ap-
peared before you assumed the control of the
Editorial department and was prepared by
Doct. Harvey.
The occasion was thus knowing that Clark
claimed the credit of having directed the ac-
ton OF the fusionists at Iowa City, and being
fully persuaded that his Egotsm and iaordi-
nate udnity would make him disclose all he
knew relative to that mater, if not something
more, after his brother and himself had got
through with their business, l pqrposely in
troduced the subject of Politics by referring
to an article in the Gazette of that day on
the subject of Harlans so called Election !:
and also made the enquiry of rim direct. if
ne intended to contest the Election of Hon. A
Hall and am free to say the result more
than justified my expectations for thought
at the time, he said more than he knew: but
As is usual with men of his caliber, what he
did not know he guessed at; and in order to
make himself out the Her0-afser abusing
every body in general, and Grimes and
Harlan in particular, be took to himself all
the glory of the hglorious action of the odds
and ends of all the isms of the day in their
action at Iowa City. Afterwards, in a con-
versation with DIR. Harvey, { the then sole
editor of the Gazette informed him what
disclosure he, Clark, had made, and he asked
my permission to prepare an article upon the
subject, and az my original object was to get
the leaders of the fusionists upon the rec ord,
and knowing that the conversation was pub
lie and general, and not private, gave him
the desired leave. As for the correctness of
the statement, as it originally appeared in
the Gazette is concerned, l refer to those
present, who presume i'll speak on the SUBJ
ject; Now if the said Clark's inordinate van
ity in wishing to have himself considered the
Hero and chief director Of all the plots and
schemes of the fusion party-its embodiment,
tactotum and fugleman, has led him to bab-
bic toolishly and mddly as he seems to believe
he has done, and in his babbing mood to
disparage his political friends he has no one
to blame but himself. Truly yours,
March 5, '55. JAMES w. WOODS.
There is only onethlng to be said about all
this, and that is to express hope that it
may be present blessing to the victim, and
impress upon his mind the scripture admo-
milton, not only to 10 ssharmless as doues''
but "cunning as serpents." We leave the
public to hunt up the motive for this attack
upon Mr.. Clark and to CIPHER out the object