The Placer herald., 1856-05-24

attempt at wit, publlshed "CaXton' as insane.
1t was q most cruel attack to make upon
any one, but Caxton has retorted, and with
withering sarcasm administered a most merit
ed rebuke Such an one as will ensure Mr..
Rhodes from repetition of such wit. Here
it Isl
To James Allen, Editor of the State
State Tribune:
SIR:-An article published in your paper
of the l4th inst, has Just been submitted to
me by friend. who still occasionally y amuses
himself by reading your impertinent and
pithless twaddle, in which you falsely and
malcously give publicity and circulation to
a rumor which was doubtless engendered in
your own superanuated and mbecie brain.
You announce to your readers, that you
have learned from an undoubted source"
(Which is false,) that "Wm II. Rhodes, the
late Private Secretary of Gov johnson, has
gone deranged on the subject Of SpirituaIism."
This latter charge needs no retutation at
my hands, will not even stoop to deny it.
Spitetu and mean as it is, can only pity
the source from whence it emanated and the
low-lived spirit which would be accessory
to its circulation.
| do not blame you for any attempt, no
matter how infamous, to blacken the charac-
ter and wound the reputation of political
opponent; for that is what you.were hired to
do, when YOU We're selected for the post of
editor Of the State Tribune nor will permit
myself to censure you for want of taste,
in your perfdous method of attack; for swine
fatten upon swil and dogs delight in their
own vomit and de guSttdas non est disputan-
dam. But do complain Of the baseness and
talsehood Of your atemptto injure me in my
private business, and to stab me where you
knew it would be most felt by my mother
and father and friends.
Are vou not ashamed, sir, at your advanc-
ed period of life, tottering as you are with age
and consequent intirmites, to assault a man
young enough to be your son, by the vile
arts of lying and detamation9
Shame upon you! Every man in the State,
whose nature has not been corrupted by
too close q contact with your own, will con-
demn the infamy of your conduct, and shower
upon Vour head, the disgrace and ruin which,
with the sorrow of hypocrite and the cum
ming Of a professional beler, you have sought
to call down upon mine
know full well, sir, the mean and pitiful
motive which lies at the bottom of your con-
duct Had you possessed the first scntila
of manly and honorable feeling, you would
have paused long and inquired patiently into
the authenticity of the charge you parade
with such hurried exultation.
Your feelings as a father, to say nothing
of your former hypocrtical professions to
me as a friend, ought to have curbed your
cruel hate But the black heart of a partisan
urged YOU on, and you have struck a blow,
whose recoil you shall feel even in your
grave.
Your motive, sir, was political. You be-
long to a party-or rather the rump Of a de-
ceased one-whose whole course during the
past winter was characterized by imbecility,
ignorance and corruption. You know that
common honesty and patriotism, had armed
me, and thousands of others, against its vile
impostions and that | would never cease
to denounce them until the reiormers them
selves reformed.
| struck blow, another was apprehended
and you and your advisers concocted the
malicious scheme of injuirng my reputation,
and destroying my usefulness.
The test of my sanity is with the public;
the perfdy of the calumny rests upon your
own conscience.
w, II. RHODES.
SAN FRANclsco, May 18th, 1856.
II @.