New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-04
ROBERT A. HUNTER-THE VOTER OF
FREE NEGROES.

= -.
card from this notorious individual appeared in
yesterdays Courier. But for its unmXed vulgarity
its gross mis.statements and its lack OF gentemany
tone and language we would re-publish it at length,
in order that the people Of the State might know the
mental and moral characteristics Of the person they
are called upon to elevate to the important and re-
sponsible position of State Treasurer.
The card starts out with untruth, continues in the
lowest strain of vituperation, and winds up with
description Of vulgar buyism which no man, having
any respect for himself, would resort to.
Mr.. Hunter commences by saying that :" The New
Orleans Crescent and other papers OF the same
kidney have since the opening of this canvass never
ceased to SANDER me- etc. This is false. We have
never slandered Hunter nor wished to SANDER him.
We never sandered anybody. Such procedure
would be radically at war with our nature habits,
inclnations and practices. Furthermore, Mr.. Hunter
is an utter stranger to us, and we could not, there
FORE by any possibility, entertain feelings Of personal
ill.will towards him. We have written and published
some severe articles about him. In this were war
ranted by our duty as public journalist, and the
relation he holds to the people as an aspirant for
lofty public position. But, all our editorial refer
ences were founded upon data given to the world at
the same time, from what we considered then, and
consider now, responsible and honorable sources.
Had we assailed him without this authority, or with
out this public warrant, then Mr.. Hunter might have
had reason to complain Of us. But, as in every IN
stance wherein we have alluded to him lengthy, we
have quoted authority, given names, places and
dates, every candid reader will admit that Mr. hun
ters attack upon us is alike uncaed for and alse.
What we have written about Mr.. Hunter has been
mainly founded upon the editorial statements OF the
| Alexandria American-pub in the parish OF his
residence-and an editorial report OF his speech az
| Richmond. published in the Madison American. Ii
Mr.. Hunter was wronged, why did he not right him
self at home before proceeding elsewhere? Why did
/ be not bring the editor of the Alexandra American
to account for sanderng his fair fame II SANDER was
| committed upon it Did he anticipate he could not
| make his cause good where he was best known?
Was he fearful of home scrutiny and home investi-
cation? 1t looks SO for when man fees his neigh
bors and writes cards of defense from distant points,
his affairs wear repusive aspect, and uncharltable
people will maintain that there must be something
rotten in Denmark" And, if the editorial report of
his speech at Richmond, published by the Madison
American, outraged him, why did be not go there
and demand redress2 Hlt for the statements of the
two papers named, there is no likelihood his name
would ever have appeared, except incidentally, in
4 our columns. z.|
Referring, incidentally, to the charge of his COM
plcity with free negro voting in Rapides, Mr.. Hunter
/ says: e t. 7.a. @
The Crescent says s'that gentlemen of the highest
| character and first responsibility, both in moral
4 and political sense, have youched for the truth of
those reports" against me. | dare the Crescent to
| name those gentlemen. / defy that paper to name
| one man, who is recognized as gentleman. who will
endorse this SANDER upon the citizens OF IenAille
/ and upon me. Mas
We reterate tue original statement but do not care
about mentioning the names of our inforlnants just
now is not a. all necessary. If Hunter will only
! go to Rapides, they will probably make themselves
known. And if he will consult the Crescent OF yes
terday morning, September 8, 1851 he will ind
enough Rapides names attached to sworn afidavts
to satisfy his curiosity, to fix the status of the citl
zens Of nen-Mile,' and to convict him of promoting
and defending free negro suffrage. Then, there are
responsible names at the head of responsible journals
! in Alexandra and Richmond, to which he might as
well pay his attention. ..
But, we will crafty Mr.. Hunter to q sufficient ex
tent that any gentleman would require, respecting
names. IT, after settling those little difficulties about
his free negro voting propensities in Rapldes aht
elsewhere he will come to New Orleans and apply tt
u.s. we pledge ourselves to give him the name OF gen
teman once citizen of Rapides, from whom we hay
derived much information concerning this free negr
business, and upon which information we have wrtte
considerably-a gentleman altogether superior to hin
in intellect and education, his superior in most ohe
respects, and his equal in ALL If this isn't fair pre-
position we have idea of the definition of fairness
Towards the conclusion of his card, Mr.. Hnnte
| says .sThat the Crescent will continue to reiterat
this, and every other sanderous charge that it ca
/ get hold of or manufacture against me, have II
doubt" Now, Hunter, why piH you persist in slaI
dering US? Whenever we have written anythin
about you, we have invariably given our authority
and yet you, passing by the fountain heads, seek t
befoul us by throwing filth several hundred mile
AS to manufacturing anything against you, til
man would be a fool indeed to attempt it, when til
truth is at hand in sufficient quantities to overwher
and hide you from the gaze of Disguised white mel
Hunter, don't attempt to play the bully. You al
unequal to the task, morally or in any ether sens'
and you know it-you feel it through every fibre {
your system. Do you imagine for moment that
man who bore, tamely and submssiyely and to HI
face in crowd Of gentlemen, the most degradin
epithet the language supplies, can brighten people
> Louisiana? That you have so submitted to stingn
insult we have been informed by gentleman OF trut
veracty and character, who will make his statemel
y good whenever you dare the alternative.