St. Cloud visiter [sic]. [volume] (St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-13

'T.EAR:NSs CO., MINI
was supported BY men Of all parties, [
thought It right that all sides Of political
questions should have free hearing in its
and I urged it upon both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans to, advocate their
views in the Nsiter. The press and type
belonged to Mr.. Brott, and was devoted to
the public use. I did not belong to any
body, and no one had any right dictate
what should say, or when, or how
(Cheers.) =. ..as szssssssS.ss .s4s
I had disagreed with some Of the people
on the famine question, and had writ
ten letter to the New York Tribune, sta
ting that there was no famine. Many peo-
pie here condemned this letter very much.
One day the lady Of Col. Barstow called at
our house to leave her husbands thanks
for that Tribune letter. He was in New
York, had read it there and was very much
gratiied with it, It was the3right thing
in the right time; and he had used it, to
prove that Stearns county is the county for
the emigrant I was highly gratifed, and
as Col. Barstow had oficiated at the indig-
nation meeting here, I concluded that he
was fully committed on the anti-famine side
of the question; I thought the position did
him great honor, and proved him an honest
man, in as much as it would Of necessity in
jure his popularity with that large wing Of
his party who insisted upon the necessity
of contributions from abroad. The next
week, the New York Atlas was handed me,
containing highly complimentary notice
of Col. Barstow, stating that he was lectur-
ing in New York on the advantages Of
Northern Minnesota. I copied the article,
and endorsed the Col. to the extent of my
knowledge, stating that he was citizen Of
St Cloud, had an opportunity of knowing
the resources of the country, bore the rep
utation here Of being a temperate, honest
man, and referred to his position on the
famine question as an evidence Of that hon
esty. -&. -, r. TT. "a. x.,:sssz
I was utterly astounded to learn, after
the distribution Of the Nsiter, that Col.
Barstow's brother-in-law, James Shepley
ESQ.,, was quite indignant in his denunci-
alton of my puff: I had "damned him
with faint praise" had not understood
that Mr.. Shepley's was the very, "fustcst
family" and had presumed to speak Of a
member of it, as I would have done ofany
worthy laboring man. So utterly ;ndig-
nant was Mr.. Shepley, that on the next
Sabbath he came within few inches of
driving over my sister whom he passed on
the street. A few days after, DR.. Palmer
called upon me to demonstrate on my lack
of appreciation of the character and position
of his friend Col. Barstow. He stated that
the Col. was then in. Washington transact
ing business for Gen. Lowry; that it might
interfere with his success there to have it
said that he differed with the German De-
racy on the famine. In my next issue I
explained the matter s. / thought il de-
served to be explained. That explanation
is on record and all may judge Of its merits;
but had I owrite it now, I should not al
ter line. Soon after our publisher called
upon Gen. Lowry with a bill for advertising.
This he refused to pay, Mr.. Mowatt asked
him about supporting the Fsite' and he
replied that he could not support a paper
which opposed the administration. Soon
after we ran out Of paper and there was
prospect of the Nsite;: being quite suspen-
ded for the want Of support. Several gen.
tlemen said to us that if we coull support
the administration, Gen. Lowry would sup
port us. We proposed to throw up tht
press if they would get an editor to suit
them. The Advertiser was Democratic
and Gen. Lowry did not contribute oni
dollar to support that; but stiltI could sci
that there was strong feeling indicatin
the opinion that if I could make the vi.
iter conform to the Generals wishes, my
fortune would be made. I wanted to maxi
fortune, and concluded that if it might b
done by supporting Mr.. Buchanan, [ coul
very easily do that. so turned Democrat
lappeal to any man here to say if I havt
not supported Mr.. Buchanan. Roars d
laughter. Now, ladies' and gentlemen,
beg you to believe thatsmy course in thi;
matter was dictated by my vow IF [ have
been wrong, that wrong was mistaken
sense Of duty. ] have no personalqua
with any one here, but I haveeyer conductc'
my war against slavery upon the plan d
Nathan's reply to David, "Thou art thI
man." soon learned to account for tl}t
strong pro-slavery sentiment~here, on ti;;
ground of Com Lowry's oyerawing infl'f
ence. l. He appeared to be the man VIII
stood at the head not Of the Democrat,
but Of the pro-slayery party. gave
simple history Of 'Stearns County politics
in which I designed to show how that in
fuence operates. Of that history I hay|
nothing to take back. I abused nobody,
called no names; but in the simplest word
I could use, told what I believe to be th
simple truth. 1 was informed that Gel
Lowry looked upon that article as a,persoA
al insult. Now, if ! understand the posi-
tion Of affairs here, Mr. Shepley is Ger
Lowry s head lacquey. He is emphaticallJ
the "General's Jeemes," great applause