The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-08-12
a Lfbellous Assault.
]. Nv. NoRRfs. ESQ. 8

A Lfbellous Assault.
J. w. NoaRrs, Esq,
81 81 Dear Sir:--In your iss-
ne Of August 5th find that am attacked by
Mr.. VIM. Ivans, Of Highland Township, un-
der the startling caption Of "Refused to help
bury the Dead"
Now, ss you have published Mr.. Ivans'
communication containing 10 serious charge
against me, I ask to be permitted to reply
through the medium of your paper.
Mr. Ivans came to my shop, as he has stated,
to order coffin for ono Of his neighhors, and
asked him IL heswould not pay for It. Ny
reasons for doing 80 were that Mr.. Ivans, in
comparison with myself, Is a rich man-able
to bear the pecuniary loss without feeling il.
Whereas am very poor man, with family
Of small children who are dependant upon my
daily labor for bread. And the deceased was
not only neighbor Of Mr.. Ivans, but was one
Of his tenants. Thus having stronger claims
upon his sympathies and purse, than upon
mine. Besides had made one coffin for the
wife Of the deceased, some two years ago. and
have not yet received my pay; then why am
hunted down by Mr.. Ivans? have never
done him the least harm in my life; can It be
that it is because asked him to help bury the
dead? II occurs to me, though it may be an
uncharitable conclusion, that Mr.. Ivans' in
dignation arose very suddenly on being asked
to stand good for the coffin. He says that he
was very much surprised, which. think, was
quite true, for he had not the remotest idea Of
such contingency arising, as to have to foot
the bill. So he left me in sort Of holy hor-
ror, denouncing me to the citizens Of Dahlon-
egs, and threatening to publish me to the
world. Now would we do MIN any wrong,
under the circumstances. IL we were TO sug-
gest that it was barely possible that some con-
nection between the pocket and heart caused
this intense ire. He says "There may not he
any Statute Law compelling cabinet makers or
physicians to render their services to those
from whom they do not anticipate any COM
pensation. Isuppose that he is not very ia
miliar with either law or gospel; but I am
willing, for his edifcation. to freshen his mem
DRY little on one point at least. He will find
in the Statute Of Iowa, page 1856, sec. s767,
276e, that GA libel is the malicious defama-
ton Of person made public by any printing.
tending to deprive him Of the bene-
Ats OF puhlic confidence and social intercourse
And that fine guilty party tshall be punished
by imprisonment in the county Jail not more
than one year, or by fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars.n
He writes fipantly about making collins FOR
all the dead-rich anil poor-no matter wheth-
er the poor mechanic gets consideration this
side Of Heaven or not. How many credits Of
this kind will my friend be able to offer as as
sets at the last great day OF reckoning? JuJg-
ing from his conduct towards me, fear the
list will fall fearfnily short. He grows elo
qnent, and indeed pathetic, over "tbe last sa-
cred rite to all the dead;'' but writing in such
a style Is much cheaper than paying for cof-
fms. He has quoted the beautiful metaphor
of holy writ, "Ca.t your bread upon the wa
tiers and you shall find it AFTER many days."-
True charity, have been taught, is an active
principle,--it is not properly . single virtue,
but disposition residing in the hear: as a
fountain: whence see the virtues OF benignity,
candor, forbearance, generosity, compassion,
and liberality flow as SO many native streams.
From general goodwill to all, it extends its
influence, particularly to those with whom we
stand in nearest connection, and who are d.
rectly within the sphere Of our good Offices
Is my assailant willing to be judged by his
own standard? Why ~as ii that he did not
.scast his bread upon the waters" by paying
for his poor deceased neighbours coffin?
He calls on Christians, neighbors, and the
community generally, not to patronize me-
His aim is to take from me the means Of sup
port that now possess; to compel me to leave
the little home that have 50 long and earn
sstly striven to make wholly mine. To rob me
Of the pittance that has heretofore enabled me
to give my children food, and shelter from the
cold. To take from me the benefit Of the
promise, given to all of Adams lost race, sIn
the sweat OF thy face shalt thou eat bread.'-
He would rob me Of that sacred birth-right Of
every man, Uork.
And this man calls himself Christian, not
withdrawing bis uncallei-for, nnfeeling, and
unchristian attack upon me, and through me,
my family.
II have acted wiongfully in asking Mr..
Ivans to pay for the coffin, 1t has been through
my soIicituds for my family. For it is writ
tenn
"But il any provide not for his own, and
those especially Of his own house, he hath de-
MED the faith, and is worse than an infdel."
PETER GOEHRING.
Dahlonega, August OH, 1853.
ST. Louis, Aug. Z.
Gen. Harvey, Maj. Bull, Capt: Pleasanton