Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-11-23
EDITOR TRUE DEMoCRAT-

Dear Sir: In your paper of the 21st Sept. last, you published a long and scanda- lous article on me, over the signature of | one l.. D. Harvey. I was absent at the | time to Kentucky and since my return the want of leisure and ill heath, have prevented | my making a reply to it until nova labor | l would hardly think worth the ink, was it not that by such publication you gave circulation to islander and falsehood be- l yond the region where my character is | we'll known, and where, as is the case with | mankind generally the 5ad is more readily | listened to than the good any one. These assertions may be believed and do me harm and to place myselfright before the world, and particularly before such of my remote or immediate friends as may feel an inter- est in the fair name-I think 1t has been mine to enjoy for some thirty years in the State of Arkansas, answer the falsehoods contained in the two columns of matter com prlsins the charges against me, of using improperly the funds of the county of peculating in it's scrip-exercisinc an unfair Influence in my official position to promote my own interest, and that of my immediate Misunderstanding an illegal ap pointment of guardian for the protection of the person and property of a young mulatto girl, and divers other charges and insinuations, meanly and contemptiblv hlnted at by that same distinguished indi- vidual.
 That the charge of using collision with the tax collector and the treasurer to get possession of the S6,664 74-100, then about to be paid over by the collector, or that misappropriated a dollar of it after 1t was placed in my hands is utterly unfounded and false refer to the action ofthe county court in relation to the matter-copies of which proceedings are herewith enclosed for publication.
 That l made 1t q matter of speculation Tn asking the court to take up and reissue 5000 of the old repudiatei scrip of this county for MT. James Harrison of St. Louis, Is also false; and l refer to the same order to prove 4. 1 could refer to Gordon \. Peay, esq, Gen. Wm. E. Ashley, Wm. F. Woodruff, esq.,, of Little Rock. to establish the fact, that the county court of this county did for them exactly the same thing done in this instance for the benefit of Nr. J. Harrison; and that any holder of the old scrip of this county can come in noW and obtain the same compromise as was made with all these parties and that | have no interest in the matter or ever ex- pected to have-further than to see the county of Chicot rightly and honorably wipe out an old debt which has been hang ing over her for nearly twenty years. I refer to Mr. Harrison himself gentle man we'll known to many of the old citi- zens of Little Rock
 As to the appointment of guardian to take charge of the person and protect the property of young free mulatto girl whose reputed father had left her by his will the sum of 5000, the executor of the estate dead, and the next and only friend, the wife of that executor-incapable to act as guardian in consequence of her having become the administratrix of her husband, is matter feel that l have only done my duty in,-and as such shall cer- tainly not seek either the advice or the opinions of such creature as L. D. Harvey about
 That all ny acts as judge of the county and probate court of Chicot county are as well known to its citizens generally, as they are to that famous ''attorney who practices in them," and before me, you may well suppose-and if there had been any act of mine, or of the court generally, or of any of its members, from which wrong could be implied, it is at least pro6- able some one would have heard of 1t through other means than that of long tirade of dirty abuse in the columns of newspaper; and that the people of Chicot county do not apprehend any injury to their interests, or feel any concern i'll relation to them from the action of the county court. am proud to refer to the expressions pubHcl made, and reduced to the form of resolutions " by the citizens generally, at a meeting held at Lake Village, on the 10th ult' and forwarded to the "True Democrat" for publication; and which in remote corner of your paper you did publish on the 2d inst, acithout comment.
 Now gentlemen you will allow me to dissent little from the intimation you make, that 1 ought to be somewhat thank ful for the abuse so literally heaped upon me, 'ds glOes me an opportunity to deteRd myselt,' and be assured l would greatly prefer enjoying your good opinion, and that of the community at large without either this privilege or necessity; and let me ln all sincerity further say--that one will have to be a long time accustomed to it, to appreciate any advantage from it, or to feel under any obligations tor it. As editor of public journal your situation is cer- tainly different from mine-if it be luxury to you to be abused and belied-rest assured 1t IS anything but pleasant to me.
 And allow me to say further to you-that all this man Harvey could say about me, would not care fig for, if 1t were only said ochere / oDe kRoacn; but to have falsehoodS spread out in the columns of public journal controlled and edited by gentlemen who have regard for character-and more par tlcularly when the senior editor of that journal has known me from his bovhood up-that he would have permitted such publication without knoacing it was the truth, IS not a little mortifying to me. It cer- talnly was not enough that life time of over sixty years should be marred and black ened by an unknown wretch, because his signature was appended to 1t. Why, there are hundreds of just such creatures that would jump at the same thing, merely for the notoriety they might gain by having their names fixed to published article of abuse.
 You certainly could not have known your man in this instance That he claims to be an attorney at law, is true; that he was a candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney in this district is also true; but, that he had any standing as a man, or as an attorney where he is known, I deny that he is partially insane is generally believed by those who are at all familiar with him: but that he has heart as full of malice, and tongue as completely poisoned with islander as any wretch that ever lived IS beyond question:; nor am l the flrst by any means, on whom he has tried to spit his venom, and probably not the last from whose chastisement he will run like hound. So far as his alienation of mind IS concerned can feel as much charity for him as other men, but for his vicioas propenslties there