Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-07-27
Letter from L oulsa County.

The following commu nication was once declined,
FOX the reason that we thought enough had
been said on the subject Of which it Treats but at
the earnest solicitation of the writer. who thinks
he has been placed in wrong position, We insert
it at this late day. Both sides having now had .
fair hearing the discussion must stop - fir as
columns are concerned -.--a..--.--s
CONCORD, Louisa County, June l.
Mr. MAHIN In the Journal of the 4th
of MAY last is an article from Columbus
City, reply to which the writer evidently
thought would not be permitted to appear
in your paper. But, sir, cannot for a
moment think that you would allow him or
any one else to return your paper for pub
fishing certain articles, and otherwise init.
mate that you must not publish anything in
defense OF right, and then allow him to
circulate through the same paper sweeping
aud unfounded charges, with a view to
prejudice the public mind against the other
party, when, as he supposed, the press was
closed against defense. No, sir, | know
that you are aware that truth will bear
Investigation, and carry its own conviction
with it when properly understood, while
error says, hush, to tile spirit of enquiry.
OF the first assertion in said article your
numerous readers can judge. The writer
says, in speaking of the two articles which
you published before, that they reflect some
what on the citizens of Columbus City. It
is needless to say they do no such thing
There is much difference between the
citizens and citizens of a place. This
certainly was very weak and puerile effort
to convince you that the whols of Columbus
City was engaged in this matter, and to
make them think they were all accused by
me. But would inform him that tn ere
are many persons in that place who do not
receive things as a matter of fact the bare
say SO of others - when repugnant to
common sense men that have the spirit
of enquiry and take the liberty to think and
Judge for themselves. The writer asks W by
"W. B." fears the Vigilance Committee
more than the wild beasts2 Wise men
should not ask such simple questions. He
knows that small men like me would fearfully
meet q crowd of large men like the Vigilance
Committee.
The next thing is a charge of malignant
felsehood on my part, followed by the
assertion that for year or two past our
town has been infested with thieves, who
stole everything that they could lay their
hands on broke into stores, groceries
and shops Of mechanics, and helped them
selves to such things as they liked best,
until the patience Of our citizens became
exhausted, &c. Now. unde rtake t. say
there has not been store or grocery or
mechanics shop broken into in that town
for the last year, no. anything stolen to the
amount Of five dollars, and those acquainted
with the circumstances can lay the charge
! of malignant falsehood where it belongs
Under such circumstances, ask, is there a
necessity for forming secret society, q small
portion at least of which will always be
unprincipled men, and giving that small
portion the privilege of pointing the finger
Of scorn and casting the eye of suspicion on
unspspecting and innocent persons, charg.
ing them with crime, rushing them to tria
: and. perhaps conviction, hurriedly anG
blindly, without even giving them an op
portunity of showing that those anon
them of high standing and pure motives
have been lnislead, hoodwinked and infu
enced TO swerye from the path of justice by
, designing men, because they neglected t.
select tor such purposes men of noble
principle. Such organizations foster in mer
spirit of prejudice, from which they
surmise evil about others, which amounts tt
a reality in their imagination, and henc,
they assume the liberty to report ant
circulate it as truth, founded uron facts, tt
the great injury of society and friendship
There are others again who will desire 6
thing and wish that it might be so, and from
thence reason themselves into the belle
J that it is 50, and thus stand in their OWL
! light and deceive themselves, When direc,
reference comes 70 the case in Columbus
City, it is well known that hundreds Of
) scanda!ous reports have been circulated ir
that county, not only in regard to the
accused but his innocent family and friends
RepoFta circulated to lrejudioe the minds
of the people and fill them with bitterness
and emn;ty do not promote the cause OF
truth and virtue, but must be considered by
every candid well.iDformed mind as the
fruits of the serpent. Many men will fs
an hundred schemes and tell ten Thousand
lies to effect the most deyilish purposes, and
after thsi. ends are answered, mike them
selves merry to think how they accomplished
their designs and, inasmuch such societies
are composed of all classes Of Den, they
become unnat aral brothers, who consider
otn, - az beings of an inferior grade and
rank themselves head and shoulders above
their betters, and of course from the spiri!
of such an education they are contaminated
with prejudice and partiaity which wholly
disGIaaes shem to judge with equity and
humanity.
Then can any one ask, why be afraid OF
such combinations q? Why fear societies
that will prescribe newspaper for pub.
fishing an article in defense of right !? WHY
fear society that will prescribe persons
that wish to see men fairly dealt with p
Why fear scci4ty having among it men
wa" will write wholesale charges against
You tor newspapers, denying their conneo.
ton with said society, and conveying the
impression that some respectable person
wrote it Well might their blood course
rapid y under such q state Of affairs Why
fear society that PLACES itse:f in such a
position thas it must ruin you or suffer
itself Z WIZ t.ear a society that accuses
/ you Of sympat' with crime when you only
wis! to see justice done and the laws Of our
glorious Republic observed, which guaran-
tees the liberty of the press and fair and
impartial trial by jury !?
1t is hard for me to say what the gentle
mems experience teaches him man will
do when lie commits crime, but this history
and common scuse, if he has any, will teach
HIM that remorse of conscience cannot
accuse until crime is committed; and it is OF
reasonable that sane man will drug aud
make a fool of himself before committing
crime. Now, in conclusion, let me say
that no one has charged the citizens of
Columbus City with this great wrong. No
one has said that among the Vigilance
Committee are not to be found many of our
most respectable citizens but would say
to such, look earnestly at the Case referred
to, aud see if they have not placed the ac-
cused in u position where his enemies can
have the opportunity of slandering him as
they please, and while he was inearce-
rated in Jail of throwing base, slanderous
and threatening letters, in the yard where
his family resided, which, in place of being
refuted by members of that Committee who
knew better, were laughed at; then hear
! the thonsand fying reports through the