Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-08
For the Democrat and iSeHtiIiet-
TO J. G. NOON, EDITOR OF THE
MOUNTAINEER

challenging you a man of important mat
ters." Pray forgive the challenge 80 pre-
made; attribute it not to lack of
bashfulness on my part, nor to the indlscre-
ton of youth. but to a neighborly desire to
accommodate. You seemed anxious for chunk
of a fight, aud although no journalist as you
are, vet | too have duties ard important /
matters" and one of them is to see you 1
through whenever a fair opportunity Is pre-
sented.
If it vas presumption and error TO request /
that our controversy be conducted IN the
Moun.aineer it can be pleaded in extenuition,
that, in all fairness both sides of discussion
should be heard by the same audience, or laid
before the same readers; otherwise, injustice
might be done to both sides; for instance: Ii
my side of the story alone was laid before
people not accustomed to read the HOuIltdineer,
you might be taken for an ordinary blockhead,
instead of the as.ute, conscientious, intelligent,
plucky, and veracious citizen that sheet makes
you out to be; while on the other hand, If your
poisons were swallowed without the antidote,
people who read the -RountdtReer alone, on
observing toe winnings of that institution
/ over a certain defuRct individual, might look
! upon me as some dread apparition which had
| burst the cerements OF the tomb, and come
back to plague politicians paralyze parties,
and with ominous ''JccL;" disperse conventions.
The justice and fairness of this plea
| arparent and will be admitted. Further, you
had, some months ago, challenged me, and
10 the most chivalric manner, proffered me
the use of your columns for reply. Desiring
at that time to lay few facts before more
extended circle of readers than the Mountain
eer could boast, your graceful offer could not
then be accepted; the effective manoeuvering
: of my artillery required more ground than you
could furnish.
Might we not here indulge IL a fond re-
miuiscence Of the high old time" We then
enjoyed. Our controversy was picturesque.
and waxed sentimental and had you not torn
yourself convulsively away, we might yet be
passing our time in converse sweet Why
: you left so suddenly after giving your bold
yet courteous challenge, Is not for me to say.
, Mayhap you felt like Sir Andrew Aguecheeki
: plague ont; an | thought he had been va
liant, and so cunning In fence, I'd have seen
him damned ere I'd have challenged him.
But to our present matter. No one being
: aware that the nOUHtaiaoer had closed dOwI
; upon gentlemen desirous of becoming Its re
gular eorrespondents-had become pTivat
snap, instead of public newspaper-it Wa
: thought at the time, when | made you pro
position, that you would not go back of you
e original offer You were so full Of insiuna
IS tions, of sly digs, had such Itching" 70
Z 4ad writing, had become SO wormy, in short
that it was presumed you would close ca
gerly with the first opponent who entered tn
e list. Besides. there money In the con
/ cern. After the publication of my offer
lie many persons were heard TO say, that if th
,e IAo,ntainccr furnished the proceedings of tn
combat they would subscribe for il durin;
" the controversy; so that it was your pecuniar
~ interest, had you no ''weightier reasons" I
in get u2 and prolong the fight; and it is remar
es kable that your scent. SO keen after the pre-
4 cious metals, was at fault in this instance.
You once invited me 70 your colunns-
Is now, 1.-The idea has not entered your nlind!
<. You were once magnanimOus enough to offc
the use of your paper for explanations 81
CT Now if fellow wan is to defend himself, il
OF ..trespdssing on the Democracyl" al
James, James, the ''disorganizing'' fever in
which you have got, has spoiled scheme fu
Nv of happiness; never was more beDevolel
ge project frustrated. Had you accepted II
proposition, all parties would have receive
pleasure and profit. The people would ha-
be got at the truth of the matters in question
IN that is all they want. l could have occupi
INV elegant leisure until corn hJsking. in IL
ns proving your morals, mind and manners
RS; that is all | want. You could have ma
ng money out of the scrimmage-that is all Y
IN. want But, James, somebody says, Tho
springs eternal In the human breast" a
ED therefore We trust that you will yet come
time; that, inspired by the impulse of yo
own ardent spirit. you will at last spurn
has cravens who counsel you to seek safety
ms ignominious flight; and that putting on
hemlet of Impudence. protecting your care
with the shield Of Sycophancy, buckli
around you the dagger of Deceit, you '
brandish aloft the spear of Slander, and J
,ni oIS ling aloud your war-cry.
eid -"Come on old Buck,
90 Ard damned be he who shouts for old *
30 tuck"
20 you will plunge into the-safest places in
fight.
l73 No, James, you and cannot. will not D
552 We will not separate, split, seccde, break
1di- in a row-we will merely adjourn; and in
axe meantime, in regard to the matters YOU br
,ely to my attention, such as elections and !
roads, let me suggest to you, that any in
re- nation you may need upon those subje
that you can obtain from the gentlemen who o
the your press and yourself an told.
judging from his recent operations in Eb
te is burg borough, he is quite a proficient at G
wn, tioneering; and as to rail roads. what he
Fill not know, is hardly worth knowing
can give you every information respecting
ect- working and mysteries of railroads PoT
and Central. in this county, in the past
The the present, mayhap In the future. You
find him perfectly conversant with railroa
hich in all its various Branches
Yhen One word before we part-I sboula
y of ddJoun-you will grant to your discons
lover one little favor, won't you? You ca
lose, refuse. In your last issue, 1st inst. oc
have the following, which / now proceed In