Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-09-21

hind deed of trust" This is the language of the
JeGersoniarl and although it is direct impeach-
ment of the honor of some of the very best men in
every community, he does not hesitate to deal out
the broadcast insult that he may find pretext for
gross reflections upon the honesty of John Bell
Deeds of trust are made under the direct sanction
of the law, and for purposes approved by the law
givers, and though there may be "a question of
honesty behind" some of them, we could not bring
ourselves to make.th charge general one as an
excuse for assang the character of any individual
however humble or exalted We know men who
have made deedsof trust who are emphatically gen.
tlemen; the Jefersouian may know none such, and
therefore his experience may bring him to conclu-
sons widely different from those at which we have
arrived. But be this as it may, we feel assured
that the character of John Bell is far above the
reach of such missiles the Jefersonian hurled at
II in his last issue and that such warfare can only
njure the assaiants.
j But to dispose of these foul charges, we publish
the following communication.
/ GAINESVILLE, Sept, 20, 1860.
1 EDITOR CHRONICLE: Dear Sir: Pleaae publish in
the next issue of your paper the following state
ment, addressed to the Editor of the Je6ersOnia,i
a copy of which he has and will publish.
Yours respectfully
GEO. 7. LEWIS.
GAINESVILLE Sept. 20, 1860
To the Editor Of the ClarksvilIe Jc6rsonian
In the last number of your paper you state that
the Hon. John Bell has made an assignment Of his
property 10 !certain wealthy creditors and ask
how many hard working wood-choppers in his
cosngs were cut out of their pay by the assign
ment."- You also ask whether Mr.. Bell made that
assignment "of over three hundred slaves last year
to gouge some of his creditors"
| will not inquire into the motive which prompted
the many filings" which your paper makesa at Mr..
Bell in regard to what you call "an assignment y
but ask you to publish statement of the facts
and do justice where you have done great injustice
In the year 1859, upon a settlement of the ac-
counts of the late firm of Waterman, Woods 4 Co.,
composed of Joseph and Robert Woods, and Mrs
Waterman, (uow Mrs. Belly it was ascertaned that
John Bell and his wife were indebted to James
Woods, sr,-who was the executor of Robert Woods
and had succeeded to the interest of James Woods
IA sum VI %lOO,VpV. Inc Ol NOOuS, Lew
is Co., in which Mr. and Mrs. Bell are partners, has
, succeeded to the business and assets of Yatemau
Woods Co.. at Cumberland Iron Works" anG
, Mr.. James Woods, not requiring any personal secu
rty for the Indebtedness of Mr.. and Mrs Bell they
executed to him mortgage upon their interest il
the lands sldves and other assets belonging Woods
Lewis & Co., as a security therefor. The assets o
this firm above all its liabilities, exceed $3.50 900
and the interest of Mr. ard Mrs. Bell is worth a
least 100000 In addition TO this, Mr.. Bell ha
other property, which is not conveyed by the mort
gage, worth more than $4,000. The mortgag,
executed by Mr.. and Mrs. Bell has not in any way
effected either his credit or that of Woods Levi
4 Co.. and you and every person in this communi
ty well know that "no hard working wood-chop
, per-" in what you call John Bells, but in fac
Woods Lewis & Cos. "coalings," nor any othe
, creditor of Woods Lewis b Co, has been deprived
. Of " his pay"
3 l have been connected with the business Of Cum
berand Iron-works from the year ls34 to this time
as clerk, confidential correspondent and now as
partner in the firm of Woods Lewis & Co., ant
know that no 'wood-chopper' or other creditor o
the firm or their predecessors, has ever been ecu
out of his pay"
Respectfully, GEO. T. LEWIS,
Superintendent Cumb Iron-Works