Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-06-22
[For the ChronIIole. 1

TO card published ia the issue preceding that
over my own name, and in that reply is transcript
from the records of the Tobacco Exchange, ombody-
ing their action upon proposal made by Mr.. Bryce
Stewart for me to the Exchange. This reply forces
me to further notice Of the matter in the news
paper, a means Of defense had hoped would not
have to resort to again. had intended to reply to
the published record of the Exchange, by a state
ment from Mr. Stewart, himself but finding that he
left here on Monday last for Richmond, must offer
my statement of the facts Of the case, as vim
dcation of my position, holding myself responsible
for the substantiation of every word | say by Mr..
Stewart upon his return, should that be desired by
any gentleman.
What said to Mr. Stewart, and to snndry other
gentlemen with whom | conversed about the Elk.
change, was this; That was opposed to the pro
ject from beginning to end, and would have nothing
to do with it. That was my position, but my ar
gument with them took a wider range argued
that the existence of the several warehouses and The
plan of selling at each was productive of COM
petition that stimulated each proprietor to labor to
get the highest possible prices the sales went out
made at his particular carehoass aud in has Nance
and that in sales at the Exchange, all this rivalry
would be lostif not at once certainly after while
also contended that the removal of the samples
would injure them, and consequently injure the
sales; that if the Exchange were established, the
warehouses would simply become repositories for
tobacco where the negroes would do the labor, and
the Inspectors would sample it-neither the buyer
nor the planter seeing it there The samples would
then be carried to the Exchange and there sod and
the sales 60 out as made at the Exchange. | used
these and other arguments against the Exchange
but to all Of them its advocates and friends replied
by saying that was wrong, and that its establish
ment would not produce the results that predicted
To all their reasoning finally replied, that if they
thought | was wrong, and that it made no differ
ence where the tobacco was sol1, and were deter
mined TO establish an Exchange that they might
locate it at my warehouse; that if they would agree
to take all the tobacco there and sell it all there for
ten years would furnish them a room, and at my
own expense fit it up in elegant and convenient
style-provide private entranQa.to it, and give
them the key and the exclusive control of it. In
making this proposal, stated distinctly that would
have nothing whatever to do with the Exchange,
but would continue to sell such tobacco sent
to me- as had always done--or in such way as |
thought BEST that was perfectly willing to furnish
them a room thus fixed up, for the benefit that
believed would deri0 from having all the tobacco
sold at my warehouse, while sold that consigned
to me in my own way Such has been my position
in every argument that have had on this subject;
and it amounts simply to this: that always have
been, now, and expect ever to be opposed to the
establishment of the Tobacco Exchange in any shape
or form; and any man who will take my arguments
or what have said about it, and endeavor, know
ing them to make the impression upon others that
l have favored or encouraged it, is guilty of
gross dishonesty, and worthy only Of contempt and
scorn.
So much for this question and now as to the
part that your correspondent &C." has played in this
matter. In his first article he INDUCED in very
offensive and unwarranted imputaton that J. for
selfish motives, was trying to "take people by the
nose and to lead them in whatever direction might
most contribute to my personal prosperity, without
any reference to the general good" When first
read this imputation, thus cast upon me, my i'm
pulse was to treat it very differently from what
did, but thinking, as l stated in my card, that it
might have arisen from misapprehenson of facts,
| ! determined TO reply to it as did. After doing
that, and making the plain statement as to my po-
stion that did, had a right to expect and did
expect to have from c., as had from a gentleman
connected with the Exchange, an acknowledgment
that he had misapprehended my position, and con-
tributed in some degree himself to placing me in a
false position in this matter but being relieved by
my statement of his msapprehension, he should
certainly no longer contribute towards doing me
such injustice.
But it seems that the individual whose identity
is so closely yelled in that letter c. actuated by
no such liberal and honorable instincts After hav-
ing read my plain avowal of my position in this
matter, and knowing my sentiments fully in regard
to it, instead of repairing the wanton wrong he had
done me, he actually persists in il, and attempts to
prove in the face of all had said that was in
favor of the Exchange And in doing all this-in
attempting to show that had basely changed my
position for personal end, and after trying to dis
prove my own statement by record for which |
could not be accountable-he meckly and inno-
comfy says he meant to cast imputations at the
honor of any onel Such obtusity of feeling and
idea would indicate that this came from one who
eithcr from lack of the ordinary sensbties of a
gentleman, or from some other misfortune, cannot
realize what an insult is.
Such being my impression of the character OF
my yelled assailant G.. | must positively decline
any further controversy of this kind with him. and
> if our antngonstic relations are TO be continued II
must be in more personal manner and in way
that will admit of no mistakes or misunderstood
ings. Z. II. oMllh' 4
nolt;y,ora Convention