The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-24
Explanatory.


From a letter written by one Of tho
volunteers, near Washington, from this
county, to n friend here, we learn that
the papers in this region who have so
willfnlly assailed us have attempted to
mislead the volunteers, by representing a
local item which we gave some weeks
ago 10 be direct and deliberate insult to
the valiant soldiery from this county.
Now while this misrepresentation was
confined to the partizan prejudices Of said
newspapers, and known here to be merely
one of those accustomed filings at us, to
CRAFTY their political bias, we did not re-
ply to it-for what good could be accom-
plished by denial OH our part of one of
the many torturings given to our senti,
mentsG To those who believed we were
capable Of the purpose attributed TO us
it would be useless for us to deny it.
those who know us, needed no such deni-
al-and, therefore, we passed it by as UNI
worthy our attention.
Last week our village contemporary
gave place TO communication purport.
ing to be from lady-whose grief and
sorrow for our want of manliness, and
disgust for our sentiments generally,
prompted her TO berate us roundly. We
noticed the article, and claimed that our
purpose in writing tho Objectionable arti-
Gle she referred TO had been maicously
perverted Now we have before us the
letter referred to above, and we conclude
TO give our explanation:
We wish once for all TO say to those
away from this place, who may have had
their attention called to an article repre-
scented TO be q villanous comment OH the
conduct of the volunteers from this place,
that NO thought or word from us can
sanction any candid mind in the belief
that we directly or indirectly intended to
cast q slur upon the "Volunteers." We
would not so disgrace ourselves, if no bet
Ter motive controls us-nor can we avoid
the responsibility of assailing the charac-
ter of others. The article was commend
alory Of the order and sobriety of oar 0a-
l0ge, and was merely so INTENDED. Not
one of our citizens or residents of Grand
Haven has enlisted as volunteer land
we are sorry TO be obliged to say this J
and every person in Grand Haven knoWS
that, therefore, neither directly or indi-
rectly could our local notice have refer
cnce TO the brave men in other parts Of
the county who have answered the call
for volunteers. When. Gov. BLAIR APP
pealed to the citizens of this State, and
this town, for money to equip "our
volunteers" we gave money liberal
", and so did others, rs the record
will show. We could not leave our bu-
siness then to volunteer, and it lily be,
comes those who did not, or would not
give one cent, or volun Ger, TO attempt tC
make personal capital by misrepre
sentation. After the article was writ
ten the printer called for "heading,'
and, without thought of possible mis-
construction in the face of the abov
named fact, the heading was given. w
were shocked at the Interpretation givel
to that heading by journals out of tn
county, and gladly re-echoed by a pape
here Deeming it the promptings of
partizan bias We forgave, aud shall try t
forget it.
When not volunteer has gone fror
Grand Haven, how could any candle
mind say that the ordcrand sobriety of tn
village was owing to the absence of thi
class more than any other class Of mel
unless to willfully and malciously mis-
represent us for supposed benefit tina
might result to themselves9
We have been called traitors, and 81
cessionists, and so on, through the who
list of opprobrious epithets, sIandere'
and vilifers, rs WELL but that does nc
make us such. We have lived
vain if such assaults have any etie'
where we are known, and we hay
enough to do besides TO give any MOI
than the moments thought as they al
uttered.