Litchfield enquirer., 1861-04-04
Mir. Tom Cinrke

u1As ONH SkdaFEAc.
 We had the unpleasant duty few weeks since to exhibit Mir. Thomas NJ. Clarke of the Winsted He1ald in his favorite character of blackguard. We have now the equally unpleasant duty of dub ping him, in addition to his ether weII-known and well-established reputation, as a Har-and a liar not only of the lowest, flthiest grade but a liar of such surpassing efrontery and degraded cast, that we propose to put On the very thickest nit tens we have, properly to characterize him and hold him up to the public scorn.
 In an article in the fast weeks Herad, in which he does us. the deepest ndignity to which we have ever been subjected, namely,-to notice us to the extent ofa column of his sheet--he has added SO largely to his previous wellestablshed reputation, as the lowest and vilest of blackguards, that a bold staring lie, or dozen of bold staring lies, only exhibits a Eew emblem of filth, of which Mir. Clarke, from top to toe, is the embodiment and the example.
 He says, to commence:
 "Sometine in the summer of '6o, the Editor of the Litchfield Enquirer, Mr. Humphrey, paid Wnsted a visit in company with Mr. Rufus Smith. Immediately upon their arrival MT. Smith waited upon us at our office, stated that Mir. Humphrey was below, and that he wished an introduction to us."
 LIE No. one MT. Humphrey never desired, or asked, or intimated desire to make MT. Clarke's acquaintance: Sooner than seek Mr. Clarke's acquaintance, or even hold it, or ac. knowledge 1t for moment, we would consent to an introduction to the devil incarnate ; for we should much prefer an acquaintance with the Master and elder brother of MT. Clarke, surroun- ded with all his majesty and birthstone, than that of such low sycophant of Satan, who apes his manners, who surpasses his meanness, and who is lacking in all his qualities of greatness and in- telligence.
 Unluckily for us, we have since that time re- ceived an introduction to Mr. Clarke, in Wolcott. vile, but have never, by word or deed by sign or recognition, allowed that low-lived specimen to consider for moment, thata casual introduction contained the slightest ground for Mir. Clarke to consider that he had the slightest claim to our personal acquaintance. Indeed at Winsted, and at New Haven, and on the cars hitherand thither where we have met him, we have taken the great est pains to allow him to see our most thorough and hearty, and uneoncerned contempt for him So much for personal matters. And we hope we have said enough, and we have no room or de sire to say more, to convince Mr. Clarke of the estimation in which ,ce personally hold him. | The rest of Mr. Clarke's article is stream O l filthy abuse upon us, because we chose to admi reply to its abusive article respecting the char acter of our fellow-townsman, GEORGE c. WooD RUFF, whose personal character stands so higl in the estimation of good men everywhere, of al parties and of all classes that, while we con fidant that any reflection upon him from the Her aid, would be considered ouly dearly bough honor, and while we knew that notice of hin would only bring forth fresh abuse, we were con tent to admit the communication, as a matter upon which our instincts of honor and deccncy compelled us to open our columns to refutatior or fa'sehood even in favor of political opponent
 Anu II we had no other reason than politica one for so doing, it would be valid enough, inso
 much as the article of the Herolawould he mueb more likely to give votes to MT. Woodufr tbo, to take them away. For the great nuh,;e of s,, parties, when coward and blackguard re. viles an upright honorable man, always take sides with the latter.
 In this article the lies uttered or penned, are 1 not confined to our course, but to Mr. Woodruff also. In Mr. Woodruff's case he has the a,o fo, libel if he pleases and public opinion to set him right The only law ,es eoula wish to inaiet upon