The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-06-05

happened to be in constant comm unica-
ton with Col. A. R. McClung, of mississippi,
in 1S49 and 1850, and had almost daily con-
versation with him in relation to prominent
Mississippians. AS matter of course, JEFF.
Davis was frequently named, and for him
McClung entertained the most supreme con-
tempt. He said that JEFF. was not man of
true courage-tha, he wished to be regarded
as duelist; but, in giving challenge, would
always cast about for non combatant, and
would exercise enough prudence to creep
out of accepting one from an antagonist over
whom he had not great advantage. McClung
said, on one OCCASION
81 am very sorry I ever fought duel /:
1t is not a pleasant business; and yet I
would like to fight one more, with one man,
and that man is jeff. Dacis, because think
the United States viii be better without him.
He will not fight me, he IS too great cow
ard. In fact, he is not now, never was, and
never win be, brave man, in the true sense
Of the word. He is dangerous and willy
politician, loaded down with vanity and self
conceit, wishing only for his own aggrand-
izemcnt, and he cares not at what expense
or how many desolate households. He thinks
of himself, and himself alone, and should
not be surprised to find him, one of these
days, taking such step in public as viii
place his neck in halter for he is bad
man and scoundral and have frequently
denounced him as such before the people of
Mississippi and the dirty paltroon and art
full villain never had the courage to resent it,
These conversations occurred on board the
ship Levine, B. Gardner, master, on our
passage from New York to VALPARAISO. Nc
Chung was on his way to Bolivia, as Charge
d. A.faires from the United States.
In introducing to the notice Of the Sunday
lNercury's readers these facts in the history
Of the arbitrator, am not violating any
rules Of propriety which protects the strictly
private moral delinquencies of public men.
AS said in my article, printed in the
Independent, few months ago. exposing the
systematic thefts Of a Yale College student,
committed thirty three years since! '!IIad
not that little thief (now Senator in Con-
gress) reproduced in public life the morality
of his early private life, the secret of the sins
Of his youth would have remained hidden
in the bosoms of those who then knew, and
now remember them"
The Tribune Times, and other papers say
that my ''littie thief was Judah P. Be MIA
min, now Attorney General of the Southern
Confederacy of traitors aud pirates. I did
not publish the name Of the person described,
but will promptly furnish in whenever the
right man calls upon me for it.
When Benedict Arnold "a man of far
higher character as to courage, truth, and
honesty than any Of his feeble imitators at
the South) committed his bold treason, it
was considered justiiable to search through
his whole previous life, to his very childhood,
for evidences Of his innate total depravity;;
and such incidents constitute an interesting
and instructive portion to the history of our
time and country these characteristics of
Jefferson Davis and his coadjutors in treason,
theft, assassination, and piracy" Among
them may be specially mentioned, DavidL.
Yulee, ex-senator from Florida, of whose
early life I will give some similar sketches at
my earliest leisure and convenience.
affix my name to these statements, not
merely on the general principle that anony-
nous charges are entitled to no respect or
belief, bat because am particularly desirous
to furnish my proofs and authorities to the
immediate parties in interest" whenever
they dare to apply to me for them. Of no
other person will take any notice in this
connection. To those whom I accuse;
alone am responsible.
1'>-' 80 d. FRANCIS BACON NJ D.