The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-17

DESIAL.--Mr. Silas Doggett requests us 70
deny the statement in the paper last week
that he was on his knees, and the clause
preceding it, that sccessionists were badly
scarel. Mr.. n, says the whole charge, SO
far as he is concerned, was incorrect.
We give Mr.. Doggctt the benefit of his
:senia! Of the charge that he was on his knees
Fu,atrue we are glad to know it. We have
no disposition to misreprescnt any man.
Butat the same time we wish it understood
that we merely print the denial, as we print
cd the charge, knowing nothing personally
about the matter.
After all this is too trivial matter TO
justify all the fuss Mr.. Doggctt seems dis.
posed to make abouth Nobody can believe
that if precisely the same thing had occur
red between travellers upon ordinary bust
ness and Mr.. Doggett, and we had mentioned
it as an item Of news, that he would have
ta.sen-the trouble to come all the way TO
Ottumwa, impress the editor of>the Union
and other party friends into the service, and
thus supported, surround us for tie evident
purpose Of bringi ,g US, ri ct arms, to terms
No, the real difficulty in this case, was
want Of sympathy between Mr.. Doggett and
the soldiers who passed his place. They had
been summoned from their homes to aid IN
hunting up and subduing traitors confedera-
ted together to make war upon the United
States. Mr.. Doggett himself says that they
had been informed that he was a secession.
it, and they may have heard that he had
rejoiced over the disgrace of the flag of his
country at Sumter, and they may not un-
reasonably have expected, if all these things
were true, that he might rejoice over any
casualties to themselves, if indeed, he did
not embrace the first opportunity to promote
fire in their rear during their absence,
which might cndanger the peace and security
perhaps Of their friends and families, while
they worc far away.
Neitler did Mr.. Doggett, upon his own
showing, entertain towards the soldiers and
their mission, any more friendly feelings,
than they probably cherished towards him
They were going to engage in war which
he disapproved. He is for peace, and would
settle this controversy by compromise, not
the sword: Hence it is not very likely that
Mr.. Doggett was particularly pleased with
the sight Of the soldiers, or IN a temper to
treat them with any extraordinary degree of
favor or kindness. Thus, both parties being
unfayorably disposed towards each other,
the most trivial circumstance might bring
on collision between them, particularly as
the boys appear from all we have heard Of
them, to have been rather too free in their
department, for region ostensibly at peace
with the Unitel States Under the excite
ment of leaving home, they were undoubted.
ly inclined to be wild and insubordinate.
Still, we have heard Of no difficulty Between
them and anybody friendly to them and the
patriotic mi sion upon which they were
destined.
All due allowances should therefore be
made for these men, and everybody will
readily appreciate Mr.. Dosge.ts evident dis,
position to magnify every circumstance that
might be likely to create a prejudice against
them or the cause in which they are engaged.
And nasmuch as Mr.. Doggett has complain.
ed of US for misrepresenting him, we en-
brace the occasion Of his being in the papers
to say to him, that we complain of him, for
the unpatriotic, to speak in the mildest terms
oft, position he acknowledges himself to
occupy in this life and death struggle of his
country fer the very existence OF its nation
atty for Withholding from the government
to which he owes allegiance, his hearty sup.
port and undivided Influence, in it's hour of
EXTREMIST peril for standing confessediy
and colby neutral and indifferent, and even
hostile, while the patriot soldiery OF the Re-
public, with the stars and stripes floating
over them, are marching by upon their holy
mission to defend our flag, our cons,itu-
ton, our nationality.
Yes, Mr.. Doggett, you confessed to us the
day you were here, that you were neutral in
this contest. in which everything dear to
American freemen is at stake. We conceive
that jou bave n right TO be 50, that in fact
, Gu Cam. Z oe 50 We w0u.3 ,.ot nl;.judce !