The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-10
The Civilian and the Tax List.

have in the character Of mankind in
general, however much we may believe
that there is more of truth, of honor, Of
justice, of goodness i'll each heart, than
of the opposite characteristics, however
indignantly we may reject tic idea Of
total deprayity, there is occasionally a
case OF such apparently unjustiiiable dis
regard of some moial requirement,
where We least expect it, that our faith
in natural goodness is sorely shaken. Ii
is thus that we felt in reading the last
article in the Civilian, relative to the
Tax List. The editor of that sheet is al
an age when we have right, in most
natures, to look for an almost chivalrous
devotion to truth, but insteadwe find him
making in his last issue the most unwar-
rantable assertions, denying Professionally
facts lie knows TO be susceptible of the
clearest proof, and charging falsehood
WHeic HS huOWS IL uOeS NOT GAiSt VIII II I'LL
assumption of innocence that proves him
equal to the most abject baseness of hy-
pocracy. We must confess our profound
surprise at tie development of character
made by Mr.. BARNHART. We certainly
believed better of him than his article
indie ates. We did not believe that he
was equal either to the coarsoness oil
language, OF the utter disregard OF truth
which he betrayed last week
But we neither desire or intend to
handy epithets with him, nor do we in
tend TO go into an interminable contro-
versy with him. The game is entirely
too small for us to hunt All we intend
to do is to make good our every asser-
ton regarding this matter, and to leave
the question Of good faith on his part en-
tirely with the people. To this end we
desire to apply ourself in az few words
as possible.
In the first place we stated that Mr..
BARNHARr came to us, by his own ac-
acknowledgement, to offer US proposition
to the effect that we might do the Tax
List, and charge full price therefor, if we
would give him 8 cents on each descrip-
ton. This he pronounces an unmitiga-
ted falsehood Now to the proof. Mr..
BARNHARr will not deny that he came to
us in the post-ofice, with the law of the
special session in his hand, and after
some remarks about the law, asked what
arrangement he and we could make
about the publication Of The list. We
told him, shortly, that his arrange ments
must be made with the Treasurer, but
afterwards tried TO get him TO say what
arrangement IL was he wanted 10 make.
This he would not do. But he distinctly
told Mr. DOMAIN what it was he intended
TO propose TO us, and it was just as we
stated, that we should do tie aoork and
charge the County tie full amount allowcd
by laag, and giue him three cents on each
description Mr.. DoNNAN is not sure
whether ii was cents on each desc rip
ton, or one third the whole amount,
which would be 81 cents. The amount
is not material, the fact remains the
same. TO this Mr.. DoNHAN tcstifies in
the following statement, which contains
other matter bearing upon the controyer-
sy We will insert the statement here,
and let the public Judge who il is that
has told the unmitiyated falsehood :"
A short time subsequent to the recent Extra
! Session OF the Legislature, which changed the
law in relation to the publication of the deln-
quent tax list, ! called upon Mr.. RIcH at the
/ Post Office and spoke to him Oh the change in
| the law reducing the price Of publication to
! ten cents per linc--that although ! had con
! tmcted with him under the old law, ten cents
! was now the highest sum allowed to DC paid
/ that ! could not pay more. RICH complained
ofthc law but agreed To 30 it for that sum Mr..
] A. BARNuhRT, who understand is the author
! OF the recent filings in the Ciriliaa, was present
/ during the conversation, ami never suggested
or limited that he had any intention or desire tn
do the work for any price.
A very few days later / noticed b. in CONVEX
sation with = Org Democratic magnatcs, but
that perhaps was only an accident) and an hour
or SO later was waited on by The same indiyil-
ual, and esked " DOMAIN, when ara you going
to receive bids on the tax list Z" | 1T once re-
ferred him to the meeting and conversation in
the + O.-ofhis prcsence--of Mr.. RICHs arIan-
cement TO publish the list ut ten cents per line
that if he had any intention or desire to do it
for less, he certainly would then have manifest
ed it, and complained Of his bad faith--kHotcing
that the matter was settled between Mr. II. and
myself
lie then said, tlathe went 10 Mr.. r. intend
ing 20 make him a proposition aliolgiltg the
Guardian TO do the printing At ten cents, and
pay him Oh three or three and onc-third cents
Il cannot name which) on each linc-that
when he poke 10 Il. of IN Arrangement, Rlcn
!" lared nj, and llat made him mad ana he
concluded to come direct to myself and make II
bid, Chose are very nearly the identical words
used) and said he should make it. He was in
formed that he might make his bid, but |
thought it uselcss--lhat believed the bid was
made urpose'y after agreement with Ron for II
political oblect--that unless | was advised by
higher authority, tllat the law was such MS 10
compel me to r,seind contract made in good
faith, my own Judgment would not prompt me
TO DO it. 1t WAS MY intention TO obtain the ojin-
ion of Attorney General Nourse, but | failed to