St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1862-05-08
r,,acr these circumstances 7 canno, w,n

Under these circumstances I cannot sup-
rose that any Of Doctor Neale's friends
xill seriously claim credibilty for his
statement Of our rercontre and his retreat.
and since his version Of the affair is 81,
clearly condemned by its ewn intrinsic
sbsurdities. claim for mine, the reputa-
ton of uudisputed authority. + : s'
This il no difficulty Of my making
There has been no assault on my part
Doctor Neale and son entered my preni-
,es aud began the attack as unexpectedly
to me as II was dastardly il the eyes of all
honest men. They retreated without ac-
ccmplishiug their purpose tearing my
friend and myselfin possession ofour arms
and position, and this is not even denied.
II the Doctors recollection of this affair
distresscs him, or If he wishes to give to
the wcrld conclusive evidence uf bis bra
very and my eowardice, he may. renew the
assault when it suits him. shall defend
myself to the last. ~
In relation to my popularity (though
shi. IL not i'm the ISSUE like other men. /
have INV enemies. aud like Other nsen,
also have few. dear and valuable friends.
mo, would for any odds, forfeit the good
ouiuion Of the latter to gain the friendship
Of ali nv host of enemies, Doct. Neale in
clut.d. have an ambition to merit the
rood opinion of those who stand by their
friends in storm as well as in sun shine,
In trouble 40 well az in joy. AS for SUM
mer friends and weather cocks care not if
the shadow Of their walls never covers
my head.
If popularity at home is the test If true
merit, where stands Doctor Ncalc? Ear
" in the spring Of 1860 he commanded
company Of cavalry in his d strict-and
where is i,-Echo answers, whcrc-one
By one the company dwindied down to a
single horscnan III brilliant blue uniform
with gilt hutt'ns
During the following year a company
Of Home Guards was organized in the
Doctors ncighborhood, aud that same blue
coat appears :mong them. His friends
run him for captaincy and he is signally
defeated They ask for him LIST Lieu
tenancy with like succcst, and the same
humiliation awaited him when they asked
fr him mere subordinate position. And
after this the brilliant uniform il no more
~en among the Home Guards 'nn nc
c"unt Of professional engagements" Is
this nan 10 brand me with lack Of pnpu-
ls,i,y!
Doctor Ncalc tells US that the charge sl
cowardicc has only excited the derision
and contempt of all who know him. II Ina :.
often" he adds ''been accused uf rashness
and inscnsibi'ity to danger or fear in the
hour OF trial, but never before Of cowar
dice" All this may possibly be so in the
Doctors estimation, but never beard o.
truly brave man ever attempting ts con.
vince the world Of bis bravery-Ly unr'is
Such men do not .toop to tel how BRAY.
they "rrc-fh"se who doubt their valol
s~u find how brave they are.
Doctor Neale may have been valiant
for he says ST., if no one elsa will say it
but he must remember ''how have tn,
mighty fallcn' aud that he ton is humar
and subject to fear. as a nfr incident clcar
" demonstrates. He cauuot have forgot
ten rencontrc he had some years hacl
with an eminent Wing in the Factory Dis
trict. Ii his version of that affair give.
him much confidence in his fcarlessncs
aud bravery, he may rest assured tina
there Is another account differing mos
widely FROM his. Some seem to think that OF
that occasion. the Doctor received inflictio,
ito the full exteut of intention" nor wa
he then goad. i on to the attack nor re
str"ined from the assault by the touehin,
appeals or the gigantic grasp of bis ffteel
scar old son.
Doctor Neale gaes on to say that he can
not publicly notice me again. but eau
tions ME ut the same time that his for
1earance mus: not be tested too severe
iy. He cannot imagine how this dis
tEcsscs me. and how particularly anx
ious | am to know the precise point a
Which his forbearance will become Grim
inal. But seriously il it not very strang
that. knowing me to be 1.-The very in
caruation Of moral deprayity. he did con
descend to notice me by assault and 70
cause SO contcmptible and gruundles
that he was ashamed to state the griev
snee7 He did condescend to notice m
once however. and there can be ITO pretex
for his not REPEATING the notice if h
desires t. do so. Whenever his for
bearance becomes shreadbare | want hin,
to understand that I shall defend INV
self US best l can.
Doctor Neale's concluding sentence i
just and | heartily endorse it BLACK
guards and outlaws" do require to b,
taught decency" and in his late collision. b,
was taught deccncy to the extent of .h.
necessity Of the occasion. Whenever h,
undertakes to renew the assault of tn,
''blackguard' and outlaw" he will end
me willing and ready to instruct him sat.
isfaetorily. - n
l. w TIPPETT