The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-07-29
Eating Dirt.

person. Besides, it is supremely mean in
him to take advantage Of the circumstance
Of his means of communication with the
public, to attack person through the chan
nels of his paper, while the person attacked
has no means Of defending his character
without resorting to his legal protection
which is slow and expensive, and, if Justice
is at last obtained, the party has to suffer
during the long delay, the unjust contempt
of his fellow men. We are led to these re-
marks by the s!anderous article published
in the Republican two weeks ago, concerning
one Of our best business firms. The article
is as follows:
CoPpEEuEAD1sM.-Theb best illustration Of de
| votion to principle to which our attention ha
been called was afforded by the case Of gentle
man who visited Red Wing this week, for pur
poses OF business, and to establish an agency
for an article OF great pracJical: utility to tht
public. Lie had been recommended to firm
i'll this city as suitable persons to act for him
and called on them for that purpose. AS he
stepped into their store his cars were greeted
with language which at first caused him to Ae-
lieve he was in the wrong place. He looked
! about him. saw that he vas not mistaken, an;
turned on his heel to leave: telling member
OF the firm, in response to his inquiry whe the1
anything was wanted, that he had no business
to transact there. He says that although ht
| has travelled all over the State, he has never
| heard as dlsloyal sentiments expressed as while
| he stayed there. He Immediately called OF
another firm and esta tablishod his agency, say.
ing that no one who chuck]ed over the success:
! Of the rebels could remain IN his employ or re
ceive his patronage. lie has about fifty mer
at work for him.
When the above article appeared the par
ties intended by it waited on Mr.. Littletield
tho nominal editor Of that paper, [and who
in fact, wrote the article,) and inquired il
they were intended by it? They were
answered in the affirmative, when Mr.
Littlefield was given to understand that he
could have Just one aoeek to retract. Nc
threats were made, but the nominal edito,
evidently "smelt MICE" !. E. cowhide
and the effect was almost electrical. He
suddenly learned that his libel was " false in
every particular - and he takes the frs,
opportunity, Gust one week) to retract it,
and to "express his own belief that the
charges against the firm alluded to are un.
just, UNTRUE, and wihom any foundation
qchatever.' !.
This is his retraction:
The above item appeared in the. RtpUBL1cAs
of last week, and IA we have since learned te
our satisfaction that it is false in every partic
ular, we take the first opportunity to rctract it
and express cur belief that the charges contain
ed against the firm alluded to are unjust. un-
true, and without any foun lation whatever
and justice. honor, and desire never to mis-
represent any one, demand that they should
be retracted, which is checrfully done as far as
we are concerned.
Had Mr.. Littlefield possessed "desirs
never to missrepresent any one." as he de-
clar res he has, he could easily have learned
the truth or falsity of the article in question
before it ever made its appearance. The
fact that he made no such inquiry entirely
refutes the declaration that he does not wisi
to misrepresent.
The retraction Of the 24th is the mos
complete specimen Of dirt eating we have
ever seen. By it the nominal editor &C
knowledges himself to have slapdered ar
innocent party, and showed himself to be {
liar, while he demonstrates the efficacy of
wholesome terror of the cowhide in cases o
great moral turptude.
ProcianaatiOn- of the PresidcMt.-.Thurs
day, August 9th, Set Apart as a Da!
OF National Thanksday.
1t has pleased Almighty God to hearkc.
to the supplications and prayers ofan atflict
ed people, and TO vouchsale to the army ant
the navy ofth United States, IN the Ian;
and on the sea, victories 50 signal and S,
effective as to furnish reasonable ground
for augmented confidence that the Union O
these States will be maintained, their Con
stitution preserved and their peace and pos
perity permanently preserved.
| But tn Sc victories have been accorded
not without sacrifice Of life, limb. and liber
ty incurred by brave, patriotic and loyal citi
zens. Domestic afflic.lon in every part O
the country follows in the train Of these fear
ful bereavements It's meet and,right t
recognize and confess the presence OF tn,
Almighty Father, and the power Of Hi
hand equally in these triumphs and these
sorrows. - g:..&*:.
Now, therefore, be it known, that d,
set apart Thursday, the sixth day Of Angus
next, 10 be observed IS day for Nationa
Thanksgiving. praise and prayer, and in
vite the people ot the United States 10 assem-