Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-09-17
THE Ex.CAPTAIN,s SHORT EPIsrtE
To CITIZEN.

'tNuuoufpB ous hOu "nos ySe SS'S
9 higher and loftier sentiment, from
pure, ardent, disinterested. unsophisti-
Gated love Of killing. ,ime-"Whiling
away an hour" for instance--in the
delectable entertainment Of defauing
the character Of one with whom you
had daily friendly intercourse, and to-
ward whom you affected the most ar
dent friendship. You struck your poi
sonous fsDgs into our heel. and in re-
turn We place our foot upon your Whis-
key-infsted neck.
You should remember, sir, that sn
attack made upon either 9 public or
private individual, BY an anonymous
writer, is mean, cowardly, and con-
tsmptible; the heart Of the writer cor.
rupt and craven; but when that attack
is directed under cover Of darkness, to
destroy the character and business Of
friend, the sssailant proves himself g
knavs and paltroon. As this is your
character. we should pass you BY as un-
worthy the notice Of gentleman, were
It not our duty as q public journalist
to guard community against Q public
enemy.
In your reply you add insult to
injury, and fslsehood TO cover
falsehood. You charged us with re-
ceiving "blsck mail" from Captain
Hunter and citizens OF this town, and
when branded as q foul cslumniator,
instead of sdduciDg the evidence, if
you had any, you back down with the
miserable subterfuge. that you "only
soondsred that the editor Of the Journal
should eulogise any gentleman without
black mail" We presume this is a
cunning professional way you have of
disposing Of a victim, but as this wit
ness happens to be a6Ove ground, we are
able and willing to speak for ourself.-
Sir, we care not how sneh slanderers as
yourself regard us; we have sustained
through life character for honesty,
probity and fair dealing. far above your
standard, and challenge you or any
living man to produce the slightest
evidence where we levied black mail,
or ever cheated a being out Of
the value of a cent.
Again. you charged that we received
sixty dollars per month and rations.
for attending bilIisrd-saloons and ball
rooms. This we denounced a false
hood. but your magnanimity did not
prompt you in your reply to either sub
stantiate or deny the base charge. In
your eagerness to slander, you doubt
less mistook musket- balls for billiard
balls. and easy marches for the eight
fantastic toe." You have been a resi-
dent here throughout our national
troubles; possess good property in your
own right; have a lucrative practice,
and therefore have large interest in
the welfare of GaIl1polis. You had
the opportunity from personal Observa-
ton or otherwise, to render yourself
familiar with every measure necessary
for the protection Of this town. And,
sir, with full knowledge of all the
facts. knowing as you must. that we
had spent several months with Com
psny OF as brave men as ever shoul-
dered musket, who interposed their
breasts in defence Of your property and
worthless carcass. without asking or re-
ceiving the slightest compensation
men, too, whose entire interest in the
town was nothing compared with
yours--instead of acknowledging the
obligation in & manly way, you set
down cody and deliberately and "while
away an hour" defaming the character
Of those who exhibited willingness to
defend you and yours. even to the sacri.
fee of their lives. And this, too, while
protesting the most ardent friendship to
their face. Can human depravity reach
lower depth? You jsnus-fsced son
of--esculspius. We spurn your friend.
ship. and defy your malice.
You now admit the slaDderous article
was not intended for publication. For
what purpose then was il written7-
And why was it handed to the pub
Usher? Did you wish to furnish hog
brains to that individual and shield
yourself from responsibility You at
tempt to give your base charge the
semblance Of justification BY stating
that the only marks of friendship you
ever received from US were two gratuit-
Gus attacks through our editorial
columns. This dodge will not do. for
we have never. directly or Indirectly,
prior to your scurrilous and unwsr-
ranted attack. made the slightest allu.
sion to you in our editorial columns.