The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-05
AUGUSTA, Jan. 90, 1864.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 20, 1864.
To the Editor Of the Press:
should be wanting in courtesy If failed
to acknowledge and reciprocate the kindly
"Good Bye" of your not only able and aimia-
which appeared in the Press of Tuesday last.
desire to thank him for his urbanity and to
assure him that our delight at parting is mu-
tual. We have been connected adversely
together but short time, and while am I'M
able to acknowledge myself "twice glad" in
regard to him, have no hesitation in assnr-
ing you that certainly am gratified. l am
anxious to extend to him as cordial hand as
he has to me and to affirm my appreciation of
all his efforts touching my case, whether for
or against it,
In his parting salutation he Extensively twits
me of quoting Latin and in the same article
quotes French himself He accuses me of
perverting the truth when l give him facts he
does not controvert. He calls me spaniel
and says he shall not take the trouble to kick
me from his path, although he is at the same
time trying to do it and fails. He indicates
that I am liar, but at the same time acknowl-
edges that he himself has all along been feign-
ing ignorance of who am. / gave him facts
and told him where he could examine the
books and himself find my figures; instead oil
examining them he abuses me and charges
me with attempting "a work Of fiction" He
gives me advice even, but really he must ex-
cuse me from following the advice of any one
who is controlled by such spirit as he mani
tests. may perhaps be allowed to suggest
that no one gets in anger until he finds him
self getting worsted in the discussion. Temper
and bitterness are no evidences ola DISPOSE
ton to fairness nor have they ever subverted
any argument however feeble or despicable.
If you viii indulge my "egotism" so far
will merely say that hitherto in my CORE
spondence with the Press, have never stated
anything which i cannot substantiate, never
been guilty of harsh or improper expressions
nor ever used other than courteous language
towards any. / shall not be provoked to do
SO now. If any one is able to show that am
in error shall thank him to do it, but it will
take more than mere denial, more than bit
ternesss, more than Safeguarding.
There stand the facts cited. Let Spur
wink" disprove them if he can. He cannot
disprove them. Is this what nettles him?
do not care to bring other facts or to 60 of
on side issues until he has overthrown me
from the main question. ITO the law and to
the testimony" Let him disprore instead OF
denying the accuracy of my statements. He
can call me liar till he is black in the face, but
il that is all the argument he uses he will
convince nobody but himself
You have told your readers, Mr.. Editor.
that am sat Augusta among the books and
papers of the State, with materials at hands"
still when quote from these materials and
tell "Spurwink" where he too can consult
them, he fatty denies them and brings up his
friend, an educated army officer, to help
him accuse me Of falsehood. 1t this officer
had been as well supplied with facts as he ap-
pears to be with profanity he would have
made no such statement. / haze the facts
and figures, as you say; gave some OF them;
let them be disproved.
From the length of the replies with which
my letter Of the 22d has been greeted, may
infer that was fortunate enough to make
out more of case than "Spurwink" is willing
to acknowledge. do not therQore at present
deem it necessary for me to beg to have ex-
tended to me favor similar to that which
"my uncle Toby" granted to the fly he did
not kill.
The cry in the first place was that it would
have been for the interest of the service to
have had the veteran regiments quartered in
Portland; now the complaint seems to be
that Portland has not had an opportunity Of
making anything out of the veteran regi-
ments. Truly the Dutch have taken Hol-
land.
might reiterate my previous statements,
but do not care to. / can bring forward more
facts aud figures, but it is unnecessary, for l
cannot think that "Spurwink, although .
Portland man, reflects truly the sober thought
of a majority of your city. 1, therefore, In
pity but not in anger, bid him an affectionate
adieu. Yours truly, HELIos.
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