The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-07-29
s'TO the Isublic''..aIsO.

''To the I'ublic''-nI.o.
Recently public attention of our dom mum.
ty has been called to two publications signed
By VIM w. Gilman, the fir Of which was in
p circular headed 'To the Public and the
other in last weeks number Of the Mendoza
Pieetn.
Mr.. g.. IN his circular, directs his efforts
particularly towards extenuating the course
pursued by him toward us, in public meet.
ing of the citizens, held on the c-errg o!
April 18th. In that circular he published
the atiidavits OF UrIah Franks, Phillip C..rr.
J S. Carr, John W Freeland. and those OF
two young ladies', the Misses Gibbs and Carr
in all of which the aliidavits swore to direct
contradiction of their former statements.
made in writing and subscribed to before one
of the undersigned, some of whom even offer.
ed TO make cath to theit statements so sub
scribed; and all the aiiian,s we are credibly
informe :, repeatedly stated TO various per
sons the substance of the statements sub crib
ed by them, and published in our citcular en-
titled personal These affiants in their
first statements sutteTy deny all knowledge
of any reasonable assembly, alleged to have
occurred at the house of General Wsner, on
Sunday, April 10th, or having made reports
of the Kind ascribed to them to any one In
those affdavits published by Mr.. Gilman.
these persons ear directly against and COZ
tradictOrT to their for ner statements, as pub
lished by US; in reply to which We would
say, that the several statements were publish
ed precisely as they were signed with one or
two exceptions, where one word was substitu-
ted by the printer ior another without chang
ing the meaning in the 81 ghtest degree.
81 .
Philo Castle, ready for the inspection of any
one who may feel any curiosity in the matter
or desire to know whether falsehoods have
been sworn to or not. We can excuse the
contradictions Of the TWO Young ladies' whose
iEcNperieucc in business will plead their ex-
tenuaiiOn, and their embarrassment in the
presence Of the gay young attorney whose
winning smiles aud heart crushing biandish-
menls vii, sufficiently account for their ndis-
;iEct rccol!cctio:s and fading memories. But
the contradictory statements Of the other
atlantis furnishes bat = sad commentary upon
human depraviiy. We leave them 10 the
condemnation Of an accusing conscience and
the moral ! appreciation which society must
ever place ppou men who so ioolish.y wicked,
thus ureyiably place themselves efore tie
-,a'.';.
Mr. Gilman, in his last Issue ''To tie Tuh-
Tc, informs IL that alter h.> reply 10 our
Personal ne had become convinced that
tn statements OF the a!iidaYits, by him pub
lishel, were most probably very highly color
ed. and that he determined TO investigate for
himself The results Of his invest cation
led him to acknowledge that the evil reports
OF reasonable a.semblages. scandalous carl
catures and mock ceremonies, said t. have
been had 1T General Wisncrs oU ;hel Sunday
II. a. RI. Of .1.F
Liacoin. in which we were charged as having
participated, "tre~e sheeT crqlgerafio5,s,' and
OF no truth whatever. He candidly aoknowl
edges that he had done Us gross injustice in
his former statements and publications and
apologies for the wrong he NAV have done
Us. We accept his apology, and cheerluily
again extend TO him TIE right hand OF friend
ship. We can only regret that he had not
taken pains to investigate the truth Of those
malicious reports prior 10 the meeting IN
April before alludcd to, and that he had no.
left those uvestig cations TO the preJdced aud
heated minds OF other menbe OF the com
mif.ee. We cour,ed investigation but held
in con. .empt the calunniator. We charged
upon him the wrong committed by others
done US. We now acknowledge our error.
clearly perceiyiug the ,nJhstice we ha We done
him in our circular headed Personal -
Ofan the evil reports circulated to our
prejudice relative to what was done at Gen.
Wisuor's April 10th last. we knew thk kr utter
falsity; but we felt grieved end inju red that
high minded nen should give them dredencc
that We or General.Wisme- should Nave re-
ioiced a, the death IF any rhan-much more
so that we should publicly glorify over the
assassination of the President of the United
States.
At his terrible murder no one felt greater
shocl; or deplored it more sincerely than the
undersigned. Although we may have differ
ed widely IN our views from the poiics of tlc
political organization that elected him, Ito
differ and discuss the policies of parties is
the prerogalive Of an Amer can freeman) but
God forbid that we should rejoce over such a
calam 10 our beloued country.
At the bitterness of the terrible war through
which our nation has been compelled to pass,
we have deplored and shed bitter burning
tears over the many widows and orphans and
chldless fathers and mothers found all over
the length and breadth of cur land. At the
beams of peace wereioice, and sincerely hope
and pray that in all our country the note of
preparation, the clangor of arms or the roar
OF battle, shall be heard not again.
We have been accused of being copper
heads and traitors tJnder God we say,
that no men ever revered or loved tie Stars
and Stripes more or felt deeper interest in
the success of our glorious Union than we.
MIR. Gilman says, in conclusion Nov
that the war is ended and the best energies of
the government are being directed to the
reconstruction Of governn ent in states lately
IN rebellion, may we not proftably devote
ourselves to allay the excitement of society,
and let US end .avor to promote the general
harmony which is so essential TO the wei
being of our nation" We sincerely believe
it, and it is our desire to live among Our
neighbors and townsmen in q friendly inter
course end kindly interchange of the amen.
tiles and courtesies of civilized aud refined
soci,tl', and we trust we shall never be found
engaged in the ldenunein,ion of "a any man
because lie may differ from US in political
views or religious tenets-frmly convinced
at the right of opinion is the great prerosa'
tive OF an American citizen.
PHILo CASTLE, g4s
G. A. KELLENBEEGEE, Sen.
Mendoza, ILL.,, July IA, 1865.
Shirts, and How to Make Them