Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-08-08
That Positive DeniaI.

Mr.. EDITOR The suggestion made BY the 18th
District article that Mr.. Hutch ms had been en-
gaged IN IN erebel pardon and claim business called
forth IN your last issue the following Denial :"
when an esteemed citizen is wrongfully assail-
ed by a responsible person, another, knowing the
facts, has no, right to keep silent. 1 therefore,
pronounce the above insinuatiOns against Mr..
Hutehlns uHqUdtifedV and dbsOhaelyt false. To my
positive knowledge Mr.. Hutchins has never been
ENGAGED: directly or Indirectly, in the application
Tor, or procurement of any pardon from the Presi-
dent, Tor any person whomsOever, Bor has he been
connected IN any way. with the collection Of any
rebel claims" whatever.
Yours. for fair play always and to all men"
Some men become sudden converts to certain
principles. All at once Mr.. Spear discovers that
he has mo right to keep silent. when certain state
ments are made prejudi'ia l to Mr.. Hutchins pros
Peets ~ IoT Congress; NOW we would IKE to ask
that John Hutchinsa and his friends have frequent
Y and persistently assailed Mr.. Garfield, upon the
Tariff question? Also We viii ask Mr. w. 7. Spear,
If he did not go to Washington City within two
months past, upon special business relating to the
Tariff; and while there. he did not ascertain De-
pond al dOu6 and question, thatGen. Garfield stood
in the frOntrank of able and influential tariff men?
Mr.. Spear had just as pOsitiUe knolcledoe of this
fact as any man could desire, and yet he comes
home. and sits quietly down, and sees Nj. Garfield
abused and slandered, and he'd about on this very
question, and it never once occurred to his mind
that he had no right to keep silent. when an es-
teemed citizen is wrOngfully assailed." Verify IL
makes a difference whose OK is gored 7
These sudden conversions are always suspicious,
" NeAAL " NOhuGuAudllOuN VIII
them. We cannot help wondering whether this
swift witness for friend Hutchins was really a vol
taIeer, or only a drafted man; or whether thepres-
sure to the square inch that squeezed out this de
mar was burdensome7
Mr.. Spear is clear and unqualified in his denial;
ne meant to and has made it stronE-so strong that
hke musty cheese, it smells.
he says: To my positiUe knowledge Mr.. Hutch
lnS mas not been connected in any way with the
coHeeton OF any rebel claims. &C., &c.
Can you, reader, have "~positive Knowledge" of
Mnat any other man has done during three yearsG
ampossiDIe' unless You have been in his very pres
night. Has ". T. Spear ear done this to y JoS GaY HG ut p
Spears aS " PSsf RS' k G1o1% 4; r rHen y ThsfS i i MF;
INN ar, like John Hutchins' hope for Congress-
Dld MT. d. tell him so2 Hearsay in this case is
Possible as a dernier resorte Mr.. Spear would argue
alter the style of the darkey. who was arrested for
um chickens. Oar is Pomp an, Cesar dew both
reddy to sw'ar dat deg didn't see me steal UNI =
DarfOre dis chile no steal um."
Now we are charitable enough to suppose that
Mr.. Spear thinks he stated the truth: but thinking
isntpOsaiUe knowledge. We call W. I. Spear at
tention to the following facts. which we are infor-
med, can be proved by the documents. if necessary:
On May .. 1854. the rebel blockade runner,
Gray Jacket was condemned by the u. S. Dist.
Judgment affirmed; then the case was appealed to
the Supreme Court. and now stands No. 81 on the
Docket.
Mr.. Hutchins is one of the parties who are try
ing to get this rebel vessel released or paid for:
and if successful they are to get an enormous fee.
NOW then In view of these facts We take the lib
erty Of pronouncing Mr.. Spears denial" Ito use
his, own words uHQHdLufedly and absolutely JaLse ;
and we offer the advice gratuitously to the young
gentieman, % be wary in the future Of oyer;eonh-
dence IN makingrash assertions of positive know
ledge" especially in cases of this kind, where all.
can see that be was in no position to acquire any
such positive knowledge.
By SO sudden a conversion to the mo right to be
silent" doctrine, and by the positive knowledge"
a man renders himself liable to imputa-
tons of either dishonesty or ignorance neither es-
peeially to be desired.
We submit therefore to W. 7. Spear, the alterna-
tive of acknowledging a false denial or an exhi-
oluon of astounding ignorance. He may select
either horn of the dilemma that he sees fit and
reconcile the rebel blockade runner Gray Jack
with his denial" as best he may.
FAIR PLAY TO L MEN.