The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-09-12

can only Dran0 the auInOT Ol INC TO-
cent articles in the Courier as cow
ardly slanderer and willful liar, and
trust that / may be excused by the
public, in future, from any further
notice of attacks made upon me
by unknown and irresponsible adven-
turers. JOHN w, FOSTER.
1 IL .ss4 ------- l.ae
IRON Evansville Journal, May 81, 1851
A Personal Card.
81 In view of the publications which
have appeared In the Democratic pa
pers of this city, and which are copied
elsewhere. it becomes necessary for
me reluctantly to make few public
statements of personal nature.
i have long been aware of the Bit
ter luminosity entertained towards me
by large number of the people of
Southwestern Kentucky. on account
of my military administration of
affairs in that region in 1923, while
an officer of the Federal army De-
casiOnal vague charges affecting my
character as an officer and citizen
have reached me, but always from
such irresponsible sources as to lead
me to pass them by as. the expression
of the expiring venom OF rebellion.
[ relied upon the record which [ had
made in the army, and the knowledge
of my character possessed by my fell
| low-citizens, among WI ON [ had lived
from childhood. for refutation of
any such charges.
l. During the heated campaign of
| 1866. in which |, as public journal
ist, necessarily participated, some par
tisan newspapers made occasional ref
erenee to matters which, by innuendo,
reflected upon my character for hon.
esty and reputation as an officer. i
very we'll knew that in the excite
ment and bitterness of a political
contest, 1t was idle to attempt TO OBJ
tain candid hearing. After the
campaign was over, / prepared an ae-
count of my connection with military
and civil matters in Southwestern
Kentucky, which every fair minded
man would be constrained to acknowl-
edge relieved me from all censure, and
fully exonerated me from any charges
which had been made. | was induced
by kentucky gentlemen, high in
authority and possessing the conf
denee of the dominant party of that
State, to forego its publication, upon
the assurance that should be vindi-
Gated by the testimony of my enemies
themselves.
For the present, especially, in view
of great public enterprises, in which
| | had a common interest with all
other citizens, / had concluded to
bear quietly the unjust odium of a
large class of people in the adjoining
State of Kentucky. But on the 18th
of May tho Evansville Courier made
a publication, which, by innuendo,
reflected upon my character for hon.
esty, and which was grossly libel
Gus. liz was the first time that the
vague rumors alluded to had assumed
anything like a responsible author
ship. / resolved that it should be
met at once Through mutual
friend / made a demand upon the
proprietor of that paper for public
retraction, and vindieation of my
character, with a proposition on my
part to submit to him official and au
thentic evidence. to fully satisfy him
He very promptly and courteouslS
disavowed any intention to do me in
Justice, and denied all knowledge. o
| the intended publication of the often
sive article. throwing the responsible
/ ty upon a subordinate employee. AT
/ ter as full an examination as he de
sired to make, the article which il
| copied elsewhere, was published ii
the Courier. 3zsHa ia. .go.J e..
i Knowing that comments would b.
| made upon it by the other city daily
the 4 eletiRel-0R-the- Border, L invited
| the editor to make such examination
as he desired into the official papers
in, my possession, In order that ht
might have a correct understanding O
my instructions and acts as an Officer
| OF the government. / made no re
quest OF tfssm for any vindication O.
my character or conduct. My only
! onJect was to prevent any misTepre
sensations.
1 As a soldier of the Grand ARMY d
/ the Union IL have no apology to make
for my service of more than three
years against the enemies of nv coun.
| try. | gloryin the fact that | had al
| opportunity In common with the hmm.
i dreds of thousands of my fellow-citi.
zeps to do what I could to put down
| q wicked rebellion. / have no DISPOSE.
i ton to enter into an extended defense
i of my acts in Western Kentucky un.
less it shall be made necessary. Ny
conduct and administration of affair!
were fully approved and heartily com
mended by my superior officers, and
at the time, By every loyal man il
| Kentucky. / have the satisfaction Of
knowing that the brave men under
my command in few weeks restored
peace to a large region OF country IL
that State, and as longas we remained
there, preserved it; and that we
sept the rebel army from the Dor.
ger OF indiana. and from our OWL
homes and families. AS an officer, ]
attempted to do my duty. | regarded
repet4on as a great crime. and did
"hae could to punish il. L never
expected to receive the thanks al
reDei3 Tor my course in Kentnckv ri
elsewhere. L have only been con.
cerned ior my reputation AS an homes
man., AS am fully vind;cataJ
through the sources bv which 49,
attacked, desire that the mater sbam
rest. Ana0eer shail
! nope | may not again be unde,
the necessity of obtruding nv ne nSoo.
a. affairs before the readers of ~
"OoNSAL. JOHN w. FosTER.
= rom tne Evansville Courier, May sOtn.
4 A Statement.
we haua not khn