Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-10-19
Personal and Explanatory.

advertise their chief besetting sin
for these times the motives Of men
are read as written. Having lately
resigned my connection with the
Herald office without any intention
OF ever again resuming the editing
and publishing of newspaper, or in
any way becoming interested in the
printing patronage, l had every rea-
son for believing that the jealousy OF
neighboring editors would cease, es-
pscially referring to the Witness and
Mineral Point Tribune, who for some
months have allowed no opportunity
to pass without assailing me in their
respective newspapers. And, know
ing that business jealousy can only
be appeased with money, or induce.
ment bearing a money prospect,
have yet thought best not to pur.
chase their friendship because l dc
not believe in the prao tice, and be.
sides possess but little pecuniary
surplus. have hitherto not noticed
the i'll humored drives at my name
appearing in those papers because
the motive of writer's have been
we'll known. But since at last they
have published and virtually indoors
ed charges Of corruption and dishon-
or against me, though in a rounda-
bout and sneaking way and with the
aid of an "anonymouS' whose name
suggests the porcupine and hyena, l
think best to answer.
But recently the Tribune admitted
to its columns, with editorial approx
al, an anonymous article we'll under
stood as referring to myself and with
charges of corrupt dealing in selling
out or bartering away the office to
which | was lately appointed. The
Witness copies the article, and gives
reimbursement to a report said to
be in circulation that | had sold out
said office for $4,000 in gold.
Not long since some of the mem
bers of secret league were on trial
in Baltimore, whose business appears
to have been that of finding out men
to be false witnesses and other frauds
and the price each would require for
such service. One of the league had
"squedked" or turned States evi
| dence, and the following is copied
from his testimony
"First, we look up the selfish and
jealous minded who pirate about cor
ruption and say all men have their
price and nobody honest, and these
are our five and ten dollar men fol-
false witnesses. Second, the very
sanctimonious we never fail to gel
for twenty dollars and their names
are used on false certificates. Third
reserved gentlemen, non-committa
men who never make up their minds
are incredulous to human testimony
believe nobody and set all men down
| for dishonest till tried-these we car
always buy, but command much
higher price. Fourth, the men we
fail to buy are those who care The
least for money and who believe al
men honest till tried and founC
wanting"
The misfortune of these times il
that the people are being
educated by a part of the press t.
believe that honorable integrity ant
patriotic fair dealing is the exception
among men holding Office, and tina
the rule is for office holders to b,
dishonest and dishonoraUle. Appro
pos, the Office holder is perhaps toe
often driven to dishonesty by hi.
knowledge of such general belief
aud this argument follows: ~ shall
be cen$4red and held to be a villain any
how-therefore, sohy not steal and prof
during my brief authority !"
Very true, it is the out-ofoffict
sore5heads and demagogues who are
demoraliging the people by teaching
that official men are generally cor
rupt. But even such have their
day and influence.
AS to these reports that | have
sold out my Office, that of one Of the
U. s. Consuls to Portugal that l am
to resign and accept some other of
fee of less worth, ! to accept hand
some difference in money, there il
! not a shadow Of truth in them, no.
in any other report involving my
honor or the honor OF friends Of
country. 1t is very true and vel
known to- several persons Of goot
name and character that | was offer
ed in money more than the office il
worth and enough to make me rich
But honesty had nothing to DO will
my refusing the bid. 1t has ever
been my business practice to nevel
! do G dishonorable thing to maxi
money, believing that money unjust
ly acquired so ruins Q man in .
thousand ways that he can neveI
again be himself.
| Perhaps this further explanation
is necessary: After leaving fol
Portugal and awaiting departure o
the vessel in which / had Engaged
passage, ] learned Of strong move
ment by petitions and letters for the
retaining of my predecessor in The
Office held by himself and his father
during sixty years. Various offers
| were made TO induce my resignation
among them one that Of some othe
and better official position. At las
/ consented to delay leaving fol
Fayal till early In December, th'
friends of my predecessor to procure
official permit for such delay from
the Sect. of State, and pay me fol
loss of time and extra expenses. Ii
the time of delay ] agreed to consul
with friends and especially will
the Wisconsin Members Of Congress
as to whether | had better resign ant
accept some more profitable an(
pleasanter positiGa. But since my
return to Wisconsin / have beep ad
vised by such Of the Wisconsin Mem
seFs as ] have seen or written Il