The Hickman courier., 1869-05-15
From the Paducah Herald.
Letter From Col. Oscar Turner.
WOODLANDS, May 1st, 1869.

| ASAA OOAs OoSNH uA hCA
WOODLANDS, May 1st, 1869.
Col. NOBLE:
Dear SIR II returned heme las
week and was much surprised to find al
article in the Daily Herald doing m,
great injustice. After quoting from tn,
Hickman COURIER the comments of tn
editor Of the Courier, on my remarks a
Hickman, you say: "This is something
new to us. We had not before heard o.
the enemies who had stolen into oul
camps; nor had we been informed tha
these enemies had led the party away
from our old landmarks
"What Col. Turner means we are un-
able to say; but hardly think he is com
plimentary to his party friends when he
| thus speaks of them. If we are not mis-
taken, Col. Turner. voted tor every lead
ing measure that was. passed by the Leg
islature last winter. 1t is true that the
party refused to agree with COL Turner
in removing the State Capitol from
Frank fort, and thereby saved to- the peo-
| pie proba5iy two or three millions of
dollars; but we do not see that Col Tur-
ner has any right to find fault with the
| Democratic party upon that subject"
The injustice you do me, of course un-
intentionally, is in attributing to me the
language Of the editor of the COURIER
l did not, in my remarks, characterize
any persons as "enemies who had stolen
into our camps" nor did l say "that
these enemies had led the party away
| from our old landmarks" l used no
such language substantially or literally,
as DR.. Miles, late member from Fulton,
Col Warren, editor of COURIER, and
many others who were present will bear
me witness.
What the leading measures" are to
which you refer, of course l cannot tell.
L voted against many of the appropria-
tions of money out of the Treasury !;
some because l thought they were wrong
in principle, and some because thought
they were injudicious in the present
burthened condition of the people 1
did not introduce any measure in the
Senate for the removal of the State Capt.
tol from Frankfort, nor was any such
measure introduced by any one else, or
if so, it escaped my observation. could
not, then, have found fault with the
Democratic party on that subject" for
there was no disagreement about it. 1
opposed every measure for the extension
of the Capitol last winter, aud the win
ter before, and should havetvoted against
any bill to build new Capitola at Frank
fort or anywhere else, believing that the
old Capitol building was good enough,
and that 1t was rs proper when the peo-
pie are groani-e under taxation of vari-
Gus kinds to increase their burtheDs, for
a new Capitol at this time Yet 1 did
not eensure any member who differed
wits me and voted for these appropria=-
tons for extending the Capitol; indeed,
DID not even allude to- the Capitol ques-
ton st Hickman; but did offer some ar
guments against "State aid to railroads, /"
haf JasRsaRffa tbs sEsssm sH spYiss aea
my opposition to the bill on that ques-
ton last wiater-and upon this question
| am .not aware there was any difference
between myself and the Democratic par
~, sor the question was intoduced last
winter, and winter before, in the Ken
lucky Legislature, and failed both times.
While / respect the opinions and ar
guments of those members of the Legis-
lature who advocated the measure, and
of the friends of the system, yet mus.
claim the privilege of vindicating my
own opinion and course on the subject.
During the two winters have had the
honor to serve my constituents, 1 have
had the pleasure to form the aequaint-
ance of members of both branches of the
General Assembly, for many of whom I
entertain the highest regard; and during
our laborious services we formed mutual
ties of friendship, which 1 trust may be
lasting; and while I may differ with
some of them in regard to some question
of State policy, yet itwould be far from
me to use such epithets towards those
with whom l parted upon the best of
terms when we ended our labors and ad-
journed. Had it not been that it panied
me to be misrepresented in this respect,
would not have troubled you with this
letter. Believing that you would not do
me an Intentional injustice, beg of you
to publish it.
Respectfully yours,
OSCAR TURNER.