Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-05-26
To the People Of Frank
lin County.

At the late election for county officers.
was, by your partiality, elected Clerk Of the
County Court ovai worthy and popular oppc-
nents, and feel it to be due to you that
should take this method, the only one left
NE, of indicating myself against charges of
a grave character aimed at me in my official
capacity.
Some three weeks ago. Ipresentsd to Mr..
Jno. r. Beasley. one of the editors of the
"Home Journal" an official notice to be pub
lished in his paper. He dem anded the print
er's fee in advance. / declined TO pay in ad-
vance on the ground that it was unusual to
demand fees until they were collected from
the parties. Mr.. Beasley then positively de-
clined to publish the notice. and was forced
to send it to the FAYETTEvLLE OBSERVER for
publication, where 1t was received and printed
in the usual manner, without prepayment OF
fees. At this action on my part, Beasley took
high offence, and thereupon published mean,
malicious and scurrilous article In his sheet,
denouncing me and charging me with with
holding 81 dollars, which he said had col
lected, and which belonged to him. On the
very next morning after seeing his article, !
sent him through friends an answer to his
calumnies, and asked that it might be pub
lished in his paper. After reading 1t over, he
stated that he had nc objection to publishing
1t, and that it would appear in the next pa
per. Subsequently. know not from what
cause, he changed his mind and refused to
publish my answer, though admitted by him
to be unobjectionablei in its language. Failing
thus to get a hearing through the channel in
which had been assailed, it was proposed
through friends to submit the matters in dis
pute between Mr.. Beasley and myself to the
arbitration of three disinterestsd citizens, and
accordingly Capt. J. B. Fitzpatrick, James
Sargent, Esq, and Capt. W. H. Brannan
agreed to act as arbitrators. Both sides were
heard, the evidence all placed before the ar
bitrators, and their award given, which show
ed, instead of 81 dollars, the paltry and pitt
full sum Of $l4 10 against me- One item of
SIS, in my favor, was voluntarily relinquished
by me, because of want of recollection on the
part of Mr. Dulin, one of She employees of
the Home Journal Office, the party to whom
paid the same, and which was ready to
make oath to, according to the best of my
knowledge, recollection and belief. Had
insisted on that item, it will appear that the
Home Journal Office is this day not only paid,
but overpaid, and is in my debt. After this
award was made, it was agreed by Mr.. Wat
terson and Mr.. Hunt, two of the owners, ed
itors and controllers of the Home Journal,
that the award should DO published in that
paper, and that should be allowed. ALSO to
publish my vindication therein. waited
patiently, rendered my reply couched in re-
spectful language, and asked for its publica-
ton. But Notwithstanding the agreement of
Messrs. Hunt and Watterson, Mr.. Beasley re-
fused again to allow me even to be heard, and
published another article from himself, affirm
ing his former ISLANDERS in the face of the a.
ward of the az bitrators, which, in substance,
showed his first article to be false and mali
ciors. Thus slandsred. charged and abused
in the county paper OF Franklin county, and
thus twice deliberately refused hearing l
am forced to resort to this my only means Of
reaching those who have read these ISLANDERS
-, sba colrro nc of Az TJO,,oo Torrrol a ronor
which, in my opinion, on account of Mr.. Beas-
ley's conduct, has rendered itself unworthy OF
the support of decent and honest men.
II the editor of county paper, in a coun-
ty in which there is but one paper published,
may, at his pleasure and to crafty his whim',
arraign aid charge public officer or pri
vate citizen with high offences and disgrace
ful conduct, and then refuse the use of his
columns for explanation, denial or vindcs-
ton, then newspaper, instead of being a
convenience and blessing, becomes an en-
CINE Of SANDER, abuse and falsehood, and is
curse which no honorable community will
tolerate, much less encourage and patronize.
Towards me, Mr.. Beasley's course in this
matter has been illiberai and tyrannical to a
degree which justifies me- in denouncEg it in
the strongest terms. doubt If there be in
the whole State of Tennessee, Clerk of a
Court with so small balance against him
with the printer as Sl4 10. And yet, the
people will see that for this contsmptibe a.
mount, l have been treated as a man who had
no rights, and mean, illiberal and false char
ges made and reiterated, even after the decis-
ion of three gentlemen whose characters for
truth and honest dealing Is well khown and
appreciated. Having thus, as think, vindi-
Gated myself against these false charges, /
leave Mr.. Beasley and his paper in the hands
of the people, who support both, for their