The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-24
Grsitittg dState Su,trnaI.
A GROSS AND COwaRpLy ATTACK.

We observe in the Dispatch of this
morning, very remarkable letter, over
the signature of "Viator." 1t is remarka-
BILE, however, chiefly for the gross and cow
ardly attack which it makes upon one of
the purest and most high-toncd Christian
gentlemen Of the land.
When George the Third, in his letter to
Lord North, referred to the immense injury
these weekly scribblers" were inficting,
and recommended that they should be pun
ished properly by the House of Lords,
these same scribblers had not arrived at
that condition of malgnity and hardihood
that now characterizes some Of them; for
they preserved then some decent respect
for honest character and well-earned repu-
tation.
There is no man of the present day, in
Georgia, more distinguished for high Char
acter and the honorable instincts which be-
long to the true gentleman, nor any more
modest, retiring citizen of that State than
Attorney-General Akerman; and not
withstanding that fact, it is upon him that
the fippant young "Vator" seizes to out
rage, insult and publicly villify. General
Akerman was one of the first gentlemen
relieved of his disabilities by Congress.
He was the United States District Attorney
for Georgia, faithfully discharging his du-
ties, and ON one occasion visited the place
where the courtwas to be held, for the pur-
pose of discharging his professional duties
and was informed by every hotel that was
in the town that he would not be allowed
entertainment at any one of them, for the
reason that he was Republican and
Union man, faithfully discharging his duty.
1t will be remembered that on the
morning after, when the court assembled,
presenting an affidavit Of the facts, he
moved the court, that the important causes
in which he was engaged be postponed, be-
cause of the inability OF the counsel to OBJ
tain accommodations there. The motion
was granted, the business of the court was
broken up, and we think that was the last
occasion upon which such an outrage was
attempted upon the person Of that gentle
man and the dignity and bare manhood Of
his department on that occasion was one of
the circumstances which first brought that
gentleman prominently before the adminis-
tration. "Viator" is evidently bold young
traveller his daring is infinitely beyond his
discretion, or his hardihood outruns his in
telligence.
He ought to have remembered that
about the time of the adjournment Of
Congress last spring, distinguished band
of Democratic leaders, known as the DEM
ocratic National Committee, F." boldly assert
ed that there were no Ku-klux anywhere,
and stoutly swore to it; but the trials, con-
vietions, and more than all, open confessions
and pleas of guilty, as well as that notable
letter of the great apostles Of the Democra-
cy of North Carolina, and replied to by
Judge Bond, have proved the utter lalsity
of tie statement made by the committee.
Does "Viator" expect to win victory
where they met defeat? We tell him
C,ooro,;o +b,t +bo tou,, Of ;,colnton to
ucoiSia, 'h"o oho oo"ii VI A'iiooii'oii' W
which he refers, is one of the most notori-
Gus of all the localities of that State, for the
number and malignity of that band of mid
night robbers ana aSSaSSlnS anu more, we
can produce, if necessary, men who are not
the friends of that order, but who have
K1,,, H. ro,J
peen met py paii'ls oi u-hiuA On Tic ioii'',
and been comnelled to aecomnanv them on
r''' ''77' -
maraudlng expeditions. pl
n4.,... ~. .a.4a.
Dut we nope that. Wheh tiie euieor anu
cb;of of the Dis,lofc5 has had his attention
oni.i " ~ .'' - "''' 20 '
called to the vile and slanderous attack up
IN Gonarol lxaro,a,, 5ha will bava tho
oh Neioiai Nei .N's'n, 'in'',', no w "'o ''',
manlineSS to dSayOW the article, and tell
.L.. Ill ~.
the peopie tiiae tuaI Pdpei VIII hoc hho"
inoly uuhlish such vile and abusive stuff as
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