Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-17
THE ePuBLIC GUARDIAN" ON HIS
p 4aE E4L TRAVELS. - f4tt 81.


II may not be known to our readers, yet
such is the fact, that The 'spublie guardian"
while not engaged in ms arduous editorial
labors, is filling a list Of appointments for
''public speaking, on the subject Of sspablic
printing and the general depravity of man
kind,as illustrated IN everybody else, besides
himself. On Tuesday he inflicted his har-
angue upon as many as were compelled to
hear him at Kingston. The East TenneS-
seeGll-a paper that is strictly non-partisan,
and is one Of the best independent country
newspapers iii East Tennessee, and whose
= editor, by his probity, intelligence and uni
form courtesy, enjoys the full confidence of
the worthy men of both parties in hiscoun-
ty-upon seeing the announcement of the
i. appointment for Kingston, had the temerity
TO suggest very modestly, that inasmuchas
the theme of "public printing" had been
thoroughly ventilated 10 the satisfaction Of
everybody, and had, therefore, become
trite; and ilasmuch as the good people of
R0ane were peaceful and in an amiable
mood with one another, they did not care
to have their county-seat made the theatre
for the reproduction Of violent personal har-
argues, in which the public had no interest.
This was tive weeks ago.
But the public guardian" was deter
mined TO exhibit b mself, and the East Ten
nesseedIl, Of yesterday, thus reports the bad
exhibition:
THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN.
Col. John Baxter, in his persistent and
futile efforts 10 bring himself into favorable
notice, By his selfimposed character OF
Public Guardian, addressed the people at
this place on Tuesday last.
snNe.did not 90 to hear him for several
l,fi,
had no time; besides, the subject he pro-
posed to discuss was a dead issue, having
already been disposed of-his charges of
fraud against the Public Printer having
been Investigated by Legislative Commit
tee, who, after examination into the matter,
assisted by Mr.. Baxter in person, found
and reported about as we stated in our
issue before the last; we had read the re-
ports of the committee, as well as the sew
eral communications of Mr. Baxter, and
also the columns of editorials, which ap-
peared in the Knoxville Chronicle, upon
the subject, and correctly estimated that
his remarks would be simply rehash Of
these articles.
We would not, therefore, refer to the sub
ject at all, but for the fact that Mr.. Baxter
either wilfully misrepresents us, or his Gre
dulity has been egregiously imposed upon
by parties at Nashville. We refer to his
assertion that we were amember of the firm
or Company, Familiarity known as "Jones,
Purvis q Co." Public Printers, and that we
had sold our interest in the same for $63;
and to prove it, this faithful guardian
exhibits an instrument of writing, which he
states was a certified copy of our receipt for
the same. Thus, while denouncing fraud
and robbery in others, he is guilty of both,
inasmuch as he attempts to rob us of our
good name through the means Of a receipt
which he fraudulently attempts to palm off
upon the people for one thing, when he
knows it to be for another. We never had
any conversation, correspondence or con-
-nection, in one way or another, with the
Public Printers, the ring, or any combina-
ton whatever, nor ever received cent, di-
rectly or indirectly, from this company, and
believe Gel. Baxter sufficiently posted to be
well aware Of the fact. Wedefy him or any
other man TO produce proof TO the contrary.
His exhibition of a certified copy Of our
receipt to the Comptroller, upon payment
for advertising the tax sales Of condemned
lands in Morgan county, and his endeavor
to palm it of upon those who did him the
honor to hear him, as a receipt for our share
of the plumber from the public printing, was
a deliberate efiGsf to deceive his audience;
he Enelg better.
This is, no doubt, fair sample, and in
keeping with his numerous accusations
against others. We confess we are deceived
in the gentleman: whatever else We may
have thought Of Mr.. Baxter, We had given
him credit for truthfulness and honest effort
to expose fraud, and believed him too much
of a gentleman to descend to deliberate mis-
representation, for no other apparent cause
than that of sustaining his reputation as
faithful Public Guardian.
We sincerely regret having tread on his
coat tail; a man that is handy at trumping
up false charges and boldly asserting them
for facts, is one with whom We don't care
to have any controversy. We shall most
assuredly keep of his coat in future.
George Francis Train, the wandering
scape-grace, finds comfort in the fact that
the people call him ''crazy." 1t would be
generous charity in the public to allow the
''public guardian" a like exemption from
responsibility; but, unfortunately for him,
the people know his wicked frenzy by
better name.
For the sake of common fairness, we hope
this Kingston performance may not prove
to have been a '.heathen Chinee" contriv-
ance to decoy our amiable friend, Reed, into
a ponderous libel suit.-KnOTUille Press
u