The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-27
pRxocRAT1c.L1BERAI TICK
REPUBLICAN, TICKET.

(0rOner ..,... ............'''''
LETTER FROM ERIC Q. NoRBERa.
p. EXPLAINS What Henderson CALLS "as'
traction"
TouLoN, Oct, s6, 1874.
N the Editors of the Rock Island Argus:
7 have seen bills posted on most all the
fance corners in this vicinity, stating that
there is to be held a Grand Republican
Rallv. or Mass Meeting, at Bishop Ill.,
November ID, and that Gen. Henderson
and others will address the meeting, and
"fn,,v answer the cirular Of Eric U. Nor
berg, BY the record Of his own retraction
of similar statement made by him IN
1870" I have also been informed that
some kind of rallies or mass meetings are
to be held by the Henderson rings at the
same time all over the district, and as
cannot be present at all such meetings, ana "a
&c coula, would likely not be permitted
70 defend myself, and could have no time
W do 90 before election / will, therefore,
mvself finnish the records of what ten
oral Henderson calls 'retraclion.
Some time after my statement had been
rrbl;shed in 1870, of the action the Gener-
al had taken to defeat the repeal OF the
R;shop Hill charter, / came to Cambridge
on1 the General was also there at the same
time A mutual friend in Cambridge then
insisted on me that should 90 into his
t U.s. and see the General. | objected at
Srst bnt consented finally to visit him,
and "a soon as we met he expressed
his feeling of regret for the occasion / had
for the statement against him, and lnsisteu
on me that should at least modify the
charges / had made, as some OF them, nc
said, were not true. The General sad ne
had never received any of the 10000 ex
pended in opposing the repeal that ne mac
not telepraphed for johnson to come Z
Springfield ; that he was opposed to tn
COLONY charter, and would not have votel
for it if he had been member OF the leg
islatnre when the charter was passed, etc
had no personal i'll feeling towards thu
General. although he had shown no sym
patby for the oppressed members OF tht
colony, who he, as elected from their dis
trict, represented in the legislature-and al
last. after long negotiation the General
on one side and on the other concluded
unon and made treaty OF peace, Dy
which was to modify my statement, IN
consideration whereof the General on his
part gave his word of honor that he
would never appear in any suit against th9
COLONY" | wished at that time that
could have made similar agreements with
all those who had their hands in the pock,,
cts of the poor people of the colony, as l
believed that the General would keep his
promise as a word of honor, and therefore
| made modification OF the statement,
which now is called the "retraction, IN
which substantially said, that had not
charged the General of having received
any of the money expended to oppose the
repeal because could not prove it,
l never took back the charge that the ten
eral opposed the repeal as he new.
err denied it to my knowledge before
heard he did in his Galva speech, but
said in the modification that "he nigh
have opposed the repeal as matter o
opinion" The only thing l took back
the statement was that had charged IN
General of having telegraphed tor Johnso
Il took back that charge on the General
own statement that another member,
the legislature had sent the telegram-b'
this statement of the General was III ltse
an acknowledgement that he knew OF al
was connected with the move which tnall
in my opinion, seems to have been one
the causes of defeating the repeal.
My modification was, therefore, never
''retraction" of the charges | had mac
as | said that the General had worked
the interest of the trustees as lob
member. The article of modification "
prove what now have said, and no MOI
But the General broke the treaty
his part and the word of honor which W
the consideration for which | made {
modification, when he afterwards appea
ed as counsel of claimant against Il
colony, by which Judgment was final
obtained against the colony, amounting
between $1,000 and $4,000, which no ma
who knows the circumstances connectt
Herewith can consider as a fair result
that case, The advantages taken again
the colony in that case are such that
proves that it makes no difference VIII
the impossibilities or opposing circu,
stances may be, if man can only swe
strong enough in his own behalf: L
worst feature of the case referred to
that the General could not have been ign
ant of how unfair the decision was, in c.
sideration OF the circumstances on WI
the matter hung. But it was only p'
Swedes who had to pay this, and they |
for many years been used to similar
suits: and / suppose that the Gener;
feelings are not much hurt by know
that an additional stone or burden was !
upon the shoulders of the downward bel
ing members of the colony, who never
expect, and never can get, that sympathy
perfect Justice which they, as human beln
are entitled to, at least not from the han
of such men as General Henderson.
| am also informed that it is TO
brought up against me 10 Henderson, III
meetings that | should have offered
have claim OF Wheeler B. Sweet agai
the colony allowed, provided Sweet wo1
cause the release Of a certain mOrtg;
against my land ia favor of Sweet faith
Il will state that the mortgage is subjt
to settlement between me and said Swe
and can therefore not be collected bef
that settlement is made, and when tie
Element is made that will more than rele
the mortgage. So | had no need to res
TO any such agreement that should al
Sweets claim, but | acknowledge that
nevertheless. made that proposition
Sweet and intended thereby to defeat
unjust claim against the colony, believi
that Sweet would swear strong enough
have his claim allowed in spite of all
could do. since the main witness in
case was dead Sweet jumped at the bit
but his attorney Il think General Hend,
son. saw the trap" and prevented a
writing 70 be entered into by which cwee
claim could be impaired.
IL al az nf my \