The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-04
WATTERsON VS.. HEWITT.
Thu Remainder of Harry's Rejoinder-He
Stathes Good Father Abraham-Who
CLn Keep Secret?

NEW YORK, June %.
As to my charge that you wanted to
rest our case on the vote of Oregon, the
address which you publish itself fur
nisles the proof. That address rests the
case upon either horn of a dilemma
Oregon on the one hand, or Louisiana,
Florida and South Carolina on the other
hand. 1t is obvious that l did not mis-.
represent you. 1t is hardly worth stating
the circumstances of its suppression,
which you say had nothing to do with,
because was mot member of the Ma
tiorial DeInocratice. Executive Commit
tee." To make long story short, after
a wrangle in New York, which is known
to. quite a number of our friends, you
turned up in Washington with your doc.
ument; it was submitted to the Commit
tee of Amusement, of which I was 9
member; on my motion It was referred
| to a sub. committee; this returned it to
the Committee of Amusement rejected.
Meanwhile you reinforced yourself by
your National Executive Committee,
which met with us; and, finally, our
united efforts subdued you and your adj
dress. It may not be known to you that
performed prodigies of valor in this
| work of subjugation.
You expose yourself when you refer to
my incapacity 10 keep secret. A man
who told, in sacred confidence. his extra
ordinary interview with Grant to fifty
people within. an hour after it was had
Grant himself denying the truth of your
1 report who kept his counsel so loosely
that next days papers contained the
t.whqle ofit-does not occupy position
of advantage to deliyer lectures npon
discretion. You are right, however, in
surnlising that ] cannot keep secret.
4 fI,neyer had one in my life. A secret is
\ like wart upon ones nose. Everybody
has q better view Of it than the possessor.
IscDrn secret. loathe secret, and,
fdoubtless, had You kindly admitted me
to your caucus the other evening,
should have gone away and told the re.
portsrs what they knew much more &C.
curately and fully than l do myself.
|. But q truce to badinage, to crimina.
tiona and, recriminations between you
land me. l don't want to injure you; ]
don't want to quarrel with you. Let US
lhaye, done, therefore, with inuendos and
tepithets. i have stated publicly that
you were guilty of .disgraceful false
hood; that this falsehood was delivered
with circumstances Of solemnity to your
colleagues that it was the occasion of a
tran9fer Of the meetings Of our Advisory
Committee from your house to another
place, and that ! met you next day and
refused to recognize you. You ask why
nobody else did the like. Alasl I was
ever fool in such matters, and always
allowed my disgusts to get the better OF
lmY Judgment. "A wiser man would have
gone along and said nothing about it.
Now, that time has cured my nausea !
would do you justice. declare that !
do not desire or mean to insult you. !
declare that, this incident apart, I. have
nothing against you. All of Us make
mistakes. Simple errors of Judgment
leach can forgive. Now l repeat and de-
clare my charge of personal dishonor
upon you, and as you don't wish to fight
it out, and am sure l don't, will make
| you this proposition: You select two
members of the Committee of Advise
menl, of which both of US were members ;
will select two; the four shall select 9
fifth, and if ! do not make my charge
good 1 will make you a public apology.
HENRY WlTTERsoN.