Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1907-03-29
-- By
Ward Hill Lamcn,
To which Mr.. Merryman replied:
L;nco,n's Friend and BodyGuard

To which A1r. Merryman rephed:
Springfield Oct. g. 1872
Editors of the Journal:
Gents-By your paper of, Friday dis
cover that General Whiteside has pub
lished his version of the late affair be-
tween Messrs Shields and Lincoln now
bespeak a hearing of my version OF the
same affair, which shall be true and full
as to all material facts.
On Friday evening the 10th of Septem-
Der / learned that Mr.. Shields and Cen
eral Whiteside had started in pursuit OF
Mr. Lincoln who was at fremont at
tending court. 1 knew that Mr.. Lincoln
was wholly Impractical both as to the
diplomacy and weapons commonly en-
ployed in similar affairs, and felt 1t my
duty as a friend to be with him and SO
far as in my power, to prevent any ad-
vantage being taken of him as to either
his honor or his life. Accordingly, Mr..
Butler and myself started, passed Shields
and Whiteside in the night and arrived at
fremont ahead of them on Saturday
morning 1 told Mr.. Lincoln what was
brewing and asked him what course he
proposed to himself. He stated that he
was wholly opposed to dueling and would
do anything to avoid it that might not
degrade him in the estimation of himself
and friends; but. If such degradation or
a fight were the only alternative. he
would fight.
In the afternoon Shields and Whiteside
arrived, and very soon the former sent
to Mr. Lincoln by the latter the follow
ign note or letter:
fremont, Sept II. 1912.
"a. Lincoln, Esq.-I regret that my alb
sence on public business compelled me to
postpone a matter of private consdera-
ton little longer than I could have de-
sired. 1t will only be necessary, however,
to account for it by informing you that I
have been to Quincy on business that
would not admit of delay. I will now
state briefly the reasons of my troubling
you with this communication, the dis
agreeable nature of which I regret. as L
had hoped to avoid any difficulty with
any one in Springfield while residing
there. by endeavoring to conduct myself
in such a way amongst both my political
friends and opponents as to escape the
necessity of any. Whilst thus abstainins
from giving provocation, l have become
the object of SANDER. vituperation and
personal abuse which were l capable OF
submitting to, 1 would prove myself
worthy of the whole of 1t.
''In two or three of the last numbers of
the Sangamon Journal articles of the
most personal nature and calculated to
degrade me have made their appearance.
On inquiring, 1 was Informed by the ed
itor of that paper. through the medium
Of my friend. General Whiteside. that you
are the author of those articles. This in
formation satisfies me that l have be-
come by some means or other the object
of your secret hostility. l will not take
the trouble of inquiring into the reason
of all this, but 1 will take the liberty OF
requiring 4 full, positive and absolute re-
traction of all offensive illusions used by
you in these communications in relation
to my private character and standing as
man, as an apology for the insults con-
veyed in them.
This may prevent consequences which
no one will regret more than myself
Your ob't serv't JAS. SHIELDS
About sunset General Whiteside called
again and received from Mr.. Lincoln the
following answer to Mr.. Shields note:
Fremont Sept II. 1912.
"Jas. Shields. Esq.-Your note of today
was handed me by General Whiteside. Ir
that note you say you have been inform
ed, through the medium of the editor OF
the Journal. that I am the author of GER
tain articles in that paper which you
deem personally abusive of you, and
without stopping to inquire whether
really am the author or to point out wha1
is offensive in them, you demand an un
qualified retraction of all that is offensive
and then proceed to hint at consequences
'Now. sir there is in this so much as
sumption of facts and so much of menace
rs to consequences that 1 cannot submi
to answer that note any further than
have and to add that the consequence t.
which l suppose you allude would be s
matter of great regret to me as !
possibly could to you. Respectfully.
"A. LINCOLN"
In about al hour General Whitesid,
called again with another note from Mr.
Shields. but after comforting with Mr.