Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-04-25

oility. and that / :; as 10, |oisp 0seu 60 do
after what had already transpired
make this statement as I am about to
be absent for some time and I think It
due to all concerned to give true ver-
sion of the matter before I leave. Your
obedient servant, sis5Es
JOHN d WH1TEs1DE.
q To which Mr.. Merryman replied:
Springfield. Oct s, 1912.
Editors of the Journal: III
ia Gents-By your paper OF Friday I 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 IA pursuit CT
I Mr.. Lincoln, who was at fremont at
tending court. II knew that Mr.. Lincoln
was wholly Impractical both as to the
diplomacy and weapons commonly em-
ployed in similar affairs. and felt 1t my
far as in my power, to prevent any adj
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 I 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
n nv inorH to- tho% oSr1,k rot
degrade him in the estimation Of himself
and friends; but, If such degradation or
fight were the only alternative he
would fight. Is M #sS .r3
In the afternoon Shields and whiteside
arrived and very soon the former sent
to Mn Lincoln by the latter the follow
ign note or letter: ES$5 HI /; s.} fts s
fremont, Sept. II, 1912.
"A. Lincoln. ESD regret that my alb
sence on public business compelled me to
postpone a matter Of private considera-
ton little longer than I could have de-
sired. It 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. IL T. will now
state briefly the reasons of my troubling
you with this communication, the dis
agreeable nature of which regret, as 1
had hoped to avoid any difficulty with
any one in Springfield while residing
there. by endeavoring to conduct myself
in such way amongst both my political
friends and opponents as to escape the
necessity of any. Whilst thus abstaining
from giving provocation, I have become
the object of SANDER. vituperation and
personal abuse which, were capable of
submitting to, I would prove myself
worthy of the whole of It,
I'm 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 have be-
come by some means or other the object
of your secret hostility. win not take
the trouble of inquiring into the reason
of all this, but I will take the liberty of
requiring a full. positive and absolute re-
traction of ali offensive illusions used by
you in these communications in relation
to my private character and standing as
man. as an apology for the insults cons
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. In
that note you say you have been inform
ed. through the medium of the editor Of
the Journal. that am the author of GER
tain articles in that paper which you
deem personally abusive Of you, and,
without stopping to inquire whether L
really am the author or to point out what
is offensive in them. you demand an UNI
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
as to consequences that cannot submit
to answer that note any further than
have and to add that the consequence to
which I suppose you allude would be
matter of as great regret to me as it
possibly could to you. Respectfully,
"A. LINCOLN" +.
In about an hour General Whiteside
called again with another note from Mr..
Shields. but after comforting with Mr..