Year: 1860

Mr.. THoMPsoN-Dear Sir: Permit me TO occupy
which appeared in the last weeks Republican


Mattinely raust be very hard up for editorial
matter, or he certainly would never stoop to the
low contemplate practice Of attacking private cit
liens who entire strangers to him, (and forever
wish to be,) and who lives in different county
from himself. DO not profess to be politician,
neither l candidate for any Office l have
all | can do to attend to my own business, and let
other peoples alone; and l only claim the right
of enjoying my own opinions in regard to religious
and political matters which granted to by
the Constitution of ny country.


The article referred to in the Republican is
nearly all false, and false coloring put to the
whole of it. lie says am figuring to get an in
dividual nominated for Clerk in Starke county
who is incompetent to fill the office. with the un-
derstanding that if elected should fill the Office
for him, or at least he says he was informed that
such was the case. will just state to Ma:tingly
that the above charge is ie-that he nor no 9TH
man ever heard me say anything that express
ed or implied such an idea; and | shall believe
Mattingly the author of said lie until he trots out
his informant If we have men in Knox tha. are
capable Of manufacturing such lie, and especial
y private citizen that has but little to do with
politics, we wish to have them pointed out. The
course they are pursuing is most cowardly. moan
and despicable. Why do they hide behind the ed.
itor and get him to publish their lies and false
hoods as editorials If there are any such, it is
because they know they are manufacturing lies,
and they know they could get no person here to
believe them, and they would receive the cOndem-
nation they so justly deserve. l will say further,
that have never entered into such an arrange
ment with any man that is now, has been, or ever
will be candidate for the Office of Clerk or any
other office in Starke county this fall; and defy
my man to prove to the contrary. How consist
ent to suppose that could get the people of Starke
county to elect man to the Office Of Clerk any
other Office that was SO incompetent when they
say / only received very few votes last fall for
Recorder. The people of Starke county know
their own business too well to be dictated to in the
selection of their officers by any man or set of men,
and especially by such snarling ours as lgnoramus
Mattingy and his informants.


He says in case l am defeated in getting my
friend nominated, $50 he is informed | will bolt
and perhaps leave the party. l will just say for
the qualification of the austute seer that presdes
over the editorial department of the Republican
that if am ever fool enough to leave the Demo
cratic party l shall certainly have sense enough to
keep out of any party that has in its ranks any
such long cared animals as the editor of the Re
publican, and who is continually braying at every
man that does not bow to his dictum and subscribe
to his political faith.


| AS far as | am concerned. neither Mattingly mol
any of his informants can injure in the least by
| their attacks. should not have noticed their at
tacks, but do not wish that any candidate shoult
be injured by his fabrication Of lies. If the Repub
lcans will attend to nominating their own candi
dates and not meddle so much in selecting our.
for us, it would be more TO their credit, and per
haps advantage.


There are but very few Republicans in Starkt
but that | esteem very much. and | have man.
friends among them, and would not do SAY
any thing to wound their feelings; and if ever
wish to run for an office again | shall never ash
Mattingly or any of his informants whether | Cal
run or not; and if Mattingly has any trouble will
KNOX, let him settle with him; and wheneve
he leaves the candidates or can find no more lies
to tell on them, and wishes to pitch into private
citizens, he can vent his spleen me. Perhaps
| shall answer, and perhaps not; but one thing il
certain, have rights as well he, and when they
are assailed shall defend item. let it come from
what quarter 1t may. w. W. CALklNS.