New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register

The Hon. John Holmes and Mr. Southworth. In a number of the Providence "Literary Cadet" published in June or July last, the editor of that paper gave a biographical sketch of several of the Opposition members of Congress, and among them he noticed the Honorable John Holmes, one of the Senators from Maine. In speaking of Mr. Holmes, the editor called him "the unblushing advocate of domestic slavery," and adduced in proof of the charge his vote upon the Missouri Question. This brought forth a Card in the Eastern Argus, in which it is stated, that if the writer will give Mr. Holmes his name, and he shall find it of sufficient respectability to warrant his entering into a controversy with him, he, Mr. Holmes, will disprove the allegation thus made against him. Upon this call, it seems, Mr. Southworth addressed a letter to Mr. Holmes, in which he gives his name, place of his birth, his education, profession, &c. To all which Mr. Holmes in his letter of the 12th instant, published in the Eastern Argus, replies at some length, in which he reiterates a denial of the charge of being the advocate of slavery, calls for proofs and arguments, and among other matters and things insinuates, that the editor of the Cadet is endeavoring with others to prepare the way for the elevation of Mr. Clay to the presidency at the next presidential term, and assures him "that this is not the time, nor is Maine the place to build up the Secretary at the expense of the President."

Mr. Holmes has ever been conspicuous as a political tactician; & it is amusing to see with what adroitness he seizes upon an opportunity of wheeling to the right about.—Convinced as he must be that his constituents will not be disposed to re-elect one who pursues a course in opposition to their wishes, and who without just cause is inimical to an Administration with which they are satisfied, he will lose no time nor occasion in endeavoring to impress upon them the belief that he is what he should be; that the public good and not his own is the great end he has in view. Hence the readiness with which he meets the allegation of the editor of a newspaper in another State, as Mr. Holmes himself sneeringly says, "about three months old," for the purpose no doubt of making himself appear to the good people of Maine as a downright clever fellow. It is the opinion of a Rhode-Island editor that the battle thus commenced between the Senator and the Cadet is likely at least to be amusing.—Should it prove so, we may hereafter take some further notice of it.