Edwardsville Spectator

MR. SMITH--AGAIN

Believing it would be unacceptable to our readers to devote so large a portion of our columns, as we have heretofore done, in replying to the turgid effusions of this gentleman, our notice of his bombastic account of his rencontre with us shall be brief.

He entered our office on the 12th ult, armed with a dirk and whip. On seeing we had a pistol at hand for our defence, he turned about, and left the office. E. J. West, Esq. who appeared to be in waiting, then immediately entered, and observed that Mr. Smith only wished for some explanation, and intended no harm: We observed to him, that if Mr. Smith would demean himself peaceably, he might come in. Upon which, Mr. West, after pledging himself that such should be his deportment, sent for him. When Mr. Smith returned, he proposed that the conferences between us should be in writing. The point he wished to gain, was, an admission on our part, that we had no personal knowledge of any thing derogatory to his character as an individual--at the same time making a verbal declaration, in substance, that such acknowledgment should be reciprocal. At this stage of the business, the only difference between us was, the point of priority; in reducing these admissions to writing. As he was the first to commence his attacks upon personal character, we thought it no more than just and reasonable that he should take the lead in making acknowledgements.

Before commencing the conferences, upon the suggestion of Mr. West, of a mutual surrender of arms, our pistol was laid aside. And it appears that while we were writing, Mr. Smith found his way to it, and threw the priming out of the pan. This, he afterwards confessed, in relating the affair--rather indiscreetly; we should suppose, as it displayed his cunning at the expense of his bravery.

Upon our "refusal to make reparation," as he terms it, with a knowledge that we had no means of defence, he attempted to assault us with his whip and dirk, But Mr. West, who had pledged himself that Mr. S. should conduct himself peaceably, interfered, and prevented the slightest injury from being done by him.

With respect to Mr. Smith's complaint, of being expressly named, in our replies to his editorial and communicated matter, we have heretofore observed that "he could not expect us to permit him to remain concealed, while we were ourselves prominently before the public." Such a requisition for our observance could not justly be made. The editor of every newspaper, in our opinion, ought to place his name at its head, that he may be known. Had Mr. S. done this, at the commencement of his editorial labors, there would have been less occasion for expressly naming him in our remarks.