Harry is a gentleman, and sometimes a villain, as Matthew Clanton has proved himself to be. But to the subject. Many of the names annexed to this certificate are those of refugees and men of no character, and many others had never seen Mr. Stewart, and therefore could know nothing about him. All who signed the first part of the certificate are perjured, and will swear falsely whenever it is to their advantage to do so. We offer the following evidence to sustain the truth of our assertions. "State of Mississippi, Holmes County. "The undersigned, citizens of the county and state above written, do hereby certify, that we were at Pontetoc, in the Chickasaw Purchase, on the 25th of September, 1835, and saw William G. Crawley introduced to Virgil A. Stewart at that place; and we afterward heard the said Crawley acknowledge that he had never seen Mr. Stewart before that time. We were present when Mr. Stewart called on the said Crawley for his authority for signing a libellous and slanderous publication against his character, and we heard the said Crawley deny ever subscribing his name to any document derogating from the character of Virgil A. Stewart. He asserted that he had only signed a document giving Matthew Clanton a good character. He also stated that he had been acquainted with Matthew Clanton for six months at least. "Given under our hands and seals, this 23d day of October, 1835. [Sealed.] "WILLIAM MCALLISTER, "State of Mississippi, Holmes County. "I do hereby certify, to all whom it may concern, that at the time Virgil A. Stewart left Yallabusha coun ty, in this state, in May, 1834, he called at my store in the county of Yallabusha, and settled a small bill which I had against him. Said Virgil A. Stewart then and there informed me that he contemplated leaving that county on the day following. He also declared the same facts openly in the presence of all in the house. I do therefore feel it my duty to say to the world that he did not leave Yallabusha county clandestinely, but openly and aboveboard. "Given under my hand and seal, this 18th day of September, 1835. [Sealed.] "A. C. CHISHOLM." Declaration of the Sentiments of the Citizens of Carroll County, Mississippi. "At a public meeting of a part of the citizens of Carroll county, Mississippi, on the 1st day of August, 1835, at Smith's Mill, on motion of Robert M. Spicer, Doctor John Wright was called to the chair, and William Blanks appointed secretary. The object of the meeting being briefly explained by the chairman, the following resolutions were read and respectfully submitted: "Resolved, That the undersigned, citizens of said county, view with indignation the sentiments advanced by Matthew Clanton, in his reply to the 'Western Land Pirate,' on pages 15 and 37, in reference to the manner in which he would esteem those who avowed themselves the friends of Virgil A. Stewart. "Resolved, That we look upon his (Clanton's) vindication of the charge alleged against him by Virgil A. Stewart as entirely inadequate in its present form to wipe away the stain on his character; and, until further and stronger evidence is produced, we are not prepared to admit his innocence; and take this method of announcing to him and the public that we are the friends of Virgil A. Stewart. "Resolved, That the secretary furnish the editors of the Grenada Bulletin and Vicksburg Register with copies of our proceedings for publication. 66 Resolved, That we adjourn, to meet again in Carrollton on Saturday next, the 8th August. "All which resolutions were unanimously adopted, and subscribed by the following persons, viz. :-Titus Howard, James Blanks, Silas O Neal, Joel Smith, Thos. H. Wright, John Ward, John W. Smith, Patrick Riley, David A. Ren, Edward G. Howard, Stark H. Roach, James T. House, R. R. Williams, L. C. Maclin, Robert M. Spicer, Berry Green, John P. Rozier, Henry A. Roach, Edmond O'Neal, Clark Cobb, James Oldham, William S. Crowson, John Blanks, Byrd Matlock, Edwd. Moore, Richard S. Blanks, John Jackson, A. M'Millan, Charles P. Taylor, Peterson Pason, Bardin O'Neal, John B. Kerr, William Clark, David Cobb, Michael Magraw, William H. Beck, Branson Lattrem, John A. Howard, James Blanks, jr., S. S. Ward, R. S. Kerr, Wiley Rozier, S. B. Piers. "JOHN WRIGHT, Chairman. "WILLIAM BLANKS, Secretary." "Carrollton, August 8th, 1835. "Met according to adjournment. By request, William G. Kendall read the above resolutions, when they were adopted and subscribed by the following persons, viz. :-William G. Kendall, Samuel Clay, John Clark, Matthew Little, William M. Thompson, John G. Russell, John R. Foy, John S. Crittenden, Reuben Henry, J. Cooper, J. Boyd, John E. Green, Jonah Ashley, Burrell Jones, G. W. Green, W. N. Miller, E. Elkin, Greenwood Leflore, Joseph Drake, John L. Irvin, Joseph Nelson, J. G. Russell, jr., Enoch Lattum, Derram Daverson, Richard Hester, Thomas Rhodes, Jas. Mathews, Thos. Mathews, John S. Robertson, James M'Manaway, Morgan Smith, James Forbus, N. A. Barnett, Thomas M. Colman, D. Brown, John Brown, William G. Herring, John Mathews, W. P. Patton, John Robinson, R. H. Hawthorn, Daniel Fullinton." Next we notice a certificate signed by several persons, stating that they saw a letter written by Mr. Stewart to Clanton, in which he acknowledged his guilt and dishonour. This is so absurd in itself, we deem it unnecessary to offer any proof; but for the special benefit of those certificate-makers, we will here give an extract from a letter written by Mr. Stewart to George N. Saunders, before he knew he was his enemy; and, as it was published by Clanton and Saunders for some purpose, we know not what, it will hardly be disputed. We have another object in calling the attention of the reader to this extract. will be seen from this document that Mr. Stewart had never revealed himself to Saunders as to the evidence he had against Clanton and his future movements. It is as follows: It "I am very anxious to hear from you. Please write to me as soon as possible. I have the pleasure to inform you that I am sustained by the best citizens of the country, and that I have every assurance of the strongest protection. It would be as much as a man's life is worth to interfere with me in any way. The time is past that villains can do me any harm except in secret; plans and schemes will lie against me no longer. Mr. Saunders, recollect what I told you, about the last conversation we had together: you know that I said Clanton's feelings would bleed some day; but you did not understand what was then meant; but, sir, the four winds of heaven can now explain it. I have lived to see it, and can now die contented; not that I glory in Clanton's reproach (for you know that I loved him once), but that the high prerogative of heaven rules over vice and corruption, and makes them cower and yield submission to its wishes." * What would any rational man infer from the above declaration? Mr. Stewart was then speaking of Clanton as he felt, but never expected to see it in print. The reader and the public must draw their own conclusions. There is a certain Mr. A. C. Bane, of Clanton memory, who has been calumniating Mr. Stewart by means of abusive and slanderous letters, in which he has endeavoured to produce the impression on the mind of the public that Mr. Stewart was an accomplice of Murrell's in villany. We now offer the following evidence to prove the baseness of his accusation. "Jackson, Tennessee, 30th September, 1835. "Whereas divers insinuations have been put in circulation, involving the character of Virgil A. Stewart, the author of the 'Western Land Pirate,' one of which is intended to produce the impression that said Stewart was associated with John A. Murrell in his thefts and robberies; I hereby certify, to all whom it may concern, that I was, at the time of Murrell's arrest for the crime of which he was convicted, and for which he was sentenced to our state prison, where he is now prisoner, on the evidence of said Stewart, as detailed in the Western Land Pirate,' the sheriff of Madison county in Tennessee; and that, previous to Murrell's conviction, after his arrest, he was a prisoner in my custody at least twenty days, fourteen of which he was kept in my office, near my dwelling-house, in the coun |