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The following appeared in the North Georgian of the twentieth instant: DALTON, GEORGIA, February 19, 1873. OF THE CITIZEN-There in the Knoxville of the nineteenth appeared EDITOR dated of Decem- Chroni- Memde, last, a communication W. R., ber December 16th, signed by phis, which did me the grossest injustice falsehoods it asserted and insinua- with the with regard to my connection the ted, Saving Bank of Memphis and the of the Memphis and Charleston affairs railroad. On the twentieth of Decem- to I addressed a respectful note of Meast's ber Rule & Ricks, the proprietors of Chronicle demanding the author the communication. On the twenty- letthe fourth they informed me by of the that William Rule, one author; editors ter and proprietors, was the did but the letter of the twenty-fourth Janreach me until the third day of not when I addressed respectful note UDuary, William Rule, Esq., asking an conditional to disclaimer of intention his part to reflect upon my charupon for integrity or as a gentleman. received acter the eleventh of January I deOn answer to my note of the third, an to make the general disclaimer. to clining But expressing his willingness make any correction in the communica- de: of the sixteenth of December, tion necessary to do me justice, and in the resired, the proposition contained newing of Rule & Ricks, of the twenty- these letter fourth of December, which was in words: "If feel that any wrong has been Doyou in that letter (sixteenth of what done cember), you and will inform us in cheerparticular, we will promptly and fully make all corrections and reparation justice demands." I immediately addressed him a note, the his attention to the points of in De. calling communication of the sixteenth Rewhich did me injustice. the cember, ceiving no answer to this note, on him twentieth of January I addressed of 9 note, calling his attention to my note no the eleventh of January. Receiving and to my notes of the eleventh of answer twentieth of January, on the first February I addressed him a note, asking behim to name such time and place, the limits of Tennessee, at which It yond would be convenient for him to meet me, for the purpose of FURTHER DISCUSSING THE MATTEES involved in our correspondence; but on the tenth of February I was informed that friend had failed to deliver my note my of the first, and I immediately informed Mr. Rule, by note sent be by at a messenger, that I would special National Hotel, at Dalton, Georgia, the this day, at ten 'clock in the mornon when and where I would be pleased dising, him, in order that we might we to see further the matters about which cuss had corresponded. But, upon reaching to find, here this morning I was surprised instead of William Rule, Esq., of this a of the K noxville Chronicle corredate, copy containing a copy of the spondence, with & communication, of dated yesterday, about three-fourths reitercolumn in length, in which he conates a the calumnies and falsehoods tained in the communication of the six teenth of December, but declines to meet his for the purpose of vindicating false me charges and insinuations or giving the slightest satisfaction for the gross If and me wanton wrong he has done me. he had exhibited the thousandth part of zeal in au effort to reach THE TRUTH of the matters about which he under- distook to inform the public, that he played to stringing together the tissue falsehood and slander in the he of nication of sixteealh December, would have ascertained that the Savresumed payments within days after suspension, 80 far as to ings ninety its liabilities, Bauk presented, and ready have that all been paid, and that it is balpay, whenever presented, the had small called anceyet outstanding. If be upon my successor m the Presidency Railroad of the Memphis and Charleston Company, or the directors of that.com afwho are most familiar with its pany, fairs and the manner in which they that were managed during the time he I was President of the company, not would have learned that there was the shadow of foundation for his VILE, FALSE AND SLANDEROUS INSINUATIONS with regard to this matter; but, instead reof this, he wilfully and deliberately peats the falsehoods, and seeks to that proteet himse If behind the declaration dueling is contrary to the spirit of the age, the laws of humanity, the country these and of God; yet in the face he violates truth every of honor in the principle lawe, grossly infamous of and all He work says, of detraction and defamation. he has reason to believe that knew he would net fight before I invited him to meet me here. In answer to which did I have only to may that I not even know of his existence until my attention was called to him by his false and slanderous communication the of the sixteenth of December, and only reason I could have had to doubt his his manhood is found in the fact of dastardly conduct in giving publicity to falsehood and slander which he had not the manliness to promptly vindicate or retract. Feeling assured that no charge or statement hereafter emanating from William Rule can harm any one, I leave him to such position in the public esteem or contempt as a just and enlightened people may consign him. M. J. WICKS
