TO THE PUBLIC.
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 For the last toui years, have suffer- ed myself 10 be made the door through which the editor of the Gazette has endeavored to escape from the odium ofa recantation of charges contained In certain publications made by him, in the year of 1927, in which the official character of MT. Cfittenden was ar raigned before you. The agency which ] had in those publications, was the sole motive which has thus long indu- ced me 10 6edr the censure of having preferred charges, the result of which i was not able 10 substantiatc, when called uponby the editor ofthe Gazette: but tempord nautantar, and am unwill- ing, longer 10 continue to act the part of scape-goHt. \ detail of the circum- stances under which l became the writer of the pieces in question, will tuliyset forth my agency, and make you acquainted with the persons upon whom must righteously fall theresponsi- bility of the charges made against MT. Crittenden.

 Early in the spring of 1897, the first number ofsA Voter of Pulaski County appeared in the Gazette, aimed entire ly against Robert (. Oden, the oppo- nent of Henry ". Conway for Dele gate to Congress. On the Sunday fol- lowing that publication, Mfr. Woodruff had an interview with me, in which he stated that Chester Ashley and Am prose II. Sevier had applied to him, to procure some person who would write series of essays from that period, un- til the approaching election, the pur- port of which would be to sscarry the war into the enemies camp,' by ar raigning the public conduct, and as- sailing the official character Of Mir. Crittenden, and that he Woodruff had | applied to me for that purpose. l promptly declined having any thing to do with the proposition, on the ground that as had q large and dependant family, iwould not engage in a course which would subject ne to a lawsuit, and a probable amercement of dam ages. To this objection, Woodruff re- piled, that 'swe will stand between you and all danger on that s,ore;'' and f. nally pledged himself that I should not be knoarn as the. author. On mo- ment's reflection, agreed to write for Ashley, Sevier and Woodruff, under the stipulations made by Woodruff. In half an hour l had an interview with Ashley, Sevier and Woodruff, in which they pledged themselves 10 bear all consequences, and also pledged them selves that should not be known in the transaction. They were to furnish me with the facts upon which Mir. Crit tenden was to be assailed, and they were to furnish no facts, but such as they were able to prove. They were equally concerned in the affair, and equally bound in the result.

 Under this compact were the pieces signed by me, written and published in the Gazette; and as far as 1 was sinterest- ed, it was perfectly indifferent to me, whether the facts charged, were true Or false. or if true, whether they were susceptible ofproof, or rested solely on the knowledge of the party communi- eating them 10 me. 1 was not necessa- l riiy 10 know any thing ahent them; but as furnished to me by Ashley, Sesier and Woodruff, Twas to array them for the public eye in the best garbwitn-