ase 9 bei oe a aes $2.00 per Annum VOL. 2, No. 13.] '* All extremes are error, the opposite of error is noltruth but error; STRATFORD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1864. truth lies between the extremes." im advance. [WHOLE No. 40 We publish in another column an article from the London Free Press which purports to be an answer to the many charges made against the present proprietors of the Quebec Mercury--a paper published in Quebec, at the expense of the public, whose business it was to elevate the late ministry by abusing their opponents. It will be seen by the article to which we refer that the Mercury was an insignificant and worthless affair, published, in the fall of 1862, as a small semi-weekly paper without even local influence and entirely unknown in Upper Canada. Mr. Josiah Blackburn, who had been a strong sup- porter of the Macdonald-Cartier administration, but who appears to have ne fixed principles in polities, on the fall of that government went to Quebec, and, in order that the new men might have an organ of their own, their character being such that no respectable or indepent journal would consent to become their mouth piece, this philanthropic Mr, Blackburn, at a heavy pecu- niary loss (so he_says) assumed the publication of the Mercury, and employed the notorious Sheppard, another individual without any fixed political principles, to edit it. In January, 1863, the Mercury was issued as a daily paper, not.as a commercial undertaking, we are told, for every issue entailed a loss, but, as we have already stated, for the purpose of defending the ministry, by vainly endeavoring to make them appear white by a peculiar process--that of blackening their opponents by the publication, from day to day, of wicked and deliberate falsehoods, Shortly after the House met, and in order that the speeches of the Ministers, and the speeches of the members in favor of them might be pub- lished verbatim, Mr. Blackburn, good soul, at a further pecuniary loss engaged the services of four first-class reporters, and kept his office open night and day till the session closed. Then we are told that during the summer, and throughout the general election which followed the disgrace- ful 'double shuffle, the Mercury appeared as a daily sheet--'always,' says the Free Press, 'carried on at a great loss, there being no ade- quate commercial support to keep it up.' Then came the session which followed the election, 'entailing a still further heavy loss upon Mr. Blackburn. 'Those who are acquainted, 'says the FreePress, 'with the cost of daily journalism in Canada, know perfectly well that there are just two sources of profit for the publisher, which form, as it were, the life-blood of the undertaking-- advertisements and circulation. The Mercury, from its position, could command neither of these sources of profit: it was not, pretended that it was a commercial paper; it was put forward as a medium of communication between the government and the press of Canada and the members of the Legislature.' Mr. Blackburn, says his defender, lost by the undertaking some $10,000, 'and that the government, in order to make him some little restitution, gave him $50,000 worth of work, the profits on which have not 'adequately repaid' him: in other words, that on the whole he has sustained a loss. . Reader, do you believe this ? Does it bear on its face the stamp of truth? Would any man, merely in order to defend a government, undertake the publication of a paper every issue of which entailed a heavy loss ! The thing is absurd! Those who have seen the Quebec Mercury know that it has been, ever Since it came into Mr. Blackburn's hands, more than half filled with government advertisements, at the expense, of course, of the people. Why has this been the case? Why should advertise- ments, which are intended | for the general pub- lic, be published in a paper with no circulation --not known throughout the Upper Province and the greater part of the Lower Province, ex- cept as an exchange with the press ?_.Do mer- chants advertise in' papers ' without local: in- fluence' and almost entirely unknown to the public? Certainly not! Then why should the government pursue a, different, course to that pursued by private individuals, or private firms? Is it not important that government adyvertise- ments should be widely circulated and generally read'? Is it-not clear, then, that the immense advertising patronage extended to the Mercury Was not for any other purpose than a bribe to the proprietor? It was a wilful waste of the people's money for no public benefit! The facts are just these: Mr. Josiah Blackburn issued a "daily paper in Quebec which could neither com- mand a circulation nor commercial influence or »support--it was merely got up as an) exchange with the press--it was, and is unknown in Upper Canada, except by the press. Its grand object was to damn the members of the op- position by misrepresention and falsehood in order to make the ministry appear somewhat respectable. Messrs. Josiah Blackburn and Sheppard were chosen by the government as the fittest individuals for such villanous work. In order to compensate these worthies for the. ser- vices. rendered and, the loss. sustained, the Ministry stuffed the Mercury fullof Government advertisements, and gave them immense printing jobs at extraordinary profits. Referring to this disgraceful affair, the London Prototype, one of the most independent and spirited. journals in the Province -- and one who is guided by principle, and cannot be bought for money, says, after having reviewed the Free Press confession : "We will not proceed with this subject any further to-day, and will now conclude by draw- ing attention to the fact that the man to whom this $50,000 was paid, owns a journal which supported the coalition--the present opposition --up to the very day that party went out of of- fice. That very day this Mr. B. and his organ changed their political coats. The latter re- mains to the present moment, abusing its old friends and using its new ones. The former is the man who publishes the Government organ at Quebec--the paper with 'no circulation," busi- ness advertisements, or commercial standing, who prints ten or twelve columns a day of go- vernment notices in this paper of "no circula- tion ;" who gets the blue-books to print in an office where there is no book work done, and who sub-lets the jobs to the Parliamentary printers so as to make a thousand dollars by the transaction. This is the same man who, in both his organs, denounced a brother journalist as a swindler, because, -in 1862, that brother journ- alist supplied the Crown Lands Department with more stationery and printing than could be used in ten years, and yet himself supplied the same Department in 1863 with $9,000 worth more of the same material! There.are several. other traits in the character of the proprietor of the Quebec Mercury and London Free Press, which time is developing, and which will not fail to be made public. The city organ yesterday demand- ed, "(as a 'simple measure of justice," that its scathing reply should, be published among op- position papers. We hope, our brethren: will grant this request. It cannot be too widely known, on such excellent authority, that the Premier's organ is a paper devoid of circulation or standing, and that even a lavish and corrupt jobbery of over $50,00 a year of the people's money is not enough to make it pay." While the notorious and unprincipled Shep- pard is employed by the renegade Blackburn, to defend the shufflers who composed the late min istry, he receives the handsome sum of $15 a day as Chief Inquisitor of that Financial Com- mission which was got up at the expense of the Province, for the express purpose of destroying the character of the opposition, but which failed of its object. The printing of the " Blue Books," which should have been given out by public con- tract, was given to these individuals at the rate from 40c. to 50c. per 100 ems. They, of course, had no type to print such books, and merely received the orders per favor of the min- istry, employing other men to do the work at the rate of from 25c% to 28c. per 100 ems. 'This was. the disgraceful way the Mercury was sus- tained ! One word more, and we have done. What was Mr. Josiah Blackburn's financial standing before he commenced the publication of the Mercury? Was it such as would warrant the public in thinking that he could have lost as much as he says? Can aman who commences with nothing lose by the transaction? We trust the Blackburn and Sheppard jobs will be thoroughly investigated. We think it is not possible to imagine a more disgraceful affair than that which has existed between Black- burn, Shippard and the Government, as shewn by the article from the Free Press. It wag a downright piece of jobbery and corruption from first to last, without an equal in the history of Think of it; in order to have an organ to support the Ministry and abuse and vilify their opponents immense print- iug jobs at enormous prices--and an equally immense advertising patronage are given by the Ministry to the proprietor of a paper to com- pensate him for the losses he may sustain in its publication--and also to maintain. a staff of re- porters to report their speeches. The Free Press says the Ministry could not put their hands into the public chest and pay the expenses of such an undertaking, and therefore it was neces- jobbery and corruption. sary to do itin another way,--viz: by giving Mr. Blackburn large printing jobs at a price which enabled him to re-let the work and make a large profit--and by giving him several columns of Government advertisements every week. Now we contend they might just as well have taken the money out of the public chest in the first place, What was the difference? It is admit- ted the paper had no» circulation whatever, further than as an exchange with the Press,-- therefore the. advertisements published ia it could be of no use to the public. The amount paid to Mr. Blackburn for printing ' blue books " over what regular printers were willing to do the work for was also wasted. Thus the public were called upon to pay away their money in order that a paper might'be kept up expressly for the purpose of abusing a majority of those who hadto pay ! a ee The celebrated divorcee, Mrs. Yelverton, is dying in Scotland. The Government Newspaper. MR. BLACKBURN'S PRINTING AND. STA- TIONERY, (From the London Free Press.) A uumber of the opposition journals--among whom may he classed. Dhe Leader, the Mon- treal Gazette, Hamilton Spegtgtor, Peterborough Review, and a few lesser li@hts--have thought fit to assail, in a most unpt@fessional and un- called-for manner, Mr. Jégifi Blackburn, the publisher, of the Quebeey Mercury. These " organs" of the oppositionthaye all been grind- ing to the same tune: théiy endeavor has been to show that Mr. Blackbuin had been one of the blood-suckers on the public. purse of the Foote stamp ; that is, that he has swindled the government by excessive prices. The charge has been echoed and re-echoed throughout the land, and the. exposure of Mr. Foote's transactions are sought to be covered up by attacks on Mr. Blackburn, In furnishing a general reply to the. waspish attacks of the organs referred to, it may be as well to commence at the beginning, and. to give a brief sketch of Mr, Blackburn's.connexion with the government printing, and to show that, so far from being benefitted to the extent the opposition prints would: have the public to believe, he has not been sufficiently remuner- lg for the labor that has been thrown upon im. ; In the late fall of 1862; Mr. J. Blackburn went to Quebec, and was induced by -political friends there to undertake the management of a journal in the interest of the government. At that time the Mercury was a small semi- weekly paper of no great local influence, and entirely unknown in the Upper Province, It Was necessary that the then government (the Macdonald-Sicotte,) should have a journal to which it could have access as a medium of com- munication between the government and. the country. Attacks on the policy of the goyern- ment in the Upper and Lower opposition papers had to be replied to through some journal,» or else it would have been-asserted that they had nothing to offer in their defence. Again, 'it was also found convenient, if not indispensable, that the policy of the government should oc- casionally be indicated to the press.of the coun- try semi-officially through some journal, and hence it was that, folowing in the footsteps -of all previous administrations, the government decided to make terms: with some publisher, The upshot of it was, then, that Mr. Blackburn became the publisher, and the Mercury the or- gan of the administration, with Mr. George Sheppard as editor,. but in io a nected with the paper other 4; : : pacity. ener The Mercury was forthwith ushered into life as a daily paper on January 1, 1863--notas a commercial undertaking, for every issue en- tailed a loss--but for the purpose explained above. Presently the Parliament met, and it was then found necessary that the debates in both Houses should be carefully and faithfully reported. Mr. Blackburn, at a very serious outlay, engaged the services of four gentlemen whose reporting abilities were of first-class merit, and during the long and _ boisterous session the reports of the proceedings of the Legislature found .a place daily in the columns of the Quebec Mercury ;' other papers--even the Globe, Leader and the Montreal press--copying verbatim the reports so furnished to the press of Canada. The office was kept open day and night during all that session, and the entire cost to the publisher was nearly $4,000. During the summer, and throughout the general elec. tion, the Mercury appeared as a daily sheet-- always' carried on ata great loss be it remem- bered, there being no adequate commercial sup- port to keep it up--and after the election,' an- other session, entailing afresh charge of $3 500 to $4,000 had to be borne ; the press of Canada being furnished with the debates, and the policy of the government constantly enunciated through its columns. Those who are acquainted with the cost of daily journalism in Canada, know perfectly well that there are just two sources of profit for the publisher, which form, as it were, the life- blood of the undertaking--advertisements and circulation. The Mercury, from its position could command neither of these sources of profit: it was not pretended that it was a commercial paper ; it was put forward as a medium of com- munication between the government and the press of Canada and the members of the Leo- islature. Such being the case, it is Clear that no man in his senses would shoulder such a burden without some adequate remuneration. But how was this to be accomplished? From what source could the necessary pecuniary support' be derived'? The government could not pay the éxpenses of a paper like the Mercury out of the public chest, as the law would not warrant it. How, theng was nore lodeadeas ; fwas the organ to be This brings us to the printing question about which such a handle has been made. The government of the day has at its disposal the giving out of a large quantity of printing re- quired for the different. departments. In order to reimburse Mr. Blackburn his outlay, the government diverted from the printers" who formerly executed this class of work sufficient to cover his loss, Hence, during the time the Mercury has been under his control, he has had orders for work to a considerable extent, the profit on which has nearly all been absorbed in the publication of the paper, and the reporting of the debates. Now, then, comes the important enquiries :-- 1 Was the work given. to Mr. Blackburn to execute necessary orrequired for the public ser- vice ? 2 Were 'the' prices charged for such work fair and réasonable, or were they excessive and exorbitant ? ; , We contend that this is the fair way of look- ing at the question ; and before Mr, Blackburn shouid be held up to public derision as a man of the Foote stamp--a man who charged three or four prices for work done and rendered--these questions should be fully and fairly answerrd. So far as Mr. Blackburn is concerned, we may say in reply to query No. 1, that all the work he has executed was required for the public service, as the work itself will testify ; and 2nd, that the prices charged were fair and 'reason- able. Further, an examination of his accounts, taken as a whole, will show a very large saying, not only over the charges of Mr. Foote, but over the prices previously paid for similar work 'un- der former administrations, Now we put it to the press of Canada and the public,. if, as we state the work was re- quired, and tl@ prices were fair and reasonable --where lies, the injustice, and why should Mr. Blackburn's. transaction be classed as ' Jobs ?" Mr. Blackburn undertook a very difficult ; expensive, arduous, and thankless task, and his remuneration has not been in proportion to the labor and anxiety attending his efforts. It may be stated in all sincerity, and with perfect can- dor, that the loss Mr. Blackburn has sustained in conducting the Mercury has been at least $10,000--that. the profits accruing from the work he has performed, and the goods delivered --say $50,000--taken at an average of 20 per cent., have, unfortunately, not adequately repaid him. He went to Quebec to undertake a cer- tain work, and the spirit: and ability with which that work has been done calls down upon him the howling vituperation of the malicious, the envious, the unprincipled among the press of Canada--journals which, like Zhe Leader, Spectator and others, have been proved, to- gether with Foote, to be steeped to their lips in corruption. Happily, Mr. Blackburn is safe from the effects of such attacks; he has no- thing to fear from the fullest investigation ; no "Roote jobs" can be laid at his door} his con- duct has been fair, upright and above board. Mr. Jackson, member for Grey, who moved for the return of the printing accounts, will prove to be Mr. Blackburn's best vindicator, and when his prices are compared with those charged by the Coalition printers, it will be seen whether he is to be classed with Foote of Quebec, Gillespy of the Spectator, or Beaty of The Leader. But the opposition papers have not the decency or manliness to wait till. the matter can be fairly sifted ; their. object is to blast the 'character of a brother journalist, who has always stood high in his profession, and whose. name has been unsullied. If, by the reiteration of false charges and malignant ac- cusiations, they can only succeed in inflicting some injury on Mr. Blackburn and the govern- ment for which he has-worked, they reck not the lies they tell and the mischief done to the morals of the community, by the circulation of their abuse, false though it be. How ** Disloyal" Ministers are oe ot Ya vais ady bee announced that 'General Butler has sent the Rev. James D, Armstrong, D. D., of Norfolk, Va., to work upon the for- tifications at Hatteras, as a punishment for what are called disloyal practices. The following is the official report of the trial of this clergy- man :-- Question--Do you call yourself a loyal man in letter and spirit to-day ? Answer.--lI prefer not answering. Q. What is the name of that gentleman who had taken the oath, and while coming out of the custom-house with you made the remark, that he 'would like to spit upon Northern Yan- kees," or something to that effect? A.--I pre- fer not answering. Q.--Have you ever inyour pulpit alluded favorably to the Southern cause? A.--I preached asermon on the recommendation of the Southern congress. Q.--Did you object at the time to doing so? A.--No, sir. Q:--Have you, since the commencement of the war, preached in your pulpit a sermon fay- orable to the Union cause, one that would please the loyal and displease the disloyal ? A.--No, sir. Q.--Where were you born? A.--In New Jersey. I. came to Virginia, when nine years old. Q.--Have you determined in your mind not to pray for or allude to the President of the United States, the authorities, the armies and navies thereof, that they may be successful in their efforts to put down this wicked rebellion? A.--TI have. Q.--Do you think this a wicked rebellion ? A. --No, sir. Q.--Have you, since the commencement of the war, opened your church on any fast or Thanksgiving day, recommended by the Presi- dent of the United States ? A.--No, sir. Q.--Did you ever open your church on Jeff. Davis' recommendation? A.--There has been meeting for prayer. Q.--Should the President of the United States, within a short time, recommend a day of thanks- giving or fast, with a view that Christians would unitein prayer for the overthrow of all Confederates in arms against the United States, would you willingly open your church and take charge of such meetings to thatend? A.--I should not. Q.--Do you look upon slavery as a Divine institution ? A.--I look upon it. as allowable. Q.--Did you look upon the hanging of John Brown as just and right. A.--I did. Q.--Would you look upon the hanging of any of the prominent Confederates--Jeff. Davis, for instance--as just and right? A\--I should not. Q.--Are you religiously and morally opposed to capital punishment ? A.--IJ am not. Q.--Do you look upon Jeff. Davis or any of his Confederates as deserving any severe pun- ishment for their public acts against the gov- ernment, since the commencement of the war? A.--I.do not. Q.--Do you sympathize with the Union cause or with the Confederate? A.--With the Con- federate. Q.--Do you look upon Jeff. Davis, Wigfall, J. M. Mason, and their former colleagues in the United States Congress just preceding the year 1860, as. perjured men, and deserving traitor's reputation for all time, until they show works meet for repentance? A.--I donot. Q.--Did or do younow regret the Federal loss at Smithfield, a few weeks since? A.--I do not. ' Q.--Do you think the attack on Fort Sumter, he gt Yi It has-wlire <a by the Gonfederates, justifiable? A--I prefer not answering. : Q.--Do you think the South justifiable in ever having fired on the old flag ? ' A,--I do Q.--Should you know of any blockade run- ners.or secret mail carriers to or from the Gon- federates, would you give immediate informa tion thereof to our authorities, that they might be punished as traitors deserve. A.--I would not have anything to do with it. The Rey. Dr. Armstrong, the subject of this trial, is one of the most holy and eminent men of his church (the Presbyterian). He has been a citizen of Virginia for thirty years,--is a brother of the celebrated Dr. W. G. Armstrong of the American Board of Missions who perished in the Lexington, and is himself celebrated ag the Howard of the yellow fever visitation at Norfolk. At the age of 50 he has the constitu- tion of 70 or 75 years from the ravages of yelluw fever upon him, while heroically standing to his post to attend the sick and bury the dead.-- Leader. The Sherman Failure. SOUTHERN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION, From the Richmond Despatch, March 9. The recent victory of Gen. Forrest in North- ern Mississippi, by which the grand plan of the Yankees in the West was so effectually defeated was one of the most remarkable achievements of this war. We have conversed with gentlemen recently from that section, whose accounts alt concur in the main facts of that almost marvel-- lous exploit. The enemy's reports fully confirm these accounts, but they do not state the exact force by which these results were accomplished. Owing to the exhaustion of his horses, the want of arms and ammunition, and other causeg Forrest could array a force of only twenty-four hundred men to confront Smith and Grierson'g column of seven thousand of the best equipped cavalry the Yankees have ever put into the field. Forrest's men, too, were mostly new and untried especially in the cavalry service. He had recent. ly recruited them.in West Tennessee. It seemed tne extreme of rashness and recklessness to at- tempt to arrest the march of a column of seven thousand splendidly mounted and equipped men led by experienced officers, whose march thus had been uninterrupted, who were buoyant and confident, and were charged with such an im- portant mission. The junction of this cavalry force with Sherman at Meridian, was the key of the whole scheme of the Yankee plan for the oc-~ cupation and subjugation of the Southwest. If successful, Sherman would have been in a con- dition to advance upon Demopolis and Selma or Mobile : and these important points, as well ag the important countries adjacent, would have been at the mercy of the enemy. They could only have been driven back at the enormous risk of weakening Johnston's army, so as to open Northern Georgia and Rome and Atlanta to Grant's army. Gen. Polk, with his scant in- fantry force, quickly perceived the momentous issue which depended upon the result of the cavalry movement from Memphis, and after se- curing his small army on the east side of the Tombigbee, and removing all his supplies an@ munitions, and returning to Mobile the troops he had borrowed from Gen. Maury, sent impera- tive orders to Lee and Forrest to unite thei: forces, and at every cost to crush and drive back: Smith and Grierson's cavalry. Lee did not receive these orders in time to reach Forrest with his force, which was already greatly exhausted by the continual skirmishing With Sherman's column. Forrest was therefore left with his two thousand four hundred men to perform this immense undertaking. Confront- ing the enemy on the broad plains near West Point, on the Tibbee river, he prepared for ac- tion. The enemy formed in a long and most imposing line, outflanking Forrest, and threat- ening the instant demolition of his small and imperfectly organized force. The charge wag given, and the Yankees advanced with great boldness and an air of certain victory, Great was their surprise when, as they approached Forrest's line, they observed his men slip from their horses, and, converting themselves into in- fantry, each man taking the most favorable pos- ; ition, availing themselves of every advantage the ground afforded, and awaiting with the ut- most coolness the impetuous charge of the Yan. kee cavalry. On came the splendidly mounted dragoons, under those far-famed Yankee chiefs Smith and Grierson, with such fierce displays of valor and determination as argued badly for Forrest's infantry scouts, scattered through the bushes and over the prairies in rather an irregu- lar and unmilitary style. But these valorous horsemen did not advance far before the balls of two thousand riflemen began. to rattle through their ranks with fearful effect. Scores of men and horses fellat the first fire, and their onward movement was checked, and before they coulé recover and reform, the volley was repeated-- again and again--until dismay and terror be- gan to prevail in their ranks, and they. soon broke into confusion and fled. aie " Forrest then mounted his men and began hig pursuit, which he keptup with great vigor for nearly twenty miles, the enemy leaving behing many of his wounded and exhausted men, and all his dead, his horses, prisoners, five pieces of artillery, burning his packs. and turni g loose his mules. Having discovered the small force of Forrest, several attempts were) made by Smith and Grierson to rally ho 1ehand re- sume the offensive, Their efforts e suc the last grand charge was made by. them. "Is was met in the same way as their -previous-at- tempts, but even with more vigor. and deter- mination by Forrest's. men, who hadina few hours became veterans. Several. crushing vol- leys from their rifles quickly arrested the im- petuous yalor of the Yankees, and sent them» to the rear in the wildest confusion and dismay, By this time Forrest had exhausted his am- munition and the strength of his horses could not follow up the enemy, ? Fortunately, however, General Gholson are rived withsome fresh State troops, new levies hastily gathered, and took the place of Forrest's men, following up the Yankees fora great dig- He . oP cessful on the hills just beyond Okalo yo When. i pe