James Laird, Esq—Sir:—I wrote you a note this afternoon demanding a published retraction of insults that appeared in two articles in the Union of this morning—or satisfaction. I have since received what purports to be a reply, written by a person who signs himself “J. W. Wilmington,” in which he assumes the authorship and responsibility of one of said infamous articles.1explanatory note Mr. Wilmington is a person entirely unknown to me in the matter, and has nothing to do with it. In the columns of your paper you have declared your own responsibility for all articles appearing in it, and any farther attempt to make a catspaw of any other individual and thus shirk a responsibility that you had previously assumed will show that you are a cowardly sneak. I now peremptorily demand of you the satisfaction due to a gentleman—without alternative.