To J. Shields – September 17, 1842

TO J. SHIELDS,

TREMONT

September 17, 1842

JAS. SHIELDS, ESQ.:–Your note of to-day was handed me by General> Whitesides. In that note you say you have been informed, through the> medium of the editor of the Journal, that I am the author of certain> articles in that paper which you deem personally abusive of you; and> without stopping to inquire whether I really am the author, or to point> out what is offensive in them, you demand an unqualified retraction of> all that is offensive, and then proceed to hint at consequences.

Now, sir, there is in this so much assumption of facts and so much of> menace as to consequences, that I cannot submit to answer that note any> further than I have, and to add that the consequences to which I suppose> you allude would be matter of as great regret to me as it possibly could> to you.

Respectfully,> A. LINCOLN.