Flake's Bulletin of this morning has article [sic] on the subject of "Cushing and his ten thousand dollars," from which I take the following:
"Until yesterday we had neither spoken to nor seen Judge Baldwin or Judge Caldwell since this controversy began. the [sic] former gentleman called on us yesterday and remarked: "I do not think Mr. Cushing will call on me in regard to that matter." We will tell Mr. Cushing why we do not put these gentleman on the stand, and why he dare not to do it. If we put them there and they testify, as we believe they will, he will get his factotum, Mr. Gillespie, to keep repeating his denial. But if he calls them on the stand himself, the question is settled at once and forever. Now, Mr. E. H. Cushing. We have nothing to do at present with Mr. Gillespie, we defy you to call on Judges Caldwell and Baldwin, for their testimony in regard to the matter in controversy. You dare not do it."
Col. Baldwin and Judge Caldwell are Mr. Flake's witnesses, not mine. When he calls them to the stand I will meet them. I do not believe it necessary to call any witness to prove among gentlemen the falsehood of anything Mr. Flake may say derogatory to my character.-- When a gentleman is thus compelled to prove his innocence of the slanders of such a man it must be when his judges and jury are the peers of his slanderer.
With reference to this whole matter, I have but to repeat, it is an infamous falsehood. Whoever is the author of it is an infamous liar. It is not necessary for me to relieve myself of the charge in any other way than this, nor will I submit to dictation on the part of the publisher of such a lie as to how I shall rid myself of the odium of his falsehoods.
If, as he intimates, but which I do not believe, Col. Baldwin sustains him in the charge of my offering to sell the columns of the Telegraph for the advocacy of anything whatever, then I defy him to meet the issue, and I stand ready to brand with infamy the author of the charge, be he who he may. Mr. Flake has charged me with this thing. I have branded it from the first as an infamous falsehood. I have defied the proof. I have called upon his witnesses to take odium off of his shoulders if they can. I can and shall do no more, but to dismiss Mr. Flake to the public contempt.
E. H. CUSHING
Houston, April 26, 1866.