NON OFFENSIVE WAY TO CALL A MAN A LIAR - The presidential campaign of 1840 was the most enthusiastic one that has ever occurred in our country. For many years the Democratic party had been in power, and the leaders of the Whig party felt that their party ought to be placed in control of the affairs of the government. The administration of Martin Van Buren would terminate in 1841, and the Whigs nominated Gen. Wm. H. Harrison to succeed to the Presidency. The Democrats renominated Martin Van Buren. The Whigs charged the administration of Mr. Van Buren with gross incompetency, dishonesty, and great extravagance in the White House, altogether unbecoming a Republican form of government. It was charged that he had purloined from the White House, many of the valuables belonging thereto, and had sent them to his private home at Kinderhook where they were used by "Prince John," his eldest son, in dispensing a princely hospitality. It was charged, specifically, that all the best spoons had been taken from the "White House" and transferred to the home of the "Sage of Kinderhook". The election occurred in November, and General Harrison was elected, much to the gratification of the Whigs. The bitter feeling that had been engendered during the campaign, was not speedily allayed. For months after the election, when Whigs and Democrats came together, many of the charges of the campaign were reviewed with more or less earnestness. In the north part of our town, Lenox, lived, as adjacent neighbors, two good citizens, one a Whig, and the other a red-hot Van Buren Democrat. The latter had formerly lived in the State of New York, not far from the home of Van Buren, and was a great friend and admirer of the President, and nothing would awaken his wrath quicker than to have the honor of his presidential friend in any way called in question. The former came to our town from the State of Vermont and was as zealous a Whig as his near neighbor was a Democrat. Personally they were good friends but politically they were great enemies. Along in the winter of 1840-41 there was to be a lawsuit in the neighborhood, growing out of a horse trade, and everybody turned out to hear and see the fun. My father was one of the spectators, and he allowed me, a boy just in my teens, to go with him. While the crowd was waiting for the lawyers to arrive from the county seat, the above-described Whig and Democrat got to reviewing the 1840 campaign. The Whig affirmed that Van Buren stole the White House spoons. This was denied by the Democrat-re-affirmed and denied several times. Finally the Democrat, a large, portly man, straightening himself in the most pompous man, said: - "Neighbor, either you or I lie like h__l, and I swear I don't." This closed the political debate for that time and the disputants and spectators adjourned to listen to the legal combat. N. E. French, Jefferson, O.