At this time slavery agitation became very violent, creating unrest in Texas, especially among the New England emigrants, who became the most rabid secessionists of all. Some of my friends in the North wrote me what would today be called treasonable literature, sending me the New York Tribune with the most violent abolition articles marked. Postmaster Ben Dowell was induced to open my mail, and later refused to deliver any to me, forming a committee to burn it publicly! When my term as district surveyor expired, I was the only candidate for election, being the only person in the county competent to survey land. But several political enemies publicly stated that I was an abolitionist, and that it would be unpatriotic to vote for me. As I had always been a Democrat, voting for Sam Houston and Stephen A. Douglas, and never sympathized at all with the abolition movement, I posted the following notice on a tree: _Notice_ I have just been informed that J. S. Gillett, W. J. Morton, and J. R. Sipes stated last night to R. Doane and F. Remy that I was an abolitionist, for the purpose of injuring my character. As I never cast any other than a Democratic vote or expressed other than Democratic sentiments, I denounce these three above-named persons as wilful and malicious lying scoundrels. Sipes and Morton owe me borrowed money for the last two years. I would like to have a settlement. I never asked any one to vote for me as surveyor and I now withdraw my name as a candidate, and will not serve if elected. A. MILLS. EL PASO, TEXAS. 2 O'Clock, P.M., August 6, 1860. The men I denounced tacked their reply on the same tree, as follows: _Notice_ A certain contemptible "pup," signing himself A. Mills, having publicly published the undersigned as scoundrels, we have only to say that he is so notoriously known throughout the entire county as a damned black Republican scoundrel, we deem him unworthy of further notice. However, we hereby notify this fellow that his insignificance shall not protect him in future. W. J. MORTON, J. R. SIPES, JOHN S. GILLETT. Then, I received this letter: EL PASO, TEXAS, August 7, 1860. MR. MILLS: SIR: I have noticed my name in connection with two others denouncing us publicly as malicious, lying scoundrels. For my part, I now ask of you an immediate retraction of the same, and as publicly as your accusation. JOHN S. GILLETT.