The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-05-14

lished IN the Argus, with an aviditv which shews
how eagerly il feasts upon Jalsehood, n,isrepre-
sentation and sSPhastry.
We really know not how TO characterize the
Advocates remarks. They are either sciltul
perreysaons Of truth, or they indicate an o5tuse-
ness u intellect rarely to be found. The Ex-
Governors friend must take his choice.
He says
In 1913 certain petitions were presented TO the
Legislature OF Massachusetts praying donation to
the Waerville Institution. Gen Richardson asserted
that those petitions originated. circulated and
presented Oithout ay act Knowledge or consent of the
WaferriHe Institution This assertion Gov. King
then pronounced untrue. Was il untrue This ques-
ton embraces the whole controversy"
He proceeds
Cen Richardson's assertion is proved 10 have
been false. First, by the letters which we this day
publish, signed by four gentlemen whose characters
and veracity are above al suspicion secondly bv the
records OF the College, extract from which, atesed
oy the Secretary we also publish in this paper and
thirdly by Gen. Richardson's statement in his
his own pamphlet, IN which he says that the printed
petitions presented the board, became mat
ter OF discussion, In which he himself took part
When a writer, who apparently has read the
whole controversy, boldly makes his conclusions.
and states them plainly-and then refers 20 ey-
idence which fatty and ,meqviUocaliy contradicts
has conctusions-we know not whether he has
made himself subject of adherence, of pity, or
contempt.
Our readers, after perusal of our paper to
day, wlljudge for themselves.
The Advocate proceeds
I" ltis not always easy to trace the varying motives
OF those who enter upon the crooked paths Of false
hood"
We agree with the Advocate. It shows the
reason why we cannot trace its "cyooIed paths
Of tatsehood," and give an appropriate name to
It's remarks.
1t proceeds
The characters of our eminent and distinguished
citizens are the property Of the public and we cannot
but frown upon such fonl attempts to suy them in
order crafty the unhaowed feelings Of political
zeaots
With the eminence and distinction, which the
Advocate says are public property, we should
not have meddled, had it not concerned the off,
cfdf duties of servant of the people, and the vim
dication of man of worth az ainst falsehood and
Islander.
We do not expect to draw from the Advocate
or the Argus an acknowledgment of error,
although the conscences of their writer's must
long since have suggested that they were walk
ing in ''the crooked paths oftatsehood." But
every candid member of the community will fix
the iie upon the liar himself and do justice to the
injured.
The course taken by Gov. KS. friends in the
Argus and the Advocate, and the perplexities in
which their own arguments involve them, re-
minds us of the testimony ofa good old lady, who
was called in Court TO prove, that a loan made
on Thanksgiving day. was paid ttco days after.
The old lady, being questioned-was the money
paid tpo days after thanksgiving ?-Yes-yes,
said the old lady, full Of zeal, which would suit
even the Argus itself-lil swear to it-Iuo
days after Why it was paid too days before
and saw it with my own eyes. TIE good old lady
repeated it again and again with great vehe-
mence-and when the Court ordered her to ST.
lence and reprimanded her for the direct perjury
and told her she had uttered an impossbity
the poor lady replied, know it is impossible,
and never said it icas possible only said it
was true, 20,