The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-23
ANTi-MASONRY u. MASONRY.
From the Herald of the Timos

Bonj, r. Hatien esq.
Dear Sir Your letter Of the 221 inst has
been reeeivcd, and from, The candid and friend.
" manner in which you expressed yourself
relative to the motives by which wns infu
encsd in giving evidence asa witness in the
masonic case, l was satisfied that yoa did not
intend to do mo injustice ia the matter TO
which your attention was called by my letter
20 you Of the 22d inst and consequently !
came TO the conclusion, that il was unncccssa.
~ to trouble you with an answer. But hay-
ing this morning read in your paper of yesicr-
day, which you had the poltoncss 10 send me
a Communication from Geo. Turner, esq nc.
coinpnniod bv what is styled "the strong and
unimpe acbable confirmation Of the correctness
of my testimony as furnished you by him." |
have deemed il an act of propriety due to you
personally. and Of justice to myself, that ]
should make few passing remarks upon some
of this confirmatory evidence. Let mo OBJ
serve, however, in the first place, and once for
all, that am aware how totally uninleresting,
IL not disgusting, paper warfare upon this
subject must be to the public, notwithstanding
Geo Turner, esq. is engaged in the battle on
ono side, when SO humble an individual as my
self is on the other:--And that such is nay 70
spect fpr public opinion, and such is my own
sense or what is due TO mysefon this occasion,
that nothing Of a triaiug nature shal! provoke
clearly pointed out to me by every consldcra
ton Of fitness and propriety. Tho charge
thrown out against me. if not intended To IN
lure my character and business, might ulti
ma,ely produce that effect. ifpcrm,ted to pass
wholly unnoticed The affected off hand man
ner of smartness upon mo, and the peculiarly
tartish style in which MIR. 7. has seen lit 10
exhibit himself to the public in This affair, be-
tray spirit of bitterness, which, taken tn.
gethcr, admonsh me most strongly, TO avoid
the example he has set in these particulars
Let me further say, that il has always been
considered indscreet and improper to take
from tho appropriate jurisdiction, tie Court.
any question which may still be pending there,
and make it matter Of pubic disputation IN
the newspapers. never could have viewed II
70 be proper for newspaper uses To solicit the
certificates Of individual Judges ofa Court, as
TO what particular witness nigh; have sworn
TO OH the trial Of cause that took place a
number Of days previously. and which cause
was still pending before higher Court: fot
ell this may be oxpedient and proper. aud may
possibly subservc the purposes OF pubic justice
but il strikes mo otherwise.
Mr.. r admits that the report was made
several days after the trial, and from recoitse.
sion entirely, and he more than admits that
his mind was busy engaged every day OF the
term, for he says" "Whcn IL IS remembered that
this trial occarred early IN The neck Of our
Court, that Mr.. Pearee and THE REPORTER
,eere engaged in EVERY jury trial during
the session." SC. This important fact admit
is correctly stated, for there were but TWO
Jury trials during "the session." and Mr..
Pearce and The REroRrER were certainly
concerned in epcry one cfthem-and in one of
the eases, Patten VS.. Simpson, The REPORTER
was not only engaged as Counsel, but was
sworn and examined as witness for the do
fendant, although he had, indirectly at least,
On interest in that very case; nor was he sum
raoned or compelled TO swear, any more than
I was in the other case. Is il to be presumed
then that being thus engaged in "EvERr jury
trial during the session and making no Claim,
as he says, to ''great perfection OF memory,
and without the aid of notes, ho could cnftreiy
from recollection, have correctly reported IN
half column Of paper, and nearly word for
word, "every thing material" that was said IN
q cause that occupied nearly two whole days
in tho trial, and in which Mr.. Pcarce and THE
REPORTER were concerned, Ito say nothing
Of Mr. Hazard and myself;-.l think not, mes;
decidedly: yet he roundly afiirms that his re
port contains "every thing material that was
said in tho trial. Now it may be so in one
point OF view, and presume the report does
contain all that he considered material to his
own particular objects. But am sure that
very much indeed was omitted by him IN thal
report that was highly material 10 me, in or.
der to show how I acquitted myself as a wit
ness under the "conficling osths" that are so
mpch talked about, and which constitute alone,
the very knob Of that report; or at least The
dispute that has grown out oft. II ,e5s ma
terial TO me. in this case, that erery ,oord vi.
tered as a witness should have been reported
word for word bv whoever volunteered TO take
upon himself the responsibility OF offering to
she public a report Of the evidence givon;-
this was due 10 mo and 10 those who feel and
are interested in whatever concerns my char
actcr II Mr.. T. had had the candnr 10 have
done 50, and could have answered his object
sswell, he might have obtained from me every
thing testified 10 as a witness, "neary word
for word" and abou; which presume there
would no. have been at that time, any differ.
ep-c of opinion between us No man has a
right TO sport and triflc with the reputation oi
snother-no man OF honornble feelings would
ever be guilty oftbe crime. nor shall any man
living commit that outrage upon me and be
psrmitied TO pass on unhecdsd and with i'm
punity. The siius,ion in which was placed
the great anxiety I felt TO testify fully to eve
Yy thing the law could require Of INC. and the
care and dcliberation with which testified
all conspiicj In impress most deeply IN my
mind even "ihc very words used on the &C
casion In acnitioh w 'nsse con.loeta''nr'
as soon rs the Court adjourned. carefully
committed In paper the whole evIdenre gwen
b, u,s on tho stand, which occupied as a
viiness al one time more than halfan hour.
When this novel case shall be hnaliy dis
.o-eI oy by the Court. q correct report of u
xi,I sppesY-- a report, veninre To say IN al.
vsrcs. "the whole Court. md if NO, "sll the
IA ana iary" and every body else. as M =.
w,,,d sav, sii that rau &C The Bar that .e- z
sbe ,risl. srespf tlrss wv ~iliingly and rssd'
II csrt,fv i,s cosrsr.sess Dui N tho mean