The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-08-14


the period when the existing exeltemen'
should have died away, or subsequent us
closures perhaps, have proved HE innocence
all vonld have been well. The commnni-
" would have been satisfied, ard the Me'n
odist Connexion would have avoided the
Stigma. fixed on il, by common consent ana
must. whe,hc: Avery be guilty or Innocent
rest. Ike an incu5as, upon them, because
from the nasty, arrogant and expar'e manner
:, ,,hich that decision has been made up
and promulgated, people think, they 'c'a
,hink, and have the right to think that ii in
diea,es. as in the former case of. N. Mai
s, n determination TO sustain their clergy al
all events. innocent or guilty. By the course
tho Conference has pursued, aud the man
no, in which certain Editors have backed
~, ;,s decisions, they have provoked discus
sion. because il is manifest attempt to muz-
zle the press. and deprive their fellow ci''-
zcns of the righ, Of Judgment, aud the free
dom of opinion respecting the conduct OF
their servants n right among the last mat
free people will reli6qaish, legal verd'c'S
10 the contrary notwithstanding.
For the sake of the argument, lot 1t be
admitted that Avery is innocent, The pubic
do not know it--they have not seen the
urools TO establish il. The Methodist Con-
fs,ence do not know IT, nor is il known to a
solitary member Of that body. No man
care not who hc is, of com mon sensioli''y'
ctn sec that man in the sacred desk, howev-
or rrovc and ausieTe his department no
man can hear his voice when pouring out
relirious instruction or addressing the
Throne of Grace however elevated The
sentiment. however pure and devotional 'he
language and the manner, but his imagIna-
lion viii and must occasionally recur to The
victim al The stack yurd"-to whose mind
suspicion will not whisper, with startling en-
crsy, yon apparent saint, for aught that ap-
pears 10 tho contrary, may have fixed around
The neck Of that victim the fatal cord that
deprived her of exisiance.
Where is the woman, devoted TO virtue,
who has the least respect for horsef, or the
honor Of her sex, who would, who can re-
pose in that man, the same confidence, as IN
one. whose fame is uutarnished, even by the
breath of SANDER Where is tho parent,
who deserves the name fpavent. who would
entrust the honor Of his daughter in the keep
inr of such man, and xtcnd to him, the
privilege ofa free intercour with his fam
lily Who would not, when about TO intro
ducc him into the abode Of youth and beauty
think on The victim of lnwless violence, and
shudder while he thought, TO Ike fate, am
not about 10 expose those am bound to
protect. even al the hazard of life Such
repeat IL such thoughts, such surmiscs and
such suspicious, must ever stand connected
with the very name Of Ephraim X. Avery,
until he clear up the mystery attending his
acquaintance with Sarah Maria Cornell, his
absence from Bristol on the night Of her
death, md the manner in which he attempt
ed 10 account for that absence, together
with many other circumstances. To en-
deavor to restore him to his former standing
in the church aud Society, as long as such
suspicious rect upon him. is an attempt Of
ianalicism, folly, and madness. II is an in
suit to socieiy--it is an insult TO moraty--it
is an insult 10 the husband and the father
to the mother and the daugh,er--it is an in
sul, TO female purity--yea more--i, is an in
suit 10 the sacred cause Of treligIon, WI hose
anthor and supporter is the Most High God.
The people have the right to resist that at
tempt. They have the right to resist IT, and
they ought TO resist il. And mus, be per-
ni'ied 10 say, that those who would sustain
that attempt sill end al last, that Mr.. Avery
mnst prove his nnoo cncc, not by pamphlets
and ecclesiastical devices, but by subs.uu-
''al evidence. before the public will admit
him as a member of respectable society.--In
my next, shall enter on and continue tho
discussion of his probable guilt or innocence
according TO the testimony. ARISTIDES.
Prov. Herald.
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