The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-08-07
REV. T.. X. AVERY.

lyeiy trial on the side ot me government
IbyIPeleg Cranston, and on the side of
THE defence by the Rec. Daniel Webb
has stated tha, he (rhe jurymnn) felt
bound TO give more credit to the testi.
mony of Mr. Webb than to Pelee Grams
ton on the point rs to what Mr. Cranston
had said relative To Mr. Avery's passing
Howland's Ferry bridge onthe after
noon of the Goth of Dee. This jury
man says that the testimony of Mr.
Cranston carried the marks of fabrica-
ton: whereas the testimony of the Rec.
ID. Webb was worthy ofimplicil credit
he being an honorable man and Of pious
integrity.
iet us examine this matter little to
see if this preference does not grow out
Of most deplorable ignorance and un-
blushipg fanaticism. Mr.. Cranston's
character as far as we can learn stands
unimpeached and unimpeachablc. Can
as much in truth be said of Daniel
! Webb Stands his character unIm-
peached aud uninpeachable ? Perhaps
this jurymnn knew not, or had forgotten
that this same Mr. Webb while aresident
of this town, and n ninlsler.in holy Of
fee did connive at, and did hold pions
tmember Of his church snless who was
daily in the habit of partaking SO freely
of the spirit as to be often be astly intox-
icated. Mr. Webb endeavored Ia on-
ceal the matter, while at the same time,
doubtless, he was hypocrilically de-
!, claiming from the pulpit against the be-
; setting sin ofintemperence.- But as the
lspi'i sins of this-me mher were sanc-
toned by the Rec. ID. Webb, and COM
miited within the pale of his church we
must consider such as piows sins which
should not be criticised by the world.
~ Those who even lisped the affair at the
: time, were anaihamatisea--their char
aciers aspersed, and denounced us sons
!. iof frrruruon.
! We also learn on good suthority that
r Mr. Webb avowed his belief in the guilt
E fpf Mr. Avery about The time Of tie Bris-
' tol eXamiantiun--and he publicly sta
7. ted ihatthere were ga great many black
/ isiugs against him" So we see tina,
: the eyldence OF Ayery's guilt was SO
striking even at first that Mr. Webb,
|, however much he might desire to "hush
i II up" deemed the outrage too glarIDg,
/, and the truth too apparent, to attempt
to possess the ground Of which he woul .
G now fain take possession.--Bm he had
r not then got the cue from the most Req
! holy and potent. conference.
), Moreover, we learn that the Rev
o Daniel, prior to the trial in this place
h went to highly important witness who
} was to testify on the part of the prose
- cution--to whom as we learn. Mr. Webl
a used the following language
slow can y,u satisfy your conscienc
to go into the witness stand and testify
=. againsta a minister Of the gospel, es pee
Il ially, when there are those in the family
le ofwhom you are a member, who belong
- TO the methodist church -
~ Is this the man whose word is to b,
70 taken MS being entitled to greater weigh
n and credit than Mr.. Cranston's, becaus,
Ir Cranston chances not to officiate il
n. holy office? Here then is another in
k, stance Of the dangerous dominion whicl
Ae the combined power Of priestcrafi an,
:" " fannsicism exercise over narrow nn'
credalous minds. A priest uttereth hi
= voice, and his word is Divinity III
says to one, "come and he cometh =
: to another, go and he goeth !'-the bid
- ding is done tho il be to the lestroyin,
. of one's character or to the shedding o
blood
Let us talk no more Of the advance.
of science and civilization so long o.
priestcraft and fanaticsm predominant
and truth is iramped under foot. Il
this tho 10Th century, and the expert
once of the past hath profited us moth
ing' Is the bloody page Of histor,
be t(forfages immemorinl no guide, n,