Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-19
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1885,

which goes beyond everything that has
come within the compass of my informa-
ton. for many years. So far as the arti-
Gle Is designed to give relation Of any
affairs that may have happened in Mendon,
l design to have no particular alIusion,
having never taken an interest in them
only that | always regret that such un-
happy affairs ever occur in society, from
any cause, by which people suffer them
selves to be so far carried away by the
heat of Their passions, as 10 lose sight of
that better principle, which should charac-
terlze US In all our intercourse one with
another, end in our communications
which we send forth to the public for cor
rect information, Of however great or mi
nor importance.
AS have already said, design not to
enter into detail of any affairs that may
have taken place in Mendon; neither do /
design to personate any particular individ-
ua!S as being as respectable citizens as
can be found in any town in Vermort. -
Mr.. Mussey is man with whom | have
long been personally acquainted, even
from my boyhood and him, in common
with many others protesting the Univer-
saIlst doctrine, | have reason to respect,
however far | may be from embracing
that sentiment
! design more particularly, to notice
that part of the article which refers to the
course have pursued in the discharge of
what | deemed my official duty, on appIi-
cation being made for letter of guardi-
anship, for the children Of Mrs. Richard
son of Mendon, in granting which, if
understand the spirit and meaning of your
communication, you would have the pub
lie infer that have committed a manifest
and intentional wrong, because | refused
to revoke the letter. So far as have ever
been called upon TO act in relation to this
outrage" | have endcavorcd TO be gov
erned by the spirit and letter Of the law
without reference 10 sectarian feeling or
interest. ] am inclined to think, that if
you had taken as much pains to inform
| yourself in relation to the authority from
which acted, you have, unjustly and un-
christan-like, to bringme before the public
you light at least have saved me the troub
lie Of imputing to you want Of that Uni
versaI love and charity which you profess
to have for all men.
For your information, and those whom
you design to mis,ead, by your attack on
me- would refer to part Of the lOl sec
ton of the Probate act, directing the ap-
pointment Of guardians for children of IA
wears Of age, under which it reads thus ::
) THAT the Probate Courts in their respec-
tive districts be and are Empowered TO al
low Of and to issue letters Of guardian
3 ship TO guardians that shall! be chosen by
minors of fourteen years of age; and to
: appoint guardians for such as shall be I'm.
der that age until they arrive at the age
2 Of fourteen years, and until another guar
dian is appointed" In accordance with
e the foregoing statute, on application, ap-
= pointed a guardian, not in the least sus-
pecting that | was trampling upon that
S law whose "supremacy" designed TO
! maintain; or that | was to be called to
. answer to clerical gentleman, for having
e committed an unheard of "outrage."-
: "Mussey," you say, entered complaint
l to the Probate Judge, pleading for re,
r peal Of Stratons letter of guardianship
u and notwithstanding it was plainly shown
E attbe trial, that Straton was wholly unfit
It to be guardian for the girl, the Judge de-
S Cided that the letter should not be repeal
y / ed"
> How far you feel justified, before God
+ and man, in making such declaration as
u this, | leave you with your own conscience
# 10 determine. | hope and pray that
Il may never be found of that number who
c suffer themselves to be so far led away, as
e 10 fancy that the end 10 be accomplished
n will justify any means that may be used
l. and that may never so look upon mer
= who do not in all things happen to think
st as do, as to consider them as purjurec
g men, and as such publish them to the
d world. For most certainly you can plead
l. no other justification in making the fore
y going statement.
y If am never to regard the testimony
J. Of men possessing characters as unim
r, peached and as unimpeachable as those O
VIM. Page, Esq, Deacon Hale, J. Bar
rett Jr., and r. Pierpoint, Esq, all mem
bers of the Congregational church o
Rutland, and who cannot he considered a:
partisans in the affair-saving nothing 0
otue. WITNESSES that were Cdlled upon W
:e Mr.. Mussey and Mr. Straton, aside from
% those most, or many4of whom were stran
II gers, to me, yet l presume of characte'
IS and respectability-it is high time ou1
c. pretended courts of Justice. if you are
a pleased to cali them such, were closed
n andthe rule Of right exercised only by
those who have the physical power to en-
force it. Each Of these men testified TN
cquirocally to the competency of Mr. S
to discharge the duties OF guardian 10
st the children This was such TESTIMONY