Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-09-27

fifteen feet and putting his hand on his
dirk. Instead Of following and classifying
him, deliberately walked INTO the house.
1t was evident, from subsequent dlsclo.
sures, that It was his intent on 10 provoke
NE to atlsck him, and then take my life, as
he had prepared himself with The means of
doing. If he had, as 1t is asserted, spit in
my face and stood his gpund, ] should
probably have so far forget myself as to
have struck him and involved myself in the
giory Of fight. Bot he cid not succeed
in his attempt, and did not, therefore,
provoke me TO folly.
These are The facts. In stating them. I
take the occasion to add, thit should have
esteemed it among the mosttruly honorable
and pralsewortby acts Of tiny life, to have
treated just such an insult Is you suppose
acas offered me, precisely as | did the abor
tive and cowatdly attempt which was made
10 offer it. | might, INDEED, follow up,
and attempt TO chastlse nan who should
lhus insult me, and meet with he applause,
perhaps Of large portion VI .he commu-
nifty. But what would tht applause be
worth to me. while ] shoul, feel the op.
prcssve consciousness Of biviDg laid aside
the profession / make of eipreme regard
to the iniunc'ons, and the Example, of Him,
who, when he was revlji. revlled not
again, and when he sufieed, threatened
not' How can make pre,nsions of living
under The controlling influece Of Christian
Principle, while suffer an insult to Fl! me
with rage, and drive me violence in
other words, while chersbihe false honor
which gives efficacy to the duelIing code,
md has drenched the world in blood p
When | am prepared to abandon my
Christian profession. md expunge from the
code of Christian m'rals its chef glory
forbearance under njuries-,hen, and not
TIL then, shall be ready to do what ! am,
unjuslly. both commended and reproached
for not dong, lr the case 10 which you
have referred. WILLIAM SI.ADE.
august son, 1889.
We are glad of on opportunity of placing
the facts stated in the foregoing, before
our readers. They have been misrepre-
scented, and we believe verv extensively
misunderstood, though the same explana-
ton was made by Mr.. Stale at the time
the occurrence happened, which he has
now made. We are especially gratified
by the frank and decided avowa which
Mr.. Slade makes, Of the principles by
which he feels bound to be governed on
the reception Of insults. We wish more
Of our public men had the moral courage
TO make such an avowal-a courage of q
much higher character, in our opinion, than
that which fires the blood of the bravest
duelst. This calm and steady self posses
sion, and self-respect, is the true way to
meet insults. Nothing will so effeciually
disarm violence, and make an insult tecoi
upon its author. Let the Hotspurs rage,
Let them vent their spite in insults
We say to our Representative, what We
believe every consdera'e man among hi
constituents will say-keep your temper
Show the nobleness of a great mind, q,
well as the spirit Of a true Christian, b,
rising above insults, and (orgving injuries
There may be some who will rcga'd it a
evidence of mean spirit. and brand yol
as coward. But they will be those VIII,
either do not know you, or are incapable o
approaching the principles by which 20,
are governed. Their censures and thei
praises are alike unworthy Of ,our con
cern.-Peop'es Press.