The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-01
For the Voice of Freedom.
LETTER FROM JOHN CONANT.

mF GUttOF, Ill the last v Olce observed
the following judicious remark from YOU
pen, Il hope those who furnish articles fol
the Voice by way of communications, OF
embody statements in resolutions will as
certain the truth of their statements and
know their evidence, before presenting them
for publication Good, uery good! full
y agree with you in the importance Of pub
fishing truth, and only truth, and especially
it is the duty, and all important for editors
to be particularly cautious that all their state
ments are true, and capable of the clearest
proof, and especially so, when designed 10
have an unfavorable bearing on individual
character, and when evidently designed 10
take off the keen edge Of we'll written
communication.
My attention was forcibly called to this
subject while reading editorial remarks in
your last, in reference TO Mr. Charles Bur.
chard of Hamilton, N. Y. Mr. BurcharJ is
gentleman we'll known To me, and am
,
purity of character and scrupulous adher-
ance TO truth, in all he says and does, whose
public and private reputation is without a
flaw. You remark exchange papers pub
lish long letter from this individual, in
which he declares himself an abolitionist,
but announces it as his purpose not to vote
for the Liberty ticket After this announce
ment (good so tar,I but not so good as it
would have been, had you given the readers
Of the Voice Mr. Burchards invaluable letter
so full Of interest at this critical crisis of our
national concerns. AS much as like you,
l must say that your following remarks and
quotations, think gives evidence of de-
sire or rather an effor, to show off Mr. Bir-
chard as any thing else than an abolilionist.
You found your remarks on (lor aught ap.
pears to the contrary an anonymous cor
respondent of the Syracuse Freeman, with
out a name good or bad for its support, and
no doubt was got up for present effect, and
oo haN0 III uouot uhhuCS oiu Woulu UC-
lieve appear so to you if you knew Mr. Bur-
chard as well as do myself. Iregret to
say that think in this thing you did not
use the caution yourself, you so judiciously
recommend to others; also exceedingly
regret you did not copy from your exchange
papers that invaluable letter for the benefit
Of your readers. 1t is always the fairest to
give mans own words, instead of an eff
Fort from an unknown writer TO do away
their influence. For one should have felt
myself richly paid for the money l have in
vested in your paper, could have seen the
article frankly inserted without an effort to
resist its force, and presume you have ma
ny subscribers of the same character. 1t
however occurred to me that neither your
self or your correspondent were acquainted
with the man. was sorry to see an effort
TO misrepreseni, and throw out as guard TO
your readers not 10 place too much conf
dence in him as an abolilionist, The follow
eth not with u.s. in supporting our candi-
date. know him to be man who would
scorn to be one thing in pretence, and anoth-
er thing in practice. What he says every
one who knows him will believe he has the
fullest conviction is true. For his abolition
sentiments and practice, we have his views
fully, and honestly, in his disclosure of his
position to his friends. All candid men
who read his reasons will at least be con-
WINGED of their honesty, and think most
persons will be satisfied of their correctness
and the consistency of The course of action
he has marked Out for himself in the coming
Presidential contest. For one fully ap>
prove his views Of the ground he SO ably
sustains. Ii is the same ground have so
feebly attempted 10 support in my commu-
nications relating to the coming Presiden
tial election.
The Voice of Freedom is professedly
open to all candid arguments on both, and
all sides Of this great national question
(to witt Who shall be the next President
and judging from the large space devoted to
the liberty party for few weeks past,I hope
you will consider it no other than just and
fair for me to ask for small space on the
other side and let me speak for myself and
through Charles Rurchard especially as no
want Of candor appears in bis remarks, and
more especially as they are addressed to his
abolition brethren who esteem and delight
10 honor him by places of the highest trust
within their gift. The letter is compara-
lively short, and will occupy very little
more than two columns Of the Voice, and
in my opinion be as acceptable to the great
body of your readers as any other copy. If
the object of the Voice is to throw light on