The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-05-31
PUBLIC MEETING Al PERU.


Alta meeting of the citizens of Peru, La Sale
county, and its vicinity, holden pursuant to pub
lie notice, at the presbyterian church. on Thurs
day the l6lh inst, for the purpose of considering
1.-THE propricty of the course adopted by the pres
by,ery lately assembled at this place. J. Holt
man, Esq, was called to the chair, and L. NJ.
Moore, appointed secretary.
The objects of the meeting were stated by II.
5. Beebe, Esq, and on his motion, committee
of three persons was appointed by the chair TO
draft preamble and resolutions expressive of the
sense of the meeting. Whercupon Henry S.
Beebc Ambrose O'Connor and Theron ID. Brew
s,er were appointed said committee who after re-
firing and consulting, reported the following pre-
amhe aud resolutions which were nanmuosly
adopted.
Whereas the Rev. Charles Dickinson has, with
in the past year, commenced live actions OF SLAM
der against certain citizens residing in this place
and its vicinity, upon an altdged charge OF lornI-
cation, lewdneSs, and incontlnency; and, where
as there has been trial OF one of the SANDER and
libel suits in Kendall county circuit court, where
i
ing the venue /; and whereas, after full and i'm
partial trial before jury OF the country, as ap-
pears Ivy the records OF said court the defendant
Churchill Coiiing ESQ., after giving notice and
Offering evidence Of justification in the case, was
entirely acquitted, and found "not guilty" of eth
er Islander or libel by said jury; aud, whereas the
prcsbytery of the Presbyterian church, did as
sembIc in the town of Peru, on the Sth day of
May, 4. u. 1914, and did proceed to try the said
Dickinson on a charge of RIGHTEOUSNESS, found
ed on the same evidence that was introduced at
the trial OF said cause between said Dickinson and
Coling. and dld call persons before ihem TO I'M
peach the testimony of witnesses introduced at
sad trial. against whom, on the trial of said cause
there was no attempt made 10y the plaintiff at I'M
parchment; and whereas this impeachment was
had without notice TO said witnesses, that there
would l,c an attempt made to lmpeach their char
ac,ers for truth and veracity before said Ircsbyle
nv, thereby giving them no opportunity to rcbut
the impeat hmcnt, and to show what degree of re-
lance was to he placed upon the testimony OF
! those 10y whom they were lmpeached; and where
as the said prcshyery allowed, without rehukc.
the said Charles Dickinson, before their body to
utter the West ISLANDERS against female witness,
who appeared against him on the trial OF sand cause
| in Kendall county, without producing a particle
! Of testimony To suhstanlatc hls infamous charg-
cs save his own naked assertions; and whereas,
the said preshytcry after receiving the irrcsponNI-
| bic statements of said Dickinson and Others as
evidence, under circumstances which marked the
proceedings as partial and unjust, against wit
nesses whose testimony had been given under
the sancty of an oath in a court OF justice and in
view of all the pains aud penalties of perjury, did
proceed II acquit the said Dickinson from all
charges, and did through their chairman, notwiih-
standing the evidence, pronounce that there was
no shadow or suspicion of guilt resting upon said
| Dickinson, and, whereas, said Dickinson and his
cxculpators, by word, by Decd and by writing
proclaim, that the acquttal by said prcsby,ery Is
a triumphant and conclusive vlndlCalon ot his
character, aud assert that no person can now
| he found who believes in his guilt. Now, there
fore, we, citizens Of Peru and vicinity, feeling
deep interest il the cause Ot law, order, morality
a ID common decency, do hereby
RrsOlre-That the members Of the prcshytery
assembled at Peru, the 9Th day of May, IA tol
the pretended purpose OF trying the guilt or limo
crncc of the Rev Charles Dickinson, on thu
charge nf hcentiousness, were in our opinion
predetermined to ncquit said Dickinson, without
regard to the evidence and so Ear as in their power
remove the conclusion of guilt which the evil
dcnce forcibly warranted, and were actuatcd b,
no higher motive than TO screen the guilty and
malign the innocent.
Res0ired-rhat professional clerGymen, be-
longing To christian denominations, are, from th'
very nature of their calling, bound to uS'
more caution, crcumspcctdn and prudence ihaI
other men in their conduct, to guard against sns
picion of impropre,y imprudcnce or crime AM
that when such suspicious do arise, strengthened
by circumstances, ii is the right, 1t is thG.duty o
4 g.. tl,p, th,N IN hnp
20 strict accountability, and compel them Il
square their conduct by the precepts they incul
cate
: Remhsd-rhat in our opinion, cergymen ar
constituted with the same ncnaons and pas
sions with other men, and are not TO be screene
from suspicion or conclusions of guilt, (wheI
such suspicious and conclusions are WARRANTED
t by circumstances from the nature of Their call
ing or professions of sauctity, aud that they ar
alike amcnabIe TO public opinion with other citi
zens
Resoled-Thut the eviden nee edduced at tn
{ triel in Kendall county of Charles Dickinson W
Churchill Colling, was of such a character as I
irresisthy force upon our minds the conviction
of the guilt, unwor,hiness, and hypocrisy o., SAL
Dickinson, and that the attempt to iebut tn
force of the testimony introduced in justification
{ by means revolving to every sense OF deconcy, es
1 hibi,s the desperation to which the plaintiff him
, self was driven.
Res0ired-Tha in our opinion, Providence d
. not intend that the guilt or innocence of ma
/ or woman should I've established by the means re
sorted to hy the plaintiff in the said trial. aud tina
il proves nothing bu, the brutality Of the Opera
tor, and tho brazen eifron,ery which promp,e
the operation.
R.soiredrhs, the course pursued by sal