The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-10
For the Voice OF Freedom.
Hon. S. s. Phelps.

Hon. S. s. Phelps.
Mr. Before concluding the
remarks, general and special, which were
intended as reply to my letter of Aug
29,you alluded to this gentleman in terms
of disparagement, and charged him with
having used language, not only express.
sive of contempt and ridicule for the sem
timents of northern men on the subject oil
slavery, but, lacking also that sympathy
for the oppressed and unfortunate sons of
Africa, which with US and with all mon,
should become an actuating principle,
incorporated with our purest feelings and
our noblest efforts.
Ia a subsequent communica ton, you
were informed that this charge was in
correct that it tended to misrepresent the
character of Judge Phelps and was en-
tireIy opposed to the views which he had
entertained heretofore-both in private
and in public life upon that great ques'
ton.
Instead of admitting, however the err
ror which you had thus committed, and
Of endeavoring to make a retrac ton as
ample as the charge had been injurious;
without even offering any evidence to es-
tablish the suppositiou, or Justify your
own belief YOU still adhered to it, calling
upon me to produce letter from the gen.
tIeman accused TO substanta:e the denial
Now the burlhen of proof in this case,
properly rests upon the other party. The
Platomic system of making heterogeneous
for others TO answer, or more indirectly,
of assuming positions the accuracy Of
which others must determine, may be
very convenient but it will not relieve you |
from responsibility. And If it is because
you have made the statement alluded to |
without sufficient reasons. that you are
now impeIled to this course, the fact and
the motive are neither of them credi,able.
They only serve to show the sngaciIy |
which enables you to call to mind long
exposed SANDER. while the refutatlon
which was conteInporaneous with it, lies
undecided and forgotten. But notwith.
standing the novelty Of your request, and
the dan gerous tendency which would Oft
en- result from the adoption of such
rule, still | have endeavored for one to
comply with it, although the absence of
Judge Phelps renders me unable to pro,
cure a copy of his letter at this time. The
testimony of Edward J Phelps Esq, is
submitted, and it is abundanty sufficient
to corroborate the fact that the denial re.
ferred to, was made and published, at the
time, and through the same medium, in
which the charg itself originally appear
ed.
The following extract Of letter re-
ceived from him, will probably relieve you
from any further doubt on the subject, as
it will also tend very much 10 remove all
pallialng circumstances for the course
which you have seen fit to adopt.
MIDDLEBURY Aug 81 1874,
Sir, / am in recei pt of yours ofthe 29th
inst. In reply 1 can only say, that the
change referred to originated in loco foco
paper at that time published here. My
Father Immediately caused deter to be
published in the same paper, directly and
unequivocai y denying the whole story,
and charging the author with wilfuI false.
hood. The paper with all lis contents,
has been long ago consigned to merited
oblivion, and am entirely unable to OBJ
tain copy of it.
In view Of these facts, it is plain that the
subject of them has been most unjusty
assaiIed; and whatever may have been
your impressions heretofore, a full and ex-
plicit retracton is now most loudly de-
manded, by every consideration which
should affect the intercourse of gentlemen,
or actuate an honorable mind. Judge
Phelps has been long and sincerely OPP
posed 10 the institution ofdomestic slavery,