The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-01-31

Seventh Guilty.
Eighth Guilty.
And thereupon, declared him guilty of immortality
and mpurity, as the same is charged in the present
ment, and set forth in the specifications alluded to.
The Bishop then read paper, offering his in
e'cuse or paation of the sentence. The volume
also contains the opinions of the Bishops OF Illinois,
Connecticut North Carolina, Vermont, Kentucky,
New jersey, Louisiana, Western New York, Snuth
Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Rhode
Island, and Arkansas, on various points. Also the
votes of the Court in detail.
The statement of Bishop Onderdonk occupies
pamphlet OF thirty one pages He says that on Octo
Der H. he understood that number of afidavts
against his character had been obtained by the Rev
J. G. Richmond Of Rhode Island, and placed in the
hands OF Bishop Elliott; and he remarks:
"Of Mr.. Richmond it is unnecessary that say
much. His erratic peculiartes we'll Known
He had but a few weeks before called me, and
expressed warm desire return to my diocese
that he might be my friend and stand by in my trou
bles have since heard of his having expressed him
self OF me in terms of hostility, for the letter which
wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury, unfavor-
able to his well known project Of going voIun-
teer Bishop to the Turks; and also for my not sane
tlonlng his desire to preach in one OF the public
squares in this CITY. He was employed for my des-
truction, and told a clerical brother, the Rev. Mr..
Van Bokkelen, that his expenses paid"
He says further:
remarks may be made.
l They assigned to periods of time so distant
as to place the defence under cuiar Disadvantages
"a circumstance which, If understand right lies at
the foundation of the just and righteous principle that
gave rise to statutes of limitation. This delay in
seeking redress needless, ample canonical pro-
vision for it had all the while existed.
=. The matters charged were such as, in their very
nature, to preclude direct cOunter-testimony. The
defence Is necessarily confined to crcumstantia evil
dence going to prove the mprobability or impossi-
blity Of the charges defect in the crediby of the
witnesses.
| My plea of not guilty made with good
science, and is still sacredly adhered tor
He thus audes to one or two of the most impor-
tant points of The testimony:
The Rev. Clement M. Butler swears to statement,
drawn up with great minuteness, of circumstances
said to have occurred more than years before
the affidavit was made out of the greater number
and most important of which he had no personal cog
nizance; and with regard to which, although it was
constantly within his power, he had not refreshed his
memory during that ,ohole period What was the
sequence? lie to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
knowledged by himself TO be SUCH He swore that
his wife told him what she had told bin, and
what never occurred and the point thus false
y sworn to constituted the most serious charge brought
against me 10 the whole presentment-a charge which
has done more injury than all the rest put ogeth
era charge which was naturally regarded by the
|
their notice.
But have not yet done with this cruelty and most
unJuslhaby false accusation Three different accounts
Of II are sworn to by Mr.. Butler and ms wife. He
swears TO IT, in his affidavit, fact communicated
TO him by his wife al The first stopping place jour
ney. Having been afterwards told by bis wife that
tbs was not so, for the circumstance sworn TO bad
never occurred he swears in court that the mistake
arose from something his wife said TO him tn the car
riage. She swears that she said any thing TO
him of the kind but that he must have derived his
mistaken idea from gesture Of hers, designed to
illustrate another matter
The published evidence will show other ncong rui-
ties also between the oaths of this clergyman and his
wife.
The statement concludes thus:
My original plea of not guilty is here solemnly re-
newed 1t respects both the purpose my heart and
the misconduct alleged. But let me not be suspected
of putting forth any proud claim TO exemption from
frsIlty and siufuness While truth would he sacri.
feed dd profess consciousness of having justly in
CURED the verdict which has been awarded me. God
knows that presume not to absence of guilt before
Him. in the perpetual sinfulncss of my heart and in
daily leaving undone what ought to do, and doing
what ought not to do. And God forbid thai should
not be humbled under sense of the too successful
betray each Of these classes OF omission and
commission into ~hich am often thrown. They
are perpetual calls for conrition, humility, and re-
penlsnce May have grace not to suffer them
that DO not suffer them TO pass UNDECIDED
1t has pleased my Maker 10 give me-friepds and
enemies unite 10 tell me so-a heart inclined warmly
to recprocate friendly affection to yield TO its reality
or APPEARANCE in others, and to be unsu. pcious Of
deceit in professed friends. have carri,d this 100
far, and trusted too fully that my Own unconscious
ness Of any other than right emotion, entered also
into the APP aren't sympathy With which was met
As the result, exsggerstlons, distortions, misstste-
ments, have turnei TO III what was really neither
in intent in deed Evil totally Undersigned and
unlhougat OF by NE, and not ~ ty attributable 10
me- has by this been done to cause dearcr TO
me than life. humbly trust that have pro6ted by
the bitter experience, and earnestly pray-snd ASK
the faithful, fervent prayers OF the beloved clergy
and people Of my doc Sc in my behslf-thst tins
pro6lng may appear in all that, in my character and
conduct may pertain TO the glory Of God, the cause
Of His Gospel and the purity and prosperity of His
Church.
know not how extensively efforts may still be in
progress, and yet be multiplied, against me. There
are propensities in The natural heart which foster
even love for rendering the unhappy still more
mi cradle, for trampng the fallen slill more deeply
in the n fpr closing the door to all nfuenc, The
rescting spirit Of Christian justice and mercy and for
pushing malevolen design 10 the utmost qualification.
In the Lord put my trust To him, as the searcber
Of hearts, commit my cause.
Il ] thank God that my connections with the diocese
which love much, whose love TO me has contrbu
ed so largely to my happiness and in whose behalf
have gladly and heartily. bot alas, iuperfeclly
labored not severed. feel that this imposes upon
me most serious responsibility. ! ask the union
with my own ofthe prayers Of the diocese that may
he rightly guided; may be ready and willing to sacri-
flee toduty all personal considerations; may forget
to CHERISH as hey should be cherished, reverence and
submission TO authority; may have grace to be free
from unchrsian resentment, for efforts that have be-
made, that may now be making, or that may yet be
made to destroy my character and influence; and may
be led in all that may devolve upon me to such decision
and such action, as will be approved by The Lord, the
Lord the Righteous Judge.
BENZ. T. oNDERDoNK.
New York, January, ls45.
| But this is mere outline, Those who desire to
possess all the details will find them in the two works
" published by the Messs, Appls,on, !