The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-02-20
VOICE OF FREEDOM.
Brandon, Thursday, February 20, 1916,
From the Green Mountain Freeman,


Mr.. HoLcoMB. Week before last we
published an article from Mr.. SeeIy, in
reply TO certain charges made against him
bv Mr.. Holcomb in the Voice of Freedom.
We did SO very reluctantly, lest it should
open afresh lamentable controversy but
Mr.. Seely assured US that, as he was shut
out of the Voice, there was no other place
where he could be heard, and that he
would ask US to publish nothing more on
the subject. Accordingly, we obeyed the
Golden Rule. The week before the arr
tice was published, Mr.. Holcomb was in
our Office, and we urged him to take the
communication and publish it in his pa per,
where the charges were made. and then
he could comment upon il DIS he saw fit.
This he refused 10 do, but said he should
call upon u.s. if we published Mr. Seely's
article, to publish his reply. We told him
distinctly we could not : if he chose TO shut
his own columns to an article which props
erly belonged there, he could not complain
Of US. In admitting the article Of Mr..
SeeIy, we espoused neither side fthe con-
troversy, but simply gave hearing TO one
who felt aggrieved Mr.. Holcomb now
calls upon US to give him hearing, and
aludes to matters that have no connection
with this affair. He has his reply.
In reply to the above l will say, Mr..
Poland handed me an article, which he
said was from Mr.. seely, and requested
me to publish it. glanced at the CON.
mencemenl of il, and saw that il was DIFF.
ferent from the one Mr.. Seely sent me,
and told Mr.. Poland that Mr.. Seely had
not requested me to publish that article,
and that did not feel disposed to offer my
services, or 10 that effect.
In regard 10 my abiding to matters
which had "no connection with this affair
l will say;-In Mr.. See Us communica>
ton published in the Freeman of Jan. 24lh
he says, and introduces Doct. Aliens
statement to substan,iale his own, that
preferred 20 charges against him before
he Elk, Committee, and that failed of
substaniating any OF them. One stale
ment made to the Committee was, the
substance Of what MIR. Poland told me in
| The fall Of l842-in the Inn then kept by
Mrs. Stafford. Mr.. Poland was in i'll
health at the time and l called in to see
him. During our conversation, Mr.. Po>
land spoke of his talk with Mr.. SeeIy
the winter previous abou, publishing the
Voice-said Mr.. Seely must have the talk
in priuate, and after rehearsing the SUBJ
stance of the bargain, said he was never so
deceived by man in his life. In connec.
ton with other matters, named this 10
the Committee. Mr.. Seey demanded an
investigation of the charges. Rowland
T. Robinson and Harvey F. Leavitl were
appointed Sub, Committee 10 60 TO Mont.
peller to examine into those matters. Mr..
Leavitt did not go, and Mr.. Robinson took
Joseph Howes and Zenas Wood 10 set
with him. Mr.. Robinson wrote to Mr..
Poland previously, notifying him Of the
business, and requested him either to attend
or send statement in writing, respecting
bis deal with Mr.. Seely. This request
he refused TO comply with. Now, if nv
state ment in the Voice, of 3Oth of las,
month, had nothing 10 do with the refer
ence by Mr.. seely to charges preferred
against him, as published in the Freeman
of January Gath, am much Mistaken
And if Mr.. Poland, after having been 10
some extent, instrumental in placing me in
an awkward position before the Committee
does not sci matters right before his read.
ers, he will prove different man as 10
mental vision, or moral principle, from
what have considered him. | said not
a word in the Voice OF Freedom about nv
deal with Mr. Seely, nor about his trans>
actions with the Committee until he had
commenced, and know not on what prin.
cipIe of equity he should be allowed 10