Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-04-22
Frow Nasksiifs CAristiua Aaueosse. The ReT. Iehn NaMland MafEft

foa stftlfe 10 Inc bof6fs oF FexaS he had visited nearly all the cities and principal towns and 1 preached to bundreds and thousands of anxious
 hearers, who every where thronged m maltitadcs
 to listen to ths extraordinary man. That he pos
 sesSed extraordinary gifts, and n many partic lars
 exceled as pulpit orator. 10 unpgcjudieed mnd
 wall question. lie had thpusandeof admirers. who
 not only regarded Inn as aM msasaer of xnpessag powers, but as man of piety, and one who was
 acfuaied by tho parea motives, notwithstanding
 hls excentrieitles. Others there were who doubted
 hls sincerity and grew warm m their opposition to him; and yet wherever he went, crowds waited upon his ministry and many were converted through his instrumentahty.
 IL IS not our purpose to write his biography, or al present 10 enter upon an investigation of his claims to piety, but simply to introduce an article which we find In the columns of a paper which is not an organ of his own church. True we knew MT. Mafiit, and were often associated with him in public and in private, and our personal aoauaia- tance with him extended through ycars, yet we to not feel prepared to defend his conduct in all pla- ces and at all times for We have not sufficient &C., qualntance with the facts pro or con; but this much we will say, we never witnessed m public or private any act of MT. Maffirs for which we could unehristianze him. We have seen many little cxcentriciteS and what We regarded nndir- nIted movements, but never any thing which we looked upon immoral. He has gone to his udge, who will do right; and charity for the dead as well as the living, should lead to put the best con struehon on every thing. And as much has been Sad and written prejudical to his character, we think 1t but fair to give him the advantage of what ever comes to us well authenticated to vndicate his reputation. The following we copy from the True Wesleyan, published in the city of New York To whom the writer refers iH several of his allu- Sions, we know not.
 C It IS customary in this region to employ the
 first day of the year in renewing old acQuantancex by calling upon your friends and exchanging the rllsa nt aflnO A l. this ceremony had never taken part. but having omitted to call al one homestead m Brooklyn, for almost year, did step in there and spend an hour The occasion of allnding to 1t here, IS, to introduce theme, there eonversed on freely. and in reference to one who had many summer friends and not few winter friends too. I mean John Newland Mailitt. The lady of the mansion, than whom few preside with more dignity over the social empire, and whose house was hts house often re- lated some Of the following facts The first stated below, have supplied from the public press of former date.
 "'Durng the summer lsi9, a violent, malig- nant yltlalnous assault was made upon the repu- tatlon of Mr. Maffitt and cencal friend Maiftt was charged with brutal treatment of his recent wife-deceased; with having deserted 'her, and causing her death by breaking her heart; and to cap the climax, it was alleged that he basey plan ed her prostitution, and that in this scheme hls ctefcal mend became 6A active agent. tt seemed too much for the oaPakiVns nav Of even our de- prayed Gotham. But sno.-aided by the Satanic press of our city, under the direction of certain pous CD divineS, 1t was swallowed whole The disgusting particulars need no further detail.'
 At that period Mir. Mafftt was the far South West, engaged in pTotracied meeting with his usual success. Having been found guilty of pos SesSng unrlvaled talents, on which indictment the whole country had passed unanimous verdict, it was determined by envious little men to execute him. But the process was slow, and Tn the hands ] l... -f seemed Impractcable. Happily for the executive power. Pilaie and Herod became friends. And what the church men could Eot do. in that they were weak through the flesh, the Pilate of the police earnestly forwarded with the energy of Satan.
 .'By the direction of Doctor protesting special purity of character, the most belIo9s and malIg- nant documents were packed of from New York t3 the scene of MT. Mafft;'s labors. The falling of bomb, the firing of magazine, are fit eRi- bems of the confusion produced there All was consternaton and dismay. The community stood aghsst at the idea of such monster in their midsti "Maffitt, pooi fellow, wrote To hiS friends thiN lady and husband, implnring some counteracting testimony. saw the letter. What can dor sad he, 'Hcte l am m the midst of a gracious re- vval, preaching to crowded houses every day and night l am almost crazyP Such pIessure on his head and heart he had never felt S1ch tor rent seldom is breasted successfully by the victim Di ltS tuIg. but tS bptC aflH OulIOlt the storm. Truth came slowly but with solid step along the pathway that had heea passed over by the hot haste of islander. Slowly his star seen emerging from the cloud. and again in the as. eendant. bat its brliiancx seemed dluGned, with a tear IS seen the eye of beauty, FGsing from the couch ofpan
 "His foes had exhibited diaeoiicai shrewdness in the choice of their wespoHs aud in the point of 1 attack. He stood up honorsbly sindicated, but fatally wounded. few weeks exhibited change in his appearance and yigof that was sad and sup prisingly rapid m it's fatal development. Oftea was he heard to say, My heart IS breakingP 'it will bleakp
 "A relaxation from labor was proposed, and a visit made to Col. Hamin, near Mobile. No; long after his friends m this vicinity heard that he was dead. letter was forwarded 10 Mrs Ellen Ball, NIT. Msiiitrs sister, and the following reply re- ceiyed--a part only IS given.
 "fYes, my poor brother is in the cold grave- They have killed him at lasl Bat bless the Lord he died happy. The night before hls deeease, we were walking the Goof together, talking of the per- Secntion and trials he had beea called to endure when he sad, Well, Ellen, your poor bgosher lS Edying--his heart sirlsgSaIc breaking--I feel the, afe--but. remember he is innocent, Christian ana
 gentleman. 1 pray God to have mercy upon and feGglye my enemies, as do from tle bottom of III, { soul
 [" He then kneIt down and prayed. aal such prayer never heard hun offer up before. Tn,
 whole burden of hes soal was. that God woald pit! l forgive. and bless those who had injured him. Oh 1 sir. t was enough to melt heart of Steae to SCI him aad Fred shss youngest s3nl claspea in esel
 others arAs. aad weeping each o.her.s bos ,atS
 m1re like lovet3 than father and son. He was slci only few snoTt hours, sA dsed wstbou, groan 1 "' ay poor deaF hsJtheF And how d. yoa thiul
 felt clear sir 10 ste hi carried away to the grave and his heart sent to fac city to stop the pabls clalRosl For my br sthsT was scarcely cold, ~hel f a report was raise1 that ha had taken pDtsonL H.
 ffienis cailed committee of physicians ia order ! have P1st-ln1stsm exaniaati1n, and wh@n oi ' Dr. Mott took out the beast he weps like chils { Thal showed the eaAse Of his death. The decisio
 was. rap.aFe of the hsart caused by excess of grsc \ Blshap Hanins by quest og NJ. Maeits, pfeacho Ais fanegai sermon, read the Bis Psalm. and too
 his text from isaiah lyii |, which had besIse.eci ! by Mr. MafiE himseN. He was followed to th eesnetery by crowds Of people,
 i Thus died John Sewiani Aafiti, whose ira