Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-02-20
RunnQrs.

Rumors.
1t is but few weeks since we felt called on
TO notice the injury that unfounded Rumors, in
regard to business establishments in this town,
were intctiny upon US. We took occasion to
characterize them az they appeared to US 10
deserve - nothing more. That such runors
were likely to prove highly injurious, and to in
vove both the solvent and iusclvent, in their |
unavoidable consequences, we well knew
Mercantile credit is extremely sensitive. Moth |
ing is easier than TO create suspicion and dis |
trust where the relations OF debtor and creditor
exist and these relations exist throughout the
entire length snd breadth of the Union. The
most so'vcnt and the least solvent are equally
liable to be embarrassed by a causeless and un-
expected disturbance Of confidence; and in our
Judgment the man who originates and the man
who circulates rumors preludical to the bust
ness and commercial credit of a community, is
good deal worse than thief aud burglar
not SO much, perhaps, because he annoys the
rich, as because he ruins the man OF moderate
means, whose labor and integrity are a part
and a large and incsimabc part of his CAPT.
tai.
The whispered rumor which needlessy dis
turbs the man of undouJtcd means, overwhelms
the industrious middle-man the man who re-
lies upon his integrity and his customers, to
meet his engagements.
But every community is under obi igation to
reiute and denounce rumors that affect the
credit of its responsible businessmen. Nothing
can be more clear. If our business-estab-
llshments of undpuJtcd and 'ndubuaJle respon.
sbty are necdlessly discredlted, it is public
evil Of the greatest magnitude.
We are led to these remarks by the reports
and whispered inuendoes, that originating here
have spread to other Counties and other States
preudiciul to the solvency of our frmest bust
ness establishments. The worse than idle and
lying tongue of Rumor has reported the
best Houses in Burlington, as having failed
within the past two weeks; and it has seemed
that 10 tale was too absurd, or Incredible, to be
believed and circulated Time, TO be sure woult
hut dcccut sense of justice and even human
i'Y, prevents onr awaiting its slow award We
nrc:er to throttle the calumny in its infancy
and not wait till tomorrow for justice that il
due to-day.
We are almost ashamed to say that among
the vianous reports, that have obtained cir
culation such as nothing but ill-news ever oh
tains, is one that our respected townsman, DR.
JouN PECK, has assigned his property,-in othe
words FAILED! In Burlington, the mere slate
racnt of this report is its own refutation. 1t il
worse than absurd, so far as having the slightes
foundation in truth, and nothing but malicious
tattling and tale-bearlng could ever have sen
it an inch from the mouth where it first fount
utterance.
DR.. PECK has been honorably engaged il
Mercantile pursuits for more than forty years
lie is one of the oldest, as he has been dcscrv
odly one of the most successful, Merchants il
New England. And we deem it but an act O
the simplest justice to add that his influence
mis- efforts, and his means, have ever been libcr
ally bestowed to promote the growth and pros
pcrity of Burlington, and to encourage and ale
all projects, public or private, having this enc
in view. Noappeal was ever made in vain Il
him, or TO the House of which he has so long
been the head, in behalf of such objects as en-
list the sympathy and assistance of the gener
GUS or public-spiri.cd and the ample fortune
that he has acquired. and that he still has, not
outstanding the very liberal transfers he has
made to his SONS, is but The just and honorable
reward of life Of industry and integrity
More than this. 1t is but Just that we should
say that the Mercantile House established by
him, and COMPOSE of himself and three of hi,
SONS, under the name of ]. g. J. II. PECK &
Co., has wen deseryedly high reputation, a
home and abroad, for its business energy, enter
prise, sagacity, and fidelity to its engagements
and that no House in New England stands
this moment on firmcr basis of sovency.-
We aliude to this for the obvious reason
that the Firm are, Of course, involved in the
same preposterous rumor to which we have re.
ferrcd, and subjected TO the same unjust anC
annoying inputations that have been in circu
lation in regard to him. That the declining
years of a citizen, whose long residence in Bur
lington has contributed 50 materially to the
growth and prosperity of the Village, SHOULD
be subjected to needless pain and anxiety BY
the circulation of idle and malicious gossip, i.
10 be regretted by all hgh-minded and gener
ous-heartcd men and we have taken the lib
erty to discharge what VIC hold to be our duty
as the conductor OF Burlington newspaper, il
respect to it.
The runors that have pointed at others of on
most responsible Houses, we need hardly add
are equally without foundation, and malicious
as the particular case we have cited ; and wit
this assurance, which every body knows to b
true, we may hope that the good name an
credit Of Burlington may be permitted to cnio
period of brief reposo, from the calumnies c
the idle or the malignant!
NJ. Szcmere's Letter.