Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-15

lnueeu. Why, tnl6 Sneus new iignt Oh tho SUD
ject, and changes the as ct materially. This
furnishes the Deacon with full license mo doubt,
to make, sell and drink the flaming poison in
in any quantity Probably Mr.. Cheever was
not aware of all this, and that 1t was next to
sacrilege to tell the truth Of, and concerning
rich family, 1t is very possible the deacon may
have descended in direct line from the very
authors of witchcraft, and inherited many Of
their virtues From the present appearances
too, the golden age of his ancestors may aoon
return. If it should not, we are persuaded it
will not bo owing to any want Of labor to that
end on his part.
We have spoken with warmth, because we
consider mobs, riots and personal outrages, the
most alarming signs Of the times--a growing
evil which every editor should set his face against
which, if notfrowncd upon, would soon destroy
our government. We consider se!tors who
would encourage these ontrages, * fassds, ns
demons, against whom no languagt can be too
severe
Early next morning, one of these newspapers
found its way into the hands of Mr.. Cheevcr,
who after reading, carried it immediately to
place where number of his friends were assem-
bled and remarked, " Here is precisely what
we have been looking for in vain for four days.
Had been the author could not have written
every word more to my own mind" After
bearing it, they dispatched an agent to Lynn
and procured 800 extra copies, and few hours
afterward applied for 300 more, which they sent
by mail to editors, clergymen, &c., all over the
Northern States.
On the sudden appearance Of these papers in
Salem, the excitement, which had hardly be-
gan to sabsidc, was renewed with intensity
While the friends of Mr.. Cheevor took courage,
and many others, who had remained silent came
out in his favor, the Gilesmen were doubly en-
ragged, and swore that if the editor of the Lynn
Record should ever dare to make his appearance
in Salem, they would serve him worse than they
had served Cheever Before noon, however, he
made his appearance in their midst, openly and
carelessly walking up and down the very street
where the assault had been committed, and soon
made his way into the Office Of their consulting
attorney, the late Benz. Merrill, where, after
half an hour of animated conversation on the
subject, more jocular than angry, Ham and his
comrades called for consultation. Seeing a
stranger in the Office, they called Mr.. Merrill
out, who informed them, "That is the editor
of the Lynn Record" on which they quietly
departed, saying ave II call again"
The truth is, they had procured complaint
and warrant against this editor, from the Dis
trict Attroney, whose Office was in the adjoining
room. But after this conversation, Mr. Merrill
advised them not to serve the warrant then, but
to wait while and SEQ how public sentiment
would turn and it turned so suddenly that
they never served it at all A Baptist minis
he never saw SO sudden change in the public
mind.
Such was the call for the Lynn Record thai
long before night they were all gone, and 6
single number.
In few days newspapers from distant places
began to come in, with comments upon the Sa
lem outrage, accompanied with pictures, songs
and caricatures of Deacon Giles. and this con
tinucd for several weeks in succession.
The trial of Mr.. Checver, who was imme'
diately prosecuted in behalf of the Common
wealth for libel, was delayed, like other impor
tant trials for long time But his name wal
borne on the wings of fame. He was applied
to by Colleges and Literary Institutions, far ant
near, to deliver orations and addresses. He haC
calls to settle in the ministry from wealthy ant
populous towns. And when at last he deter
mined, for the benefit of his health, to travel IL
Europe, large bids, it is said, were made by diff
fcrent public journals, for his correspondence
which was finally obtained by the New Yorl
Observer. 1t may not be known to all that th
is the same man, now SO extensively and favora
y bly, known to the public, as Rev. DR.. Cheever
: of New York.
4 At the trial of Mr.. Cheover, there was an i'm
: mense crowd of people--tomporary stairs beinl
: erected at the lack side of the courthouse, 81
that the judges, attorneys, &C., passed in ant
i out at the chamber windows. The attorney
d for the defendant were Peleg Sprague. no'
: District Judge, and Rufus Choate. The latte
= made one of his most splendid efforts, but tn
70 former hardly satisfied public expectation. MI
IS Cheever himself was also permitted to read
3 the Court in his own defence, or in explanatio
u of the act, an address, which all admitted to b
le a most ingenious and powerful argument. Th
9 decision of the Court, however, was against hin
and he was sentenced to close confinement in th
10 common Jail thirty days, which he spent, as h
Or declared to visitor ut the time uery pleasantly
is being provided by kind friends with every cor
Or yenience necessary to his comfort. When h
ed came out ho delivered public lecture, or at
= dress, to very crowded audience, but made n
re allusion to his Imprisonment.
Ham was also tried for assault, and find Sc
lis and costs, which his employers or friends readil
n paid.
a. The effect of the whole affair was exactly IL
ok reverse of what was intended The design wa
Ii through the operation of public sentiment,
make Mr.. Cheever unpopular, and drive hi
e. away, instead of which it brought ridicule an
zs disgrace on his assailants, and greatly elevate
as Mr.. G. in public estimation In fact it injurs
~ the whole town of Salem, and ended in the r,
in of Dsa. Giles and his distillery. For sue
was the nosoriety of the old distillery after th
mt affair, and the ridicue attached to it, that b,
b. few men, even rumsellers, could muster NOR
k courage sufficient to be seen going into it.
lis shock had thus been given to the Deacons trad
al which he could not long survive. He lingsr,