The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-02-21
advertiser cpt ]

Mr.. EDITOR Permit me, through
the columns Of your paper, in justice to
myself, and perhaps no les to my
friends, who may have bssn half inclin-
cd to believe the many everyday rs-
ports now going the rounds, in this COM
munity, both in public and private, for
as am informed they are more or less
made aad rstaliated thousand times ever
in large and small assemblies, by those
who are unfortunately or wilfully iguor-
ant Of the facts, thereby misleading the
more honest and honorable, and calsu-
lated, too, to strike at the very founda-
ton of all that is dear to mo, (my rspu.
tatisn) and Of course to injuro me both
publicly aud privately, at home and
abroad: and this, TOO, for some FIVE
years past, Notwithstanding my oft re-
peated remonstrancs and direct contra
diction Of them, which l have made both
publicly and privately, yet effected to be
believed by many, causes me, however
reluctantly, to ask Of you this indulgence,
for the pu' pose Of more effectually do
6ning my position, aud thus more pub
licly denying the charges SO erI oneously,
aud NJ have too much reason to be-
llsve, willully and wickedly made in
regard to myself as aiding or abetting in
anywise, either by my person or means,
the use or sale OF oxcatiug liquors as
a use, excepting for purposes absolutely y
necessary, (and for this every person
claims his own right Of knowing best
what or whom, aud that distinctly de-
ny all such charges, and pronounce them
entirely void Of truth, now or at any
former period of my life to my knowl.
edge, ea,anating from whatever source
they NAV, from the, rich or poor, from
those wto would sccdpy high positions
iu life, e,-desiring the honor and applause
Of men, down to the msanest vagabond
who walks the street. All, all is with
out even a shadow Of truth, and l here
deem it an act Of justice to myself, NY
family and friends, to call upon ali
without perssnifying, thus as publicly to
rstract any such statements, either from
original or hearsay, or substantiate the
same. And further, tho charge so often
and recently repeated that do now, or
that have ever at any former period OF
my life, leased, let or otherwise know
iugy suffered (anticipatins such use
any hou'e Or houses, room or rooms, or
any tenement of any kind, ter tn use
Of intoxicating drinks, directly or IN H.
rcctly, Except such as I do in my fam
lily aud which I ever wish to do for pur-
poses best known to my.clf) This l
repeat is false, aud particularly request
all such as have made any Of these
charges, or similar ones, to make good
their statements on unquestioned au
thority, or forever lie under the gnaw
ings and lashiugs Of guilty conscience
applicable only to the guilty. As to
the general remark of the gentleman,
understood to have been made on Sat
urday evening, on the temperance ques-
ton, for whom | had ever been taught
by an aged aud honored father to highly
esteem, that it was difficult where to
end tho Berrys," for on looking for
them in one place they would be found
in another "a sweeping assertion to
be sure.) / first though it wholly un
worthy of notice, believing that to treat
it with silent contempt alone, would be
it. jus, deserts; but would beg leave to
say that they may be found at all times,
in the States of Pennsyl, ania, Middl>
and Western New York, in the central
part Of Vermont, as Il name that will
share its fair proportion OF integrity aud
good citizenship in society, with perhaps
,omo at least Of the good citizens OF
Stopington Borough, and that he can at
all times find some in his own town and
State, and at all times others Of the
same name in the westerly part Of Rhode
lsland-(to wit. myself or my repre-
ssntativss, however much wanting in
sandor, who will be happy to wait on
any who will favor him with call.
There is one other subject, Mr.. Edi-
tor, which | consider paramount to all
others, and which seems to have been
connected with the subject matter under
consideration, however unjus!ly, |
mean the subject of religion. Now in
the first place, it may bo tho bounden
duty Of ali TO publicly acknowledge tho
claim, Of Christianity, or it may not be,
that I leave; but certain it |" IN my
opinion, that it is incumbent on all such
a. do, Ito be temperate in all things"
and that I believe have ever been try