The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-11-21
E. 3. Whitman, Esq.

Probably none of our readers have seen
so much of the recklessness of partizan
spite. as not TO be surprised at tho exam
pie OF it in the following extract from a
Western paper -
This E, B. Whitman. is one of the
firm of Whitman & Scarf, and also Gen.
eral Agent fer the egregioas humbug, the
skansas Aid Society," in which capacity
he has figured much to his own pecuniary
benefit. He is Binghan's agent for the
distribution of his seed wheat, which he
has been feeding to stage horses, Of which
| he is a large owner. When travelling on
the Missouri, or elsewhere, away from
home, he is always ready to drink social
glass or play game Of poker, and, besides
these accomplishments, he is tearing
Black Republican.
II We are not mistaken-and we think
we are not-we knew this man some years
ago, as resident of Cambridge, Massachu-
sets, where he kept hotel known as Old
Whit's,' a favorite resort for gamblers,
horse icokies, and men of kindred stripe,
with whom old Whit was always a
hale fellow, well met
We give Mr. Whitman the benefit of
the above notice. that the people of
Michigan may know the character of the
General Agent Of the Kansas Aid Socie-
ty."
For the "egregious humbug" of feed
ing the hungry and clothing the naked,
we offer no justification. None could
avail, where any could be needed. But
in regard to the agent of these charities
in Kansas, we put on record, against the
above, or any similar irnputations, the
Judgment of this whole community, in
which the character Of Dir. Whitman has
long been we'll known, that he is man
eminently fit to be charged with high
trusts and responsibilities. There is no
reason TO doubt that the affairs entrusted
, to him viii be administered to the entire
satisfaction of those 10 whom he is ac-
countable. The charges of drinking and
gaming are too absurd to he refuted; since
| the best man in the county might with
equal probability be called his boon COM
panion in those vices. We were az first
disposed to think the "hotel'' to be, like
the ''stage horses" the mere coinage OF a
mendacious fancy; but on inquiry we find
| there was such house in the outskirts of
the city, and that the writer's recollectioRs
of it are no doubt as genuine, as his de-
scription is graphic; only the man he
t knew there was quite another person than
/ the master ofthe Hopkins Classical School.
1t was in this latter capacity-let our
western friends take notice-that Mr.. Ed
mund Burke Whitman was well known
in this vicinity for eighteen years. More
than a quarter of century he was resi-
dent here, widely known. and always
highly esteemed as Christian gentleman,
/ and an honest man. Indeed if the Kan
sas Committee, or Gov. Bingham, had
canvassed the Territory, to find. for their
agent, the man who has left the faircst re-
cord, and could refer to the most eminent
names, there is no reason to suppose they
would have made another selection. Il
the associations of the writer above quo
| ted had been in those circles where the
names of Joshua Quincy, and Edward
Everett and Jared Sparks: and their as
sociates, are known and honored, he would
havebeen in the way TO know hlr. Whit
man as enjoying their entire confidence
and esteem. He might have known many
persons of the highest responsibility, both
here and in all parts of the country, who
have ben students in the Hopkins School.
and who denounce these inlputations upoli
their friend, as private injury and a
public wrong.
We trust that those who have ignorant
ly given credit or currency to the ISLANDERS
here exposed, viii endeaver to undo the
mischief their error may have occasion
ed:-CamsJriige, Mass, Chronicle.