Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-24
THE FREEMAN AGAIN.

The Montpelier freeman notices our arti-
Gle in the Daily Free Press of Thursday last.
1t takes back, in sort of halfway manner,
something Of its article, on which we remar-
ked. 1t says:
In our remarks in relation to the action
of Burlington in the matter, we have always
meant the Times clique, and not the more
honorable portion of the town, who are re-
markable for minding their own business. as
a general thing"
What the Freeman may mean by the
Times clique" we must leave for the Free
man and the Times to discuss between them
selves. The Freeman says further
GAS the Free Press says-we hope unjust
ly--of Montpelier, there are those in Bur-
lington, not to be called men, who have ia
ken it upon themselves to ''rule or ruin" the
State, and Montpelier with the rest, and at
these we aim our "blackguard," for they are
worthy of no decent or courteous contro-
versy."
We did not say that there are persons in
Montpelier who have taken it upon them
selves "to rule or ruin the State" and
Montpelier, nor any thing that amounted to
that, or in the least degree like it and we
know of no persons in Burlington who take it
upon themselves to rule or ruin the State, or
Montpelier either, or who have wish for
any such result.
We believe the Freeman, accusation an
entirely unjust one. As to the "blackguard"
which it talks ofaiming at the objects of its
accusation, it strikes us that it will do well
to eschcw that article altogether.
Once more. The Freeman says
"To the wholesale contradiction. of the
Free Press of our statements as regards those
who have come here to look after the in
terests of Burlington, we simply say that we
know whereof we spoke, and challenge the
Free Press to publish any evidence to the
contrary. The devising ways and means
to get the State House removed to Burling-
ton, should, perhaps, have read, to move it
to Burlington and Rutland alternately"
As to the last remark of the Freeman, it
does not alter the drift of the Freen,ans &C.
cusations, nor our denial of their justice. But
the Fireman has got up new queer of attack
and defence. The Freeman made, directly
and by implication. very severe charges
against the people of Burlington, and against
public men. members of the Legislature, who
are resident here. The Free Press denied the
justice Of those accusations, and, in particular,
challenged the Freeman to bring any evidence
of the truth of its SANDER against Mr.. Speaker
Edmunds. The Freeman turns round, repeats
loosely its former general accusations, says
it spoke from its own knowledge. and chal-
lenges the Free Press to publish any evidence
to the contrary of what the Freeman had said
Suppose we had said that fifty men
heard the editor of the Freeman charge
the people of Burlington with having set fire
to the State House, and thcreupon the Free
man should deny our statement, and chal-
lenge us to bring the proof of it; and, instead
of answering to that reasonable request, we
were to rctort ALI that we said was true,
and VIC challenge the Freeman to prove the
contrary ! What would be thought of it ?
The Freeman goes quite ahead of the man
who offered to rebuff the oaths of two men
who swore that they saw him steal the hog.
by bringing five men to swear that they did
not see him do it.