Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-21
THE wuITINGHAM LIQUOR PROsECU
TIONS.

THE wu1TINGuAM LIQUOR PRosECU-
TIONS.
TO the Editor Of The Vermont PhGnir In
the argus of Jan. 81 noticed a series of COM
munications, in relation to the late liquor pros
ecutions, in Whitingham. The first writer, who
signs himself "Justice," takes exceptions to the
account given in The PHOENIX of Jan. 10th, so
far as relates to the case of Mr. Newell, although
he states the facts substantially the same. But
he intimates that "Capt. Newell' was wrong
fully charged with "dodging out and rapidly Sc
cedng," and that it was intended to "tarnish
reputation won by fifty years residence in the
town of Nottingham" He further intimates,
that the object of THE PHOENIX was, "to charge
his counsel, indirectly, with an attempted cru
sade upon public justice" by advising his client
to "dodge, secede." Now | can assure my
friend "Justice," that TIE PHOENIX did not
state that Newell "dodged out and rapidly Sc
ceded," to tarnish his reputation, or to charge
him with doing anything wrong; but because
it was the simple fact Nor did he use the Ian
guage-"a CO rse no one supposed man occu
pying the position he does could have been in
duced to take"-with view of charging his
counsel with a "crusade upon public justice"
or Newell with being the miserable tool and
vassal of dictation; hut because it was supposed
a "militayy man." in these days of chivalry,
would have had pluck enough to "face the mu-
sic" at such time as this.
Mr. Justice" proceeds, with his usual prolix-
ity of phrase to give the Capt" sort of POM
pous, dignifed puff, and 10 show that "from the
generous sensibities Of his SOUL" he has been
a great benefactor in feeding the hungry, cloth
ing the naked, &C., and elaborately yindicates
his character and that of his counsel, in advance
of any charge or even the remotest intimation
of anything wrong in either. Truly, "a guilty
conscience needs no accuscr" Whether the
people of Nottingham had any reason to sus-
pect Mr. Newell guilty of the offence charged in
the complaint against him, may be inferred from
the fact, (Which he acknowledged to be true
that five barrels of liquor were brought to his
house in Whitingham, last summer, at one load
on his order; one of which he kept himself, the
other four being distributed to different persons
!, in this and the adjacent towns. Another fac
/ that furnishes some clue to the amount of busi
n ness he has een.doing in the liquor trade is
e that he had nine rum barrels to sell last fall
This may be called "ieeding the hungry" bu
/
:, cence may sound well in the columns of III
/ argus, but the people of Whitingham have N
> sympathy with it.
to The second article upon This subject, in tn
= same paper, which is signed "B," is little els
,f than a TRADE of most abusive slander and bar,
faced fasehood, in relation to "a committee {
three PERSONS" which he says was appointe
about year ago by combination of either
,r in Whitingham. lie represents this committt
" as "taking upon themselves the arduous dut
OF controlling the liquor traffic according to the
o. own notions !" of "assumng to give direction
ld as to the principles upon which sales should /
restrictcd;" OF "causing an oppressive and III
. Just prosecution to be instituted against Ii
- Bemis, good and worthy citizen, and of gi,
ing directions about his fine and costs" Aft,
- long series of falsohoods about this commi
tee, and after extolling Mr. Bemis TO his sati
he faction, he asks: "What have these caitii
at doneP They have caused him to be taken al
brought before the public authorities. promisir
'a' that If he would plead guilty to one often
they would let him CO." &c. Now such a char,
N az this shows depravity in Mr. "B." seldo
- witnessed. He can have no justification (
-. ei such a charge, for nothing was ever sa
lie or done by this committee, as he is pleas
to call them, on which to found such pl
n r. 1p'ion. They nerey 0ace, nor "dssume
le. to any "directon as to the principles
wl Oh the sale" of liquor should be restrictC
- either to Ira Bemis or any one e,se. Nor q
u u this committee" have anything 10 do with t
no, prosecution of Mr. Bemis, or with promisin
or directing about his fine, any more than n
49, poleon of France. Not one Of them bei
In'' present during the whole transaction.
But the malignant vengeance of Mr. "B."