Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-05-23
A wonderful Development.


wonderful discovery in the excellent town
of Townshend 1t was gravely and pub
licly announced last week. 1t is also an
nounced that il has created ''quite stir in
Townshend." In other words, one Dea |
Wheaton, man we never heard of before, |
but who is now pronounced 8 a highly re- |
spected citizen" and " long been an aboli-
ZIONIST" has recently become convinced of
his error" and in late religious meeting
made solemn confession, acknowledging
bis belief that he, in common with all those
holding his anti-slavery views, had been
guilty of aiding in firing the first gun of the
rebellion !! Now we do not say this is all
true, for our authority is not sufficient for
that, but it is so announced by what would
seem to be " Dea. Wheaton's official or
gan, and therefore il may prove to be so.
Bet what a discovery How wonderful
and mysterious Who could have thought
that in the good old town of Townshend,
land Seminary, foremost in religion and
good works, with people noted for temper
ance and sobrety-- and on this account the
very place for an institution of learning
WHO would have thought that in such place,
a deacon--a real good deacon-sa highly
respected citizen could have been found
who had been fomenting the present war,
and fred " the first gun of the rebellion
WHIST an instance of total depravity =
Would that he had 81 become convinced of
his error" before he +" fred the first gum
and then the bloody conflict in which we are
engaged might have been averted But it
is now too late, and let us all at once hasten
10 repentance. We don't know what the
+" anti-slavery views of Dea. Wheaton
may have beens but we propose to share
.he responsibility of sins against slavery
and those whom heretofore we have called
traitors, if the Deacon viii give US his new
| light, and--we are convinced,
| Now we always liked real good, hon
est deacon. They are the salt of the earth
They are more than merely a highly re-
spected citizen" Heretofore with Madison
we have always denied the doctrine of prop
erty in man, and with WASHINGTON have
always had wish ''to see some plan adopt
ed by which slavery, in this country may
be abolished !" and with the Virginia Bap-
tist Convention which declared that slavery
was ~ inconsistent with republican govern
ment;" and with DIR. Abraham Booth, an
eminent Baptist, that slaveholding is wick
ed and inconsistent with Christian charac-
ter;" and with Rev. Mr.. Brisbane, Bap-
list clergyman of South Carolina, tliat when
a man "becomes Shareholder, or slave
seller, then be is criminal &c, &c.
Now we have introduced Mr.. Brisbane
FOR special purpose. Some poor mortals
have been simple enough 10 suppose that
the rebellion commenced in South Carolina,
and even that the first gun was fired
there, and we should feel that we were DO
ing good service if thereby we could re-
lieve :. Des. Wheaton from some of The
responsibility of the rebellion, and saddle it
on Mr.. Brisbane
BY ali means let 6 Dea. Wheaton give
the world the benefit of his vision. II may
be the means Of stopping farther bloodshed,
especially so if the government conclude to
lei the rebels have their own way. 1t might
be issued in book, and in order TO help
along the matter, we would merely suggest
the following, photography and all, for the
title-page =" Confession of Deacon Whea.
ton: or Tail showing who Fired the first
gun in the Present rebellion; with an APP
pendix, by Hiram Atkins"