Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-30
The Case of Mr. Barnard.
GEORGIA, Oct Dist 1858

GEORGIA, Oct. DIST 1855.
Edlors q tie Burlington Free Press
Gents Having
seen an article in your daily Issue OF Oct 18th
in regard to Rev. L. E Barnard feel compelled
to say We think you have done him great in
justice by Publishing to the world his f,ults in
[ greatly aggravated form, We presume your in
iormant to De noe, IN toe fault and trust You
I w,ll hc wiling 20 IL ycur readers hear soms
thins- m his favour which may CORRECT perhaps
the Wrons impression youg article 81. calculated
I to give the pubic
VI. TnruarI during m the nns he lsoure4
with us OH the Go-ps, ministry was a labcriou.
efficient anil faithful minister Of moro than or
dHary TALENT IN his profession.
IA all his in.erclurss with the church and So
ciety ms conduct has been that Of a christian
gentleman aui except in the matter Of f,mily
government has been au example worthy Of INIT
at,ou by either minister or layman and on that
subject some of his llyst intimate acquantauoe
consider him moao.-aliac.
You rcyresau, Mr.. B. AS having been drive
ont Of town by threats of being conveyed by
vehicle taken from the nearest rail fence, We are
not aware Of any such threats having been made
Mr.. +. is -til living quietly in our parsonage
with hi. wife who expresses her entire confidence
that they shah have no further cause Of com
plaint
We iv.i much afflicted and exceedingly sorry
there should have been an occasion for any such
article as appeared in your paper; no such nun
ber of distinct whippinss was charged against
Alr. Z. ~ you state although there were charges
Sustained against hiln O. that kind. We un-
dsEstaLi the associaI.on IN view Of the facts ad-
vissd 9ir. 3 f5r the presen, 10 seek some other
employment than preaching. and We feel sorry
they dii not publish tie result under their own
signature
Ia ottslr Q: myself and others,
Rsspecyfol.y, R.K.C
In addition 10 tie above we have received
a letter from % highly esteemed member Of
the Northwestern Association, who writes TO
correct some erroneous impressions which he
fears may b. drawn from our account of the
case. H. wishes us TO understand that the
ASSOCIATION were very prompt To inquire into
the case a, ,Jpn a- il was brought to their
notice .het Mr. 3. had j-en up to that time
universally respected and loved by the people
of Georgia, that there WIS evidence Of his
kickin- ti- wife r.t once, and then, a. he
allc-cs. anl size d,,- NOT deny, be dit no,
kick htr bu, only raised hls foot to keep her
avey, t1e; m-Jcd OF eighteen whippinSs
vI.mu a year tue investigating committee
found On. uumltz 20 De- but fifteen within
the time If their marria1e, which must be
nearly tine, vearz. that there was no ovi-
iencs t.et ne stopped nis viic's letters or
locked up her clothes, except by locking bis
study door. his viic'a clothes being IN
clo-ei .u the study, and be going to church
omiuin- Do leave the door open and ;hs'
be did n-- a-,,r, lis ~ig.t TO whip h.s wife.
before the c'amt,,ee tnat examined him.
De although li, Confession to the assocntion
seemed Q, -.ke chat ground az part, with the
additional inliaal5u tia; he had wife that
required severe discipline"
We cars5aly publish these corrections.
Our rrau,r, Will please 1t once to consider
the number of whippiuss reduced to fftsen,
recoli,cJ that Mrs Barnard was not kicked
but ran a-linst Mr. Barnard's uplifted foot,
ami -i., him ,le benefit Of previous good
character, and the suggestion Of ' monoma-
mia " on family government.
We may ada that orr readers will bear
testimony to our general caution IN calling
public attention 10 matters affecting personal
character. This case seemed TO Us one which
called Tor the punishment Of public notoriety
and condemnation. The minister Of the
Gospel Is by his sacred Office placed before
the public, aud with al allowance for the
trailrics Of poor human nature and the fact
that ministers are Of the same flesh as other
men, We submit that they must so walk as
TO owe their exemption from public reproach,
to something besides The indulgence of their
frIenis. or the f0rbearanee Of the Press.