Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-10-26
Ghe 6ree press.
C. C. s Il. L. BENEDICT.
EDITORS AND PRoPRIEroRs.
FRIDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 26, 1866
How Gen. Banks met his Accusers.

How Gen. Banks met his AccuseTs.
There was a republican caucus held at
Maiden, Mass. on the 18th, which re-
sembled in some Of It's features, the famous
Hyderark Convention; but with a differ
ence. 1t was held for the election Of dele
gates to the republican convention Of tie
Sixth Congressional Dis;ric. Of Mass, now
represented by Gen. Banks. At the meeting,
Mr.. e. W. Copeland got up and said that
he could not % for tic denomination Of Gen.
Banks on account Of objections to his char
aeter The chief Of these was that On a re-
cent visit to Portland, Ne, Gen. 3. was
guilty Of becoming ahamcfuily intoxicated
He lad charged this privately and now re-
pea:ed it publicly and challenged Gen.
Banks to confront him, and meet tie charge
personal friend OF Gen. Banks immc-
diately moved that committee be appointed
10 wait on the General and request his
Presence. lie cam, at once into the meet
ing and met Us accuser. who rcltcrutei the
charge OF iutyzieation and saId he wanted
Gen. b to deny 1t II he could. We COPY
the following from Gen. Banks reply:
He said hls character had been assailed while
he was alsen', and when he returned home it
was his purpose to viniicate his character to
those who had honored him, and 20 whom he
was strongly attached. lie said, - nov say
that 10 half dozen years Of public service Of
difficulty and without reward, | never forgot
that was a son Of Massachusetts, and repre-
sentative Of its people, and l have to say that
there has been 10 act in my public life OF uEi-
yate character but, if Understood by the people Of
this State, will be approved by all Of the people,
irrespective Of party. Men are assailed when
they are absent; they defend themselves when
they are present. When returned from Con-
gress | was pressed 10 enter the service Of the
party 20 which / was attached. and whose prin-
ciples | had supported in distant States Tn
willingly and upoa compulsiOn | accepted the
invitation. Amcng other invitations | received
IN urgent one TO GO TO Portland, and went
there TO address the citizens on public atflirs.
and was there three OF four days. In refer
ence 10 what has been said have this 10 say.
that any statement that ! was in a condition Of
improperly il any way, either as u the use Of
lA-tAANtAt-A lI-H uA-G SA-4-A VIM
out the slsi0W OF truth 20 justify il. Tire
menj0us chCeriug) \ statement 90 the con-
trary, made by whom Il may be, or upon what
ever authority, is as atrUcl0us, as wautJn. as
infamous q aiseh0ld O. was ever uttered bY the
lips Of I-ar. L is not only untrue anl without
any fact CT semblance Of truth to justify it, but
il il impossible from the nature oi the circum-
stances that IL should he true, and invite the
people Of this town or my district 70 designate
any gentlemen they may please, who are fair
minded men, la whom they have confidence, and
who shall exlmne the ficis with me and with
anybody else you may choose 10 send. II they
shall not declare that 70 is net only without
solitary fact o. ..Ilh.auc, cf truth u Justify TO-
but that 0, Is ln nr.s-ble, With 1le regard 90 the
c.Tcums tauets attending tie o-.-s.-n, then l
will resign my present seat ius altaue,u>ly aai
my position as candidate fr reelection. Sir,
1 invite the gentleman Who has taken his seat TO .
accept tbs pop sIu-a. i-r- lira 90 DO DO.
Ihc ulsl5t ot al was TIA, 81. Copeland
Produced 10 II.of, though lie reiterated
that the charges were susceptible of proof,
and that delegates were elected hy tie eau
Gus instructed to go for Gen. Banks at the
Convention first, la-t. and al the time. His
denomination in the Convention followed by
a very large majority.
Our readers can see from this how q man
who has confidence in bis innocence, meets
Lis accusl1s, on such occasion. sauposs
Gen. Banks, though within hoarns Of the
charge publicly made against him. had dc
clined to meet 1t on the spot; had finally
met it only by promise % confront his ac-
cuser when be should present illegal oyi-
deuce" Of the facts charged, and had lodged
and avoided every attempt to investigate it ;
dos anybody suppose be would have been
renominatod. or would stand otherwise than
as a disgraood man, among the intelligent
citizens Of his district?