The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-11

- oonhuhineu 70 neheNe the whole difiioulty h
have arisen from mutual mitunde rstandins. IN.
result Of the. mode In which the busiusss VA
conducted By Mr. Pngs-the expectations cher
ishod BY him At one tine and the changes n
bis planb subsequently, made. He, therefore
recognizes tho unquestionsble right Of Messrs
Heron and Church 10 purchase the property
and withdravs al charges against their mora
hopes that the result Of the present investFation
will be the restoration Of mutual harmony, con.
hdence and peace TO cur church. .ru-
| The underigned counsel for the prosecution.
feels II due TO Justice and to the relations which
he has been called TO sustain to the prosecutor
to bear testimony 70 the oandor and love Of truth
and justioe, BY which he has found the pro,scu.
tor hetuatsd, and under tho impulse Of which.
upon being iaformsd Of Mr.. Foisy's Representa-!
tion, he at once declared. Then can, In honor
and Justice, 70 no farther.
Bespectfully submittod.
| 70, ID, .. ss's-srs SAMUEL J. BArnp.
q s5rIs o.t = Counsel for tho prosecutor
WAsHrraros, June 10, 1867.
Mr.. Heron, one Of the gentlemen aeaip,,
whom the charges had been preferred, VA,
granted permiision 10 make statement. and be
read several letters and afidavits bearing on Nj,
case, which were deemed an eIoneration Of hi,
action In the matter in dispute.
Rev. DR.. Taylor. on behalf Of the defence, then
delivered the following address to the Presby,
teryi -.-., % ... -r..r.rl
MoDERAroR: Before this oase DO finally sub.
nitted to the decision Of Pre,bytery Il Is due 10
these gehtomen who have selected mo To a,si,t
In their defence, that should oor certain state.
ments with regard to this whole subject. This
10 ono ofthe most remarkable cases, from begin
ming to end. which has ever come under my
siSus manner n re a
the extrems pertinacity and disregard Of Chris.
tian character, with which II has been relentic,sy
pursued, as well AZ for tho utter and disgraeeful
failure With which its COZ illusion has been con.
fstssdiy marked. This matter was practically
opened agsinst there gentlsmsn about the mid.
die OF March last IN historical sermon, by the
pastor Of this church, which was followed BY A
brief article In tho RreniRg Star, under the
familiar Initials Of 1T. 7. r., although the ao-
knowlodged prosecutor publicly declared, In his
speech Of May 18th, that his SUSPECT ms Of unfair
dealing were aroused about one year ago.n
Shortly after this sermon. It was agreed to lay
the whole matter before three Of tho pastors Of
this city, as referees for thoir adjudication.
At the time Of this reference the accusers Of
these elders brought only statement Of their
'ap'eionS, with no facts or evidence OF any kind
TO snbstantiato the charge, thus most unfairly
throwing upon the accused the burden of prov.
Ing their innocence resting under false, though
unestablishcd allegations, involving their moral
character. II Is but fair to say that the accused
consented 10 defend themselves, even under such
circumstances, and made Guoh an exhibit Of the
facts and figures Us satisfied the persons to whom
Tho matterwaS referred, Of their perfect integrity
and zeal for the cause Of Christ in all tho trans
actions Involved. And the referees so gave their
unanimous decision, and urged the prosecution
70 refrain from further proceedings In the case.
Shortly after this appeared, under the shape Of
. carieature Of Scripture phrase appropriate
enough, indeed, since the whole proseci ton, be-
fore IL came to Presbytery, has been little else
n ri nf r,,Nk -
pamphlet, entitled Tho Wedge Of Gold, " giving
most unfair and as must now be confessed. q
most false statement Of the whole case with per.
sonRl insinuhtions and reflections not only
against these parties accused, but even against
those arbitrator who, at their opn request,
had eoniented to examine into the matter
Tor them that 1t might DO set right This
ill;judged and unfortunate pamphlet appear
ing anonymously, like the asssssin's stab
IN tho dark, was diligently circulated In all
quarters where II would DO likely to affect
the moral standing or business character or So
cia relations Of the accused. Who the Achun
was who found this wedge Of gold, we have not
been permitted the opportunity to bring to light
in this abortiye trial. But as 1t was begotten In
sin and brought forth in iniquity, 80 let 1t die.
Succeeding this malicious attack II was attempt
ed, contrary to every principle Of Presbyterian
ism, to bring this matter to trial before the con.
gresaton Of this church, who, being interested
Of the parties involved, or as the recipients Of
the fund which 1t was charged had been wick.
eddy wrcsted from the church. were OF all judges
the most unit to sit 10 judgment upon the case.
At this time appeared, under the garb Of "a Re-
port Of tho Minority Of the Board Of Trustees"
the celebrated speech Of the prosecutor, which
was room after published and widely didused, rs
II to prejudice the case beforehand, though It
was evidently but statement Of onelside Of the
case, and professediy only q series OF charges at
q future time to be fully established. Al
Subsequent to this appeared an article In the
EUenag Star from the pastor Of this church,
under his signature, Of which We will not here
speak.
And now, at last, the matter has been brought
before this Presbytery, and, after having been
fairly opened, has been abandoned at tho late
discovery Of testimony which fully justihes these
gentlemen Of defence In their course, their &C.
cusers themselves being judges.
Thus, for q period covering two and half
months, these gentlemen have rested under the
grayest personal imputationp most diligently
circulated In every family In the church. and
freely preached In all tho community. Their
business has been seriously restricted and I'm.
paired, their own minds and hearts, and tho minds
and hearts Of those dsarsst to them In life, have
and the Interests Of tho Church OF God have been
most deeply embarrassed and injured This little
church, just arising out Of long period Of trial
TO the promise OF day Of prosperity. has 70.
eeived a needless blow, which has made II from. |
bic and totter to Its very foundations And now
will call your attention briefly to the manner
In which the defendants have conducted them
selves during all this time Of trial.
Mr.. Moderator, they have from the very start
asserted their entire innocence Of the iniquity al
legged to have been praoticed by them. They have
earnestly demanded proof Of the charges. They
have declared themselves always ready. before
the proper tribunal, to offer testimony which
would fully exculpato them In every particular
They have diligently sought for their case full
open and thorough investigation. They have
opposed every delay and offered every opportuni.
ty for impartial examination. Amidst hindrances
most strangely and unwarrantably thrown In
their way, ohargod in the most solemn manner
it were possible for prosecutors to assume, and
with most relentless spirit Of acts "of unmiti.
gated Villaipy," they have patiently waited the
Opportuaity which their noeussrs would graat
them Of cleaning their skirts and saving their
fair fame. Under an informal prosecution before
The public. which assumed the shape rather Of
persecution, H1d held their reputation 10 sus-
peuse before the world, they have rsfrAined from
appealing to the public pregs in any manner,
and have kept on in their course steadlastly, |,
and more patiently than could have been OF,
pected, only asking that they might DO heard
IN their own defence, and demanding that the
Examination should DO judicial and should be
Iuch as to exhaust and end the case.
And now, air, at this time, WHEN, after great
abor and much expense, they stand ready to
iisprove every charge, to show the utter ground.
essness Of every suspicion, the case Is aban-
Toned in mid. and their testimony In
heir own behalf Is suddenly suppressed and 70.
used hearing. You may imagine the feelings