The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-20

Mr.. Kennedy's Reply 10 Mr.. Halnes'
To the Editor of the Press:
lam sorry that Mr.. Haines letter, which
YOU publish to-day, compels me to refer to him
again in print. All that can say to the first
point on which he takes issue with me is that
I am certain he assured me, and that told
several gentlemen on Saturday evening, that
could have the hall at half price
By the way, paragraph in the Argus this
morning says that had the hall at that rate,
and calls me a 'shrieking Bureau man."
When will Democrats understand that the
Freedmen's Commission, of which Chief JUS
tice Chase is President, is voluntary society,
and has no organic connection with any de-
partment of the government? That they
should think of that distinguished gentleman
as their candidate for the Presidency, be-
lieving that he has any Office in the NEGRO
bureau" which they hate so bitterly, shows not
only that they feel they are dying, but also
that they cherish faint hope of a resurrec-
ton through him to less inglorious career.
Let me assure them, as an additional reason
Tor his nomination, that neither he, nor the
Commission of " hich he is the honored head,
belongs to the National charity which has kept
so many of their poor white brethren in the
South from starvation and death.
In my last interview with Mr.. Haines, when
1 told him quietly and kindly that people
on the sidewalk who could not get
into the hail, spoke of the announcement
as humbug, he rejoined that they
doubtless thought that the meeting was
humbug too after it was over Then, when
remembered all the trouble of the previous
evening, when saw that he was acting, as it
seemed and still seems to me, as if his word
were not worth twelve dollars and o half. and
when felt what was his duty as mayor of
city to a stranger who had been introduced to
him as Christian minister laboring for the
veal of the Nations poorest poor, said to him
in substance: Mr.. Haines, in New York
there are ash-carts, which are generally
drawn by two ours, and watched by ragged
urchin, who attend upon the boss now from
my experience here would as soon call the
cart carriage, the ours horses, the ragged ur-
chm coachman, and the boss an earl as Bid
deford city and you mayor" 1 looked at
him calmly when had finished, and whether
he was coward, or convinced that what said
words still leave the question doubtful, for he
says that any one else would have subjected
me to more rapid exit from the room than L
was allowed. That there was some probabiIi-
ty that mayor. who thus insulted stranger
minister, and his mission, would lay hands
upon him for such severe rebuke, 1 very well
knew: but, as he knows, that did not keep me
silent
Mr.. Haines inquiries: "Why should we not
have fears when his identity was questioned
by one of the deacons of the Congregational
Church, and who, on this account, declined
giving him the use of the church for his lee
ture?" New, the truth is that Mr. Boynton,
who treated me very kindly, advised me to Sc
cure the hall, and introduced me to the keep
er, because the Congregational Church had voted
not to let its edJfce for such general meetings.
Whether. in this instance, the mayor who re-
sides in Biddeford, is member or attendant
OF another Congregational church, and could
easily communicate with Mr.. Boynton, can
have made an innocent mistake, the Lord
knows and the re ader can infer. When 1 Of
fered my check, 1 referred to Mr. Boynton, be-
cause be had been introduced to Mrs. Kennedy
and had seen my private papers, which show
ed that was property holder, and made him
sure, as he told me, of my identity He was
present at the meeting, helped to make the
collection, shook hands with me afterward
and expressed his regret, if remember cor
rectly, that the result was so small
Says Mr.. Haines: '"That Mr. ennedy did
not act the part of a gentleman during the de-
livery of his address aoaS admitted by all, as he
took occasion to grossly insult and abuse not
only the keeper of the hall, but other promi-
nent citizens" Read that again, and you will
understand how hard it is for me to refrain
from calling it and it's author by their proper
names. The only personal illusions made
were to the keeper of the hall, who, said in
referring to the cards which he had refused to
distribute on the seats, had condescended to
light the gas; and to Mr.. Boynton.
in playful way, as being quite eau
tious but still open to conviction. Those who
waited beyond the first half hour, during
which was constantly interrupted, know how
much OF patience and persistency the occasion
. ~ Rev. Mr.. Tenney, whose church
Tile mayor atterus, ofporcvr .-..->.-..,.rrv..
prayer, and sat near me till the close, and Rev.
Messrs. Boyd and Stevens were in the audi
ence. Now, if any one of these three gentle
men will express his opinion in writing that
there was aught on my part from the begin
ming OF the meeting to the end, to justify or
palliate this charge, which the mayor who
was absent has brought against me. will pay
within ninety days one thousand dollars to
the treasurer of any benevolent society that
Mr.. Haines may name.
confess that this matter has touched me to
the quick, fer it has involved not only the
comfort OF my wife and myself, but also the
standing of my work, which cannot bear TO
see belittled, because it seeks the good both of
the freedman and his former master-the pro-
motion of education, virtue, peace and pros
perity throughout the South, which we all
should love as part of our undivided and indi-
visible Republic. am, yours truly,
.Juna 10