Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-25

Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, replied, de-
claring that the statement as to the ourh-
ing of witches in Massachusetts, is entirely
false. that no human being had ever been
burned at the stake within the limits OF
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We
copy his remarks as reported:
| Mr.. Hoar went on to say that 240 years ago,
when the whole civilized world believed in
witchcraft on the authority of the Books OF the
Old Testament, the courts of Massachusetts
condemned and executed some 10 or 20 per-
sons of both sexes, but 1t was also true, that
first among men, the people of Massachusetts,
had seen the error and wickedncss of theirpro-
ceedings. TWAS her love of liberty daughter
on the democratic side that first exposed the
error and wickedness of Furnishing human be-
ings for that the ministees of the gospel jurors
and counsel, had formed an almost repent
ant procession, and had asked the pardon of
God and their neighbors for it. More laugh
ter on the democratic side. The distinguished
Chief Justice Sewall stood up in his place in
the church bareheaded and acknowledged his
errors, while his contemporary, Sir Mathew
Hale never saw the folly and wickedness of
his proceeding, in the courts of England, and
in the diary of Chief Justice Sewall was
latin words of sorrow RAJ, re, rG. (woe, woe,
woe As to the burning of converts in
Massachusetts, the matter was SIMPLY this
In 1886 the rumor had spread one evening
through the streets of Boston of some terrible
cruelty practised 1n the neighboring town OF
Charlestown on some young women who had
been placed there, and the mob in the dusk OF
evening had passed over the bridge, and some
wicked men-such as are always found IN
large cities-set fire to that convent. But
what has Massachusetts, donef She has ar
rested, tried, sentenced and punished the GRIM
inals, and the crime was no more to be I'M
puted to her than any crime ever committed
within the limits of the civilized community.
In conclusion he said "It did not become the
political friends of the man who had buried
alive our soldiers at Fort Pillow, or of those
men who had burned the orphan asylums at
New York. and had hung negroes on lamp
posts, to talk of the cruelty in past age.
This last thrust of Mr. 'Hoar came so
closely home that it could not be endured
by the democracy, and scene OF con-
fusion ensued, in which Mr.. Voorhees,
charged that what had been said by Mr..
Hoar was false. The reference to the
democratic record of 1868 was side blow
not expected, and New England came off
victorious. No republican can fail to
make note in this incident of the peculiar
disposition manifested by the democrats
towards this section of the country. Our
schools, churches, charities, best feelings
and thoughts are their especial hatred.
While they extol the religion of Rome
they have no kindly word tor Protestant
churches, seeing in them nothing but
witch burning and intolerance. If New
England minister had upheld grog-shops
and slave auction blocks probably they
would have received the compliments of
such men as Brooks and Voorhees,, but
preferring to promote temperance and
freedom they are entitled to nothing but
denunciation from democratic Congress
men.