Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-08


The fair fame Of the State of Vermont i
too well established to be destroyed by the
assaults of the delamer, and we do not feel
called upon to defend our State. her judi
ciary or her prominent citizens, from the
three columns Of ialsehood, malice and mis-
representation that appeared in the Spring
field Republican Of Tuesday last. This ar
ticle Is the most marked and fragrant exhi-
bition of malicious mischief that we ever
knew an influential journal TO indulge in.
We think We see the handiwork Of Mr.. F.
i. Sanborn, one Of the editors Of that paper
in the composition Of the article, and we
suppose it Is an echUfr some disappointed
rival to the successful railroad interests of
the State. Its malignity was evidently in
Spired through personal hatred, and has
worked itself out in the Republican as re-
yenge for some faneied wrong
The accuracy Of this editor as q historian
Is 50 VIGOROUSLY out of joint, and his state
ments of facts 80 distorted. that any person
at all acquainted with the current affairs Of
the State, viii not be deceived by them.
The Hon. Homer +. Royce is 50 well known
as an upri ght, learned and honest judge.
that the SANDERS of comparative stranger
will not destroy his reputation. The peo-
pie of Vermont have always been vigllant
in sustaining the character OF their judi
ciary. and this Is the first time that mem
Der of her highest court has ever been
charged with venality and corruption, aud
the only way we account for this assault l.,
that the Republican Is making itself the
mOuth-piece Of the parties who We're beaten
by the opinion Of Chancellor Royce, in the
recent attempt 20 force the Central road
into bankruptcy. and ruin all hopes OF Its
future prosperity, for We know it Is natur-
al for an inscriptions man, who has been
defeated in court, 10 rcyilc the Judge.
There can be no other way to account for
this false and malicious assault upon the
character of Judge Royce.
As for the reputation and standing Of the
Smith family, we leave that with the people
Of the State. The same parties that are in
strumental in getting up this assault, went
into the legislature last fall with their COM
plants, and a iair and unbiased committee
was appointed. This committee has
thoroughly investigated all charges made.
With commendahie patience, they sat for
days and listened 10 the squabblcs OF
counsel who ought 20 have been gentle
men, and 10 the detailing Of all suspi-
ci0ns and surmiSes Of enemies as well a.
TO facts that had bearing upon the sub
jectmatter Of the inquiry, and when
the parties were all through they made
a report which fully exoneratcd the Smiths
and the other managers of the Vermont
Central Railroad " from all corruption,
fraud, peculation or mismanagement,' and
here again the beaten party comes in and
endeayers to do away that report with
cry OF whitewash.' and reiterate their
old charges, prelaced by scaudalous as
sault upon the Smith family. commencing
with Captain John and ending with the
Governor.
In reference to some litigation which has
taken place, recently, the report in the
article of the Republican has no foundation
in fact The Central Vermont Company,
nor any of its officers. had anything to DO
with the litigation, or in procuring the IN
junction from Chancellor Wheeler against
the Vermont Valley Company; and John
Gregory Smith was as ignorant of the
movement as the editor of the Republican.
The treasurer of the Rutland Railroad
Company thought he saw a desire on
the part of the Valley Company to take ac-
ton at n meeting It's officers had called, to
iniure the interests of the Rutland Com
pany. who hold a lease of the Valley road.
The president of the company was absent in
Europe, and the treasurer thought 1t his
duty to act. He consulted two ofthe leading
lawyers in the State, and under their ad-
vice the bill was brought and the injunction
procured. The Valley Company answered.
and upon hearing, Judge W heller dissolved
the Injunction For this, Gov. Smith Is ar
raigned in the Republican, and with about
the same show ofreason as the other charges
against him, Mr.. Park, and others. The
treasurer of the Rutland Road. acting in his
best discretion, under the advice Of the best
counsel he could obtain is alone responsible
for that suit. lie brought it to protect the
rights he represented, and he would have
been unworthy the confidence reposed in
him, if. under the circumstances, he had
acted differently from what he did.-Rut-
lqndHcraH