Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-18

iuc"Oc oeioic INC EAdmihlng committee he
says that that policy fought to have succeed
ed"
MRS. TILToN's CHARACTER.
The most remarkable feature about tbi.
trial, one which has attracted the most Oh
servation, one upon which my friends form
ed one of their strongest appeals to the Jury.
Is that a husband, complaining of the ada!-
terry OF his wife, and the accused adulterer
both unite in asc.ibing to the woman an ex
allied and perfect character. In Judging OF
the probability Of the relations existing
between Mr.. Beeeher and Mrs. Tilton. In
considering this extraordinary testimony.
upon the part of both these parties. to the
| purity and exaltation Of this woman's char
acter; in constituting their actions in the diL
/ ferent exigenSies which have arisen in The
| course IF this transaction, We must accent
| this conclusion That, so far as these two
men are to be judged, ana their acts are q,
/ be construed, we must assume that each .e
them seriously entertained that idea of thu.
I character of Mrs. Til.On, because, Of course
without doing so We never can arrive AZ 70
| lust construction of the motives of their I'll.
| ton, or at the character of the action. Nr
Beecher, throughout the whole Of this As
ciation. would consider and treat Mrs. I'll
ton as he describes her, as a religious en-
thusiast-as woman Of such exalted an.
spiritualized piety that in another age and
under other circumstances. she would be IN
spirati0nal and have religious eesta.is-
And 50 with Mr.. Tilton. In constituting hi-
acts and his declarations. We must conceive
so far as We can. whatever NAV he our view
that Mr.. Tilton has acted under the idea T..
which he has testified. that bis wife Wis ,
pure and white-souled woman. / d, M,
agree with that conclusion. II is Oh. u,--
sible for me to conceive any such clnii,lsa
Of w0manhOOd. | cannot imagine aay ilY.f.
try of Christian minister, any holine~- .,.
tached to an association with him. anything
in the possible influences Of that a--lcil
ton upon the veal of the Church AID C4ri-.
tanity, which would lead me To concll-
that an intelligent and a piouS woman cIlI
submit to personal degradation witho1-
conception Of the improuriety of the 4.-
But. gentlemen, | haze not the means
forming as accurate a Judgment rs cit
Mr.. Beecher or Mr. Tilton. Unfortunate,
have had none of those experiences which
enable me to Judge Of the possible eiiee- ar-
on human conduct. and the reasoning Of tlt
human conscience upon particular line a.
conduct. such as Mr. Beecher, with BIZ
moods of cxaltatiOn and depression, aaI l-
Mr.. Tilt0n, with what is called the mood, Of
his genius do not understand it. Judge
as an ordinary man. a common sinner, and !
have M such conception Of the character OF
Mrs. Iilton.
MR.. BEACH IDEA of RELIGION. IS OPPOSED Go
PERSONAL CHASTITY.
But, repeat, when am judging of the,
two men and reasoning upon their conduct,
their acts, their opinions. | Judge them
from their own standp0int-, ami we must
assume, with reference to both, that Mr-
Tilton was a lady Of the most cxempiry
pietv, Of this sGblimaled, etheria.izsi,Spir.
ualizei religious character which fitted he-
for those conditions, for those states Ut ein.
ton. for that devotion t. church and rely.
which 0yercOmes all the Scruples OF woman
hood, all the instincts Of a lady in refer
cree 70 the idea Of personal impurity. We
are 10 say, gentlemen, whether, with th-
Of the character OF thi, lady,
there i, any possibility for the idea that she
was seduced by Mr.. Henry Ward Bescaer
and that she, with reference 10 the character
Of the man, the holiness with which sue ia
vested him. the ilolatry which size extended
to him, and with her devotion - the inter
ests of the church this woman might have
fallen under the deiG,ion that she Wa rather
service t. God and t. the church
than dciaming her own wOmauh1od-
the IDEA Or rrEE AND FloJs ADJ LIsal
FURTHER ELABORATED.
Now, gentlemen, it was under the-e e..
,umstances that woman - refined AMI
,piritualized. with devotion to church ard
Hinister and God which overpoWeIcl ege-y
lther affection. and controlled every oii-r
'onsiieration-it was upon this woman wa'
lad poured out upon this man, Mr.. Bee.tc-
Ter love for vears and these offices oi Airi
les. that Mr.. Beecher wrought bis
Iudsing from our knowledge Of human
gentlemen. judging from .--
,wn seit-knOwleige. i 1t wonderful tha,
Ter these circumstances what we ci--r
sainst Henry Ward Beeeher happen,-
y it'll his own description Of his own chari-
er and tendencies, with his own conviction
# the power Of his own appetite7 and pa
ions. with this knowledge Of the predomin
nee Of this strong and powerful spirit over
hi~ weak and loving and trembling woman.
With abundant opportunities, with the
emptatiOn irresistible upon a man of his
sessions and his temperament. l. 1t >urpri--
NJ that these people fell And Is it sur
lr.>Iug that Mr.. Elton should attribute %
his Intercourse, under tie idea which You
zee she entertained in regard To this man.
Ter association with him and her influence
Ipon him. that she should attribute 20 this
Intercourse a spirit Of >ell-devotion, Of SEX
acritce. Of piety2 Why, gentlemen, W.
gan does not fall from mere carnal appetite
Z Is the enrolling andab~orbing love of W.
manhood it is because her devotion t. g.
beet Is etherealized and pure In it. in
whatever sacrifice it demands. she sees mott
~ but cheerful duty rendered, and di--o
ntes from it the idea of impurity and l4>,
Why, gentlemen, If the history Of those
itiful creatures who sell their bodies ir
OLD could be traced to the first sin it wolil
% be found a sin of caruality and lust, har
sin Of pure, devoted. trusting love. AMI
can well conceive that woman % iia
iaracter Of Mrs. Tilton, a. given 10 her b.
9th these persons who best know her-tlat
lis woman may have surrounded her Well
u to the solicitations OF Henry Wari
eecher with an atmosphere Of exl.rati1u
nd purity not at all inconsistent with her
laracter and her devotion 10 the man ana
the interests 70 which he was con-ecratcI
TO he cont nued.l