The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-17
A Letter which the Advisory Council
should Read.

A Letter which the Advisory Council
should Read.
Mr. OLIVER JOHNSON, then an associate
editor of Mr.. BLEcnERs on the Christian
linton, at the scandal trial was called ms n
witness for the accused pastor Mr.. JonN-
son testified to very little of Importance
the main part OF his evidence being direct
cd to the matter of Mr. 1ILToN's alleged
immorallies, on account of which, accord
ing to Mr.. Johnson. Mr.. BowEN dismissed
him from the HtdCI Hdtu
Mr. JouNsoN gave no testimony touching
his knowledge of Mr. BEE, HERS immorali-
ties. regarding which the public then had
and now has SO great concern. But the
form of action brought against Mr.. BEECH
Err enabled his counsel to hefog the issue
with inquiries rs 10 Mr.. TrlToN $ moral be-
havior, and they did not fail To avail them
selves of the opportunity to hep their
client with the jury by efforts to blacken
the reputation Of his accuser rs something
not TO bc damaged by II seducer who
should enter his own household.
What Mr.. JOHNSON failed to tell in court
regarding his knowledge Of Mr. BErcHER's
immoralities, about which he seems not to
have cared 10 speak, since he WAS in the en-
ploy of the accused pastor, the subjoiucd
letter, which five years ago he wrote to
NJ. Bowen in Mr.. TILION's behalf, very
emphatically says:
"lP.ruic and Conf',nH1il
"12s East lwEIrTH SrRErT. Jan. :, 1871.
MN. II. {. RowEN NJ Dtar sir: II Is stated
in various newspapers, and confirmed by public
rumor. that YOU have exnelcd Mr.. TnToN from
the editor.hip Of the Union. At lrst l stub
bornlv refused to believe these reports; but,
after hearing them from so mary quarters,
hegin t. think they must he true. The state
ment Is also passing from lip TO lip that YOU re-
fuse to fulHl the recuniary obligations assumed
in your contract with Mr.. TILToN, assigning as
the reason for SO dong your conviction that he
il an immoral man, &c. have neither seen
Mr.. TILToS, nor had any CO ninunication with
him for more than week. aud IN writing you
this letter act without his knowledge, and in
simI le obedience to my own sense OF duty as
his friend and yours.
AT the close ofthe inter view at your house On
| Christmas day, understood YOU to pledge your
word that YOU would do nothing respecting Mr..
1nToN-would take no step in tho matter
without consulting me. on this point AN sure
| | cannot be mistaken. II, therefore, you have
| done to Mr.. TILToN what YOU are reported TO
have done, have you not broken YOUR promise
Certainly YOU have not consulted me on TIC
subject since that day, oxccat 50 far a. to i,i-
| form me that you had heard fresh reports put
ting matters In a worse light. | was expecting.
from day to day, that You would seek my ad-
vice and therefore when the newspapers re.
ported that you had summary dismissed MIR. T.
from the Uuion,I coutradicted the story among
| my friends, believing that 1t could not possibly
| be true.
"In this matter I claim no right beyond those
which YOU voluntarily, ana without any -oHcita-
ton on my part, conferred upon me. You took
me into your confidence, and have never
sought, cyen 10y an inquiry or a hint. to elicit
from you anything beyond what you deliberately
chose to communicate. More ttan once, or
twice, did you say to me, ! sldt kcep siW; |
ictU MT more ruhoW U,iu dfcicf.'
What has occurred to change your purpose in
this respect, do not know. or course UNDER
stand YOU to be acting unon the belief. no doubt
sincerely entertained, that MI. IlLTON Is guilty
Of the charges made against HIM. Bu', even
upon that assumption. frankly confess that
your co re df you have done what rumor de-
clares) seems to me cruel, especially when con-
trasted with your conduct toward another man,
whom you say you hRow to have been extensive
Is guilt, Of the same offences. 1t seems to ms
that you shouG not have hardened your heart
against Mr. 7. in the same week that you
paid a high premium forapew in church whose
pastor, vou SAY, you know 10 be an adulterer. II
your Gctou toward Mr.. lIrT0S proceeds ouly
from sincere adherence ~ the offences with
which he stands charged, why do YOU take a
different course with y1Ir pastor? II you would
give the enc chance 10 recover himself, why
no, be equally forhearng 70 the otherf This
say on the assumption that Mr. T. IL guilty
but do not myself believe that he is half as
guilty as YOU suppose In short, | LAOig that
4 f.n f..ll fol
ana that malignant Persons are on his track,
with the intention - bounding him down; and
| thinE You have been. 20 some cxtent, the VIC
tim Of their machinat0us.
" Do you not rem cuil,r '1yingto me that In all
that you might do ia this case, you would be
> governed by d Sire 20 spare T, rom *
po-ute, and TO give Him a chance to recover him
; self t he wrong Aud yet hear people
/ say, on your alleged authority, that lie Is so b d
man that YOU can have nothing TO do with
, him An, Mr. DOVES, II Mr.. Il. Is n To be
your pastor, Mr.. r. cannot be unit to edit fol
you a secular Journal.
"You may say that the one has repented
while the other has not. But Mr.. H., since Il,
confessed TO you, has repeated his offence
lie may have convinced you that this ia not SO
, but If so, you are the victim Of a deception
You probably know something that do not Of
the charges against Mr. Triton but also know
something that YOU do not OF the evidence
against Mr. b.; and II he denies his guilt II
the after whereof he was accused in that
2 Christmas-ca, Interview at your house, he lies
= in face Of evidence that woui3 convict him "a Z
t court # justice. Ihdt eridence hdce sccn
, But would have you be merclful TO him
doing nothing to bring upon his head the odiun
Of an ungodly and relentless world. | want yot
! 20 be equally Kind and mercful to T., as ] feoi
you are not Your preclpitate action may lead
is likely to lead, to 70 rful consequences. H'
may have provoked you, but cannot forge
0 how harshly and anGrily you spoke to him al
I your own house, making him feel that you werC
@ not the teuder-heancd friend who would dea
v kindly ard generously with him, and to whom
: he might unbosum himself In fun confluence
. confcssinG wherein he had done wrong. You
hardness repealed hlm-.perhaps drove him Il
p n..sn hir,anll