The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-03-13
CORRESPONDENCE.
A Personal Explanation from Mr.. Robin
son.

A Personal Explanation from Mr.. Robin
son.
BENNINGToN CENTRE, March 10, 1890.
Mr.. EditOr;-NOw that | have been
"yindicaIed" and can write without be
ing charged with trying TO get an office,
even the honorable one OF selectman OF
Bennington, l wish to ask space OF you
to set forth my relations with the editor
of the RefOrmer, Jas. H. Livingston. /
do not deem il necessary on my own &C
count, but to satisfy many Of my friends
who have wondered at my silence dur
ing the wears Of vile abuse that has been
heaped upon me by Mr.. Livingston IN
the use of such epithets as "Alf rob-the-
town." "a nonen'ity In the board OF
selectmen," MARY Alfred's husband,
and many others equally "hlghtoned'
and gentlemanly. have lived IN Ben
ningIon over fifty years, and have al
ways tried to do honestly and faithfully
every duty that has been laid upon me
and have never doubted for moment bu
hat it's citizens would do me exact Jus
zee. know the hearts OF this peOph
md have always known that l coulo
rust them fully with my reputation
That nv faith was well founded, II
-hown by the result of the last town
meeting, did not ask that my nam
be put on any ticket, nor ask any per
son to vote for me. l desire to thank
nv friends who 30 kindly gave OF tbei
me, and who labored 30 efficiently IL
my behalf. l shall always remembe
hem with gratitude. But to nv mar
rarive. ] took the Vermont Gazette an
then the Reformer, paying regularly #"
the same. When MIR. Livingston wished
to buy the plant of Messrs. Davenport
he asked fourteen or fifteen men TO en-
dorse his note, for one hundred dollar
each, myself among the others. | DR.
chned but did not learn that any ba'
blood was created. In the fall OF 1884
nv brother Frederick died in Whining
ton. N, G. The Gazette and RetOrmer
had been sent to hun Tor several years
He had not subscribed and supposed
.ome of his Northern friends had sem
him the paper. AS | was about to re-
uru Tome from the funeral, my sister
ln-Iaw asked me to call and stop the pa
per and settle the account If anything
was due, and on my return l went to tn
office, MIR. Livingston was out, and
-nuuired of Mr.. Wood, his partner as
understood, the state OF the account
He told me, and the amount beinl
larger than l expected, l told him
would write and see if my brother ha'
left any receipts, and also told him It
stop sending the paper, and | would pay
whatever proved to be due. wror'
about the receipts and some tim
ELAPSED. and although passing the Off
| onh MIR Law
inrston often, l was surprised one da!
to recei 2 the following letter ,o,-
"BENNINGToN Vt, May 90, 1885.
"Alfred Robinson, Esq MY DEAR SIR
w nave been sending the RefOrme
to f G. Robinson, Wilmington, N. &
since 18th November 1880. and III
; AMOUNT due to date is so 90. The pape
IA now refused and the bill remains uD
paid. | understand that the subscribe
was brother of yours-recently DE-
ceased. and would like to know of yo
! what course to pursue in collecting tn
4: bill. 1t would b. disagreeable t" be OF
+: uped to add this name to black list "
are preparing for publication. If IN
/. family is poverty stricken, we will DE-
nate the bill, otherwise we shall enforc
collection one way or another. Nav
near from YOU, Verv truly,
81 H. LIVINGSTON"
b. This letter l thought under he eli
cumstances was very ungentlemanl
+ and mean, but this was surpassed i
u brutality BY one which he addressed o
the same date to my brother (whom b
said in the letter to me was dead), an
" hich fell into the hands of his wido'
= Dnunh and Whlp
reads az follows
! "BENNINGNoN, VT, Nav 20, 1885
} F G Robinson Esq, Wilmington
N. C.:-MY DEAR SIR II am IN receiI
:, # notice from the postmaster at YOU
ulace, thot YOU refuse to take the II
;, former. Now you are in arrears for ID
RefOrmer from 10Th November, 1880
he present date, which at So a yea
= amounts to 50. THIS must be paid or
}. aha send the bill to be sued. l ha1
! also written to Alfred Robinson at Be-
K nington Centre for an explanation
When it is found that cannot collie
your subscription, your name VIII g
INTO the black list as a newspaper ded
4 beat and be published.
= Every truly,
T u. H LIVINGSTON, Pub"
On the receipt of these letters. wei
g 20 the RefOrmer office and settled u
d hill against my brother, and paid IN
= own account amount to twenty-bH
t cents, took receipt, and thus ended Il
I, business and personal relations with NJ
Livingston. The attacks upon me fo
r lowed with great regularity, but al
+ not aware that they harmed me muci
| Al. L. IL.
! If my friends, going as they sometime
Z lid, where l was not known.
n With regard TO my official caree
s. which hope to De allowed to end tn
= year, would say, that | was electe
:, own treasurer, one year, and have bee
ID lected twelve consecutive years as or
:. 4 the board of seleclmen, ana l 10"
! back over these years. although COZ
= cinus OF many shortcomings, with
: great deal of pleasure, having been ASS
ciated with a large number OF honoI'
z. ble and capable gentlemen, and alwa!
Al with the most friendly relations and
II rust and believe retaining the respe
B. of every one.
l. The contrast in the condition of tow
h ,ffairs now, with what it was twel'
n wears ago ia very gratifying, and r
Il joce that have been permitted to be-
l. nme humble part in bringing it abou
!! At that time the Indebtedness OF Il
d own was over S287 900, as reported
ID he auditors. On The first Of Februar
a. 1890, il was $200,5l4 rs. of which $Sl
278 33 is IN the four per cent. bond
which are being paid as they mstur
and the interest, as we'll as that on u
t" railroad bonds being paid semi-annuall
Il Now, we have no floating debt, our b.
r are all paid, our roads and bridges
1t good condition, our poor are WI
DE- warmed and fed, our laborers are WI
H. mployed, and there seems to
Id no reason why we should not as tow
IN 20 on prospecting and to prosper.
Id beg pardon for feeling obliged
1e write so much that is personal to m
liz srlf. have done so only for the reas
< Dove stated; promise not to do 80 al
y more. Very truly yours.
u ALFRED (not All now ROBINSON
Pr Another Word for Vermont.
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