Republican Herald

To the Editor of the Republican Herald.

DEAR SIR—I find that you have introduced into the columns of your paper my name in connection with Elder James Burlingame's, and represented us before the public in a very unfavorable light, bringing grave and serious charges against us. Now, Sir, I would not wish to accuse you of any evil design in all this. I think, however, you have acted somewhat hastily,
and altogether upon wrong information, and when convinced of this that you will immediately make amends.

Elder Burlingame is a public man, the pastor of a Church which numbers 400 or 500 members and has always borne an irreproachable character—reputation to him, therefore, is dearer than life. As to myself, Sir, I am but a humble individual and cannot be affected so seriously by your publication; but still, justice is due to me.

As respects my letter which you have published, I do hereby exonerate and acquit Elder Burlingame of all participation therein—I had no dictation nor advice from him any way concerning it; so that in this respect you have certainly done him injustice. As to the charge of using his clerical influence among the members of his Church at the August election, it is denied wholly and totally, or threatening to do so.—

If he had done this at all it must have been among the Administration members of his church, of which there is a large number, and among them men as honorable and respectable as any in the community.—If he has done this, it would be the easiest thing in the world to prove it—We challenge his opposer to produce the affidavit of a solitary individual of this class who has received a syllable of advice from him in regard to his voting.

There has been a storm of persecution raging for some time past, against Elder Burlingame, of a most ungenerous and unreasonable nature, and I am sorry to say that it evidently appears that some of the leading men of the administration party have lent a helping hand to carry it on, and I think it is manifest to all that they have injured themselves if not their party by so doing. My apology for writing the letter which you have published, is this. I thought, Sir, that a fair opportunity offered to rebuke these men for their illiberal and ungenerous conduct, and I advised to this course. But I did not write without proper information on the subject and I wrote nothing but the truth.

I hereby present you with the affidavits of Ambrose Walker, Martin Kelley, Israel Wilson, Caleb Waterman and Benj. F. Carpenter, to prove the truth of the statements contained in my letter.—They are all good, substantial freemen, as candid, as honorable and as respectable as can be found in this community or any other. You have declared that your columns were open for a reply—You have called upon me to come forward and vindicate my fame—Will you therefore have the goodness to publish the above in your paper,
together with the affidavits I send you, and oblige Yours,

SAMUEL R. HOPKINS.
Coventry, Oct. 10, 1839.

To whom it may concern:
I, Caleb Waterman, of Coventry, being of lawful age, do testify and say: That on the 25th day of August, 1839. I called on James A. Fenner, in company with Benjamin F. Carpenter; that I stated to Mr. Fenner, in substance, that as I had heard a report that he had said that Elder James Burlingame had been guilty of lying; and as I was in the habit of hearing him preach, I wished to know the truth of the matter. I then proposed to him the following questions:

Did Elder Burlingame deny saying that he could and would make five votes difference against you at the next election?
Mr. Fenner answered that he did.

Did Mr. Fairbanks say that Elder Burlingame said, that he could and would make five votes difference against you at the next election?
Mr. Fenner answered that Mr. Fairbanks said that Elder Burlingame said, that if I persisted in opposing his having the post office, he could and would make five votes difference against me, if I came up for office. Mr. Fenner farther stated that Mr. Fairbanks had seen Elder Burlingame several times, and given him opportunity to vindicate his character if he chose, but he had never attempted it, and he must be guilty.

Mr. Fenner also said that Elder Burlingame denied taking any part in politics, but that he went to town meeting and voted on the whig side; and used his influence on that side.

CALEB WATERMAN.
Kent, ss. at Coventry, this 12th of Oct. 1839.
Came before me Caleb Waterman, signer of the above and made oath to the truth of the same.
STEPHEN WATERMAN.
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

To whom it may concern.
I, Benjamin F. Carpenter of Coventry being of lawful age do testify and say. That on the 24th day of August 1839. I called on James A. Fenner in company with Caleb Waterman as in his affidavit is stated: That I heard the conversation therein related, and have perfect recollection of every part thereof.

BENJAMIN F. CARPENTER.
Kent, ss. at Coventry this 12th of Oct. 1839.
Came before me, Benjamin F. Carpenter, signer of the above and made oath to the same.
STEPHEN WATERMAN,
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

To whom it may concern.
I, Ambrose Walker, of Coventry, being of lawful age, do testify and say. That some time in June last, I think when we were working our highway tax on the road, Mr. James A. Fenner, in conversation with me, endeavored to make it appear that Elder James Burlingame was a hypocrite, and a man on whom dependence could not be placed for truth and veracity.

Question by Elder Burlingame.
What did Mr. Fenner say, to make it appear that I had lied?
Answer by Ambrose Walker: Mr. Fenner said that he had seen Mr. Fairbanks, and that he could prove by him that Elder Burlingame had said that he could and would make five votes difference against him, the said Fenner, and that he had denied to him having said so. And I heard him the said Fenner repeat the same in substance several times. Mr. Fenner said likewise that Mr. Fairbanks had seen Elder Burlingame several times and he had had opportunity to clear himself, but had not done it, and he believed he was guilty.

Question by Elder Burlingame.
What did Mr. Fenner say to make it appear that I was a hypocrite?
Answer by Ambrose Walker. Mr. Fenner said that Elder Burlingame said, that he had nothing to do with politics, while at the same time he was working against him.

AMBROSE WALKER.
Sworn to, before me, this 12th day of Oct. A. D. 1839.
CALEB WATERMAN.
Justice of the Peace.

To whom it may concern.
I, Martin Kelley, of Coventry, being of lawful age, do testify and say. That last June, I think when we were at work on the road, I heard Mr. James A. Fenner, in conversation with Ambrose Walker, in which he endeavored to make it appear that Elder James Burlingame was acting a hypocritical part as a Minister of the Gospel, and was not to be depended upon as a man of truth.

Question by Elder Burlingame.
What did Mr. Fenner say to make it appear that I was a hypocrite?
Answer by Martin Kelly. Mr. Fenner said that Elder Burlingame pretended to have nothing to do with party politics and at the same time he was busily meddling with it.

Question by Elder Burlingame.
What did Mr. Fenner say to make it appear that I was not a man of truth?
Answer by Martin Kelley.
Mr Fenner said to Ambrose Walker, in my hearing, that Elder Burlingame had denied what he told George Fairbanks, about making five or six votes odds against him, if he opposed his having the Post Office. Mr. Fenner also stated that Mr. Fairbanks had seen Elder Burlingame several times and he had had opportunity to dispute it, but had not done it; and it was evident he was guilty.

MARTIN KELLY
Sworn to, before me, this 12th day of Oct. A. D. 1839.
CALEB WATERMAN
Justice of the Peace.

To whom it may Concern:
I. Israel Wilson, of Coventry, being of lawful age, do testify and say:
That Mr. James A. Fenner and Mr. Silas M. Field were at my Store some time in June last. and had a discourse about Elder Burlingame, Joshua Wells and the Post Office, &c. and I thought they appeared too hard against Elder Burlingame.

Question by Elder Burlingame. Did it appear to you by the conversation of Mr. Silas M. Field and Mr. James A. Fenner, that by the Stories they told about Elder James Burlingame, and their conversation that they designed to make it appear that he, as a man and a minister of the gospel, was not according to his profession, not to be depended upon.
Answer by the Subscriber: It did.

ISRAEL WILSON.
Kent, ss. at Coventry, Oct. 9th 1839,
Personally appeared the above named Israel Wilson and made Oath to the truth of the above affidavit before me:
CALEB WATERMAN. Justice of the Peace.