VINDICATION OF THE REV. HENRY SLICER'S CHARACTER FROM THE ASSAULTS OF JOEL G. SEVER, OF LOUISIANA
1852 · NP [Frederick, MD?]
by [Slicer, Rev. Henry]
NP [Frederick, MD?]: np, 1852. Newspaper broadsheet, 60 x 45 cm., 2 pp. Headline in display type, closely printed text in seven columns on each side. Some chipping and loss to outer corners, some separations and breaks along old fold lines affecting some text. Still a legible copy recording the dispute between Rev. Henry Slicer of Frederick, Maryland and Joel Sever [also spelled Sevier in the text.] Three small ads follow the end of the final column of text, one for the opening of the eleventh session of the College of St. James, Washington County, Md. in October [1852], one a Quynn & Ritter ad for the sale of molasses, and one an ad for kegs of nails for sale by A.H. Hunt. The first two columns of this broadsheet print the character attacks Joel Sever made against Rev. Slicer "before a Whig meeting, held in the Market House, immediately in front of Mr. Slicer's office, on Saturday afternoon, September 25th, 1852." Sever had come to town as a member of the Whig National Convention to address the Churubusco Club, supporters of Gen. Winfield Scott's campaign for President. Sever stated that Slicer, a Democrat, had accused him of being expelled from the ministry of the Methodist Church for improper conduct. Sever refuted the allegation saying that he had been for many years a representative of the State of Louisiana whose Constitution does not permit a minister to be eligible for office. He in turn accused Slicer of having been "expelled from the Chaplaincy [of the Senate] by the casting vote of Mr. Fillmore," and of "desecration of the sacerdotal robes." The remainder of the text is Slicer's response, including printed letters and other evidence that Sever is of questionable character.
Though there is no publication information on this broadsheet, a New York Times article published on Oct. 2, 1852, mentions the difficulties between the two gentlemen, stating that Mr. Slicer's would most likely be published by the Frederick 'Examiner': "We did not attend the meeting, but as a practical reporter, Mr. Gobright, was present on the occasion and took down the remarks of the Reverend gentleman, it is probable that they will soon be laid before the public."
OCLC lists four copies of a pamphlet version of this "Vindication": Library of Congress, Newberry, LSU, and Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. We found no listings for this broadsheet printing, which contains at least one printing variation from the pamphlet. The date of a letter from New Orleans introduced as evidence by Rev. Slicer is printed as Nov. 15, 1852, the pamphlet corrects it to 1850. (Inventory #: 61575)
Though there is no publication information on this broadsheet, a New York Times article published on Oct. 2, 1852, mentions the difficulties between the two gentlemen, stating that Mr. Slicer's would most likely be published by the Frederick 'Examiner': "We did not attend the meeting, but as a practical reporter, Mr. Gobright, was present on the occasion and took down the remarks of the Reverend gentleman, it is probable that they will soon be laid before the public."
OCLC lists four copies of a pamphlet version of this "Vindication": Library of Congress, Newberry, LSU, and Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. We found no listings for this broadsheet printing, which contains at least one printing variation from the pamphlet. The date of a letter from New Orleans introduced as evidence by Rev. Slicer is printed as Nov. 15, 1852, the pamphlet corrects it to 1850. (Inventory #: 61575)