American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-11-13
For THE WATCHMAN.

The i1fGftHlS.. - nave frequently
81 .ee ,he efforts that have been made to caaonize
40 New England Pilgrims" So grossly have
,hc;r merits been exaggerated, and so zealously
haye their virtues been blazoned forth to the world,
,bat tley have received unlescrved praise and OBJ
t.;ned a renown to which they are not entltled.-
am aware Of background upon which tread, and
The danger to which expose myself in thus spea-
lnr Of a class OF men to whom millions have been
TAUGHT to Look with reverence, and whose lives
have been referred to as the most perfect lustta-
,nn Of all the virtues that ennobe human nature,
which has been exhibited to the world since the
day, of the holy Apostles. While freely grant
tu these :. Pilgrims all the commentator and
sesnect which think they can justly claim, be-
eyc il to be the duty of every one TO assist in cor
r,ctinr Misrepresentation and in ditusing the truth
on this, as well as every other subject. lnfiuenc
I'd by such feelings | request you to publish the
following extract from the Warren, Rhode Island,
lCazette. FRIEND TO JUSTICE.
OUR ..piOUs" FoREFATHERs.
~. is deemed almost as great crime as sacrlege 70
Idonb, the pey Of the puanc settlers OF this country
3anl il may be well to reflect on The HE and manners OF
Ia people who have been dead Tor centuries ou y near
}aisrrled an, The assertion daily repeated that there III
ppopic on the face OF the globe Their equal TOT mo-
ar,y and virtue, The temptation to cnntradct Is h
soir power control The plymouth settlers cons erea
themselves prosecuted people, seeking wilderness wtfe
scy light saw their prayers their own way; indeed such
As The very fac-tey flying from the reach OF Those
wo wo set IN an nnwarraned dominion over the mrd
Abt III that did no make thema piors people, nor id
his tempt curb their opinion teach mem 70 respec
tie opinions Of others: the contrary they SET ioot up
on New Engaad with he determination OF esao,sh'ns
mir ovn doctrine at all events and 10 compel an wh
iul follow them the occa TO beleve as they di
And the SEQUEL slows that they did not ierent OF nor co.,
rect The error for hen Quaker showed hmeif among
hem they hanged him as The Jews did aman and when
unlAcky Bapts chanced to express an opinion among
kthen they denounced him TO his fourth geneiaton
}st Ms much rigour as the Catholics ever did round
HEADS In Short bious our tprefathers were, thev
brought all the eH which chirac crzed the followers y
lOver (romw H. and vented all the venom winch VIII nat
|qah arise in the breast of fanatic, upon those who DID
m walk according to the letter Of their crecd and wose
cnces had not We, Welded TO the evidence which
nvnced others Nor does it appear that these settlers
were nre honest IL their dealings with one another Than
cople arc at this day. The history OF those times shows
plainly that there was as great proportion o. Crime 'he
as there is now. :.
As pous AZ our fathers were, they swindled the Ind
ans n, of their possessions and said very te whaeF
they might have thought about It They hung OLD women,
because they could live breathe, aud have beg M
der water brought decrepit, grayared iemaes de on
NJ ,ws: murdered members 0f religious society be-
cause their communication simply yea, yea and nay
nav These the acts ct our pons foeiathcrs' ne
dnngs of men who prosecuted tor conscience SAKE
am, tf, home and country rather than be compelled to
renrm ceremony they thought improper or unnecessa
ary.
ndercnlent We are ever ready to admit But that they
were self wiled bigote aud spestous, IS an undenia-
be fact which Cannot be hid under the cloak Of pety y
MT because they believed he Quaker or the baptist
8guy NJ heresy that they hanisheti or hung hH y was
&hecansc thew were Jealous of his power; because they
did 10, like 10 see his socet, growing up among them
From that kind of pc,y which hangs folks, we pray TO
9 be Gesered.e