Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-07
rcoxMuxIcArEp. ]

Continuation of the Reriesc Of .Arthur Tappan's
Letter to the .anii Slavery SeeTefory.
Upon the "pressnt principles and character
Of the Colonization Society" Mr.. Tappan, in
his Andover Letter.-as We have already stated
-had no leisure sufficient to enable him to touch;
except. indeed, Incidentally, while passing along
to other objects He has still, however, pro-
nouuced the .ssplendid scheme" according to
his 'sbelief." a device Of Satan-and. BY ne
cessary consequence, utterly "unworthy the pa
tronage Of the Christian public" Thus giving,
80 far a. his opinion or " Faith" could 90, with
out any special notice Of " principles and cha
raeter'-a distinct aad decided answer to the
query which had been proposed.
The process by which be arrives at this most
formidable M scare croW conclusion, in his own
mind. must not be passed over without a few cur.
sorry remarks. 1t is not BY any elaborate" IN
vestigstion Of the "principles' Of the Society.
nor any lucid development Of the prominent tea.
lures OF its 80 character" AT least, such would
seem to be the case. FROM his reply TO the enqui'
ry suggested, as well as from the snperaddra
fact, that, neither the one nor the other IS visible
on the face Of his production. If indeed BY the
term ocharacter,'' here used, is to be under.
stood the standing or reputation which the So
rietv ~sustaius in the estimation Of an immense
majority of the good and the great, and the no.
norab,e, in the United States, and perhaps in
Great Britain also, il was very Wise, considering
the object which he had before him. to say not a
single word about the matter. There was a time,
and il is doubtless remembered by multitudes,
when It's =. character" according to this defini.
ton. was down exceedingly t0U; and in which
the prediction that =. the day was not far distant
when it weuld be deserted BY every one who
wished to see a speedy end put TO siavsry"-had
i, been made by Mr.. I then, as it is now
might have s,oud a very lair chance of being We
Iifrd. But that period most Favorable to his
reputation rs a Prophet has very fortunately gone
bv: and it is much to br questioned. whether
there be q Benevolent Institution now in exist
ence, which bad arrayed against it such a furmi
dable hast Of prejudices and passions, and world
~ selfish interests. that now enjoys the esteem,
and love. and patronage Of an enlightened pub,
lie, so universally as this.
And il by the term "character" be meant
some general and rery obcious feature or quality
which The Society 6os had impressed upon IL,
during the process Of It's operations. | am very
Ear from perceivins that an. thing could be gain
ed which would have q favorable bearing upon
Nr. Tappan's present rie,rs. even then. Some.
thing has been hinted at. It is true, which has
been made 70 bear on these views; but whether.
in the estimation Of q mind which is IN the habit
OF considering things aside from feeling and pre-.
iudire. and which looks only to the tendency of
the general phoie, il ought to be regarded as
sufficient for that effect, is quite a different mat
ter, and one in relation to which We shall soon
have a few words to say. For the present, the
only statement necessary is simply the follow.
ing, - The character" Of the Society in all IFS
features, and in all the qualities that haze been
Impressed upon II. 10 fully and distinctly befure
the world. Concealment has never even been
affected, much less prdciised, in any single in
stance. Aud the same general remark IS equal
ly true in regard 10 the great aud fundamental
a. principles of the Society. He that runs
may read" and understand, both the one and
the other. An erwhelming majority of the
public-and Of the pery best, The most disfin.
guished. and the mast deeply and seriously re
fleeing part Of The pubic-has given a clear,
decided. and uneqaivocal testimony in favor Of
both. IL they are deluded'-(poor soulsI-
rs the letter writer most auihorifativelv declares
them to be, why there seems to be no help for IL;
at any rate, not until the aforesaid letter writer,
as in obvious duty bound, shall come out fully
with his light and undeceive them. But let us
come at once to that upon which we promised
to say a few words-,hat which seems to have
given such a direction and complexion to Mr..
Tappsn's "faiiA," and inquire, in passing along,
whether, in the view ct ordinary minds, il ought
to be regarded as sufficient, for that object. The
steps, in the process BY which we discover to
what a degree his feelings had tcarmea towards the
Society, are three: tina. is. he va. q ,carm friend
to il at the first, because he thought that it would
have an influence both in "christianizing Afri-
ca and in abolishing slavery in our own coun,
try."-Next, he becomes SO uarm as to De
maturing a plan 10 mind to Z" establish a line Of
packets between the Colony and New York
And finally, to Indicate the highest degree Of
,carmfh, he offered to subscribe 10 the SocIe.
~, on the plan OF 6. Smith, a thousand dollars
= year" Now, i, so happens-accidentally, per-
haps-tha, the steps down the ladder are three
also: ,aat is, his affections are cool. colder, cold.
es!.--CooL, because that came out at last, which
every one could have known by q single word of
enquiry at The first, and which, probably, all
knew at the first, that "ardent spirits we're al
lowed TO be sold at the Colony" Colder, be.
cause, in addition to ardent spirits, =. tobacco.
powder and ball, were leading articles of trade
at the Co,ony." Coolest, because he urrad
with some care the arguments Of that distinguish.
ed and fearless philahihropist, w. I. GarI;.o,