Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-04
rcoMMuNIcArEp.
A Reviep of Arthur TaRpan's letter to the I'm

A letter. sent to the Secretary Of . very d.
miuutive Anti Slavery Society 10 the Theology.
cal Seminary of Andover, and evidently design
ed for publication, has recently appeared in Sc.
yeral papers, rejecting, in no softened terms and
in no slight degree, upon the nsotires. objects and
measures, Of the Society for Colonizing Free
People Of Color, with their own consent, on the
Coast Of Africa. This letter WAS written by Ar
thur Tappan, ESQ.,, Of the City OF New York
a name welt known in the religious world, and
intimately associated with the operations Of al
most every benevolent institution OF the Presen'
age. Whatever, therefore, emaaates IRON sucn
a source. is not only entitled to some respect
but possesses claims To q very prompt cr"es''
and disnasSionate attention: because few are dis
posed 10 call in question the motives OF such
man. no matter what may be the tendency OF MS
remarks. while. with the multitude. name
which is identified with such group oil noble
charities is very apt to exert an influence th0us
and fold greater than what might De expected
from another. even though accompanied with the
most luminous process OF rational deduction
A circumstance, by the way, which imposes very
high and very awful responsibilities; and which
ought 10 induce any man maintaining such all at
titude, and sustaining such relation to society.
TO be extremely cautious, lest-speakins and
writing without reflection, and without the ne
cessary amount Of light aud Information to in
duce a well grounded convic,ion,-he happen to
produce the unholy effect Of fostering prejudice,
aud even give direction to the pubic mind.
neither countenanced by the decisions Of right
reason, nor sustained BY the precepts Of that Di.
vine Religion, which, above al! things, he may
profess to love.
Aud this is one prominent ground OF COM
plant, which the friends Of the Colonization
cause are constrained to notice. in the above let
ter. An enquiry had been made Of Mr. TspPan
and made. too. by persons ~hO evidently re-
posed great confidence in has opinions. and who
as certainly inteadcd to make use of them for
the purpose Of effect upon the mind OF the public
-. whether, with its present principles and cha
racter, the Colonization Society Was worthy the
patronage Ut the Chri-tsn pub'ic"?-an enquirr,
by the way, which the init Napery Secretary
had the means Of answering quite as ample as
those which were possessed by Arthur Tappan,
ESQ. Now what is the reply which is returned
10 this very grave question, expedited with 81
much formaiity to the City Of New York; 1t IL
simply this: "My engagements do not admit o.
my giving an elaborate answer to this enquiry,
or explaining at length my views Of the Colon
zation ct."-And then soes on to state,
what wonderful friend he had once been to tina,
"proipc,.' and what strenuous teLdgereni
he now is against il. But surely. it such were
the fact, that the nature 81 his engagements were
80 pressing as TO preyen' him giving PLAIN and
dispassionate development OF Gis views IN rea
ton to the tendency of the " COLONIZATION pro
ject," together with the convincing reasons Of
his opposition to il. ought not common discre
ton, religious principle, aud Christian charity.
to have combined their influence iu constraning
him to stop short at the very natural and obvious
point Of stating that facte Was it lair. was i,
candid, was it in good keeping with professed
desire for the prevalency Of correct sentiments.
and upright principles Of actinn. to have written
another sentence embodying opinion. without the
reasons for that opinion tally and ingenuously
expressedf-mOre especially, when the simple
isoia'ed opinion Of such naan might very pos
sibly exert an amour, Of influence With certain
individuals far more weishty than fifty solid ar
guments coming from another9 Most men would
imasine. that where no good could be said
without the violation OF conscience, even The
i0hisper of harm ought not to be INDUCED. with
out full aud lucid exposition Of the Uhy ant
the wherefore! II is true, that, under his re
sponsibilities Of moral agency. every man has
right to form what opinions he pleases; nur ha
any other class Of individuals the right to restra
him in their honest and temperate exhibition. -
But where, from the peculiar circumstances o
the man, that exhibition might bear injuriousl
upon great public institution OF Benevolence-
one iu the prosperity Ut which tire ardent desire
Of so many good men are enlisted and in tn
success Of which the vital interests of two cou
tnents are believed to be invol.ed-in such
case. the Eatr of conscience, at least, ought I
induce the man to pause; and IL he have no tim
to give his weiehty reasons, should he hav
such,) justice and charity would dictate that h
say nothing at all.
But it seems that Mr.. Tappah's "engage
ments," which were TOO pressing to - admit'' @
giving reasons, or an " elaborate answer" to III
enquiry made. left him ample time for the ez
preston Of his individual opinions. and a fin
opportunity for i'.pugning the motives Of som
Of the very best aud most hoaorable men OF th
present age. And he avaed himself Of il. -
Hear him: 81 was soon led to ask myself whs
Their this splendid scheme Of benevolence Il. g
the COLONIZATION project- was not devic
of Satan, TO rivet still closer the letters Of III
slaves, and deepen the prejudice agains, the fire
coiored people: now believe it is. and that
had its origin fmark that,) in the single mott,