Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-05-12
From the Providence Journal,
LETTER
From Rev. IHr. Bowling.


Of today, lhai have given "ilrn"e To
the editor of that paper, by appearing
yesterday, with other clergymen, IN the
PROCESSION OF citizens To escort the Gov
ernor. lis surprise, however, appears
to be somew hni moderated IN NY case
because am an n.lislmnn, and there
! fore no wonder that | should wish Ia up
/ hold government under "A British char
ter. In respect to the offence OF being
an Engl,.hman, have only to remark
u that # 1t Is crime 10 be bornln England,
have many associates in the guilt, and
i have done what | can To atone for the
ll,iansgrcssiuu, by coming to a none IA
vored land, and making America the
| birthplace OF my children.
Il Coming as do from another land,
were To attempt, or 10 countenahce M
attempt, to overthrow the government
under which ! have sought an asylum,
my foreign origin might then be east al
me rs Il rcproach bu, when my influence
Is eXcr,ed TO uphold that government,
the arrow falls harmless AT my feet. Old
counlrymcn, so far from beng necessa'i-
\ ly la favor OF British charters or British
government, as the remark Of the En-
press seems to impIy,) generally leave
their own country because of the mus
lice, oppression, and enormous taxation
10 which they are exposed at home.
When they have iounG IA government al
most infinitely superior To that which
they have left, government which
affords them the protection OF good and
wholesome laws, ut a comparatively
nominal expense, for one, should deem
1t an i'npci'nrni and unwarronlabc in.
tcrierence, were to attempt, in any way
10 ovcnurn that goycI Dment under which
as II stranger and foreigner | had vol |
unfairly placed myself. by the way
| am not aware, that the editor Of the |
Express or h,s hiends made any com
plaint OF my being an Eng gishman, when,
some months ago, oiliclalcd as chaplain
at several Of their meetings, and, on one
occasion, wen, To Newport in that capa.
city, nor of Rev. Mr. Balch's "sulying
his clerical robes" when he took so ac-
tive part in the free suffrage cause. -
But, 10 refer To the old fable, when
"your bull cores my OK that's a diiicrcn,
thing altogether"
Some, perhaps, may think that offer
ing prayer a, the opening OF their meet
lngs, some months ago, and walking IN
the procession yesterday, were acts in.
consistent with each other. take this
opportunity, therefore, Of sa, ing that had
| supposed that any would ,hink, by |
praying for that body Of gentlemen,
thereby endorsed not only their past
but their future acts, should have paus-
ed n long time before | complied with
their request. | believe Mr. Editor,
that dellberaIive bodies ought to be
opened with prayer for divine direction,
and, had been requested TO ofliciac in
"A similar way al the Landholdcrs' Com
veniion, should have complied with equal
pleasure. In these remarks, have no
doubt, several others of The respectable
cIergymen GncIuding Rev. Drs Tucker
and Patiison) who Oiliciatcd ,on the same |
occasion, concur with myself
AT the same time, ! have no hcsta-
ton in saying, that, regarding the men
associated in the suffrage enterprise as "A
body Of American clIlzens, seeking for
themselves The full privileges Of citizen
ship, and determined 10 commit no breach |
.oi la,c, in pursuing this object, Of which |
determination regarded the sending for
clergymcn to open their meetings by
prayer, as sniicicnt guarantee, ] |
sympa,hIzcd in their object and wished
them success. Considering it, however,
unwisc and unbccoming for clergy men
To he political par;izans, avoided taking
sides, and refused TO vote for either
constitution, though waited upon at my
dwelling, by messengers on behalf of
both.
In reference to appearing in the pro-
cession yesterday, with other clergymcn,
when requested by committee to do so,
ut once consented, as ] had always
been in The habit Of doing while resid-
ing at Newport for three successive
years. 1t was not regarded, at lha, time, 4
an uDclerical act To walk in the process Il
sion escollIn. the Governor OF the State, \
nor do see any reason why it should be
so regarded now. i
| considered the act of walking in the
procession as nothing unusual t.; still, had
1t been the first time had ever done 81, Il
| should have done II now. Ever since |,
the time that public and notorious viola
tons of law have been committed, have Il
trcmbled ior the existence Of all law \
and have no longer regarded the qucs-
ton as question Of politics, but ques.
ton of morality not of suffrage or anti
but OF LAW or 40 LAW.
Wacn see Christians and members
Of Christian churches, whom ! esteem
and love, running into the Jaws Of ruin,
and exposing themselves to severe pen.
aliics Of violated law, | should deem
myself recreant to my trust as n watch
man upon the walls Of Zion, it | with
held any expression in my power to give
Of my regard for the laws. A. such AN
expression, / intended the act Of walking
IN The escort Of Governor King, the law
iul supreme magistrate Of this State. -
Should any oimy own congregation rem
der themselves liable To the penalty oil
violated law, without my having raised
the note of warning, | should regard my.
self as an unlaithiul watchman, and in
some degree accountable for the conse.
quences that might accrue to them
While, therefore, every man has a right
10 his own individual opinion, and !
would be the last To interfere with that
r'ghi,-l embrace tins opportunity OF
exhoriug my lcllow-ciiizens, and espc-
...ll ll.s a. r.. Il