The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-07-18


SILVER Burr, S. C., March u, 1916.
Sir In MY letter to you Of the 2sth January which
had lost your circular letter after had to
hand. II was, am glad to say only mislaid and has
withna few days uncovered Asecond perussl OF
it induces to my pen. Unwilling to trust my
recoections from single reading, did not in my last
and meet directly the points made and the terms
used thought it better to take general view OF the
subject which could not fail to traverse your most mate
vial charges am well aware, however that for fear
of being tedious, omitted MANY interesting topics alto
gether and abstained from complete discussion Of some
of those introduced. do not propose to exhaust
the subject; which it would require volumes to do but
without waiting to learn-whch may never do-your
opinion OF what have already said sit down supply
some of the deficiencies of my letter Of January, and
with circular before to reply to such parts of
as have not been fully answered "ty - tt
1t is iperceye, addressed among others to " such
have visited the Southern staes Of this coniede
racy and processes enghten their ignorance OF the
actual condition OF the poor slave in their own
try cannot help thinking you would have displayed
prudence in continuing the circulation Of letter alto:
gether to such persons You might then have INDUCED
with IMMUNITY in giving, you have done picture Of
slavery drawn from your own excited Imagination,
from those impure fountains the Martneaus Marryatts
Troilopes and Dickenses who have profed by catering
at expense, to the jealous sensibies and dcbauch
ed tastes q your Admiting that you are
sions of it, as Iddl now think rather broadly in my
former letter what you know OF the true condition
of the ''poor slave" here am not aware that you
have visitedihis country, the West Indies
Can you suppose that because you have devoted your
life to the investigation OF the subject-commencng
under the influence of enthusiasm melancholy OF
first and volcanic afterwards to be nothing short OF
MISUNDERSTANDING 1t as ren OF idea do every
thing with the single purpose Of establishing your
view OF tgathering Information from discharged
seamcn disappointed Spectators factious politicians
visionary reformers and scurrous tourists-opening
your to every species of complaint alton
and iasehood that interested ingenuity could invent and
never for moment Questioning the truth of any thing
that could make for your you suppose that
all this has qualified you living the while in England, to
form approximate towards the formation of
opinion OF the condition of slaves among US know
the power of selidelusion have not the least doubt
that you think yourself the very best informed alive
this subject, and that many think likewise. So far
facts GO after deducting from list great
deal that is not fact, will not deny that probably your
collection is the most extensive in existence. But
the truth in regard to slavery there is not adult
this region but knows more OF 1t than you do. Truth
and fact are, you aware, by means SYNONYMOUS
the hundredtb, added alone, gives the truth With all
your knowledge OF facts undertake to that you
entirely and grossly ignorant OF the real condition OF
slaves. And from all that can equally ig
norn of the essential principles of human association
revealed in history, both sacred and proane, which
slavery rests, and which will perpetuae it for in
some form other However you may declam against
it however powerfully you may array atrocious incl
| dents whatever appeals you may make to the heated
maginatons and tender sesbilities OF mankind believe
total blindness to the hole truth, which alone
constitutes the truth, incapacitates you from max
ing impression on the sober reason and sound com
mon sense of the world. You may seduce thousands
you can convince no one. Whenever and wherever you
or the advocates of your the passions
OF the weaA-minded and the ignorant and bringing to
bear with them the interests Of the vicious and
Pled overWhelm common sense and reason--as God
sometimes permits to be done-you triumph. Such
triumph we have witnessed in Great Britain. But