Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-09-29
For the Ohio Star,


my opinion merits animadversion. The de-
sign OF the writer seems to be, if under
stand it, to shield Garrison, Douglass, Eos.
ter, q Co., who have lately been among
US, from the severe rebuke and condemna
ton which their reckless and disorganizine
proceedings so richly merit. The writer
makes his "appeal 10 men who are animal
ed by sincere spirit Of reform, but wht
are much troubled at the errors of those
who are laboring with them in this aboli
ton cause" profess to be one of tha
class to whom this appeal is made-l an
"much troubled at the errors" Of the "nt
Government" ""non-voting, ""anti.church'
disorganizers, and none the less, since read
ing the article in question. am troubled
because they are propagating, with some
success, doctrines which are dangerous ane
fatal in their tendency, and l, for one, feel
no disposition to shield their heresies from
reproach and condemnation, because they
have seen fit to couple them with the So
cred cause Of freedom. The writer quotes
in their behalfthe familiar expression, that
''error is to be tolerated while reason is left
free to combat it." The truth of this terse
apothegm, / am not of course about to dis
pute. But will ask what is meant by It'll
1t simply means that men are not to be re-
strained by violence orby law from the full
expression and promulga,ion Of their opin
ions. So far, and no farther may error be
tolerated, and reason, and not brute force,
may enter the lists with it and overthrow
it. But because error is to be left thus free
for the combat Of reason, it does not follow
that we are bound to succor, countenance
or sustain errorists, or shield them from the
just consequences Of their doctrines, lest
iorsooth they should be debarred from the
enjoyment of privilege. They may en-
deovor to propagate their errors as far as
they can secure hearers or readers, but it
does not follow, that we, who look upon
their course as ''absurd," and clearly see
its evil tendency, are so far bound to tole-
rate their errors, as to contribute Of our
substance to their support, to invite their
presence, or their lectures among US, to aid
in getting up and arranging meetings for
them to spread forth their errors, to pur-
chase their publications, or to subscribe for
their periodicals. We have done all that
can be asked of US when we leave them in
the enjoyment of free speech, to the naked
combat of reason, without yielding in any
form, our countenance, encouragement or
support.
Let me illustrate. Suppose am a whig.
The dogmas of the democratic party are
full of error. AS whig should not be
bound so far to tolerate their errors, as to
invite foreign emmissaries to hold meetings
among US as propagandists of political her.
Isles, should not be bound to welcome
hem TO my freslde, to contribute money
o their support, or to subscribe for their
newspapers. Nor should be bound, be.
'ause along with their errors, they should
profess warm attachment to the constitu-
ion, and to free republican government,
write newspaper article to shield these
rrors from denunciation, for the reason
hat oil men are imperfect and liable to err,
nd quote in their behalf Mr.. Jeferson's
amous apothegm above cited. Again.
should be bound as n member of the
hurch, so far to tolerate error, as to well
ONE to my 6reside, and throw open the
oors of the church for Robert Dale Owen
nd Fanny Wright to denounce the church
nd endeavor to PROSTATE it, because they
rofess to have in view the best interests
nd happiness of mankind? And yet this
ritter says:
"We care not what may be the peculiar
pinions Of any man upon this (abolition)
1bject. If from the moniions of con-
;ience he is IN earnest laborer in the
ause of humanity, and eagerly pressing
'rward in the pursuit Of truth, whntever
ay be his doctrines, he entities himself to
II respect, and according to the faith in
hch we have been bred we are bound to
lerate his opinions"
Is this true? Is this sound doctrine? Is
of no consequence 'what may be the Pc {
'liar doctrines of any mana" eff from the |
onitions Of conscience" even, he is follow
6 vain delusion, and propngating error
the land, is it indeed true that she enti- I
IS himself to our respect, ""whatever may
his doctrines2" A strange dogma this! 1
oppose that Garrison and his coadjutors,
stead of preaching up the necessity Of a. {
fishing the American Government and Of t
olishing the American Church, in order I
abolish American Slavery, should be a