The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-07

the Methodist Episcopal church, OF which have been
for more than quarter OF century neant minister
demands that should take notice OF very extra
ordinary letter of yours, addressed 10 the Albany Evening
Journal and copied from that paper into the New York
| Tribune.
II were well known personally and by character
in New York and the New England States, as am
within the bounds of my own conference should deem
any notice OF your attack upon altogether superuoqs
confess, that when my attention was first called to the
fact OF letter having appeared, which bore upon Its
face strongly marked, the design to cast odum upon me
and the Methodist Episcopal Church in this locality,
could scarcely bring myself to believe that member OF
Congress had so far forgotten what was due TO proprey
and TO his station, TO make wanton and unpro-
yoked attack, under erroneous impressions, when
the facts, both in regard to myself and my church,
when il might have been your pleasure 10 intenogate
me in regard thereto; for when you me, the time
alluded to, in 1.-THE OF the time which it took you to
write that letter, you could have learned from me the
acts and thereby have saved both yourself and the
trouble OF writing But, for reasons best known 10 your
self, you did not choose to inquire; and hence this
epistle.
| And / beg leave here to say that although have
been occasionally assaied by nymous iorersof that
class Of them who, in the language OF distinguished ju-
rist, share iconderfM facility at making Jdcs-yet,
IN all my intercourse with public men, you are the hrsl
man OF respectable position who assaulted me in
responsible form. And whether in after life when ''the
sober second thought arrives, this popularity in your
case will add either to your reputation, your selirespec
or your mental quiet shall not undertake at present TO
determine.
One thing, however is generally known to ord
mary men, and OF course better known to those who
represent the intelligence OF the American people e.
that the attempt to and cast odlum upon ministers
OF the Gospel OF peace Is very safe experiment Tor
the assailant as ministers commanded to be 'no
railing"
What feel myself compelled to write in this letter to
you, shall set down more in sorrow than IN anger
shall certainly not " set down aught in malice" am
plain man, you know with but few literary advan
tages-beng early life devoted not to literature but to
honest mechanical calling shall, therefore, with
out any attempt TO draw upon my Imagination or to use
what the writers rhetoric denomnate the eloquence
OF words, state fen facts by which the honest public
(who have no interest in being deceived will see show
PLAIN tale will put down your version OF the conneX
ion OF the Methodist church, and myself, with the fugl-
tive slaves at the railroad depot On the day alluded to
Baltimore railroad and did then and there some
colored persons in the car about to start for Bdmore
not "to Georgia. as you state in your letter was
there perform duty my wife and the small chill
dren, who starting visit to Baltimore, to spend
few days with widowed mother and other relatives
in that city, and whom business did not allow me to ac-
very fortunate, as, if had gone on with the train,
might have been taken demonstration strong that
had on to aid in taking Of and selling the slaves
was there, not "to sancty the act of taking off the
slaves "or 10 pronounce the parting blessing but sim
ply to do my duty as husband and father.
Being there and perceivng containing men, wo-
men, and children of color, whom / supposed were OF
the number of those who had attempted TO escape in the
pearl" concluded to go into the car-not to see 'hls
Slater, but TO inquire for brother Methodist with skin
good deal darker than those fney fomed and beautiful
females whom you supposed TO have but slight tnge
of African blood in their veins" Those females did
not specially observe; but did see, and shake hands
with very dark Methodist brother y and also with
muatto lad who called by name, and offered me his
hand-the former had been servant OF one OF my
neghbors and had been member of my pastoral charge
and the only one of my charge who was among the fu-
5ltives and he, as have learned, was so mortl
fed at being brought back in the "Pearn that he re-
fused TO remain with his former in Georgetown;
and was, therefore, reluctantly sold
You say that ''the Chaplain Of the Senate, a Methodist
brother entered the car, and took brother Methodist by
The hand chatted NTH him for short time and seemed
to riew tie heartrelding scene before him icl lle
concern as ne asoId look upon eatue do not know
uteher he came TO saney the act or pronounce The part
ing blessing" &c
country, well known as am in the city OF Washington,
that was competent for me to go into railroad car,
chartered by the owner to convey slaves to Bal
timore-where perfectly understood my own business,
and the uprghtness of my Intentions without being
justly liable TO have my motives mpugned an! my con
luct supervised by you.
have known some men attain to great responsibility
and wealth, by mndins their business; but :" busy
bodies q, other mems matters have never been since the
days of ST. Peter enved class The above and sub
sequen extracts from your letter, apart from the manifest
disposition to fling at the Methodist church. and to at
tribute to me hardheartedness and the worst OF motives
show plain ATTEMPT to bear false witness" q do no,
say designedly as ioW not impute corrupt motives TO
you)
You first say that the owner of the slaves is "Me
oyios Shareholder Of BALTIMORE and that she is mem
Der Of the Methodist church, IN good and regular stand
ng' 1t is not my place here to discuss the nature OF
>. business, Dut 10 lne lnlOTtna-
ton of the public, that he is not has he ever
been member OF the Methodist church, far
as my knowledge extends And say, furthermore,
that | have never known heard of a member CT
The Methodist church being engaged in the domestic
slave trade, either here further south, until heard it
through your letter. and you sir, have the unenvlable
responsibility of attempting SOLITARY and alone, TO cast
this mputaon upon the largest denomination of Chris
ans the United States, and not inferior TO any other
IN pety, usefulness, and responsibility
You say that 81 took my brother Methodist by the
hand, and Chatted with him for short time Any
| in reading your letter would conclude, in the absence
of any other statement that the dealer who had pur-
chased those slaves was particular friend of mine,
whom had come to the cars on purpose 10 vslt-to
'chat lcih' and ''to sanctfy his business" &c. Now
sir, what will the public think of you, when tell them,
as now do that did not even know that Mr. Slater
in the city, that he had been at all there since the
return of the "Pearf-that had supposed that those
slaves who had been Sold had been bought by the dealers
of Alexandria and Washington; and, consequently, l
had idea Of seeing the slaves at the railroad until per
my only object in going into the was above stated
to inquire for the coored man Henryan object which
avowed to my family before going into the Upon
entering, perceived the owner about midway the car ;
and approaching him, did not call him "a black
hearted villain, your coadjutor "North doe the
New York Globe under the same date your letter.
tand for the most part the rery toors Of your letter
nor did '}nish him ruth testimonials of their religious
character TO help the sale of them Georgia. he says
tempt TO fathom the depth Of the depavy that suggested
LTD shook hands with Mr.. s., (as am in the habit of
doing when meet persons black white, who even
slightly known to me- and as would do to "Big Thun-
der" if you should chance to introduce him to me, with
out supposng that thereby assumed any of his moral