Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-10
s. NJ. %Janney's Letter.

Owing to IN oversight, the following note
which should have accompanied the letter OF
S. NJ. Janncy, published in last weeks Bugle,
was omitted. As it explains the motives which
prompted him to the course he pursued in tho
Yearly Meeting, relative to J. A. Dugdale's
discourse, and to the Green Plain and Waterloo
epistles, we think that justice to him requires
that we should publish it, especially as it places
his conduct in a light different from that in
which many Friends in Ohio have heretofore re-
garded it.
Many who were present, and heard friend
Janney express a desire that J. A. Dugdalo
might not Uninterrupted in his remarks supposed
this desire to originate in a willingness on his
part that as the meeting was a public one, any
person who felt called upon to do so, should be
allowed to speak tho convictions of his mind
rather than from a desire merely to avoid q
"scene of confusion And in relation to his
proposition, that the epistlcs referred to should
be read, many Friends gave him credit for a de-
sire-or at least a willingness-to listen to the
honest sentiments and advice, even of persons
who had adopted rules of discipline somewhat
different from those which he might think the
best; and not, as his note implies, from a con-
viction that the reading of them would be a
less euil, than that of two or three days unpro-
ftable discussion.
His explanation docs not, we confess, I'M
crease our former high opinion of friend jan
ney's ibcrality of spirit; though it will doubt
less be satisfactory to many whose high opin-
ion he values more than he does ours.-J. p.
From Friends Weekly Intclligenccr.
A paper has Just heen handed me containing
an account of OHIO Yearly Meeting, held at Sa-
lem, which appears to require some notice in
order that Friends may know my true position
with regard to that portion of the Society in
Ohio who call themselves the reformers.
1t is true that l did request that J. A. Dug
dale might be permitted to proceed, but it was
not until after he had been requested by some
to sit down and by others to go on, when / APP
pretended a scene OF confusion, and thought it
better to suffer than contend. His discourse at
that time was begun in a most unpropitious
manner by quoting an expression OF Napoleon
Bonaparte's, that there is only a step from tho
sublime to the ridiculous" and the whole tenor
Of his remarks was unsatisfactory to me. Icx-
pressed to him in a private interview my dcci-
ded disapprobation OF his course in being pre-
SCit, dill IunlIAB MI dSlNC pdI6 III JIt,t 1ctIly
Meeting. AS to the epistles from tie Congrc-
g~ational Friends, l thought it better under tho
circumstances to read them and take no action
upon them, than to consume two or three DAYS
in unpro titable debates but 1 stated distinctly
as my view. that we could not with any adyan-
tagc correspond with n body so different from
ours in its organization and mode of action.
l thought, as there was a considerable num-
Der Of Friends there in favor OF reading them,
a refusal might increase the already painful
state Of excitement.
If those who are called resormers, really
think, as some of them assert thcy do, that the
Society of Friends is standing in the way of
human progress, and that its discipline is radi-
gsSy Digestive. my desire 10 chat they may DO
leit at liberty to do all the good they can but
after having set up a Society of their own, it is
certainly very improper for them to claim a
right among US to the disturbance of our meet
ings.. There are among them many whom 1
highly esteem. and although we differ in our
views l trust that I shall always treat them with
courtesy and kindness.
Tenth Mo-, 4th, lS4o. S. NJ. JANNEY.