New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-05
s,ru,,gcr thnn Election.
ouxcy, nl) Thursday, Oct, 3 1850.

Tpuru STRANGER Than FICTION.
The following are the circumstances which
caused it's publication. licensed Preacher OF
tho Gospel recently connected with the Theology
cal Seminary of Yale College, put into circulation
gross and disgraccful charge against friend
ond former pupil of the writer one which was
mt only destructive to the ladys character for
n,oaestv truth and honor, but which phethe5 true
Or folse made it imperative, according to the rules
of socal and ecclesiastical morality that the au-
.lax nv his own showing, should be excludedfrom
the society of gentlemen, avoided by ladies, and
elected from the pulpit.
Possessing agreeable social traits, and fortune,
which he spent freely for the enjoyment OF his
friends. this Young man succeeded IN 50 enlstlng,
mt only his companions, but his Theological In
etructors that by circulating his story, they made
themselves so amenable to the charge OF Siander,
that thew were obliged either to acknowledge
themselves in the wrong or to maintain that the
accusations against the lady rere true Ihey
.bose the latter alternative, and thus though still
claiming 10 be friends to the lady and her family,
+bev became the indersers Of this caumny, and 1t
was speedily circulated all over the land as so n"
dorsed
The brother of the lady then demanded of the
ecclesiastical body which had united with nm
self in licensing the young man, that ne should be
called to account the charge OF "caIumny,
faIsebood and conduct dishonorable to the Chris
tian ministry.
This body included the Theological Professors
implicated, aud thus being judges in their own
case they succeeded in obtaining a majority OF
one. which, while conceding that there was no
lyoof of the calumnious charges, affirmed that the
author orthem was not guilty either of falsehood
or conduct dishonorable to the Christian ministry
The minority, consisting Of the ex-President ofthe
College and most of the parochla1 clergy these
last also being, with one exception, the former
pupils of these Professors, entered protest
against these proceedings and as there was no
higher tribunal of appeal, no method OF ecclesas'
Sical redress renamed.
This renewed indorsing Of the calumny by so
many distinguished clergymen after protested
investigation, published, not only IN the secu-
}ar and religious papers, but in prroate circulars
sent to ladies and clergymen all over the land, in
which the lady'S name appeared antuH AS a mat
ter of course her profession teacher OF ladles
was ended, and herself and family publicly dis
graced There was no remedy tor this wrong nc
wav Of restoring her character and her professor
INT to do what was done in publishing the book
referred to. Nothing was needed but the truth as
therein set FORTH TO pr0cc the lady not only i'm
maculate in all the points where she was assalled
but that she is entitled to rank as distinguished
ornament other sex and her country.
Inasmuch as the renewed indorsing OF the ca
lumny and the greatly increased publicity were
owing to the brothers attempt to sustain the hon
or and purity of the ministerial profession, the
book was addressed to clergymen, with the hope
that IN some rag their influence might avail to re-
dress the wrong and the circulation Of the book
was purposely limited Had this hope been ful-
filed the work could have been suppressed
But failing in this, it was we'll understood that
q party which had not scruped to crush one wo
man. rather than to acknowledge themselves In
the wrong would attempt the same course toward
her defender. And thus it has come to pass that
the leading educators OF one sex are arraycc
against two ladies who are among the leading ed
ucators the other sex, and these are the prlncl
piles at Issue between them.
On the part of the ladies it is maintained, tina
attacks on female character like those involved l
ahis case are to be resisted and that submittin
in silence is treason to delicacy and honor; TT
umph of cowardce over the modesty aud dignit
OF womanhood making it certain that base me
will thus be encouraged to take every cruel &c
vantage of cOnsiding and delicate women, and the
seek to secure impunity by threats of fG(Sch00t
end pu6iac1tV, as done in the case in hand.
On the contrary, the gentlemen assume that II
is indicate and in bad taste for lady, or hel
friends, to do anything but submit in silence tc
such attacks on her character, whenever any mau
shall find it for his pleasure or interest to assam It,
On the side of the ladies it is claimed, that it is
inconsistent with the character of Il gentleman
and Christian and especially of a Christian Min
ister to make such attacks on lady, and that the
author of them should be banished from the socie
~ of honorable men and women, and banished
from the pulpit, Their opponents MAINTAIN the
IN ha1
personal and official influence, and the connected
influence of our largest University, to sustain the
social and clerical position OF the author OF such
an outrage on female character and sensibllitles
On the part of the ladies it is maintained that
the circulation of @npr0red charges against per
sons of fair reputation is SANDER, demanding both
social and ecclesiastical reprobation, while theii
opponents practically hold the position that men
at least in reference to ladies' and where CIVIL
does not protect are under no obligation to propf
any slanderous charges they may choose to crcu'
late.
1t is certainly proper that such allegations as
these against gentlemcn who for so long a time
have held so high place i'll public confidence
should be slow IN gaining credence; especially
when it has been maintained that the parties thus
implicated would present another view tthe case
But about halt q year has now elapsed since the
book was issued and 1t has finally been conceded
that these gentlemen have no counter statements
to offer This, of course, establishes the truth o.
the representations contained in the book by the
best possible evidence AS the only remaining
resort to those in the wrong. private methods have
been adopted to throw dlScredlt on the book and
the motives and conduct of its author, while X
pensivc means have been cmployedt to induce ed
tors not to notice tie 6ooh Among other unjust
fable methods, certain persons, protesting to be
personal friends of the author, have addressed
editors, representing that her family and friend;
disapprove of the publication of the work, and thai
it would be favor to the family ii editors woulo
refrain from noticing it,
1t is this step which has led the writer to th.
appeal And here she would state that, soon at
ter her father and brothers had read the book, sht
received assurance from them that they approved
of the step she had taken, while all the clergy
men, ladies and personal friends, whose opinions
most valuable to her, have been unanimous il
their expressions of appreciation.