Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-05-02
rrum the National Era.
To Tho Hon. Daniel Webster.

DEAR SIR: Your reflections upon fanatics
are ingenious, and in the main. Just Fanatics,
nDon a small scale, are especially annoYng.-
They interrupt the current OF human opinions,
without turning the channel or enlarglng its
bounds. But the evolution OF single idea,"
when 1t lies at the foundations OF society and
government, l.; one Of the boldest, most useful,
and glorious, If human achievements. The
great battles Of human freedom and true morals
have been won by just such men as you de-
scribe. need hardly mention examples
Take the human life of Christ himself. He was
fanatic to the Jews and GgutIleS. TO the
Jews ga stumbling block" TO the Greeks "fool-
shness," md to the Romans an lnnovator-
turning things upside down." After all, the
new ideas Which he introduced into the world
we're few, but Of immence mportance-under-
lying the whole fabric OF human society and
government. BY subtle analysis OF the llu-
man heart, be enunciated rule Of conduct
which is applicable 10 all possible eme gencles
of moral action, do unto others as you would
others should do unto you" The other idea
was the rejection Of all physical peOce-ofierlngs
to Gnd. The doctrine Of material sacrifice was
worldwide. and peryaded all clisses of society
more fixed aud universal in human opinion,
perhaps, than any other idea. V This lie rejected,
and restored nature TO Notwithstanding hot
the true worship Of God was the perfeclng his
greatest workman. Enlighten the intellect;
purify the soul and beautliy the body-these
are tie three passes Of all true worship of God.
And. if SO. our lanatical friends, the Northern
Aboliti0nists, are not so narrow IN thelridcas as
one may suppose. Slavery Is in direct antagon-
ism to the only elements Of human civilization
an progress, Are not, then, the great mass OF
cavaliers at the lone .deaists" themselves 10 be
ptied. who cannot see this great truth! I'M
agne to myself John C. Calhoun listening to
YOUR structures upon fanatics. Now one, then
another, of these "odous agtators," pass in the
memory's review first Hale aud then Giddngs;
and then as you dilate upon the subject, VIII
liam l.. Garrison, the arch fanatic, appears lie
ENJOYS the sport: you mend your pace; he IS IN
obstacles the "lun grows fast and furious" TIL
like Tam O'Shanter, he can contain himself nc
Ilnnuer-" Well DONE" he cries. "Qmd sides
dc ie Glbdla narrdtur" Daniel Webster de-
noupces fanatics the greatest OF fanatics APP
r pianos
"Impatent men" there are, no doubt, too
Some of them have been waiting torslxty years
n and more. for slavery to "die out;" and yet j
4 seems as unwilling to give up the ghost as Il
= did in 1887! How much longer must we pa
d ,ieutly wait How long do you think the slave
= holders would have us wait? They are prov
e crbialy liberal, sir; leave ii to them, and w
l. would be as well off as Sherdan's cleditors !
"the day alter judgment" would be soon enough
. I do not see the appositeness of your parable
n between the rise of Christianity and the fall q
!. slavery. Moral truth is one thing, and politca
q action is another We cannot compel belief
+. but we can action, In Niblo's garden, IN 1885,
IL your perceptions seemed TO be somewhat cleal
a er. You would hardly have regarded it az
l. good reason for setting up slavery in Texa
where Mexico, had abolished it, that tho Christ