Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-09
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
TO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

81 preyious rule by which the columns OF this paper
had been for years closed to any other discussion
of topics connected with the Institution OF Sla-
very, and its political relations 10 the Governments
of The Union and of the several States. than that
which has always formed part of the Debates in
Congress, the Editors were influenced by motives
purely national no personal prepossessions or pre-
iudices having the least share in their purpose.
They foresaw that they would, in the course which
they have thought it their duty to take, expose
themselves to criticism by bigots and enthusiasts OF
all parties in politics, and of either side of the
line which separates the dlsunionists oil one ex-
treme from the disunionists of the other BY the
Ultras of all these political classes, accordingly,
our positions have been disputed, with general fair
ness, and courtesy TO which the exceptions have
been only just rare enough to prove the rule that
wan, Of decency is want of sense" we have,
on the whole, good reason to be content with the
reception which our papers on this subject have
met with.
We discover, however, that has become neces-
sary in The present stage Of the discussion OF the
apitatpg topic, to reinforce the rule OF declining to
publish Communications on this subject, unless
from persons whose political stations or positions
place their communications on the footng OF those
speeches in Congress which we are bound by
contract and by duty to our readers to publish with
out subjectng them to remark by ourselves or our
correspondents. This rule is made necessary by
the impossibility Of finding space Tor the Hood OF
Communications which is atresh pouring IN upon us,
and which would, if admitted, exclude almost every
thing else from our columns. Some such rule, or
an invidious discrimination would yet be necessary,
were space not wanting, because of the tendency
of disputants on this subject TO run into mpolltlc
and injurious extremes. .....
particular case has led us more Immediately to
this conclusion, by the perplexily in which we
found ourselves placed by it, between proper re-
gard to the freedom Of the press, and the duty of
preventing the right of access to the press, under
that plea, being converted into wrong by being
carried, for instance, to such an extreme to rem
der lis exercise of doubtful propriey if not certain
ly mschievous. r.. .:..
The case to which we refer is that of gentle
man from the North, who happened to be in this
city on Saturday last the day of the appearance in
the National In,elligencer of the able appeal to the
+" Friends of the Unon," under the signature of
g Maryland the ability as well as patriotic mo-
tive of which have been generally acknowledged
who, considering the class to which he is proud of
belonging to have had injustice done to il in the
article referred to, expressed his desire to be allowed
TO vindicate himself and it, in the columns Of this
paper, under his proper signature. We agreed to
receive such communication from him, with full
under the circumstances, to publish it.
his zeal-the honesty of which we have no design
to impeach-for his particular clique, he had
passed the line OF Defence and gone into arguments
which shall never find admi.tance into these CO.
lumns, unless in such shape that it is not in our
power TO exclude them. With this explanation, as
we cannot, consistently with our own notions of
publish entire the Letter of Mr.. LEWIS
TAPPAN, the gentleman referred to, we feel our
selves under obligation to state, in his own terms,
the grounds upon which he complains of what he
terms injustice in the article of which we have
spoken. So much of his Letter as is strictly con-
fined TO its avowed object of correcting erroneous
we extract, as follows:
NATIONAL ISTELLIeEscER.
- But Messrs. Editors, the principal objec. I have
view, this communication, is 10 correct the mssatemens
your correspondent MARYLAND has made with regard the
objects and designs of the class Of men with whom have the
honor and pleasure TO be associated Ii may be that the
writer has no. intended any misrepresentation but has been
msel by certain which, the mind Of citizen
Of slave State may have left strong Impressions amounting
prejudice and hatred. The Aboitonis,s of this country
have been strangely misunderstood and most nurousy mis-
represented aude particularly to that portion Of them who
are actua,ed by phianhropic ard Christian principles.
Walkers pamphlet, .hat into the slave States just
before Nat Turner'S rebelion in Virginia, imputed to
the small band of which Mr.. Garrison then the head
Not shadow Of evidence adduced that Wey had
any ta do with the publication distribution of it,
And when, the formation OF the AMERICAN AsTI-SLAyE
RY SscIgTr distinctly and reiterated that
moral would be the chief reliance, under God for the
accomplishment Of the objects OF the association and
would physical force ha recommended
toned the avehoding interest assaed those who aim
ing to bring about the peaceful abolition Of slavery, in
stuiona wey, by the opprobous phets and the most
determined violence, until The Aboonist III the South
deemed equivalent that of ncenday and dsunionst
The original principles and of the Aboionists of
the United States undertake to say, afforded usGca
ton OF such Misrepresentation is 1t just to imPue such
designs any portion OF the Aboonts of the present day.
however obnoxious Of them be to deserved
the part udicious AMI Christian men, Norh and South
The great body the anti slavery people in this country have
no affinity with Mr. Garrison and his adherens Originally
they did have bu tie be has taken the last years
has brought about eEt,re separation Unlike him, they
for sustaining The churches, the ministry, the constitu
ton. They SEEK 10 reform not TO destroy They f,rsook
the Old Anti Slavery Society ard formed the AMERICAN
FonEIGS AsrI-SLAyERr SOCIETY,", carry the princ-
pies, for the support and diffusion Of which tie Aboonss
of this country originally banded together Ttese the
principles confined IN the Declaration Of Independence in
the writings of Jefferson, Pirkney Franklin ard other illus.
tous paos, who. after the establishment of the Govern
ment, sought by their pens and actions carry the
great truths announced the world, in practice well as
in theory. Most Ct these emancipalon without rein-
gushing their membership Of the society, afterwards
ciaed in what called the LIBERTY PARTY band Of as
pure and dsnteested patriots dwe upon the
the EARTH This parry, 10 which neither Garrison those
maintaining his peculiar Government and Religion,
ever belonged, became scattered large ror N united
their fortunes with the Frees Some declined voting
for Mr. Van Buter, arl have aimed 10 their duty in all
proper ways individuals members Of the American
and Foreign Anti Slavery Society," while a small numer
still wage agans slavery Liberty Party under the
leadership of GERRT SMITH Not single member Of ,hese
associations any Opposition uncoU stitu Or
unlawfuy. Garrison is for dissolution Of the Union but