Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-06-15
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
Professor Stuart and his AriStidcS.

help. A disposition has been shown among
a certain class of religious people in New
England, 10 disapprOye OF Mr. Webeier's late
course in Congress, and TO set them right on
This point, the Reverend Moses Stuart, long
the head of the Theological School of Ando-
YER, has written pamphlet on the subject OF
what is called Mr.. Webster's Compromise
Speech. lie first communicated with Mr..
Webster on the subject who, in his answer,
said:
els it not time, my dear sir, that the path of
Christian duty in relation to great and promi- |
ncnt questions of government, and the obliga- |
Iions which men are under to support the con- |
sttuton and the fundamental principles of the |
government under which they live, should be |
clearly pointed outi"
To satisfy Mr.. Webster's thirst for infor-
nation as to the path of Christian duty, as |
well as to pacily those who believe that Mr. |
Webster has struggled great way out OF IT, |
tho pamphlet was written, and is now, 1t is
said, in press. The Boston Courier gives
sample of it., from which we infer that the
venerable professor is not so well versed in
politics as in theology. lie appears to he
particularly nettled at the sarcaslns which
have been launched at those people in Mass
achusetts who subscribed paper, parting
with little of their own personal reputation
to furnish out character for MIR. Webster.
On this point he says;
al have repeatedly seen statements that the
whole State of Massachusetts had been secured,
from Cape Cod TO Berkshire in order 10 get un-
derwritors for him; that every store, and shop,
and stall, and bar-room and kennel had been
rummagcd, in order to increase the number of
vouchers for his speech and that, after all the
running to and fro over the whole land by IT'S
partizans, they had been able to collect from the
Bay State only between seven and eight hun
dred persons who were willing TO vouch for the
propriety of his speech. Now those who can
say this, of course can say anything. Those
who have said it, at least some of thom, know
that no signors were sought for or wished, ex-
cept from Boston and its suburbs
We have seen none of those statements to
which the Professor aludes, and suspect ve-
hemently that he has been guilty of some ex
aggeraton in the case. lfso, there is ques-
ton of casuistry for him-wbetber il is any
more honest TO exaggerate an exaggeration,
as we fear he has done, than to exaggcrate
what is not already exaggerated. This is a
moral inquiry which will empleys- hins quite
as profitably as any political controversy in
which he can engage.
The Professor attributes all the censure
which has been cast upon Mr. Websters re-
cent course, to a feeling of low envy. After
telling the old story of Aristides, who was
banished from Athens because some were
tired of hearing him called the just, he says:
"Soit is, fear, among US at the present mo-
ment. The man who has commanded more lis
tening cars, and made moro hearts beat high,
these twenty years past, than any other man in
our community, is called upon by the spirit of
the Jewelers. to come down to their humble place,
and take their lot with them. n bas ie SeRa-
tour There are other mon who have as good
right TO reign as you; and if we cannot bring
you TO a level by argument, we can by contu-
mely and vitupcration. This is the brief, but
/ am panied to say that feel constrained to be-
lievc, the true history of the matter"
Suppose we were to retort upon Mr.. Stu
art, bv telling him that the man who could
say this could say anything? Is anybody sill
ly enough, is MIR. Stuart himself ignorant
enough TO imagine that il Mr. Webster had
taken a manly and fearless stand in favor of
the rights of the North and OF Freedom, il he
had put himself at the head of that generous
feeling in his own State, which demands that
bounds be vigorously set TO the spread of
Slavery over our new possessions, the people
would have appluuded his course as hearth
~ as they now condemn it, and far more
know. that the public dissatisfaction with
MIR. Webster results from the simple fact
that the people believe him 10 be in the
wrong.
When year or two since he declared that
he would struggle TO the last against the ex-
tension of Slavery and in favor of its prohi-
btion in the new territories, there was no cX-
preston heard but OF approval. Now when
| he suddenly turns his back upon his former
course aud opposes with all his might the
prohibition OF Slavery in the new territories,
| he is greeted with hisses and scorn.
What else could be expected? lie could
not expect the people, who generally under
| stand the matter AS well as himself, TO change
their politics because he found it convenient
10 protess n different doctrine this winter
from that which he proiessed year SINCE
lie has met the common fate of apostates,
and il is a perversion of fact 10 attribute his
fall 10 the hatred or envy Of his rivals. In his
present condition he is far more the subject
for pity than envy.
As to the parallel which Professor Stuart
has run between Mr.. Webster aud Aristides,
il strikes us that an ingenious person mighl
make il quite instructive, for which reason
we wish that the reverend Professor had pur-
sued il further. lie will, doubtless, do that
in the next edition of his pamphlet. By way
Of assisting him, we would suggest that h6
inquire
Whether Arstdes was in the habit of pro
Tossing different opinions at different times
as the occasion might make them conye
nient?
Whether Aristides was retained by tn
wool-combers, fullers and dyers of Athens
and received u portion of their profits as n
acknowledgement of the services he rendere
them in making laws which formed the
trades?
Whether any of the rich bankers and m'
ney changers of Athens ever became his 81
enis with a similar understandings