The republic., 1851-07-12
From The Boston Transcript.
The Peace and Dignity of tho Common
woaIth.-NO. xviii

anu IOIndl TeVleW Ol tne IaSt-uay sermon, as
it is fancifully called, of Mr. Theodore Par
ker. Few things would be more absurd than
any attempt to apply the established rules of
criticism to the literary labors of lunatic,
whether his admiring friends have consigned
him to the asylum or the pulpit.
IL is my purpose, without farther preface, to
enable my readers to Judge how far the moral
and intellectual qualities of this man entitle
him to officiate as teacher of piety or as
guide and counsellor, upon any occasion what
ever. propose to show that Mr.. Parker, if
not the father of lies, has voluntarily placed
himself tn loco PARENTS, and has devoted the
day appointed for humiliation and prayer to
the promulgation of statements which are either
wilful falsehoods or evidences of an unaccount
able measure of ignorance and want of discri-
mnation.
1t is well known that, on the third Tuesday
of March last, Judge Peleg Sprague delivered
charge to the grand jury in the district court
of the United States. 1t is quite as well
known that Judge Sprague received the high
est testimonials OF respect on account of that
charge. 1t has been accounted one of the most
upright, judicious, discriminating, and, in
every particular, well-considered compositions
which have ever been pronounced from the
bench.
Now, this Mr.. Theodore Parker being pro-
fessor of the higher Latc, and considering that
mGus implicat minus in these as in other mat
ters, has supposed himself abundantly able, by
intuition, of course, to correct this learned and
experienced Judge in his own department. This
by the way is no very uncommon thing with
elergymen, who can have but faint idea how
very ridiculous they render themselves by this
utterly preposterous assumption of judgment,
eT cathedr0, in matters relating to an abstract
science of which their profound ignorance is in
telligble to everybody but themselves.
In reference to the charge Of Judge Sprague
Mr.. Parker says:
'He does not think that a dozen black men
taking fugitive out of court are guilty of "levy-
ing war;" and therefore should be hanged, drawn,
and quartercd if you can catch them All honor
to his justice. He does not say, the Secretary of
State, that we must suppress discussion and stop
agitation: He says VIC may agitate as much as we
have mind to; may not only speak against law,
but may declaim against (which is speaking
strongly. thank the judge for this respect to the
Constitution"
Here, in this brief passage, are three abso-
lutte falsehoods, unless the writer prefers to es-
cape on the ground of his ignorance of the Eng
lish language. Judge Sprague has nowhere
said that she does not think dozen black men
taking a. fugitive ont Of court are guilty Of 'lc
vying war," and therefore should be hanged,
dra,c'i, and quartered." Judge Sprague's
charge contains not syllable to authorize this
impudent assertion. pass over Mr.. Parker's
ignorance of the fact that dra,cing and quarter
ing are things unknown to our law, and pre-
sent the only passage from which he could have
manufactured this falsehood. 'But the sudden
outbreak of mob or the assembling of men,
in order, by force, to defeat the execution
OF the law, In particular instance, and
then to dlsperse, without the intention to
continue together, or to reassemble for the
purpose of defeating the law generally, in
all cases, IS not levyng war" Such are the
words from which Parker fabricates his foolish
falsehood. He applies these words, of course,
to the case Of Shadrach's rescue, and tells his
hearers that Judge Sprague affirms it not to be
a case of levying war. A more mpudent false
hood never came from the mouth Of Sasheve-
rell. Judge Sprague has affirmed nothing, of
course, in regard to this particular case, which
never came before him. But the reader clearly
perceives that the mob which rescued Shad-
rach was not q dozen black men, but large
body of black and white men, who, under the
deliberate instigation and counsel of the Fan
euil Hall vigilance committee of fifty, had al
ready defeated the Fugitive Slave law, in the
rescue OF Craft. 1t was, in no sense, &c The
sudden outbreak Of a mob" but the deliberate
second coming of band of traitors, stimulated
by black and white lawyers, and by black and
white teachers Of piety 1t was, by no means,
their intention to violate the law fin par
ttcutar instance" only; but it was their settled
purpose to repeat the outrage, for the complete
overthrow of the law, so long as the Govern
ment would bear it.
Never did case come more clearly within
those other words, lying in juxtaposition to
those which have quoted from this admirable
charge "And if there be an actual assenblage
Of men for the purpose Of carrying such an in
tention into effect, that is, of acting together,
and preventing by force the execution of the
law generally, in all cases it will constitute a
levying of war"
a man who, in the very face of the facts,
and OF such perfectly Ineligible ruling, can so
grossly mislead his auditors in matter so mo-
mentous, must be valuable teacher Of piety.
So much for the first Of these three false
hoods, told by Mr. Parker to his credulous dis
cples. He proceeds to say--"He (Judge
Sprague) does not say, as the Secretary Of STATE,
That zoe must suppress discussion and stop agita
ton" When, where did Mr.. Webster, the
Secretary of State, say so2 Never. 1t is an
unpleasant alternative for teacher of piety-
WHObhci hc uC ttdI VI All dSS-WHclHeI his
entirely false statements be attributable to de-
liberate intention to deceive, in momentous
matter, or to the cloudiness of the mans under
standing-for it has been long ascertained that
a teacher of piety might be up to Hebrew with
the points and exceedingly flippant withal, and
yet very stupid, impracticable fellow.
Now, to say the least of it, Mr. Parker's as
sertion is very impudent fasehood Mr..
Webster never uttered such a sentiment as this
He has said that agitation ought 10 cease. But
when did he say this of discussion9 In his let
ter of March 10th, to the Mayor, expressing
the views Of the President, he exhibits his
own And what says he there? Why he re-
cognises expressly the most ample right of free
discussion "The President does not doubt
that the people of Massachusetts perfectly well
understand the difference between the fresst
discussion of political measures and opposition
to legal enactments already made and estab-
lished, lie is quite sure they regard the law
or the land not as a sentiment or an opinion,
but as rule Of conduct prescribed by the gen