Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-24
A FlNALE-BY BAcKwoopsmAS.

The first impression made upon "a Backwoodsmapo b,
reading the partial criticism of Atlantic" upon communi
cations published in the National ntelgencsr On the Abo
rgna Races Of Man," to permit the calm judgment Of
the Public decide upon the proper and honorable intentions
Of each writer in silence Upon reflection may be better
to ask permission Of the Editors to offer few general obser
vatons against rude and arbitrary injustice.
What is truth and what error appear to REQUIRE very diff
fsrent answers, according to the disposition education and
employments Of different According the instruction
Of "A Backwoodsman, there is but some authority" to
eide upon the integrity Of spirit and the truth in the heart Of
writer He 10 satisfied to abide such decision
But "a Backwoodsman" Is disposed to weld to harsh
suspicious or expressions of seeming nfdetyD or
Lightly Such words have had their influence and their day
over the tmid, the unway the preudiced which, hap
PLY, they losing very fast. Something besides denunca
ton required by the age to correspond with that seneness
humanity and charity which, thought ought to charac-
terize it.
Atlantic would lead to fear that he with difficulty re-
cognlses any opinion as true, honest which differs from
the peculiar tenets ne enterans This is the teaching
and impression Backwoodsman has received from the
Volume" both refer to. The time has been when new views
Of natural philosophy forbidden to be taught in the
schools because they considered at variance with the
literal expressions Of the Scriptures and the dogmas Of
church We have lived recognise and acknowledge the
absurdty of such objections and interference With undoubt
ing opinions Of authority Catholics have driven out Potes-
tants, who in their turn, have felt similar assumptions and
pesteed Presbyterians these, in the exercise Of an ob
ton they believed that they held from the same Book lave
whipped the Quakers who reject the authority ofnen
in this matter Such may be considered improper horcai
references probably; but like ever poducske eff
fec" any exercise Of nordinate zeal or
nes had better be repressed in good Time lest bear its
usual fruits. ,. "#
GA Backwoodsman" cannot be persuaded thatdsamation
argument or that the suspicion of faly and cnrvance is
proof Of hePury Of purpose Of him who attack
With our institutions, different systems from those above
alluded to must prevail And is be hoped hat honest
expression Of difference in opinion, upon ts wording and
Specification Of peple1ng Of scripture will again
have the effect of encouraging any Of at
tempt to nure others by party secaan cries" pre-
tensions to ascendency.
"A Backwoodsman" firmly believes thst the principles of
mercy, Of "justce, and Of "truth" those designed
by God regulate the actions Of towards each other for
their common benefit bu. he does not perceive that the
ogin of all men from stock, the destruction Of
all men by food essential his faith the authen-
dcy of the Scriptures which he reads differently because he
has been taught diligently to study, to compare, and
prehend them He asserts his right express bis difference
Of opinion trusting always that God will lead him to the
,cisdom, formed the earth :; and thus instructed man to
value the knowledge gained by study and observation of His
undoubted works." Weare taught not only to "fear Him.,
but to believe that all shall knoy Him." and eso to fear
the preudiced opinions of other who authority
He has not bestowed upon them.
That greater Of intolerance and cruelty have org
mated from REFRESHING the exercise of private opinion and
Judgment upon the intentions Of sthe Scriptures than in
calmly permitting fair expression Of the feelings which
each ones own reading and experience make upon heart
and the understanding student Of history can deny We
trust that public opinion is sufficiently chaste and cor
rected to allow honest differences Of opinion TO pass without
calling into activity the foul nomenclature of bgoy, the
evil spirit Of intolerance and self-righteousness
The interpretations offered by A Backwoodsnan" he be-
eves to be correct according to the original meaning of the
writer's and be cannot be driven from this scrutiny by any
outrage Of expression, tenac,y for the unity of the
races" sthe universally of the deluge The opinions
he expressed confessed have been recognised and
Toned by responsible clerical and scientific authorities whose
names GA Backwoodsman did think necessary to pa
ade before the reader he had reference to the mode in
which they appointed to their Offices stations nor to
the party, sect country to which they beonged nor Of
their exclusive competency, age, or "importaon." GA
Bsckwoodsman much less for the sources or sect Of
authority than for the truth Of the expressions employed
let them what channel from what country they may
In frankly stating the results Of his reading and sudes
Backwoodsman hopes that no error he may have mad
ntet fallen into will nure the youthful or other readers
of the National Intellgence but support them in the conf
dence that the Scriptures written only be valued
authentic, but also be understood from the greatest
to the least"
When the study Of natural history and philosophy shall
become essentially the basis Of theology, they og
nay and practically understood by the ancient writers of
"the Scriptures" under the direction Of the God" who
gave laws to every object which surrounds us may
expect to be able comprehend the towards
each other upon such subjects, and scarcely till them
MAY 10, 1861. A BACKWOODSMAN.
PS. We WESTERN men" may be allowed little more
extension OF expression and freedom of those
the Atlantic, consider ourselves more Practically
inclined.
NOTE BY THE EDITORS
The discussion Of which the preceding Letter
forms part is taking turn foreign to the pur-
poses OF the Editors that is to say, from scientific
to sectarian aspect, and has therefore run far
enough. Ii is desirable that it should end here.
NHARP's RlFLE, with the exclusive right Of applying
States Government and sold BY the subscribers.
These guns supass other firearms heretofore invented for
facility Of loading and unloading (which can be done in an
Instant cleaning and OF shooting They are load
ed the breech surprising spdy and prmed
il by magic Fifty primers placed the cone,
and further attention thereto is until they have
been used They safer than any other kind Of guns
f,o~s