The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-28
letters in this most painful and extraordinary

history.
Mrs Stolce's closing letter to DR.. Parker
BRUNSWICK, July 2, 1852.
/ DEAR SIR: As your letter addressed to my
husband is one that can answer better than
he, | shall now reply to it by stating to you,
briefly, all | know of the matter under consd-
GRAFTON.
The card which sent to my brother con-
tanned what then supposed and do still sup
pose to be a fair and just exposition OF the
whole state of the case | received a letter in
reply from my brother, in which he stated
that he had shown that card to you that you
and he had together yariously amended and
altered it in regard to expression until you were
brought to some degree of unanimity upon it,
My brother then went on to say, that he said
to you" Mr.. Parker, the wording of this does
not exactly please me, and think if you will
give me liberty to draw up u form, can pro-
duce one that will give satisfaction to both
sides He went on to say, that he now sent
me this form, which, if was willing to accede
to and adopt az my language, was to copy
with my own handwriting, and send to the care
of Mr. WIN Harmed, who would see to its
insertion iuJ3 Era, Tribune, and Independent
was Of u opinion, at the time, that the
tufu Hdu Scnt W do llOic Iuob anu
fair expose ~ the subject, and should have
that if you were willing to consent to this ad-
justment, ought to be willing also, and upon
consideration I came to the conclusion that it
was the best1xpression which could be given
In it you were represented as acting with
the courtesy and dignity which becomes a
Christian man Of honor, and | expressed what
| sincerely feel-a pleasure in repairing any
unintentiOnal injustice which | might have
done you.
Nothing could have been more surprising
than the receipt of your letter. You will per-
| ceive at once that the case lies between you
and my brother Henry, who Judging from the
| tone of his letter to me, considered himself to
, be acting with all kindness, fairness, and good
faith, as he alWdys does act. think he will be
equally surprised with myself to learn that you
do not consider yourself to have assented to
those letters.
My dear sir, there are some few things in
this matter, that you know perfectly well, for
knOw that you were satisfied of them at the
time we had our interview. In the first place
that the remark, as published, was published
III no personal unkindness whatever that it
was published as a sentiment to be replied to
III IL lot tNtTyDOuy kuONs
that that is the character of the article And
your name was given, simply as the name of a
leading man who was known to have publicly
advanced that sentiment. | had no possible
means of knowing that the sentiment was not
yours, and the very strongest evidence for be-
lievlng that it was since you had allowed it in
silence to become a historical document. You
know, and know, that you have used language
biob ~: l. - -: l. al I
quoted, is such that not one man in ten can be
made to see any difference | know this, be-
cause | have tried earnestly and sincerely to
explain to sensible men what you did mean by
the language which you admit that you used,
and 1T has failed to produce any impression on
them except this-that it is a jesutical con-
structlon of language, by which either of two
opposite assertions can be claimed as the wri-
ters sentiments according to emergencies
can still publish the facts Of the case Just |
as | wrote them-frst, what you did not say
second, what you did say third, the evidence
that you knew the construction which the
world was putting upon your language, and
yet that you did not contradict it. But GER
tainly think that the whole matter is in more
creditable form to you now, than if | should
do 80
have done what consider to be perfectly
and fair to remove an imputation
for which you have given too much occasion.
You know perfectly well, Mr.. Parker, for |
told you frankly that did not consider myself |
to have acted wrong in this matter, but simply |
to have fallen into a mistake, which your ST.
lence rendered unavoidable and | consider
myself 10 have said all that you can possibly |
expect from me under the circumstances |
When my brother returns, which will be soon, |
you will probably discuss fairly with him what
ever strikes you as Objectionable in his part of |
the proceeding. Yours, very truly,
Reu. Mr. Parker H. B. stowe
And now it is not to be concealed that Dr. |
Parker and | stand before the public at issue
upon question of personal veracity. And |
those who do not fall upon the convenient the
Dry OF "a mutual misunderstanding, must deter
mIne the issue by the personal character of the |
parties. But so odious necessity as this is
allevlated by some considerations to
which call attention
|. When Dr. Parker AYERS that ne agreed
to have the letters under aduiSement, and en-
the expectation that with some n,odi-
tCatiOn, we might settle the matter by some
'uch method' (see letter of July 81 to New
York ObSerrer,) he has fatally entrapped him
'elf. For now have it in my power to show
hat such statements were morally impossible
A train OF events, beginning with Dr. Par
ker's counsel, and not with US, had led to sever
II private interviews: had satisfied Mrs Stowe
If her error; had settled her determination to
make public reparation. She and Dr. Par.
<er could not agree as to the form. She went
o New Haven to rest, and there calmly to re-
Jew the whole ground, and settle with herself
What statement she would make. She sent that
statement declared it to be an ultimatum
gave me liberty to change the phraseOlogy, but
rot the spirit of the thing and declares a
I'm well pleased with tit is all will do-if
ne won't have this, will publish it, and he may
10 what he likes" Now, let it be considered
whether this is the language TOR the letter
which wrote afterward) of persons who fear
ed suit who were negotiating to avoid one,
or whether negotiation Of any sort was my err
rand to Dr. Parker
was sent to read him card that was to be
published whether he liked it OF not, and which
was to be changed only as to phraseology.
was not sent to ask him whether he would |
take such and such an apology in lieu of
$4,000 damages. Instead, was to say This
is to be substantially published, at any rate
but we wish to please you rs far as we can,
without compromising our own sense of what
1t IS right for us to do. At my suggestion and
his urgent request substitute was written in
eplstolary form. Now, Dr. Parker does not say
that he asked time to consider which of the |
two papers he had rather have published may,
he has withheld in any letter that there was a
card at all, and he has never once mentioned,
in either of the four letters, that the letters
were written in his own study during friend
ly conference between u.s. but he says that he
promised to take these letters under Adjustment
This statement stamps his story with invera-
city. For did not come to ask for settle
ment. ! came to make card which was to
be published at any rate, as agreeable to him