The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-28

, his own hands, and read them carefully. When
he came to the sentence: while, therefore,
do not see how could have acted with more
caution in employing an allegation which had
become historical, | am yet heartily glad to
find that a sentiment so shocking to every
Christian mind is not yours She paused and
laid his finger upon that saying that he thought
1t too strong or too unqualified; that Mrs
Stowe, in his judgment had not used due eau
ton, &c. But | firmly insisted upon such
clause, and he waived it, saying that perhaps
1t was not very material" or words to that eff
feet. He then read it a second time and gave
to it an unhestating approval Both of US
were ut the time in good spirits, like men that
had happily got through yexatiOus affair. He
did not say one word about making it the
basis of future arrangement. He did not utter
one word about agreeing To it after he had seen
his counsel DR.. Parker as distinctly under
stood that the paper was to be published as
did For, not only was the publishing of this
correspondence, or of the card for which it was
substitute, the drift of our whole interview,
and implied in every stage of it, but DR. Parker
seemed to me to think that they were to be
published Immediately, and stated to him that
] should not publish them till Mrs Stowe had
seen them.
There was but single qualification to DR..
Parkers assent, and that was, that his counsel
made no objections to the correspondence. !
told him that | would 20 Immediately to Mr..
Butler; and when after few minutes, shook
hands with him and left | said again that
should 90 at once to Mr.. Buffers office and
added that should tell Mr. Butler, from him.
that he was satisfied with it if Mr. Butler was
That by all professional etiquette, a man who
] - -. 10
sive agreements without first fully consulting
him, there is no doubt But in this case, the
whole effort of his counsel had been to procure
such settlement as this and it is not surpri-
sing that one not versed in legal matters should
regard such n course as that here indicated
with satisfaction But, right or wrong, my duty
is to state the facts rs they occurred and not
to account for Dr. Parker's treatment of his
counsel
went straight to Mr.. Butler, and read the
original card and the correspondence. To the
card he objected, as wholly insufficient. To the
correspondence he stated to me no particular
objection provided it was satisfactory TO DR..
Parker. ! have taken the liberty to ask Mr.
Buffers attention to my statement of the re-
suits Of my interview with him, and take pleas
ure in complying with the request to publish
his letter:
New YORK, Oct s. 1852.
DEAR SIR: | understand from you that in a
statementyOu are about to make in relation to
the correspondence recently published in the
newspapers, as having taken place between
Rev. DR.. Parker and Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe, you allude to the interview had between
you and myself on the 10th of June, and say
in respect 10 ito the card Mr. Butler OBJ
Jected, as wholly insufficient; to the correspond
ence he stated to me no particular objection
provided 1T was satisfactory to DR.. Parker"
You request me to say whether the statement
above quoted conforms to my recollection.
Notwithstanding my professional relations to
DIR. Parker, consider it my duty to answer
this question and therefore state in reply to
1t, that SO far as it goes, it is correct But it is
due TO myself to say, that did not dream of
the publication OF the proposed correspondence
until it should be first fully assented to, settled
and signed by the respective parties; nor until |
DR.. Parker, as to his part OF it, should have |
had the opportunity of consulting me as his
counsel This | supposed he would do, while
you were taking measures to obtain, if you
could, the assent of Mrs. Stowe-ls to.whlch,
when at my office, you expressed some doubt.
| have no recollection that you told me that
DR. Parker would consult me on the subject
but my expectation that he would do 80 was
the necessary result of the relations of client
and counsel existing between him and myself
and | therefore reserved for DR.. Parker's pri-
vate consultations with me, my opinion and
advice as to any question he might think it
needful to propose to me, in regard to the final
terms OF the correspondence.
Will you do me the favor to publish this
lote with your statement!
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Is. +, BUTLER.
Rer. Henry Ward Beecher Brooklyn.
enclosed the correspondence to Mrs Stowe,
and wrote the following note to accompany it,
which note ls certainly not reverent as it should
be, but it shows the honorable intentions | en-
tertained towards Dr. Parker
After criticsing her card, LIST as attempting
to do too many things; 3D. as on that account
failing to produce the impression which she
desired, proceeded to say
3. When any apology is made before the
public, it ought to be 30 explicit as at once to
gain for the maker the credit OF honesty, frank
ness and honor and then, if afterwards you
have aught to say, it will be kindly taken.
Nevertheless, | took it to Joel He made
wry faces. We tinkered little as you will
see, and in this shape he agreed to let it go.
But | felt bad about it. | said to him, " MIR.
Parker, don't Ike the whole thing. If YOU
will give me pen and ink, and leave me alone,
| will write one to my mind SO | wrote the
enclosed, i. e. two letters as from him, and one
rs from you. | am satisfied that these will
make good impression.
You will see that you do not commit yourself
~ to whether he ever said, in any other con-
troversy this thing You express II judgment
made up upon documents presented. Besides,
| am quite satisfied that he has been misrepre-
sented IN that regard. That being the case,
desire much an unequivocal statement on that
point. Then, the statement of the way in
which you got hold of the thing will have
force both to exculpatc you, and to show that
he brought the intllcton on his own head
If you approve this send copy in your
handwriting to VIM. Harmed 4 s. Rooms,
80 Bcckman street New York, and he will zee
to its insertion in Tribune Era and Independ-
cnt Truly yours H. w b.
leave for Indiana Monday.
This letter is decisive of nay feelings and in
tentions towards Dr. Parker and my only hes
tation about publishing it is lest it should seem
that | was too severe with Mrs Stowe. But |
our disagreement was never for moment IN |
to the fact of public PREPARATION, nor as to ,chat |
should be that PREPARATION but simply rs to how
much or how little collateral explanation had |
better be given. Mrs Stowe was never incln-
ed, IA DIR. Parker says to insist upon adding |
to the concessions other matter relating to
what she considered my position in respect to
the subject of slavery All that Mrs Stowe |
wished on this point was to show exactly what |
DR.. Parkers position and argument had been
on the subject of slavery IN The original con-
EorcrSy from which the language quoted in
her book was supposed to be derived and
where the drift of his argument gave very
different construction to his words from what