Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-02-10
Archbishop Whately g. Chief JUS
tice Denman on Uncle Tom.

We find the following interesting and impor-
tant document in that most excellent paper, the
New York Euening Post, which, though it cleo
ted to 60 for Pierce, without his Platform, has
done, and yet continues to do, by its discrimi-
mating and independent course, in bringing out
the most important anti-slavery matter, immense
service to the cause Of Freedom. Ed.
The last number of the North British
ReUiew contains an article on American
slavery and Uucle Toms Cabin, which we
have inst ascertained to have been written
by Richard Whately, Archbishop of Dub
lin, aud author Of the popular work on log
ic, which generally bears his name. AT
ter promising that ordinary criticism has
no place with "the book of two hemls-
pheres," and paying the highest tribute OF
admiration to the genus of the noble
woman who produced it, the distinguished
reviewer notices one mark OF originality
which has escaped us. He says that Uncle
Tom is almost the only work OF fiction,
bad or good, in the English language. "des-
titute of that which is the ordinary resource
of writer's of fiction---the adventures of too
loyers," with the we'll known exception of
Robinson Crusoe.
The Archbishop denies the truth Of the
charges of partisanshIp and unworthy mo.
tive which have been so literally urged ag-
ainst Mrs. Stowe, and praises the fairness
of her statements. "The power of the
book" he says, "lies in its truth. directed
to the conscences of niet.are dealing with
ii as truth. And perhaps it is in its being
an appeal to conscience, and in its being re-
sponded to as such, that the book stands
out from the class to which it nominally be.
longs. When an army OF journalists, and
noyelists, and pampheteets, in fact, all the
legal orgaps of society, ever before set them
selves in battle array to oppose the truth of
so.caled work of fictionT When be-
fore were so many pens employed to refute
the wild and unreal plctures,' the mon
strous exaggerations, the adominable libels,
to repel the calumny and insult of a nov
Ell But the fact is, that Mrs. Stowe has
told the truth fearlessl y; and therefore is
she not ouy answered, but answered wrath.
fully" &c.
lie then quotes an angry article from the
New Orleans weekly Picayune, OF August
30, 1852, which accuses Mrs. Stowe, and
all those who aid her efforts, or even give
credit to her statements of "hearless cruel.
ty shameless faIsehood, and gross cupdity,
and adds, that "similar testimony is borne
to the character of large proportion Of
the northerners by Aunt PhilIis's Cabin,
another of the answers to Uncle Tom :"
"4>ow," continues the author of the Logic,
"supposing this be true, or half true, it fol-
lows that, in about half of the United
States, there are very many persons merce
nary, unjust, reckless, passionate, cruel, aud
merclless; and we are naturally led to in
quire, which OF the qualities render the per-
sous in which they are displayed fit to have
uncontrolled pO,0cr over their fellow-men
And if it be established that in the northern
states there is considerable proportion of
persons unfit to be trusted with uncontrolled
power, what warrant have we that it is not
the same in The south? What reason have
we to believe that the southerners are uni
versally mild humane, conscientious, and
considerate? We cannot find a reason in
the difference of race, nor can VIC suppose
a few degrees of latitude can make so great
difference of character. Where, then,
Can we find any reason to trust the South
erns,' while distressing the 'Northerns, I'M
less, indeed, we are to believe that the non
existence of SlaUtry can corrupt the morals
OF people, or its existence confer and pro-
mote moral elevation 2"
The Archbishop finds facts enough re-
corded in the newspapers of the south and
in the laws of the southern states, in regard
to slavery, to convince him that Mrs. Stowe
has not been guilty of gross exaggeralion,"
and "welI-seasoned horrors"
With the South Carolinian, to whose gen.
llemanlike but rather feeble pamphlet we
have already alluded, the Archbishop deals
summarilv, and disposes in few vigorous
paragraphs, of the argument, that we ought
to distinguish between the intrinsic charac-
ter of any system, and abuses-which,
as the Archbishop shows, applies with equal
force to absolute monarchy, and to playing
with edged tools and open casks of gunpow-
der But the intrinsic character itself of
the system is irredeemably bad. The "vis
med'catri1 of nature" so frequently invok
cd by the Carolnlan. as correcting 'Ihe in
suifciencies of legislation {" in regard to
the welfare Of slaves" is mere nonsnese, at.
ter what we have seen and read of the Pc
cuIiar institution. He had better said that
"the law Of the slave-system comes in to
correct nature-that is, after the fashion of
shareholders correctlon--to trample up.
on it, and crush it."
As regards the Scripture argument, that
slavery is of God, so is the small pox and
the cholera, both infinitely lesser evils
Despotism is as much sanctioned by the
New Testament as slavery. Why overlook
the apostolic exhortations "to honor the
king" "We assnredly." says the Arch
bishop, "cannot find a sanction for slavery
in the principles, the motives, and the ex-
ampIes which the New Testament SETS be-
fore US. N The Carolinian declares the
system TO be of God, and regards it as the
five talents committed to them, which it
would be "a weak and wicked prayer to ask
to be taken from them Indeed, such stress
do shareholders lay upon the Divine sane.
ton, that it would seem as if they were
such only in homage to religion. But such
homage to the Prince of Peace-to him
with the easy yoke and the light burden
to him who takes lambs in his bosom,
and gently leads those that are with young
such tribute pours foul scorn on Him,
and reminds us rather of the purple robe
and the reed, and the hooking"
One point more in the CaroIinian PAM
phlet is dwet upon by the Archbishop-a
point much urged lately by the press, and
by Mrs. John Tyler.