The Woodville Republican, and Wilkinson advertiser. (Woodville, Miss.) 1853-18??, 1853-04-26
A Question Involving Character

The New York Mirror has long been dis
|dnguished for its bold and manly attitude up
on the subject Of slavery. 1t had a very
seyere article a few days since, upon Greedy
The Tribune and their abolitionist allies. One|
gentleman Of that fraternity in the city, felt
personally aggrieved, demanded explanation
of the Mirrors editor, and obtained it, in the
manner following, which we copy from the
Richmond Enquirer, and which appeared in
the Mirror Of Wednesday last:
We have yet to learn that an abolitionist
can be a gentleman"
70 The editor of tie Evening Mirror:
Dear Sir-The above paragraph | cut from
your paper of yesterday. 1t is either a sentiI
ment believed by you or an unwarranted slam
der upon a whole class of your fellow citizens
induced by sin, real or fancied, of one. If the
former, your selfrespect would forbid your
advertising for me, for / am an "Abolitionist"
If the latter, my selfrespect forbids my adj
|vertising in your paper. If then you prefer TO
let the remark go unretracted, please make up
the bill of I. S. Berry d Co., to date, forward
BIT for payment and discontinue the advertise
ment. RESPECTFULLY,
I. S. BERRY, POI Broadway.
New York, March 22d. l843.
As the above communication is addressed
ITO the editor of the Mirror" and not marked
private W. take it for granted that the writer
desires the full benefit of a public avowal of
himself as an 'abolitionist."
Instead of retracting the expression quoted
from the Mirror, we unhesitatingly r~e-assert
the fact that 1--WE have yet to learn that an
Abolitionist can be a gentleman" We will
confess, however, that our personal acquaintance
with men Of that description is very limited,
land may have been unfortunate. We have
not the honor of knowing Mr.. Berry, but on
inquiry at the publication office of the Mirror,
learned that he is an agent for the sale of
Pianofortes, manufactured in Boston by Messrs
Hallet, Davis, Il Co.
In order to draw sharply the line of distinc-
|tion indicated by the remark at which Mr..
Berry feels his "selfrespect" irritated, it is
necessary to define the meaning of the term
I"Abolitionist"-a term, in our understanding
of the world, of blacklist reproach.
What, then, is it to be an "Abolitionist 2"
IL is in the first place, to be a traitor to the
Constitution, which recognizes Slavery. 1t is
TO be a ~violater of the law enacted for the re-
|clamation of fugitives from service. 1t is to be
an instigator of servile rebellion stealer Of
negroes-a disturber of the peace-a promo
tier of bloodshed-a destroyer of the Union Of
the States. Abolitionism leads directly to all
these calamities and there is no escape from
the issue. Can the advocate of such a cause
be a gentleman? We think not. Still less
can he be a Christian.
And what are the habits and manners of the
aAbolitionists! Read their journals listen to
their speeches look at their speckled conclaves
where Fred. Douglas, Abby Kelly and Horace
Greely put forth the foulest ISLANDERS upon the
brightest names Of the nation traducing alike
the dead fathers of the Republic and the living
defenders of the Constitution. Are these lib
I@ellers Of Washington, Webster, and Clay
these %revilers of the Government and contem-
1ners of flaw, worthy of the name Of gentlemen
We doubt even, if Mr.. Berry, agent of Boston
Pianofortes, would be willing to class himself
in such a category. If he still insists upon
claiming the name of sAbolitionist" we can
only say to him at parting, chacam a SON govt,
Such black berries are not exactly to our taste.