The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-20

: ~ Suss WV Wo8ouCA oOys ~ SuowS ""o'
one whig thinks OF another, or perhaps,
more properly, what one abolilionist thinks
of another:
Thomas Corwin and the Aboli-
tionists.
ClNcrNNArI. Ohio, April 8. 1853.
10 the Editors Of the Enquirer:
In the Enquirer Of this date you have
shs following extract. from the Southern
Petrios, OF the ''p,quant sayings Of the
inimitable Tom" .He said they were
whining. canting. praying set OF fellows.
who kept regular books OF debit and credit
with the Almighty. They would lie and
cheat all the week, and pray off their sins
on Sunday. Ii they steal a negro, that
made very large entry 10 their credit.
and would cover multitude OF peccadil'
loes aud frauds This kind Of entry they
were always glad TO make. because it cost
them nothing. When they could not steal
. negro they gave something in charity for
the extension Of the gospel. and then com
menced system OF fraud and cheating.
I'LL they thought they had balanced ac-
counts with their God" And you add:
"ae has. as is understood, purchased
property in Kentucky as residence.
Whether Thos. Corwin includes me.
who have commended. in my own State. for
emancipation OH the soil among the Abo
litionis,s. know not. Il is the policy OF
the slave party and their renegades to rem
der odious the most ultra Of the opponents
of slavery. and then use that odium for the
overthrow Of all the friends OF justice aud
liberty. For my part. am willing to come
.under his category; for. inasmuch as
would use al the opponents OF slavery
in the world for its overthrow. so musi
not avoid the consequences of my asso
.cia.ions. At one time the Abolitionisis
are held up as inyidious knaves. at anoths
-or as one.idead fanatics. who are void OF
moral responsibility, and unfit to admin
lister any Government! They cannot be-
boshl They are neither one or the other.
But do not propose to defend then-his
tory viii do that-but TO repel the calumn,
Of the ex-Secretary. II the Aboltionists
were as base as Corwin represents them
il is right they should be exposed. Al
though q war OF personalities is always
sepugnant to q gentleman. yet. it he thinks
they are. (even though they are not. as
he says, | have no objections to the ut.
serance.
But when Thos. Corwin tells not only
what is untrue. but what know he beiieues
to be untrue. not only seli-defense. but ti,'
instincts Of generous indignation at un
provoked and ungrateful wrong comprl>
me to hold him up to public Reproduction
When Mr.. Clay was the candidate 70,
the Presidency. in 1914. Thomas Corwn
and spoke daily for long time through
Ohio in company. That battle was Tough,
in the North at least upon anti-slavery-
oaboltion principles. the friends Of sla
very perpeiuation being ayowedly in favor
Of the annexation Of Texas. with q view
OF keeping up balance Of power in tn.
Senate, by the acquisition oi more slave
Statas; aud the friends Of J-ffersonian
repubIicanisrn. sholding that slavery wa>
an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to be exiinguishe'l
in due time North and South-standing
for Il. Clay, and against Texas annexa.
ton. came from slave State. embit
tered in my feelings against the slave
parry by recent personal and political
.cossiesis. yet in the. speeches made by
Thomas Corwin. the Shareholders were Sc
heartily denounced that my sensibilitie,
as Southern man we're continually sus
-ceptible. am an habitual reader OF VIM
Z. Garrison's Li6erator. and Garrison
rneyer. surpassed him in heartfelt hatred o
slavery and shareholders. His now slave
holding friends will sgather some idea o
hia abated ire when they review his cele
eL. Caoofo svhopo hs
awarded me and other volunteers in Mex
leo his aspirations OF ..bloody hands and
hospitable graves!" But what struck m'
q most remarkable in the .'inimitable
Tom'' was his indulgence in .'whining
-canting and praying" in his speeches!
have been In the Juror OF revivals. and thu
wild enthusiasm of the bivouacked ca, P
meeting, and never did unctious Methodis
parson move me to tears like the ''inimit
able rom!'' And to such extreme di,
atom" carry his scriptural quotations tina
he rot TO be . decided bore; and severe
~ criticised his want OF taste-and wha
was. TO me, irreverent as the slave.chris
tians would have me-almost blasphemy
He then defended himself upon the groun'
that 40 people were SO conscientious ant
deyout as these same Aboliiionists. whom
he now denounces as sconsummate knaves
II the Abolitionists .scheat" and ''steal
the reproach comes with bad grace frot
the chief beneficiary Of the Gardiner swim
.6lel And however guilty we may be,
adds bat little to our penltence to be lee
,sured by man who now has, dishonestl,
our moaey in his pocket
The. truth is. Thomas Corwin is nothin
else but q mercenary renegade. OF hum
BILE origin and q professed Wing. ther
has been no time in the last twenty year
chat he could have been elected TO offic
without. the votes Of the Abolitionlsts an
laborers OF Ohio. With considerable dir
pancy Of apeech, caricature. mi'nicry an
;pantomime. added to his soubrlquet of tn
,:.wagon boy and his professed Abolition
Ism. he ascendsd much higher in the poll
iral scale than has talents or true merit
deserved. He sspired to lead the liber'
party in these States by steady effor
which culminat in his notorious Mex
can war speech which sealed his caree
in tina. direction; for il outraged his oPPs
Il