The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29

moments since, you were kind enough 10 ex-
plain TO me- why such men AS G. and s can
not be instruments Of Providence, and yet, if [
apprehend you Alright now, we are to view the
miscreants employed in the slave trade as so
many missionaries engaged in the conversion
of souls"
Uncle arched has eye brows to point in
surprise and horror, but the good old Doctor
only smiled benevolently as he said" What
an absurd conclusion, my dear Miss Lytton ;
but fair specimen of womanly logic. BY no
means, would he the last to Justify evil but
there are some things which we do not under
stand-some things permitted to us, as to the
ancient Hebrews perhaps, on account of the
hardness of our hearts. Bot this we do know ::
that God permits these doubtless for some
wise end that, though He moves in mysteri-
Gus way He, can and doth override them all
for His own &c s4pd the salvation of man.
We must not attempt TO pry into the secret
counsels Of the Almighty"
disclaimed any such intention seeing that
| dozen lives would not suffice TO comprehend
the revelations He bad given US, though inspi-
ration and nature, but as this was a subject
connected with the degradation or elevation Of
man, ! thought it might be discussed in all its
bearings, without once being guilty of that sin.
But" went on, do not feel convinced that
my inference was incorrect. These men must
either be doing right or wrOng-serving God
or the devll-carrying out His plans or acting
10 direct violation of that law which we are
told is the hottest of all. And hypocritical,
wicked, selfish us they are do not believe one
of them dare make TO his own conscience the
excuse that he is serving his Maker. They
know it is wrong and unuttersbly selfish but,
as long as the wise and learned and pious abet
them in their practice, they will continue to
| follow it. But that God sanctions such things"
| uncle gave me loOk-why, such one as
BALKAN might have given his ass but my
spirit was up and kept on I" that tho infin-
| lite, ai-wise Creator cannot carry out his plans
without such agencies; that the unspeaka-
BILE horrors OF the slave.ship and the internal
traffic, are part of the divine economy >
that millions of human beings must perish by
the hands of their civilized brethren before a
remnant can be saved, is what will not, can
not believe. The intellect and heart revolt at
1t. | would sooner be q pagan, than accept
such God as that ~
Had Paixham shot fallen in our midst it
could but have excited greater condemnation
and horror than my poor words. Uncle, with
his silver fork arrested mid way between his
mouth and the table, looked as if the powers
| v,
mastication, had deserted him forever aunt
sat down her tumber, and crossed her hands
with an indescribable air, as if she saw behind
my Aboltionism, Bloomerism, Woman's Rights
ism, Fourierism, sedtion, arson, and murder ;
n. forgot his usual retence, and sat pouring the
gravy unconsciously over his plate, while the
old Doctor, with Respondent shake Of the
head, and with tone, in which grave reproof
struggled with real kindness, replied" Very
likely, for the carnal heart is at enmity with
God and my young friend, if we take your
words as criterion, fear we shall find you
look at this subject with anything but an eye
of humble, trusting faith You are tinotured
with the besetting ain Of the age, the pride of
human reason, that blind guide which leads 30
many astray. 1t is Il poor prop my child
\ a poor prop, as you will find sooner or later
Not until you are willing to cast it aside and
look at this great subject with An humble, I'M
questioning spirit will the wisdom of the over.
4 ruling hand be made apparent to yoh Not to
the carnaly- mnded, TO the proud OF heart as
these things made known, but to babes and
sucklings"
Oh, old age old age! white hairs and fur
rowed brows, what power ye have to move
this self-willed heart OF mine As looked NJ
} in his face, and met the calm but faded blue
: eyes bent on me half in sorrow, half in sur
. prise, and thought how, in early youth tn,
, foundations of his faith had been laid in sin
, cerity and prayer how it had grown with hi
growth, and streng thened with his strength
until it enclosed HIM, as within consecrated
temple, whose pillars were intertwined with
dear heart memories, hopes that lived now,
only in the light Of faith, sorrows that had
grown into hopes; felt how worthy of ell re-
spect is every form or creed that has typifed
truth to the human soul, and stretching forth
my hand to the old man, was about to try to
translate something of this feeling into words,
when uncle's jaws collapsed, and he interrupt
| cd me in his coolest, most frigid tones
Elizabeth Miss Lytton-i am astonished,
perfectly astonished to hear such sentiments
advanced by woman, and relative of mine |!
Good heavens! what are we coming TO Let
me tell you, that the ladies of your mothers
family found ample room for their talents in
the sphere which God assigned them, domestic
life They were early taught that womsn's
province is TO obey not reason"
| The tone reused my sntagonism at once,
and said coolly--" Then, am very sorry for
them uncle for, wide as that sphere is, igno-
rant and narrow minded men can narrow it
| down, until it becomes little better than sla-
very. Besides, as God has actually endowed
them with reason, they must find it extremely
difficult, at times, to obey both God and man"
:" see no such difficulty" he condescended
to reply, "but, perhaps, the wisdom of this age
may enlghten me. AS to ignorance and mar
rOwness, Of course that is not the question with
our family" and with an air that seemed to
say, that the question of womans right to a
| separate individuality was settled forever, he
began discussing the new Postal arrangements,
which n had started, and from that they went
to "Non Intervention" Kossuth, sc.
] felt choked care not how much person
differs from me, can respect their notions and
try to understand their views, il they will only
let me peak out my thought and respect that,
as it is worthy But this looking askance at
all one says; this taking a poor souls words
with the tongs and throwing them out the
window, or fumigating them with salt and
vinegar until there is no life in them before
they are permitted to cross the thresh-bod,
saddens me. | would have each one speak out
bis own convictions truly, and take them, rich
or poor, "a a god-send We should lose some
thing in smoothnsss and polish many relations,
now dove-taiIed together with such care, would
find themselves breaking apart but we should
be infinite gamers in honesty, harmony, and
truth.
TO BIZ CONTINUED.
OHIO POLITICS