Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-06
TO THE EDITORS.
BALTIMORE, AUGUST 5, 1858.

Messrs. GALES SEAroN have just seen the National
Intelligencer Of the 14h ulmo, containing commun
cation on 'Spiriualism, in reply to Mr. TALLMApGE
and signed " Homo" / presume Mr.. T. feels himself
under obligation reply to anonymous correspondents;
therefore take leave TO correct Of the msconcep
| tons Of the writer.
He supposes that the mediums may have waited over
day to be enabled have autograph letter of
Mr. Calhoun and impress counterfeit of it with invsi
BILE ink sheet Of paper in such manner that the
words rendered egble by application of heat
electricity" Now this suppostion shows how easily
may deceive and deude himself where all his preju-
dices are in favor Of producing such result But for
this the writer would have attempted build an
argument state of facts that existed except in
his imagination Mr.. rs statement of the manifestation
shows that the sentence purportng come from Mr.
Calhoun written with peca that there was neither
pen ink employed in writing it, and of course even
the writer's most improbable supposon there was
nothing to be operated upon by heat electricity"
would also add, another fact that the paper which
the sentence was written procured by Mr. T. him
SELF he informs US, and in the possession,
power or control of the mediums either before after
the sentence written. This sentence shown to
General Hamilton, General Thompson, General Campbell,
and other intimate friends Of Mr. Calhoun and also TO
Of his sons and they all pronounced the handwrt
ling or perfect fac Se Of the hand writing Of Mr. CAL
the writing and here is the proof What is wanted
But the writer believe that the laws of gravity
could be by raising the table from the floor
neither can he explain except the spiritual theory,
how the table could be rvctted to the floor against the
efforts Of four raise it neither he explain any
other principle how the handle Of the bell could make
such indentatons in the wood of cherry table. There
the facts and about all of which there could be
deusion deception. Mr. T. related the facts last
winter some Of the most distinguished in the
ton. They all said they just well satisfied Of
the existence Of the facts If they had them them
selves and that if the facts in issue the trial
man for his life his testimony would convict and
cute him.
"Homo" has evidently never had an opportunity to
investigate this matter If he had he would have been
entirely satisfied that there is fraud imposture and
in regard to the facts there could be no deception de-
fusion Those who are opposed to the spiritual theory
concede all this but attempt account for these phenom
ena in some other way.
The writer's idea Of the ubquity Of spirits is mere as
sumption. There facts which he can rest such
a suppositon. No spirituast pretends any such thing
The communications received deny any such power but
as spirits through space with the rapidly Of
thought all the phenomena Of their presence at parcu-
lar times places explained, and his inference Of
omnipresence, omniscicnce, SC. falls to the ground
The writer adds " deny that the enlightened men
Of the present age believe that departed spirits revisit the
earth II is vagary Of the Senator's fancy assert 1t
and the assertion Is not susceptible Of proof II this
yagary Of the Senator it has also been the vagay Of all
past ages and Of the present time assert that the
belief Of all christian denominations that spirits do revisit
the earth that they attend and impress u.s. This be-
lief is universal that have not heard il controverted
during all these discussions except by your correspon-
dent will proceed give authorities for this be-
lief which viii show that 1t is any thing but yagary Of
Mr.. 7.
"The opinion" says able author, Or. X CRALLE Of
Vrginia,) that acted upon and Influenced by
spiritual beings whether called angels spirits demons
devils is coeva with the earliest records Of and
coextensye with all human society. There never was n
period when it did not prevail nor people that did not
entertain It, The theological systems Of every nation
the globe with which have any acquaintance give the
doctrine prominent place The jewish Egyptian, In
dian, Persian Chadean Grecian, and Roman records
test the fact The ancient philosophers-men who not
only impressed themselves the age in which they lived
but the traces Of whose deep wisdom not yet entirely
efaced-unyersay admitted and ncucacd the doctrine
not excepting even the founders OF what called the
atheistca sects Thales the earliest amongst the Gre
clan philosophers according Cicero Plutarch, Sobnus
and the christian philosopher Athensgora taught that
the souls OF men after death spiritual substances, dis
tngushed into good and evil and that they acted direct
y and powerfully during their life in this world
The doctrine taught by the Egyptian priests
before the time OF Thales, are told by Jambeus
and others and such the theory Of Pythagoras and
Plato learn from Putarch Cicero Psellus and Fa-
bricius Zeno and his followers maintained the doc
tne with cearness and force hardly credible when
consider the age in which they lived"
President DwGHr gave full credence to the agency Of
spirits, and informs US that angels Tor prits) should