The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-22
IN ADVANCE
n u Nj B Err 90

ject. During the last winter at Washing
ton, conferred fully, and on their own
solicitation, with some of the most distin-
guished men in the nation. l gave to
them my own opinions, and the exalted
communications and facts on which those
opinions were founded.
Retired from public life, / have desired
in this, as in all other matters. to avoid
public observation. At the same time,
you have been acquainted with me we'll
enough and long enough to know that,
when have deliberately formed an opin-
ion on any subject, have that rare quail
ity, called moral courage, which enables
me to aYow it either in private or in pub
lie.
So far as the public are concerned, I
have'as yet endeavored to maintain
profound silence. But, considering my!
self as one of those so vindictively denoun-
ccd in the article alluded to, further ST.
| lencc on my part would argue pusil-
lanimity, and cease to be virtue. have
not language to express my astonishment
at the suggestions and doctrines there put
torth-dOctrines which subtert the very
principles of civil and religious freedom,
guaranteed by the Constitution under
which we live. Who could have conceiv =
ed that, at this advanced period of the
nineteenth century, whilst we are sur
rounded by the multiplied evidences of
the rapid progress in science and the arts,
we should witness snch evidences of big
otry and superstition, ard such retro
gression towards the "Cimerian Darkness"
which spread like ball over the ancient
worldR If there was ever a monomania
on any subject, it is on the part of those
who have, without knowledge or inves-
tigation, denouced SO madly these spirit
ual Manifestations" find no fault with
those who do not believe in them, but I
cannot Withhold an expression of my sur
prise, that intelligent minds can be found
to denounco those who do investigate
them.
To yindicate myself therefore, from
these aspersions, enclose you copy of "a
letter which | wrote early last January
to the Hon. James F. Simmons, formerly
United States Senator from Rhode Island.
The letter was written in the confidence
ofprivate friendship, and not intended for
the public eye. Such as it Is, however,
| send to you, and ask, as an act of justice
that you will publish it, together with this
letter, in the National Intelligencer.
You need not be told who James F..
Simmons is. He occupied a seat for sew
eral years with me in the Senate of the
United States; and amongst all the men,
berS Of that body you did not number two
better friends. We were both deemed
capable at that time of examining salts
factorily any question Of finance, or OF
political economy, with which we might be
engaged. But now, because We have
thoroughly investigated these Spiritual
Manifestations. and believe in their truth,
we are included in the general, and Judge
Edmonds in the particular denunciations
ofthis writer. have given the character of
Judge Edmonds in my letter to Simmons;
and | will only add here, in reference to
the retailed slander and sneering remark
of the writer in regard to his DECISIONS,
that, rs Judge, he unites the qualities
of two of the brightest luminaries of the
English bench namely, the profundity of
Bacon with the intuition of Mansfield
Very respectfully, yours,
N. Z. TALLMADGE.