Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-09-29
PURITANISM OF THE PRESENT DAY-HoW
II WORKS.


In the fascinating page OF Hawthorne the intole-
rant spirit of primitive Puranis,n i. illustrated with
dramatic power and truth of reproduction, which
have won for the author OF the Scarlet Letter
rank among the great masters Of fiction. With what
worse than monastic severity of spirit the innocent
pastincs of youth were proscrlbed-with what mex
orablo cruelty the slightest deviation from the strict
letter of an arbitrary and gloomy system Of morality
was punishet-wth what fierce intolerance the voice
of conscience was stifed and the liberty Of private
Judgment suppresscd-how the bigotry aud sour vi
sage of New England Purtanlsn perverted the prii'
ciplos of FREQ government and banished all sunshine
and happiness from society, this gifted writer has
faithfully and vividly represented in his charming
stories In the fctions Of Hawthorne the truth OF
history is vdicated and the vices as we'll as the vir-
tues of the Puritan character portrayed with Sir-
gular fidelity and admirable effect.
Making allowance for the more liberal spirit and
generous culture Of the 18th century we shall dcov-
or in New England society OF the present day, all the
worse and more repulsive traits OF tho Puritan charac-
ter The better qualities Of this character its intense
carnestness of purpose s nhcSlble devotion TO It's
conception of justice, and.its solemn religious tone'
have disappeared, and been succeeded by frivolous
profession of philanthropy and fashionable atfecta-
ton of indifferentism and infdelty But the spirit OF
sefsufhciency, Of intolerance and persecution Ia
reproduced aud exaggerated in the present race
of New England bigots. The disease exhibits itself
in different FORM but its nature is essentially the
same, and it RACES, il possible, with more IN
susc maignitv. Abolitionism is the special develop
mcut Of latter day Purtanis, and it exhibits It's IN
tolerant spirit In prescribing and prosecuting the
slave-hudcr to the extent not Of ts vindctve DESIRE
but OF its limited capacity.
The American Board Of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions at their session in Hartford, supplied
characteristic illustration Of the prevalence OF Pu-
tanic temper of intolerance among the pious people
of New England. This association, of which the os-
tensble doaign is TO propagate the truths OF Chris
tiauity among heathen nations has been seriously
disturbed Of late years by rebeous spirit of aboil-
ticuism unong its members. AZ the late session OF
the Board this spirit was excited to open revolt The
agents OF the Board among the Choc!aw Nation,
blending the character of Christian Missionary with
ta, of Abolition Em;ssary, forgot in imstructing the
slaves to nculcate the Apostolic injunction Of ooedl'
euce and contentment. On the contrary, they dis
semuated the insurrecouary doctrines OF the new
Evangcl of bolitionsm with such assduity and suc-
cess that the Choctaw Legislature was driven to Gu
act law which prohibits the Missionaries from teach
inc, thc slnyes The official communication Of this
fact TO the Board at its late session. provoked debate
in which the can't the hypocrisy, and the intoerant
tempsr of latter day Purtansm are exhibited III udl-
crous extravaganza. DR.. Lyman Beecher and other
eminent Divines Of the "Cncle Tom school, were
present ia such ,orce that the words 81 s"be!ncsS
ard truth which courageous clergyman from t'iis
CITY dared 10 utter stfed by taaatlca opposI-
tou. The Rev. Mr.. Reid was lnsuted and over
,vb.lned, the conservative counsel Of Chancellor
Walworth was disregsried, the sway Of the Parkers
and the Beechors complete, and the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions perverted
from its legitimate purpose 10 serve the passions and
the bisotry Of New England Puritanism. The l"de-
pendent. the organ Of Abolitions1n in s religious de-
velopement thus triumphantly reckons un'h -"'"1'
of the action of the Board :.
I. II fully endorses The principles OF MT: treat
letter of lSiS which every Christian
man must acknowledge 10 De satisfactory VII .ne
trcntmeut of slavery by the missionaries OF the
Board. s s,a
. r refuses to cooperate with system oi eouca-
.iop based upon distinctions OF color ana posnoh'
and DENYING TO slaves and their chiidreh 'he A'i'"
lnIy. Of the Word nf God.
+, ,rorlnns the Higher Law of Christ i'll oppn-
s;,;nn 70 all anti Christian legislation, and the duty OF
preaching the Gospel to all persons and OF applying
Il to all phases of human character and conduct.
This action covers the whole ground OF duty Tor
the Board in relation to slavery Hencet5rea nerg
can or;sr no question oprnc,pe bctwcen the Board and
the anti-slavery sentiment Of The Christian p4dtc
In other words, the Board resolved to abandon its
christian mission rather than surrender the privilege
of fomenting insuborduation among the slaves OF
The Choctaw nation. This done in the spirit OF
the new Evangel of "Uncle Tou," not Of the Gospel
orJ.sus Christ From His mission peace on earth no
wus NOT diverted BY contact with the phase of
slavery. The disciples Of latter day funtanism' IN
at Hartford, have deliberately resolved 10
let the Choctaw negroes go to the devil rather than
abee the least from their proud spirit OF bgotry and
intolerance
Alas for the rarity
OF christian charity