The daily union., 1854-10-24
From the Richmond Enquirer
PURITANISM OF THE PRESENT DAf-HoW IT
WORKS. -

In the fascinating page of Hawthorne the intoerant
spirit of primitive Purtanism is illustrated with dra
matte power and truth of reproduction which have
for the author of "The Scarlet Letter" rank among the
great masters Of fiction With what than monastic
severity of spirit the pastmes of youth prescribed
with what inexorabe cruelty the slightest deviation from
the strict letter of arbitrary and gloomy system of
raty punshedwh what fierce intolerance the voice
of conscience sed and the liberty OF private udg
suppressed-how the bgoty and yisage of the
New England Puritansm perverted the principles Of free
government and banshed all sunshine and happiness from
society," this gifted writer has faithfully and vivdly repre-
sented in his charming stories In the e;ions of Haw
thorne the truth of history is vindcaed and the vices
well the virtues of the Puritan character portrayed
with singular fidelity and admirable effect
Making allowance for the liberal spirit and gene
culture of the 10th century, shall discover in New
England society of the present day all the and
repusve traits Of the Puritan character The better quail
ties of this character its intense of purpose
nhexibe devotion to its conception of justice and its SOL
religious tone have disappeared and been succeeded
by frivolous profession of philanthropy and fashion
able afectaton of indlerentism and infdey. But the
spirit of sesufciency of intolerance and persecution is
reproduced and exaggerated in the present of New
England bigots. The disease exhibits itself in different
FORM but its is essentially the same and RACES
If possible with intense malignity Abolitionism is
the special development of atterday Puransm, and it
hbits its ntoerant spirit in prescribing and prosecuting
the stakeholder to the extent not of its vndicve desire
but Of its limited capacity.
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis-
sions at their recent session in Hartford supplied char
actersc Illustration of the prevalence of Puritanic tenn
per ofntoerance among the pious people Of New England
This association of which the ostensble design is prop
agate the truths of Christianity among heathen nations
has been seriously disturbed of late years by rebelous
spirit of aboliionism among its members At the late
sion of the board this spirit excited to open revolt
nf fha tIa ,o.;or
blending the character Of Christian missionary with that
of abolition emissary forgot in instrucng the slaves to
incucate the Apostolic injunction of obedience and
teniment On the contrary, they disseminated the nsur
rectonary doctrines of the evangel of abotonsm
with such assduty and that the Choctaw ega-
ture driven law which prohibits the mission
aries from teaching the slaves The official communication
of this fact the board its late provoked de
bate in which the can't the hypocrisy, and the intoerant
temper of laer-day Puritnnism exhibited in dicrous
extravaganza Dr. Lyman Beecher and other eminent di
vines Of the Uncle Tom school, present in such
force that the words of soberness and truth which
agcous clergyman from this city dared 10 utter sti
fed by fanncal opposition The Rev. Mr.. Reid in
suited and overwhelmed the conservative counsel of Coun
selor Walworh dregarded the sway of the Pakers
and the Beechers complete and the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions perverted from its e
gmate purpose the passions and the bgotry of
New England Puritansm The Independent the organ Of
aboitonism in its religious development thus triumphant
y rcckons up the result of the action Of the board
1t fully endorses the principles of Mr. Treats letter of
ls4s which every Christian anti-slavery must
knowledge to be satisfactory the treatment of slavery by
the missionaries of the board
q 1t refuses to cooperate with system of education
based upon distinctions of color and position and denying
slaves and their children the knowledge of the Word Of
God.
g. 1t proclaims the higher law of Christ in opposition TO
all antiChrstan legislation and the duty of preaching the
Gospel to all persons and of applying il to a phases Of
human character and conduct
This action the whole ground Of duty for the
board in relation slavery Henoeorh there can arise
question of principle between the board and the anti
slavery sentiment of the Christian public.
In other words the board resolved to abandon its Chris
tan mission rather than surrender the privilege of toment
ing insubordinaon among the slaves of the Choctaw
op This was done in the spirit of the eysngel Of
Uncle Tom not of Gospel of Jesus Christ From His
mission Of peace earth He diverted by
with the worst phase of slavery The disciples of latter
day Puritansm in convention at Hartford have deliber
atey resolved TO the Choctaw negroes go to the devil
rather than abate the least from their proud spirit of big
otry and intolerance.
Alas for the rarity
OF Christian charity
Under the sun