The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-01
Defence OF AN AUTHORIZES.

DEFENCE OF AN AUTHORIZES
CASANDAIeUA, N. Y, Feb II, 1855.
Having seen accidentally late number OF
your paper, found among its contributions,
notice Of new work by Mrs. Z. ID. Il. n.
Southworth. Ever ready to hail a womsns et-
fort in the paths of literature, the article ar
rested my attention. With pain and regret,
perceived that commendation of one author,
seemed necessarily drawn from severe and Ill
founded animadversion upon another. The
pain was given through personal regard for
Miss Chesebro, whose high and holy purpose,
in the conservation of her genius and energy,
demands appreciation; and regret, by finding
that no reliance can be placed upon critical
praise, when critical cens,tre is so pa1pably the
result of ignorance Miss Chesebros works are
not written for superficial perusal, and those
who read them, for the amusement Of hstless
hour, are not prepared by such careless read
ing to estimate or report of them.
| know not who Mrs. Cove Nichols may be,
with whom Miss Chesebro is associated in such
unspering condemnation but friendship and
justice alike claim this slight vindicatory trlb-
ute to one who loves virtue and truth, and whose
aim in early years, as well as early authorship,
is to shield and elevate her sex. M n. n.
FROM A RETIRED EDITOR
NHw YORK, Jan. G, 1855.
Although 1 have some time since retired
from active participation in politics-driven by
the force Of necessity from the ranks of the
Free Democratic press, to calling which gives
better promise of bread to my family
cannot forbear to add my humble tribute of
encouragement and support in the difficult path
you are treading.
If had been told that our Free Democratic
friends had organized society for the. capture
and return of fugitive slaves, l should not have
been more surprised than when / learned that
they were focking to the standard of party
whose creed makes the accident of birth the
pretext for DISTINGUISHING brother, and which,
stunning the light of day, moves to its pur-
poses in secresy and silence, and aspires to
govern the nation by the petty DEGREES of
lodge room. Where else can we find doctrines
or practices nearer our own antipodes? Where
can Rome herself find better countsnance?
White blackbirds are patterns Of consistency,
compared with Know Nothing Free Democrats.
TO call man free anything, who IL under
the bondage of secret cabal, is ridiculous
solecism. All that the most apprehensive ina
gination has ever dreaded OF Papal tyranny
and absoutism, finds its counterpart in this
new hierarchy. 1t cuts off recusants for here
sy, with sternness as Implying as the Inquisi-
ton in its reddest days. What business have
the haters of tyranny, and especially of spirit
ual tyranny, with such communion? Just as
much as Kossuth has in the Cabinet of, Nicho-
las.
/ hope our Massachusetts, Free Democrats
will take care to avoid the fate of the foolish
bird, which, trying to initiate an eagle by carry
ing off a sheep, got his feet fixed fast in the
wool, and was broiled for somebody's supper
shortly after. The names talked of for high
places do not resemble any ever heard in the
roll-call of Liberty, but have long been familiar
in the enemy's camp.
Sad am / to say it, but it is too true, that
men in our front rank, men with national repu-
tations, men we have sworn by, are bowling to
Gesler's hat. l hope, if by this means they
reach the seats of power they once held, with
no shadow on their. backward path, they will
show by their works that the trammeIs they
have voluntarily assumed are not strong enough
to fetter their souls. Yours, s.