New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-08

In an article in The Independent, entitled =" Crit.
cism and Calumny," of which the object seems to
be TO indorse "the heightened Christian character
and devout cOnscientiousness' of the Rev. John s.
C. Abbott, and partially to indorse the Rev.
John S. C. Abbott's Life Of Napoleon Bonepars
az trustworthy biography fit to be read in Amer
can families, we find the following paragraph:
ave regard the course Of The TRIBUNE and Of
some other Journals in noticing this work. altogether
unworthy OF literary critics Mr. Abbott cannot suffer
in the esteem of his friends through such reckless in
dignities Whatever may be his errors Of judgment,
even as tested by bis earlier works ne cannot bo
accused of ignoring any principle Of morality or
truth"
Now, what may pass muster in the C0ngrega-
ional churches for heightened Christian charac-
or and devOut cOnscientiousuess, The Independent
is a much better judge than We are. We have
never undertaken to pronounce upon Mr.. Abbotts
qualification for church membership and sectarian
communion, any more than we have upon the ques-
ton Of the admission of slayedrivers and slave
traders to like positions. That not in our line.
But We do profess 10 have some little knowledge
of books; and as 70 the filthy rags of human
righteousness, to be quite as sagacious as The Inds.
pendent, or any of the religious Journals in telling
the counterfeit from the genuine. To the strange
assertion of The Independent, that Mr.. Abbott can
not be accused of ignoring any principle Of
morality or truth" we beg leave to oppose the
following passage from the very first paragraph o.
his book 1t will be found at the beginning of the
preface:
"The writer admires Napoleon because be obh0rrsd
ror and did everything in his power to avert that
dire calamity; because be merlted the sovereignty
which the sggrages Of grateful nation eerated rim,
because he cOnsecraed the most extraordinary ener
ges ever conferred upon mortal to promote the pros
ger1tv of has country; because be was regardless
1uxuTy and cheerfuly endured ali toll and hardship
that he nigh eler0te and bless the Of mankind;
because he had hgh Of kOnOT revered religion.
respected the rights of conscience, and noby adyo
Gated equality Of PTdreges ana me unreTsdl oT0Aer-
hood Of man. Such the true character Of Napoleon
Bonaparte The narrative contained in these pages
Ii offered demonstration OF the truth OF this a.
sertion."
Now with all due submission TO The Indspendes,
it is difficult to conceive how any sane man-and
We do not understand The Independent to set tho
defense Of nsanity-whO had devoted four years
and half 10 the study of the French Revolution
and the Empire could venture on any such under
taking as is announced in the above cited paragraph
unless he had first ignored every received "princ'
pie" both of " morality and truth" Such audacl'
~, indeed, in the disregard of truth, such tosa
contempt for every acknowledged principle Of
morality, would hardly have been ventured upon
by lay man. 1t requires the cover of ecceslssu'
al robes The confidence Of being Endorsed as "a
"man of high toned Christian character and DE-
"yout cOnscientiousness, by numerous broiner- /.
hood, to inspire the bad bodness requisite for 'ea
an undertaking.
TIE next thing, we suppose, will bea LIE
Satan," FROM the same hand, designed TO reseS
that injured individuals reputation from unmen'e1
obliquy, and TO prove that throughout his Ha''s
career he abhorred sin, and had no other oelee.
in all his restless activity, except to eleTa's S'~
bless the masses of mankind"