Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-05
lFrom The New York Esenlus Post.
Ured and Uncle Tom.

An Immense number OF copies OF
Mrs. Stoves new work has already
been sold. but with all iis popularity
there Is. as is natural. much diversity
OF opinion respecting its merits. Itis
called by many q second Uncle
Tom" by some regarded As superior
and by others o. inferior TO that work;
but by nearly all It Is estimated with
reference to that work as standard.
This Is q mistake. It Is neither better
nor worse than its predecessor. but
widely different; aud Il Is the want Of
attention to this difference which 90.
casions the diversity Of opinion.
Both works are animated with the
same general purpose-to hold up the
system Of slavery 70 the abhorance Of
the world, and 10 strike blow for its
removal: but the immediate purpose.
the means through which the princi-
pal end Is 10 be attained. are different.
In "Uncle Tom" the system is portray
ed though the medium Of a romance.
and the stirring picture is left without
explanation OF comment TO work upon
the heart. The author strikes the in
tellect through the affections. Her
purpose did not require her to blend
moralising with romance, or to deviate
from narrative into the regions Of d.
dactic instruction. The interest of the
novel is not for moment lost. But
there was n want which Uncle Tom
did not supply. Tho world desires to
know, with II calmer faculties, what
the real nature Of such system is
what are its legal and social founda-
tions-how II came to exist. and how
il is possible for it to continue--what
views are entertained Of il by those
who fell more Immediately its results.
and what are the obstacles in the way
Of its removal; and these questions
she has answered in "Dred." The
system is here exhibited in its length
and breadth. height and depth-fas-
tened upon the slave by the iron gripe
Of the law-riyitcd upon society by
the combined force OF selfinlerest and
proscriptive opinion. The struggles
which virtue and humanity make
against it, the desperate defenses
which present interest and passion
throw around it, the high aspirations
and fearful passions Il excites in the
breast Of the slave. are all depicted,
and with the power and skill and can
dor which are 10 be found IN this au-
thor alone. Adopting the rom ance rs
a means to arrest and preserve the At
tention. she does not hesitate to depart
from it, as her purpose may require.
Less interesting than "Unc.s Tom,"
"Dred" is far more instructive; infe-
rior as work Of the imagination and
Of narrative genius. il is far superior
asa work Of the reason and intellect.
1t will have fewer readers than "Un-
Gle Tom," and less influence over or
dinary minds; but we venture TO say
that no book has yet been written
which discovers so profound an insight
into the system Of slavery. or which
carries with it so completely the con-
yictions Of the intelligent and thought
ful reader.
DR.. Keely yet keeps a supply on
hands. Let the book be read by the
snd the millions. Its life.
like pictures Of the institution that
governs the country viii instruct the
reader. What he sees slavery in Car
olina, is what slavery win be in Kan
sas so years hence. unless prevented
now.