Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-11-28
CONCORD. N. II. Nov. 18th. /

CONCORD, N. II. Nov. 18th, 1857.
DEAR FRIEND ROBINSON Not ill to-day has
your paper of the eth, reached me, with the pro-
~ceedings OF the late Cleveland Convention. l am
very. very sorry, that contrary to my express in.
junction, any report of my remarks at the opening
meeting should have been printed, withou. my
seeing it.
The report would make me not only extravagant
in statement, and censorious in manner, as we'll
as matter, but almost bitter in spirit.
But / appeal to you and to all who heard me,
whether taking the free and easy style in which I
spoke into account, and the kindly expressions Of
regard for the Committee of arrangements, not
only as to their constant devotion to the cause, but
their general ability in directing it,
such Of them as have been its directors, there was
anything in the address, thai noed have laid me
under the charge of hostile, or my improper feel
ing towards that committee, or a spirit ir any way
unlike that If every one who spoke on that unfor-
tunate occasion.
knew my remarks, taken out Of the tone and
manner in which they were spoken. aud seen only
on paper, might DO construed to do me great in
justice, as well as the Committee; and for that
reason, l made special demand that they DO not
printed till | saw them.
You remember the circumstances of that morn.
ing. The weather was unpleasant. the house was
dark, dismal, cold and nearly empty. All our fond
dreams and bright visions for that day, to mark
the first grand ~olympiad Of our mighty conflict,
had suddenly burst into q reality, more dreary
than tho scenes around us. Mrs. Foster spoke n,
much length, in tone sometimes respondent, and
tn en- defiant of every obstacle, cheering us on tc
dread encounter, oil her brave spirit could-and
then Remond as we'll as others, gave utterance tc
} then throbbing emotions, on the revelations Of the
hour-but all of them, as it seemed to me, TOT
much in the minor key, sounded or suggested al
much by The physical darkness and GOODNESS Of thu
D house. rs by any moral gloom that overshndowet
r us, when l rose, intending by a good natured anC
n lively utterancO of q little hyperbole, in which O
t course should mingle my dissent from the pos.
s %ponement by the committee, to cast a more cheer
: full and sunny hue over our surroundings.
0 Such was my intention. So. and only 80 did
:. suppose myself understood. The audience NOR
g than once, cheered quite heartily, which would nc
e have been done, had my spirit been bitter, or m
], criticism unduly severe.
The report almost Of necessity does both th
-
committee and myself injustice-not from the ir
, accuracy of the phraseology. Perhaps the NOR
, literal the report, the more it ould not convey jus
', what was intended, and just what was understoo
by those who heard. Moro than the mere word
are required sometimes, especially when read froi
a newspaper, to convey the meaning md above al
y the animus Of addresses spoke in public.
Most ~joyfully would I have had that conmittt
- present or any members of it. to hear my remark
=, They have none of them complained to me, whn
ever others may have done. Nor will they, if the
can understand the real estimate l long have, ar
do still, put upon their judgment and their inte
rity-and l regret more than words can expires
to have been even the unintentional cause of OF
tbrob of s~olicitude in any quarter, lest the cor
mi,,ee or any body else should be aggrieved
~ my course. But as such fears have been vel
. strongly expressed. hope you will allow me
occupy so much room, in the hope of setting m
self right.
u Very hastily Yours.
10 PARKER PILLSBURY.