Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-22
JOHN BELTON O'NEALL.
PHILADELPHIA. February Sd, lS5

PHILADELPHIA, + eDruarY ID. 1895.
Dear SIR: Your kind letter Of the 18th ult
is before me, and it seems to rrbuke me for
not having sooner answered it. 1t merits the
imputation of want of courtesy, yet have
All excuse to offer for it, which your generous
heart will no doubt gladly accept The too
hasty action of the Division, by which my
come elton with ii was dissolved, so irritated
me, that determined never again To seek adj
mission into the Order; and. no doubt | would
have executed my purpose had it not been for
the interest which your letter conveys. /
had no sooner perused It's contents than | re-
pentod of my determination, and resolved to
resume the position frou which had dlspens-
ed iDnumerabla blessings, and by which had
myself been blessed. | FASTENED accordingly
to my old Division-"Hope Division''-that,
under the segis of its talismantiC name, and in
n placid haven of its bright sea of happy influ-
enccs, might cast anchor and ride in safety
for the remainder Of my life To await the
qualification of this desire, which was consum-
mated on last evening, is the excuse | otler
you for not sooner r, plying TO the expression
of your generous sentiments.
You desire me to pre- sent Your kind regards
to my wife and daughter. To my daughter
have mentioned your civility; but, alas my
friend, to my wife that message can now emily
be borne by some winged messenger of the
spirit land. 1t was the long aud weary vigils
around her dying couch that led TO that i'm
pairmcnt of my health, for which stimulants
were recommended; and, for the use of which
my Division, no doubt. thought ii right To 5; rike
my name from the roll of its members. Upon
the occurrence of these two events. l became
alike Indifferent to the claims OF the Order
and the clamors of my enemies There is
degree in misery which, when harshly dealt
with. drives the victim oftener To rashness
than 10 reason. Such at least was ills effect
on me. But let that pass; used TO abuse,
have grown patient under il. Reason. III all
events, is now in the ascendant-Memory
seeks to drop soft veil between the present
and the past-Hope is pointing to an unerring
future-and Philip is himself again.
deeply sympathiZe with you for the death
of your excellent daughter. The eXtinguish-
ment of this light of your house" throws n
peculiar gloom around your hearth stona, in
asmuch as.she the only one 10 call you
father; but she has left behind her eight lesser
lights, who, by Initiating mothers virtues,
will no doubt irradiate that gloom. aud bring
that wonted halo OF joy-partially at least
back TO your heart and home. Death, under
any circumstances, Is sad visitor 10 the
family circle, Tor whatever may he the prepa-
ration for his approach on the part of the r.
natives of the object of his visit, aa indescri-
babe d-sola;ioa of the heart will attest his
presence, aad an agonized M mOgy will wait
upon his departure. | speak erimentally,
for how deeply have thus trlt Tor like rsaVagsrs
upon my own household, my heart only caa
describe. Had mere OF that Christian philo-
sOphy for which You are 80 eminentiy disIln-
guished. | igbt icei less acuIely such IN
ncIion. But my nature has not bcen snlfi-
cieuIiy turaed that way-reason, With her
cold nagtr, poinrs il out, bat the melting
heart viii not profit by the lesson.
O-ie might suppose that these Affections
were seysfe vaodgh, Yet nay enelales, n II Ia
pile Pel!ou upon OssA are seeking. Ia many
of the southern prints, TO wound me more
deeply sull aia charged by then, with hay-
lag heva rescued from drunkenness by the
temperance reform. aud with having fallen
back into the fatal abyss again. need not
say "a you that such attacks are as uRgene-
roas rs they are untrue. never was drunk
aad In ms llte--ney,r could be- one. Ms Whole
mental economy revolts against the vice, and
nv ph ysieai constitution iorhias H. II seslals %
me that iny oan beloved South, y here ex-
lpeci yet 10 live and die, has been The theatre
Of all the acting against my career of b,-nevo-
ienee. Wen, Ia that also pas. Though
greatly mortified BY il. | have bcney olence
enough 10 overlook and forgive H.
Write me sooa, and tail not TO place rae
foremost among your friends aad admirers.
Yours. Sc, PHILIP :. WHITE
Hon. John Bolton o'Aeall.