New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-03
an EXPLANATION.
vocal laurel,

To ne Editor Of The n. Y. Tribune.
SIR: greatly regret that you should have thought
II necessary in your reply TRIBUNE, 18th inss, 70 sae
notice by The Ny. Times OF DIR. Cheever's letter 70
Rev. Mr. Spurgeon TO step aside from the matter "
hand and renew the stale allegation, that DIR. q.
chad lost wealthy practitioners because Of his unoc-
promising Anti-Slayery usterances, n unqucssoa-
cable"
The seceders from the Church of the Purissns 10
whom you allude have all spoken to e world, with
ont reserve under their names, once and asaini
not only disclosing the true reasons for thor ACTON pu1
expressly dsavowng the Slavery issue as having any
In reasserng therefore, discy In the face Of these
solemn avermens, made under their respopsioniy ~
gentlemen and Christians that it was DR. C:s Ann.
Slavery utterances" which caused their withdrsw@
YOU cast reproach upon their yeracty, which " botn
undeserved and offensive, and which you would be
10th to receive from the editor OF TIE Iss, ios eA
ample, or any other gentleman OF respectabihty.
Why is it that the editors Of Tue TRIBUNE persss IN
this assertion Is anything thus to DO gained for me
cause of Freedom is the Church Of the Purtans, on
it's pastor essential element in the great contest
which agitates the country that truth, and charity
and common courtesy, must all be sacrificed In its be-
half
recently pressed upon the attention Of the Fifth Ave-
nue. Committee and TIE Journal Of Commerce BY TaE
TRIBUNE, leads me to the belief that Mr. Greeley and
the other gentlemen OF your editorial stan understand
be Jealous Anti-Slayery men, and yet BIO in no vice
concerned in John Browns foray at Harper's Ferry.
So, likewise | understand how a man may be thor
ougby AntSlayery IN his principles, and yet nave no
sympathy with the harshness and arrogance which
have for years overfiowed from the pulpit Of the
Church of the Purtans. With what measure you
mete Mr. Greeley it shall be measured 10 yon again.
Do not renew your reproaches aud attacks on mr.
Watts Sherman and others, you have 80 frequently
done of late by name, long you extend 10 me and
my associates the uncharitabeoess which you charge
upon Mr.. Sherman and his co-committeemen.
You say, " No suavity Of temper courtesy OF de-
" meanor on his DIR. C.'s part could have ayerted
" this loss 80 long he proclaimed and insisted on
" the incompatibty of slavoholding and Christianity
Ny succinct reply TO which is that the troubles be-
tween DIR. T.. and his pensioners antedated BY many
long months his first utterances on the subject OF
Slavery. Nay, more; the movement having for is
end his withdrawal or removal toos postponed for
more than slr months, ezPressIy on account % Ms
Asti- Slavery preaching. by and bye, trust the wise
of this generation will understand our position In
this controversy.
The fact alluded to by The Nsr-Y York Ob.erver Of
ast week that while DR. Cheever has been for years
declaming against Slavery and denouncing sayehold
ers with what he calls "the thunderings and light
E" nings of Gods Word"-although the luting OF hi:
texts many would consider untempered mortar mixed
in a poor weak vessel and while he was brand
ing churches in which shareholders were admitted TO
fellowship as synagogues Of Satan and their ministers
dumb dogs he has yet allowed the existence OF sns
in his own Church without rebuke, hiss been knownte
yersy to which he charged them with being moved BY
their Pro-Slavery interests or proclivtieA But IN
very pity they have forborne retortng the fatal act
upon him; fully believing that time, the great vndlca-
tor would without their active agency, send back sha
i-avored brood of misrepresentation 70 roost IN tha
pastors study Of the Church Of tho Puritans NOW.
however that the fact Of his completely win shs AN
of Slavery has been Published TO the worid BY others,
feel at liberty to add that in instance, II NOS In
more after his damnatory utterances against slave
holders in the fall Of 1856 during the lat Presidential
canpaigBl DIR. went TO a slave-holdny member OF ha
church. and apoogzed for the severity "a his language
saving that il meantto be personal as be knew
that the City or sixty slaves in s bondage, thus
held for their own good The apology was indignantly
repealed and be was very plainly told that his oonox-
GUS censures were assumed "a equally applicable 70
shareholders in his church TO those at the SOUTH
This is the man who pours forth MS maedctions and
without stint measure on missionaries 10 tsd
savage Of the wilderness on Christian ministers whose
locks have whened in the service OF their Master and
in self-denying devotion 70 the highest and best inter
esfs of their fellown and on Christians OF every
name who do not bow down to him as the prophet and
apostle Of the nineteenth century, and the aeknowi-
edged head and leader Of tho Ezode from our Amen
can Egypt.
But am again asked, as I have already been in in
Vulnerable instances, What, then, was the cause OF
your seeking Dr. c. removal from the pastor2te II
was not bis Anti-SlayeFy utterancesl My answer 10 m
the words Of our narrative:
81 The eondision church Under his paorste both
H. The ehsrsc.sr Of biz public ntnistrations;
I'LL Ms and bitter mode OF speech tovardthoss
who coincide with bis sannso o the duties o. hs
oaiee; and his inpatenes Of all admouitioa;
w. Biz assumption Of arbitrary power In Tie Affairs Of IN
church
The simple truth is that Dr. C. and bis friends got
up the Slavery issue TO divert attention from osr
charges against himself; and by dnt Of welsasained
clamor and oftepeated assertions, they have douDt-
less made themselves believe, and perhaps few sts-
ers also, who did not study the controversy "a pro-
gressed, that really we were all exceedingly zeaioss
Tor the right Of trading in the bodies and soas o. ess
Bot! gradually this illusion delaaon or bota, va
Pass away, and Truth viii be vlnacsise n ss' Sa
both the Church Of the Punisna ana uNPesAs0"