Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-08-17
For the Advertiser.
The Sicklcs Affair.

|
the letter from lion. j. E. SicILEs to the New
York Herald, u copy of which nppcarcdin arecent
issue of your paper; and while no one has
right as certainly have not desire, to Interfere
with the domestic relations Of anothor,-to enter
unbildcn circlo which should bc sacred from
iatrusion-yct this unfortunate affair has acquired
a notoricty commensurate with newspaper circu-
latiun, and this letter furnishes an occasion to
say something on subject of Importance to more
than the parties Immediately concerned.
This man hua by his extraordinary course, be-
come the exponent of principle, as think,
neither understood nor acknowledged; and is
entitled to sympathy and support in its main
tsnance.
Of the honorable gentleman personally, know
nothing. Of the complexion of his political opin-
ions am entirely ignorant; and with his moral
and social status have nothing to do beyond his
peculiar position of having received again to his
protection and confidence his repudiated wife (;
and all have to shy proceeds of course upon the
suppostion that Mrs SIcKLEs is what she processes
to be, u sincerely rcformedpcnitcnt and assuming
this to be the case, + regard her husband rs
having inaugurated movement to correct the
nisfortuncs of weak, crring, but rcpcntant woman.
What is there in reason, humanity, or the Holy
Scriptures which will justify consignment to eter-
nal infamy, woman whose weakness has been
| abused-whose confidence has been betrayed
! Why should the frown Of contemptuous scorn
sither her soul, blight her hopes, and drive her
out of the pale of Society, and on in course of
desperate defnncc--havng sometimes as the enly
refuge that society from which her very nature
rolts-whilc that frown is turned to smile at
The approach of the worthless libcrino who has
Effected her ruin Isitall because she is q woman?
Now, if it were only professed people Of fashion
who net thus, it might not seem so strange; for
worldliness has corrupting cfectupon the natures
Of those exposed to its influence. fit were only
they "who are Of the earth earthly" it would not
be such matter OF surprise. Though even then,
the instincts of humanity ought to prompt diff
ferent course. But there arc those who profess to
be "partakers of the Divine Nature" and imbued
with the Spirit of Love, who will join in the "hue
and cry" that hunts tho painting penitcnt to the
I say "profcss" But surely they cannot be Chris
tians who depart so far from the course pursued
| by Him vino was the embodiment of all that was
pitiful, loving and forgiving,-who chose associa-
tions which were condemned by such rs "thanked
| God they were not as other men,"
1t is right that wickedncss should be rebukcd,
| and irregularity discountenaneed And crime
| persisted in, should be sternly condemned and
punished. In many cases the punishment must
be continued, and that in strict justice after the
offence has ceased. But this does not argue that
the door of forgiveness should be barred against
| the contrtc refugees from ruin And certainly
there should no cruel determinations be made
against the whose helplessncss ought to excite
the sympathes of those Of "like passions With
themselves"
To the modern Pharisccs who affect such holy
horror of defling the borders of ther,garmcnts by
coming in contact with the penitcnt Wandered
who would scowl her from all social privileges,
and make her believe she was beyond tho hope of
restoration, we earnestly commend the study of
passage in the sth chapter of John's Gospel. Let
ouked the arrogant and piticd the fallen: Let
him that is without sin among you cast the first
stone at her." And let all who act differently take
heed, lest in the end they meet the same condem-
nation of the devils doomed whose crimes they
palliatc and whose society they court: men whose
lebascd natures capable of no higher ambition
than the destruction of female character and who
glory in the iesolation their cunning has conf
passed.
1t may be said this language is stronger than
tho argument. did not sit down to write IN
argument, but to express an honest Indignation
against the perverted public opinion which results
in perverted public action on this subject; aud to
pay mertcd tribute to the Hon. Mr.. SIckLEs for
his fearless independence in doing right. Whatever
wrong he has done in other things (and doubtless
he has done his sharc,) there is no wrong here.
Z. L. ".
Beech Island, S. C.