The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-03-02
More Interesting Correspondence.
& Mr.. Hovi.on 10 Mr.. Taylor.

... .uT. HOWtsON ~ shT. IuyiO'
RicnNoSD, Va, Feb. 10. 1860.
BAYARD TAYLOR. .--Sir:-four letter
the Sd inst, has been received.
am truly sorry that you should consider
anything in my last letter personally discourte
Gus or insulting to you. LII.
Certainly such was not my intention, nor de
believe that the letter, in whole or in part
can with fairness be 30 Construed.
IL was due as well to yourself AZ to those
represented, that in withdrawing the invitation
previously given to you, should inform you
plainly of our reason for so doing. And your
letter in no degree removes or diHinishcs the
force of those reasons.
II was not generally known in this community
that you,were connected with the n. Y. Tribune,
and the fact of such connection assumed a
significance in the light of recent events, which
caused open expressions Of dissatisfaction.
And when, In addition to this, YOU inform
me that you "hold the opinions of Washington
and jefferson on the subject of Slavery your
partial editorship of The Tribune indicates a
positive sympathy with its doctrines. Wash
ington and Jefferson were great but human
they lived and died before the subject of slavery
had been thoroughly discussed in view OF
Scripture and reason, and above all, they died
before modern AbOltionisni had commenced
its pcstilential career. H'I 0. ,'
washington's opinions in favor emancipation
were moderate, and, in his time, not objection
able, but Jefferson went much further.
If il be true that you. scholar and n writer
do now in lsGO hold with Jefferson, that "the
whole commerce between master and slave is q
perpetual exercise OF the most boisterous passion
the most unremtting dcspotsm on the one part,
and degrading submission on the other" and
in view of Slavery, that you trcmblc for your
country when you reflect that God is just /;
that His justice cannot sleep forever that con-
sdering numbers, nature, and natural means
only, n revolution oft wheel of fortune, an
exchange of situation, is among possible events,
that II may become probable by supernatural
interference" and that "the Almighty has no
attribute which can take side with us in such
contest"-if such be your present sentiments,
then You cannot be surprised to find that you
will not be welcome visitor to u Virginia com.
munity.
As TO your lecture on Humboldt have never
heard il, and as IL has not been published in
full, have of course not read 1t. But certain
extracts from IL, and statements Of parts of il
have appeared IN the papers. the Tribune
among others, the accuracy of which you have
not, within my knowledge, denied. One of
these represents You as saying that Humboldt
rarely Intended Divine service, and that he
possessed an unboundod scorn for much that Is
called religion that his religious natfrc was
perhaps too deep to find expression by such
methods that in conversation with yourself
he uttered satire upon clergymen, and to this
certain remarks OF your own are added, from
all OF which, Others beside myself had inferred
that you vindcatel and approved Humboldt's
religious belief, although il was Dcism, and not
q simple faith in the Scriptures rs divinely in.
spired. Whether such be your real sentiments
your own conscience only can decide. Iprc-
tend not to Judge you, but am bound TO draw
my own differences from the Indications appar-
ent, and regret that nothing In your letter
removes these uniavorablc Impressions.
You conclude with the strong worls, "Yours
for free thought aud enlightened Christianity"
In a proper sense unite with you in desiring
these blessings; but the very forms of your
expression remind me that with many at the
North "irec thought has degcnera,ed into a
Stree thinking" or iniidelity, and eliminated
in Stree love-" and that they have sought 70
~cnlighien" Christianity by holding up In the
face or the Sun of Righteousness the smoking
taper of their so-called "higher law" For
such ''free thought and enlightened Christiani-
~" am not, but am i-
Yours for Constitutional Liberty. and the
Of the Bible. II. II. HOwlS0S.