The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-03

The R~aetton Ag. I'm q the Abol;tiontsts-
American Civilization Versus Puritan
Fsnastcf.m.
The reports Of the proceedings of the Adolf
,ion Convention at Syracuse, which we publish
I'd a day or two ago, show that a strong reaction
has set in against the abolition sentiment in
city Of this State, the scene OF the Jerry rescue,
and long the stronghold of anti slavery fanati
csm. Similar Developments have taken place
in other parts of the State, including this city,
and at various points in the North. Among
these healthy symptoms, are the repeal OF the
Personal Liberty bill In Rhode Island, and the
return of the fugitive slave Lucy from Cleve-
c-edings in Boston at the close Of last week
were not allowed to pass OF so smoothly as
usual though in that city, year ago, John
Brown was canonized by the assembled citi-
zens, including Governor Andrew
The fearful consequences of the aboli
ton -propagandism In breaking up the Union
and inaugurating civil war are coming
home to every mans business, If not to his
bosom. Hence the effort to suppress it. But
the sentiment still lies deep in the Northern
mind, and though bills multiplying the Fugitive
Slave law may be repealed in New England,
the anti-slavery feeling is not eradicated, and
will break out again in full blast if the ques-
ton is not now finally settled beyond the
reach Of agitation. The Northern mind needs
to be re-educated The fertile source of the
ever-recurring mischief is the Puritan idea Of
the superiority of their sect over other men,
and a mysterious divine right which they claim
to possess of debating to all mankind-a right
which they hold to be higher than the authority
of the Bible and the constitution, and which
ought to be maintained at all hazards, even
with Sharpe's rifles, bayonets and cannon
balls This is a principle which has deluged
Europe with blood for centuries, but happily
is exploded there in the present age. The
question for the American people to decide is,
whether they will allow it to produce the same
fruits here, or whether they will not now lay
the axe to the root, that the poison tree may
all, never to bloom again in this soil.
According to Mr.. Beecher, in late sermon,
puritan blood means the blood Of Christ"
Hence the superiority Of Puritan blood, and
the inferiority of all other blood and hence
Mr.. Beechcr says, "the North is the brain and
the moral centre of this confederacy;" and
Wendell Phillips last week, and indeed in all
bis lectures, sfirms that the Puritanism OF
Massachusetts, is the germ from which every
thing that is good in the country has sprung
As for the North being the brain of the con-
federacy, the assertion is contrary to the noto-
rious truth of history. A Southern man--Jef.
ferson, a slaveholder-drew up the Declaration
of independence; Southern man--Madison, a
slaveholder-was the great artifcer of the con-
stitution; . Southern Washington, a slave
holder-presided over the federal convention
which adopted it; was first President of the
United States, as he was the victorious military
chief Of the Rcvolution-"first in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen"
Up to the present time the slaveholding South
has furnished the greater number of our Presi-
dents and our principal statesmen, and it is
only now, when narrow minded Puritanism at
tempts to grasp the helm, that there is danger
of shipwrsck II not the witch burning.
prosecuting scctarianism of Massachusetts, that
modelled the constitution, but the liberal ideas
of Virginia-the Old Dominion, the mother
of States and of Presidents. The colony of
jamestown was long ahead of that of Plymouth
Rock-the rock on which we fear the Union is
destined to be split. New York, too, was be-
fore the Bay State. The order of colonization
in the thirteen States was as follows
Fer
Virginia by the British. 1907
New York by the Dutch (and afterwards by Eng
ISM 1918
Massachusetts by the English Puritans ...... 1920
New Hampshire by the English Puritans ..... 1923
Delaware by the Swedes afterwards by the Dutch
and Engish) ....................-. 1926
Connecticut by Massachusetts, emigrants .... 1883
Maryland by LORD Baltimore ana the Catholics 1888
Rhode Island ny massachusetts, emgrants 1886
North Ssroiina ny virginia settlers 1885
South Carolina by virginia settlers 1870
New Jersey by Dutch and Swell ............ 1910
psnnsy lvania by Vim. Penn and the Quakers 1871
Georgia by General oglcthorpe, the English and per-
secuted Protestants OF all nations ........... 1892
The proportion Of the Puritan element in sub
sequent migrations from Europe was compare
lively small. AT the census Immediately after
the formation of tho Union the population Of
Virginia was double that of Massachusetts,, and
nearly As great as that of the whole of tho New
England States. The population of Virginia
was TAI ,6l0; that Of all the New England
States was only s27 ,443. The population of all
the other States was 2,5l3,63s The popula-
tinn .,f Now ENGLAND xUaa tharaforo only oco