Litchfield enquirer., 1861-02-14
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  roR THE Hseu1HEH. nsPhx TO REV. DR. WHEAToN's REMARKS DE- LlvERED AT THE EPISCOPAL CHUKcH IN MAR r BLEDALE, SUNDAY, FEB. 8, 1881. SUBJECT
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 NEw-MnroRD, Feb. 9th, 1861. Rev. Dr. Wheaton,-My Dear Sir,
 As an humble listener to your famous politi- cal harrangue on Sabbath afternoon last, permit me to call your attention again to some of the passages you so blunderingly disposed of, and to some of the positions you so earnestly and sincerely, perhaps, endeavored to maintain. As little as profess to know concerning the Bible, confess was amazed at your total and unfortunate miseonception and misrepresenta- ton of some of its plainest and most convincing passages. was equally astonished that you should neglect to read and explain after your | own style, the meaning of those abolition sen timents and passages with which the Bible is so iavishly embellished. I can give you little cred It for fairness and political honesty even in quo- ting only so far as would subserve your own purpose, as Universalists do to disabuse our minds ct the horrors of hell, or as Atheists do to prove the non-existence of God. By pursuing such narrow and bigoted examination of the Holy Scriptures, you can prove almost anything you may feel disposed to assert. It is true you quoted one passage, viz: "He that stealeth a man and selleth him,'' &c., &c.,, using wonder ! full surplussage of words to destroy it's true | meaning, and turning it upon abolitionists but your allusion was in exceeding bad taste, and would apply more forcibly and appropriately to those pseudo philanthropists who are at present, as they ever have been, engaged in the piratical slave trade for the exclusive benefit of your southern brethren.
 | You dwelt at some length upon the implied command of the Bible to return fugitives, little impressed probably with the divine injunction, "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the ser want which hath escaped from his master unto thee. X x Thou shalt not oppress him." Sc. Sc. Let this pass.
 And now, Dr. Wheaton, how could you, min ister of the Holy Gospel, endeavor to 80 delude your hearers-yes, how dare you, standing there in that holy place so pervert Divine History as as you did in your version of Paul returning Onesimus to Philemon, his master, to everlast. ing bondage? How you labored to convince your disgusted hearers that Paul in this act of returning fugitive from justice, "did not man. ifest much the spirit of Garrison or Greeley. " Yet what person of ordinary understanding could fail to perceive in reading Paul letter to Philemon the true Christian spirit of the Apos. tie and his very similarity in will and deed to that man to whom you snoeringly alluded and who, in my opinion, is yet your peer in pu. rity of heart and devotcdness of purpose-Wm Lloyd Garrison. How truly Garrisonian is the language of Paul when he writes to Philemon "Receive him (Onesimus) not no,c as thy ser. want, but abore serpant, brother belored. spe cially to me, but mueh unto thee, both |, the flesh and in the Lord" If thou count me therefore partner, recetpe h;a as myself" Ii he hath wronged thee or oueM thee ouqht pu, that on mine account. "I Paul have written if with mine own hand. will repay it," &c., &c. How can you, Dr. Wheaton, reconcile the lan- guage of that great and good man as consistent a nr-Ga | slsre-catcher!
 No person will pretend to deny but that black and white slavery both recognized in Divine writings, and l might mention Polygamy and numerous other evils at that time tolerated, but how you can reason that because these things existed once, they must of necessity exis, now :? or how can you liken the temporal seryitude of the ancients as recorded in the scriptures unto the abjcct and diabolical system of the slavery slavery Of the nineteenth century, is beyond my to promote the standard of morality, to stand in sacred places and plead in behalf of this accurs- ed system of breeding and traffic in human flesh? And in conclusion allow me to say, while YOU are arguing so earnestly for the maintenance of this peculiar institution, am looking hopefully forward, in tho language of the new dispensa- ton, to that glorious time when yc shall "call no man master, neither be ye called masters 9 And with all deference to your position and Judgment would remind you, still ill the lan- guage of the scriptures concerning "pastors who preach not the truth,'' and ask respectfully whether you may not, by your impolitic efforts, tend to obscure or pervert the golden precepts of that great "Moral Light to whose influence so- ciety is so much indebted for it's wonderful pro- gress and upon whose truths and commands rightly conceived, mankind are universally de- pendent for salvation? JusT1cR.
 
 From a Veteran Republican,.
 MR. EDITOR Will you please give notice in your paper, that my sOth birthday will be mem orable for the commencement of the President