The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-02
From tho Smyrna Times,
M Dear 81 !.

- Before proceed to discuss the several
propositions mentioned in my last letter to
you, deem it proper to dispose of some pre-
liminary matters, and to submit few re-
marks which here naturally present them
selves.
1t is to be regretted that this elder of an
Old School Presbyterian Church" should
have declined to. give as his name. If he
had given his name to the public, we should
have known what value to attach to his
Letter )" and whether it was the production
of man whose moral misunderstanding
in society-and learning entitled him to be
heard; or whether it was the effort of an
avowed secessionist-or of negro breeder /;
or of negro trader; or of a mere party
hack or Of pretender to iterature--or of
one, in fine, who had " stolen the livery Of
Heaven to serve the Devil in"
The fact that this Elder"--this :. second
Daniel come to Judgment" has deemed it pru-
dent to conceal his name from the public, and
to write on so grave, so monotonous a subject
as human slavery, and with the challenged
respect of Christian community = ano,ly-
mously-necessarily raise the suspicion, that
he had very sufficient reasons-for himself at
least-for declining to write over his own
name. shall however, endeavor to be re-
spectful to him, and to all others, in the
course of my observations ito address my
self to the sound Judgment tt he Christian
sentiments of my readers; and to abstain
from all appearances of fanatieism, or of APP
peals to the passions and prejudices of men.
shall also endeavor to avoid the incorporate
zeal of the partizan. Wishing to write for
the Truth--to earnest and trnth-loving men,
shall try to present arguments that will be
entitled to respect.
If were disposed to be unkind, or uncha-
ritable, in view of the many errors into which
this elder has fallen, might say that he
had entered upon his subject with due pre-
paration and that, in relation to his subject,
she don't know much, and what he does
know isn't So" The existence of those err
rors, patent to every person conyersant with
the Holy Scriptures, and to every well read
man-coupled with the fact that, like g Ju-
| nius"-stot nomints nngbrd-"he stands the
shadow of name"-might, under ordinary
circumstances, well excuse serious reply to
the "Elder." But the assumed religious
character of his Letter'-the GOODNESS and
boldness of his assumptions = the manifest
self-complacency with which he writes, the
open appeal to the cupidity of the strong
prQ-slayery portion of his readers, and the
cunning used to popularize his sentiments,
are calculated to do mischief; and impose a
moral necessity of exposing his errors. feel
the more inclined to this duty upon learning
that very respectable gentleman in your
neighborhood, of high social position though
no slave enthusiastically gave ten dollars to-
wards defraying the expenses of the circula-
ton of this Letter" of the elder" Now
if this gentleman was so wrought upon by
the Elder" from party motives or other con-
stderations, We may well suppose that the
Letter" is calculated to do much injury, and
to mislead those who are too apt to be misled,
and imposed upon by party leaders, as well
as by q reckless assumption of knowledge and
of authority. To gentleman of your intel
ligence, sound Judgment and humane feelings
who, I hope, has never been led far away
from I" the old paths" of sound political prin
ciples, and of Christian beneyolence by the
insane cry Of Abolitionism" and {" Negro
Equality" &C., the Letter" of the Elder
cannot do much harm. There are many
however, who have not enjoyed these advan
tages-honest-minded, weli-meaning men
who might be misled by the Elder" and
who will take pleasure in seeing truth and
humanity, and religion yindicated.
july l6, 1868. G. S. L.