Polynesian., 1863-04-18
Thurrow Weed. Reply to Henr, Ward


Beecher.
In the Bulletin of 11th March was published an
article taken from the N. Y. Independent-pre-
sumed to be written by the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher-upon politicians of Thurow Weed stripe
The last named gentleman retorts follows in the
N. Y Commercial Advertiser:
The Tribune of this morning copies an article
from the Independent, in which that journal dis
covers " striking likeness" to myself. The gist,
or argument of the article is embraced in the fol-
lowing extract
We are sorry to say that New York and Pennsyl-
vania have bred for the last fifty years genera
ton of most astute politicians of the most unscru
pulous and dangerous kind. They have been men
without moral convictions; they have lost faith in
human integrity they believe that every man has
his price, Such men must at length cease to reck-
on upon moral convictions as of validity or pract-
cal force in the conduct Of State and national pol
itics. There can be neither moral principle nor
even patriotism in men who have learned to put
party above country and to serve the party, even
by employing the worst motives for the accomplish
ment of the most selfish ends.
Some three or four years ago found myself
seated in Hudson river railroad car by the side
of an intelligent stranger, with whom an agreea-
BILE conversation ensued At Poughkeepsie, |
learned that this gentleman the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher. The conversation, when resumed,
related to the 90 Maine law" then pending in our
Legislature, Mr.. Beecher advocating and oppos-
ing it. He urged it with zeal and fervor, as a
question of right and duty. opposed it as mex
pedient. He insisted that expediency had nothing
to do with question of conscience his stand point
was /" moral conviction" mine common sense
he demanded '' total prohibition" L denied the
possibility of so restraining human appetite and
appealed to his common sense in favor of regu-
lating and reforming inevitable evil. He re-
nj od oil q Wit oru which /
repeat.
rejoined, insisting that the ultra temperance
views of Mesers. Greely, Delavan, Gerrit Smith,
etc., had already greatly damaged the bene6cent
temperance reformation inaugurated some years
previously, by wiser if not better, philanthropists
He answered that the difference between was,
in effect, that a Christian, it was his duty to
extermnate an evil which 1, as politician, hoped
to modify by tempOrizing that pitch, if touched,
de6led and that halfway remedies were worse
than the disease. closed the controversy by
marking that results would test the soundness or
fallacy of respective views, asking him to re-
member that, In my opinion, the passage OF the
3 Maine Law " would place dead statute in our
archives, and that intemperance. overriding it,
would run riot through the State.
The " Maine Law" passed, and may be found
on our statute books The Rev. Mr.. Beecher, will,
perhaps when his leisure serves. inform either his
congregation, the readers of the Independent,
whether his I" moral convictions " demonstrate the
superiority upon legislative question, of the
Divine over the Politician.
The existing rebellion places the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher and myself in the same position of
antagonism. We differ about the mode of prose-
cutting the war radically as we differ about tenn
perance. | have stated, in series of articles
commencing in December, 1860, my detestation of
slavery as the cause of "monstrous and inhu-
man " rebellion. No mans zeal in favor of Wig
orous prosecution OF the war exceeds my own nor
has solicitude for the welfare of my country occa
stoned in others more anxious days or more sleep
less nights; nor under mental pressure has more
hairs turned gray upon any other mans head.
The solicitHde is now intensified by the attitude,
arrogance and insolence of abolition journals rep
resentatiyes and lecturers. In assuming to dis
cover, in the Presidents Proclamation, " new
policy" and one which converts and perverts the
war waged in defense Of the Government and
Union, into crusade against slavery, see sure
and swift destruction. In Wendell Phillips
ayowal that the abolition motto is IS death to
slavery or the Union," indorsed by the Tribune
and IadepsndeaI. see, unless the reasonable SEN
timent be rebuked. divided North, with two
thirds of our people against this fanaticism
While there is much inviting reply in the Rev.
Mr.. Beechers article, will not waste time or pa
per in noticing what is merely personal. But de-