Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-25
From the New York Journal Of
Puritan Liberty.

HlA ['a A.t
sul ~ From the New York Journal of Comm. ree.I
Puritan Liberty. f|rf-
The Boston Daily Advertiser. in an article
evincing research and ability, discusses our re-
marks on Puritan savehoIdng. We regret that
our space win not permit US 10 copy this article.
We must, however, notice the failure of the Ad-
vertser to distinguish between the servants and
the slaves of Puritans. The law quoted did not
apply 20 slaves. But our object is to show the
important historical and political truth that men
seeking the origin of principles OF liberty in
America must look elsewhere than to the Puri
tans This fact is not controverted by one of
the New England papers which are discussing
our articles. The false issue raised. that we are
abusing the memory of the Puritans. does not
trouble Us in the least We giving history.
We are defending Puritan character against mis-
representation. We challenge discussion of the
facts We cite
The memory Of the Puritan fathers is the in
heritance of. the whole country, not the special
possession of radical abOlitionists. The latter
seem determined to give to those Puritans feti-
tious character, and to claim them the found
ers of free institutions in America. The idea is a
pure absurdity The Purtans were noble set
of men. but by no means the men that some of
their degenerate sons wish the IN 10 be considered
Their vices have been inherited as well as their
virtues. and have gone into the national charac
aud they had some great sins and crimes to
answer for Whatever may be said of the growth
OF free principles in America, this is true, and
history stamps it thus, that we cannot trace our
liberty to the Puritans of Massachusetts,. We
owe them little nothing that account.
Liberty had to .iqht against their doctrines and
practices. Nor do we say this to their reproach.
They made no pretences to free principles If
we could call them bodily from their graves they
would be astonished at the sight of American in
situations as they exist among US, or rather as
they existed within two years. They
dreamed of free speech, free press, liberty of
conscience and all the safeguards of liberty
which we have enjoyed.
American liberty was born at later date.
This is the grand historic truth we seek to make
plain. Let no one imagine that we charge the
Purittns alone with enacting oppressive laws
New York, Maryland, and other cof7snies also
enacted severe and wicked statutes. We have
never heard New Workers or Marylanders claim
superiority for their ancestors over the ancestors
of their countrymen, and therefore we are con.
tent to let the old burghers sleep in peace But
these pertinacious members cf New England so
cisties are constantly thrusting their Puritan
cestrv in the faces of Americans, and Boosting
that Puritan principles must triumph if the coun
try would be free and happy. This makes it ne
cessary to call Purtans to he witness stand and,
since they are all safe in ancient dust, we must
cite their statutes and ordinances to exhibit their
characterssfr 81 frslfr.s .e..rae
Mr. Sumner wrote his letter to the New Eng.
land Society either in absolute ignorance Of his
tory, or with total disregard of truth. This we
have proved On the slave question, the 'conse-
Grafton 10 human liberty Of which Mr.. Sumner
spoke. is shown to be something very different
from what he wished people to believe.
But the subject OF slavery is not the only sub
ject involved in question of "human liberty"
Politicians OF tbs radical class seem TO think that
IL is They are willing to destroy the best hopes
of liberty for the human race, to abandon the
grand principles on which tree govern meat rests.
and re enact Puritan statutes for all the land if
they possibly effect what they call liberty for
the colOred slave My. they are ready to
plunge the negro himself into the miseries Of
want, exposure, starvation AMI deith-slayery of
the worst form-f they only remove him
from that particular condition OF slavery against
which their special prejutlces are directed. Their
narrow and short sighted view of the subject of
liberty Is leading the country into dangerous
position. imperiling even now the hopes of the
world ia free government while il is transferring
the negro from Southern slavery to miserable
death and a shallow grave in the frozen ground
IL is OF the highest Importance that know
precisely what are the general principles of lib
erty which the radical men expect to have estab
lished in this country The New England So
ciety affords opportunity co know. In zinc
uertqs Over their wine these gentlemen spoke
out their minds In this aspect we regard the
toast which the New England Society tele-
gaphed to Montreal as important. We repeat it
here
THE New England Society in the CITY of New
York to the New England Society in Montreal,
Greeting:-Thanks TO your generous wishes.
We shall not cease to labor for their complete
fulfillment. and by the blessing of God, and our
still victorious arms. we mean in our next ami
versarT to celebrate in all States, from Maine to
Da1tforuia tho National aInf,.loo in honor Of he
eternal principles Of liberty under the law which
the Pilgrim, emerging from the cabin of the
NARROWER, laid down as the corner stone of the
nation -
What the principles Of liberty. according to
the law which the Pilgrim. emerging from the
cabin Of the Mayhower, laid down as the corner
stone of the nation7 81
What is the kind of liberty which these people
propose to have triumph in the country before
another December?
Let Us answer these two questions out of histo-
~. We have shown that the Puritan law was
slaveholding and slave trading forbiddillg
emancipation and requiring extraditon of fusi-
tive slaves. We must acquit the New England
ers intending 70 restore negro slavery. Perhaps
they were ignorant OF this feature of the Puritan
law. But the general principles of the Puritan
Law relating TO personal aud public rights. are so
fully sustained by the doctrines and the practice
OF the radical party for two years past, that the
parallel. and believe that radical success will re-
suit in restoring similar legislation,
Absolute submission 10 the moral and reli gious
views Of the Puritan court Was one general re-
quirement Of their law Intolerance of anything
not orthodox" doctrine, under penalty of whip
ping, Punishment and death. was another. The
liberty Of the person was dependent on the per-
son supporting the Puritan doctrine and avoiding
all opposition To oppose the doctrines of the
Puritan court was punishable by refined systems
of torture Witness the ingenious whining of
Quakers at the tail of n cart, ordered in the
statute quoted below. Nor DO we use the word
torture" unadvisedly Startling "a Il may
seem to some members of the New England So.
ciety, IL is nevertheless solemn truth that the
Puritans by law authorized torture TO extort in
formation about confeierafes
= In i64I, or about thar time. the following law
backeued the statute books of the Puritan "a
Tiers:
And no shall be forced by torture con-
fess any crime against himself or any other, nm
less it be 10 some capital case, where he il first
fully convicted by clear and sufficient evidence
70 be guilty; after which, If the case be of that
nature that ID IL very apparent there be other
conspirators confederstes with him, then he