Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-01-15

The Philadelphia Age contains long let
ter from Bishop Hopkins of this place TO Rev.
Or Howe of Philadelphia. on the subject Of
AN article ey the latter giving r.as.us for
IT,, famous protect Of Bishop Potter and sun
dry Emseoral clersymen OF Pennsylvania.
Much Of the letter is occupied with dis
cussion Of the person and Episcopal relations
ofthe two gentlemen, with which VIC care not
+o concern ourselves or our readers. So much
ofit is refers to what the Bishop said on the
subject of secession in his letter OF Jan. le6l,
anil to the reference 70 IT by DR.. Howe Sc. is
of more general interest and many will be
glad to see villa; the B,shop himself says on
thatmatter at tie present time For this
purpose tic following extract from his letter
Z, D.. Howe viii suffice.
Referring 20 his remark IN Jan lool that
he Thought the southern States had a right
t. scccds, be says
q" Now. my Rev. Brother, although | ins'st
,b,- Won had no right whatever 10 bring up this
1,l,. rrotest, with which 1t had nothing to DO,
rc, Won must not suppose that am either afraid
or -bau,ed to acknowledge the authorship Of
tl,s+ Iittla sentence Bat It WAS written tWo
month. before the attack upon Tort sumter
which Was the real cOuuieucement q tins 1eplor-
abIe question. Il was written while President
Rr1bapan was still in Office, while Congress was
.; ss.z-ou and no one could anticipate what
- our Government would pursue IN refer
snse 10 this alarming position oi our coun'r!
Az that time the question was an open one, anu
every man hsd a right 10 suggest what he deetn-
n ~. b..s- and visest mode Of dealing with IL
A. lover Of peace and unity, was ANXIOUS 10
-ive,t a IeJql direction, in order TO avert the
Sor-ors and caiamities Of an awful civil war,
ths result Of which it was impossible TO eonlect-
ne And. therefore, | said IN that letter that
,be RIGHT Of secession WAS new and dlihcult
snl;esr ON which men might differ; that NY
own opiuion was in favor Of the right to seceie
but that It was a c0E.tftufioRGi question Hhlel
beIo,ae5 TO the Supreme Court Of the United
States 10 decide, and To that tribunal II ought 70
b. admitted. Ny sole liect was 10 ure an H.
terval for thorough judicial examnaiion' aHd 10
guard bo;h parties, II possible. against the Dan
IN. If hastv and passionate action under these
novel and exciting circumstance oehe, Z,
,b,- II tbis course were taken, along with kind
cancellation towards the southern States, the
spirit of secession would probably die out in a
very short time, and the Union be peaceably res
tored 10 its integrity. | knew that the opinion
which had expressed as to the right Of secession
was in accordance with the opinion not only o.
the Southern leaders, but OF many northern and
western Statesmen Of high character.
Especially knew that it was the doctrine o.
the Hon Josiah Quincy, and other distinguished
men of Massachusetts, Al the time of the Amou'
Hartford Convention; Of the Hon. Abraham
Lincoln. on the floor Of Congress, IN 1878; AM
at the hon. Horace Greeley in the Tribune. aitei
the Souttern course had been decided. Never
tbeiess held that the political lgit TO seoede
.rI the ,gislo1. or prudence q fhe act or seces
.i.r. were very different things. lamcnt-d ~
,.-t as much a. any one; and e. I had lived O
the South. 7 should have coutcndcl against q
with sll my power,ss 'safy''Hpof ofi'' %. a'
5o5asrovs. And 10 prove the spirit IN wacl
wrote 7 shall luo-c from the si'nc i''''r ti'
r,raqraph which c.i ciGied my argument
s.sich arc my sentiments. and s'Ste then
frankly and fully. a. . sincere though unworih,
s,,.v,nt oftbe Prince OF Peace. and q inithfi
fl;e,d and aSrocafc of fts Faio7 li = tir-'
T-1ion which ms. under Divine tis"r. ir's'd Ia
80 ,,.jtjon o. commanding influence tad houu
among the nations Of the earth lt >, 'he Ia
orthe T-n,ou which has led orr -r1nF AVID n1-
,g r;,torv. Tic hern- aud Fitiio'- .. 90 h'
,.r,t-,,. owe their left4 pre-em. cree q t-
.,.,.f r.s,lit which formed the Uni p. y
f,t.lo-. son ofindcplndeut Sfatcs d't ha'
i.s,.ribed thor namcs cn the PIG Of a,sior
la, half the fame winch the GLORIOUS uhlo
bss conferred upon their mcmory-au thS