The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-27
DEATH OF ARTHUR TaPpAN.

ment Of the death of this venerable
nl1n, which occurred at New Haven
Connecticut, on Sunday last; but as on
OF the founders Of the abolition party il
this ountry, the history of his life is to-
interesting and important to be thu
eummarily dismissed. Although h
was never very prominently before tn,
world, yet he exercised a great infu
ence for many years, and may be justl!
looked upon as one of the leaders in man
uactufng and moulding that powerful
public opinion, which has finally led t.
the extinction Of slavery in the Unite,
States. At an early aye, he becam,
strongly prejudiced against the system
Of slavery in the South, and Throughout
his whole life he showed a consstenc.
and manly devotion to his principle
that must excite the admiration of hi,
bitterest opponents and enemies. In hi
devotion to the one idea of aboli
ton, he was ready to sacrifice, an'
did frequently ieopardize his owl
Personal interests and safety. Goinl
to New York in 1914, as the activ,
partner In an extensive and lucrativ,
business, he soon became one of the lead
ing merchants ofthat city, honored alike
for his honesty, integrity, industry, an,
the high standard Of social aud mercan
tile morality he inculcated and enforced.
But his besetting sin was abolitionism
and in those days to be an abolitionisl
among the people of Gotham, was to be
Jew among the true believers. Sucl
heresies could not be tolerated, WHEEL
even in Boston men were mobbed anC
halters placed around their nerks, OIL
the mere suspicion that they entertained
ideas nimical to slavery. What rapit
strides has this one idea made since those
days The little cloud no bigger than q
nan Iland, that was then but just ris-
ing above theeastern horizon, continued
to grow in size and spread out over the
face Of the heavens, till the whole firma-
ment was obscured; and then. the fierce
lightning flashes, and loud rolling of the
thundels light up the scene and shake
the solfd earth for a time-to clear VI
again, and leave thesky serene as before
but the abolition idea had triumphed
The blcoi of the martyrs had again be-
come the seed of the church, and til,
world was again warned that opoweI
on earth could stay the triumphan,
march of ideas founded in truth and jus
tice. Opposition to slavery was consid-
III, 70 IN bnr no 1nr Y,
in those days, and as Mr. Tappan was
the principal supporter of the idea in
New York, and preached it whenever
opportunity offered, he soon rendered
himself very obnoxious, to the proslav.
cry men and interests Of the city, and
especially 80 about the year 1888, when
the South Carolina notification excite
ment was at its height. One of the
principal charges against him about this
time was his payment of thousand dol
lars fine which had been imposed on
VIM. Lloyd Garrison, in one of the Bos'
ton Courts, for uttering gross and ma
licious libel against the owner of the
slave ship Francis.
In 1927, MI. Tappan, in connection
with other gentlemen, established the
Journal Of Commerce as an abolition
organ, and, strange to say, its first edi
tor WAS from Norfolk, Think of that,
Virg;nians! The first editor Of the Sc
cond abolition paper established in the
couLt y, was native of this State ant
city! The name Of this gentleman wa.
Maxwell, and he received the salary O
Ave thousand dollars for the one wear ht
was connected with the paper, and con.
ducte / its editorial department. To es
tablish this paper, Arthur Tappau ha,
given the sum of thirty thousand dollars
and Mr.. Maxwell was succeeded in the
editorial chair by the brothero of the prinei
pal proprietor, lr. Lewis 1appan, VII,
had previously been connected with hin
in business. The paper soon began to ex
elcisa commanding and increasing in
dueuca over the minds OF its partizanS
and though it floundered along throug
the s.oughs OF financial dependency fe
wears, without paying expenses, an
was very unpopular on account OF I'll
distasteful doctrines 1t persisted
teaching, still its earliestproprietor live
TO see it a prosperous and popular Jou
nal. an the ideas thatit had solong an
manfully battled for, fully accepte
throughout the land. 1t must nav
consoled the old mans dying momen
to know that the principles to when
had devoted his whole life, were nnail
triumphant; that slavery was no NOR
and the term aholitionist no longer +
proach to any man. He lived to see n
idea survive him, and died in the happ
consciousness that his career, thong
quiet and transformations, had not bee
without aim, and purposeless.
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