The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-23
Me-. Hennett's Cnsc.

TorHE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Plense allow
me To say worstn columns relative to my re-
cent cony lotion In the United States Circuit Court IN te
charge sending prohibited mail matter was ar
the instance Of the agent of theological octV
and the indications that It is virtually Theological
tro.ecuton, though carried through tie medium NJ
Tie United states Court Ny views on theolo{ieal mat
popularity received opinions, and NJ
am publishing paper and books advocating my unpop-
ular views have been an object Of offence to many &C
tartan People have endeavored to lead good lie and
10 wrong no man certainly have not owned sold an
obscene book The only have seen Tor many Years
mailed To an acquaintance by the very man who
caused my arrest
The small pamphlet have been convicted on have
sold Opc My fuiy belle wing II not obscene and that
it is not obscene thousands II god. moral people
ready testify. had at my trial numerous excellent
citizens ncluing authors. literary men, and publ hers
who read the pamphlet and ready TO bear Wit
that obscene HIT none Of this evidence
WAS admitted. and very little OF any kind
Twas prepared to prove that the work was written
with good intention, philosophc or polemic essay
but not allowed to do So
The charge Of the Judge Of such character that
the jury could hardly do otherwise than bring In
diet Of guilty. N was virtually that Il they found In the
pamphlet any sentences that had apparent enden
cy immortality they find guilty. regardless Of
the object OF the pamphlet general purpor ofit Now
there very few books in which some sentences can
he found that might he thought to have tendency TO
immortality. The chief writer's In the English language,
including the poets, from Chauccr TO Walt whitman,
Shakespeare. smoiett swift, sernc Fielding, with Rab
eais Montague aud OF others. whose works are
found In every library and In thousands OF families
would certainly be amcnable to this definition. The
Bible could escape. II TO be sent TO prison for
the pamphlet have sold every bookseller In the coun
try should also be served the way, for they
equally guilty In there are very persons who
have done act like taking game II cards Viz
iung the theatre &C. that by might be thought TO
end to inmoraity.n should they ALL therefore be sent
to prsonf
To show that the prosecution against me has been
rather persecution for opinion sake. will state that
while the obsccnity the pamphlet only be estab-
lished the definition given. and while II really does
contain obscene word the President Of the society
which has prosecuted me. Mr. Samuel Colgate, himself
has positively violated the statute under which
convicted by sending through tine mail certain niur
nation. which much violation OF the law mail.
ng obscene literature This brought To the
tee OF the District Attorneys who prosecuted and,
though they pronounced II violation Of the law when
they found who the offender they refused prose.
cute the There is abundant proof Of this fact
But not so in my Though scnt a copy Of Gu
pid's Yokcs TO decoy letter from the agent
the society Of which Mr. Colgate is President. was
prosecuted with severity and convicted. insist that
Bay 2lElifa 10 InmooEgIig that have nc' "sndled
erty of the AMI the rights Anne rican citizen
whether avn sent to prison not that all far
minded persons will believe honorable. upright
| citizen, as have ever tri d tobe. D. NJ BENNETT