Newspaper Page Text
No. 41 Vol. IV.
descriptive.
From the Richmond Evan. & Lit. Magazine.
A JOURNEY IN NEW-ENGLAND.
Boiton , July 6, 1822.
My Dear Sir—After a very fatiguing
journey, and the greater fatigue produced
l>y the celebration of“ Independence day,”
I/i’- tlo-vn ,o give you an account of our
farther peregrinations, if I may use thi
word in relation to travels in my own conn
try.
In my last I mentioned our arrival in
Springfield, Massachusetts. This is a very
thriving, pleasant town, containing 1 should
suppose, between three or four thousand
inhabitants. The United States have here
you know,one of its most valuable armories.
This establishment greatly promotes the
prosperity of Springfield. * We visited the
manufactory, but with no erhotions of plea
sure. For although I admit that a nation
ought to be prepared for war, I never see
the work of preparation going on without
thinking of the evils of war. I never think
of a bayonet, for instance, without thinking
of a human heart palpitating on its point
If this work were one of mere self-defence,
the case would be different ; but in all the
wars recorded in history, how very few
have been defensive in the proper sense es
the term ! Pride, ambition, lust and other
diabolical passions, are the sources of this
desolating evil. And I consider its general
prevalence as one of the most flagrant
proofs of the deep and dreadful depravity
of human nature. Perhaps, however, in
the present condition of the world, the U.
State* have tnorp reason to tie fully pre
pared to meet this evil, than jmy other na
tion. If the heads of the Holy Alliance
supposed we would yield our country and
its institutions an unresisting prey to the
spoiler, very soon we should see their le
giyne among us ; and all that our forefathers
have done would he gone as a dream of the
night. There is no reason, however, to
seer that our countrymen will leave their
native land defenceless.
There is a piece of mechanical ingenuity
here, which I aJinired very much. It is a
lathe for turning gun stocks. Astraiglit piece
of timber is put into the machine, and in a
few minutes a stuck is brought out in per
fee’ shape, requiring nothing but a littie
smoothing and polishing to complete it.—
I should before hand have said that the!
thing is impossible. But after seeing the j
simplicity of the contrivance I wondered]
that no ingenious mechanick had thought of]
it before. 1 cannot give you an adequate
idea of the contrivance by mere verbal des
cription ; and shall ‘ borefore only say that
the chisel , or cutting instrument, has its
motion determined by a piece of cast iron
exactly in the shape and size of a musket.
The chisel is fixed on the periphery of a
small wheel, which, turning with a very
rapid motion, causes the piece of wood in
tended for the stock to take the same form
with that of the model.
The people es Springfield are active and
enierpri“ing ; private establishment
among them interested me so much as Da
vid Arnes’ paper manufactory. He is well
known to printers and stationers far and
near. It is really right curious to see the
process by which old rags are converted in
to such a substance as that on which I now
write. 1 was much more delighted with the
operations of this manufacture, than in that
of the U. Slates, in which they were polish
ing- and sharpening cold iron, for the pur
pose of running into the bowels of our fel
low men. I did not mention the paper
manufactory, however, because it is any
strange thing, but for the purpose of saying
that ;■ young Mr. Ames has invented and
obtained a patent for a machine by which
the proce a s of paper making is accelerated
to a degree almost incredible. It does not,
however, seem to be certain,hat it will an
swer fully, the expected purpose. Time
will show this.
I cannot help remarking here, that in
this part ofthe country there is more use
of labour-saving machinery, and there is
more display of mechanical ingenuity, than
in the South. Is not this owing, at least in
part, to the circumstance, that the meclian
ic!;s are all white men, and almost univer
sally men of good plain education ?
The General Association of Massachu
setts met in Springfield, and thus I had an
opportunity of observing the representa
tives of the great body of Orthodox Cler
gymen in this State. I found them in eve
ry important respect, so much like their
brethren in Connecticut, that I should be
unwilling to attempt to discriminate between
them. The constitution of the Associations
100, and the business which they have to
transact ace so much alike, that I need not
enter into particulars. 1 was in every res
pect as much gratified here as at Follund.
Th?Te is one particular which 1 cannot
help noticing in this place. We regard our
Congregational brethren as Independents ;
and are ready enough to boast of the supe
rio"r excellence of ourform of government.
But I witnessed much in our Eastern friends
which seemed to show that the government
which is best administered is best. I am,
indeed, far enough from admitting tiiai any
system cf ecclesiastical polity is better than
THE* MIS SIO NAR Y.
that which I have adopted. But theory is
one thing, and practice is another. Now
I remarked that in the Associations both of
Connecticut and Massachusetts there was as
much diversity of opinion as I have found
to prevail in other assemblies. And every
person spoke freely what he thought. But
alter a subject bad been discussed, and vot
ed on, the will of the majority appeared to
be the will of all. There were no protests,
no- expressions of dissatisfaction, nothing
like ill humour. But the minority were,
to all appearance, as prompt to carry into
effect the measures adopted, as the majori
ty. I did not witness the slightest token of
an infirmity very common in this world; I
mean that of opposition to a man, because
one is opposed to the measures which he
supports. In this way I have often w itnes
sed, with extreme pain, a violation of that
charity which ought to prevail among bre
thren. Sufficient allowance is not made
for the diversity of views which are ttlten
by different minds. One assumes that he is
right, and that all who differ from him are
not only wrong, hut must know that they
are wrong, and obstinately persist in error.
On this assumption, generally unwarranted,
1 have known men to he severely censur
ed, and their actions attributed to unwor
thy motives. But all was the reverse of
this among the brethren of whom I now
write ; and 1 was really delighted and edi
fied to find a spirit of hearty, zealous co
operation among those, whom I had been
accustomed to think of as a body of inde
pendents, held together by no common bond.
This led me to propose to myself the ques
tion, how is j( that here (here is so much
united exertion, while in our section , as the
phrase is, there should be so much feeble
desultory action ? But the answer would
carry me too tar, and besides, would press
on some delicate subjects which I am afraid
to touch. You may then “tody this subject
for yourself; and all your readers have full
liberty to do the same thing.
From Springfield we were accompanied
by Col. J. E T—k, (a gentleman, by the
way, whose hospitality would have done
honour to a southern planter) on a visit to
the new collegiate institution at Amherst.
On our way, we ascended Mount Holyoke ,
emphatically called the Pisgtih of Ne'w-
England. I had heard what I thought an
extravagant description of the grandeur and
beauty of the prospect from this mountain,
and prepared myself for a disappointment.
But I was constrained to exclaim, “the half
was not told me.” I could not think of a
single object necessary to clothe the pros
pect with perfection of beauty, except a
view of the ocean, whitened with sail*.—
But the river Connecticut winding in slow
and silent majesty through a vale of fertil
ity, and in high cultivation, makes ample
amends so/ this sole deficiency. The lands
on the margin of this river, lying immedi
ately under (he eye of the spectator, pre
sent a scene of variegated and unrivalled
beauty. In the wide extent of low grounds
one might see adjoining each other in im
mediate succession, fields of clover iu full
bloom, and of flax mixing the colour of its
blue flowers with that of its green leaves :
the deeper green of Indian corn, and rye
just beginning to turn yellow ; in a word,
the eye is feasted with the whole luxuriance
of vegetation, and one associates the boun
tilulness of nature with the industry, skill
and taste of man. In addition to this, there
is a full view of mountain scenery both near
and distant. And there is a fine contrast
between the wild and rugged features of
the neighbouring mountains, and the well
cultivated field* binding on the river. To
crown the whole, one sees in various points
of view as far as the eye can reach, lively
and flourishing towns with their long rows
of elms and maples, and their handsome
white steeples. Os these, twenty seven
have been counted from the top of mount
Holyoke. These objects greatly heighten
the pleasure of the spectator. The beauty
of the plains, the grandeur of the, mountain
scenery, and the wide extent of (he pros-
pect dilate the mind, and fill it with delight
ful emotions; and then the sight of so many
spires pointing to the heaven*, and designa
ting places where the living God is wor
shipped, and the hopes of a blissful immor
tality are cherished, gives solemnity to the
whole feeling, and turns the thoughts to
that belter, that heavenly country, of which
the earthly Canaan was but a type. One
is reminded of the “ pure river of the wa
ter of life, clear as crystal ;” of the “tree
of life,” the leaves of which were for the
“ healing of the nations;” of the removal of
the curse, and of all the revealed glories of
the heavenly inheritance. Associations like
these give a higher tone and purer charac
ter to the feelings ; they rise to ecstacy ;
and as one turns to catch, if possible, the
whole scene at a single view,he can scarce
ly forbear exclaiming in the language of
Coivper, “ My Father made then all ”
But although we found it pleasant to be
on the mount, it was necesary to descend,
and here as in many other case*, descent
was not easy. We came down iu safety,
however, and pursued our journey to the
pleasant village of Amherst. Tins is an in
teresting place, on account of a very flour
! ishing aci/e.nv, and an institution called
ibe “ Collegiate- Institution of Amherd.”—
It is so denominated because the Legisla-
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1823.
GO V E INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.
tore of Massachusetts refused, it is said by
some without just cause, to grant it a char
ter. Ido not pretend to know the true
reason; but I know that the institution is
in a prosperous slate, under the presiden
cy ol Dr. Moore, and promises to afford
material aid in promoting the important de
sign of educating men for the ministry of
the Gospel. It has been intimated that
there is rather too strong a tincture of or
thodoxy here for the taste of some who
have great influence in the state ; and that
this, united with the jealo'Usy of rival insti
tutions prevented the passage of an act of
incorporation. But I did not think it worth
while to .inquire into local matters of this
sort ;it an American citizen I rpjoice in
the success of every plan to promote sound
learning, especially in union with vital re
ligion.
Returning from Amherst (o Springfield,
we crossed the river Connecticut and pass
ed through the beautiful town of North
ampton. This place was chiefly interesting
to me as the former residence of President
Edwards, the glory of New England di
vines, and, in (he estimation even of manj’
foreigners, the honour of the American
clergy. The old house in which this great
man lived, was regarded by me with vene
ration. But while he was enlightening the
world, and getting honour to his country by
his writings, the people of Northampton
conceived/uch a prejudice against him that
they dismissed him from his charge, and
were unwilling that he should live among
them. This event happened thus. Some
young people in the congregation got into
the way of reading and circulating loose
and vile books, and of using very improper
language derived from them. Mr. Edwards
undertook to apply the discipline of the
church in this case, but when it was found
that the children of some of the principal
people ot the town were involved ia the
charge, great opposition was raised to the
measure, and violent prejudices were exci
ted. The people were thus prepared to
view the conduct of their minister with
jealousy, and oppose any measure of im
provemenl ia the least degree unpleasant to
them.
Edwards’ predecessor had been used
to admit to the Lord’s table any who made
a visible profession of Christianity; that is,
persons who made no profession of repent
ance, faith & holiness ,but expressed a wish to
bn Christian*, and enjoy church privileges.
This practice prevailed for a considerable
time after the settlement of Mr. Edwards at
Northampton ; but on examination he was
convinced that it was unscriptural, and de
termined on a change. T!.’ kindlpd a
great flame. The people would neither
hear him preach nor read his writings on
the subject. Noihmg would satisfy them
but a dismission ; an.l accordingly he was
dismissed by an ecclesiastical council ! tie
removed thence to Stockbridge, as a mis
sionary to the Indians,and shortly afterwards
took his departure for heaven.
Some ot the persons who were active in
his dismission, afterwards expressed hearty
sorrow for their conduct. But for a fuller
account ot this ufijir, it you wish to know
more of it, yon are referred to the Life, of
President Edwards. I will make only one
reflection on this brief narrative. It is a
sad story for ministers of the gospel. They
live in the affections of their people, and
can be useful only as they are respected
and loved. Yet a people who at one time
seem ready, “ if it were possible, to pluck
out their eyes and give them” to their pa
tor, at another time are alienated from him
and set themselves in violent opposition to
him. “It is better to trust in the Lord
than put confidence in man ; it is better to
trust in the Lord than put confidence in
princes.” But a man of worldly prudence
need hot fear that the world will forsake
him: for “ men will praise thee when thou
doest well for thyself.” Yet a minister must
take special care not to be too prosperous !
But a truce with reflections. From
Northampton we pursued our journey
down the river on the west side to West
Springfield. There was the residence of
the Rev. Dr. Lathrop late'ly decea*ed.—
He was a clergyman of distinguished abili
ties. Seven volumes of his sermons have
been published, and have been well re
ceived by the publick. Indeed, he has
been thought by many to be one of the best
writers of sermons this country has ever
produced. Yet I have been told that lie
left behind him in manuscript, between
four and five thousand discourses about as
good as any that have been published. If
I did not mistake my informer, here is an
instance of astonishing industry and fertility
of rniud. I have not however, read enough
of his writings to be able to judge of them
for myself; and I find that the opinions of
others on subjects of this kind are to be re
ceived with many grains of allowance.
On t lie 3d of July we took leave of our
excellent friends at Springfield, and pursu
ed our journey to this place. And here 1
cannot help recording the warm and gene
rous kindness and marked respect wi;b
which we were treated by the good people
whose society we lately enjoyed. We went
among them as strangers from the South ;
and this very circumstance seemed, in their
judgment, to give a claim to the most un
bounded hospitality, and the most affection
ate attentions. lam well persuaded that
the good people of the Sooth and thp North
need only know each other, and carry on a
free intercourse, to do away all local feel
ing* of an unfriendly character. The col
lisions of ambitious politicians, the tricks of
needy and unprincipled adventurers, and
other things of a similar kind, have created j
prejudices which acquaintance will at once
entirely remove.
Our journey from Springfield to Boston,
wns without incident worth notice, and of
course without interest. We found the
people every where preparing t celebrate
14 Independence day,” as the -Ith of July is
generally called, and I was gratified to ob
serve among ray fellow citreens, in this r
gion, the same feelings which I have uni
formly witnessed in all parts ofthe country.
And I could not help remarking, too, a
pretty stfong determination to have good
things to eat and drink in honour of inde
pendence ! In this 1 was reminded, as I of
ten am, of the story of the Massachusetts
girl, who, in the time of the revolutionary
war, ran to the door to sec the Virginia
troops—after looking for a time, she ex
claimed with apparent disappointment,well,
I voxo mama, they are just like us !
The unly town of any note that we pass
through on the way, is Worcester. This
is one of the finest inland towns in Massa
chusetts. But I cannot tell you more of it
than you can learn from the Gazetteer.
And now, after the fatigues of a journey,
and of an unclouded 4th of July, I must take
a little rest. You shall hear from me again
after I have seen mure of Boston, and ex
amined into the notions of the Boston folks
a little more closely.
Till then I remain yours truly, 11.
■ww—— ■•mmm —MMJ^wiwMucj-irvauMMMrM— mm —apwsm
POLITICAL.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Extracts from the Speech of Col. 11. M. John
son, of Kentucky , in the Senate of the U.
States, on the Bill to abolish Imprisonment
for Debt.
it is our duty to examine into the constit
uent principles of national strength, and to
clierish and preserve them. Do they con
sist in numbers, in riches, in the salubrity of
the climate, and richness of the soil, in com
merce, in agriculture, in internal improve
ments? These compose only a part ofthe
elementary principles of national power.
In addition to these there is a moral power,
which it is more important to preserve ; and
without which Greece could not have re
pulsed their Persian invaders—Rome could
not have conquered the world—and the U.
States could not have sustained their inde
pendence against a powerful foe. This
moral power, which is so important to the
prosperity of every nation, consists in the
love of liberty—devotion to our country—
iu liigh-ininded, honourable, gallon', mag
nanimous and virtuous feelings. Nothing
selfish or sordid—nothing avaricious or ef
feminate.’
To preserve this moral power in its
greatest purity and vigour, every citizen
should be secured in the pursuit of happi
nfess, and protected from violence. He
should never be degraded, unless he has
been guilty of crime. Equality of rights
should he preserved. The law should
carefully avoid giving one citizen a control
over the personal liberty of another.
Even in criminal prosecutions, no free
man can be arrested for a moment, unless
the accusation i9 supoprted by (lie oath of
a competent witness, defining the crime,
and describing the person. Self-preserva
tion, and the most obvious dictates of rea
son, point out this course. In case of guilt,
you operate upon the person, ar.d not the
property of the criminal. Corporeal pun
ishment alone can testify the violated law.
In these cases the accused has a right to
bail except in capital offences; and even
then it is allowed, unless the guilt is made
manifest, or the presumption strong. But
how is it with the poor debtor, when pun
ished by imprisonment ? You do not require
the oath of the parly, that he has good
ground to believe there has been a fraudu
lent conceal meat or conveyance of property;
but in the first instance the creditor may is
sue his ca. sa. —and confine bis debtor in
gaol in the same manner as if he had been
regularly arrested, tried and convicted of
crime by an impartial jury. If the debtor
be innocent, you can never recal the pun
ishment ; nor has he any redress for such
barbarity. The creditor may derive satis
faction from the hope of extorting payment
from the friends and relations of the unhap
py sufferer. In this way you seal hi.* des
truction, and reduce his family to extreme
misery. Stimulated by a vain hope, and en
tertaining a suspicion, thp olLpririg of ava
rice, the unrelenting creditor pursues his
victim, already reduced to want and wretch
edness.
The legitimate fund for the payment of
debts, is compiled ofthe real and personal
property of the debtor. Both are visible
and tangible. The real cannot be remov
ed ; and the personal property is subject to
execution wherever it can lie found. But
this does not saiisfy the law The body
must also be subject to execution—although
Price > s 3 ’ so P r - win. or, )
rr ‘/iS3,DO in advance! \
the imprisonment of the body pays no part
of the debt.
1 would say, fraud deserves punishment;
but the prosecution should he based upon
the oath ot the parly who makes the accu
sation—and instead of presuming guilt, re
quire its manifestation by an impartial jury.
Then the punishment would be inflicted as
a violation of the penal code.
When the character of the debtor is con
verted ioto that of the criminal, then it
would be legitimate and proper to demand
bail to compel his appearance ; because the
vengeance of the law is to operate upon the
person ot the individual, if convicted of
guilt. To permit an unfortunate debtor to
be confined in prison, is immoral and crim
inal in the government. The remedy pro
vided by law for the creditor against the
property ot the debtor is complete—if de
fective, make it perfect. To clothe the
creditor with (he transcendent anddespolick
power of imprisonment, without even the
allegation of fraud, is a monstrous usurpa
tion on the part of the government, and vi
olatnry of the theory as well as the practice
of our political system in every oilipt de
partment. Upon the fraudulent debtor, the
capias ad satisfaciendum , by which his body
is arrested, has no effect; his mind is nc|
alarmed at the iron doors of the prison ; his
heart is not torn to pieces by wounded pride
and virtuous sensibility ; he will not dis
close, but will find means to conceal his bid
den treasure, until he relieves himself from
confinement by due course of law. From
such men you gain Dothing by imprison
ment; but you must resort to legal and
equitable remedies by which concealed ef
fects, or properly fraudulently transferred,
are made liable to execution to satisfy the
demand.
When you arrest (be unfortunate and
honest man, and can him into prison, his
prospects are blasted, and his hopes are
withered, as the plants and vegetation are
destroyed by the influence of the Bohon
Upas, the poisonous tree of Java. The
body is confined; but the debt remains and
is hourly increasing in magnitude—his. fu
ture anticipations are overspread with
cloud?, his credit is injured, his usefulness
(o society is impaired, Ibe peace of his fam
ily is interrupted—and, while confined in
prison, he leaves behind bira a wife with
■weeping eyes and a bleeding heart.
Governour Fluiner, of New Hampshire,
Governour Robertson, of Louisiana, Gover
nour Adair, of Kentucky, and Governour
Wilson, of South Carolina, have all recom
mended to their respective states to abolish
imprisonment for debt; and, in the bold pa
triotirk language of distinguished freemeo,
nave denounced the practice as sanguinary,
and as a foul blot upon our national charac
ter. In many parts of New England, the
prison bounds ate extended to tile limits es
the township or conniy in which the prison
is located. The Legislative Council of
Michigan have extended the gaol limits to
(lie bounds of the county. Kentucky has
totally abolished the system. In France,
which contains 30,000,000 of inhabitants,
imprisonment for debt has been abolished ;
anil we have it from undoubted authority,
that it has produced the most saletary effect
upon the prosperity of that nation. This
odious system was abolished by the Nopole
on Code; yet our imaginations are haunted
with the dreadful consequences of its aban
donment.
From the remotest period of antiquity to
the present day, there never was a tune
when so many individuals were exerting
themselves to promote the intellectual and
moral condition of man. The good and the
virtuous throughout Christendom are em
ploying ail their energies; and Christians,
of every denomination, are united in the
mighty effort. Benevolent societies have
been established in every region of the civ
ilized world. The deaf and the dumb, the
male and the female orphad, (he pagan and
the savage, are all embraced in these mor
al exertions. Missionaries of our holy re
ligion are penetrating every country. Bur
mah and Hindustan are receiving lessons of
Christian morality, and the worshippers of
Juggernaut are learnitg the knowledge cf
ihe true God. Jerusalem is again becom
ing the field of gospel labour. Divine light
begins to beam on Persia, where the sun
has long been the iJol of their devotion.
The savages of our own country are recip
ients of the same benevolent efforts, and
the wilderness of America begins to wear
the aspect of gladness. It is not expected
that we, as a government, should become
members of these societies, and make ap
propriations of money to emery on their de
signs ; but while we witness these interes
ting scenes, which, on every hand, are cal
culated to rpjoice the heart of itie philan
thropist, it is our duty, and I trust we shall
linJ it our pleasure, to remove everv obsta
cle id the happiness of the huirittn race, and
to take from the hand of tyranny the rod of
oppression.
These United Slates present a sublime
spectacle to the universe, in the annual con
vocation of the people, by their represen
tatives, in the Congress of the Nation, anj
in the Assemblies of the States, to legislate
bath for the present and for future genera
tions. We should give an example to the
! world worthy of our character, that may
- ! profit foreign slates and distant age*. pO