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Show 52 SECOND DAY-JUORNINO SESSIOi'\, the early part of February, my health has been mu~h .impaired, and is at this time very precarious. Such are my deep convi~Hons as. to my own inability to fulfil the high duties which have been k~n.dly assigned m_e. by the committee, that I ought no longer to postpone the palllful ~ask ~f advising you of the fact. I know you will feel a disappointm.ent 111 th1s matter, but I do assure you it should be otherwise if it were 111 my powe~. My own heart is with you; my best efforts in the cause of freedom ami 111 favor of the oppressed should be made on that occasion, had I. strength to _embark in this truly beneficent work. But Providence has d~c1ded o~herw1se, and it is my duty to submit. May all these matters be l.ltrected for good, ?nd our very disappointments tend to advance the cause. As to your enterpnse, it is a noble one. It was called for, and I trust it will prosper. \Ve cannot sell the rights of con.science, the freedom of speech, and th.e liberty o~ the press. \Ve cannot forbear to express our abhorrence of cl~a~ns and ~·lnpe~; and should we do it, the very stones would cry out. I reJOtce _that there _1s a spirit still in existence, and still awake, in your venerable c1ty, that Will not bow to the altar of slavery, nor tamely submit to ~he _dic~ation of thos~ who declare, in high places, that it is a wise a?d holy wstltutJO~l, and that~~ shalt be perpetual. What a contest is th1s to be waged Ill a land ol Republicanism and a land of Christianity? But if th~ charters of th~se two systems-the Declaration of Independence and the Bible-arc pernutted to .speak, how certain it is that the rigltl.'l of man will be t1·iumph~nt. \Vith deep and heartfelt sympathy iu your movements, and wuh the most cordial and personal regard, 1 am yours truly, NATJIAN s. s. BEMAN. Mess1·!. S11rnuel Webb and \Vm. H. Scott,- Committee. PmLADELPIIIA, February 7, 1838. Respecttd .Friends:-I received your note inviting me to be present at the opening of the Pennsylvania Hall, on the 15th of May next. My .engagements prevented an immediate answer, which 1 intended to return 111 a ~ay or two, but it has been deferred until the present time-a delay for wh1ch I have no sunicient apology. Jf it be possible, without great inconvenience, I will attend. What specific objects you have in view, apart from free discussion, I have not heard; but that they are honorable and praiseworthy, I have no reason to doubt. The fact that the right of free discussion has been called in question by men in high places, is itself a ground for di~ect· ing public attention to the danger that threatens it. ~f we subm1~ t.o encroachments upon this right from one quarter, they will soon. assa1l1l from another. The right to speak and to write without any r.cstramt! other than that which represses licentiousness and calumny, and also the nght to petition governments for a redress of grievances, are among th.e most ~acred and inviolable of all rights, and must not be abridged or quel:illoned wllhout a firm resistance. They are to be fearlessly asserted at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances i I will listen to no man who talks of exigencies that may justly sut~pend the exercise of this right. No such exigencies can ever arise. I am, with much respect, your friend, "\VALTER FORWARD. !\lcssi'S. Snmuel ""ebb, \ V. H. Scott, nnd \Vm. :M'Kce,-Committee. '" ASHINO'fON1 January 30, }838. Friends:-1 received, on yesterday, your esteemed fa"·or of the 26th instant, and I congratulate you, and the country, that in your city a Hall h. as been erected, sacred to liberty and free discussion. Born in Pennsylva111a, LET'rl:!llS lmAD. but at a very early age removed into the 'Vestern country, T was a citizen of Ohio, at the time of the adoption of her Constitution, and during the greater part of the lust thirty years have borne an humble part in the legislative assembly of my owu state, where by my best efl'orts I have constantly endeavored to maintain and estab\i:;h those great principles, in support of which your society is now engaged. I feel unable to express my heartfelt emotions on receiving your invitation to be present at the opening of the Hall in the emporium of my native state, a city renowned for its philanthropy and benevolence, and now affording new eviJence of those estimable virtues, by the erection of a hall, in which liberty and P.quality of civil rights car1 be FREI~LV discussed, and the evils of slavery fearlessly portrayed. \Vhile the spirit of slavery is grasping at the power of our country, threatening a disunion of the states unless free discussion conr:erning it be destroyed, and even in the free state:ii marking its progress in scenes of blood, it is a cause for joy and gratulation that Pennsylvaniathat PmLADELL'HIA. is about to consecrate one spot, at least, where its evils may be fCarlessly portrayed. Slavery is a spirit which hates the light, because its deeds are evil, and to banish it entirely from our country, free discussion alone is amply sutlicient. I rejoice in the awakening energies of the country, and in receiving almost daily assurance that my fellow citizens are determined to maintain those inalienable rights, without which they would be in a situation little in advance of the African slave himself. I will, if life and health permit, endeavor to be present at the opening of your .Hall, but I would gladly dispense with the delivery of an address on that occasion, could I do so consistent with your wishes, as l cannot suppose myself capable of adding any information to that mass which is already before the public, on this interesting topic: but whatever feeble service I can render to the great and good cause in which you are engaged will be 1:hcerfully ofl'ered. You will for yourselves, and those whom you represent, accept the assurance of my highest regard. TnoMAS Monn1s. .MelSSu. Samuel \\'ebb, J. M. Trunmu, nud \Vm. l\l'Kee,-Committt:e. The following Jeter from THOMAS MoRRIS was also received by the Committee, but not in time to have it read. VVASHINGTON, May 11, 1838. Gentlemen:-! have seen in the Pennsylvania Freenwn of the 3d inst., with sensations of the deepest gratitude, the favorable notice you have been pleased to take of my name in your general invitation to the public to attend the opening of the Pennsylvania Hall on the 14th of the present month, wluch Hall, I understand, is to be dedicated to free discussion. _lt would afl'or~ me the ~ighest pleusme to be present and join you in th1s work of un1versa\ chanty and Jove, could I feel that my public duties as well a.~ my. health would justify it-domestic concerns having lately called me to Oluo; I have but ~u.st resumed m.>:" seat here; it seems proper, therefore, that I should not wlllmgly, at this tune, absent myself from the Senate. Your Hall, as I have said, is to be dedicated to free discussion . What a train_ of solem.n reflections does the very thought create in the mind. Is it poSSi~le~ that _Ill the rree sta~e of Pennsylvania, in the quiet and orderly city ~f :hliadelplua, (a c1ty ~ot maptly ~ailed. the city of" brotherly Jove,") that Ill all p_la.ces, and a~ all tunes,jree d1scusston on all questions connected with the reilg10n, morality, the welfare of the country, or the rights of man, |
