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File:Noah Webster letter to Eliza Webster on abolitionism 1837.jpg

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English: Letter from lexicographer Noah Webster, originator of Webster's dictonary, to his daughter Eliza on the subject of abolitionism. From the Webster family papers, Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
New Haven March 18 th 1837

My dear Eliza,

         I have seen your last letter to your sister Julia, in which, as in a former letter, you say that the spirit of abolition is among you. I am very sorry for this. The abolitionists are pursuing a course which, if not checked, will or may drench this country with blood. They are absolutely deranged. From some wishes which they openly express, it seems that they expect ultimately that the slaves of the South will rise & liberate themselves. They openly wish that the constitution were altered so that the northern states should not be obliged to suppress insurrections in the south. The Misses Grimke have expressed this. The inference in that, remove the protecting force of the north & the slaves will rise & vindicate their right—this would sacrifice fifty or perhaps a hundred thousand men, women and children—but no matter, the slaves would obtain their rights! Such appear to be their wishes.
   Eliza, slavery is a great sin & a great calamity—but it is not our sin, though it may prove to be a terrible calamity even to us in the north. But we cannot legally interfere with the south on this subject—& every step which the abolitionists take is tending to defeat their own object. To come to the north to preach & then disturb our peace, when we can legally do nothing to affect their object, is, in my view, highly criminal, & the preachers of abolitionism deserve the penitentiary.
   We have no very late news ...
Date
Source Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database [1]
Author Noah Webster

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current22:46, 24 May 2010Thumbnail for version as of 22:46, 24 May 2010604 × 750 (119 KB)MarmadukePercy{{Information |Description={{en|1=Letter from lexicographer Noah Webster, originator of Webster's dictonary, to his daughter Eliza on the subject of abolitionism. From the Webster family papers, Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Databa

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