Rome (Poste Restante), Dec. 7, 1859.
I am rejoiced to
hear such good tidings of the KΓΌchlers.
I will set about my papers immediately, and will do nothing else till both are
finished. Shall I send them to you by mail, or wait till you come here en
route for Naples? My wife shall copy them out in a good, fair hand. I have
not felt in spirits to write anything of late: affairs at home have filled me
with anxiety. You have not, perhaps, heard that Captain Brown, with fifteen or
twenty men, made an attempt to free the slaves of Virginia, at Harper's Ferry.
His two sons were shot, and most of his men. He and five or six men were taken
prisoners, and have had such a “trial” as slave-holders give such men; are
convicted, and hung before now. Brown was a friend of mine — his two sons have
been at my house. Other friends of mine have been forced to fly from their
country. Attempts are made to implicate many prominent men at the North, and
there will be a deal of trouble. I should not be surprised to see Dr. Howe in
Rome this winter, for there seems to be some evidence against him which makes
the slave-holders suspect him. So he may have to flee off for his life, or to
avoid exposing other men. The South talk very big, and utter threats against
all the leading men of the North — Seward, Hale, Wilson, Sumner, &c.
Congress came together yesterday, and there will be a stupid message from the
President, and a stormy session all winter. I look for more broken heads before
summer. We are coming upon a great crisis in American history, and a civil war
seems at no great distance. The slave-holders will be driven, by the logic of
their principles, to demand what the free men of the North will not consent to:
then comes the split — not without blood! All national constitutions are writ
on the parchment of a drum-head, and published with the roar of cannon!
I have no hope for
the people of Italy, specially none for the Romans. These are a miserable
people, out of whom all virtus seems to have perished utterly. I am told
the Pope is in sad want of money: “Es fehlt ihm jetzt an Ablassgelt!” He
gets nothing from Romagna, and as he owes more than 70,000,000 dollars, he
can't borrow, except at great and ruinous interest. The sooner he and the like
of him go to the Devil the better. He has just published an edictum against
crinolines, and forbids women accoutred therein to enter the churches. We all
send our heartiest love to you, the Apthorps included. Remember me to the good
Marie.
Yours,
Theodore Parker.
My little book,
"Experience," &c., which you have, has been republished in
London, and here a Swede is translating it into his own melodious Northern
tongue. I don't know whether or not he will find anybody to publish it in
Sweden, for I see a Bill has been introduced to their Popular (!) Assembly to
make the priests censors of the press, with unconditional power.
SOURCE: John Weiss, Life and correspondence of
Theodore Parker, Volume 2, p. 388-9
No comments:
Post a Comment