MY DEAR SIR,—Perhaps I ought not to trouble so busy a man as you are to
read so unimportant a matter as a letter from me; but I cannot reasonably
forbear telling you how thankful I am to you for writing such a noble letter to
your friends and constituents. God bless you for it! I intended once, soon
after Mr. Webster made his speech, to have written a public letter to you, and
reviewed the whole matter before the country; but I am glad I did not, for then
I should, perhaps, have prevented you from doing better than any one has done
hitherto. A hundred and seventy years ago, John Locke wrote: "Slavery is
so vile and miserable an estate of man, and so directly opposite to the
generous temper and courage of our nation, that it is hardly to be conceived
that an Englishman, much less a gentleman, should plead for it."
Yet think of Mr. Webster and his eight hundred "retainers," as
the "Advertiser " calls them!
Accept my heartiest thanks for your many services, and believe me your
friend and servant,
THEO. PARKER.
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