Biggs Letter to Beecher
Dublin Core
Title
Subject
Description
Creator
Source
Publisher
Date
Contributor
Sara Smith, Transcriber
Rights
Relation
Format
Language
Type
Identifier
Coverage
1830's
Cincinnati, Ohio
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
(Lane_053 - 056)
Line 1 Lane Sem. Aug. 18. 1834
Line 2 Rev. Dr. Beecher,
Line 3 Dear brother,
Line 4 I am favoured today
Line 5 with the letter jointly from yourself and Dr. Vail,
Line 6 its contents I have read and [unclear] with
Line 7 deep interest, and I am assured they express
Line 8 the true convictions of your minds_ and my on-
Line 9 ly regret is that I cannot, in view of facts,
Line 10 present, and past, persuade my mind into
Line 11 sympathy with yours. [unclear] evils which
Line 12 I feel and apprehend seem to me [?] call
Line 13 for anything rather than narcotics. –
Line 14 For any [unclear] interests identified with this in-
Line 15 stitution beyond a desire to do my duty and to
Line 16 [unclear] the institution in a train to realise the hopes
Line 17 of its founders and patrons, I have no solicitudes
Line 18 Oneida men or any other kind of men, beyond
Line 19 this I regard not. But unless my [optics] en-
Line 20 tirely deceive me, I see now in the seminary
Line 21 the elements of its own destruction. I see a
Line 22 spirit, which while it yields_ and [almost]
Line 23 crouches such is its adroitness and master-
Line 24 ship it has surmounted all rule and
Line 25 all authority, and despite of faculty with
Line 26 all their [solemn] deliberations and resolutions
Line 27 and imparted counsels; and despite of the
Line 28 (easily imagined) opinions of Execu. Comm. and
Line 29 board of Trustees, it has succeeded in giving
Line 30 to the Institution, an attitude and character,
Line 31 the [most] offensive and repulsive, to the west at
(Lane_054)
Line 1 least, that could be contrived. This is not an exaggera-
Line 2 ted statement. The sentiment here expressed is growing
Line 3 and spreading every day. The public [unclear]
Line 4 for some manifesto of this subject from the trus-
Line 5 tees. They are not satisfied_and they demand to
Line 6 know whether they are rightly informed when
Line 7 they [unclear] that on the borders of all the western
Line 8 & southern slavery, there is located at Walnut hill,
Line 9 a [concern] intended to be the great Laboratory
Line 10 Laboratory and [unclear] for every thing concoc-
Line 11 ted and [and] half wrought in New York &
Line 12 elsewhere, by [unclear] Abolitionists. The
Line 13 Trustees feel themselves called upon to furnish some
Line 14 thing to correct and allay this ([not] unreasonably)
Line 15 excited [rule] [or] [feeling]. [This] [unclear] among us, as all
Line 16 know the Master spirit of Abolitionism; [we] [have]
Line 17 it [unclear] in its sublimated role. [It] has already [unclear]
Line 18 inflated and intoxicated nearly all our students.
Line 19 [Its] exhilarations [make] them soar above all
Line 20 our heads, and the principle is now pretty well
Line 21 settled that the one whose head has most capacity
Line 22 for this [empyrical] [gas] why, he’s the model, and
Line 23 the best theologian, and best any thing else you [please].
Line 24 It is now believed to be time to [settle] the question,
Line 25 “who shall govern? Students? Or faculty in con
Line 26 currence with Trustees? _ The recent history of
Line 27 our seminary has rendered the question altogether
Line 28 dubious. _
Line 29 I rejoice to hear of the success, realized, and in prospect,
Line 30 attending your Eastern Mission_ So much for the
Line 31 stand taken by the faculty, and so much the stronger
Line 32 the reason to separate from our concern [such] [elements]
Line 33 as will in all probability produce an explosion. _
Line 34 It is the opinion _ the conviction of the great majority
Line 35 of our friends here, that some decisive nuances [unclear]
(Lane_055)
Line 1 must be adopted, and that too before the next term
Line 2 opens. The Exec. Com. Have already had two meetings
Line 3 on the subject. They have been furnishing themselves
Line 4 with all the information they can reach. They have
Line 5 investigated the concerns of the Seminary and they
Line 6 have decided that their duty calls [them] to act &
Line 7 to act with vigour and [promptitude]. They
Line 8 are to have another meeting on Wednesday next. I
Line 9 will lay before them the contents of your letter.
Line 10 While I am writing, sad to tell, our beloved
Line 11 brother Elnathan Kemper lies a corpse
Line 12 in his own house! _ He was at the [unclear] and
Line 13 Church yesterday P.M. at 4 O’Clock.
Line 14 He sickened in town_ remained [more]
Line 15 than two hours without any medical
Line 16 aid_ [unclear] [house] [unclear] and
Line 17 upon 12 of midnight his spirit took
Line 18 its flight. This was one of the fiercest
Line 19 onsets of cholera I ever saw. [unclear]
Line 20 into his [unclear] this afternoon _ His
Line 21 loss will be severely felt. _ [Mr] Stowe,
Line 22 has probably [warned] you, and told you his
Line 23 sad tale _ Well the Lord liveth & reigneth,
Line 24 and let his will be done! May our anxieties
Line 25 we speak [unclear] [unclear] anxiously. I seek to
Line 26 be willing that all may be [unclear]
Line 27 that I may be any thing or nothing for his
Line 28 glory. _ Mrs. Beecher enjoys her usual health, &
Line 29 the family are well. But oh what uncertainty
Line 30 attends us here_ May we all be ready.
Line 31 I am dear Sir,
Line 32 My [unclear] regards in Christian bonds
Line 33 to [unclear] Your affectionate friend
Line 34 Thomas J. Biggs
(Lane_056)
(Written vertically)
Rev. Thomas Biggs
To Rev Dr Beecher
August 18, 1834
25
The Reverend Dr. Beecher
Boston
Mass
Line 1 Wednesday 20. _ [unclear] for father has just breathed
Line 2 his last. _ He [unclear] his son, and made an
Line 3 address & prayer on the occasion. He was seized at about
Line 4 2 A.M. of today_ and died about 11 A.M. _ It was ano-
Line 5 ther case of cholera! _ I have reviewed my letter after
Line 6 sleeping two nights, and I see no reason to [expunge] or
Line 7 alter any thing in it… If I am wrong I am so
Line 8 very [far]. _ It behooves me to act in view of my final
Line 9 [account], for death is at the door. _