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Adams, Nehemiah, 1806-1878

"The Sable Cloud A Southern Tale With Northern Comments (1861)"

"
"Now, please do not smile at your good wife for her simplicity, Mr.
North," said I, "for I suppose that you are thinking, What have 'good
manners' to do with the 'cause of freedom'? She is right in her
impressions; a lady's sense of propriety against all the world."
"Do publish the Southern lady's letter by all means," said Mrs. North.
"How surprised she would be," said I, "to see it in print, or to know
that it had wandered here, and was taking part in the discussions about
slavery."
"The letter," said Mrs. North, "would, just now, seem like Noah's poor
little dove, wandering over wrecks and desolations."
"True," said I, "and to finish the illusion, it might come back to her
after many days, and lo! in its mouth an olive-leaf plucked off!"
"Give my love to her," said Mrs. North; "her letter has made me a better
and happier woman. Now I love my whole country. I do justice in my
feelings to hundreds of thousands whom I have hitherto regarded as
perverse. I now see God's wonder-working providence in connection with
the slave. It seems plain to me in what way the Union can be saved, and
that is, by the general prevalence at the North of such views about
slavery as the very best people at the South declare to be just and
right.


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