I wish that I need not bar my doors of nights.  And both our desires could be accomplished if all men were honest.  But, first, as I can’t expect robbers to pass by my unbarred treasury, so I can’t expect to receive Northern papers uncrammed with incendiary items.  Again, however, the South^n papers have virtually no circulation at the North.  I have heard men, reputable for their knowledge & conservatism even, denounce such Publi^ns.[4] as “unworthy to be touched.”  In the Reading Room of Princeton Theo.  Seminary there were taken, last winter, 12 weekly papers, and about 8 periodicals from the South & scarcely 3 of these were touched by any but Southern Students during the Session, unless some exciting discussion were going on in their columns.  Thus much as to newspapers.  I confess they have been the cause of many erroneous impressions on both sides, but the North is no purer from crimination on this score than the South;—­one stubborn evidence of this is the numerical dif. in pop^ln.[5]

You next remark that Abolitionism does not predominate at the North.  I admit that for many years it did not, but lately it has acquired an ascendency & is now wielding its baneful influence on the minds of the masses.  It is true there are many good people there whose minds are too pure to be tainted by such an almost infidel spirit as pervades the breasts of Abolitionists; yet the party in power has been elevated by such vast majorities of the people, in that section, that, to one investigating the matter, it seems the public sentiment at the North has greatly changed in the last few years.  In such a country as ours—­a democratic one—­the masses are governed by a few great leaders; these leaders, whether in power or not, are still the almost despots who rule us.  Their actions give fruit and coloring to the character of the sections over which they sway their autocratic sceptres.  Who then can doubt the Aboli^n propensities of the N. when such men as Beecher, Greeley, Webb, Phillips, Sumner, & a host of kindred spirits, are the giant levers in the machinery of their society?  It will not do to say that these are disregarded by sensible people there, for I know too well their power for evil.  I know that Dr. Hodge—­a man whom I love next to my Father—­stated, in his article on “the state of the Country,” that he did not know of 12 abolitionists “within the circle of his acquaintance.”  But the Dr. was either woefully mistaken or he didn’t consider his pupils as belonging to that circle; for to my certain knowledge there were twice that number within the walls of “Princeton” at the time he made the assertion, and many of these avowedly such—­men who, I was astonished to see, withheld their names when the same Dr. H. came round with a petition to Congress for “the restoration of the Mis.  Comp.” & the repeal of the “Personal Liberty Bills.”  These young men were embryo Ministers—­men