It was palpable to the scrutinizing observer, that it was not the sin of slavery which actuated the zeal of Beecher.  The South had held control of the Government almost from its inception.  The Northern, or Federal party, had been repudiated for the talents and energy of the South.  Its principles and their professors were odious—­the conduct of its leading representatives, during the late war, had tainted New England, and she was offensive to the nostrils of patriotism everywhere.  Her people were restless and dissatisfied under the disgrace.  They were anxious for power, not to control for the public good the destinies of the country; but for revenge upon those who had triumphed in their overthrow.  Their people had spread over the West, and carried with them their religion and hatred—­they were ambitious of more territory, over which to propagate their race and creed; yet preparatory to the great end of their aims, and the agitation necessary to the education of their people upon this subject, they must commence in the pulpit to abolish some cursing sin which stood in their way.  They had found it, and a fit instrument, too, in Lyman Beecher, to commence the work.  It was the sin of slavery.  It stood in the way of New England progress and New England civilization.  New England religion must come to the rescue.  There was nothing good which could come from the South; all was tainted with this crying sin.  New England purity, through New England Puritanism, must permeate all the land, and effect the good work—­and none so efficient as Beecher.  The students of the law-school had a pew in his little synagogue—­it was after the fashion of a square pew, with seats all around, and to this he would direct his eye when pouring out his anathemas upon the South, Southern habits, and Southern institutions; four out of five of the members of the school were from the South.

It was his habit to ascribe the origin and practice of every vice to slavery.  Debauchery of every grade, name, and character, was born of this, and though every one of these vices, in full practice, were reeking under his nose, and permeating every class of his own people; when seven out of every ten of the bawds of every brothel, from Maine to the Sabine, were from New England, they were only odious in the South.  I remember upon one occasion he was dilating extensively upon the vice of drunkenness, and accounting it as peculiar to the South, and the direct offshoot of slavery, he exclaimed, with his eyes fixed upon the students’ pew:  “Yes, my brethren, it is peculiar to the people who foster the accursed institution of slavery, and so common is it in the South, that the father who yields his daughter in wedlock, never thinks of asking if her intended is a sober man.  All he asks, or seems desirous to know, is whether he is good-natured in his cups.”  Before him sat his nest of young adders, growing up to inherit his religion, talents, and vindictive spirit.  Instilled into those from their cradles were all the