The Daily Dispatch: April 2, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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An interesting letter.

The subjoined letter, from the late J. K. Paulding, which has recently been brought to light, will be read with interest. It draws a faithful portraiture of that grand rascal, Seward, the worst man whom the Puritan race has yet produced — Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr, their other two celebrities, not excepted. It is the race which has produced Arnold, Burr, and Seward, that is now denouncing as traitors and rebels, and endeavoring to subjugate, the land of Washington, Jefferson, Lee, Henry, Marshall, and hosts of the brightest and best spirits of the American Revolution. Mr. Paulding describes them accurately, and, in his antipathy to Puritanism, expresses a sentiment which is quite as common in the Middle States as the South. But those States, like the West, have been harnessed by the cunning sons of the Pilgrims to their political and money schemes, and are now contributing the principal supplies of men and means to a war which, whatever be its results, can only end in the ruin of their own section, as well as New England:

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A precious Relic

[From the Mobile Register] Through the courteous attention of a friend we are enabled to lay before the readers of the Mobile Sunday Register a letter, which from the name of the writer and that of the reticent, as well as from its contents, will be perused with interest in every section of the country. To the best of our knowledge this letter has never been published and as we print it from the autograph, we can vouch both for its genuineness and correctness. What grander epitaph inscribed to the memory of the lamented Paulding than this patriotic blessing to the dying Calhoun?--What more fearful castigation could be administered to the leader of the Abolition cohorts than this portrait of him by one of the purest and most distinguished men of his own State?

The speech of the great South Carolinian which called forth this earnest response from the friend and co-laborer of. Washington Irving, and one of the pioneers of American literature, was his last and greatest effort on the political stage, uttered when the tide of his glorious life was fast sinking to its ebb, and when the faltering body refused to support the weight of that great mind. Mr. Paulding's letter reached him on his death bed, only a few days before his dissolution.

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Hyde Park, Duchess county, March 19, 1850.

I have received and read your speech with the deepest interest and attention. It traces the present crisis to its source, and points out the means of avoiding its consequences with perfect clearness, without declaration and without passion. It appeals to our reason and asks only justice. It will not perhaps be so much praised as some others; but hereafter when its predictions will be fulfilled, as I presume they will be are long, unless the spirit of fanaticism is effectually checked in its career you will be quoted as one who foretold the danger and pointed out the only means by which it could be avoided. It gives the pleasure to see that you take the some ground, with one exception, which I as made in a pamphlet I had prepared on the same subject, but for which I could find no publisher, I was also desirous of publishing a second caution of a work of mine on slavery, now out of print, but was met by the same obstacle. The military as well as the political press is enthralled in the North, and audi alterem partem becomes an obsolete maxim.

If you will permit me, I will suggest to you a doubt of the policy as well as efficacy of the guarantees you propose for the future safety of the South, which will berqually denture with the Constitution as of the late of God and the of nature by the fanatics. They will be burnt flax in their flory furnace. I mention this, because it would seem that several of the representatives of the South are not prepared to go with you to that extent; and have formerly stated, I think of the last continue to the South. It astonishes me to the discussion of parties will kept up in that quarter, and that when such momentous interests are at stake, instead of embarking to a man in one bottom, which one might own prank and paddies away in different directions.

I cannot express the contempt and disgust with which I have read the speech of our Senator, Seward, though it is just what I expected from him. It is one of the most dangerous insects the crawled in the Poland atmosphere, for he is held in such utter contempt by honest men that no notice is taken of him till his sting is felt.--He is only qualified to play the most despicable parts in the political drama, and the only possible way be can acquire direction is by becoming the tool of greater scoundrels than himself. Some years ago, after disgracing the State of New York as Chief Massicrate, be found his level in the lowest depths of in significance and oblivious, and wan dropped by his own party. But the man has been lately stirred at the very bottom of the pool, and he who want down a mutilated tadpole has come up a full-grown bull frog, more noisy and impudent than ever. This is very often the case among as here, where nothing is more common that to see a swindling rogue, after his crimes have been a little rusted by time, suddenly become an object of popular favor of executive patronage. The position taken and the principles assured by this pettifogging rogue in his speech would disgrace any man — but himself.

I fear it will not belong before we of the North become the tools of the descendants of the old Puritans, who had out the most retroots idea of the principles of civil liberty, and no conception of religious toleration, but the most unrelenting intolerance. The despotism of persons is taking the place of that of kings; and the gown and the patriciate live conspired to usurp the breeches. Our freedom is in great danger of being sacrificed to texts of Scripture, and dogma; the Twelve Tables are becoming our law, and we shall be obliged study the Pandects of English.

I fear, too, you will be tempted to trespass for much on your strength in defending yourself from your loss end friends. Let me beg of you to hear in bond that at your and and mine, nature is not often strong enough to make more than one rally, and that every successive effort is protective not of vigor, but exhaustion. Remember that, in all probability, the future will require your exertions as well as the present. I rejoice to hear the favorable opinion of your physicians.