Scraps from the Bench (Not Judicial.)

Messrs Editors:ーIt is some time since I last wrote you. I have not written simply because I have had nothing to write about of interest occurring in this vicinity; and your own pens have reviewed the movements of the Free Soilersーof J. C. Calhoun and his followers, and other stirring events, with far more ability than I can presume to possess.

I shall at present proceed to give a medley of views and matters that have come within my observation in this all-absorbing whirlpool of dollars and cents; for here the quality of religious teachings is determined by the quantity of dollars and cents; the cause of liberty is estimated, and the cause of humanity is calculated, by dollars and cents; even politics and politicians are advocated in accordance with their supposed relation to, and bearing upon, dollars and cents. (id est the loaves and fishes.)

The Free Soil movement and Buffalo nominees are quite favorably received by the voting freemen of this place. They have held several spirited meetings, and are making arrangements for holding a series of them. A number of individuals, late prominent leaders in the pro-slavery parties, are in the vanguard of this movement; but the men that belong to the Whig and Democratic parties, go it strong for the "regular nominees." They are "rough" at thinking for themselves, but are "ready" to do the bidding of their Southern masters. Their motto is, "Open your mouth, and shut your eyes, and swallow it down."

Whilst crossing the ferry Saturday afternoon, I heard two gentlemen, whose appearance and language indicated that they were of the higher circle of society, conversting in relation to Mr. Webster's rumored speech at Marshfield, sustaining the regular nominationーI say upper circle of society, because, be it known, reader, that in this "commercial emporium" and its environs, we have upper and lower gradesーcircles, not castes, because the latter are not Christian or Democratic.ーBut to the conversation. Mr. A. said that it was rumored that Mr. Webster had made a speech sustaining the Philadelphia nominees. Mr. B. answered in the affirmative, when Mr. A. said, "It must have run against the grain," to which Mr. B. assented. This is but a poor compliment to the lion of the North, and yet to have said less, would have been to defend his honesty at the expense of his "godlike intellect." The man must be a ninny who supposes him to be fool enough to be honset.

By the by, Mr. Webster seems to be emphatically a man of the past. He delights to dwell on the past history of Martin Van Buren, and assures us that when cotemporaneous legislators, they mutually opposed every measure presented to each other, and thinks it must be ludicrous, if not contemptible, for them to agree now. The lion and lamb may lie down together, but the lion and fox cannot. Well, he and John C. Calhoun can agree in opposing him.

Hereafter, when I wish to make up my mind what is my duty in relation to some measure, I will (if my conscience allows me) ascertain the views of some one who has mainly differed from me, and if they are in favor, more especially if they are the embodiment, I will oppose it; it is a much handier way than going through the mental process of investigating on its own merits. It will be "god-like."

I had occasion last week to go to Albany, to transact some business. In returning, I went on board the Rip Van Winkle to take passage for New York. I called for a ticket, but was handed one marked "Deck." I asked if they charged full price for that, and was answered in the affirmative, whereupon I returned it, and informed them that I would prefer going on board the Isaac Newton, and repaired on board that aquatic palace, which is equal to any that the most poetic imagination could picture in the shape of an ethereal castle, where I was decently accommodated. Rip Van Winkle is a very appropriate name for the first boat; for certainly all hands of her rulers must have slept until they are half a century behind the age, like Rip of old.

Yours for Liberty and Reform,

J. C. H.Holly, Joseph Cephas

Joseph Cephas Holly (1825–55), the elder brother of emigrationist James Theodore Holly, was a pragmatic black abolitionist who identified himself as a Garrisonian yet supported political abolitionists, including Douglass. Born to free black parents in Washington, D.C., Holly moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1844 and became a shoemaker. Among the early subscribers to the North Star, Holly wrote five articles on American slavery for the paper between February and June 1848. He addressed antislavery appeals to northern blacks and whites and to southern nonslaveholders, linking the rights of poor whites with those of blacks. In 1850 Holly moved to Burlington, Vermont, and established a bootmaking business with the financial backing of Lewis Tappan. He embarked upon tours of Vermont, serving as an agent for Douglass’s newspaper and speaking on a number of issues related to the needs and rights of African Americans. Although Holly and his brother James held divergent views on colonization and emigration, they lectured together, debating the issues publicly. Shortly after Joseph moved to Rochester in 1853, he was a delegate to the black national convention that assembled there, and he published a volume of poetry, Freedom’s Offering (1853). NS, 4, 18 February, 10 March, 7 April, 9 June 1848, 6 July 1849, 1 February 1850; FDP, 22 January, 5 February, 23 March, 1, 15 April 1852, 17 June, 22 July, 28 October 1853, 12 January 1855; David M. Dean, Defender of the Race: James Theodore Holly, Black Nationalist Bishop (Boston, 1979), 3–20; Geraldine O. Matthews, Black American Writers, 1773–1949: A Bibliography and Union List (Boston, 1975), 148; Miller, Search for a Black Nationality, 108–10; Ripley, Black Abolitionist Papers, 4:25–26n