---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 14:27:24 PDT
From: "Beth A. Salerno" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: H-NET List for History of the Early American Republic
     <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Reply:  George B. Cheever's Fire and Hammer of God's Word

Date: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 10:09:25
From: Bob Sampson   [log in to unmask]

    To give some added context to Cheever it should be noted
that as admirable as his anti-slavery stance (hopefully) is to
late 20th Century historians Cheever had another, less "liberal"
stand.  He was one of the leading opponents--perhaps the most
prominent of a host of clergymen in opposition--of abolition of the
death penalty.  In 1843, he participated in three public debates
with the leading proponent of tearing down the gallows,  John L.
O'Sullivan, better known as editor of the _Democratic Review_ and
coiner of the phrase "manifest destiny."  O'Sullivan and Cheever
debated to packed audiences at New York City's Broadway
Tabernacle and a book of the debates was later published.
However, O'Sullivan felt, perhaps with some justification, that Cheever
had rigged the format of the debates and then, in the book, changed
O'Sullivan's remarks to make his (Cheever's) arguments stronger.

    The best published source is Philip English Mackey, _Hanging
in the Balance:  The Anti-Capital Punishment Movement in New York
State, 1776-1861, NY:  Garland Publishing, 1982.  Some contemporary
sources are cited in my dissertation on O'Sullivan.

    Kind regards to all,

    Bob Sampson