Ketcham, John. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Ketcham, John. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Ketcham, John

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Date

1841-05-17

Description

Handwritten letter from John Ketcham to Isaac Post, May 17, 1841.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

557

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

I & A Post                                               Jericho 5^mo 17[^th?] 1841
            My dear friends
                                          As Jeffries is in the neighbourhood
and to start for home to day, and further as he says
he heard something said about a letter to JK. (but
whether such a one was sent he cannot tell) I thought
I would try to scribble something in return, though it
might be only for the good intention. How but I hope
whether said letter is written or not written, you will
forward it without any needless delay _
    The subject which has lately engaged and stirred
up some of ^us^ a little, it seems came from the west. I
allude to that “snake in the grass” which has been creeping
about and biting at the heel of a certain peson [sic] in N York
but it seems somebody has caught him and taken his
likeness; this I trust will be lifted up before the people
that by their looking upon it, the bitten and all who
have imbibed the poison may be healed. It was certain
=ly an act of some temerity thus to encounter the reptile,
and probably it will be treated by some not in the most
courteous manner. it may even be looked upon as an
act calculated to sow discord and disunity amongst Friends
But truly I can say for one, I honour the deed; and I trust
those who have had a hand in its commission will have
the consious [sic] satisfaction of having [sic] done as they would
be done by; and if this be the case the censure and condem=
=nation of others matters but little. you will not wonder at
my writing thus when I tell you that some of us here are likely
to be implicated the same affair _ A few days since O.J.

(Page 2)

came up and brought the original manuscript letters of G.F.W-
in order that some of us might compare them with the printed
correspondence, and if we were willing to give him a Certificate
stating how we found the case. Several of us accordingly undertook
the task; and it may be you will see before long the result of our
investigation; and what sort of alterations, aditions [sic] and omissions
have been perpetrated by the publisher. Four of our number
gave the document requested; but one or two others who joined
in the examination, and I believe were as well satisfied with
the facts certified as the rest, declined affixing their names
to ^it^ the document _ they have their [sic] own reasons for this course
and if they felt best satisfied so to do, surely it is not for me
to complain. To me it seemed a duty to speak out the truth as
we knew it, not only to counteract the injury done to the character
of an individual, but to disabuse the minds of those who
may have become the dupes of creeping slander. Surely all
who have honestly imbibed or circulated the report in question
must rejoice to see it corrected. At least a moderate share of
charrity [sic] would lead to such a conclusion. I confess I am
somewhat at a loss to conjecture the ground of unwillingness
to unite in such an act; while perhaps, in return I am wondered
at for my rashness in doing what I have done. I know it may
involve consequences to myself not of trifling import. I know
it may seriously affect my reputation in a circle when I have
ever loved to be respected. I might possibly argue too that
it might impair my influence (if I had any) in a place
where right influence is certainly needed at the present
time; but I think I can say perrish [sic] that reputation_perish
that influence that must be sustained by repressing the ^truth^ or
refusing to utter it when called for at my hands. And yet I do believe

(Page 3)

that such considerations have sometimes been the means of
detering [sic] some, and myself among that some, from coming
out and fully awowing [sic] what they know and feel to be
right. It is indeed perhaps one of the most formidable obsta-
-cles in the path of duty with some of us have to encounter.
        And now comes up the old thought about Non-resistance
&c I have just got hold of a pamphlet written by H.C. Wright.
I have not read the whole but so far as I have gone I think
it would be rather difficult for “Christians” to gainsay his
Positions and his arguments without being pushed off the
platform they have assumed. As I have two or three
coppies [sic] will send you one and should like to know
what impressions it may make on you [sic] minds; perhaps
tho’ you have already seen it, if so please let the one I send
benefit some one else _ I want to put one into the hands
of our friend Valentine, as I think some parts of it may be
quite applicable to his present case. He has been causing
one of his bretheren [sic] who happened to be found trespassing
a little on his potato patch to be shut up in prison.
to act towards such as trespass against them, which it
seems to me might furnish friend V. with some
usefull [sic] hints in the premisses [sic]. But perhaps he might
think it smells of the “bottomless pit” and cast it away
but at any rate I should like to how he would get along
with some parts of it without doffing his Christian coat (for
I T Hopper says Christian and Quaker ^ism^ are synonomous [sic] terms)
          I must conclude in haste with the salutation of love
accompanied by that of my Rebecca
                                                                     John Ketcham

(Page 4)

P.S. Dont circulate this to the injury of any body without
     giving both sides a fair chance                        J K

[Text in center of page, written upwards]

                       Isaac Post
                               Rochester
                                                 NY

              Care of J. Hallowell

Tags

Personal; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Ketcham, John, “Ketcham, John. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2855.

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