ABSTRACT
It is not in the dignified and impressive language of history alone, that our literature seeks to prejudice the institution of Slavery. Evil as is the tendency of history when perverted from its true channel of impartial justice, it is harmless when compared with falsehood arrayed in the attractive garb of romance and poetry. History finds its place for the most part in the libraries of the thoughtful and the learned prepared to refute its sophisms, or to reject its falsehoods. But fiction diffuses itself through all the avenues of social life, and fastens itself upon the heart and the fancy of the young, the guileless, and the romantic. It cannot be denied, and we would be the last to deny it, that Henry W. Long-fellow is the first of our living American poets. The facility with which political distinction may be attained in a republic, naturally allures young men of genius and education to that arena.
