1861 December 16 Brooklyn

private Monday Evening

My dear Sir
Providence has
at last opened the
door for the onward
movement of the
Ind[ependen]t I have always
told you that the right
time would come
and that we must
wait for that time
and not take a single
step in the dark
Our Editorial Corps
have resigned! this
evening I have rec'd
from Drs Bacon
Thompson & Storrs a
letter which settles
the question. Full
particulars when

[page 2]
I see you

Early in the AM
Now will you please call on Mr Tappan ^
and have him make
an early appointment
at our store for
consultation as we
must plan matters
for this weeks paper
although the Edts very
kindly say they will
assist to get out
this weeks papers if
we desire. I have
seen Mr Beecher this
eve & made a
provisional arrangement
with him for the two
next issues--to give
us time for consultation
and to arrange with
him if desirable as

[page3]
I now think it will be.
If you can see Mr
Tappan and be at
my house by 8 1/2 oclk
I will be glad to
walk over with you
--if not call at once
at my office. Mr
Beecher will be
there at 12 oclk.
Make no mention
of the foregoing
to any one
Truly yrs
H C Bowen

Mr T Tilton

Henry Chandler Bowen, 1813-1896, established the Independent, a Congregationalist newspaper with a strong abolitionist bent, in 1848.

In 1861 and the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was named editor of the paper and Theodore Tilton, 1835-1907, who had left a previous newspaper over the slavery issue, was promoted to assistant editor.

Lewis Tappan, 1788-1873, Bowen's father-in-law, was a wealthy merchant, philanthropist and abolitionist, most noted for financing the defense of the Amistad mutineers.

MSS 10967