Biography

Dewey was a Unitarian minister, mentioned in a letter from Frances Seward to Lazette Worden on January 15, 1852,  "I met Dr Dewey  yesterday and
thought how greatly he had fallen in our estimation since he appeared an advocate for Slavery– I have no doubt that sermon was written to secure the place he now occupies– Pastor of the Unitarian Church in the city– I met him at the house of a lady  who had called upon me to for  the purpose of ab obtaining a money to purchase a poor woman  who has been for 2 years seeking a purchaser of her freedom– She is one of many, but her case was particularly calculated to excite compassion–  "Reverend men, will upon their flocks, Universal love impress,  And then stand up thank their God For slavery's success"– these lines of Fred s New Years address came forcibly to my mind and I felt that I could not be profited by the Rev. Dr Dewey's preaching–"
Orville Deweys 1848 lecture “The Problem of Human Destiny” does contain passages that appear quite forgiving of slavery and point out its benefits to “a rude, ignorant, nomadic people.” p225 https://books.google.com/books/about/THE_PROBLEM_OF_HUMAN_DESTINY.html?id=Q9wz7c43zR4C