The voice of freedom. [volume], May 18, 1839, Image 2

About The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848

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THE VOICE OF FREEDO M .
i .1 1 1 M 1 1 f
for tho fancies and doctrines ol men.
"he flponrin Annual Conference, unanimously
iptaa tne loliowing preamuie anurcsuiuuun, viz;
Whereas there- is a clause in the discipline ol
r church which states that we are as much as
iX convinced of the great evil of slavery and
liereas the said clause has been perverted by
me, and used in such a manner ns to produce
impression that the Methodist Episcopal
liurqh believed slavery to be a moral evil,
Oerefore Resolved, That it is the sense ol the
icortna Annual Contereuee, tliat slavery, as n
ixislj in the United States, is not a moral evil.
The Svnod of Virginia,
I Resolved, unanimously, That we consider the
aoia fiercely promulgated hysaul associations
(A IS.) that slavery as it actually exists m om
s ivl.hn rlinnr Stnlps. it nerrssarilV Siniiii, una
''on At to be immediately abolished, and the conclu-
'Siml which naturally follow Irom mat dogma, ns
' dieftly and palpably contrary to the plainest prin
'cijldB of common sense and common humanity,
atillo the clearest authority of the word of God.
he Southern Delegation to the General As-
mbFy of 183b, in private meeting, jmsseu tne
llcwinr resolution, viz:
'i Resolved, That if the Assembly shall under
dee jo exercise authority on the subject of slave
v", so as to make it an immorality, or shall in any
vayf declare that Christians are criminal m hold
ing slaves, that a declaration shall be presented by
the Southern Delegation, declining their jurisdic
tion in the case, and our determination not to sub-
hut to such decision.
I At the Shiloh Baptist Association, which met at
'Gourd vine, Va., in September last, the following
tiuprv. savs the Kelmious Herald, was presented
om Hedcman Kiver Church, viz :
" Is a servant whose husband or wife has been
old by his or her master into a distant country.
to be permitted to marry again."
The query was referred to a Committee, who
made the following report ; which after discussion
was adopted.
" That in view ot tne circumstances in wlncli
servants in this country are placed, the Committee
are unanimous in the opinion, that it is better to
permit servants thus circumstanced to take anoth
er husband or wife."
Here, in accordance with the general practice
at the South, are two direct violations of the com
mands of God, publicly sanctioned by professed
ministers and disciples of Christ.
1st. The forcible separation of husband and
wife against the divine prohibition, ' what God
hath joined, let not man put asunder.'
2d. The commission of adultery by the par
ties thus separated, in the violation of the precept
' Whosoever putteth away his wife and marrieth
another, committeth adultery, and whosoever mar
rieth her that is put away committeth adultery.'
A similar decision was made, upon the same
point, by the Savannah Baptist Association of
ministers ; and this horrid abomination, this high
handed sin against God and man, this fatal stab
at the sanctity of the marriage institution, the
peace and purity of families, and the very exist
ence of th'3 social state, was defended upon the
following impious grounds : 1st. That ' the sep
aration in such cases is civilly a separation by
death.'' The Association in their recorded opinion,
declaring that ' the slaves are not free agents' ! !
21. That to forbid marriage in such cases
dip slnves .'o st rone tcmntations
and stronger hardships' as well as render them
liable to Church cexsctse for acting in obedience
to th'.ir masters' who, the better to keep up the
supply for the nefarious traffic in the bodies and
souls of men, or the stock on their plantations,
might require them to marry again the precepts
of Christ, to the contrary notwithstanding.
If salvation is to flow out of Zion, if the church
is indeed the appointed medium through which
light and life are to be universally disseminated,
ifamidst abounding iniquity reform is to com
mence in the church, and through the penitence,
prayers, expostulations and efforts of its members.
is to spread through the mass oi society, .nu u
the Southern branch of the church is not given
over to judicial blindness and hardness of heart, if
her candlestick is not to be removed out oi us
place, and Ichabod written upon her glory, what
n wnAr is tn he nrrfor:ncd within her, and how
should she be straightened until it be accomplish
ed !
If the suffering bondman is to wait in Ins chains
until the Church come to his relief, if his tears
are to be unnoticed, his croanings unheard, h
woes unalleviated, his wrongs unredressed, until
the Church undertakes his cause then how are
wo bound, with all the pity ot humanity in our
hearts, to spare no effort to arouse our sleeping,
sinning fellow christians of the South, to a sense
of their solemn responsibilities to the enslaved,
and to the immediate discharge ol imperative duty
On the nuestion of slavery we have at the
North a source of influence, which we cannot fai
toemnlov without narticinating in the sin of the
South, and if she perish, without partaking in her
nlamies. The re ation existing ustween lNorin
em and Southern christians as members of the
bodv of Christ, renders the question of duty plain
" Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor and
not suffer sin upon him,' is the command of the
Great Jehovah, and if the Northern churches
fail to discharge this duty to the churches of the
South, thev in fact connive at their iniquity and
consent unto their guilt. This would be univer
sally admitted, if the Southern churches were in
the commission of any ordinary iniquity. Let
Southern christians teach and practice in accord
ance with the doctrine that there is no moral evi
in robberv UDon the highway, but that in some cir-
eumstances it is justifiable and proper, and the
Northern churches would feel themselves bound to
protest against the impious heresy, and to spare
no effort to rescue our common inrisuanny ironi
the foul reproach thus cast upon it. Are they, in
from the dutv. if the robberv
thus justified, extends not merely to the property
but to the person of the sufferer; if ne should be
spoiled not merely of his substance, but of himself,
KU wifp. his children, substance and all ? Are
we to ha verv conscientious about mere pecadillos,
while giant iniquities stalk abroad unreproved?
Are we in duty bound not to suffer sin upon our
neighbor, and shall we, as christians, utter no note
of remonstrance, when our Southern tellowcnns
tians nractico and defend the sin of slavery ? a
nin which includes within itself every form of in
I'miitv thnt ran bo named : by which every com
mand of the decalogue is broken, every principle
-f noralitv spt at nnurht. and which, in all itself
fects imedtntc and remote, is the rnoBt perfect
" " LjJ.ili'aj. njjmat laarth has yet
onscicncc, and leaves me niiaiiiuio wgiu ui
Southern christians come up in crowds to the
North.: We meet them every where, in our stages
and steamboats, in the private circle and public
assembly. We go in company with them to the
house of God, and unite with them in the various
benevolent operations of the day. Thus oppor
tunities are continually occurring for efficient ef
fort to bring them to repentance for their sin.
While all other suitable methods, many of which
will readily occur, are not lobe neglected, it is
chiefly to the different ecclesiastical organizations
of lhe North, that we must look, "as the most ef
fective mediums through which our condemnation
of slavery shall be expressed. These represent
large masses of christians, and they are well known
at the South. Their opinions therefore, it may
fairly be presumed, will be received with respect,
and their faithful, pungent appeals to the conscien
ces and hearts of their Southern fellow christians,
cannot fail to produce a salutary effect. Indeed,
as might naturally be expected, the inquiry is of
ten raised at the South, if Slavery is in fact such
an enorrr.ity in the sight of God, why do not the
good men of the North, who are in circamstances
peculiarly favorable to form a correct judgment in
the matter, tell us so; and in tones befitting their
convictions, reprove us for our sin.
Admitting the obligation to be in some degree
felt, yet, from the nature of the case, a bold and
decided action on the part of the Southern chur
ches is hot to be expected, until the churches of
the North are aroused to the subject until the
spirit of abolition takes a deep hold of the hearts
of their members, and on all suitable occasions, is
sent forth in the earnest tone of affectionate remon
strance, rebuke and entreaty. Were the South
ern church thoroughly aroused to commence the
conflict with slavery, she must still in a great de
gree, lean upon the Northern churches for sup
port. She would stand in need of all the moral
aid in their power to bestow. And especially
should she be cheered on, in the contest, by their
zealous co-operation, their active sympathy and
their prayers.
For the Voice of Freedom.
Fiftli Annual Report of the Hoard of Mali
ngers of the Anti-Slavery Society of Ferris
burgh and Vicinity,
The Board of Managers present their Annual
Report, under circumstances not a little discour
aging to superficial observers of human nature
affording, in their apprehension, conclusive evi
dence that the Anti-Slavery cause is fast ' dying
away.'
Wherever the principles of abolition are exam
ined in their native simplicity and beauty, apart
from their bearing upon sectarian and political or
ganizations and selfish interests, they never faii to
commend themselves to the ready adoption of our
fellow citizens.
The glaring inconsistency of republican slave-
holdiiiff is so apparent, and the injustice and cru
elty of the system of slavery, and the grievous
sufferings of its helpless victims are so calculated
to awaken our indignation and sympathy, lhat
numbers, yielding to the better impulses of our
nature, have rushed to the standard, without suf
ficiently counting the cost to enable them to per
severe to the end. Others, especially in country
laces where the mass of the people are less blind
ed by the influence of leaders m church and state,
seeing the popular current setting strongly in our
favor, have fallen into the stream, in tne nope oi
making their profession! of attachment to our
a use subservient to tlieir own political or sclhsh
purposes.
It was under such circumstances that our soci
ety was formed, in the Springof 1835, and em
braced as members nearly the whole adult popula
tion, of both sexes, in lhat part of the town where
our meetings were usually held, as well as many
others from more remote sections. Unlike the
Anti-Sla'ery warfare in most places, all opposi
tion to the cause was reserved until after our 'or
ganization. Our political pariizans and sectarian
bigots were taken by surprise. But they did not
ong re.main prisoners to the sympathies of their
hearts. The will of their superiors was soon al
lowed to resume its wonted dominion. As soon
as it was ascertained tlrawihe heads of one of the
political parties had declared hostility to the abo-
ition enterpnze, their satellites forthwith resnond-
ed to the call ; and thus some who had been the
most lavish of their professions of zeal and de
votion to the cause of the slave, turned away and
walked no more with us. An opportunity was al
so soon afforded of witnessing the struggle be
tween lhe true principles of liberty, the claims of
humanity and the voice of conscience, calling us
to the discharge of our duty to God's suffering
poor, and that sectarian spirit, which, clothed in
the garb of an angel of light, is too often mistak
en for real piety, and which, under a false zeal
for the cause of religion, will sacrifice our holiest
obligations to God and our fellow creatures to the
peace, the false peace of the church. It was not
to be expected that, under the circumstances of
our organization, we should escape the encounter
of this potent enemy to our cause ; it soon mani
fested itself, and with its paralizing hand struck
some of the professed friends of the slave dumb
to his entreaties and substituted tor their tempova
ry zeal in the cause of humanity, bible arguments
tor slavery ana apologies lor tneir own aennquen
cv.
The apostacy of a few of these two classes,
and the apathy ot those in whom the seed ot aD-
olition had fallen in stony ground, sprang up, but
withered when sacrifices were called for, and as a
natural consequence swept away that class who
had joined us for their own selfish purposes.
' They went out lrom us, but tney were not oi us ;
for if they had been of us they would no doubt
have continued with us.
These facts are not adverted to with the least
unkind feeling ; neither are they exclusively ap
plicable to any one sect or party; but ns faithful
chroniclers of events connected with the progress
of our cause, we give them for the purpose of ex-
plaining the true cause of the defection of some of
our number; lest any attaching undue importance
to the fact, should thereby be led to infer that
'abolitionism was dying away,' that its friends
had become disheartened and were ready to give
un their enterpnze.
Let none apply this flattering unction to their
souls as an excuse for their own delinquency, nor
for a moment imagine that the true friends of hu
-manity distrust the soundness or potency of their
principles, or the certainty of their ultimate tri
umph. Truth is mighty and will prevail. We
trust there is still a much larger proportion of our
number than that which composed the conquering
band, Gideon's army, who are firmly attached to
our principles and prepared with zeal and energy
ii sfffi" dsOrrp proportionate to the greatness of
the object to be accomplished, to carry thein for
ward ; being as confident of their truth and of the
overthrow of slavery in this land, by tlieir power,
either through the instrumentality of such means
as are now in operation to bring the nation to re
pentance, or those awful demonstrations of Divine
interposition which have never failed to be admin
istered for the deliverance of the oppressed, as
they are that the Lord liveth and still regardeth
the work of his hands.
Since our last Report, we have raised for the
State Society, and for our own incidental expen
ditures, about eighty dollars, besides about twenty-four
dollars for the purchase of an Anti-Slavery
Library. We have adopted efficient measures
to furnish every family in town, not previously
supplied, with nn Anti-Slavery Almanac, and to
give every individual in town, of suitable age, an
opportunity to sign petitions and remonstrances to
Congress for all the several objects in relation to
slavery, which have hitherto engaged our atten
tion in this manner.
Small as our contributions may appear in com
parison with the munificent donations of many,
yet when compared with our former subscriptions,
they afford no evidence of any abatement of zeal,
or the least ground of discouragement especial
ly when it is remembered that in making collec
tions the present year, we have not as usual had
the benefit of any lecturer or public agent; and
also that several of our members have withdrawn,
for the purpose of uniting with other societies.
But when our feeble efforts in behalf of the slave
are viewed in the light of the Golden Rule of
our obligation to love our neighbor as ourselves,
and remember those in bonds as bound with them,
they sink into utter insignificance.
We are bound to confess our great delinquency ,
in the fulfilment of -duty to our brethren groaning
in bondage, being sensible that were we fully to
sympathize with them in their wretchedness, our
sacrifices in their behalf would be more abundant,
our labors more unceasing, and our patience and
perseverance more unfailing.
When the doctrine of Immediate Emancipa
tion was first proposed by William Lloyd Garri
son as the only available remedy for Slavery, it
was sneered at by the leaders in church and state,
as the merest phantom of a disordered imagina
tion. Men the most conspicuous for tlieir exer
tions in the moral enterprises of thnt period,
seemed unwilling to risk their reputation by giv
ing it the smallest countenance.
It was long that the LIBERATOR, singly and
alone, proclaimed this doctrine, and in thunder
tones assailed the system of slavery as the giant
sin of this nation, and with arguments the most
conclusive, demonstrated the duly, the safety, and
the expediency of its entire and immediate aboli
tion, and with appeals the most heart moving, its
Editor entreated the co-operation of the philan
thropy of New England in the great work to
which he had solemnly devoted himself. At
length light flashed upon the minds of a few be
nevolent individuals, who found, to their surprise,
that the more the new doctrine was examined the
more its truth was confirmed, and the more clear
ly were they convinced of their duty to embrace
it and carry it forward.
Anti-Slavery societies began to be formed ; but
not many of the rich and honorable believed ; and
the enterprize was more an object of contempt
and ridicule than of envy. None but the fanat
ics themselves esteemed it honorable ; and neith
er ecclesiastics nor politicians thought of making
it subservient to their schemes ot popularity or
power. But a change at length came over the
aspect of things. ihe Colonization society,
which had for several years monopolized all the
northern sympathy for the slave, and by its syren
songs had lulled the nation to death-like slumber
on the subject of Emancipation, was now stripped
of its mask and shown to be worse than useless as
a means of removing slavery.
The public mind of Great Britain was aroused
in favor of Immediate Emancipation, and the
great problem was demonstrated on the ' black
board' of the West Indies, to the entire satifaction
of all candid enquirers, and the truth of the doc
trines of abolition and the duty of all to unite in
the enterprize were so apparent, that none but the
isrnorant or wicked would venture to call in ques
tion the one or oppose the other. The violent op
position which the friends of emancipation had to
encounter only inspired them with greater zeal
and devotedncss in the prosecution of their work
of reform, and having truth, righteousness, hu
manity and all the best sympathies of our nature
on their side, they succeeded rapidly in gaining
converts to their doctrine ; and the Anti-slavery
reform progressed with a rapidity greatly beyond
the anticipations of the most sanguine, and far
surpassing any moral enterprise that had ever so
licited the attention of American benevolence.
Abolitionists were no longer regarded as un
worthy of notice ; the opposition that had assaif
ed them, and which was proof that their growing
strength was dreaded, was now turned into flatte
ry ; and their scheme which so lately had been
ridiculed as visionary and fanatical, was now re
garded as a desirable instrument lor political and
party purposes.
Remainder next week.)
Amalgamation.
The next objection to emancipation is, that it will
produce an amalgamation of the white and color
ed races. This objection is a strange one from a
resident in the south. Can any impartial man
fear, that amalgamation will, in any event, go on
more rapidly than at the present moment ? slave
ry tends directly to intermingle the races. It robs
the colored female of protection against licentious
ness. Still worse, it robs her of self-respect. It
dooms her class to prostitution. Nothing but free
dom can give her the feeling of a woman, and can
shield her from brutal lust. Slavery does some
thing worse than sell off her children. It makei
her a strantrcr to the delicacy of her sex. Un
doubtedly a smile will be provoked by expressions
o: concern for the delicacy ot a colored woman.
But is this a conventional, arbitrary accomplish
ment, appropriate only to a white skin f Is it not
the fit, natural, beautiful adorning, which God do
signed for every woman ; and does not a curse
belong to an institution which blights it, not acci
dentally, but by a necessary, fixed operation ? It
is tho relation of property in human beings, which
generates the impure connections ot the South
and which prevents the natural repugnance, grow
ing out of difference of color, from exerting its
power. As far as marriage is concerned, there
seems to be a natural repugnance between the ra
ces; and in saying this, no unfeeling contempt s
expressed towards either race. Marriage is on ("
fair of taste. We do not marry the old ; yet br' I
profoundly we respect them. How few women
would a man of refinement consent to marry ; yet
he honors the sex. The barrier of color, as far as
this particular connection is concerned, implies no
degradation of the African race.
To continue a system of wrong from dread of such
evils, only shows the ingenuity of power in defen
ding itself. The fable of the wolf and the lamb
drinking at the same stream, comes spontaneously
to our thoughts. But allowing what I have con
tested, allowing that amalgamation is to be anti
cipated then, I maintain, we have no right to re
sist it. Then, it is not unnatural. If the tenden
cies to it are so strong that they can . only be re
sisted by a systematic degradation of a large por
tion of our fellow creatures, then God intended it
to take place, and resistance to it is opposition to
his will. What a strange reason for oppressing a
race of fellow beings that, if we restore them to
their rights, we shall marry them ! Dr. Chan-nine.
Worthy of Imitation. The Covenanters, alias
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, is a venerable
body. In this country they are few in numbers
but true to tlieir ancient faith. There is not a
slaveholder in their communion. Slavery has all
along been testified against from their pulpits and
presses. On sacramental occasions, slaveholders
have uniformly been debarred from the Lord's ta
ble, and classed, where the apostle places them,-r-among
' murderers of fathers, and murderers of
mothers,' and the most vile and atrocious charac
ters. This is the testimony of the Rev. John
Black, D. D. of Pittsburgh, Pa., one of their se
nior ministers. Mass. Abolitionist.
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.
MONTPELIER, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1839.
From the Editor;
New York, May 7, 1839.
The American Anti-Slavery Society commenced
its sixth annual meeting, according to previous ap
pointment, at the Broadway Tabernacle, at 9 o'
clock, A. M. Arthur Tappan, Esq. president of the
society, in thechair. Between threeand four hun
dred delegates, representing, I believe, all the free
States. Those who have been in attendance up
on all previous national anniversaries, say that there
has never been a more numerous assemblage of
the friends of the slave on a like occasion.
The services of this morning were opened by
prayer, offered by Rev. Mr. Crosvenor, of Wor
cester, Ms. Extracts from the Executive Com
mittee's annual report were read by Prof. Elizur
Wright, jr. The portions of the report, which
were read, presented a highly encouraging review
of the anti-slavery movement the past year.
Gerrit Smith, Esq. of Peterboro,' N. Y. moved
the acceptance of the report, offering only a brief
but thrilling remark. Rev. John Rankin, of Rip
ley, Ohio, followed with a powerful matter-of-fact
speech of half an hour. Next followed Rev. Lu
ther Lee, a Methodist clergyman, somewhat dis
tinguished as a lecturer and polemical writer. Mr.
L. dwelt mainly on the character of slavery, as at
war with the government of God, and rivetted the
attention of the auditory.
The next resolution, on the cruel disabilities of
the colored man, bond and free, was offered by Mr.
Harris, a recent graduate from the University of
Vermont. Mr. H. is a colored man, and acquitted
himself in a manner reflecting great credit upon
himself as a public speaker. Mr. Harris was fol
lowed by James C. Fuller of Onondaga county,
New York, a gentleman who has recently been
made a victim of mobocratic violence in the place
of his residence.
Henry B. Stanton, Esq. one of the Secretaries
of the American anti-slavery society, offered the
next resolution, which related to political action as
one of the means which must be put in requisi
tion for the overthrow of slavery. Mr. S. acquit
ted himself in his usually lucid and eloquent man
ner.
Mr. Lewis Tappan next took the platform, and
entertained the audience with a thrilling narration
of facts, showing what the North is doing for
slavery. Mr. T. exhibited a highly finished bowie
knife, as specimen of a lot recently imported for
sale by a Presbyterian elder of this city. Mr. T.
before concluding his remarks, alluded to the case
of Isaac Wright, a free born child of New York
who was shipped to New Orleans and there sold
as a slave, but whose purchaser, after being ap
prised of the fact that he was free when he left N
Y., promptly returned the noble lad to his former
home. Isaac was at the moment sitting in the
orchestra, back of the platform, and when so re
quested, rose before the meeting.
The closing speech was by Elder Nathanie
Colver, of Washington county, New York, touch
ing the duties and responsibilities of the church
and especially ministers of the gospel.
The meeting having been continued, with great
interest, about four hours, the hymn commencing
" From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator's praifie arise,"
was read by Rev. Joshua Leavitt and sung by the
conjrreo-ation, when, on motion, the society ad
journed to meet at Chatham direct Chapel, at 4
o'clock, T. M.
4 o'clock, P. M.
Met pursuant adjournment. Rev. Dr. Weeks,
of Connecticut. President, in the chair.
The mediiu mis "''"noon was fully occupied in
the disci"3'"11 of wat is commonly denominated
the wr"an qe9tion. The point debated was,
,vhe-ner the ladies presenting themselves as dele
tes from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Socie-
.y, should or should not be recognized and enroll
ed as members. The debate was continued till
about 10 o'clock, P. M. and was then determined
in favor of the women. Miss Abbey Kelley, of
Millbury, Mass. addressed the meeting with great
propriety of language, in vindication of the females.
Wednesday morning, May 8.
The vote of last evening reconsidered on ac
count of some informality, and we are in full blast
acain on the woman question. The attendance
is larger than yesterday.
P. S. 1-2 past 2, P. M. The discussion on the-
woman question has, at length, been brought to a
close, by yeas and nays : for admitting women to
sit and act in the meeting 184, against, 141 ma
jority, 4J.
Why don't yon go to the South'?--' What ha
the North to do with slavery'? 3
It is not very remarkable or uncommon, even
in these days of light, truth and consistency, for
abolitionists to be met in their zealous and affec
tionate appeals and strong arguments, for the op,
pressed poor, with interrogations just as insipid
and contemptible as those which stand at the head
of this article. It is earnestly contended by many,
and those too, who are ' as much opposed to slave
ry as any body,' that anti-slavery lectures and ar
guments should be addressed directly to the slave
holders : because, say they, we have no slaves
here, and of course your appeals will do no good
will not loose the captive's bands, because there-
are none ; the North will not have to answer for;
the sin of slavery her skirts are clear.
But the North has something to do with slave
ry : it has a responsibility, weighty and fearful,
it has a duty, immediate and imperative. The
North has a work to do a work dictated by eve
ry ennobling feeling of the human heart ; human
sympathy and religion are at the bottom, a work
in which all may engage in which the honest
and noble-minded will engage.
The questions arise, what have abolitionists ac
complished ? what effect have, or can they have,
upon the insolent, slave-holding South ? In the
first place, they have excited discussion and inter
est waited up the Lions of the South, Clay, Cal
houn, McDuffie, Harper, all on the alert all con
vulsed with agitation and fear. Southern news
papers discuss the slave question statesmen, min
isters and laymen are eager for information,
slave-laws, in one state at least, are so mitigated
down, that imprisonment, for a term of not less
than ten years, is substituted for the gibbet the
consciences of the naturally honest are horror
stricken at, and melted down by, the mirror of
truth,- which has so accurately portrayed and re
flected their wickedness and cruelty, and the
frank and open-hearted christian, when he retires
to his closet to hold sweet communion with his
God, 'remembers those in bonds as bound with
them.' The South is agitated interested over
whelmed with a consciousness of guilt, and she
will speak out upon this great subject, pro or con,
and good will follow for the deliverance of the
captive draweth nigh,' the signs of the times de
clare it nature declares it God declares' it it is
inevitable. Do you ask how this influence has
been brought to bear upon the south by northern
abolitionists ? It is no matter petitions, prayers
and preaching are mighty, even to tho 'pulling
down of the strong holds of satan.' It is enough
for us to know that their hearts are pricked that
they want light and truth.
We have just glanced at one of a thousand of
the happy results, directly or indirectly, of north
ern abolitionism, and yet, we behold the cause in
its very infancy 3,000,000 of human beings, ' bone
of our bone, and flesh of our flesh,' are crouching
beneath the iron rod of the judgment-daring ty
rant, and shall we, of the free north, so called,
be silent ? shall we cease to ' cry aloud' for the
poor slave the wreck of humanity?
mi -A
mere IS a spirit a pro-siavery, giueiiny,uu
tard spirit abroad at the North, more despicable,
and mean, even, than that which contaminates the
moral atmosphere of the South. There are chris
tian ministers, pious and godly church-members,
and boasting philanthropists and democrats, long
and loud in their huzzas for ' liberty' and ' equal
rights,' who openly apologize for this accursed,
blighting, withering system, and have we noth
ing to do at the north ? Let the North first ' cast
the beam out of its own eye' exterminate the de
basing spirit of slavery at home, and then it will
do to ask, ' why do you not go to the south ?-it
will then do to approach the south more directly
we can then say, with love and kindness, 'brother,
thou hast a mote in thine eye.' While we are
thus ot work at the north, our example and influ
ence will be felt and regarded at the south. The
hearts and consciences of slaveholders will thus
be made snsf eptible of the wrongs practiced upon
the out-cast African.
The fact is, the north has plenty of work for ab
olitionist work which demands their immediate,
united, vigorous engagement work which will go
unfinished until the black lines are drawn around
the record, of the memorable 12th of December,
and Charles G. Atherton, and the sixty-three rot
ten-hearted sycophants, from the free states, who
joined him in that scene of disgrace and infamy,
re driven from the Halls of Congress.
ETThere is a Rev. Andrew Marshall, a man of
color, pastor of a church in Savanna, of 1800 mem
bers, who purchased his wife and children and gave
$600 for himself, after he was 50' years old, and is
now worth ai.uuiJ dollars, and onlv acd 81.
j 0 -
Wrilv, this looks like taking care of hhnsi'if.