The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-10-20 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL gTAlthAtib.

ports, they would save some thousands of miles of
sailing. Our own ships might pay a moderate toll
for passing through the canal, and foreigners some.
thing more. All, indeed, would gladly pay a con-
siderable sum to save time, tear and wear, wages,
&c., and at the same time the western coasts of the
Americas would be commercially approximated, and
the trade probably doubled. Direct steam and
sailing conveyance could also be had from Panama
to Canton, and also to New Zealand and New Hol-
land, &c. Another grand advantage of a ship canal
over a railway across the isthmus would be that
the expense, inconvenience, and loss arising from
trans-shipments would be entirely done away with;
and Panama would, moreover, (warehouses being
constructed,) become a grand depot for British and
European goods and manufactures, as well as for
American produce,—to be dispensed as required
throughout the several countries in the two hemi-
spheres.

We present our readers, this day, with a slightly
condensed summary of the Corporation accounts
just published for the financial year, comparing them
with those embracing a similar pei iod immediately
preceding, sheaving a surplus revenue, in 1846, of
£26,9')7 178. 81d., against £42,997 18s. 9d., in
1845. As it may not at a first glance appear how
this falling off from last year arises, we shall en-
deavour briefly to point to the items by whose in-
crease or decrease it is occasioned.

First, the interest account to our debit this year,
is £19,750, or a little over £7OO, more than last
year. This, however, is at all times a slightly
fluctuating account, according to the balances due
or owing to the estate. In 1844, its amount was
£39,305 12s. 4d.; in 1843, £35,365 4s. 3d. Our
present sum, therefore, chews a very material
permanent diminution, which is to be attributed to
the good policy of the Finance Committee in getting
the dead weight of the Wallasey Pool estate off
their shoulders.
We have a further increase in the item "on ac-
count of the Town-hall," which is this year £4507
17s. 2d., against £lB6 2s. sd. last year. This in-
creased expenditure, of course, is the cost of the
recent decorations of that noble building. Again,
we have had an additional £3OOO voted to the
Mayor, towards the expenses of Prince Albert's
visit, which, with variations in several minor items,
will make out the increase which appears in " ordi-
nary expenditure."

In the " additional expenditure under the Muni-
cipal Corporations Act," the first item of constabu-
lary force and police expenses, shews an increase
from £4212 17s. 9d. in 1545, to £BO6l ls. 7d.
The only way in which we can account for this, is
that which appears upon the face of the accounts.
The wages of the borough force appear to have
been £24,894 1 ls. 4d. last year, against £23,431
9s. 9d. the previous year. There is an increase of
nearly £6OO also in the dock division. The rest is
in part composed of the increased amount put down
for clothing this year, viz. £5,904 4s. Id., against
£3,378 Is. 9d. in 1845. We profess we do
not understand this; but on a board where Mr.
William Thornhill sits, we should think there
can be no extra expense allowed for surperfiuous
finery.
Under the head of " Lighting, Cleansing, and
Fire Police," we find an increase, the sum put down
this year being £8,061 ls. 7d.against £4,212 17s. 9d.
last year. The bulk of this increase has been most
usefully applied to scavenging, paving, and sewerage.
The Court of Requests this year has improved in
productiveness. It has only cost the borough the
sum of £854 18s. 9d.
On the credit side of the account we find an in-
crease in the receipts of Town Dues, from
£77,388 6s. Bd. in 1845, to £80,129 ss. 3d. in the
year thus ended—an increase which satisfactorily
establishes the improving state of the commerce of
the port. In 1844 we had £73,129 14s. Id. under
this head ; and in 1843 only £63,364 15s. 7d. The
increase is, therefore, upwards of one-fourth since
1843. The fines, however, (a fluctuating item) have
decreased about £3,000, and the income is altogether
only about £l,OOO more than last year.

These, and a few other variations in unimportant
items, not worth noticing, make up the difference
observed in this year's amount of surplus income.
It is satisfactory, however, to find that the extra
expenditure is not of a character likely to be per-
manent.

The " General Statement" is of a highly satisfac-
tory charact r. The amount of bonds outstanding
has been reduced from £871,449 4s. Iod., on the
aiat nf_Auguar.,- 1:84s, -to £835,167 195.. tod., out-
standing at the close of the financial year of 1846 ;
whilst the balance in favour of the Borough Fund is
£545,562 Bs. 3d. against £463,324 4s. 3d. at the
close of last year. As a whole, therefore, the posi-
tion and prospects of the Borough Estate are highly
flattering, and reflect great credit upon the chairman
and members of the Finance Committee of the
Town Council, by whom its funds have been so
prudently administered and husbanded.

On Sunday morning last, a collection, amounting to
£5l, was made at St. Andrew's Church, for the Chester
Diocesan Church Building Society, after a sermon by the
Rev. Herbert Jones.

The Rev. Hugh M'Neile has thrown open the large
school-room in Oakes-street, four evenings every week,
for the purpose of instructing adults. The present masters
of the schools will be in attendance, and several gentle-
men have in the kindest manner promised to give gra-
tuitous assistance.

SMUGGLING TOBACCO.—At the Police-court, yester-
day, a Swedish sailor was fined 20s. and costs, or, in de-
fault of payment, to be imprisoned for seven days, for il-
legally bringing on shore 4lbs of tobacco from a ship in
the Queen's Dock.
BIRKENHEAD FERRY.—The first stone of the improve-
ments at this ferry was laid yesterday, by Mr Seymour
Willoughby, one of the lessees. The trowel was purchased
by the workmen employed by the Liverpool Corporation,
and presented to Mr. Willoughby, a guarantee sufficient
to satisfy the public of the high estimation in which that
gentleman is held.
COMMITMENTS.—Yesterday, at the Police-court, the
following parties were sent for trial at the sessions :—Sa-
rash Bushel, charged by John Jeffereys with stealing a
pair of boots, worth 175., from his shop in Byrom-street,
on Saturday; Jonathan Burns, on a charge of stealing
14.11 b,. of copper, worth 125., from a vessel at the Cla-
rence Dock. There were only about /5 to 20 prisoners
charged with felonies, and none of the cases presented
any feature of general interest.

THE WEA.T/IER, since our last publication has conti-
nued to be rather broken and unsettled, with frequent
continued small rains, interspersed with heavy showers.
This has retarded field operations, especially the sowing
of wheats, for which, we believe, a larger breadth will this
autumn be put into requisition thandast year. Many fields
of potatoes are yet ungathered in this neighbourhood, it
being deemed advisable to keep them in the ground as
long as possible—that is until treat sets in—in order to
prevent the further progress of the-disease, which happily
does not now appear to be gaining ground. Many of
the crops turn out better than was expezted. Some of
the low lands have suffered from the floods,
Tux GREAT BRITAIN.—This noble steam-ship lies in
the same position. Mr. Gabriel, R.N., who assisted in
bringing off the Gorgon, steam-frigate, when aground, in
February, 18-15, has been at Dundrum for several days, ex-
amining_ the position of the vessel, and communicating

with the agents and owners, with the view of undertaking-
to float her, which he expresses himself perfectly able to
do, provided he is supplied with the requisite materials and
hands. He has made drawings and calculations, from
which he feels quite sure of success. Mr. Coppin, from
Derry,, who succeeded in raising the engines, &c. of the
Rambler, lost on the Maidens, went there on Thursday,
and had communication with Capt. Hosken. All hands
on board now muster about thirty-four ; but several
are about to quit her soon. Mr. Patterson examined
her very minutely ; and- expressed his opinion, that she
had. not suffered any injury at all likely to affect her being
got off. Her bedding, and the internal fittings, have been
taken down ; and the cabins and saloons present the
appearance of lumber or store-rooms. The removing of
the coals has occasioned a good deal of dirt to be about
the decks; and things don't look neat and tidy. At a
meeting, on Thursday, on board, on The part of the direc-_
tors, it was decided, that all hands should be ordered to
lodge and board ashore. Captain Hosken arrived here
on Sunday, and has had interviews with the agents here.
NEW SIGNAL ROCKETS.—Those who have read the
disastrous effects of the late gales, as well as the public
at large, will, we are satisfied, hail enthusiastically the
introduction of any invention that would tend to mitigate
thsi chances of ordinary casualties becoming fatal; and it
gives us great pleasure in bringing before the public a new
signal rocket, the peculiarities of which render it most
available for maritime purposes. These rockets were in-
vented on the Continent, and exhibited on the Rhine
during her Majesty's visit to Cologne, but have since
been greatly improved, and adapted for ships purposes
by our townsman Mr. Atkins, of the Zoological Gardens.
The principal object aimed at, is to give duration to what
is generally so evanescent ; and in this they have fully
succeeded. The rocket is of the ordinary shape, bit
rather larger than the usual site. On being fired, and at-
taining its elevation, it emits a ball of white fire, which
remains apparently perfectly stationary, like a fixed star,
the colours changing from brilliant red to green, crimson,
and blue. From some, showers of fire are displayed ;
while others, after being suspended, as it were, from the
heavens, explode with a most terrific report. The time
that these aerial lights remain permanent is quite incre-
dible ; for though it appears in direct opposition to the
laws of gravity, they remain fixed nearly a quarter of an
hour at a time. We learn that Mr. A. intends to make a
trial of them on the river in a short time, and we might
suggest the exhibition of one at the next meeting of the
Royal Mersey Yacht Club.

THE APPROACHING MUNICIPAL ELECTION

The first day of November, and with it the election of
sixteen gentlemen to fill up the vacancies occurring in our
municipal body, is fast approaching; and, perfectly in ac-
cordance with our frequently expressed apprehensions, it
has found the Conservative party, in several of the wards,
unprepared. The registry has been lamentably neglected ;
and, what is even worse, there is an evident damp upon
the spirits of the working men of the party. They demur
to being called upon to fight an up-hill battle at the
polling booths,when one-halt of the same energy bestowed
upon the registration would have rendered victory an easy
achievement, in wards which at present there is every ap-
pearance of our having to resign. uncontested, into the
enemy's hands, Accordint to our usual practice, we
shall briefly notice the position, thus far, of the wards.
No. 1, EVERTON.-Mr. Wm. Atherton, Conservative,
who goes out by rotation, is opposed by Mr. William
Walthew, Chairman of the Houseowners' Guardian So-
ciety. If we may take his address to the electors, in that
capacity, as an exponent of his views, of his own fitness,
they consist in his superior ability, arising from his con-
nexion with household property to see to the efficient
carrying out of the sanatory bill. We suspect that the
constituency of Everton will not consider Mr. Walthew's
claim as an overwhelming one. His appearance at the
poll may deprive other candidates of a few double votes;
but no more.

No. 2, SCOTLAND WARD.—Mr. Wm. Thornhill, Whig-
Radical, goes out by rotation, and Mr. James Holme is
the candidate in the Conservative interest. Every effort
will, we hope, be made to return Mr. Holme triumphantly.
Mr. Thornhill is the pet cf our Whig contemporaries.
He is the only one of the old Whig-Radical clique who
has occupied the same seat since the passing of the
Municipal Reform Act.
No. 3, VAUXHALL WARD.—Mr. J. G. Morris, a
highly respectable Conservative gentleman, opposes the
re-election of Mr. Thos. Chalmer. We must confess we
never saw any thing very great in " the Doctor." He is
a speaker who physics the patience of the Council un-
mercifully.
No. 4, ST. PAUL'S.—Mr. R. B. B. Hollinshead re-
tires here; and Mr. James Stitt is the candidate on the
Whig-Radical side. This used, however, to be a soundly
Conservative ward ; and it must not be left uncontested.
Can Mr. J. C. Thompson not be persuaded once more to
give his valuable services to the Council ?
No. 5, EXCHANGE WARD.—Mr. James Tyrer seeks
his re-election here, and is opposed by Mr. James Mellor
on the Whig-Radical interest. With such a man as Mr.
Tyrer to fight for, in such a ward, success is certain.
Success, however, is not all that should be aimed at; but
such an early assurance of success as will allow the spare
votes of the ward to be bestowed in other wards, where
they are more imperatively wanted. The double votes
should, therefore, be kept as much as possible in hand.
Whilst upon this portion of the subject, we must take the
opportunity of correcting an unfounded statement of the
Mercury, to the effect that the Conservative committee,
in serving the notices of objection, broke faith with the
Radicals. The following are the direct facts:—An offer
was made by the Conservatives to the Radical agent not
to make a single objection, if the Radicals would consent,
or to take only a few, so as to purge the list, and the Re-
formers were to intimate in writing—as was the case in
two preceding years—what was their intention. This was
never done ; a passing verbal remark was made at the
Conservative office by one of the Reformers, but no
agreement, or offer of agreement, was ever sent to the
secretary of the ward, as promised. After calling at the
Reform office, and not meeting with any satisfaction,
through the reputed absence of the agent, nothing re-
mained but to prepare to meet the anticipated attempts
of the Radicals to swamp the ward with objections, as in
Castle-street and St. George's wards. The result of the
revision added four to the already large majority of elec-
tors in this Tory ward. The objections made were not
filled up till the last moment ; and indeed were never in-
tended to be made, except in self-defence. No advan-
tage was contemplated ; and ail over-reaching or superior
cleverness is disclaimed. The register in this ward is in
good condition for the Conservative interest—thanks,
chiefly, to the untiring exertions of the excellent secre-
tary, Mr. Jackson.
No. 6, CASTLE-STREET.—Mr. James Aikin will pro-
bably be unopposed in this ward ; and of his party, we
do not know a man, whom we should rather see in his
place in the council. His politics are, of course, wide as
the poles asunder from ours. We know him, however,.
to be consistent and sincere ; and in every effort to ad-
vance the interests of his fellow-creatures, his exertions
are beyond all praise. In such efforts, moreover,. as in
the promotion of the establishment of a Sailors' Home,
he has shown that he can divest himself of party leaning,
and co-operate cordially with those with whom, in ordi-
nary matters, he differs.
No,. 7. ST. PETER'S.—Mr. J. A. Tinne will be returned
here without opposition, having bought golden opinions
of all sorts of men by his excellent discharge of the
duties of his office. On the Health of Towns Committee
especially, his services have been unremitting and most
praiseworthy.
No. 8, PITT•STREET.—Mr. Toulmin is opposed here
by Mr. George Holt. We trust, however, that Mr.
Toulmin's past services to the ward will not be lost sight
of; and that Mr. Holt will not be allowed to supersede
him.

No. 9, Gr. GEORGE-STREET.—Mr. Joseph Cooper, an
excellent Conservative, and a useful member of the
council, is at present the only candidate in the field, Mr.
Sothern, the present member, retiring.
No. 10, RODNEY-STREET.—We have already, in ano-
ther place, spoken of Mr. Holme's peculiar fitness for
the representation of this or any other ward. His-oppo-
nent, Mr. Booth, is.doubtless an estimable and honour-
able man—so is Mr. Holme. In every other quality
required for a seat in the Town Council, Mr. Booth is
that gentleman's inferior. The electors must not be
humbugged by flying squibs or worse :slander, by which
we are sorry to see that, on the part of Mr. Booth's sup-
porters, the contest has begun.
No. 11, ABEacßottult WARD.—Mr. Kaye, the pre-
sent member, offers himself again ; and is opposed by
Mr. Thomas Todd. Mr. Kaye is a useful member ' • and
from his long connexion with the Highway Board, his
services will be even more valuable in carrying on the
various new duties imposed upon the Council by the bill
of last session. We trust Abercroibby won't lose him.
No. 12, LIME-STREET.—Mr. H. Danson, Radical, is
at present the only candidate for this ward ; but surely
some Conservative can be induced to come forward to op-
pose him.
No. 13, ST. A/c-re's.—Mr. William Bennett, a good
Conservative, and an excellent man of business, offers
himself for this ward, against Mr. Joshua Hornby. We
trust the electors will be up and stirring; and repeat our
warning to them t) beware of tricks from their opponents.
The ward ought to be won. _ _ _

No. 14, WEST DERBY. is safe for Mr. G. H. Law-
rence, the able chairman of the Finance Committee.
Nos. 15 AND 16, NORTH AND SOUTH TOXTETH.—
MesETs. Harbord and Glazebrook, the present members,
do not present themselies to encounter another con-
test in these wards. Vl e view this result with
deep regret. It would be ingratitude towards Mr.
Harbord—one of the faithful few, who, in the early days
of our struggle with hydra-headed corruption in the pub-
lic affairs of this borough, withstood so firmly, day by
day, the insults and the brawling of the• then Whig-
Radical majority, directed against himself and his little
band of compatriots, who fought so earnestly the battle
of scriptural education to its triumphant issue, and
who recently so stoutly opposed the attempts of Popery,.
dissent, and time-serving Churchism to persecute poor
men engaged on our police force for their Protestant prin-
ciples :—for the gloss of such a man, or of his able•
colleague, Mr. Glazebrook, it would be ingratitude to say
that we grieve not. We are, however, extremely happy
to find that two gentlemen of great respectability have
been induced to come forward to represent the ward on
the Conservative interest. This is as it should be, espe-
cially as we are credibly informed that the state of the
register in both wards is extremely flattering. In South
Toxteth it is raid the Conservative wilt be returned by a
majority of 50d
If there be any truth in the following description „from
the Journal, of what ought to be the character and-capa-
bilities of a Town Councillor, we are afraid that some of
our contemporary's Radical friends.will be found wanting.
" If," says the Journal, speaking of a man smitten with
the ambition to represent a constituency,—" If he have
not education—a goad education—he is not fit for the
Town. Council. That body is a popular assembly ; it
requires popular talents, gentlemanly manners, and an
acquaintance with the tacit obligations of polite life.
The man who cannot speak—that is, who cannot embody
tangible ideas in a clear style—is comparatively useless ;
there is no doubt about the fact. All talk about honesty
and judgment, in the absence of power of expression, is
deluding twaddle. The man who cannot say promptly
what he thinks may be a good man ; in public assemblies
be is utterly useless, except for his vote." This is an
unkind cut at several of our contemporary's friends ; but
it is not ours.

On Sunday last, in compliance with the Bishop's letter,,
a sermon was preached in St. Barnabas Church, by the
Rev. Thos. Nolan. and the sum of £IS collected for the
Chester Diocesan Church Building Society.
List of cabin passengers per packet-ship Columbia,
Captain Rathbone, for New York ; sailed lith instant :
Dv. Scheferdecker and lady, Philadelphia ; Mr. Wilson
and lady, Baltimore ; Mr. Glover and lady, New York ;
Mr. Blain, West Indies ; Mrs. Lockett and child, Brook-
lyn ; Mr. George Wilson, Ohio ; Wright and child,
Manchester; Mrs. Keenan, New York ; Mr. Stott, lady,
and child, Philadelphia ; Mr. Layton, Manchester : Mr.
Danna aoi Mr. M`Laughlin, New York ; Mr. Kitchener,
Canada; Mr. Kenny, Connecticut; Mr. Livesay, Rhode
Island ; and 400 in the steerage.
MEETING OF THE REFORMERS OF ST. ANNE'S WARD.
—A meeting of the Reformers of this ward was held last
night, at Mr. Sefton's, Christian-street. The room,
which adjoins the Adelphi Theatre, was most comfortably
fitted (by the bye, the most satisfactory part of the meet-
ing) with seats for the number of electors expected, and
calculated to accommodate about 60 persons, which number
were present. Mr. W. Earle was, as announced, called to
the chair; and, in a lengthened address, catalogued the
mis-doings of the Conservative party, and designated
the Highway Board as a body who bad held office for
the purpose of maintaining the conservative faction.
Touching the popular feeling, he gave to the radicals the
credit of all that had been done to promote the health of
the town. Mr. :Joseph liornby, as a matter of course,
was mentioned as the candidate :—moved, seconded, and
carried. A question was then put (in a note) from the
Reform Committee of the ward, to the effect, " Would
Mr. Hornby assist in reforming the Court of Requests ?"
Mr. Earle replied, and then Mr. Hornby replied ; but
both answered indefinitely. They were not aware of the
management of the Court of Requests ; but should they
find abuses they would endeavour to reform them. This
answer was, however, given in such a manner, that a per-
son on the platform considered it necessary to enter into
further explanation.

THE ANTI-SLAVERY LEAGUE AND THE

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

A meeting was held last night, in the Concert-hall,
Lord Nelson-street, for the purpose of receiving a depu-
tation from the association called the " Anti-Slavery
League," on the subject of American slavery. The de-
putation consisted of Mr. George Thompson, the well-
known lecturer, Mr. Wm. Lloyd Garrison, and Mr.
Frederick Douglas, who is described as as escaped slave.
The meeting was numerously attended. Among those
present we noticed several members of the Society of
Friends.

Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON was moved into the chair;
and in opening the proceedings, he said he should have
preferred that some other person should have occupied
that situation. But the fact was, that no individual re-
siding in the town had been asked to preside. The de-
putation were present to atter the language of truth upon
certain topics in reference to which they were ignorant of
the feelings and opinions of those assembled, and of
others out of doors. The meeting had been convened
for the purpose of having brought before them the true
character of American slavery, and of those religious pro-
fessors in the United States who were connected with it,
as well as the conduct of certain parties in this country ;
and all that he asked was, that the deputation should be
listened to with impartial and unprejudiced minds. The
speaker then eulogized the long and consistent efforts in
this cause of Mr. Garrison in the United States. and spoke
in strong terms of some alleged misrepresentations of him
by Dr. Cox, whom he characterized as a recreant abo-
litionist, a coward, and a mis-called minister of reli-
gion. He challenged Dr. Cox, or any friend of his in
Liverpool, to meet him. He challenged his esteemed
friend, the Rev. Wm. Bevan, to come forward and de-
fend Dr. Cox from the charge he brought against him of
having desecrated the office of a Christian teacher, of
having violated his vows to the Saviour of the world, and
brought disgrace upon himself as a minister, by speaking
the basest libels ever uttered by human lips against the
friends of humanity and truth. The Chairman then in-
troduced the name of Mr. Fred. Douglas, the runaway
slave, describing him as a " chattel personal" and a "piece
of property," in his master's ledger in the United States.
This gentleman, he stated, had been grossly maligned and
abused by Dr. Cox, for having spoken some unpleasant
truths at the meeting of the World's Temperance Con-
vention, lately held in Covent-garden Theatre. His
offence consisted in haying stated that the black popula-
tion, in the United States, were neglected by the ministers
of religion, and abused by their masters, and in conjuring
the American delegates not to forget, when they returned
home, that there was there a coloured population which
demanded their :sympathy and assistance. The Chairman
then read a letter, addressed by Dr. Cox, on the subject
of Mr. Douglas's speech at the convention, to the New
York Evangelist, in which he charged him with being an
instrument in the hands of other parties, who paid him
to denounce the temperance communities of America.
Was there, be asked, in his letter, no lurking prejudice
against colour? (Hear.) Dr. Cox began by speaking of
him as " the coloured agitator and ultraist." (Hear,
hear.) The doctor held just the same prejudices in 1833
against men of colour. In the same letter he (Dr. Cox)
stated that Mr. Douglas had been " spoiled, petted, and
paid by certain abolitionists of the ne plus ultra school,"
—an assertion which he (the Chairman) denounced
as a wilful falsehood. Mr. Douglas had never been
paid by the abolitionists of this county. He had in
fact supported himself by his pen. This minister of the
religion of him who was meek and lowly of heart, also
spoke of another person who bad confirmed Mr. Douglas's
statements as a "cold-hearted parricide,"and,as amen who
had no feelings of piety or patriotism about him. The
Chairman read other passages from the letter, and warmly
commented upon one wherein the Doctor, speaking of the
Anti-Slavery spirit in his country, said that with reference
to the United States, it must be exorcised out of it before
any good could be done: The libels of Dr Cox, however,
would do more to raise than to exorcise that spirit (Hear,
hear.). He concluded by asserting that with the ex-
ception of three or four, all the delegates from America to
the late meetings of the Evangelical Alliance- were the
greatest enemies of emancipation in the United States.
(Hear.)
Mr. FREDERICK DOUGLAS then came forward, and
was loudly applauded. He commenced by justifying the
propriety of agitating the question of slavery in the
United States in this country. In that country there was
not moral stamina enough to attack the evil. It had
blunted both the moral and religious sense of the people,
although it was in direct contradiction to the declaration
of independence. Three millions, or one-sixth of the whole
population, were held in the chains of slavery, under the
sanction of the law and religion of the country. There
was nothing in the heart of America to which appeal
could be made for the overthrow of the evil without the
assistance of Christian Britain ; and he was of opinion
that the work of abolition must be mainly carried on by
the people of this country. A denunciation of slavery
uttered in this country would be heard in ten days on the
other side of the Atlantic; so that our moral, religious,
and intellectual power would be felt on this question.
And why, he asked, should we not interfere with Acne-
rican slavery? Did we not interfere with the domestic
institutions of other countries, and were we to stop, be-
cause our convictions alarmed and perplexed American
slaveholders ? (Hear.) Should America escape the con-
demnation due to sin, because she sinned in the name of
Christianity ? America bad been spared by the Evange-
lical Alliance, because she professed to be Christian ;
taking the name of Christian did not necessarily make
her so. On this question the American people must,.
in point of fact, be considered as heathens, because
they took advantage of the ignorance of their slaves to
keep them in bondage and fetters. Her name must be
made a bye-word among the nations before she would be
cured of this degradation, and he believed that by appeal- I
ing to her, through her reputation in other countries,
more good would be done than by agitating the question
upon her own soil. He had himself been mobbed and
beaten, and had his right arm broken, for telling his
wrongs, as a slave, in Christian America ; but in this
country, he rejoiced to say, he had received the sympathy
of every audience,:and had his denunciations of the crime
of slavery listened to,.and published, and sent across the-
Atlantic, without fear and without dread. He denied the
charge of having uttered denunciations against America,
or reflecting upon her as a nation ; he had spoken only
against her institution of slavery, and he would continue
to denounce it, for he believed it to be a duty which all
good men must commend. The Americans, indeed, saw
the blot upon them ;.they saw the cancer eating into their
vitals; they saw that their system of slavery stamped
their declaration of independence as a lie ; and they
saw that while this was so they would not be able to
lift up their heads among Christian nations. Slavery, be
asserted, was upheld in the United States because it was
reputable, and it was reputable because its character was
unknown out of the United States ; but when its true
character became known here and elsewhere, Brother
Jonathan would begin to think of its abolition. He con-
tended, too, that the churches of the United States were
corrupted by it. Mr. Douglas then proceeded to describe
the practical working of slavery in the United States,
founded upon his own experience, drawing a most ani-
mated contrast of the perfect freedom prevailing here.
His late master had sworn, he said, that if he ever once
set his foot again upon Christian democratic soil, he
should be reduced to bonds again. To this he replied,.
" Before you cook the hare. first catch it." (Laughter.)
There could be no more vivid description of the working
of slavery in the Southern States of America, than was to
be found in the laws of those states. There were 72
crimes in Virginia for which blacks might be executed,
for only two of which a white could be capitally convict-
ed. They were not allowed to be taught to read the Bible.
Marriage was prohibited. The speaker then gave a num-
ber of instances of gross inequality from the laws of
Maryland, and other states, and narrated many cases of
cruelty to his. own female relations, for which the owners
could not be brought to punishment. His own back, he
said, was scarred by the slave driver's whip. Another
fearful aspect of this question was the internal slave-trade
that was carried on. In 1837 Maryland and Virginia alone
realised 1S -millions of dollars by trafficking in slaves. So
brisk was the trade then, that night after night he had
been awoke by the clanking of chains upon:slaves who wer
being driven on board vessels bound for the New Orleans
market. Yet America boasted of having been the first to
put an end to the foreign slava trade ! Shameful incon-
sistency He then described some of the slave auctions in
the New Orleans and other markets, and drew affecting
pictures of the separation of husbands from wives, and
children from parents. These things were done in view
of the capital of the land of "the free and the brave "
in Christian, democratic America. Who were responsible
for them ? He believed tha American church and clergy
were mainly responsible for this state of things, and those in
the northern states too. (Hear.) It-was the religion of
the land that was responsible. The ministers had the
power either to will slavery out of existence, or to decree
its perpetuity—and they had willed its perpetuity. All
denominations were implicated in the guilt. The Metho-
dist Church had 90.000' slaves, the Episcopalian 80,000,
and the Baptist 125,000. Men were sold to build
churches, and women to buy bibles. The church-going
bell and the slave auction bell chimed with each other
in the same street. The pulpit and. the auction block
were found together: the auction block supported the
pulpit, and the pulpit in return covered the infernal
business. Ministers of religion traded in human flesh.
Grave doctors of divinity defended slavery from the
bible. (Haar, hear.) Human beings were sold to
buy sacramental services—all with the sanction of the
religion of the land. And it was with such religion and
with such professors that the Evangelical Alliance would
wish the people of this country to ally and link them-
selves.—(Hear.) Slavery and religion in America had
never yet had a fight with each other ; a striking fact,
which, in his opinion, showed there Was no true religion
there; and it accounted for him and others being charged
with infidelity. He asked any one who was an American
to deny the truth of the picture be had drawn. [A per-
son in the meeting, who said he came from one of the
slave states, denied the accuracy of the speaker's state-
ments.] He declared that he had not exaggerated the
real condition of the slaves, nor the religious teaching
which was commonly given to them. Tho texts invari-
ably taken in the sermons to that class were, " Servants
obey your masters "—assuming that servants meant
slaves ; " Servants, obey your masters in all things," &c.
&c. The speaker here imitated the words and style of a
sermon to slaves by a slave holding minister in a manner
that excited considerable risibility in the audience, from
the ludicrous repetition of the advice to be obedient.
This was no caricature. Bishops, conferences, synods,
and associations had preached the same :doctrine. But
while bishops and synods preached obedience to the slave
from the Bible, they positively did not allow the slave to
read the Bible at all. Bishop Meade, of Virginia, had
published two sermons intended to be read by owners to
their slaves, in whicla he laid down the principle that they
were to serve their masters as God himself. And a letter
had been sent to the Evangelical Alliance. by this same
Bishop Meade, which wasread with eulogy by Dr. Bunting!
The abolitionists were charged, with, attempting to set the