Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-16

decided stand, in opposition to negro slavery,
than we have e,andwe can say what but few can
say, with equal truth and justice, we once had
nearly fallen martyrs to the cause, and to our
notions of Philanthropy,by indscrectly attack
ing tho dealers in flesh and blood in the very TO-
Gus of slavery. Not unlike Benjamin I.undy,we
possessed far more zeal than discretion, and
for our labors Of love, received a variety Of
kicks but not many coppers-anda great many
empty praises at the hands Of our friends Of
holders of Louisiana. Finding at last, that we
| we're engaged in hopeless project, and that
the world did not thank us for our services,
and that humanity laughed at our toilngs. we
| very gravely entered into council with our
| selves, and concluded that we were not capa.
BILE of meliorating the con ition Of the whole
OF the race of Africans. who are now groaning
beneath the oppressive yoke, of human bond
age.
But this is not exactly to our purpose-and
what we have thus far said, has been uttered
in self defence-our principal object is to be-
stow few remarks on Benjamin Lundy,
quaker gentleman, who has been travelling
| through New England, to collect monies, TO
enable him to emancpate the slave popula-
| tion of the country. In a former paper, we
took occasion to speak of this gentleman, in
the following manner:
"a quaker gentleman of the name Of Lun-
| dy, who is editor of newspaper published at
Baltimore, called the Genius of Universal
Emancipation, has recently visited this town,
for the purpose of collecting funds TO enable
him TO manumt the slaves ofthe county
Although his object is admitted to be good by
all, we believe that his scheme has been con-
sidered wild and extravagant, by most of those
who have conversed with him, and that thus
far, he has not been enabled to collect any
considerable sums to assist him in carrying his
benevolent plans into execution"
The paragraph, unmportant as it is,-but it
is not less insignificant than the canting and
miserable hypocrite who has taken hold of it
has been seized upon, by one of those geniuses
who peddle their way from Connecticut to
Rhode Island, to receive the benefit of the act
Tor insolvent debtors. and have the ,mpudence,
and unparalleled elirontery, to undertake 10
| dictate to the town-and the whole of the
facts, which embodied in the para graph,
are pronounced false and malicious, and we
are accused, Of raising our voices. to impede
| the progress Of liberty. We confess, that we
feel not little mortified to find ourselves oc-
cuped in tins way, and particularly as the OBJ
loct al which our remarks are cast, is far
beneath the dignity Of manly criticism but
! lest silence should be received as an evidence
Of our asse Mt to the assertions of the dealer in
wooden clocks, nutmegs and minor literature,
we will proceed to prove. what we have pre-
vously asserted, with reference to Mr.. Lundy.
Some time in tho month Of March, Mr. Lun-
| dy, introduced himself to us, at the Franklin
House. and after claiming those courtesies and
civties which should ever be rccipro ca y ex-
tended by the members Of the same profession,
he made known to us tho object of his visit TO
| New England; which. he stated to be first, to
/ procure funds, TO prosecute famous dealer in
slaves, who had beaten him in the most brutal
and shocking manner, in the streets of Balti-
more and secondly, to procure the necessary
means to assist him in carrying on his scheme
Of universal emancipation. Pleased with his
appearance, and the simplicity Of his man.
ners, and respecting him for his religious
sentiments, we took unweared pains to be civil
to him /; and, although, we did not exactly ap-
probate his plan Of laying the country under
contribution to enable him to seek redress
for personal injuries, which should be redress
ed by the laws Of the land and at his own ex-
pense; still as we regarded him as an innocent
well meaning man, whose philanthropy far
eutran his discretion, we offered to assist him
as far as we could, and at his request, intro
duced him to numerous citizens Of the town.
! who are known to be the advocates of negro
emancipation. BY all, to whom we introduced
him, he was we'll and kindly received, and
though they evidently applauded those better
feelings which seemed TO dictate his conduct,
they, without a solitary exception, looked up
OH him a zealot, who had commenced a wild
and an extravagant scheme, which however
laudabie il might be in its design. was certain
to fail in its execution. They listened to him
attentively, raised no objection to his projects,
but as they were we'll satisfied, that whatever
sums Of money they might give him, would be
lost in the entire failure Of good project, thoy
very wisely declined making any considerable
donations; and, retained their surplus means,to
be appropriated to the alleviation Of those
| yratrbsd ,ho ra.,da in i'm
mediate vicinity, and whose demands are quite
sufficient TO exhaust the patience, and philan-
thropy of Charity herself Afier remainjng