Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-01-15
FOR THE ADVOCATE.

FOR THE ADVOCATE.
" He feels his bodys bondage in his mind,
=" Puts off his generous nature and to suit
1" Ills manners with his fate puts on the brute"
Twenty years ago, the electric spark was not
kindled, which is now catching from bosom 10
bosom, and animating with the most holy zeal
and noble charity,a great part of our communi-
ty. But few years have elapsed, since the be-
nevo!ent heart who felt the wrongs and sorrows
of Africa, sat down in hopeless despair. He saw n
people living in the midst of freemen, surround
ed by the trophies and blessings of liberty, vet
deprived of all It's anmating aud glorious priv,le-
gcs. He bchcld the chains of the body, yielding
! in ignominy to the letters with which the mind,
the moral and mental man was bound +; his ma
tuIe degraded almost to the level of trutes and
yet there seemed no redress nor relief; but the
evil extending with the march of population,
and spreading over the fair fame of our republic,
dark cloud of shame and reproach. No vista of
hope opened towards Africa, the home OF their
fathers, the land other freedom. No, my coun-
trymen, blessed are our eyes, for they have hail
ed thc first beams of that sun, which is now ris
ing on one quarter of the globe and our cars
for they have heard the first note of preparation
by which ransomed nation is TO be restored TO
ali the rights of freemcn.-But especially would
/ address Il word Of congratulation to my fair
country women, whose generous schemes ofhc-
nevoleDcein this cause have contributed so large
~ TO the means by which many grateful beings
have been waited back to Lac happy land of their
forefathers. The time is not long past. when n
lad " a.
in which she was permitted to move g. the oper
ations OF her own household arrangements, the
invention of new pudding or the patent right
10 some improvement in domestic manufacture
her only praise for ingenuity or skill. do not
mean to underate these necessary PARTS of
household economy. A woman is not respecta-
bic, far less praseworthy who does not attend TO
them. But God, when he gave to your sex pre-
eminently that quickness Of apprehension, facili-
ty OF execution, and ingenuity ofinvention, with
hearts animated and enlightened with noble
disintcrcstcdncss ready to sacrifice itsel on the
altar Of humanity and love, never designed that
these useful qualifications should be restricted TO
The narrow limits to which some of the cold
hearted and contracted Of my sex would confne
them. No, he las opened field of exertion
where your generous natures and noble purposes
may tell on the happiness Of nation, n continent.
Africa redeemed from the tiIradon Of seryitu5e.
ofignorance, and Of Indebtedness, may point to
America, 10 its fair daughters. and say, behold
my deIlverers! those lovely beings not only con-
secrated their own efforts for relief by apply
ing all the arts Of ingenuity, and making ale
of their merchandise for our benefit but their
ardour stimulated TO more active excrtion. those
who held the prcpondcrance of power and ipGlu-
once. Some heart like Sabina's will mino,e
with her prayer the incense of grateful remern
brance, and bescech heaven to shower its cbo;s.
cst blessings on your heads This African felt
so keenly TIC degradation Of her race in the
country, that although she lived in one of IN,
free states, and enjoyed all the advantages Of ed
ucallon and independence, she was still uDbanov
Her hcart was desolate, because she saw that n
sable complexion would forever exclude her m.
ton from ;he rewards and honors, which inori,
and intellect confer on white men. Sadness and
hopeless grief took possession Of her soul. an
enlightened mind became her tormertor bv
contrasting her situation with that of others
more highly favourcd in the scale of beino
Imagine with what feelings she received the in.
teilgence, that plan was in operation TO re-
store her kindred 10 Africa An eyc witness ;f. .
formed me, That she actually scented 10 lcair =