Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-17
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m. Edi.or.-There Peshsps never wAs =
ma kim 90 hackneyed in the mouths d Dea.
- Charity e<g.ns NJ Home" u fosms the
ny pocsslicsi excuse Of the cold hearted, cove.
tous man. tor withholding his pittaEce FROM
the benevolent enterprises of his more phi
'Anshroptc neigLbors; and, to the conscience
OF bSlock creditor, Who drags from be.
meath his famisled debtor the bed that con-
ssnuses the only consolation Of his miseries,
ministers an efiectusl quietus. For strange
a. u may seem. men care less Ia be guilty Ut
crime than TO be suspected Of il; and &c they
can gloss over their bed quslities by . spe-
c'ous reputation before the world. they are
content TO abide the secret struggle With
their consciences and their God. hut still
our sdsge 10 not the less excellent, from its
frequent abuses. any more than religion is Vi.
".'ed by the corruption which its counterfeit
oren cioaks from the scrutiny Of mankind -
when see one. whose wealth has never
been applied to the relief Of the wretched in
his own ne'ghboshoosl. nsatios,nly engsg-
ed in splendid schemes or philanthropy. the
blessings ct which are To be felt abroad, . de.
test his selfish 6beraI,ty. and am ready 20 cry
oue with Indignation, "Chari,y begins nj
home" What would be thought Ut man,
VINO. to manifest his ardent tev oiion 10 libcr-
~. should desert his own country when in i'm.
m,nent danger from hostile invasion, and Ay
Oh on Crusade TO Europe, TO unite with re-.
generated Froncc in her succe.sfuI .irur.
gies against monarchical de.potisml Would
ms p'ous professions be trusted, or would he
Dc execratej rs n traitor, that abandoned
the sinking dsstinies Of his country to share
IN the spo:ls OF conquests that Liberty We,
reaping abroad? Thus should they be re.
gsrdsd, who can view, unmoved, tho scensa
oil NO that darken the humble walks OF 10.
verify. and withhold relief, because the her.
AID Of Fame Is not there to trumpet their be-
nevoIence sbrosd-bnt who, whenever any
enterprise 10 proposed which 10 calculated TO
draw public admiration 10 its promoters, are
ever Foremost on the list OF candidates for
the reputstion Of philanthropy. wish not.
sir, To- discourage that cxpansivs spirit Of
benevolcnce that seeks To embrace the
whole race Of human sufferers within its
circle, nor 70 cut down those sciops Of civil
izaiion that have been transplanfed with so
much pains into lands Of hesihen ish bsrba.
rity, but wish charity TO b,gin at home;
and when the tears Of our own countr, men
arc dried up and their wounds healed, then
let the baIsam be administered abroad. And
moreover. there are many member. Of socie.
", who. though unable to contribute large.
" to schemes intended for the amelior alton
OF the condition OF the human race in q be-
~. can testify their benevolent desires bet
Ter, aud do more actual good also, BY daily
private acts OF charity nj home. This would
wash out more human misery from the
world. than oil the sentimental and theairi-
cal tears that bedew their eyelids and crack
their voices, in their dcclsmstory appeals
TO public compassion in behalf Of suffering
humanity.
These remarks have been drawn out, sir,
by the following fact. In the town Of Win.
chester. church has been erected by the
'ioerslity Of tho citizens, for tho use OF the
degraded, dcspised. and persecuted blacks
we have among Us, sir, a colonizsti ton soeie-
", the o>tcnsible object Of which hos as
sumed the glorious title OF African Enamel.
patioh. reverence the views on which this
society Is founded, and hope that its exer.
lions will DO crowned with q success az gio.
rious ss its object. But ! wish to see, sir,
some less eQuivocsl evidence Of . real aud
active concern for this wre,chsd race Of be-
ings. in modification Of discipline. end in.
creased liberslity Of sentiment tovnrd,
them. Why, sir. have we not such build.
ing amongst us,--to stand as . monument OF
our sincere sympathy for their state Of beg
gard PRIVILEGE II the Christian religion be
true, and its established ordinances indis.
pensaoie TO its existence, shall they be do.
prIved cf its bene6ts, Shall we add 10 tho
" deep damDstione Of their wrongs" which
has been eptaiied upon us by our forefs,hers
IN the Introduction Of slavery, the voiuntsr,
guilt Of binding them TO their eternal dealt
MES! Shall We withhold from them sny Ion
ger those opportunities Of Awakening their
moral sense, and yet compel the m by blows
snd bufetings to exc out their daily tasks,-
Even the criminal laws Of the State exact of
them more rigid obedience than from our
most enlightened citizens-puni.h these IL.
norant wretches, Who have no motive TO be
vir'uous, even if they knew how, With a &c.
verify vastly disproportionate TO the grade Of
their offences. But all this G am told) is
Justified by necessity. Fear is the only mo.
tive that can be made to operate on their de-
graded minds; and if we relax our discipline.
the reins will soon change masters. Enlieh.
ten them 20 a knowledge Of their rights. and
they viii not be allow in asserting them with
retributive vengeance" That !; would be
dangerous TO enligbten them, admit: but
their morals may be improved without en-.
Tightening their understandings, except IS TO
the truths OF Religion. Religion IL not
work ut speculation, but Of grace; and the
exhortations OF one Of their own race NIGH,
produce wonderful change in their moral
disposition. Al least, il would save us the
guilt Of their final account. 60 promote thi.
design. The exhortations Of our own minis.
tiers OF The gospel, can never awaken moral
sensibIii'y among them. because they are lea.
lons OF race that has perpetuated the curse
OF their existence. and view them rather in
the light Of unruercifuI tyrants thar smbsssa.
dors from Heaven. They wouId lsugb %
those Who sayssbs ye f.sisss vet "R give them
no meet" and "be ye wsrned, yet withhold
from them raiment.
Nor u fear the most powerful motive of &C.
ton among iheHD' for vsrious examples have
proved them to be susceptible of the livelies,
gratitude and attachment A man that is full
OF sorrows, feels always grateful for benefits.
and humsne treatment 90 blseks. which they
would vicw rather ~ acts of ieniiy than Of
justice. would bind them 10 their masters By
= cord al attachment stronger than any no.
tives IF fear. For what worse can they feAv.
Beyond the miserable bondage To which they