State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-19
non. WIN. SHADES LETTER.


Society of this city, enclosing resolution.
approbatory of his course in Congress, in
regard to the petitions for the abolition Of
slavery in the District ofColumbia.-- Phila
Times.
WAsHiNGToN, March lS, 1856
SIR have been hOnored with the re-
ceipt Of your letter Of the 10Th instant, coy
eriug resolutions Of the Young Mems Anti
slavery Society the city and county OF
Philadelphia, expressive Of their thanks for
the course pursued by me, in Congress, in
reference to the subject of the abolition of
Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District
of Columbia. embrace the earliest coca
sion which my public duties permit, TO
express my thanks to the Society for its
appreciation, and to its committee of which
YOU are tho organ, for the terms in which it
has communicated to me their Resolutions,
You have been pleased to assure me, that
"hcy are not offered as Il mere empty
compliment" Such an assurance was not
necessary, for it gives me pleasure to OBJ
serve in the style of your address, and in
the date of your Resolutions, indications
that they have enanated from a class of
my fcllUW-ctizens, whose favorable regards
arc not lightly bestowed, and who are UNI
used 10 compliments which do not spring
from the heart. If ii were right TO make
the appreciation of men the end of human
efforts, ! should, certainly, find 10 slight
reward in commentators from such
source. But both the commentators of
your Society, and the act which has drawn
il forth, have had, | trust, Il higher origin
than the purpose of bcstowing, or securing
compliments; and it would detract great
~, from the satisfaction feel, on receiving
The resolutions you have sent me, if could
for n moment, suppose that they did not
look far above the humble individual whom
they honor, and find their motive in a love
for the cause he has Gndeavorcd to vindi
cato. 1t is noble cause, and should make
lis all forget ourselves in an ardent desire To
secure its triumph.
What is that causoi More than two
millions OF men--our brethren by common
origin, aud n common destiny, are held as
property in this nation; subjected to the
irresponsible control of masters; rapidly
increasing in numbers, only to augment the
wealth of others and subjected to all the
incidents connected with the sale, transfer,
and transportation of personal estate, re
CARELESS, alike, Of every social relation, and
of every human right. Your efforts look
and their elevation to the rights of men. ! !
gay, again, it is q noble cause. will not, |
| cannot, deny myself of the pleasure of
aiding in its advancement, by all the means !
which AUST respect to the guaranteed rights |
OF others will permit, and an intelligent
regard TO the adaptation of means TO the |
end proposed, may suggest
The position which the friends OF eman. |
cipation in the United States occupy, is |
one of uneXampled difficulty. The question
involved in their efforts is appalling in its
magnitude | do not speak Of the abstract |
question Of slavery for it is easy 10 prove |
that slavery is wrong. Indeed, it needs 10 |
labored proof for it is scli-evidcnt to every
unperverted mind. But | speak of the |
question how shall those who have the |
power 10 break the bondage of more than !
Two millions of epslaved men among us, be !
27SNa3ed to do it? 3Hi8 is the question to /
be considered. Whatever we may think Of
the rights Of the slaves, and the good TO
them, and the safety to community, Of i'm .
mediate emancipation, it must, ueyerhe- .
less, be remembered that those who, alone,
have the power Of dcCreeing this emanci-
patton within the State Jurisdictions, are
TO be convinced tint they ought TO do it;
that there are, opposed 10 this conviction
lhe preludices ofearly education - the force
VI invete rate habits-the strong motive Of
supposed interest the jealousy of foreign
interference, and. especially, Of every
movement at tie North affecting the inter
ests of the South the pride cf State sove-
reignty and the inference that the citizens
of the free States have no right TO exert,
even moral influence upon the slave
States, which State jealousy and State
doc Il, ,,I,.
impotence Of Congress, md the Legisa-
lures OF the free States TO touch the subject
If slavery, within the limits of the States
where it exists. TO add TO all this, there
is the difficulty Of making a successful
appeal to conscience, or even interest in con
neXion with this subject, amidst The waring
of the political elements, periodically put
in motion by the al-absorbng contests for
the Presidency, than which there can be
nothing more unfavorable TO an investga-
lion of the question of slavery upon its real
merits, and nothing more chilling TO the
warm hearted philanthropy, which must
carry forward, if it move at all, the cause
OF African emancipation. The object aim
cd TT, moreover, involves mighty revolu-
ZION o. opinion and feeling, in nearly one
half the States of this Union; opinion and
feeling Which have become deeply ilenl-
fled with the intellectual and moral habits
Of that portion Of our conlederacy. a sys-
tom is TO be broken up, which has become
interviewer with the whole structure of
society, and an entire change is to be
wrought in the relations of more than two
millions of slaves, to more than three and
half millions OF free citizens.
These are some Of the difficulties to he
encountered in the prosecution Of the great
enterprise To meet, and overcome Them.
will require the wisdom of the soundest
heads, and the philanthropy of the purest
hearts, in this republic. And patience too,