Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-21
THE sLAvERY QUESTION.

noon. The younger sister commenced, ana
spoke about an hour, presenting to her audi
cnce the topics which usually form the basis
vi anii-snvcry addresses, and handling ana as
cussing them with far more than the average
ability of abolition orators. Slavery in ell its
relations--moral, social, political and religious
was commented upon with radical and stern
scverity-and the fair lecturer showed neither
quarter to the system, nor mercy to its suppor-
tiers. Still she did not bestow title of her in
dignution upon the South. The Northern
press and the Northern pulpit--Northern rep
resentatives, Northern merchants, and the
Northern people, came in for her most bitter
reproach and most pointed sarcasm.
She commenced by suspending, from the
front Of the pulpit, sheet continuing cuts,
representing the slave-market in the District of
Columbia. Here, she said, American citizens
were bought and sold, under the hammer of an
auctioneer, licensed by the authorities of the
District, and about seven thousand persons,
comprising one-fourth of the population, were
in state Of slavery and oppression, She wish
ed her audience to know what kind OF a land of
liberty il was that they lived in, while the
greatest slave market in the world was estab-
ished at its seat of government. Il was the
right and the duty of the North to put down
this abnminable traffic at the seat of govern
ment, and it was the duty of Northern women
to petition Congress until this object was effect
ed. Women were represented in Congress-
They were counted in the census to make up
the necessary number 10 choose representa-
tive, although they had no voice in his election,
and there was no way for them to make their
sentiments known to Congress, except by petit
ton. Miss Grimke read extracts from the
speeches of Messrs. Preston and Pickens of
Sbuth Carolina, in Congress, to show that the
abolition Of slavery in the District was the
entering wedge which would shake and des-
troy tho whole system throughout the Union,
and that it was so considered at the South
Even John Quincy Adams, who had offered to
present to Congress petitions from slaves, and
who denied the constitutionality OF slavery it.
self was opposed to abolition in the District
of Columbia for the same reason. She insisted
that the North had much to do with slave
nv, and slavery had much to do with the
North. Northern citizens were in the army,
and were liable to be called on at every out
break of servile instruction. How many had
fallen in Florda--in war brought on BY slave
snatchers, who had stolen the children Of the
Indians and sold them into slavery This,
said Miss Grimke, was the original cause of
the Florida war, and yet, il was said, that the
= North had nothing to do with the slave ques-
ton. The North should not permit the fugi-
tive slave to be given up to his master at all,
but certainly not without jury trial. Ifa
horse was stolen and sold in another State, his
owner could not obtain him back without tri-
nj, and negroes right to his liberty should be
valued as highly as mans property in horse.
She related the anecdote Of Justice in one of
the Northern States, who, after the usually re-
qusite proof had been laid before him, respec-
ting the ownership of slave, told the claimant
that he wanted something more.
"What more could you havei" was the re-
Spouse. al want,n said the Justice, ga bill Of
sale from the Almighty"-and this, said Miss
S,-'-alss u what the claimant OF every fugitive
slave should be required to furnish.
At the North were situated the theological
schools, where the principal part of the South
ern students are educated for the ministry
These students never drank in the spirit of lib
crty. She had herself sat under the preaching
Of a Northern Presbyterian minister, in q
Southern pulpit, for many years, aud never
heard the sin of slavery alluded to, from the
desk. She could never forget, that while sit
ting under his spiritual admonition, she had
herself become slave owner. lf he had not
beep recreant TO his duty,-if he had spoken of
the wickedness Of slavery as he ought to have
done, the memory OF this deep sin would have
been spared to her. The church had taken up
ground on the subject, and decided in favor OF
slavery. Northern churches were closed a.
ganst abolition lectures. One OF the most dis
tinguished Methodist preachers in the South
ern States had come down from the North 10
the South. married the sister of planter, and
become himself an extensive slaveholder.-
Northern ministers, who were settled at the
South, never alluded to slavery, except 10 write
tracts in its apology or defence. Miss Grimke
condemned the GOODNESS and Indifference of the
North upon the subject of slavery, in the most
pointed terms. If, said she, the Northern peo-
pie only knew how Southern men and women
despse them for their non-interference, they
would be ready to do something on the subject.
The whites at the South would inevitably be
sacrificed, il the North did not come up TO the
work. In her travels through the North she
had met with few or none who We're willing
TO avow themselves aboitionists. The sub
]ect OF slavery was every where studously a.
voided. One lady had told her that she would
have nothing to do with ant-slavery, for she
had five sons in the city of New Orleans. who
were slave-owners. There were forty New
Englanders in the city of Natchez, who were
holders of slaves. Northern editors emigrated
TO the South, and became the champions and
apologists Of slavery. In the city of New York
alone, mortgages were held upon Southern
property to the amount Of ten millions of dol
lars. The holders of these mortgages were
virtually shareholders. She spoke Of the cruel
prejudice which existed at the North against
the color OF the negro. The white man excu-
ded the negro from the railroad-car, the stage
coach, and the steamboat How could The ne
gro rise, while the foot of the white man was
upon bis necki Physician, heal thyself. The
North could not ask the South TO free the
chains of the slave, while the black man at the
North was bowed down by the iron bonds Of
prejudice.
II has been stated, said Miss Grimke, that
the slave Is better off as he is. She knew bet
ter: She had tasted Of the cup of bitterness.
and knew what il contained 'Ch. III 49,