Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-08-29

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Either The people Of the whole n,tisu
have sndsrgons . change OF ssniimsa,
sod character IN regard TO the great evil
Of slavery. or the wsunsr o. opsrstions has
been most snbsppily srronsess. IA the
change Of public feeling occurred soon
ai:er the commencement Of the publisa-
lions and other proceedings OF those " ho
originated the organized anti slavery as
'ociaiions, think that change has result
ed from those proceedings. The peculiar
feature. which. As / apprehend. has caus-
ed thsm TO defeat their own object 10 the
sriIsrse and Incorporate ssII by. which
they are distinguished. Not only tho
slave holders. but the minister, Of religion,
and all others who do not par:sks OF this
CHARACTERISTIC peculiarly. are prescribed.
and spoken OF ia the language Of re-
proach.
Could il be supposed tha, a people so
high-spITited as the shareholders % the
South could be cowed into eompiisnes
by bitter reproache,' Had the Rev. Dr.
Edwards. and Others who publicly ca
Poussd the measures Of emancipation
adopted IN Connecticut soon after the
revolutionary war. called ave-holders
MAN'SrEALERS. in staring capitals
as Is dono IN the declaration Of the con-
vsn,iou at Philadelphia, 10 xhich | have
before slluded, would IL not have excited
10 the Northern Yankee. moro Of resent
ment than conviction. and less Of com
pliance than opposition: The Southern
people have fols, aud TO great degree,
Justly. that the sboli,iouists Of the North
were addressing their fears, and no, H. ere-
ly their understanding or conscisnccs-
They have been addressed in terms OF
opprobrous elimination, rarely ,ofiened
by the language Of respect. This has
made them Inaccessible: has wroucb; up
a temper which rcsists conviction or favor
able influences; and has. fear. put oil
emancipation for st least half century
beyond the period when it might have
been effected. and excluded from the
slaves those moral aud religious innuen-
ces which were conducive 10 their pr escn:
and future good. This manner Of address
ing the public on these subjects can ne.
yer result IN the good which 10 honestly
intended, but must continue 20 render
less and less hopeful. the great objevt, Of
your SINCERE en6eavors. Could 4 mis-.
sionAry. thus addressing civilized he athens,
hope for q favorable audience?
III the whole North are united 10 the
course in which the aboliiionists arc now
pursuing. it Sould have no tendency TO
overcome the opposition Of the South. 1t
might dissolve our national union-whioh
you profeSS, aud ] trust, With sincerity,
TO appreciate according to its iaesii N able
worih--but would only aggIava,s the
n AL. A
they will never adopt from coercion. IN
less by a ssrvile instruction. which your
society 50 pointe6ly depreeste. ! think,
TOO. that the America Ani.slavsry Soci.
city IL not only aggravatlng the condition
oil The slave. aud converting his hopes
into dark despair. but tho free negroes
are suffering under the prejudice and
party spirit which it's iHiempeTance has
sngendered. Patty spirit cnirenches the
soul aud forti6es both head and heart.
ngHins. reason and moral influence. The
society IL also endangeFing the peace aud
union OF The Churches in the l.. States.
by making participation IN their exeTci.
SEES, practically, il not in form. a term Of
communion. Indeed, there seems TO be
no interest OF primary importance in our
PSbNeet W IellklDuks WUlCu -
not put in jeopardy by the honest men
Tho are embarked in this osne violent, but
unvISe and diIssirouS enterprise, as IL is
now conducted. respect their motives
HhIle ] dsplore their efoNV. Humanity.
patriotism aud Pie.y long TO sec their ulIl-
mate end accomplished. but weep over
the dssolaiion which markS their course.
Your society. gentlemen, embraces
many whose names vsnsrate, and not a
few Of my personal and highly respected
friepds. AZ 700 requested my senu-
msnts ] could do no less than give then
with plsinnsss aud sincerity. | trust,
although cannot hope fer yonr concur
renee. Ihst you WiIl do the Isme Justice
TO my motives which have done 10
yours. II my views of thu subject sro
correct, the convention at Albany en- do
10 good to the slaves or 20 the country.
unless they sd'iss to an abandonment ol
the errors which have hitherto charatsTi.
zed the Anii-slsvsry Society.
sm, gentlemen, with great rsGpest
Your obedtent servant.
ROGER ". SHERMAN
Rev Joshua i"agiu snd II u stanton