The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-21
r from the Extreme South.
Nov. 18Th, 1899.
Rer. Mr.. LeGritt :

.ent sources, some of my first impressions in this
house of bondage: whether any thing of later
date, | do not know. My friends have taken the
liberty of making what use they pleased of my
letters, and although not designed for publication,
| did not deem il Of any consequence to myself,
provided no mention was made of names or dates.
But l confess | have no ambition to obtain celeb
rity within the jurisdiction of Judge LYNCH" al
though among the unequalled knights of the gal
liant South. For not outstanding the politeness
of their bearings, towards ladies, | have no con-
idence in them, since they have no respect for
W0DlGn.
Some Of my friends congratulated me, at my
departure for the Soath, upon my approaching
disenthralment from the wiles of error and preju-
dice in which, in common with all abolilionists, |
was entangled. They believed that a personal
acquaintance with the patriarchal institutions Of
slavery, if it did not wholly reconcile me to the sys-
tenn as one of divine appointment, would al least
modify my opinions respecting it, by its many re-
deeming qualities, which abolitionists had either
concealed, or of which they were culpably igno-
rant.
Perhaps | could not have been placed in a stu
alton better calculated to produce such an effect,
than the one | have occupied during the year past.
And at its close, truth compels me to repeat, what
| have asserted from time to time, during its pro,
gress, that while in its outline slavery is such
precisely as | expected 10 find it, tho filling up OF
the picture is, on the whole, worse than | had i'm
agihed. The dark shades being much darker,
and the light ones fewer and less distinguishablc
than | had hoped to find them, in a community
having the reputation of possessing a high moral
and religious character.
| coMd give you several facts corroborative,
were it necessary, of my own collecting; but, sir,
they cannot be necessary. Facts Of the same
character have been given sufficient to convince
the most s~ceptical. and to silence the most obsti-
nate a~pologist fr slavery. | prefer, and so / am
sure you do, to dwell upon a more pleasant part
of the subject. But | shall still be compelled to
make an undesirable repetition of the first person
singular Of the proSsuns. for which allow me TO
bespeak your forbearance.
You are aware, sir, that it was predetermined
with some of my friends, whether an abolltionist
could remain any time at the South. fou know,
too, that your correspondent came here the open
and avowe1 enemy of slavery, and the friend O!
the slave and though one of the most humble,
she is not the least ardent or uncompromising
coadiutor, in the cause. 1t is not arrogance 10 say,
that the test has been fairly made, the result Of
which shows, that a recognized abolitionist, of
the most /" fanaticaI' stamp, may remain for a
season, Zone year, at least) in the families, and at
the. fresides Of shareholders, and be treated by all
with respect and politeness-nay, even klpdncss:
and that, too, while bearing on every proper occa-
sion, and seeking. occasion to bear, a decided and
nnhinching testimony against slavery IN all It's
modifcations-while advocating the cause Of the
oppressed, face 10 face with the oppressor.
| owe it to. HIS praise, who holds in his own
hand the hearts of men, TO say. that strong as
was the prejudice existing agains. me, on account
Of my n i-slavery principles, previously to my
appearance here, He has, in one short year, ena-
bied me 10 nearly, if not wholly, outlivo those
preiudices. Nor has He merely protected me
from threatening danger and given me the res
peet and confidence ofa community from which
I could expect nei!her-but He has also been
pleased to bless uay feeble efforts, far beyond my
highest hopes.
Where the seed was scarcely sown, in "grcat
Weakness He has permitted me 10 see the rlpcn-
ed harvest. You will rejoice to know that many
here have been disposed to read the publications
of our society, who had never seen one a year ago,
and that several who were totally Ignorant OF the
character, designs and measures OF abol'tIonIstS,
having heard of them only as represented by their
have acknowledged that their preJudlces
against them were either wholly or in part renew
of them confsssing that they believed
thew were actuated by the purest motives. For
example, the gentleman in whose family | now
asserted that he did not blame nge for being
an abolitionist; and were he at the north he did
not doubt he should be one too that he believed
slavery was sinful, &c.
Some not only read and converse candidly on
the subject, but declare their willingness to be
convinced of their duty in the matter and do it.
One, an e~s;imable. intelligent man, and Christian,
Of candid mind and benevolent heart-entered
upon the subject with a promise not to dismiss j
until satisfied respecting his own duty, and pre-
pared to do it. The result is, that after a thorough
and ~prayerfal Investigation, he has come to the de-
cision which every Christian would arrive at, by
The same ~process-that emancipation is practical
bic and safe, and an imperative duty. He gives
unqualified approval of the principles and
of abolitionists, and is prepared to join
hem :.eart and hand. He has proved the SINGER
of his conversion by virtually emancipating
his own slaves, and is now making arrangements
for their removal to a free state, whittier he will
conduct them, and see them comfortably
gettled on farms of their own. Mr.. - enters
With interest into all the efforts for the slave, and,
ogethep with a lady here, has promised to observe
he concert for the ehslaved. They seem delight /
d to hear of a prayer meeting for such an OBJ, !
act This Iodv ton. is. as far as informed, ! u