The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-09


it is the veil of prejudice which still blinds her
eyes and leads her yet to reject all the combined
evidence OF miracle, testimony, and prophecy; that
prejudice has retarded the progress of improve
ment In Europe and kept millions of our fellow
creatures enchanted by Ignorance and supersti-
tons that 1t is prejudice now which causes the
Hlndoo to turn from the light of science and the
truth of revelation and to cleave to the absurdites
and the idoatry of his ancestors. And while pre-
JUDGE is acknowledged the strongest bulwark of
tyranny in the old world, is America, our own en-
lghtened, cherished home free from its baleful
influence
1t was a sunny spring afternoon, when the
steamboat left the wharf at New York. The
deck was crowded with passengers. The CAV
who were escaping from the summer heat, and the
close and sitting air of the city, TO the purer
breezes yet scarcely less dissipaed society," of the
fashionable watering-place. The men of business
who are at all seasons going to and returning from
that crowded Mart; the busy artizan, the restless
Spectator, and the not always thoughtful student,
were there crowded together.
And on that deck, although not mingled with
the crowd, was another: man just entered upon
LIES busy and stirring scenes,-a man who in
herited from his Maker mind of high and noble
powers graduate of one our first colleges; a
student in and lcentiate of our oldest theological
seminary; an ordained clergyman in one of our
most numerous and influential denominations
That man had mind enrinched by all the stores
of ancient literature, and modern science; and a
heart repete with Christian piey and benevolence.
And of the busy crowd who Stunned him, not one
perhaps was there who surpassed, if one who
equalled him in moral worth or intellectual attain
ment.
Yet that man was guilty of a skin not colored
like our own, and shrunk from those around him
| because he felt that he considered as NUS
ance, and they regarded him with cold and super
cous pride, or with bitter and sneering contempt.
Yet he was not alone. His young wife was
accompanying him to his fathers dwelling; and
as he leaned over her, although he might have
known and felt that his presence could not secure
her from insult, he might have forgotten, in the
pure and holy affection which had united them,
and which the Author of our being has SO gracious
ly implanted to sweeten the sorrows and heighten
the joys of this life, the contempt and obloquy
which was poured upon them; and as the boat
passed on, they might have watched the beautiful
scenery and the gorgeous and splendid sunset with
feelings Of almost unalloyed pleasure.
But the last streais of daylight were disappear
ing: the dark clouds were gathering, and every
thing betokened violent storm. The supper bell
had rung the last group had left the deck; the
| lights were streaming from the cabin windows, and
casting their CLEANS over the dark waters and
the lightenngs were flashing across the heavens,
wrapping it in sheets of fame, and followed by
loud and deafening peals of thunder. The wife
drew nearer to her husband, and he wrapped her
in his mantle, and sheltered her with his umbrella;
but neither of them spake. We're they then mus
ing upon the nature OF prejudice
The rain descended in torrents. The umbrella
uyoc Inf a conductor If ,yaS coet aside apd tbayy
were both drenched as if they had stood beneath
cataract The husband Says you cannot en-
dure this: must try to find some shelter for you.
| He sought the captain of the boat and found
him in his dry and comfortable quarters. My
wife is in feeble health; she is drenched with the
rain. Cannot you, sir, persuade the ladies to ad-
NIT her into their cabin that she may be sheltered
during the storms?
No was the coarse and harsh reply. mo:
the ladies want no negroes there
During the dark and stormy night, that husband
and wife sat together, unsheltered and unpied,
upon the deck. They might have had their bit
ter thoughts in view of their own state. They
must have felt deep and heavy anguish as they
remembered that this was but the common treat
ment of their race. And when they gazed upon
the bright cabin windows and thought of the fe-
males who were there reclining upon touches of
uoWH vi SoldS vi udlndSk, VI perhaps weeping over
the tale of imaginary woe; and then thought of
the contrast-thought of their own state, and that
prejudice thus exposed them think you that
these unsheltered outcasts felt disposed to extenu-
ate the guilt of harborngit? To view it as anna
BILE, as innocent, as justifabe?
Did they then thinl! of the European traveller
who was found by the African woman, when
weary, sad, and faint was he,' and taken to her
hut, and warmed, and cherished? And then COM
pare Christan-prejudice in America with barbarous
heather Asia
The morning dawned and found that husband
and wife benumbed, chilled, faint from fasting, and
exhausted from watching. And when they were
landed in another of our busy cities did any of the
females, who again hocked upon the deck, pause
to look upon that suffering woman, and to reflect
that their prejudices had exposed her to night of
storm,-had sown in her frame the seeds af death I!
The constitution of the wife could not endure
the exposure. The husband recovered from the
illness which ensued, but it was only to watch her
declining health, and to follow her to an early
grave. And among the many sad and bitter
thoughts which crowded upon his mind, as he re-
called his blighted hopes, his disappointed expec
tations, not one was more agonizing than this, to
use his own expression,-that it was prejudice