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


borng 20 earnestly To distract and divide the
Union, on the dillcult subject OF slavery. IL j.
from the eminent and venerable ROGER NJ
SHERMAS-with but Que exception The most
accomplished lawyer and ahIrSi man at New
England-snd was written In answer In nm ,nyi-
ia,ion from the An,i-Savery Society ofihiS State.
Ia be present At the convention recently held in
Albsny.-~N y. Com. .ldr.
FAIRFIELD. June &c, 1899
Gen,lemcn-i received your letter of
tho Goth instant, inviting me 10 attend the
National anti slavery convention TO be held
al Albany. and requesting my views OF
the subject, IL should be unable to at
tend.
It is much to be regretted that an oh.
ject so dear 20 humanity, and so important
to our national honor. as the abolition Of
slavery in the United States, 10 not pursu.
ed in a manner moro conducive 20 its &C.
complement than has hitherto been a.
dopted by the Anti Slavery Society.
have no reason 10 doubt tie benevoiencc
or integrity OF ITS members: but he max.
inns Of wisdom may be violated bv RASH
ness Of virtuous zeal. as really az by the
waywardness Of corrupted mind-hov-
ever differently they may be viewed by
thecasusits-and sefierings, unintcnlional-
" inflicted or prolonged by the errors OF
a friend. may be as intense as IL caused
bv :he malice Of an enemy. That emar-
cipation car nevsT be effected 10 the slave
States but by voluntary Cnoctments ofthcir
own legislatures. or by successful resistance
on tho part ofthe slaves. is often admitted
10 your publications. and tho latter course
you mos, jusily deery. Thus the declar-
alton ofihe Anti-Slavsry Society. conven.
ed at Philadelphia in December, 1893. in
contrasting the revoluti onary struggle OF
our fathers. for national liberty, with that
which your society are making IN behalf
OF the slave, expressly says that their
principles led them TO wage var against
their oppressors. add 20 spill human blsod
like water. in ordar TO be free. Ours forbid
The doing OF evil that good may come. and
lead us 10 reject. Rad 10 eniTesi the OPP
pressed TO reject, the use Of all eurnsl
weapons for delivetance from bondage"
The same declaration. in regard 10 the
power OF the several states has this Ian
euSge; "We fully and unanimously reeox.
nize the sovereignty Of each state TO leg
islate exclusively on the subject OF the
slavery which 10 tolerated within lite lin.
it's" Both these just opinions are still
more forcibly announced in your ".Ad.
drsss 10 the Public" Of The I'd Of Scpiem-
Der 1898. Now il is we'll known that
slavery exists only by force Of municipal
law; and can never be abolished, by those
which you all allow 10 DO tie only ad.
miSsible means Of its abolition. until those
who enact tho laws shall roilnfariIy re-.
store to the oppressed negro the liberty
10 which all men are entitled. How Is
this 10 be accomplished; By what means
can slave owners DO induced 10 consent to
TO the msnumission OF their slaves Tn
til that consent lie obtained, the slave, as
yOS admit. will be held in bondage. Can
you discern that any progress has been
made toward this most desirable result by
the mesAs which you have hitherto adopt
ed Do the people Of tho Southern states
manifest disposition n yield the point,
or begin TO listen 10 your perSUasionS. as il
their minds were experimenting toward
eonvieiionl 90 the contrary, since the
institution Of tho Anti.slsvefy society.
have they not more eloIsly nVeied the
chains Of the unhappy African Are no,
the privileges OF the slaves for acquiring
Instruction. and attaining intellectusl and
moral elevation. much abridged within
the last few yoars, Not long since. the
question n gradual emancipation was
gravely debated in the Legislatures Of
some Of the principal SontheTn states.
The philsnihropist began to rejoice in
the anticipation ot measures similar 90
those which have restored liberty to tho
eolored population Of the North. Bot re-.
Gently, even among the people Of iho free
states, spirit has existed, from some
cause. against The course adopted by The
Anii.Slavory Society. which has manifest.
keenef bitterness, snd exhibited more
open violence. than Was ever excited IN
this country, against any efforts Tor moral
reformation. Whist is the feature 10 the
proceedings n the friends Of emancipation
which has caused this unprecedented cx.
element IN she free states. and laid In
slumber or excited into violent reaciion.
the iseipient sentiments of liberty which
we're felt 81 the South Our Northern
people have ever. With fow. u any e1cep.
ilous. disspproved u slavery. They have
no interest 20 its continuance. ltis Vh0l.
" abhouent 70 the principles which they
have been taught 90 cherish. IN he days
81 Our father, when q vas abolished Al
he North. every class Of The community
except perhaps. few q The slave. hold.
ers. favored ne shqlhion. ~ the South
msny % the m3si distinguished men ZOO.
CURED IN or seaiim ent. and addresses 81
Unuvalled eloquenee were made IN favoi
o. emancipation. n TIE midi % powerful
/ slsve. holders. Witness that ~ the cele-
brated Pinkney. IN Maryland. more thau
half e century ago. Why y u that che
igis exsriions IN this holy cause have met
both ~ The Moth and South, the mos
determined and often ihc most laWlesl
Resistance And vhy hes open violence
besa unjusiihsbly Winked 81 snd tolerated
y By great mass ofour resPsetable citizens