The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-09
From the Liberator.
Letter from George Thompson.

| was truly delighted to recognise, once more,
your handwriting, annexed 20 Mr. Burleigh's let
ter, of the Oath November. Most entirely do |
reciprocae your sentiments Of unalterable attach
ment sometimes feel very Gull able in not keep
ing up regular correspondence WHILE at other
times, feel to some eXtcAt eXonerated by my cir
cumsances. Let me tell you the plain truth. In
addition to my natural dislike to leter-writing |
have, for the last two years been in very i'll state
of health, my indispositon increasing progressive
ly down to the present time. Hard work, in the
way of public speaking, constant high excitement,
and considerable anxiety occasioned by the pos
ture of our West-lndia question, have wrought
their effects upon me, and reduced me to conoi,
ton Of great and distressing physical disorder ana
debility. Hence have taken up my pen only
when absolutely compelled. The state OF my eel,
ings has induced me 10 put off whatever admltted
of procrastination so that my debts nave oeeh con-
tinuallv increasing, and am at last obliged to de-
clare myself insolyent, and ask my friends freely
to forgive me- having nothing TO pay. Can you
thus remit the heavy debt owe you
am now taking strong medicine, and resting
for short time from my public labors in the hope
of recovery. Already feel myself better, though
unfit for any intellectual occupation Pardon,
therefore, the imperecons of this miserable scraw
Your friend is an invalid, with a weak stomach
and weak head. Hpermtted, in the good prov
idence of God, again to go forth and plead the
cause of the oppressed, trust shall be able to
exercise some degree of restraint over myself
70 preserve my health, it will be necessary to act
by rule | must speak neither so often, so loud
nor so long, as have been accustomed to do.
1t grieves me, as it will grieve all your friends
in this country, 10 learn that you are suffering
from bodily affliction 1t is, however, matter of
ioy, my dear brother to behold the now resistless
progress of those great truths which you were, UNI
der God, so instrumental in propagating and APP
plying when your countrymen were almost uni
versally Indifferent or disaileced to the claims Of
the slave. How great the reward of your sacrif-
ces, and la5ors, and perils The little one has
become thousand, and the small one a strong
nation There is now lying open before me, the
first volume of the Lberator, dated January 1st,
1881 On the first page you say, aid me, New
ENGLAND" New-England has aided you, Your
native State is politically and morally regenera-
ted upon the question of slavery What hath
kind God of your fathers make you a thousand
times so many as We are and bless you as he hath
promised you"
Do not think, because | do not write to Ameri-
ca, that | do not think of America. | deyour with
eagerness every thing in the shape of information
respecting your anti-Slavery movements. am
disposed to believe that am as familiar with the
details of the question, as it is possible to be on
this side of the Atlantic. The education | OBJ
tanned, during my short residence in the United
States, enables me to understand pretty well the
bearing and comparative importance of the events
recorded in your anti-slavery periodical, and by
constant and regular reading, keep up with you
in your glorious career, and complete from time to
time my historical knowledge.
You express a wish to have me BY your side.
o. with what sincerity and fulness of desire could
exclaim amen, with all my heart" To keep on
this side the water is an act of daily selfdenal.
am only reconcied to my painful separation by
the consideration that the little | can do for the
cause of universal freedom is, for the present, bet
ter done here than it could be with you. | cher
ish, nevertheless, strong and confident hope that
| shall see you again, and be allowed to do and
suffer something more in the field of warfare,
which is endeared to ME not less by the insults
and injuries received, than by the kindnesses and
proofs of affection 50 abundanty furnished me by |
my fellow-solders.
Since the abolition Of the apprenticeship in the
West Indies, have been engaged as my health
allowed me, in bringing before the public the
claims of the London Aborigines Protection Soci-
etv-a most praiseworthy and valuable institu-
ton. founded by Mr. Buxton and other phlan-
thropic individuals, with view to the improve
ment of the condition of the native inhabitants of
our Colonies and the world at large. | have
sent you several newspapers containing pretty
full exposition of the principles and plans Of this
new society While advocating its claims to pub
lie support, | am by no means precluded from
pleading the cause of the slave. On the contra
ry, the slavery of India the savetrade of Africa,
and the freedom and welfare of the Negro wher-
ever found, are matters of special and legitimate
interest. tits likely, however, that the present
state of British India will be that part of the great
subject which we shall feel it our duty to press
upon the immediate attention of the people and
parliament. In consequence, my recent public adj
dresses have had particular reference to the op-
pressions practised by British rulers upon one hum
died millions Of our fellow-subects in our Eastern
empire. We hope by vigorous effort to effect
an early alteration in the administration OF public
affairs in Inda-such an alteration as will relieve
he bulk of the natives the cultivators Of the soi
rom the existing evils Of the revenue system, and
cad to the abolition Of slavery throughout the
country. This will be another glorious achieve
ment
Remember me to all friends in Boston, and ever
believe me with growing affection,