Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-09-14
WIN. SLADE.
LETTER FROM MR.. PERKINS.

LETTER FROM MR. PERKINS.
Ooroomiah Jan. 22d, lS4l.
To Lenis Tappan, Esq. Treasurer Of the Amer.
team and For. AntiSidrt ~ Society.
DEAR SIR Your letter Of August ist
1910 with the annexed constitution of the Ameri-
can and Foreign AntSlavery Society, and par
eel Of an,i-savery books &c, for the OF our
mission came recently to hand In reply would
sincerely thank you for those favors, and say that
having caefuly read the preamble and cons,i,u.
ton of your society, | find nothing in them with
which canno, fully accord
You reques, my correspondence and prayers. in
behalf OF the n,I-savery cause in our country
That cause has long had my prayers. In relation
TO correspondence, avals lille what the obscure
missionary in distant exile may think or say
spec,ng evils that exist inhis native country. As,
however. the very circumstance of the missiona-
RVS removal from din and camor of controversy
and the excitement of interere.t or party, may
tend to qualify him, in some measure to speak
canddly on exciting subjects, l conceive there
may be a propriey or at least no Improperly, in
his calmly, but frankly, declaring his views on
such subjects. And therefore hesitate not to
state briefly my own views, in this cohnexion, on
the subject Of anti-savery.
1t is now almost eighteen years since le0 A.
merca. Anislavery exertions had not been long
commenced there at that period, at least on
,ensive scale. They however had my sympathy
from the first, being as thought, founded on truth
and righteousness, and promoted and guided by
Christian philanthropy Since leaving America,
my principal sources of information on this sub
ject and indeed almost my only one, have been
two weekly periodicals with the perusal of which
our mission are favored viz the Boston Record
er and the New York Observer. These two are
excele Mt periodicals, it is well known, have been
far enough from espousng the cause of ahti-save-
ry societies as such. And still, the contemplation
of this subject, varously presented in these pa
pers, from time to time, has only tended to
strengthen my conviction, from year to year, that
the stiled abolnonis,s,' odious as they have been
extensively regarded in America, have in general
had mercy and truth and righteousness on their
side so far as the subject Of slavery was concern
ed
Often, indeed, have been deeply panied, in OBJ
serving the heat and vituperaton, that have charac
erzed too much Of the discussion the subject OF
slavery, on both sides of the question in America
for the wrath Of man worketh not the righteousness
of God Sorely too have been shocked to observe
the wild, absurd and monstrous excrescences, which
! ! need not name, that have grown out upon some
anti slsvery organizations in America, but which,
sm happy TO know, fully wiped off from the So
ciety Of which you are organ. But notwi'hs,and-
ing all these fragrant bemishes on anti-savery or
ganizaions still greater pain and establishment have
been excited, in my mind by the appalling apathy
the terrible evil OF slavery, that obviously per
vsdes the great OF the ministers, and christians
and the people Of America, and prevents them from
doing anything, and seems TO nerve them with an
almost desperate discrimination not 10 do anything,
for its removal.
4 am by no means forceifu Of the difficulties in
the way of removing this fearful evil. Still, as
view The subject calmly from this dis,an, position,
feel deep conviction that it is the solemn duty Of
all who fear God, regard him, in America, to do
something, and il is equally my belief tina, feel
ing heart, for the untold miseres Of the injured AT
rican, pevsding even the Christian part Of the com
muni,y, would no: be long in finding out what that
something which ough, 10 be done and might be
done, for the entire abolition Of slavery in our be
loved country.
} Far removed though am from the scenes oft
enormles canno, forget the fearful evils OF slave
~ in my native country. ! could not were nevel
10 hear or read another syllable upon the subject
But even here, we are reminded oft. Every Eu
ropean who s,rols through these distant regions, fol
curiosity for honor or for gain keenly goads Us, b,
tauniinsy, but Justly pointing TO American Slavery
,ha, foul blot Of inconsistency which the es
cutcheon oil cor kepuotcdH glory i"e '"""'"s'
Of the Nesiorian Christians, too for whose saliva
ton we are more particularly laboring' is such al
ofien To remind US Of the slaves Of America They
. are Todden down To the dust by their Mohammedar
Master. Ii Is truly affecting witness their degra
ds,ion. and, oflen their sUffsrnss. There is how
ever, but a small comparison between the rgors an'
horrors OF their condition, and mat Of the Southern
r Slave. The HISTORIAN. notwithstanding all his dis
4 abilities is bough, and Sold he may hold pri
? vale property 10 some extent, may receive mission
E snes TO instruct him, may send his children Il
school, enjoys the sanctuary Of his home unvolaisd
E and feels and acts though be thooghi himself
, man. Yes though ! blush. and my heart sink
b within me at the acknowledgements, yet truth an
osndor compel me 70 Say, ihsi 10 al my travels an