The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-28

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smsucipation in the District, and elsewhere,
IF Southern members had given their assent.
But. so far as | could judge, they would not
listen TO such a scheme for a moment; and
from interest or some other cause, were I'M
willing TO have the institution approached.
VIII il ne. be found that interest, or sup
posed Interest, is in most cases, the Chief OBJ
s,ac,s to emancipation II shareholders
could see no danger to their interests in eman-
cipation, would not the laws be changed and
humanity triumph! am aware that South
err gentlemen are n0lc, TO some extent, una
BILE TO give freedom 10 their slaves, bur how
deplorahle is such necessity, and how I'M
reasonable the inactivity of those who alone
can take effectual steps to remove it! When
have the South evinced desire TO put forth
efforts to make emancipation safe, or to
change their condition or their law 1t does
seem as if apathy had settled upon the whole
slaYe region, until all power, resolution and
even will for freedom was gone, and the peo-
pie were about satisfied that there is no mus
tice nor danger in the case. Gov. McDufhe,
IN Message to The Legislature OF South
Carolina, asserted that il was the decree OF
Heaven, that one might enjoy freedom. The
legislature expressed no dissent to this abom-
Unable sentiment.
In the Convention of Virginia, soon after
the Southampton instruction, when the raj
sing and expectation OF slaves was less profit
able, public men did talk of the evils and dan
gers of slavery; but when fear and interest
lost their influence, slavery lost its opponents.
Aud will it not be so always! With some
exceptions, when has the love Of justice and
Of God relaxed the grasp of slave owners =
Are not rejecting men OF the South, some of
nj y Eafrar dar and
escaping into the free States; and if any
main there who are suspected of countenanc-
Ing emancipation, are they not in danger aud
disgrace7
1t has been asserted that the abolitionists
hive postponed emancipation. half century.
Where is the evidence of this fact! Great,
and in my view, reprehensible have been the
excuses Of some abolitio2ists, and futile some
OF their peculiar efforts 10 do good; bat after
all, if they have provoked the South, and
made them draw closer the rens of bondage,
the public mind, by various influences, has
been awakened, public sympathy excited, and
the system Of slavery scrutinzed and expos
ed, until men, not interested, more extensive
y deDounce and detest it. The process has
often done great hurt among ourselves and
elsewhere, but must think the cause of free
dom has advanced and the tenure of slave
prosperity essentially been weakened. The
South have discovered that we are not indif-
ferent to the bondage of our fellow men, and
dare, Notwithstanding their foolish threats,
TO express our sentiments and to arouse Chris
tians and patriots 10 make war upon the sys-
tenn.
The glorious example of England, in Civ
ing freedom to her slave population in the
colonies, is attended with moral influence
not 20 be resisted. This with the bold dis
cussions in Congress, though often violent
and ind:screet, has shaken the system TO its
foundation. 1t will ere long, assume some
new aspect, il not utterly fall, under the heavy
blows inflicted. repeat, if the South did
not seen to have abandoned all attempts and
even desire for emancipation, | shonld main
tain silence, for have often mourned over
the violence and prescription Of men, intent,
10 most cases, Oh doing good TO the slave
Hit be the parl OF wisdom and humanity to do
anything in the free States, let it be done in
Christian and not a bitter spirit. We all
have the right, and are bound to speak Of
slavery as system truly; TO call the atten-
ton Of countrymen 10 its enormifies. Do we
not labor to send light and truth into heather
lands-to put stop to war, intemperance,
Righteousness, and other evils, of no greater
magnitude than slavery! Aud why not,
with such means as We possess, endeavor
kindly TO remove t,s evil from the land p
Surely, we may appeal to our Southern
friends aisd plead with them, if thew will not
hear, we may aN aiken all christendom to CO. |
operate with rs, and demand, at least that |
cur government shall rescue itself and its hon |
or.
And now, dear sir, since have spoken so !
freely on one side Of this question, let me
speak as freely on the other.
A5oiItionists, as body, are good citizens
and conscientious in their measures But
thsy have not always acted wisely. Not |
few of them have done injustice to their fell |
1ow-citizens in the North and in the South. |
Why. let me ask, are wives and daughters
debating, in violent assemblies, with their |
husbands and fathers and others, and travers- |
ing States and oceans 10 seek for opportuni- |
sizes TO speak, Why, without distinction of |
az. or information, do women pour into Con- |
gress petitions and remonstrances, upon great |
sud difficult subjects, as if TO irritate the |
South, land the South so understand it) |
alike defeating the object aimed at and doing |
discredit 10 the character of the women of
New-Englald II is, to say the least, dis |
courteous, and the South feel themselves i'll |
suited by such extraordinary proceedings. 1t |
pricty admit females TO mingle publicly in |
khese matters. We do not find them at the |
bar. on the bench. in the pulpit or conduct
jug armies. Their delicacv requires courte-
sy and Difference from the other sex p; conven-
tic1al usages, the Bible itself clearly assigns
10 women their true sphere of duty and in
fuence. These excuses have shocked and
disguised excellent men. and provoked the
South, and lacerated tllsir feelings beyond
endurance. | am compelled with pain to add
that emancipation has not, by its GGrOcates !
always been treated, as IN truth. it ia, a grave |
AMI difficult subject. Even in Congress, its !
champions have been injudieious, on occa-
sloas, unnecessarily if not Intentionally, e1-
citing Southern members TO madness and |
naughty defiance.
Abolition, too, has been brought into pol
itcs and religion, prescribing men in their
civil and Christian relations; exacting with !
tyraanical power, Assem-, TO specific measures,
and the adoption ofthein as the great princi-