The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-11-13
JAMES G.. BIRNEY.

Tho following is the close OF letter ri
dressed by David L. Child editor of the An
ti-SIavery Standard in New York one of the
pioneers of the Anti-Slavery cause in the
United States to some highly respectable
gentlemen at Northampton requesting to pre-
pare and lay before the public an account of
the origin and the true character of political
abolition.
This gentleman has been intimately con-
nected with the Anti-Slavery cause from the
beginning and no man can better disclose the
History oft. We have now no space for
his extended explanation. But we may in
sert the whole of it at some future time.
Suffice it to say that it dscloses as hypocrit-
ical and mercinary course Of conduct on
the part of James G. Birney as his worst en-
emies would wish to see, and most fully JUS
titles the belief already entertained, that Biz
ney has been for years the secret ally ofthose
whose cause he now openly espouses. If
Polk is elected President of the United States
it may fairly be laid to the charge of Third
partyism which Birney has fostered into exis-
tence.
do not concur and never have concurred
in the NONRESIDENT non-voting, or disunion
principles Of many, now majority Of the
old abolitionists, any more than | do with
third party abolitionists. still hold to the
original anti-slavery plan ofpolitical action,
voting for the candidates Of either of the po-
litical parties, who will do anti-slavery work.
Upon that principleI shall vote for Henry
CLAY. would not vote for a non-slavehol-
der who would not do that work: AM ready
to vote for STAKEHOLDER who will, Mr. Clay
will keep out Texas. HE HAS DONE 1T AL
READY. He has heart in proportion to his
understanding. He sympathises with the
slave, and in any event will restore the gov
eminent in some measure to the dignity and
impartiality of Washingtonian times.
am unwilling to conclude this letter with
out last appeal to the many honest, consci-
entious, disinterested men whom know the
Liberty Party ranks to contain. Brethren,
friends of the slave can you give your votes
for such a man as James G. Birney, revealed
as he now is to you, not by me, but by him
self! What claim or qualification has he
and his professions Of abolitionism! No
partizan of his has named any service, act or
qualification, other than these, which would
have caused him to be thought of by any
human being as a candidate for the seat Of
Washington. We now have incontestibe
evidence, from the records of Kentucky, of
the value fall the slaves he has manumitted,
estimated upon honor oy himself and his faith
T.. L. hos raoa.yaI fr0r 81,
American anti-Slavery Society alone. S7640,
besides an unknown sum for his travelling ex-
penses, during upwards of three years, and
his expenses TO Europe, after he had ceased
to be in the service Of the society. There
are now thirty of his felowmen suffering the
tortues and deprivations Of slavery in the far
southwest to which he was the means Of
consigning them from the far milder servi-
tude Of Kentucky. have before me let
ter from the Hon. ]. M. Howard of Michi-
gan, late of Congress, which states that
Mr.. Birney married some four or five years
ago lady who had about $4,000 in real
and personal property
l have also letter from A. s. Mitchell,
ESQ. of Danville Ky. whose character for truth
and veracity Mr.. William Birney Of Cincin-
matt was many months engaged in investiga-
ting, and has not given TO the public The result.
Mr.. Mitchell writes that Birney lived within
fire miles of Robert Tilford to whom he sold
Charles, and contented himself with writing
alletter to obtain a reconveyance OF the man;
and this not till fourteen months after the sale
of him, yet confessing that he felt remorse
of conscience for the deed MIR. Birney
knows the person, Tilford's brother in law,
named Worthington, TO whom Tilford had
sold him. Tilfords letter informing Birney
that he had sold the man, was dated Sept
10th, 1882, he having been sold by Birney
to Tilford, July 9Th 1884. | now give Mitch
ellis own words.
'Mr. Worthington, though resident of
Mississippi, was spending that summer, and
early part of fall, (as he had done before, and
has done every year since, in Kentucky and
was in Mercer County the summer just past,
and my Information IS authentic, that James G.
Birney has nerer. from the date Of Mr.. Til
fords letter TO tbs hour, prosecuted one inquiry
after Charles lcih uiet1 10 his rePnrchdse.
He could any day since that time have
bought him, by simply making the appllca-
tion.'
More than ten years Mr.. Birney had the
price of this brothers blood in his pocket,an
an uneasy conscience in his BOSOM There
is no pretence that he was insolvent, when he
sold him.
What now becomes of Joshua Leavitt's
statement in the Emancipation, that Mr.. Biz
new did all nc could but owing to Tilford's
.hastv sale of the man, HAS NEVER
BEEN ABLE TO REACH HIM. These
are Mr.. Leavitt's own capitals. What too
becomes ofthe statement of Mr.. ]. Marsh
ali. Birney's brother in law in the same
Emancipator, that Birney neither bought
nor sold Charles. but only borrowed and re-
turned him!!' Will you permit yourselves
to be cheated of your votes on such false pre-
fences?
Has not Mr.. Birney betrayed his faithful
and self-sacrifcing friends-the confidins and
honest supporters of asupposed Liberty can
didate; and violated their distinctive Princi-
plies? Have you not proclaimed and repeat
edIy acted upon the rule, that you would give
yonr votes to no candidate Of either of the
other parties, be his abolitionsm what it may.
considering it a greater evil to risk :mparing
the integrity Of your party, than to vote
!. a.;n,t undoubted and most efficient abolition |
;s,s1 Remember Borden, Giddings and |
cd that xou uov have a candle ate in |