New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-25
Frederick Douglnss-Horrors Of slavery.


We had a book put into our hands the other dag,
purportlng to be the autobiography Of slave. who
had escaped from bondage by the name Of Frede-
rick Douglass and we frankly acknowledge. that
had not been for our confidence In the good jud-
ment of the friend from whom the book cane who
we knew had little sympathy with the class OF
technical abolitionisis We might possibly have laid
il aside without reading il. from perceiying that II
was published under the patronage OF several lnGi-
viuals whose course on the subject o. slavery we
have never regarded as either polite or right
On looking into the book, however. We have
found il 10 contain one Of the most remarkable and
thrilling narratives that have ever fallen under our
eve. and though there some TIL = ia II which
we regret particularly the strong ex rssOns against
protesting Christians at the South, yet We no
thing 10 cast shade Of doubt over the anthem
ITCHY of the narrative even in respect 10 il minutesi
details We should, indeed. have made a single
exception TO this remark-that j. We should have
doubted the practicabiliiy of such book being pro
duccd by poor runaway slave, had II not been that
assured that his efforts a public speaker
quite equal TO what he has here shown himself
70 be writer: and we have itupon good au-
thority, that his lectures are characterized by a.
able reasoning as genuine wit and bold and stir
ing appeals. As almost ever find IN connection
with the highest intellectual culture.
Unless We greatly mistake. TINS small work 10
which we are referring is destined TO exert 2
mighty influence in favor OF the great cause o.
Emancipation. We acknowledge for ourselves.
that we might have heard the system Of slavery
reasoned against absiracily, no matter hOw ably.
and no matter how long. and yet we could not have
been 20 deeply impressed with it an outrage
against humanity "a we have been by reading THIS
simple story 1t Is especially fitted 10 correct too
prevalent that Slavery m Hset Is not dcserv-
ing Of any severe reprobation-ihat il j. only the
abuses Of the system with which we have right TO
find fault
And We acknowledge ourselves 10 be among those
who look for its removal distant day Ii seems
to Us a. clear a. the shining OF the that there
are signs of the times which betoken speedy and
mighty revolution on this subject. The march OF
public opinion Is evidently in favor of emancipation
and opposition more arrest II than II can ar
rest the motion OF the planets. There . spirit
awake throughout all the North that cries out tor
universal Freedom and al the agitation and oppo-
-On that v witness at the south J. but the neaN-
ine of the same spirit under different circumstances
II tells of terrible conflict between scshness and
conscience which will certainly terminate at last ia
favor OF the better principle
What particular mode OF abOlishlng slavery from
our land Providence may ordain-wheiher II shall
be- by bringing the South to bow to the high dictates
OF conscience aud OF duty by suffering the slaves
themselves to become ministers OF vengeance to
ward their oppressors or by some other means Of
which we know noihing-we pretend not TO say but
the event of ultimate emancipation in some way, we
consider as absolutely certain; and while we would
have all labor to bring il about, we would have all
take counsel of the spirit OF prudence well as phi
lanhrOpy, IN respect 10 the channel IN which their
labOrs shall be directed.