Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-29

bold thing for you or any one Of you to
undertake to solve the great problem of
good and evil--hnppiness and misery, and
decide in what worldly condition man ell.
Joys most, and suffers least Your pro-
tession calls on you to teach that this true
happiness is seldom found upon the stormy
sea of politics, or in the mad race OF am
bition--in the pursuits of Mammon, or the
cares OF boarded gain; that, in short, the
wealth and honors of this world are TO be
despised and summed. Win you then
say, that the slave must be wretehed, be.
cause he is debarred from theml--or be-
cause he does not indulge in the dreams
of philosophy, the wrangling of sectarans,
or the soul disturbing speeulalions of the
sceptic Tor because, having never tasted
of what is called Freedom, he is ignorant
of the ideal blessing, and is contented with
his lot, such as it is, as most of men are
with theirs2
You and your Presbytery doubtless de-
sire, as we all should, to increase the hap
piness of the human family. But since it
is difficult, if not impossible, to determine
in what earthly state man may expect TO
enjoy most of it, why can you not be con-
tent, to leave him in that respect where
God has placed hm--to give up the ideal
and the doubtful, for the real TO restrict
yourselves 10 the faithful fulflment of your
great mission of preaching "the glad ii.
dings of Salvation TO all classes and con.
ditions; or at the very least, sacredly alb.
stain from all endeavors to ameliora,e the
lot Of man by revolution, bloodshed, mas
sacre, and desolation, TO which all attempts
at Abolition in this country, in the pres
ent, and, so far as can see, in any future
age, must inevitably lead.
Be satisfied with the improvement which
slavery has made, and which nothing but
slavery could have made TO the same ex.
tent, in the race of Ham. Look at the
Negro in Africa-a naked savage -almost
Cannibal, ruthlessly expressing and de.
stroying his felows--ide, lreachorous,
idolatrous, and such disgrace TO the i'm.
age OF his God, in which you declare him
10 be made, that some OF the philosophers
have denied him the possession of soul.
See him here--three millions at least of
his rescued race--civllized, contributing
immensely to the subsistence of the hu.
man family, his passions restrained, his at.
fections cultivated, his bodily wants and
nfrmilies provided for, and the Religion
of his Maker and Redeemer taught him.
Has slavery been curse to himl Can
you think God has ordained il for no good
purposel--or, not content with the bes-
sings il has already bestowed, do you de-
sire to increase them still Before YOU
act, be sure your Heavenly Father has re.
vealed to you the means. Wait for tho
Inspiration which brought the lsrealites
out of Egypt--whch carried Salvation to
the Gentlles,
| have written you longer letter than
| intended. But the question of Slavery
is much more interesting subject to US,
involving as it does the fate of all that we
hold dear, than any thing connected with
John l.. Brown can be TO you; and trust
you will read my reply with as much con.
sderation as | have read your Memorial.
! have the honor TO be, very respectful.
ly, your obedieut servant,
j. H. HAMMOND.
To the Rev. Thomas Brown, D. d., Mod
orator of the Free Church Of Glasgow,
and the Presbytery thereof.