Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-22

Father Mathew and The Shareholders.

Ex-Governor Lumpkin, in behalf of the
Georgia Temperate Society, extended TO Fa-
Their Mathew a pressing invitation to visit
that State in furthonnce OF the Object of his
mission to this country. Subsequently the
account of Father Mathews interview with
Garrison, and a copy of the celebrated Irish
Address, with the Apostles name append
ed thereto, was put into the hands of Gov.
LuInpkin, whereupon he Immediately wrote
to the said Apostle, inquiring if that address
were genuine, and if so whether he cherish
ed the sentiments there Notwithstanding
his conviction that his capacity for useful
ness at the South would depend upon his
answer to these questions.
Here was indeed a dilemma; and what
did Father Mathew do? Did he speak out
like a man, in a voice which he was willing
the whole world should hear, in favor of
Freedom? No. He sent to the Governor a
letter marked private Of the contents of
which we know nothing, except that the
Governor ~testiiies that it 8 failed to obviate the
difficulty and neither denied the genuine
ness of the Objectionable document nor in
the sentiments embodied in il. We infer
from this that the letter was not a manly re-
Spouse to the Governors questions, but a
palliative, cunningly designed go to wrap
up the difficulty as 10 preclude oil excite
ment and permit its author TO traternize with
the menstealers of the South. Though he
dared not deny the genuineness OF the Adj
dress, he doubtless thought that the Governor,
by the administration of a little piiestly oil,
could be made TO view il as the Shareholders
view the Declaration OF Independence, as u
rhetorical flourish
"Words, trundled smoothly DER the tongue,
Like mere absIractions, empty sounds"
The Governor, however, was in earnest.
lie would not be won from his mood by any
private, non-committal, half.,nd-half answer.
For this we respect him, stakeholder as he is.
He wrote to the Apostle, telling him that his
letter was unsatisfactory, and asking him to
Withdraw the injunction of privacy, that the
correspondence might be published. After
waiting a long time without receiving any
reply To his last communication, he came OH;
with a public statement Of the affair and
openly revoked the invitation TO Father Ma
thew to visit Georgia.
On this subject the Pennsylvania Freeman
makes the following observations:
And this is the treatment which Father
Mathew receives ut the hands oil those fol
whose sake he had sealed his lips on the sub
ject of slavery. Could they not trust him
II, in Boston, the Cradle OF Liberty, breath,
ing the free air of old Massachusetts, within
sight of Plymouth rock, he would not speal
bold words for Freedom, and against oppres
son, did they think that he would utter then
in the tainted atmosphere of the slave plan
tation, or at the masters hospitable board
No; they thought no such thing they fearet
no such thing. This action of the Georgii
Temperance Societies was designed to pun
ish him for daring to hold opinions unfavor
able TO slavery. He would not deny that h
had endorsed the obnoxious sentiments; h,
could not assert that they were not his senti
ments still. And therefore Georgia will no
receive him. Very supple must be the kne,
that would do homage to the slave power
very low the abasement of the %courtier VIII,
WOuiu NC duinittcu lltO It's Iul commence
Father Mathew will not satisfy its demands
How much better it would nave been 70
him not to attempt it. lie came to this coun
Try surrounded with most advantageous cir
cumstances for a reformer. lie was welcom
ed, he was hOnored, he possessed influence
he came to a nation whose chief sin h
knew 10 be slaveholding. He knew that one
sixth of its population were reputed and he'll
as chattels personal, degraded almost to th
level of brUtes; he knew that the church ha
given Der sanction 10 this horrible %inigu.it,
,Ahd taat on Inc side OF de oppressor der
Vas power. lie might have stood in GU
midst, and spoken a word Of nbuke ior III;
Gin, which would have been heard at the fen
etheet boundaries of our republic. A natio
was WAITING fr his words. His was a gold