The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-21
NEW ORLEANS,

81 =
TUESDAY MORNING. AUGUST 81, 1s4S.
FATHER MATHEW AND THE ABoLIrIoMsrs.- |
The Boston Liberator publishes the following let
ter Of VIM Lloyd Garrison, giving an account Of |
an interview between himself and Father Ma /
thew: On Friday morning, July 18th, Dr.. H. l. |
Bowditch and myself went to the Adams House.
IN order to obtain an Introduction to Father |
Mathew, and 70 be sure that the letter Of the COM
mttee, Inviting him TO participate in the celebration
of that great aud glorious event. The enfire abolition
Of British West India slavery failed not to be put
into his handF. Fortunately, we found him disen-
gagged, and were introduced to each other by our
esteemed friend William A. White, of Watertown |
What transpired during the interview (Which was |
very brief one, as we felt unwilling to trespass
upon his time, and as we Immediately perceived |
that the object of our visit was nor particularly
agreeable 90 him. was substantially as follows -
Tuning TO me, Father Mathew said Mr.. Gar
rlson, your name is very familiar to me- Yes,'
said smiling, am somewhat notorious, though
not as yet, very popular He then added You
have some very warm friends in Cork / told him
! was aware Of the fact, and also that in Dublin |
and many other parts Of Ireland, there were many
who deeply sympathzed with the anti-savery
movement in this country. After expressing the
strong desire bad felt to see him during my last
visit to Ireland, and the great disappointment in
not being able 70 visit Cork, / said iii addition
10 the pleasure of taking you by the hand and vel
coming you 70 America, we have come to extend
to you, in behalf of the Massachusetts Anti Slave
~ Society, an invitation 70 be- present al the ceIe-
3fation Of the anniversary Of the British West In
Ola emancipation, at Worcester, on Friday next. \
Here is letter containing an invitation in an Off
eal shape which you are requested 70 read at your
lesuEe and answer as YOU may think duty requires.
Taking the letter, with soma agitation and embaF-
raasment Of manner, he said, gestieulatng in
somewhat deprecative manner, as though an indie
cent or unworthy proposition had been made to
him have as much as / can do to save men
he If att
ing the overthrow Of any other kind of slavery
Besides, it would not he proper for me to commit
myself on question like this, under present cir
eumsianees. lam Catholic priest; but, being
here TO promote the cause Of temperance, should
not be justified in turning aside from my mission,
for the purpose Of subscribing the cause OF Cathol
icisTn' True, you would not replied, for, in
that capacity, you would occupy very narrow
ground, and be acting for a seciarian object. But
do not perceive any analogy in the case sup
posed TO the one presented to you. The cause
Of liberty and emancipation, like that of tenn
perance, covers the whole ground of humanity,
and Is ms broad as the whole earth and therefore
yOu may as freely advocate the one as the other
%, said he, am not in favor Of slavery-I should
never think Of advocating Though do MT know
as we can say that there is any specific iniunct on
against it III the Scriptures o. said l. inter-
rupting him, and placing my hand on my heart,
the injunction is here-insde of every human be-
ing Catholic priests are not in favor Of slavery
he replied Do you intend visiting the slave
tive answer, / said Well, | am confident You will
find at the South, Catholic priests and Catholic
laymen who are Shareholders and slavs-buyers.'
In order that there should be no room for miscon-
eeption, distinctly said 70 him, The abolitionists
have no wish design to divert you from the great
mission which you have come TO America to prose-
cute on the contrary, they feel deep aud lively
interest in that mission and desire that your efforts
may be crowned with abundant success, But they
trust that, while you are IN the country, you wall
occasionally find an opportunity, both in public
and in private, to admOnish your countrymen 10 be
true to liberty, and to give no countenance to
slavery or its abetors for there is great need Of
such counsel, they giving the weight of their
religious and political influence TO the side of the
slave power. They hold the key of the slave 5
dungeon, as the balance Of political power is in
their hands. Moreover, the anniversary of British
West India emancipation deemed by us an
event in which you would feel special interest,
and might participate with great propriety. We
have not forgotten continued, that, seven
years ago, an address sent from Ireland, signed
by Daniel O'COnnell, Theobald Mathew, and
seventy thousand others, invoking the lFishmen
and LshwOmen in America to join with the abol-
lonists, as the only true and consistent friends Of
liberty and we feel therefore that are not lntru
sive, but rather warranted in asking you to renew
an appeal so important, and TO which they have
given little no heed o. said he as if the ac
had long since passed from his memory into OBJ
livion, do now recollect that I signed such al
address and | also recoleet that, at that time, j
subjected me TO good deal Of odium' This wa
said as if ne had WINGED under thunder the odiun
cast by American traffiekers in human flesh o
what then, should he be proud on earth Sacl
odium he should have gloTed in, as the evidences
of his fidelity to the cause of down-trodden hu
manity.
Finding nothing was to be gained by protractinl
the interview, and feeling deeply saddened by tn
result, we took our leave, again expressing III
hope that he would attentvely read the letter w
had just put into his hands, and answer it at hi
earliest convenience. To that letter he has no
had the courtesy to make any reply.
have endeavared to state what was said at thi
interview by Father Mathew and myself with a
much verbal accuracy as possible, and believe tina
have not only given the substance, but near
the exact words, of the conversation between us
What gave me special surprise, and inflicted tn
deepest wound upon my spirit, was the apparen
lack of all sympathy for the slave-of all interel
in the anti-slavery movement. Not syllable fe
from his lips, expressive of pleasure that the Amer
can slave has his faithful and devoted advocates
or of Joy at the emancipation Of eight hundre
thousand b0ndsmen in the British Isles! 1t is wit
great sorrow of heart that lay these facts befor
America, Ireland and the world"
MOBILE CoTToN--Pine Lands.-Mr Morehous
has left a sample of cotton, raised on his place
three miles from town, and prepared by the Rel
j. d. LOftn. 1t was grown on pine land similS
to that which surrounds the city. The staple is
a fine silky texture and of rich cream color 1t
strictly fair cotton This experiment was mad
with a view Of testing the suitableness of our so
and climate for this culture, not with any purpOs
however, Of engaging in it. 1t serves, neverh
less, to prove what we have so often tried to in
press upon our people, that the pine lands of til
region, especially those based on clay, will, Wi
careful and intelligent culture yield as rich retun
as those upon winch higher value is set-1lob
Herald.
nS The British and Foreign Bible Society h
sent Frederick Douglass 100 Bibles, for Distribute
sn nonF n0lorad raania