The southern press., 1851-05-14

2
treat the sacred institution of matrimony; the
minister leaves out that part which says @Whai
God has Joined let no man put asunder" Fam,
| lilies are separated, and the husband, after sep
arating from his wifi, gets another, and it may
happen that one man obtains, in this manner, as
many as forty wives. Yet his letter of church
memberships good. from church to church, and
nothing is said against this violation of The laws
Of chastity. These facts are notorious in the
South.
| A voice: Does nobody know that but your
self! There are men here who have got twenty
wives.
! Mr.. Beecher: | am sorry for it. They ought
! to be enlancipated ask what has Christianity
done for the African in the North? Here the
speaker alluded to the prejudice that existed
against free colored people here, by which they
| ara excluded from many trades and occupations.
A white man considered it disgrace to work
in the same place with them. yet knowing this,
said Mr. Beecher, Christianity has not interpos-
ed between these prejudicas. A few States have
recognised the tights of property among free
colored people, but many Others disfranchise
them simply on account of the color of their
skin. Christianity has done nothing for their
education, but it has said, (pointing to the emf.
grant shp) there is the ship, and there is Afr.
ca, and you cannot do better than emigrate-go,
colonize. That is the gospel they have heard
from the church in Americ,, which has already
grown so fat and pleihoric that am afraid it
will eventually die of obesity
And now, having given the dark side of the
picture, / may turn the brighter eide. The
North has been reused upon the subject Of slav-
cry; it has begun to study more the real nature
of the constitution of slavery. The opinion Of
the North has had a great influence on it, and
here let me say that if might have my choice
to go down to the South and preach there, or
stay here and correct public sentiment, and let
it re act upon the South, | would rather choose
the latter, for believe, that besides saving my
neck, it would be much better for the interests
of the slave. The first effect of the increased
vitality and power of the North, has been to
render the South fearful lest slavery should be
abolished. This gave rise to political agitation,
and to desire to extend slavery. 1t also origin
ated the Fugitive slave law, and here let me
speak few wordsin regard to that law.
There was, it seems to me, prospect Of
peaceful retrocession Of slavery before this law
was passed; for do not believe that agitation
for the abolition fslavery made it 6rmer in the
South. The day has come when moral thoughts
and truths are TO be free as air, and these truths
have travelled to the South, and will still have
their influence and power there. The plan ]
wished to adopt, instead of this law, was to al
low slavery 10 exist within its old limits, with
out Fictitious help from the connection of the
North with the South. Then, when we had said
TO slavery, thus tar shalt thou go and no farther,
all We intended to do was to employ the inhu-
ence of freedom and the principles Of truth upon
it; which, like the sun shining upon mountains
of ice, would gradually, but steadily, melt it
away.
Ifslavery is allowed to go to New Mexico and
California, 1t will become stronger; but the mo-
ment you place it within certain limits then you
have got it where, by the help of brotherly love
and affection, you can eventually overthrow it.
Our heart is warm towards the South, but we
mean 10 preach from the Go pei the blessed
truths of mans liberty, and Gods liberty, and
thus We intend to make slavery burden to
their consciences.
The rev. speaker traced the origin of the Fu-
gitive slave law 10 an Internal source The api-
tation was first commenced by the devil, who,
he said, for once in his life, came out with his
tnii and cloven foot, but when he put himself In
the shape OF the Fugitive slave law he did him
self al injury. (Laughter.) am opposed to
this law on account of the inhumanity of il.
Now, if it proposed that we should take back
the convict that escaped from prison, or man
held 10 service, we would do this for the sake
of the Union bat ii we love the Union, we
would not trust it in the hands of the Safety
Committee (Laughter.) But look at this
matter not in this light When think of re-
turning slave To the South, it appears to me
the same as ii were TO take my child that
love with my whole heart, and send him off by
some inhuman captain TO India, where he would
be reduced 10 slavery, not of body alone, but Of
mind. | could not return a slave TO the South
Ito the shamblss Of lust, where men are re-
garded os brutes. | could not take this man
from where the sunlight has begun TO glad his
eye, aud send him back iEto all the horrors of
Southern slavery.
Yet this Is what we are asked to do, and there
has been, | am sorry TO say, ministers of the
gospel so blinded TO it,, truths that they have
taught their congregation to execute the de-
mands of the law. The speaker here referred
to DR., Cox, who, he said, had been
on all sides of the question. Would any man,
he resumed, in view Of these facts, send fusi-
tive back TO slavery
Yes, | would for one" said voice, land
j, said a second, and |, and )" said several at
once.
Would any man in his senses do il respond !
ed Mr.. Beecher. lie next referred TO the apos
tacy of Daniel Webster, whom he called prea,
man in every thing but morality, and said great
many things not fattering to his late political |
conduct. lie then continued: | regard the t'u. |
gitive slave law as one of the greatest blows |
that could be struck against the integrity OF the
Constitution. II was the cause of more evils to |
the country than was generally believed. After
some further remarks, he concluded by hoping
that none would take offence at any thing he |
said, as he bad only given expression to his own
honest convictions.
The resolutions were put TO the vote, and /
adopted; after which, Rev. Mr. Willis, of To- |
ronto, and Rev. Dir. Finncy, addressed the
meeting.
RAILROAD TO THE PAc FIc.--A letter appears !
IN Galveston paper, written by the Hon. " F.. |
Howard, member of Congress from Texas, ac-
companied by communication from Colonel |
Albert, Of the United States Typographical en-. |
gineers, in which il is stated that railroad from
the Mississippi TO the Rio Grande, crossing the |
head of vaccination IF of Tho rrin,;r.I a.