The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-30
2l0


the Caronas, and at rather an early age had I
been sent TO school in New England; and
very disagreeable change | thought it" he
went on to say, after coming from home
where could order The slaves TO be logged
whenever chose This seemed not TO excite
the slightest observation among my fellow
passengers at the time. 1t is true that when
remarked upon it little while afterwards
to IA Southern gentleman, whose frequent Eu-
ropean intercourse and gentle nature must
have made him sufficiently aware Of tho effect
ii was likely 10 produce upon me, be assured
ms that must not consider 1t as An ordinary
specimen. But | want to know, if you bring
together Maynard children, and weak parents,
and irresponsible power, how eau it help being
an ordinary specimen! And thus feel that
for illustrating the system Of slavery, | have
no need to resort to instances Of murder, mutt
laton, lust and incest, hut place before you
a child in the nursery, with his parents out Of
doors and an Obsequious attendant ut his
back.
Having said thus much about the Book,
feel that ! have nearly anticipated all that !
have 10 offer in this confined space upon its
Subject That subject is slavery, and it surely
constitutes the most difficult and solemn pro-
blem that now engages the attention of man
kind ! have 10 wish to dissemble or gloss
over my entire and ardent sympathy with ia
victims and It's opponents. The AntiSlayery
party IN the United States may possibly have
made mistakes and miscalculations which |
have no means Of correctly approaching but,
with all due allowance for error infrmity, and
the intolerance which ia apt TO entwine itself
even with the uoblest Of efforts and the holi-
est of causes. my calm boliof ia, that they
lighting a battle unparalleled either in ancient
or modern herOism. OF modern herOism GER
taniy would not speak lightly in addressing
either the ceuntry Of Washington or Of Wei
lington. Let them be- rghtfully hailed by the
respective populations as the Fathers Of their
Country Bat glorious as may have been their
exploits in The field and scarcely less glorious
their undertaking Difference to the laws and
constitutions Of the countries they had adorned
and saved, | feel almost inclined TO question
whether in the estimate Of an all-ruling and ,
all.nerciful Providence any cause which even .
they had ever adopted can outshinc in true
Christian ohivalry the efforts of those who let
the law of the land be for the moment what it
may make it the business of their lives to har-
Dor the fugitive slave from his pursuers, to
keep watch over the sanctity Of his asylum,
and to transfer him from his broken chain to
share Of Freedom.
Having thus expressed in no hattering ac
cents, my sympathy with the enemies Of Sla-
very on its own soil, do not wish to quit the
topic without word of counsel to my own
Oountrymen, 10 observe entire justice and is
creton towards its friends and abettors. We
must never forget that We originally intro
duced the pestlent system into our Colonies
and that we did much to fasten and rivet it
upon them when they were Indifferent or re-
iuctant. AT the same time, it is to be noted
that the onward course Of the present century
which has witnessed, in England, the success
sive additions Of the slave trade aud Of slavery
and in the United States the enactment of the
Fugitive Slave Law, is daily tending to dimin-
ish the apposteness of this piece Of completely.
However, again, we must bear in mind that
the difficulties with which even we had to con
tend in achieving this great CONTAMINATION, and .
which cost MS years of arduOus struggle and .
repeated disappointment are infinitely multi
piled in country where slavery is not relega-
ted a. it was with us, TO distant colonies and
separate islands, but is spread over immense
portions Of their continent, throngs in their
markets jostles in their streets nestles in their
homes, and testers in the very sanctuary Of
their Constitution 10 that even the very heart
leot detester Of slavery amongst us must feel,
that even if he could be invested for moment
with absolute power he would be utterly at
loss 10 know what he could in wisdom recon-
mend, or what assured remedy he could pre-
scribe, for this pcrvading and dominating evil
And, above all, even slppOslng that we had the ,
right To- rei roach, the sagacity to advise, we
SHOULD be most careful on the score of policy
that the manner and tone Of orr partisanship,
tO use the word in its best sense does not dam
age the cause we have most at heart and act
ually injure the afflicted race Tor whom | know
there are those amongst us who would willing
ly lay down their lives. To gag the free and
full expression of opinion in this country, upon
any exhibition Of Tyranny and unrghteousnes-,
most assuredly never will consent in the face
either of European despots or American slave
holders; but we may be quite certain that we
could not confer more material assistance upon |
the friends and patrons Of American slavery t
than by arraying ON their side any feelings Of ,
insu;ed nationality. have seen the most de-
voted Abol tonists suddenly fire up, if they
Thought their country was exposed to unde-
served cens'rc, or uapphcable contumely. The |
Anti Slavery party in the United States are en-.
titled To the most tervid expression Of our sym
pathy ead admiration; the personal interyeu-
ton of Foreigners in their enterprise would, !
ann persuaded, only clog their efforts and null.
lily any which, rs nation, We may ever have
far and Legitimate opportunity to use. Let
the only weapon OF warfare in this high quar-
rel be the oOncurrlng conscience Of mankind;
let the only shout of triumph over its adjust
ment be the haleluahs of the heavens
Nevertheless, while | am anxious 30 lrc-
scribe even to the warmth of sympathy and
the ardOr Of humanity their due bounds and
restraints | thuk it most desirable not only
that the conscience of the American People
should be reused to It's Utmost depths but that
they should read IN tho increased stir and sen
satlon which the question exctes through all
the family Of man. the certain indications that
1t can never sleep, but that it must work and
mine it's way, till in one mode OF another. it's
ultimate cOnsummation be accomplished It
* for them 10 examine the ground to lay the
foundation, to smooth the approaches happy
for them it will DO if they may rear the noble
edlhce of "A races freedom in tranquility and
oOmposure, and not amidst scenes Of confu-
sion, violence, and bloOdshed, such as the gaze
of Liberty herself would shrink to encounter.
Let them only drink in deep enough the thor
Oogh conviction that things cannot 60 on for.
ever ms they arc going on now. Within even
the short interval which has elapsed since my
own visit TO the Union ten years ago and from
even this far distance, it appears to mo that |
can track the footsteps of no slow progress in
the career of this great cause. Such seems TO
me the formal proposal of a candidate by the
Anti-Slayery party for the next election to the
supreme Office of President OF the United States:
such seems to me the appointment conferred |
last year, by the eminently commercial emf
ncntly American State of Massachusetts, to the
office of ITS Senator in Congress, upon my much
valued friend. MIR Charles Sumner. In our
past hours OF friendly intercourse, in our fire.
qucnt walks 10y the sparkling estuary of Bos-
ton, or upon the sunny brow of Bunker's Hill, |
how little did l. how little did he, feel well |