Daily American telegraph., 1852-11-17
Hon. chnrla. sumner.


The following letter we find in Southern pa
per addressed to this gentleman, by citizen Of
Alabama, to whom he had sent copy Of his
speech;
LIVINGSTON, SuMpTER Co, ALA, 1852
SIR; BY the mail | return, uncut, copy of
your "Speech in the Senate of the United
States, on your motion to repeal the Fugitive
Slave Bill
This speech which came under your frank,
and consequently by your order, has suppose,
been sent TO others of my brethren whose names
and addresses have been copied from the same
published list of the clergy from which my own
was taken. AS you know nothing of me- ac-
quit you of any design to offend me personally
You have only offered general indignity to
those ministers Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church whose homes are in the South. In the
abuse of the franking privilege, you have sought
to obtrude the most obnoxious sentiments, ex-
pressed in the most offensive manner, upon men
who would have refused to hear them from
your own lips. Men of the world deem this
conduct insulting; and am yet to learn that
an injury is any the less aggravated by the fact
that the sufferers are forbidden to retaliate.
We can only protest against such treatment
Whether our remonstrances are to be needed
by one who wantonly despises the patience not
only but the safety of the nation, is for you to
decide
My own observations during residence of
twelve years in Massachusetts, convinced me
that charity to the fugitive slave demands that
he be returned to his master
A careful reading of the Holy Scripture on
the subject does not permit me to doubt that
it is my duty as Christian minister, to insist
upon the obligation of masters to their slaves
This do. Nor do hold back any part of the
counsel Of God. teach slaves that they also
are bound by Christian obligations to their
masters-obligati from which they are not
released by unkndness and frowardness on the
part of their masters, supposing them to be
"unkind and froward,o which is rarely the
case. --r- --'+''-'.'
Were living in Boston, and should. fugi-
tive slave come to me for protection and assist
ance he should certainly have both--protec-'
ton against the arts of demagogues and fanat-
les, who, having used him for their purposes,
would leave him to starve; and assistance to
return to that condition in life in which alone
ho can be truly happy. would undoubtedly
do all that man may do to make Christian
of him This being accomplished, it would
need but little argument to convince him of his
duty as a Christian man-to go back to his
master, and by increased diligence, zeal, and
industry, to restore fourfold, if it were possible,
whatever loss may have resulted from his rum
ming away. This seems to be the rule of &C.
ton prescribed by Holy Scripture in such
cases. 1t certainly was the course pursued by
St. Paul; and, 80 far as | am informed the
Protestant Episcopal Church throughout the
United States acknowledges no "higher law"
Another course may be more popular with
people whose applause you seek, but we have
been taught that "that which is much es-
teemed among men is abomination in the sight
of Godn
You must have known our views and feel
ings upon this subject and therefore, by caus-
ing the document which | now return to be
forwarded to us under your frank, you have
deliberately and grossly insulted the entire
body of our clergy
For one, feel it deeply do not like to be
exposed to such impertinenoes. Still more
deeply am ! grieved by the thought that our
labors for the benefit of the slave population
are in any degree liable to be hindered by the
interference of women, children, and men, who
have not the least responsibility in the matter
who, looking beyond the moral and social evils
that lie at their own doors, are willing, for the
qualification of morbid or hypocritical philan.
thropy, to overthrow the ordinance of God,
and involve the whole country in ruin
Having thus discharged my duty, hope to
be troubled no more byyou in relation to these
subjects. Should it ever be in my power to
render you any Christian service you may be-
lieye me " Your servant for Christs sake.o