The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-30
THE WOMEN OF GREAT BRITAIN TO THE wO-
MEN OF AMERICA

We find in our exchanges the following ad-
mirabe address from women of the highest
rank in Great Britain, to the women of this
country. 1t is modest, affectionate, courteous,
free from selfrighteousness and self-compla-
cency. Emanating from women eminent by their
station or talents, it will be received we
doubt not, by the women of America, in the
same spirit which dictated the appeal to their
sympathics. 1t is important too, as showing
them way in which they may bring their in
huence to bear with the women of Great Brit
ain, in relation to the great social wrongs in
that empire
"On Friday, the Goth ult, a meeting Of la
dies was convinced ut Stafford House, to con-
slider the expediency Of addressing a memorial
from the women of England to the women of
the United States, on the subject of slavery
The ladies being assembled
"The Duchess Of Sutherland read the fol-
lowing paper Perhaps may be allowed to
state the object for which this meeting has
been called together but very few words will
be required, az all, am sure, assembled here
must have heard and read much of the moral
| and physical suffering inflicted on the race of
| negroes and their descendants by the system of
slavery prevalent in many of the United States
| Of America Founded on such information, a
proposition peared short time ago in sew
eral of newspapers, that the women of Eng
land shd yexpress to the women of America
the strong feeling they entertained on the ques-
tion and earnestly request their aid to abolish,
or at least to mitigate 80 enormous an evil.
The draught of an address accompanied tho
proposition, and, as it is intended to offer that
address for your adoption, will now read it
to you:
The Afeetionate and Chrfstian address of
many Thousands Of the Women of England
to their Sisters, the Women Of the United
State, Of America.
"A common origin, common faith, and,
we sincerely believe common cause, urge us
at the present moment to address you on the
subject Of that system of negro slavery, which
still Wils 30 extensively, and with such
frigBv RESULTS, in many of the vast regions of
the Western world.
"'We will not dwell on the ordinary topics,
on the progress Of civilization, on the advance
of freedom everywhere, on the rights and re-
quirements of the nineteenth century, but wo
appeal to you very seriously to reflect, and to
ask counsel Of God, how far such state of
things is in accordance with His Holy Word
the inalienable rights of immortal souls and
the pure and merciful spirit of the Christian
religion.
"'We do not shut our eyes to the difficult
ties, nay, the dangers, that would beset the i'm
mediate abolition of that long estsblished sys-
tenn; we see and admit the necessity Of prepa-
ration for 40 great an event; but in speaking
of indispensable prelminaries, we cannot be
silent on that law Of your country which, in
direct contrsvention of Gods own law, "insti-
tuted in tho time Of mans innocency" denies
to the slave the sanctity of marriage, with all
its Joys, rights, and obligations; which sepa-
rates at the will Of the master, the vile from,
the husband, and the children from-the pa
rents. Nor can we be silent on that awful sys-
TEN which, either by statute or by custom, in.
terdcts TO any race Of man, or any portion Of
the human family, education in the truth oil
the Gospel and the ordinances of Christianity
al remedy applied to these two evils alon,
would commence the amelioration Of their SAD
condition. We appeal, then, To you, as sisters
, as wives, and ~ mothers, to raise your voices
| to your fellow citizens, and your prayers u