The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-15

whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he
hath not scent" Surely, it is worthy of remem-
will consider as done to himself both the kindness
and the cruelty shown to the least Of his brethren.
We are constantly reminded that the church is
the great instrument ofmoral reform. Most CRATE
fully do we allow that the precepts of the gospel
are sufficient for all the moral necessities of man.
"Do to others as you would they should do unto
you," is law which, if obeyed, would of itself
Danish slavery and oppression from the face Of the
earth. But, unhappily, the church, or at least
portion of her ministers, have not always applied
the precepts Of the gospel to existing and popular
sins 1t is certainly no exaggerated statement
that not one sermon in thousand delivered at the
North contains the slightest ausion to the duties of
Christians toward the colored population; while at
the south, multitudes Of the clergy are as deeply
involved in the niquites of slavery as their hearers
1t is no libel on the great body of our Northern
clergy to say that, in regard to the wrongs of the
colored people, instead Of performing the part of the
good Samaritan, their highest merit consists in fol-
lowing the example Of the priest and Levite, and
passing by on the other side without inficting
injuries on their wounded brother But we rejoice
to know that there are ministers of Christ among
us, and not a few, to whom these remarks are
wholly inapplcable men who pray and preach and
labor against slavery and CASTE and thus adorn the
doctrine of God their Saviour. We rejoice, also, to
know that such ministers are appreciated and
honored by Christians abroad, of every name. The
clergy of England Scotland, and Ireland, decline adj
hitting into their pulpts clergymen from this coun
try holding what they deem heretieal doctrines; but
can they exclude any for fouler heresy than that
justice and mercy in their application to colored
men? We trust our friends in Great Britain will
not weaken our hands, and strengthen the pro-
slavery influence Of our churches, by overlooking,
in their reception of American clergymen, the
course they have pursued at home the subject of
slavery. They may be perfectly assured that the
American clergyman who, abroad, is too dignifed
to be questioned as to his opinions human bondage
is at home too patriotic to offer any vigorous OPP
position to the peculiar institution" Of his
country.
OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY.
We have thus frankly stated the objects Of the
American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, and
confidently ask if they are not objects worthy to
men! Nay, We 60 farther, and ask, has not So
ciety pursuing such objects valid claims on the
countenance and generous aid of every philanthro-
pist and Christian in our country?
Hostility to slavery has frequently been associ-
ated with various objects of political and moral re-
form. 1t is natural it should be SO, since the
love for our neghbor which revolts at his oppres-
sion, seeks to advance his general welfare But
experience has fully proved that associated action
cannot be efficiently maintained in behalfof various
plans, respecting which the individuals associated
entertain diverse opinions Hence the A. and F.
A. s.. Society, without passing any judgment
on other proposed reforms, confine their Of
forts in their associated capacity to the abo-
litien Of caste and slavery, leaving to their men,
bers individually the full and entire liberty Of adj
vocatng and promoting, in such way as they may
think proper, any other reforms moral political.
We believe every man is bound to exercise the cleo
tive franchise in the fear Of God but while we shall
ever rejoice in the election Of virtuous rulers, who
will do justice and love mercy, it is not the province
OF the society to recommend particular individuals
for the suffrages Of their fellow citizens.
1t is consoling to US to know that, in the senti-
ments we have expressed, we enjoy the sympathy
OF almost all without the limits of our own country
who bear the Christian name. vast multitude on
our own soil hold the same sentiments and did they
act with one heart and enc voice, would soon tri-
umph over the prejudice which supports caste,
would array the church on the side Of mercy and
rescue the federal government from its unholy and
unconstitutional alliance with slavery. But un-
fortunately, the sympathies Of this multitude, not
being concentrated in action and counsel are, in no
small degree powerless for good. The anti slavery
host has been divided and Of course, enfeebled, by
conflicting opinions on topics not immediately Of
fectng the colored man. For the sake Of the slave,
for the prosperity Of the country, for the good Of
the church herself earnestly desire the union Of
all aboitionsts and their harmonious action in be-
half Of their cooTed brcthrn. We ask all who APP
tally. and energy to those opinions, by aiding the
American and oreign Anti Slavery Society in dis
seminating and enforciI them.
AIMS TO RECTIFY PUBLIC OPINION.
Public q inon is in this country the controller Of
legislation Hence, at one period traffic in African
and legitimate commerce. At later period, all but
two States were DESTROYS to abandon It, and as a
compromise, Congress vas restricted from aboshing
1t until after twenty years At still later PERIOD
deral constitution was, by act of Congress, de-
nOuI ced as piracy. Public opinion now, acting
through the Legislature, holds him felon who
brings to our shores for sale native African while
We have just seen citizen tried for his life because
he declined to assist in reducing to
slavery native American. To buy and sell Afri-
cans is wicked, base, and detestable to buy and sell
coiored Americans is in perfect accordance with the
most exalted position in both State and Church. In
the city of New York, we have seen s'men of great
stakes, merchant-princes and others, lavishing
eourtesies on the most reckless and violent cham
pions Of slavery when they hoaorcd them with their
presence; and we have these same gentlemen
giving aid and comfort to the slave catcher without
losing their place in polite society.
Most certainly public opinion these subjects is
unsound, and ought to be reformed: Very many o.
our clergy ard their hearers need to be reminded that
the commands Of God have no reference to the color
OF mans skim but that all equally entitled to
receive, and are equally bound to render the justice
and benevolence enjoined by him who is the common
father of us all. Christians generally are to be
warned not to be partakers Of other mems sins to-
wards the colored race. The cruelty Of State and
federal legislation is to DO exposed; the influence Of
the colonization scheme in exasperating the preju-
dice against our colored brethren is to be demonstrate
ed, and the public is to be fully instructed in the
moral, social. and political evils resulting from sla
very ana caste.
WANTS OF THE SOCIETY.
But how are these great ends to be accomplished
Individual effort can do but little. In the present
age, the press is the great lever by which the world
is moved, but it can be employed to o great extent
only through the united pccuniary contribution Of
many. The influence Of private abolitionist car
rarely reach beyond contracted neighborbood; but
as member Of the A. and F. A. S. Society, and q
donor to its funds, he may address thousands The
National Era was established at Washington with
funds supplied by the society," and since repaid and
it now weekly addresses antislavery truth to seven
teen thousand subscribers The society greatly
needs periodical of its own, but its present funds
are insufficient for the establishment of one.
Treatses on various branches of this great subject
constantly offered to the society, but it lacks the
means Of giving them to the public through the
press. Intelligent, well-informed lecturers are
wanted to awaken public attention, TO collect popu-
lar assemblies and to enlist the sympathies of those
whose vacations deny them the opportunity of read
ing anti-slavery publications. Agents are desired
to aid in tho formation of auxiliary societies.
Editors and authors to be enlisted in the cause;
and frequently, information and statistics, to be
collected at mach expense of time and labor, are