The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-06-20


consistent with thy pleasure, consent TO mako
mo tho buppiest of men,
Yours dovotedly,
WARD EMERsoN
''Wcll that is somewhat pointed. the senti-
mental with the poctical, it must prove quite a
restorative to your disorded fancics! you ac-
cept of coursc:' said Ellen folding the letter
''Rcad the reply, then you can but judge
replied Amynta.
SANDusKY, Ohio, April 1858.
"WARp:-I cannot describe to you, the con-
flcting emotions, the wild tumultous thoughts
tho burning anguish, earnest admiration, yet
deep pity, which agitated my soul while peru
sing your almost inexpicablc letter. Regard
less of your urgent request 10 the contrary,
must Tin justice to myscl) again revert TO q
subject, which TO mo is of vital Importance
You say you cannot regard slavery as an evil
because the Bible sanctions it-now, you can
not in tho gospel disponsation, find one clause
in support of that vilc institution. Tho Au-
thor of our being, in creating us capable Of
happiness, could have had no other object than
to render US happy, and tho right of ono hn-
man being, irrespective of sex or color. from
Adc Seas, to Polar Circles and so far from
being ratified by tho Constitution, the word
slave does not occur in that sacred instrument
Look at hose noble declarations. embracing
within their simple folds tho wido circle OF hu-
manity, which wore recognized by the nation
in l716, THAT all men are created free and
equal and endowed with certain inalenable
rights among which arc life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness now why did they say
this? Did they mean itl or was it only thrown
in as a rctorlcal flourish? again you cay that
the institution sis wise in its nature, ar d ben
efficient in its operations" now Il cannot agree
with you in that, take for example, your own
loved Virginia, does not her soil, and climate
render her a desirable dwelling place for man:
and yet she does not contain onc-fourth the
population on tho same space, as one Of the
free States. Slavery rctards her progress, intel
! ligcncc, population and wealth. and Norfolk
ono of tho best harbors in tho world is now
smaller than Wheeling. when she should have
been larger than New York. tho reason is oh
vious-her inhabitants are slave holders and
they look upon labor as only fit for slaves,
therefore the commercial, manufacturing and
agricultural class are scarce. And as an OK
SO for hcartlesness aul injustice toward the
sable race, you affirm that they are little bet
ter than the brute creation now, for arguments
sake, will admit it-but what is the rcason:-
Arc their ntellects suffered to cxpand-aro
not their mental energies kept in surveillance
by their opprcssor man: Give them tho light
of knowledge and see the rosut-look at those
brilliant examples afforded US in Langston
a Pendleton, and Douglass. But you say that
argument is useless, that you never can be an
abo,ionist, and yet you seom to regard this
fact as slight impcdimont to our union. Do
you not know that disordant sentiments will
not, cannot harmonic, and no material good
condition can mako up for that united lovo
which flows from purity of motive goodness Of
hcart, and unity OF idea--w;thout this, our dis
positions could not co operate, and our lives
pass in continual strife, in inquctudc indiile
renee and misery. You say. ''tho south is your
theatre of action, your throne of power" it
never can DO mine, therefore our paths in life
must be distinct and separate. ! conld not
lead life of ease, and ailuencc, wbilc tho
blood of my fellow creatures were crying out
against me, / could not accept homage, and o.
bedience from one of Gods creatures, who like
myself is created free moral agent, and much
less could consent to accompany a set of
bloodhounds, Il can use no milder term,) to
Canada to witness the woe and misery which
might follow, to be the means of chasing Joy
fiom heart, that had suffered privations, dan
gers and almost death to obtain that precious
boon of existence, freedom to hear tho wailing
cry Of parted friends, orphans,and mothcrs-no
/ could no. do it, and Tho cold selfish, unfcel-
ing passion, which hecds not the suffori1gs and
prosecutions of humanity, which you offer me,
/ havc no hesitancy in rejecting-rogardin
it not only unfit for tho acceptance of woman's
heart, but an uttor PROCLAMATION of the sacred
ness of love. Hoping that tho past will be
speedily oblterated from your memory and
that no thought of me may possess the power
to disturb your peace, | will close by urging
upon you my best wishes for certain defeat in
all unjust, and unlawful proceedings"
Very respectively,
AMYYTA BRADFoRD.
"Rather severe. you are not going to send
itr spoke Ellen, when she had finished read
ing.
"Most assuredly, / shall" was her reply.
"Is it POSSIBLE! well I've read of hcroinos in
real life, but had not conceived you TO be ono,
| very much doubted the probability of you ro-
ducing your theory TO practice, when it became
necessary, yet it seems was mistaken. But
Amynta, you do not love him or you could not
thus sacrifice your hearts worship, upon tho al
tor Of principle
"You are again mistaken Ellen, love that
man as my own existence, but cannot pur-
chase happiness at so great cost"
While they are discussing the subject, wo
deem il no moro than justice to our readers, to
give short synopsis of the persons and histo
ry of the characters already introduced