The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-03
For the National Era
TO SOUTHERN CHILDREN.
Marietta, Ohio, June IA, 1854.

The gifted zen which has given totilc world
such lively picture of the woes and wrongs CT
tina slave. has likewise drawn the beautiful por-
trait Of two noble and lovely Southern chill
dren; and to this, with one slight exception,
she has drawn no counterpart. 1t is to these
war,n-heerted, affsctionate. generous little boys
and girls that would row address few ear
nest, loving words The desire TO do 20 was
occasioned. recently, by reading in an Old NUM-
Der of Merry's Museum letter purporting 20
have been written by little girl living amorg
the mountains of Virginia, and exulting in the
possession of Few piano. Says the, joyous,
sunny-hearted child, "The piano--my piano
has come. II il mine-not merely &c to cell
mine, but Iraiue sure enough. Father glys that
if he should break, it could not be teken for
6ebt.1 While reading this, the Thought pain
fully REQUIRED: but men and womsn may.
Probably every child who reads this paper
knows what i. is to rejoice in the possession of
something. and oan enter into the feelings of
this little girl. Your opening years are passed
amid scenes of luxury and indulgercc, and
hope points to sill brighter future, When
cmencipated even from the gentle control of
loving parents, you win be free to follow tho
dictates of your matured judgment. You have
become 80 accustomed to the enjoyment of
these blessings as to consider them matter
of course; and | fear that custom has also
blinded your eyes to the evil and wrong of
Withholding them from others equally entitled
to share them with yourselves. Bat | would
not now appeal 30 much to a sense of justice
and conscientious regard to right, Though I
hope my young readers are not insensible to
the claims of these,) as to those warm, gushing
sympathies which belong peculiarly to child
hood.
Imagine all the pleasant prospects that en-
liven the future removed, and yourself reduced
to the condition OF the little cable companion
that attends at your command. You hope for
happiness and prosperity because you intend to
uee the means which Providence pisces within
YOUR reach so as to secure this resalt. Now,
suppose that you had not, and kness that you
never could have, the slightest coftfol over
your own destiny; that you were helpless in
the hands of man who called you biz proper
ty that you we're exposed to oil t6s vicissi-
tudes which attend the relations Of property
Property, especially in this busy, busting, and
rapidly growing country, is continually chang
ing hands; and when it happens to consist Of
living, thinking feeling creatures who have,
and have right to have, equally with our
selves, choice where to live, with whom to be
associated, and how to employ their pbysica!
and mental endowments, the consequence is
such that it cannot be contemplated without
horror. II is said that q word to the wise is
sufficient y and it requires not the wisdom of
cages but the simplicity of little children TO see
that we have no right forcibly TO hold another
in situation which we would sooner yield up
life than take for ourselves. You may think
that this is a subject over which 700 have very
little control. Bot, in your treatment Of those
whom Providence has placed in your power,
you can be % kind, gentle, and considerate ss
little Eva; and Ike George you can firmly re-
solve, that when the rolling years shall bring
YOU to the responsibilities of manhood, you viii
perpetrate none Of these wrongs, and that you
Will do all in your power to free your land
from this terrible curse. win you do lit
CARRIE,
br. Graham, lase Secretary Of the Navy, is
TO be q candidate for United States Senator,
from North Caroline, in place Of Mr.. Badger.