Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-02-03

john Mitchelfs reply to Henry Ward Beecher, de.
lending hts position as an admirer Of the "peculiar
instituuon," and his infamous desire to be " par
ticeps crimuis = in the accursed traffic. Aud here
wish to state that my object in noticing his letter,
is not from any effect which It possibly have
upon the American people, in altering their views
| upon the great question of emancipation. In my
opinion, FAR they concerned, il will help,
rather than relard its progress. 1t will take the
veil from off the eyes Of those who have been de-
ceiyed by these aspauts for political martyrdom.-
So lar, is well that he has made good hs escape,
| otherwise, the historian Of the 18Th century might
! have been deceived and classed him with the tue
friends of Irish liberty. But wish to place before
lrishmen, for whom his letter was intended, the
| views and opinions Of greater than Mitchell to
demonstrate to them that neither the founders Of
this Republic, Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick
Henry, nor the champions OF Irish liberty, Curran,
GratIan, and O'Connel, ever held any such sen-
ments AS those imputed TO them BY Mr.. Mitchell.
He says in his letter, that &c General Washington,
the father OF hts country, saw crime, and no pee
adiIo in holding slaves, and in making them work
on his farm. Nay, he wished to possess more plan
talions." Now his object in making this assertion,
was to make his countrymen believe, that be was
ony treadng in the footsteps OF the good and great.
But, hark God, these men, though dead, have left
recorded on the page Of history, words 81 stern
buke and denuncidtion OF the whole system OF sla-
very. What say you o y. illusirious dead
whose love OF liberty was not circumscribed within
the marrow limits of selfish ambition, and love of
nutoriety. Let history speak, General Washing.
ton says, in letter TO Lafayette But your lale
purchase Of an estate in the Colony Of Cayenne,
with view Of emancpating, your slaves,s gener.
rous and noble proof Of your humanity. Would TO
God like spirit might difIuse itself generally in
| the minds of the people of this country"
In another letter which he addressed TO Robert
Morris, he says: " hope il will not be conceived
from this letter, that it is my wish to hold the un'
happy people who the subject Of it, in sfavery.
can only say, that there is not man living, who
wishes more sincerely than do, TO see plan
adopted for the abolition Of it," And in another
letter to John F. Mercer, he says; /" never mean,
unless some particular circumstance should compel
me tie II, possess another slave by purchase, be-
ing among my first wishes some plan adopted
by which slavery in this country may be abolished
by law" What say you to this, Mr.. Mitchell? Is
this seeing emo crime in holding slaves % Is this
''wishing TO possess more panlationsF' Nor viii
he are any better from the ilnstrious Jefferson, his
denunciations Of the whole system Of slavery are
written too deep on the page Of his counry's his
tory, to be effaced by anything which Mr.. Mitchell
bring forward. In letter addressed to Mr..
Warvel, of Paris, he says "You know that no
body wishes more ardently TO zee an abolition, not
only of the slave trade, but OF the condition OF sla
very, and certainly nobody will be more willing to
encounter every sacrifice to that object" And in
the same letter, he says "with what execralion
one half the citizens thus TO trample the rights Of
the other, transforms those into despOts, and these
into enemies, destroys the morals olhe one, and the
amor patra of the other" Nothing be
explicit than this, and the man who cannot at
glanne, that Jefferson considered slavery crime,
must be morally blind.
Now, let us hear what the great and good man,
Patrick Henry, says of the crime of slavery. And
here, let me say that the opinion Of such man,
ought TO have great weight, with every lrishman in
this country. 1t will be seen that SO far from sup
posing that the STAKEHOLDER hal any counlenanCe
from the Bible, he believed it was repugnant 10 ev-
cry part of it, and its abolition duty which every
American owed TO the purity Of that religion which
they profess, In a letter addressed to Robert Pleas
sents, he says, ''Ihat in such age, and in such
aouatry, we FIND men protesting religion the most
humane, mild, gentle, and generous, and adopting
principle repugnant 10 humanity as it is inconsis-
tent with the Bible, and destructive to liberty. 1t
is duty which owe to the purity OF our relig-
ion, to show that it is at variance with that law
which warrants slavery Such the sentiments
| OF Washington, Jefferson, ard Patrick Henry, can
Mr. Mitchell find anything here TO assist HIM in hts
voluntary crusade against upwards OF three milipns
| native born Anericansl Certainly not. And this
is but moiry Of their rebuke OF slavery. Nor will
| he fare any better if TO the true champions
OF liberty in his native land. The glowing and fer
| vd appeals Of Curran are known, wide as the Ian
| guage which they were spoken. And Grattan,
hear hiln-7' Liberty, that glorious spark and eman
alton Of Divinity, which fired your ancestors, and
taught them TO feel like Ilampden, that it
| life but the condition Ct the liviugl An Irshman
sympathises in these noble sentiments wherever he
goes, TO whatever quarter of the earth he ournes.
| Alas! noble Grauan! John Mitchell not born,
| else YOU woHld have had to make exception
| And finally let me confront him with lreland's il.
| Iustrious liberator, Daniel O'Connel. "rhe Amer.
! leans, in their conduct towards their slaves, were
traitors to The cause of human liberty, foul detrac-
ors Of the democratic principle which he had cher.
shed throughout his life. In reprobaon Of that
dsgracenl conduct, ibis humble voice had been heard
| across the wide waves OF the Atlantic. Like the
thunder in its strength, had careered against
the breeze, armed with the lightning Of Christian
truth. And oh! but, perhaps it was his pride that
dictated the hope, that some black o COnuel might
rise among his fellow slaves, who would cry,agiIate,
agtae, aglate, till the two and hall millions Of
his fellow tufersea the secret ofther strength"
Again, in his address TO the lrIshmen in America,
he say, "The object Of this address is TO call your
attention 10 the subject Of slavery in America, that
foul blot upon the noble institutions and fair fame OF
your adopted country. Slavery is the most tremen-
dous invasion Of the natural nalIenable rights of
man, and of some Of the nOblest gifts Of God. Sla-
very is sin against God and man." And finally,
in his speech IN Parliament upon the annexation OF
Texas this Union, he said, and l would respec-
fully ask Mr. Mitchell to give it careful considera-
lion before he stocks his plantation, ssWho could
contemplate without horror the cacnlaton,as in the
case Of stocking a farm, what was the necessary
complement of men and women, and when they
would be ready and ripe for the market" freshmen,
such are the noble sentiments of man whose whole
life was spent in noble deeds for the welfare of
his country. Mr. Mitchell desires a plantation well
stocked with human beings. O'Conne's righteous
soul revolted at the thought, and oh! did he but live
to day, his indignant voice would burl across the
Atlantic, the concentrated Indignation Of the peo-
pie, in manner, not at all pleasing TO Mr. Mitchell.
But have done with him. The of liberty is the
cause of God. 1t has met and conquered mightier
foes than him. The little consequence which his
position gave him, he has basey used. he will have
his reward. JOHN H. CoMBE.
WASHINGTON IrEMs.-A correspondent of the