Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-01
LETTER FROM MR.. SUMNER.
To the Editors Of Tie Boston Post:
HANCOCK STREET, Nov. 16. Is

HANCOCK STREET, Nov. 16, 1855.
sIRs-In your paper of yesterday, you are pleas
cd to say, When Charles Sumner was at the South.
he was silky as possible upon the subject of slave,
ry,' and you then proceed in confirmation of your
own words, to quote an article from q Louisville
paper, to this effect:
AT Lexington he first became acquainted with
slavery, and such an effect did its 'horrors" have
upon him, that he could not resist acknowledging
to gentlemen of our acquaintance how egregiOusly
he had heretofore been mistaken. 1t happered.
fortunately, that he passed the Sabbath in Licking.
ton, and attended the African Baptist Church. The
sight of so many well-dressed and we'll behaved
slave opened his eyes. When he saw that they
Yorshipped without molestation or surveillance, he
was further astonishcd, and, when he studied their
.demeanOr and countenances, all Indicative of ner.
feet happiness and contentment. he could bat con.
fess that his previous belief concerning slavery
had been based upon information wholly incorrect.
n y = In our city (Louisyillc) Mr.. Sumner receiv-
ed the hospitable attention of several of our citi-
zens. r \ 4 While here, his expressions concern
ing slavery were in terms of agreeable surprise at
the state Of affairs
Now. sirs, to this detailed sentiment / desire to
make a denial, both general and particular. |
deny it as a whole, and | deny it in all in its de-
tails.
Never anywhere in the slave States. or out of
them, in public or in private, have ! expressed
opinions on slavery inconsistent with those | have
uttered from my seat in the Senate or at home in
Massachusetts,.
l did not pass the Sabbath in Lexington l nev-
err attended the African Baptist Church there; |
never saw its 'well-dressed and we'll behaved slaves
Il never studied their demeanor and conntenan-
ces, all indicative Of perfect happiness and content
and | never made any confession that my 'previ-
Gus belief concerning slavery had been based upon
information wholly Incorrect This whole story
is baseeless as a dream.
1t is true that ] was at Lexington but l saw
nothing there calculated to mitigate my previous
aversion to slavery nor did | ever acknowledge to
anybody that l had been mistaken 'egregiously,
or otherwise.
1t is true also that I was at Louisville for a
single day, cheered by pleasant hospitality but ]
had n, occasion to express any opinions on slave.
ry. If l manifested an agreeable surprise al
anything, it was at the thoroughbred cattle, the
woodlawn pastures and blue grass, which are the
pride Of Kentucky. There was a Surprise of O
different character which ] could not fail to mani
fest, at another place, when | witnessed the dis.
gushing sale Of human beings on the steps of a
courthouse and the honorable Kentuckian who
was with ne cannot have forgotten the pain and
indignation which | was unable to repress.
1t is not my habit to notice assaults on my
opinions or public course, but / am unwilling thaI
gross misstatements of facts, like those you have
circulated, should pass without a pointblanl
contradiction.
am, Sirs, yous obedient servant.
CHARLES SUMNER.