The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-14
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXISTENCE
OF SLAVERY PLAN OF EMANCIPATION.

cause, from conviction of its being the duty
of every protested Christian to use every Chris
tian exertion for the abolition of Slavery.
have been watching the movements anc
labors of the Anti-Slavery organizations fol-
some years past, hoping, from their agitatine
the subject, and arousing the country or the
citizens thereof, to an examination of it, thai
the practice of one portion of mankind, sub
jecting another portion of them to a state o.
unconditional servitude, and chattelizing them
with the brute creation, would convince and
enable them to perceive that said practice was
Anti-Republican and Anti Christian; conse
quently, at variance with the happiness of the
brotherhood of the human family, and induce
them to labor consistently for the restoration Of
the rights and privileges thus ruthlessly torn
from them.
The ground taken by the AntiSlavery or
CARNATIONS of the present day, that it is a sin
for man, or set of men, to enslave their fellow
men, and that immediate emancipation is a
duty they owe God, and those held in bongage,
as well as themselves, grant is a truth almost
universally admitted in theory, though not in
practice Before we can successfully apply a
cause of said evil, whatever its character may
be, to enable us to apply the remedy or RENE
dies best calculated to meet the case. Let us
examine the subject, and see whether the
above-named organizations are themselves APP
plying the acknowledged remedies for the cure
of the sinful practice they insist upon those
engaged in it making use of. Now, fellow-la-
borers come, let us reason together in the fell
lowship of Christian love, to see whether you
are practicing the doctrines of immediate, I'M
conditional emancipation you so strenuously
and Justly urge and insist upon. the stakeholder
doing.
In this examination, the first thing to be
settled is, who are the Shareholders? | am
aware that it is generally considered that those
are exclusively so, who have the slaves in their
possession. | think can demonstrate, to the
satisfaction of every free, candid, inquiring
mind, that those who give the incentive are
participants in the crime. The common law
admits the truth Of this principle, wherein it
considers the receiver of stolen goods equally
guilty with the thief. 1t must be evident to
every unbiased, rejecting mind, that all
persons who participate in carrying on the
machinery of our Government, aid and abet in
holding their felow-men in bondage inasmuch
as they bind and obligate themselves to assist
III bldNcS, III Case Vi a G6Dcl-
lion also, to aid in returning them to claim
ants, when endeavoring to regain their inalien-
able rights. 1t might also be proven, if neces-
sary, that we aid and abet them in CONNER
cial and religious point of view. Such an
argument is unnecessary, if we can satisfacto-
rily prove that pecuniarily we give the essen
tial and only sustaining aid, which, if we were
to withdraw, would undermine the whole fabric
built upon said foundation.
/ take it for granted, that we are all willing
to acknowledge that if there were no consumers
but the master, for the products of the labor
of his slaves, that he would be under the me-
cessity of almost Immediately manumitting a
very large portion of them, retaining no more
than was requisite to perform the duties of bis
household, and to supply his wants from his
farm. If this be a correct view of the subject
1t follows, that the consumers of the products
of the labor Of the slaves are as essentially the
holders of slaves as those who are their reputed
owners, and equally responsible for all the evils
flowing from the Anti Christian system of Sla-
very. Such being the case. | insist upon ii
that the Anti-Slavery organizations, or mem
bers thereof to act consistently in carrying out
their doctrines of immediate and unconditional
emancipation, are bound to withdraw their
support, politically, religiously, commercially,
and, last, though not least, pecuniarily, by alb
staining from the use of the products of the labor
ofthe enslaved. lfthey were thus to live out their
theory, their consistency would have power
full influence in demonstrating their sincerity
for the freedom of the slave and the happiness
of the whole human family. SO much for the
consideration of those who favor immediate
and unconditional emancipation.
The above views, trust, are in accordance
..~fH
the Christian religion we profess to venerate
and to have embraced.
In the next place, let us consider the duty Of
all and each one who profess to believe in the
sublime and holy doctrines of the blessed Je
sus, and those of our republican form of Govern.
ment; the first of which requires us to "Love our
neighbors as ourselves, and to do unto others as
we would have others do unto u.s." the second
is based upon the declaration that "All men
are born free and equal, and endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights, among
which are those of lite liberty, and the pur.
suit of happiness" We take it for granted
those doctrines are true, until their falsities are
demonstrated, which i contend cannot be sue.
cessiully done. On the other hand, believe
they can be clearly demonstrated, by actual
living experience, to be true, from their perfect
adaptedness to the wants of man. That is-a
man, BIZ analysing his constitution and the
laws of his being, physically and morally, will
be enabled to discover how perfectly they are
adapted to his wants and condition; and by
living in accordance with them, he will come
into the enjoyment of the highest degree OF
happiness he is capable of realizing, which is
peace with the God of love and truth. and
mankind.
1t is selfevident truth, that our forefathers
in framing and adopting the Constitutions OF
the Federal and State Governments, departed
from the principles they protested to be gov
erned by, both religiously and politically. The
question that now arises to every sincere and
inquiring mind, as to the course the Govern
ment ought to pursue to wipe the foul blot Of
Slavery from the escutcheon of the Nation
| think may be truthfuly and. satisfactorily
answered, by saying, inasmuch as every citizen
of the United States Of America is virtually q
STAKEHOLDER, and implicated in the sin thereof
1t is his duty 10 cease to do evil, and learn tc
do well, by unloosing the heavy burdens, auC
letting the oppressed 60 free. Very true; bu
how can it be accomplished? The only true
and Christian way that l can perceive, is, fo
those who feel the weight of the sin, to endeav
or to arouse others to feel it, and propose tn,
only just and equitable way that presents to IN,
hinu, ioi inc cohSiueratlon Oh ali partleS 10 tn
preparation and continuance of the crime
namely: as it is National crime, the Govern
ment should so amend its Constitution as for
ever thereafter to prohibit Slavery on its soil
first, or at the same time, providing mean,
by which the owners shall receive a fair anc
equitable compensation for the slaves they ma,
hold. / am aware that the Abolitionists, 81
called, object to such course, without
shadow of justice, when the subject comes t.
be critically examined, preferring to continu,
to denounce those whom they in the most eff
cacious manner encourage to deal in the soul
and sinews of their feliow-men, by using tn,
products of the labor Of the enslaved. Other