The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-10-24
ONLY, NEAR ONAScocK

Accomac County, Va, Oct. 5, 1855.
Gentlemen: On my return home. after
an absence Of some days, found yours of
the 10th ult, respectfully inviting me TO
deliver one Of the lectures Of the course
on Slavery, at re uple, in the city of Bos-
ton, on Tuesday evening, January 10Th,
1855; or if that time will not sui, INV
engagements, you request that | will
mention Mt once wha. Thursday evening,
between the middle o! December and the
middle of March next, will best aecommo-
,latc me-"
Now, gentleman, 7 desiro to pay YOU due
respect, yet you compel me TO be very plain
with yon, and To say that your request,
in every sense, is insulting and offensive
To me. What subject Of slavery have
yon initiated" lectures upo,g cannot
conceal it from myselfthat you have un.
dcraken IN Boston, to discuss and 10
dee'de ,chefher my prope,ty,in Virg;nia
ought to remain mine or not and whether
il shall be allowed the protection of laws.
federal and State, wherever Il may he .ar.
ried or may escape in the United State:
or whether j; shall be DESTROYED by n
higher law than constitutions and state.
lcsi
Who are you, TO assume thus such a
jurisdiction over subject SO delicate and
',lseady fixei in lis relations by solemn
compact between the States, and by States
which arc sovereign? | will not obey your
summons nor recognizes your jurisdiction.
You have no authority and no justification
Tor tlas calling me to account ut the bar
OF yow tribunal, and for thus arraigning
an institution established 10y laws which,
do not roach you and which you cannot
reach, by calling on me TO defend il.
You send mo card to indicate the
character Of the lecturers. It reads:
admit the bearer and lady to the In
dependent Lectures on Slavery. Lecture
committee, S. G. Howe, r. Gilbert, George
+. Williams, Heney r. Parker, w. Wash.
burn, B. B: Mussey, w. B. Spooner, Jas.
w. Stone"
II is endorsed:
Lectures Mt the fremont Temple, ,Bos-
ton, ls54.5. November %, Hon. Charles
Summer, Rev. John Pierponi, Poem. De.
eember z, Hon. Salmon p. Chase, Of Ohio.
December IL, Hon. Anson Burlinpamc,
December 81, Windell PhiIlips, Esq. De-
cember %, Cassius III. Clay, Esa., Ken
tacky, January 4, Hon. Horace Greely.
January IL, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher.
January25, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Eso.
February 8. Hon. Nathaniel p. Banks Jr.
February %, Hon. Samuel Houston, of
Texas, March J, Hon. David Wilmot, of
Pennsylvania. March 8, Hon. Charles
w. Upham." All HonVrabIes and Sauires.
except those who are Reverends! The
card does verify indicate their characters
by simply naming them. And your letter.
gentlemen, is franked, by &c. Summer,
U. s. s." With these characteristics, |
am at no loss TO understand Won and your
purposes.
You say, during the next season, a
larger number of gentlemen from the
South will DO invited" DC, DC. repre,
i, II any others can be found in the slave
holding States TO accept your invitation.
You plead the example Of Gen. Houston.
IL Is the last would follow. have no
doubt that you accorded very respectful
attention TO him last winter, and were
very gratefel for his services 10 your cause.
You offer zone hundred and CIV dollars
to be paid TO the lecturer, he bearing his
own expenses" Let me tell You thai
fremont Temple cannot hold wealth
enough 10 purchase ono word ofdiscussion
from me there whether mine, here, shall
De mine or not; but am ready 10
volunteer, without money and without
price, to suppress any iusurrection, and
repel any Invasion which threatens or
endangen the State rights Of Virginia. or
my individual rights under The laws and
constitutions OF my country OF the sacred
Union, which bind slave States aid free
together in ons bond Of -Nafioaai eoatsa.
sracy, Gad in ssparass 1onds AZ Iadepsnd.
est Sogersigatissf
In short gentlemen. I VIII sot deliver
one Of the l<nllsr6a - tka eo.,r.a -. .i..1. =