The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-01-12

the minds of her children, as to whether
they shall allow their servants to grow
round them in ignorance, as the laws de-
mand, or ''obey God rather than man, :"
teach them to 'tsearch the Scriptures. I"
We have reason to know that some are
teaching their slaves in secret, whose
sole protection from their own State is
that their slaves cannot testify against
them And there must be, in the nature
of things. many who are constantly op-
pressed with the fact that we are faithless
enoughin not improving our own talents,
without consciousness Of our uniting
to bury the talent of our helpless fellow
creatures, whose elevation God has con-
hded to US.
Your memorialists have forborne to
place their appeal on the. lower grounds
of interest; for it would be charging our
fellow-citizens with ignoble timidity to
suppose them afraid to do right; and We
believe that they will acknowledge that
honesty, even in the old Roman sense
embracing all that is right toward God
and mans the best policy; and that in
being true to the higher relations of life,
we are truest to ourselves, our families,
and our State. But there is nothing that
the history Of this race has made more
manifest to our minds, than that what
ever is to be apprehended from them is
to be feared from their being neglected,
not from their being cared for; from
having their natural and domestic affec-
tions outraged and bEunted, not from
their inteneration and protection; from
their ignorance, not their intelligence.
Your memorialists would furthermore
submit that they will yield tonone in love
of the State, and reference for her histo-
ry and noble sons. They know no better
way to testify that love, than by asking
these reforms and they would be author
lied by their writings and remains, in at
taching to this petition the names OF those
who have in times past loved Virginia
best, and given her renown over the
world.
Their sympathies and interests being
identified with their State, they unite in
rejecting any foreign interference with
this subject, by any Government, State
or Federal. But above all, they would
seorn the idea as unworthy, that anoth-
er's folly should be our wisdom, and that
anything said or agitated abroad should
influence US to base antagoniSm, which
should leave our duty to this race un-
performed.
Your memorialists rejoice to see indi-
cations in the South that shows how the
sense is becoming felt of the great re-
sponsibility she has assumed in rejecting
all interference from without with the
temporal and spiritual well-being of this
race. On us, and US only, fall the care
and responsibility of their joys and griefs
their elevation or degradation. In
Louisiana, the laws prohibit the separa-
tion of parents and young children, aud
the same policy has been engaging legis-
lative attention IN Georgia aud Alabama
In South Carolina, such notifications OF
the code on slavery. as We have called to
your attention, have been advocated by
many able writer's and jurists-among
whom we may mention DIR. Fuller, a
large STAKEHOLDER and able minister, and
Judge O'Neal. In Maryland, free color
ed persons have their own schools, and
with the most encouraging results. In
Louisiana, their schools are not only per-
mitted, but assisted by money from pub
lie funds.
Shall Virginia be the last to feel this
movement, and, showing her respect for
the liberty of conscience which our faith
ers secured us. no longer risk the general
respect for her policy by the iuhumanity
of a few laws and usages
All of which is respectfully submitted.