St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-11-11

sssssss
Letter TO the Rev. Calhoun.
| St. Cloud, Oct. 3lst, 1858.
MIR. CALHOUN: #s. /. .%
Rev. Sir. e.. "
"a q have received
no answer to the letter addressed to you
some five or six weeks ago, asking inform
alton about the woman and child you took
from this place last summer; and I learn
through Mr.. Gorton that you object to
any public correspondence on the subject
You inform him that had I written you a
private note you could and would have gi-
ven such explanation as would have salts
fed me, that you had not made any dispo-
sition Of the missing persons which is in
consistent with your anti-slavery profess
ions.
am truly gladyou have such explanation
to give; and sorry if have made any mis-
take in the manner Of asking for it; but
permit me to say to you, My Dear Sir,
that think you misapprehend the nature
of the case. know that shareholders as a
class, have constitutional antipathy to
printers ink, in all matters connected with
their cherished institutions; and had I
known you as voluntarily belonging to
that class, I should not have expected
public answer; but remember, My Dear
Sir, that I know you only as Christian
philanthropist, fully aware Of the sin and
sorrow Of trafcing in the souls for whom
Christ died; one who was ]aboring at great
sacrifice, to confer the boon of Freedom
upon the unhappy people over whom un-
just and oppressive enactments had given
you unlimited authority.
AS stakeholder you never could have
sustained that relation to me which makes
it an imperative duty on my part, to in
quire about the fate of this woman and
her child; as an Anti-Slavery Christian,
and a gentleman Of retiring habits, it was
natural to suppose you would appreciate
any earnest call to rid yourself of the
odious suspicion of trafcing Sin slaves and
souls of men" like Babylon the accused of
God.
But setting aside all considerations of
this kind, it appears to me, Ny Dear Sir,
that you underestimate the Importance
Of this matter or you would not look up.
on it as matter for private correspondence.
Who are you and l that qoe should have a
right to get into dark corner and decide
the facts, or the right, or the wrong of de-
priving any other human being of his Ii
berty?
Who made me Supreme Judge Of the
rights Of the people Of Minnesota? True,
[ have a personal interest III knowing the
facts that I may free myself from the sin
of fellowship in capital crime, if it has
been committed; but others have like in
terest in common with myself; while every
protesting christian, every inhabitant Of
Minnesota is in duty bound to inquire in
to this matter. IF this child, born on our
soil, has been taken and sold into slavery,
it is question for the Supreme Court of
the State to decide whether it is case o
kidnapping; and penal ofence..againstthe
laws of our State.
/ hope therefore, Ny Dear Sir, that you
will reconsider your decision about answer
ing publicly; and as you have informed
Mir. Gorton that you can satisfactorily ex-
plain the circumstances about which II
have enqcired, let me beg of you to give
that explanation, if not through my COL
umns, which I place at your service; and
IN which | pledge you the most respectful
consideration, then, in some other way by
which it shall reach the public ear or eye.
Believe me, that not only in this COM
munity, where you are known and much |
honored and beloved; but in MANY other
parts Of the country your answer is await
ed with deep interest.
Respectfully your Friend and Fellow
Laaorer for the Redemption of the world
from sin and darkness.
JANE G. SWIssHELM,