The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-11-19
1ums Corresponbsnte.
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. IA, 1859.


century, Benjamin Banneker, was celebrat-
ed by the Banneker Institute on Tuesday
evening last, at Central Hall, with appro-
pirate ceremonies, consisting of addresses
and vocal and instrumental music. The
opening address was made by Mr.. Parker
L. Smith, the President of the Institute,
which was very brief 1t embraced two or
three points-one in relation to the dissem-
ination of literature among the colored
people generally, and another concerning
the Institute and its mission. Mr.. Jacob
G. White, Jr., followed, in few remarks,
after which he read the correspondence be-
tween Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin
Banneker. Mr.. George E. Stephens then
delivered the anniversary address, very
carefully prepared essay, touching upon
slavery, colonization, and American poll
tics and religion Miss Victoria A. Moore,
who had kindly volunteered her services
to enliven the occasion with music from
the piano-forte, sung a song to the delight
of the audience. Mr. Jesse Z. Glasgow,
Jr., succeeded this performance in an lad
dress of about fifteen minutes in length.
Mr.. Glasgow was very happy in his re-
marks, both as to style and delivery. The
exercises were concluded by the perform
ance of very difficult piece on the piano
forte by Master Hazard, boy of eleven
years old 1 should pronounce him pro-
Dizzy in music. The surprise was only
equalled by the delight of the audience at
the exhibition of such rare abilities in one
so Young. Messrs Hamilton A. Moore
and VIM. Fl. Ninton contributed also to
the evenings exercises by the performance
of several well-selected airs upon their mu-
steal instruments. The hall was crowded
almost to suffocation, and some who failed
to gain admission left and went home. l
hope that this large turnout is an indica-
ton of increasing interest on the part of
the lecture-goers in the courses which are
to be delivered at the hall during the lee
ture season, and not a mere idle curiosity
to see what is going on. The lectures and
debates are intended to benefit the public,
and persons far advanced in literary at
tainments may sometimes be benefited by
attending them. Speaking of these lee
lures, / last week inadvertently stated that
the course of lectures before the Banneker
Institute would be opened on the 10Th
inst; but by reference to the printed bills
it will be seen that different arrangement
has been entered into.
If the crisis in the affairs of American
politics has not arrived already, l think it
is close at hand-evenat our doors-for
never before was there time which de-
manded of us so much united effort and
untiring zeal. Whatever may be our opin-
ions respecting Capt. John Brown and his
confederates, one thing is certain-the
American nation is stepped in the iniquity
of traficing in human flesh to that degree
that the least sign of repentance does not
appear among the signs of the times. God
deals with nations as he deals with indi-
viduals, and when either are intent upon
running a race of folly and wickedness,
he leaves them to work out their own de-
struction. l have been struck with extra
ordinary force by the accounts which reach
us from the South concerning the panic
which has been caused by the outbreak at
Harper's Ferry, as exhibiting spirit of
malevolence against the free colored peo-
pie of the United States. State after State
enacts oppressive laws, and while yet trem-
bling under the terrible fright occasioned
by the Brown invasion but of yesterday,
the lesson which it should impart is lost
sight of, and the awful doom that awaits
slavery seems not to be thought of. The
scriptures of the Old Testament furnish US
with many examples of Gods judgments
upon nations for crimes less black and dam
ming than the sin of American slavery. If
the slaughter of the Midianites by the
children of Israel for. their abominable
practices was justifable in the sight of
merciful God, how much more justifiable
would be the fulfllment of prophecies con-
corning the bloody termination of slavery
in this country. Humane and generous
hearted men at all times during the exist
ence of this federal Republic have been
averse to the system of oppression peculiar
to this country, and not unfrequently have
far-seeing statesmen and politicians seen in
the future an impending crisis-a termina-
ton to the viIest system that now disgrace
es modern civilization. 1t should be the
earnest desire and prayer OF every lover
of Justice that the will of God should be