The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-11-12
Some Gorrtspun0ents.
LETTER FROM REV. AMOS GERRY
BEMAN.
N UNI B E R J
BANGOR, Me-, 1859.

BANGOR, Me-, 1859.
Mr.. EDITOR: Justice requires that we
should say few words of this place. We
were introduced to several friends of our
people by our kind friend, Mr.. James f.
Murry, and had meeting in behalf of the
American Missionary Association on Sab
bath evening Those who took part in it
were true and earnest friends of the col
ored man the whole world over.
During our visit here, we have called on
most of our people. Their number is
small, but all, we believe, are industrious
and temperate, and for the most part, live
in their own houses. This is a proof of
the industry and integrity of the individu-
al. His home, "be it ever so humble" is
not the gift of ancestors, nor the result of
successful speculation, but of hard and
honest toll, amid thousand discourage
ments.
One of the most interesting men of our
people is Mr.. Henry Van Meter. He
was born a slave in the Old Dominion,
sold, when a small boy, into Kentucky,
from where he pioneered his way, nearly
70 years ago, on the underground railroad.
He is at this time nearly 100 years old,
vet he retains to remarkable degree all
the faculties of his mind He describes
the bitter trials of bis early life, and the
sad parting with his father, in manner
which shows that Slavery is a bitter and
cruel thing-"the sum of all villainies."
The New York Observer should lecture
him, for he made use of one of his mast
er's horses to effect his escape, and after
wards gave the animal bis freedom, to re-
turn and report to his master the ''French
leave" which "the chattel" had taken, when,
as the Lucas sing, "the moon had gone
away"
We addressed large Sunday School
on the contrast between the free and slave
children of this land. From their appear
ance it would seem to be an easy matter
to train them, and all the children, in the
spirit of liberty for all the captives, if al
their teachers were faithful to them and
to the slave.
There is great willingness to hear
about the slave, or the free colored people.
All profess to hate oppression. Among
the most earnest and eloquent in this place
is the Rev. A. Battles, of the Universalist
Church He is an Abolitionist Of the old
School, and reader of the LiberatOr.
Indeed wherever that paper is taken in a
family you may be- sure they are Adolf
tionists-that they are converted to the
5o-1--I-n ~vuuUn IUr the CuIUreu man In
this land, that they desire his elevation and
Improvement, and that it affords them much
satisfaction to get hold of facts which prove
the increasing advancement of the colored
people in morals, intelligence and wealth.
How much could be done in this way, for
our elevation, and for the redemption of
the slavel Let all our yonng men consid-
er this, and throw away their cigars and
clash away" the intoxicating bowl, forsake
the gambling board, and in good earnest
strive to lay up money for a "wet day" and
for all the noble purposes of human de-
velopment and advancement
We have seen much here to encourage
us. The spirit of hope and improvement
is burning brightly in the minds of most
of our people here. They look over the
field with an intelligent eye. Just in pro-
portion to their intelligence, here as every
where, they seek for those papers devoted
to our cause, and welcome them to their
families; and what is written is read and
In this, Mr.. Editor, you are
doing a noble work, and your labors are
just in proportion as they be-
come known. Go bravely on, my dear
sir The true, the noble, and the gener-
Gus, will stand by you and sustain you.
Before the close of this year may your list
of subscribers, to both the weekly" and
the monthly" increase thousand fold,
and "may your shadow never be less p
A. 6. B.