The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-07
Letter from Rev. DR.. Fuller on the Effect
OF Slavery Agitation ON the Condition of
Slaves.

| SiaveS.
| From the Boston Courier.
| THE Rev DIR. Fuller of Baltimore having
| expressed his appreciation of the speech Of Mr.
Everett, that gentleman, in reply, requested
some information from DIR. F., as TO the general
effect, on the condition Of slaves of the apita-
| carried on for some years past. The suboined
answer to this inquiry addressed TO Mr. T. .
was sent by DIR. Fuller through a common
| friend by whom we have been permitted to
| publish it'll
To tic HonoraBle Ed,card Ersret:
MY Dear Sir Perhaps too much importance
| has been attached to that insane outbreak of
tanaticism at Harper's Ferry; but the sympa-
Thy with such deed of violence and blood,
| which has been mantes ted at the North--can-
any patriot. any good man, observe this with
| out amaZement and alarm know the friends
| OF our common country are staken. when
they complain that the grand Union demon
| strations IN Boston, and other cities, have not
| been duly appreciated here and elsewhere
| They have giaddened all true American hearts;
they have brought tears to many eyes; and
caused mutitudes TO say, "Weil DONE good
| and faithful servants"
| Siill, while members are elec ted to Congress.
| who openly ayow their hostility to the South
| 1t is Idle to expect too much confidence in any
| assurances of fraternal affection proclaimed
| in popular assemblies, no matter with what
| sincerity and eut usiasm. | read your noble
address with delight. 1 looked at that touch.
| ing picture, "Th- Last Days OF Webs ter,'' and
| exclaimed 80, for one note of that clarion
| voice now!" But the South could wish to
| hear what the Massachusetts Senators and
Represen ,atives say. Would they avow these
patriotic sentiments! Could they speak rs
you did, without forfeiting their places
Here, in this city, and over this land, North
and South, l fear we are feeling-and will ex-
| perience still more mournfuiiy-the wisdom
| of this prophetic warning once uttered by Mr..
| Burke: when bad men combine good men
| must associate, else they will fall one by one,
| m unpittied sacrifice in a contemplate strug-
gle
| The question you propose can ans wer con-
| fdently-tor IA leaving the bar and entering
| the mi nistry, had intended to devote myself
| entirely to The instruction OF the slaves in
| South Carolina. For some time I confined
| myself to that mission, aud l found every
| where among masters a prompt and active CO.
operation. True, thore were laws forbidding
| the negroes to assemble without a certain
| number OF white persons; but l violated thai
| law most industriously, meeting thousands
| from different plantations aud preaching to
| them. This WOuid not be allowed now. An
| other statute, toTbl0d:ng any one to teach the
negroes TO read, WAS treated with as little re-
| gard. In almost every fam ly servan ts learned
| to read-sUme Of them III my own household,
| not only reading but writing much better
| hand than their master. Indeed, such was the
| general prejudice against this latter enact
| ment that, in an address on the religious in
| >truction OF slaves, prepared at the request of
| The South Carolina Agricultural Society. |
| strongly urged its repeal. Just about that
| lime an attempt was made to abuse the mali
| by circulating ncendary works, and l was
|
| the address-the President of the Society.
| Governor Seabrook, u most benevolent gen
| t!elnan, producing these pamphlets and in-
| sistipg that the law was necessary for the pro-
| tee ion of the slaves themselves.
| In June, lSl5, there assembled in Charleston
| body OF men, representing almost all the
| wisdom and wealth of South Carolina. There
| were present, also delegates from Georgia
| and. l believe, from other States. 1t was a
| meeting of the Association for the improve
| ment, moral and religious of the slave popu-
| iution. The venerable Judge Huger presided
| Having been appOin ted 10 address that large
and no BILE audience, did not hesitate TO speak
| my whole mind; appealing TO masters to imi-
! tate the Antonnes and other magnanmous
| Roman EmperUrs, TO become the guardians OF
| their slaves, To have laws enacted, protecting
them in their relations as husb bands and wives
| aud parents TO recognize the rights which ;ie
| Gospel asserts for servants as we'll us mas ters
| In a word, pressed upon them the solemn
| obligations which their power over these hui
! man beings imposed upon them--Obiigations
| only the more sacred, because their power was
| SO irresponsible.
| That august assembly not only honored me
| with their attention, but expressed their ap-
| proval. the presiding officer onCurring most
| emphatically in the views submitted.
l need scarcely tell you that no such address
| would be garded as wise or prudent at this
| time. II is not that masters are less engaged
| III seeking 10 promote the moral and religious
| v ll-being of heir servants; but measures
| which once could have beer adopted most BEN
| eficiaIiy. wOuid now only expose master aud
| servant to the baneful influence OF tanatical
! intermeddlinr
| d0es not recognize hatred, abuse, violence and
| blood, rs the means by which good Is 20 be
| done. The Gospel is 4 system Of love. 1t as
| sails no established social relations but 1t in
| fuses love into hearts of those who are bound
| together, and thus unIies them In Affection
| If the Gospel is to emancipate slaves, it Will
be, notify insurrection aud massacre, but by a
| love which will melt OF their bonds. Let the
| spirit OF the New TeS Stament triumph, and all
| wrath and anger and bitterness Will cease
| The South and the North Will harmoniously
consult to the best in tereSts of the Africans
| now III our midst; and masters Will seek to
promote the best welfare of those who have
| been committed to their care.
| think l speak accurately when say that
hitherto every sacrifice for the emancipation
| of slaves has been made by Southern men aud
| many hupdred thousands OF dollars have been
| expended in such li6erations. The North has
| wasted large sums for abolition books and lee
| lures for addresses calculated TO infiane the
| isnagnations of women and children, and TO
| mlslead multitudes of men-moSt excellent
| aud pious-but utterly ignorant as to the con-
| dition of 2lings at the South. We now find,
| INDEED, that money has been contribu ted even
| for the purchaser Of deadly weapons 10 be en-
| pioyed against the SOUTH and to eullst the
| most ferJcous passions in secret crusades,
| compared with which an open invasion by
| foreign enemies would be q blessing. l believe,
| however, that not one cent has yet been given
| TO set on foot-or even TO encourage when pro-
| posed-any plausible enterprise for the benefit
| of the slave.
In the providence of G Cd some Of these peo-
| pie have been placed under my care. NJ y
| sponsibilities have pressed heavily upon me;
| nor have failed to seek from God, and from
| the wisdom OF the wisest men, knowledge of
| my duty to them. l am no politician, seeking
| To make capital out of This dangerous subject.
| am a Christian, seeking to obey God IN all
| things, and willing TO make great sacrifices, to
| reduce myself and family TO comparative pow
| erty, ii / could improve their condition. !
| have twice made overturps To men OF influence
| and veal h at the Nor,h-once publicly. in h
| correspondence with DIR. Waylaud, and once
| more pryately-and have, in all sincerity,
| invited one, or TWO, or fifty, to manifest will
| lingness TO part with even p:ltance of their
| wealth. and then>to show me what could be
| done to promote the happiness and welfare OF
| these slaves. But not single response haveI
! ever heard whispered.
| While writing the first Of these propositions
there was under my root in Carolina, a yio-
| lent Aboltionist from New England--a man
| of great wealth. i read the letter to him be-
| fore ii WAS sent, and he expressed his as tom
| isbment al my venturlng on such step; but
! neither he nor any other man has intimaled
| Willingness TO part with money, that the ne
| gro might be rescued from what they profess
the South is denounced for not at once lmmo-
lating four Thousand millions of property
| guarante teed 10 them by the Constitution; for
| not at once Abandoning to weeds aud branbles
| millions OF fertile acres; for not breaking up
| their entire social system. and either driving
| their servants from their comfortable homes,
| to become yagabonds in other States, which
will again drive them out OF their borders-or
else harboring in their midst horiles OF discon-
tented, indoient vagrants, utterly unfit for
| freedom, who would certainly be exterminated
unless in mercy they were again reduced to
| servitude. Because They will not do all this;
| will not iniiiet this suicidal wrong upon them
selves, and Try this fatal experiment upon the
| ufS he wi th,,c