Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-01-26

We appeal to you. as children oil a
common Father, and believers in a
crucifed Redcemer To-day we arc
exiles, driven from the homes oi our
childhood. the scenes of our youth. and
the burial places of our friends. We
are exilcs; not that our hands have
been stained with guilt, or our lives
accused of crime. Our fault, in land
Of Bibles and Churches. of baptis,ns
and prayers. is, that in our veins flows
the blood of an outcast race; race
oppressed by power, and prescribed
by prejudice: race cradled in wrong.
and nurtured in oppression.
In the very depth of the winter. we
have left genial climate of sunny
skies. TO be homeless strangers in the
regions of the icy North. Some OF
the exiles have lett children, who were
very dear; but to stay with them. was
TO involve ourselves in n Lifetime OF
slavery. Some left dear companions:
they were enslaved, and we had no
other alternative than slavery or exile.
We were weak; our oppressors were
strong. We were feeble, scattered.
people; they. being powerful, placed
before us slavery or banishment. We
chose the latter. Poverty, trials, and
all the cares incident to life offIeedom.
are better, far better than slavery.
Fiom this terrible injustice. we
appeal to the moral sentiment Of the
world. We turn to the free North; ;
bat even here oppression tracks our
steps. Indiana shuts her doors upon
us. Illinois denies us admission to
her prairie homes. Oregon refuses US
an abiding place for the soles of our
weary feet. And even Minnesota has
our exclusion under consideration
In Ohio we found kind hearts; hospi-
tality opened her doors; generous
hands reached ont warm and hearty
welcome. For this, may the God of
the iatherleSs ever defend and bless
them.
And now, Christians, we appeal to
YOU, as heirs of the same heritage, and
children of the same Father, to protest
against this gross and inhuman out
rage. which has been committed
beneath the wing of the American
EAGLE, and in the shadow of the
American Church. We ask You by
the love, the pity, and the mercy. III
the religion OF Jesus Christ. that you
will raise your voices and protest
against this sin.
Editors of newspapers. formers of
public opinion, conductors of intelli-
gcnce and thought; we entreat you TO
insert this appeal in your papers and
unite your voices against this outrage
which di>graces our land, and holds it
up to shame before the nations of the
earth We entreat you to move a
wave of influence, which will widen
and spread through all the earth; and
roll back and wash away this stain.
Christian mothers. by our plundered
cradles and child bereft hearts, we
appeal to you, and ask your protest.
Christian fathers. by all the sacred
associations that cluster around the
name, father, we appeal to you. to
swell the tide of Indignation, against
our shameful wrongs.
We appeal to the church of Christ
among all nations, kindreds, tongues.
and people to protest against the
inhumanity that has driven us from
our homes and our kindred.
Members of all political parties, we
ask yosr protest. In the name of a
common humanity, against this cruel
act of despotism.
Christian Ministers, we appeal to
you, in the name of Him. who came
ito preach good tidings to the meek,
to bind up the brokenhearted; to
proclaim liberty to the captive; and
the opening of the prison to them that
are bound" to lay before your congre-
cations, the injnstice done us; and the
wickedness of system that tramrles
on the feeble, and crushes out the
rights Of the helpless.
And se appeal to the God of the
fatherless, and the Judge of the widow.
that He will remember His word.
.Inasmuch as We have done it to one
of the least of these. We have done it
unto me-" that he will move the hearts
iof His children everywhere to mite
their testimony against this unequalled
iniquity that writes property on
man; that, ohattelizes the immortal
mind: and makes merchandise of the
deathIess soul. We appeal to Him
who does not PERM, a sparrow 10 fail
to the ground unnoticed, To plead the
cause of the poor and needy, and set
him at rest from him that puileth at