The Lambertville press., 1860-03-07
[FRoM THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE ]
An Appeal
TO CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

In consequence of law, passed by
the Legislature of Arkansas, compel
ling the free colored people either to
leave the State or be enslaved, we, a
number of exiles, driven out by this
inhuman statute, who reached Ohio on
the Sd of January, 1850, feeling a
deep sense of the wrong done US, make
this appeal to the Christian world.
We appeal to you as children Of a
common Father, and believers in a
crucified Redeemer To-day we are
exiles, driven from the homes of our
childhood, the scenes of our youth, and
the burial places of our friends. We
are exiles not that our hands have
been stained with guilt, or our lives
accused of crime. Our fault, in land
of B bles and Churches, of baptisms
and prayers, is, that in our veins flows
the blood Of an outcast race a race
oppressed by power, and prescribed
by prejudice ]; a race Graded in wrong,
and nurtUred in oppression.
In the very depth of the winter we
have left a genial climate of sunny
skies. to be homeless strangers in the
regions of the icy North Some of
the exiles have left children who were
very dear; but to stay with them was
to involve ourselves in 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,
peeled; they, being powerful, placed
before US slavery or banishmeut We
all the cares incident to life of free
dom, are better, far better than sla-
very.
From this terrible injustice we ap-
peal 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 ex-
clusion under consideration. Tn Ohio
we found kind hearts; hospitali.y Y
opened her doors; generous hands
reached out a warm and hearty well
come For this may the God Of the
fatherless 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 protect
against this gross and inhuman outrage
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 in 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 inteIli-
gence and thought, we entreat you to
assert this appeal ia your papers, and
unite your voices against this outrage
which disgraces our land, and hold ii
up to shame before the natious of the
earth. We entreat you to move a
wave Of influence which will widen and
spread through all the earth, and rol
back and wash away this stain.
ChristianImothers, by our plundereG
cradles and child-bereft hearts, we APP
peal to you, and ask your protest.
Christian fathers, by all the sacred
associations that clnster around the
name father. We appeal to you to swell
the tide of indignation against oul
shameful wrongs.
y We appeal to the Church of Christ
among all nations, kindreds, tongues
and people. to protest against the In