The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-07-19
A Letter from Patrick Henry..-His Opln.
ion OF Slavery and the Slave Trade.
(Eror, Al. a A ub..rr Ilniou Iulv

A Letter from Patrick Henry.--His Opln.
ion OF Slavery and the Slave Trade.
(From tie Auburn Union. July 81
We are indebted to VIM. Rowland,
ESQ.,, of Sherwood's Corners. in this
county, for the privilege Of perusing
and transcribing for publication this
veritable original letter of Patrick
Henry. 1t was addressed to John
Alsop, a venerable and worthy member
of the Society of Friends, then resid.
ing at Hudson N. ", whose son
Thomas subsequently married Mary,
sister of Humphrey and SIocum How
land, of this county, in whose family
it has ever since been carefully pre-
served. ~
AS we are endeavoring to bring this
government to the avowed policy of its
founders among whom Patrick Henry
was most conspicuous, we are grateful
for the opportunity of presenting this
pertinent item of testimony to our
readers:
HANOVER Va, Jan. Is, 1878.
DEAR SIR: / take this opportunity
to acknowledge the receipt of Anth'y
Benezet's book against the slave trade.
l thank you for it. 1t is. not little sur
prising that Christianity, whose chief
excellence consists in softening the hu-
man heart, in cherishing and improving
the totally repugnant to the first inn
pressions of right and wrong. What
adds to the wonder is, that this abom-
Unable practice has been introduced in
the most enlightened ages. Times
that seem to have pretensions to boast
of high improvements in arts, science
and refined morality, have brought into
general use, and guarded by many
laws, specie of violence and tyranny
which our more rude and barbarous,
but more honest ancestors detested.
1t is not amazing, that at time
when the rights of humanity are de-
fined and understood with precision. in
a country. above all others, fond of
liberty-that in such an age and such
country, We find men protesting are
ligion the most humane, mild, meek,
gentle and generous, adopting princi-
pie as repugnant to humanity as il is
inconsistent with the Bible, and de-
structive of liberty? Every thinking,
honest man rejects it in speculation.
How few, in practice, from conscien-
tious motives! 2eea sssf $500
The world, in general, has denied
Your people share Of its honors; but
the wise will ascribe to You just tri-
butte for yirtuous praise for the prac-
tice of a train Of virtues, among which
your disagreement to slavery will be
principally ranked. / cannot but wish
well to people whose system initiates
the example of Him whose life was
perfect; and believe me, shall honor
the Quakers for their noble efforts to
abolish slavery. 1t is equally calcula-
ted to promote moral and political
good. oo ~ rEige1
Would any one believe that am mas
ter of slaves by my own purchase 1
am drawn along by the general incon-
vehience of living without them. /
will not-I cannot justify it, however
culpable my conduct. Twill SO far pay
my devoir to virtue, as to own the ex-
cellence and rectitude of her precepts,
and to lament my want of conformity
to them. / believe time will come
when an opportunity will be afforded
to abolish this lamentable evil. Every
thing We can do, is to improve it, if it
happens in our day; if not, let us trans
nit TO our descendants, together with
our slaves, pity for their unhappy lot,
and an adherence of slavery. If We
cannot reduce this wished-for reforma-
ton to practice, let us treat the unhap-
Ply victims with lenity. 1t is the far
thest advancement we can make to-
ward justice. 1t is debt we owe to
the purity of our religion to show that
it is at variance with that law which
warrants slavery. d1r
Here is an instance that silent meet
ings (the scott of reverend Doctors)
have done that which learned and elab-
crate preaching cannot effect so much
preferable are the general dictates of
and a steady attention to
its feelings, above the teachings of
those men who pretend to have found
a better guide. / exhort you to perse-
we're in so worthy resolution. Some
of your people disagree, or at least are
lukewarm in the abolition of slavery.
Many treat the resolution of your meet
ing with ridicule and among those
who throw ridicule and contempt on it,
are gclergymen whose surest guard
against both ridicule and contempt, is
a certain act of Assembly.
know not where to stop. l could
say many things on this subject, seri-
Gus review Of which gives gloomy
to future times. Excuse
this scrawl, and believe me, with es-
TEEN, your humble servant, Il
47 'as PATRICK HENRY, JR.
JOHN ALsoP, Hudson, N. Y.