Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-02-17
A. Appeal - Ch~i.s,a.. sAsssgAsss ~
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Legislature To Arkansas. compelling tho
Free Colored People either to leave the
State or TO be enslavcd. we, number Of
exiles, driven out by this inhuman statute,
who reached Ohio on the Sd af January,
1850, feeling a drep sense Of tho wrong
done us, make this appeal 10 the Christian
worli.
We appeal TO you, a. children Of com.
mon Father. and believer In crucifed Re.
deemer To-day we are exilcs, driven from
the homes Of onr childhood, the scenes Of
our youth. and the burial.places Of our
friends. We are cxies; not that our hands
have ben stained with guilt, or cur livea
accused Of crime. Our fault, In land Of
Bibles and Churches, Of baptisms and pray
ers, is, that In our veins flows the blood OF
an outcast race; race oppressed by pow-
er, and prescribed by prejudice race
Graded in wrong, and nurtured in opprca.
sion.
In the very depth Of 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 left child.
ren, who were very dear; but to stay with
them was to involve ourselves in lifc.time
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
banishment. We chose the latter. Power.
,y, trials, and all the cares incident to =
life of freedom are better, far better than
Slavery.
From this terrible injustice. we appeal to
the moral sentiment of the world. We
turn to the Free North; but even here ops
preston tracks our steps. Indiana shuts
her doors upon us. Illinois denies US ad-
mission TO her prairie homes. Oregon re.
fuses 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; hospitality opened
her doors; generous hands reached out .
warm and hearty welcome. For this, may
the God of the Fatherless ever defend and
bless them.
And now, Christians, We APrEAL to you,
as heirs of the same heritage, and children
of the same Father, to PROTEST 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 tho
love, tire pity, and the mercy, in the re-
ligicn Of Jesus Christ, that you will raise
your voices and protest against this sin.
Editors OF newspapers, formers Of public
opinion, conductors intelligence and thought;
we cntreat you to insert this appeal in your
papers; and unite your voices against this
outrage which disgraces our land, and holds
il up to shame before the nations Of tho
earth. We entreat you to move wave Of
ihHuencc, WHICH VIII Wfu'b, "hu rpsc"a
through all the earth, and roll back and
wash away this stain.
Christian mothers, by our piundcred cra-
dies and clild-bereft hearts, xc appeal to
you, and ask your protest
Christian fathers, by all the sacred asso-
Citations that cluster around the name, ia.
ther, 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 iohumani'y that has driv-
en- us from our homes and our kindred.
Members of all political parties, we ask
your protest in the name Of common bu.
manity, against this cruel ACT Of despotism.
Christian ministers, we appeal to you, In
the name of Him who came "to preach good
.-tidings to the meek. to bind mp the broken.
"hear4ed; 10 proclaim liberty to the cap
"tive; and the opening Of the prison to
"them that are bound" to lay before your
congregation the injustice done us: and the
wickedness of system that trsmples on
the feeble aud brushes cut the ssghts Of the
helpless.
And we appeal 10 tie God Of the father
less, and the Judge of the widow, that He
will remember His word, ~Inasmuch as ye
"have done It 10 one Of the least Of these
I've have done Il unao mel" that lie will
move the hearts Of His children every
where to uuiie their testimony against this
unequaled inpuity That writes property"
on man; thar chattelizes the immortal mind
and makes merchandise Of the drathlesa
soul We appeal to Him who docs not per-
nit a sparrow to fall to the ground un-
noticed, to plead the cause of the poor and
needy. and set him at rest from him that
puffeih at him.
ELIZA ANN WEST, Redfost, nssha c., Arb,
ANN ELIZA WEST, Reafnrk. n~shs De-, Al,
EIz,BErH rAyL<sR WEST. Redfork. Dssha Co. ARA
AGNES WEST Redfork, pcshs Co. Ark-
L.spY wAGGoSER, Redsors. Desha Co, Ark.
RACHEL LOVE- Napoleon Ark-
Nm II. SEwcoNR Napoleon. Az
TT Ark