The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-03-19
HILLSDALE, MICH, TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1861

lgious and benevolent. They always look
ed contempt, and. sometimes said in severe
rebukc, You certainly do not loyo your neigh
Dor as yourself. And heard one man reply
to this rebuke, If you We're STAKEHOLDER
would you like to have your property wrcsted
from you by force! A man stood by whose
wife was in bondage-He looked unutterablo
scora and replied, My wifi, is no mans prop
crly. But sir, said the objector, what will
you do with them when you get them free 7
certainly it will never do to let them loose
among us. But just at that moment my at
tcntion was arrested by the movements Of the
South They too mustered their forces.
They too assembled their Legislatures, to con-
suit what should be done. But they were
moro atiaid Of their slaves than they were Of
the approaching army of the North. They
yacllated between arrangements to suppress
insunection at home, and to meet tho inva-
ding army from abroad. Meanwhile they
issued u flaming protest against the treasona-
bic movement Of the northern States-claim
the protection Of the Constitution, and the
laws Of the land, which granted to them
property in their States--declared they would
spill their blood in defence of their sacred
rights. But the only reply made by the in
yading army was, Give lie back our first born
by the abolition of slavery, or we must abol-
ish it for you. At this moment in my dream
q terrible army presented itself to my view
on both sides. In the South rose u fierce
and resolute host, well commanded and well
supplied, resolved on mighty deeds. From
tie North approached an almost countless
multitude equally well supplied aud disciplln
ed, eager for the contest aud determined TO
conquer or die. But just before the bloody
conflict began, saw a swift messenger ar
live from the Governor Of Mary land, announ-
cling that slavery was abolished in Maryland,
and the Maryland troops immediately passed
over to the northern army. This hloodless
victory over slavery in Maryland so enraptur-
cd my heart that | clapped my hands and
shouted for JOY, and ] awoko from my dream
ana the whole vision disappeared.
COMMENTS.
The question, Did the. people do right in
demanding the abolition OF slavery in the
South? is just as proper to be asked, and
can be just as easily be answered as if the
whole dream were a matter of reality. II
our first born were transmitted into slaves and
held in bondage in the South would it be
right for US to demand their emancipation
Would it be our duty to demand it! Ought
we to pay for them: FIVE ought to demaud
their emancipation, on that suppositon, we
ought to do it now, and should do it if we
loved our neghbor as ourselves. The excite
meat described in the dream was natural
excitement and in perfect conformity to JUS
tcc and benevolcnce. Aud if the people Of
the North possessed the whole mind that was
in Christ Jesus, they would reduce this dream
to reality.
Why are we not willing TO see the slaves
emancipated as we should be if they were to
be transformed into intelligent white PERSONS 7
Prejudice against color furnishes tho whole
reason. Perhaps their ignorance may come
in for a snare. Is there not great deal Of
wickedness in making mon Slaves because
they are black or because they are ignorant ?
Here are brought to view the true reasons
why we do not abolish slavery.
l. We do not care for their welfare. We
coldly say, 1t is none Of oar concern if the
southerncrs choose to hold them in bondage
But if they were our frst.boln we should
care, and we should act efficiently for their
welfare. We are Just as much bound TO act
now as we should be in the case presented in
the dream.
2. They are black and ignorant. We
therefore help our neghbors to fix upon them
the CALLING chain. What wicked reason for
making man slave But that these are
the real reasons is set in bold relief in the
foregoing dream. If they were our rst.horn,
they would not be slaves for half year.
Whenever in divine p evidence the North
shall be stined up TO make one general and
united effort to procure the destruction of
slavery, in the South, the result might easily
be anticipated without a dream. 1t might
Le necessary to rally the host, but there would
be no battle. The North could furnish one
million of armed men; and have no fear of
insuuection behind them. The power Of the
South would be almost neutlalized 10y slavery.
The part Of the dream which represents that
the slaves would be transformed into our FIST
born Chat is, into intelligent freen cn) if
slavery were abolished, would be realized al
most literally. II we discharged our duty to
them rs brethren the second generation would
be as intelligent and religious as ourselves,
and perhaps more so. Religion if diligently
taught them, would perhaps have more iufu-
enco on their subdued and teachabc minds,
than il could be made to exert over the proud
infidety Of others The transformation
would not be as sudden as the dreamer cx
pcclcd it to be, but it would bc certain and
complete; and fifty yeas would accomplish
the whole.
More Temperance Legislation.
We have got another Prohibtory Liquor