The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-03-04

lhSInpcI Oh inc lISlnla Assembly, 10 Eu'
ward J. Staher. Were this patriotic son
of the Old Dominion now living, and did he
express the same views as embodied in this
lettor, he would he denounced as an ultra
AholitiunistI
HANOVER, January Is, l773.
DEAR SIR: | take the opportunity to ac.
knowledge the receipt of Anthony Benczct's
book against the slave trade. | thank you
for it. 1t is not little surprising that
Observation-Disclosures chief excellence con
Ssts in sottcun~ the human heart, in cher
ishing and improving lis finer reelings-
should encourage practice so totally re-
pugnant to the first Impressions of right
and wrong, What adds to the wrong is
that this abomiuable practice has been in-
troduced in the most enlightened ages.
Times that seem to have pretensions to
the boast of high improvements in arts,
sciences, and refined mortality. have brought
into general use, and guarded by many laws
a species of usurpation and tyranny, which
our more rude and barbarous, but more
honest, ancestors detested. 1t is not ama2-
ing that at u time when the rights of hu-
manity are defined and understood with
precision in Il country above all others fond
of Liberty, III such an age and such coun-
try, we find men protesting II religion the
most humane mild meek, gentle and gen
erous, adopting principle rs rcpugnant to
humanity as il is Inconsistent with the B-
bile, and destructive to Liberty. Every
thinking honest man rejects it III spccula-
ton. but how few in practice from C0nSoen-
tious motives The world in general has de-
MED yonr people share Of its honors but
the wise will ascribe to you Just tribute
of virtuous praise for the practice of train
ofvirtues, among which your disagreement
to Slavery will be principally ranked. |
cannot but wish well to a people whose
system initiates the example of Him whose
life was pertcct and, believe me, shall
honor the Quakers for their noble efforts to
abolish Slavery; they are equally calculated
to promote moral and political good.
Would any one believe that am master of
slaves OF my own purchase? am drawn
along by the general Inconvenience of liv-
ing without them. ! will not, cannot JUS
tify it; however culpube my conduct, |
will so far pay my dovOir to virtue M to
own the excellence and rectitude of her
prccepts. and lament my want of conformity
to them. | believe time will come when
an opportunity will be offered to abolish
this 'anentable evil everything we can do
is to improve it if it happens in our day
ifnot, let us transmit to Our descendants to-
gether with our slaves, IL pity for their un-
happy lot, and an adherence of Slavery.
If we cannot reduce this wished-for rclor-
nation to practice, let us treat the unhappy
victims with lenity; it is the furtherest adj
vance toward justice it is debt to the pu-
rity of our religion to show that it is at va
rance with that law which warrants Sla-
very. Here is an instance that silent meet
ings(tho scoit OF reverend doctors) have
done that which learned and elaborate
preaching could not effect, so much prefer
able are the genuine dictates of conscience
and steady attention to its feelings, above
the teachings Of those men who pretend to
have found better guide. | exhort you
to persevere in SO worthy & resolution.
Some of your people disagree, or, at best
are lukewarm in the Abolition of Slavery.
Many treat the resolution of your meeting
with ridicule, ard among those who throw
contempt upon it are clergymen, whose
surest guard against both ridicule and con
tempt il a certain act of Assembly. | know
not where to stop. Icould say many things
on this subject, a serious view of which
gives a gloomy prospect to future times.
Excuse this scrawl, and believe me, with
esteem, Your obedient servant,
PATRICK HENRY JR.