The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-02
a REPLY,

a REPLY,
To "Me A6eetionate asd CArisfian Ado7res
Of Many TAomsands Of Women Of Grea
Britain and I,elasd 10 their Sisters M
Womes Of tie United States Of Amsr
iea.
6isrERs,-More than eight years ago you
sent 10 us in America document with the
above beading. Il is as follows -
"A common origin. a common faith. and
We sincerely believe. common cause, urge
us. At the present moment, to address you
on the subjsct of that system Of negro
slavery which still prevails SO extensively
and. even under kindly disposed masters,
with such frightfui results. in many Of the
vast regions Of the Western world.
1--WE will not dwell on the ordinary
topics. the progress Of civi,ization, on
the advance OF freedom every " here. on the
rights and requirements Of the nine ntee n tn
century; but We appeal to you very &C.
rious!y TO reflect aud to ask counsel of God
how far such a state of things is in accord.
sncs with His Holy Word. the inaliena a BILE
rights OF Immortal souls. and the pure and
mercifuf spirit OF the Christian religion -
We do NOS shut our eyes to the difficulties,
nay. the dangers. that might beset the i'm.
mediate sboition Of that long.esta blished
systsm. We see snd admit tho necessity OF
preparation for 30 great an event; bat. in
speaking Of Indispensable preiminaries. we
csnnos bc silsns on those laws Of your coun
try which, in divect contravention Of Gods
Owu law. instituted in the time of mans
innocsney.' deny in effect TO the slave the
sanct'sy Of marriage, with all it's joys.
rights. and obligations; which separate,
Ut the will Of the master. the wife from the
husband aud the children from the parents.
Nor can We he silent on that awful sys,em
which either by statute or by Custom inter-
diets " any race of man or any portion OF
the human family education in the truths Of
the gospel and the ordinances OF Chris
iianiiy. A remedy applied to these two
evils atone wouli commences the ameliora
ton Of their sad copd,iion. We appeal ~
you, then, ~ sisters, - wives, and a. moth
srs, to raise your voices to your fellow.
citizens and your nrayers to God for the
removal Of this affection aud disgrace from
the Christian world.
1--WE do not say these things in spirit
of self compiacenoy. - though our naiion
were tree from the guilt il perceives in
others.
1--WE acknowledge with grief ADD shame
our hsavv share in this great sin. We
that our foretathers introduced.
Hay. esmpelIed the adoption Of slavery in
those mighty coloui-s. We humbly confess
il before Almighty God; and it is because
We 50 deeply feel aud 50 unI1ignedly avow
our own completely. that ws now venture to
implore your aid TO wipe away our common
crime and our common dishonor."
This address. spleudidly illuminated on
vellom, was sent to our shores at the head
of twenty Elk folio volumes. containing con
siderably more than half million Of sig
ustures Of British women. II was Tor
wsrded to me with letter from q British
noblsman now occupying one Of the highest
official positions in England. with request
on behalf of these ladies that It should be
in any possible way presented TO the atten-
ton Of my couosrywomen.
This memorial. Is il now stands in its
solid oaken case, with its heavy folios. each
bearing on i,s back the imprint Of the
American eagle. forms . most unique libra
ry, singular monument OF international
expression Of moral idea.
No right thinking person can find aught
TO be objected against tho substance or the
form Of this memorial. II is temperate, |
Just, and kindly, aud on the high ground
Of Christian equality. where it places itself.
may be regarded as . perfectly proper ex-
prcssion Of sentiment. as between blood.
relations. equals in two different nations.
The signatures TO this appeal are not the
least remarkable part Of il; for. beginning
at the very steps Of the throne. they 60
down 10 the names Of women in the very
humblest conditions in lie. and represent
all that Great Britain possesses. not oaly Of
highest and wisest. but Of plain. homsly
COMMON sense and good feeling. Names OF
wives OF cabinet. ministers appear on the
same page with the names of wives OF hum
BILE laborers,-names Of duchssses and
Of wives Of generals. ambassa-
doris, savans, and mes Of letters, mingled
with uames traced in trembling characters
BY hands evidently unussd to bold the pen
aud s,iGsnsd BY lowly toll. Nay. so deep
and expansive was the Es ing. tha, British
subjsc.s in foreign lands bad their repre-
sen:a.ion. Among the signatures are those
Of tosssxn residents from Paris to Jerusalem
Autographs 90 diverse. and collected from
sources % various, have seldoni been found
10 juxtaposition. They remain ~ this day
. silent wis"css Of most singular tide If
telling which ~ that time swept over the
British community. an. made tor Itself an
4