The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-20
A Letter from Patrick Henry.

A LETTER FROM A MEMBER OF THE ASSEM-
BLY, OF VIRGINIA TO EDWARD sTABLER.
Hanover, Jan. Is, 1913.
DEAR SIR: | take this opportunity to
acknowledge the receipt of Anthony Ben
meets book against the slaVe-trade. |
thank you for it. Is it not little sur
prising that Christianity whose chiefex-
cellence consists in softening the human
heart, in cherishiRg and improving its
finer feelings-shOuld encourage prac-
tice so totally repugnant to the first inn
pressions of right and wrong. What
adds to the wonder is, that this abomin-
| able practice has been introduced in the
most enlightened ages. Times that seem
| to have pretensions to boast of high inn
prOyements in arts, sciences and refined
morality, have brOughtlintO general use
and guarded by many laws, species of
usurpation and tyranny, which our more
rude and barbarous, but more honest, an
cestOrs detested Is it not amazing that,
at time when the rights ofhumanity are
defined and understood with pre-
cision, in a country above all others fond
of liberty, in such an age and such
country, we find men protesting relig =
ion the most humane, mild, meek, gentle
and generous, ad opting principle as re-
pugnant TO humanity as it is inconsist-
ent with the Bible, and destructive to
| liberty. Every thinking honest man
rejects il in speculation, but how few in
practice from conscientious motives The
world in general has denied your people
a share of its hOnOrs, but the wise will
ascribe TO you a just tribute of VirtiOus
praise for the practice Of a train of vir-
tues among which your disagreement to
slavery will be principally ranked.
can not but wish well to the 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; they
are equally calculated TO promote moral
and political good. Would any one be-
lieye that AIN master of slaves of my
own purchase? | am drawn along by
the general inconvenience of living with
out them. Twill not, cannot, Justify
it: however culpable my conduct, | will
80 far pay my deviOr to virtue as TO own
the excellence and reclitude of her pre-
|
nifty TO them. | believe a time will come
when an opportunity will be offered to
abolish this lamentAble evil; everything
we can do is 20 improve it, If it belongs
TO our day; ifnot, let us transmit il to
our descendants, together with our slaves,
a pity for their unhappy lot, and an alb
hOrrence of slavery If we can not re-
duce this wished for reformation 10
practice, let us treat the unhappy VIC
Tins with lenity; it is the furthest adj
vance we can make toward jnstice; it is
debt we owe to the purity Of our relig
ion, TO show that it was at vaTience with
the law that warrants slavery. Here is
an instance that silent meetings (the
SCOT of reverend doctors) have done that
which learned and elaborate preaching
could not effect; so much preferable are
the genuine dictates of conscience, and q
steady attention 10 its feelings, above
the-teachiDgs Of those men who pretend
TO have found better guide ] eXhsrt
you to perseVere in 80 worthy resolu-
ton. Some of your people disagree, or
at least are lukewArm in the abolition OF
slavery. Many treat the resolution OF
your meeting with ridicule, and among
those who throw contempt upon it are
slergymen, whose surest guard against
both ridicule and contempt is a certain
act Of Assembly know not where to
stop could say many things on this
subject, serious view Of which gives 8
gloomy prospect 10 future times. Ex-
cuse this scrRwl and believe me with es
TEEN.
Your obedient servant.
D. HENRY.