The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-15

"HANCvER, January 18th, lII2.
"Do7r ST. take this opportunity TO
acknowledge the receipt Of Anthony
Benezets book against the slave trade.
l thank YOU ioI.it. j. ir not q little sur
prising that Christianity, whose chief
excellence consists In soiteniuc the Lu-
man heart in cherishinE and dimprovng
its finer feelings, should encourage q
practice 50 totally repugnant 10 the first
impressions Of right ana wrong2 What
adds TO the wonder is, that this aborli-
nable practice has been introduced into
the most enlightened ages. Times that
seem 70 have preteusions to boast OF
high improvement In the arts, sciences
and high morality, have brought I'm gen
eral use, and guarded by many laws, q
species Of usurpatiou and tyranny
which our more rude and b0TbarOUs.
but more honest, ancestors detested
is it not amazing that OF q time
when the rights OF humanity are de-
fined and understood with precision, in
q country above all others fond Of lib
erty, that, in such ace and such o coun-
try, we find men protesting O religion
the most humane, mild, meek, gentle
aud generous. adopting principle as
repuCnant to humanity as it is Incon-
sistent with the Bible and destructive
tolibeUtv Every tbinEing. honest man
rejects 1t in speculation, but how few
IN practice from conscientious mOtivel
"The world in general has denied
your people O share Of its hOnOrs, but
the wise viii ascribe 10 you just tri-
butte Of virlu0us praise for the practice
Of . train Of virtues, amongst which
your disagreement to Slavery viii be
principally ranked I cannot but wish
well to q people whose systems initiates
the example Of Him whose life was per-
feet; and believe me, I shall honor the
Quakers for their noble efforts to abol-
ish Slavery; they are equally calculated
10 promote moral and political good.
Would any one believe that I am
master of slaves of my own purchase ?
I am drawn along by the general incon-
yenieucc Of living without ! viii not, I
cannot justify it, however culpable my
conduct, I viii so far pay my devoir to
virtuo as to own the cEcelIeuc and rec
titude Of her p-cccpts. and TO lament
my want OF conformity 20 them. ] be-
Eeve @ time VIII come when eu oppor-
tUnity viii be afforded 10 abolish this
lamentlble evil every lining we can do
Is to improve it if It happen In our day,
If not Ietus transmit It toour descend
ants, together with our slaves, pity
for their unhappy lot, and an abhor-
renee Of Slavery. II we c2unotreduce
this wished for reformation to practice
let us treat the unhappy Victims with
lenity; it is the furthest advance we
can make toward justice; 10 is debt
we owe 10 the purity Of our religion to
show that it is at variance with JIat lay
which warrants slavery
Here is an instance that silent meet
ings (the scot Of reverend doctors)
have done that which learned and elab-
crate preaching could not effect; so
much preferable are the genuine die
tatcs Of conscience, and asteady atten-
ton to IFS feelings, above the teachings
of those men who pretend to have
found o better guide / czhCrt you to
perseveTe in SO worthy o resolution
Some Of your people isaUee, or at
best are lukewarm in the abolition Of
slavery. Many treaJ the resolution Of
your meeting with r.dlcule, and among
those who throw contempt upon 1t are
clergymcu, whose surast guard against
both ridicuie and contempt is q certain
Act Of Assembly. know not where to
stop could say many things on this
sr9ject, a serious view Of which gives
gloomy prospect TO future times Ex-
Cuse this scraw, and believe ne, with
esteem,
Your obodient servant,
"PATr-ck H1EUT, J.R.