The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-09
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than in receiving it. To relieve the oppress-
ed is one of the most ennobling acts OF which
man is capable, and is attended with IL e
most delightful emotions to the beneicent
and liberal. 1 doubt not that there are some
who have strong preiudices against me- To
such, permit me to say, with all humility,
that prejudice is the opposite of candor, and
is often the cause of much evil. 1t takes no
lull, impartial view, but decides as prevailing
bias or impulse may incline; hence, it is more
likely to be wrong than right. With the best
examination we can make, we aIe liable to
err, owing 10 the imperiections of our knowl-
edge and the obstacles of seeing the subject
in all its bearings; but to omit using the
means we have, and come to conclusions ca
pricipusly, is doing injury to ourselves and
al concerned. | hope none OF you are so
Preludiced against me as to turn deaf ear
anu close your hearts against the suffering
Siy VI humanity; but that you will lend a lis
tehing ear anu extend helping hand to one
VINO Is ueserVlhs OF all the aid that lies in
your pOwertO grant.
Noble hearted phlanthropists. and faith
full servant, of God; ENDS of the noar
and needy elsewhere-My suffering appeal Is
to you. In the name Of kind and merclful
Cod, l would invite you to come forward
and enrol yourselves under the banner of our
glorious King Emmanuel, and fight for the
cause OF God, suffering, and bleeding human
lIy and our God will give you the victory.
Ihat is not all in making me free and hap
py man. you VIII increase your own happi-
ness, and have the sweet consciousness of hay-
in achieved noble deed, and place another
bright star in your crown OF rejoicing, when
the Son OF God, who Is to be your Judge, shall
come to make up his jewels.
Ladies OF the State OF Maine-I appeal to
you, because you have warm and tender
hearts which are imbued with the warmest
feelings Of tenderness and pity for your suf-
fering fellow creatures, and who are a,Ways
foremost at the cry of suffering and distress.
You are Gods miDistering angels who are
commissioned to relieve the wants of the DOOR
add needy. am poor and needy and am in
deep distress; therefore most humbly ap-
peal TO you from my prison cell, and implore
you to come forth in your might and plead.
my cause, and thereby help to release me
from the house Of bondage, and in so doing
for which God will bless you.
Citizens in general-I hope and trust you
will endeayor TO act in accordance with those
passages of Scripture which say, Gas We would
that men should do unto you, do ye also to
them" Again "Do justice, love mercy and
walk humbly with God" Also "And forgive
those who trespass against you, and your
heavenly Father will forgive your trespasses."
II you will eondseeend to intercede for me,
liberty and the world, will give you my SOL
emu promise as in the presence Of God, that
will live such an honest and upright life for
the future as to make ample amends for the
past, as also for all your time and trouble in
securing that blessed boon which now
ask at your hands. This is the last appeal
for liberty / shall ever make in this world.
II this fails, which God forbid, the hand that
penned 1t will soon be still in death. For /
shall be compelled to give up all hope in de-
spair and die OF broken heart and that must
be the miserable end OF my existence.
Christians and philanthropie parents OF
Maine-I am poor orphan, alone inithe world,
without dear father or afiectionate mother
to come to my relief or exert themselves in
my behalf, In order to rescue me from my
suffering condition.
Citizens of Maine-I am about to close my
appeal, and in doing so would most fervently
say God bless you all, and may the Holy Spirit
enlighten your minds, and open your under
standings in regard to this great, and to me,
important subject; and it is my humble and
fervent prayer that God will bestow on you
that wisdom which is from Heaven, to guide
and direct you in the course which you will
pursue, in order to rescde me from my pres
ent suffering condition, and make me free
and happy man. God, our heavenly Father,
has placed us here on probation, in order that
we may have time to prepare for another
state OF existence beyond the grave and how
can we better prepare ourselves than to follow
the example of our blessed Saviour, "who
went about doing good" Let US then do all
the good we can, and strive to promote our
and that of those around us. Let
us obey God and observe his precepts.
now commit you, one and all, into the
hands of our kind and merciful God, and pray
that he will grant you speedy success in hav-
ing me again restored to the world and socie-
ty. Yours very respectfully,
JAMES THoRNE.
Thomaston, Dec. 19, 1867.