New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-26
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, FRIDAY, DECEMBER &c, 1879
THE FALL OF SLAVERY.
RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ABOLlTIONlST.
BY OLIVER JOHNSON.
XIX
THE YEAR on MOBS.

Anti Slavery Society in 1888 TO tile END oil the
| following year. tho anti-savcry agitation grew
more and more intense. until at last it arrested the
attention of the whole country. The Liberator
| in Boston. and The Emdncipdtor in Ncw-fork had
| each enlarged its circulation. The Ncr- York Eran-
| o,,isf under the edtorship OF the Rev. Joshua
| Leavilt was Going the cause good service In the
place, most under the influence of the reyivas OF
that period, while small number OF other papers
in different parts of the country were friendly 10
the movement. The American Society was sending
out Us agents and scattering its tracts and other
publications broadcast through the land. Anti
slavery societies sprnging up on every side;
ministers here and here yenturcd to preach against
slavery, and there vements in some of the
ecclesiastical bodies that seemed To presage favor
able change in the attitude OF the churches. There
were signs of an effort the part OF the Mctho-
dists of New-England to break the silence so long
imposed by the leaders of that church. Hitherto
all efforts to crush the new movement had not only
proved unsuccessful but actually aided in tanning
the excitement. The South was full of rage and
fury and the ap).ogsts c slavery at the North
were growing more aud more reckless and unscru-
puous. The air full of Misrepresentation OF
the principles and designs of the AboltOnsts. who
were p,lted by the pro-slavery press everywhere
with the most Odous cpithets, such as fanatics"
"disofglnizers," "ama gamationists," traitors
"iacobins,p "iaccndilTes" cut-throats," "lnii-
dcls'-the latter term being directed especially
against those who SO bold as to deny that the
Bible sanctioned slavery. This tide of abuse issu-
ing from political aud religious journals of wide ill.,
fiucnce, had n powerful effect npon the lower
stratum Of society in the cities and arae towns and
indeed in smaller places as well. Ant-slavery meet
lngs were often interrupted, and in some instances
broken M by mobs; and instead of condemnng
these outrages, popular newspapers apologHed Tor
them. throwing the blame not upon those who or
ganized aud took part in them, but upon the Abo-
lltionisis whO it was alleged persisted in discuss
ing subject with which they had no right to in-
termeddle Tho enemies of the cause appeared to
be under the deluson that 1t could be crushed ont
by persecution and violence; that the men who had
undertaken the abolition of slavery were so wanting
in courage that they would fly from the field to save
their property and their persons from harm. These
men had somehow contrived TO read the lessons OF
history backwards, imagining that the way TO stop
n confederation was to pour oil upon the flamcsl
Such was tho state of things at the beginning of
the year $50, which has often been described as
prominently the mob year" in the history Of the
cause. True the pro-slayery mobs neither began
nor ended within that year, bat they were more
numerous then than at any previous or subsequent
time. The social, ecclesiastical and commercial
pressure brought to bear upon leading Abotionists
during that year tremendous Arthur Tappan
especially, was beset by leading merchants and
moneyed men, presidents OF banks and insurance
companies, and by influential members of the
churches. who besought him, by his regard for his
public ana private reputation, as we'll as for his
busin ess interests toresgn the Office of President
of the American Anti-Slavery Society and withdraw
himself from the agitation. "You ask me-" he said
in reply to betray my principles, to be false to
God and humanity. Twill be hanged first ~ The
Rev. Samuel j. May, while sitting upon the platform
at the anniversary Of the American Anti-Slavery
Society In 1885, was called to the door by partner
in one of the most prominent mercantile houses In
New-York who said to him. Mr.. May, we are not
such fools as not to know that slavery is great
evil great wrong. But it was consented to by the
founders of our republic. 1t was provided for in
the Constitution of our Union. A great portion of
the property of the Souherners invested under its
sanction; and the business Of the North as well
the South has become adjuskMl to it. There are
millions upon millions of dollaNdue from Southern
ers TO the merchants and mechanics of New-Yorl
alone the payment of which would be jeopardized
by any rupture between the North and the
South. We cannot afford, sir, to let you
and your associates succeed in your endcavor 10
overthrow slavery. 1t is not matter of principle
with us, 1t is q matter of business necessity. We
cannot afford to let you succeed; and have called
YOU out to let you know, and to let your fellowa-
borers know, that we DO not mean TO allow you to
succeed. We mean, SIR" said he with increased
emphasis" we mean, sir, to put you AbolitoDists
down--by fair means if we can, by foul means If
we mustD [,ir. Mays Recollectons" p. 81,
Beyond all doubt. this merchant expressed the
feelings and purposes Of his class. Tho virus of
slavery at that day poured In strong
tide through every avenue of commerce be-
tween the North and the South. North
ern men, many Of them prominent III the
church and liberal contributors to benevolent socie-
ties, took security for debts owed them ut the
South in the shape of MORTGAGES upon the Slaves
and souls of men," and in case of foreclosure, sold
the human chattels and put the proceeds in their
pockets with rs little fear of censure they would
have experienced in selling many sheep or swine.
In many instances such men occupied the most ell
igble pews in churches, and frowned upon minis
tiers if they even dared to pray in public for the
slaves In Northern colleges the whole power Of
faculties and trustees exered to prevent agita-
ton among tho students. In of these colleges
were bodies of Southern young Den, who stood
ready to display the manners OF the plantation
upon such of their fellow-students dared to
whisper O word against the divinity OF slavery.
Publishers at tho North IN reprintiug English
books erased from their pages the passages likely
TO give offence to the traffickers in human flesh.
Even the American Tract Society and the Metho-
dist Book Concern engaged In this work of
mutilation. and hardly had the grace to be ashamed
of it when they were exposed. At the very time
when slavery was thus obtruding itself into every
Northern interest and relation. demanding of us the
meanest of all services in its behalf, We wero told
that it was none of business and that the
discussion of tho subject nothing less than
treason against the Government.
The spirit of the South at this time is indicated in
the following paragraph from The Richmond Wig
one of the most respectable and influential journals