Year: 1859

cdCH ooOi0oy "i0 pi0eey iuiiy ioPoi'o" m oAA" papers of that city. In glancing over them, we note two or three important things The benevolent institutions simply, such as for the education of the blind, of the deaf, protection to aged females and others, seem to be the recipients of no large sums, while those societies depending on fanaticism for . their support, are literally sustained.- Another feature is the formation Rcie- ties for the suppression of vice ant hor- ality The vast amount of crime begins to alarm them, hence the formation of schools of reform, houses of refuge, home missions and others of that class.

 The American Tract Society is one of the largest and most noted of these institu- tions. Some idea of its magnitude may be given by stating that its receipts last year, were upwards of $3S3, 900. Heretofore the directors have refused to meddle with the slavery question and an effort was made in the legislature of New York, during the late session to abolitionize it, by bill to allow proxy votes to every member of the society, which would have given a pre- ponderance to the anti-slavery sentiment in the institution At the very commence ment of the late meeting of the society a resolution was introduced instructing the publishing committee to issue tracts setting forth the wickedness of the slave trade and others against slavery. This gave rise to a stormy discussion. Rev. Daniel Lord, in some sensible remarks, proceeded to show that the society was bound not to interfere with mooted questions; that its duty was principles of policy. The resolution was voted down. But as the rampant spirit of abolitionism had to be appeased in some way, they passed a resolution to the effect that in refusing to instruct the publishing committee to issue anti-slavery tracts, they did not do so from any hesitation in rea- tion to the sin, heniousness and enormity of the slave-trade

 The result is that though the society re- fused to issue the tracts, it showed that a majority of them were more or less abo- litionists. We notice several of the di- vines present took a bold stand for that lati- tude. For instance:

 Dr. Van Pelt said if this work was of God 1t would stand, if not it would fall- He thought slavery a controvertcd ques- ton; he was satisfied that God told Moses that if the children of Israel wanted slaves, they were to go and buy them of the hea- then-go and buy them. If it was right then, why is it not right now? He wanted to see this country kept together, and the society also.'

 On the succeeding day the Boston Ameli can Tract Society, an out and out abolition concern which appears to be an of-shoot of the other, met and discussed the pro- ceedings of the day before This concern only collects about sixty thousand dollars of the spare cash of fools in a year, and they evidently want to get the control of the big fund of the parent society. Pass ing over the hypocritical slang of other speakers, we come to the speech of the Rev Henry Ward Beecher. A man of undoubted ability; capable of doing much good or much evil, this gin drinking divine is to be feared. Among other things, this great Pharisee spoke as follows:

 Proceeding to the assertion of Mr. Lord that the object of the society was to cir culate tracts he took exception to the idea that the quality of the thing circulated was not to be considered and to illustrate the sophistry of the position taken that they were not to print and circulate tracts on slavery because they were not wanted and would not be tolerated he applied the cir culation of tracts against stealing at the Five Points, and asked if because the peo- pie there said they did not want them, they must therefore cease 10 print and circulate tracts against stealing. He denied the aS- sertlon that tracts against slavery could not be circulated in the south. Heaverred that tracts written in Christian spirit could be circulated. Tracts should be written on the duties of slavehodcrs-fo these were duties of masters-and the first duty was to emancipate the slave. Laughter If they would print antislavery tracts, he would engage to have twenty millions cir culated in one year in the slave States"

 While the opposition presses are averring that the democratic party is continually agitating the slavery question, let them look at New York during anniversary week, let them read these boasts of Beechcr's and his threat to circulate twenty millions of antlslavery tracts in the south in year, and see " here the agitation comes from.

 It is melancholy sight to see a man of the splendid intellect of Beecber pandering to fanaticism as he does and talk of sending tracts and missionaries to the people of the black slave States True, he is paid enor- mously; has princely income and is made wealthy by this course. Yet he knew, when he stood before the vast assembly in the church of the Puritans and uttered these words that the air of the city he dwelt in was laden with the sighs and groans of white slaves He knew and so did the oily and clerical scoundrels that surrounded him; so might have known every man and woman in his audience, that there was more real slavery, more grinding, crushing, oppressive servitude in that same city of New York, than in any of the south en States. He knew that then and there, there were thousands of women, worn down with toll, stitching fourteen or fifteen hours a day for a pittance to keep body and soul together. He knew that in many a factory and other establishment there were thousands of children, from six to fourteen years of age, working fifteen hours for fifteen cents. He could not be ignorant of the fact that thousands are yearly forced cou +1,an,co1,-oc +o vica to ,rnt hraaJ fn