Year: 1859

lz A friend has sent us the following remarks oi Judge Ellsworth, made at the annual meeting of the Hartford Tract Society, auxiliary to the American Tract Society. held in Dr. Hawes' church on the evening of Jan. 11th. An effort having been made, and q new society formed, to divert contributions from the Parent Society whose office is in New York to the Boston Society, the Hon. Thomas S. Williams, Judge Ellsworth, and Francis Parsons, Esq, embra- ced the opportunity to protest against withholding aid from the Society with which the Hartford Aux Hilary has been connected for thirty years. Judge Williams is the President of the National Society. Judge Ellsworth next addressed the meet ing with his characteristic clearness and force He Said he did not appear before that Christ ian audience an apologist of slavery. He was opposed to the system of slavery, and especial ly to it's extension. He had ever felt it to be an unmitigated evil in itself, and fraught with great calamity in its consequences and this feeling had become more intense as he marked it's encroachments in high places where it should never have had an influence. He de- sired to say this much to place himself right upon the record. But though an Anti-Slavery man, he did not sympathisc with this ,opposi, tion to the American Tract Society. If new channel was needed to convey the charities of others into the Lords treasury, let it be open- ed, ana let it be full. He would have no con troversy with them on that point but when they come and ask US to withhold ocr charities from Society which has had the confidence and support of wise and good men for more than thirty years, and has been sending forth its benign influence far and wide throughout the country and the world, Ee would pause and ask why WAy are We called upon to turn our backs upon an institution which was espe- cially designed, and is particularly adapted to benefit the poor and needy and has done and is still doing more for this object probably, than any other? Why, tell us srhy? Because it aoom't more specifically identity itself aoith the Anti Slarery morememt."

 Said the Judge, 1 am an Anti-Slavery man {; but do not consider it necessary to speak of it every time ask blessing at my table. But the question is still asked, "Why not come out and give us at least one Anti-Slavery tract ?" Why one? Simply to gratify cla- morous minority

 Let us look little at this matter. am q practical man. I understand the object of the Tract Society to be in it's main feature, to pub lsh cheap moral hterature to yeach Me desti- perishing soul

 How can this object be best accomplished By issuing Anti-Slavery tracts? Suppose one or two more to be issued. What good would they do? We do not want them at the North they will not have them at the South Nay more, by publishing such tracts, the Society would cut off from its broad field of usefulness large and destitute portion of our country He would have such tracts published as were calculated to be most useful and this was matter he was willing to commit to those whose prerogative it is to judge in the case. He did not want Drs. Bacon and Patton to come up to Hartford and tell the people what tracts should be issued. He would sooner trust such men as Frelinghnyson, and Chief Justice Williams. He had more confidence in the Society at New York than the one at Bos- ton. If you cannot trust the officers of the New York Society," then turn them out and if you have not the majority to do this now, then wait till you have.

 As regards himself, he had confidence in those long tried. faithful men. If they did not know what tracts to publish, he did not know who did and he felt it to be cause of deep modification that he was called upon to stand before the assembly and defend the Society It is an eternal reproach on such men as Judge Williams, it's President, and other men of like ability and integrity, who have been associated with him in the cause.

 He said he believed he was the only man living, who assisted in the formation of the Hartford branch of the American Tract Socie- ty, and he had seen no good reason why he should now forsake it. He called upon all present. to beware how they crippled its opera tions, and prevented it's usefulness by such op- position as was manifested These opposers may yet find that all wisdom does not dwell with them. The eloquent Judge rcpeated-I have confidence in the officers and managers of the American Tract Society," have confi- dence in its colporteurs. know it is said they have not been properly commissioned. Have they not good men to look after them? If they need increased supervision let it be pro vided, but do not cease to support and encour- age them in their work. This department of the Society is to me, one of great importance. The London Society has no colporteurs, and will tell you why for the very same reason that we have-it will not pay. Theirs is business institution. Ours is one of expensive benevoence. It goes out into the scilderness to search out objects on which to bestow it's benefactions. It bears to the hungry soul the bread of eternal life, and freely bestows it without money and without price.

 Do not spend your time then in contending about publishing Anti-Savery tracts for they will do no good. It is a conflict about nothing. Gods Word will work the cure of all the evils we mourn.

 object to this whole movement, because it is impracticable, will do no good, and result in great harm.

 A candidate for Congress out West, sums