,,transcriber',s ,,note ,italic text is denoted by underscores4 ,bold text is denoted by equal signs4 ,there is one ,footnote in this book4 ,its anchor is denoted by #a1 and the ,footnote has been placed at the end of the book4 ,some minor changes to the text are also noted at the end of the book4 ,,an ,,apology ,,for ,,abolitionists3 ,,addressed ,,by ,,the ,,anti-,,slavery ,,society ,,of ,,meriden1 ,,conn41 ,,to ,,their ,,fellow-,,citizens4 ,,second ,,edition4 ,,middletown3 ,c4 ,h4 ,,pelton 4444 ,,print4 #ahcg4 ,fellow-,citizens3 ,a regard for your good opinion1 and a wish to promote the cause1 which1 as ,abolitionists1 lies near our hearts1 is our motive for addressing you4 ,we think the opposition to our enterprise arises either from commercial1 political or domestic connections with ,slavery1 or from misapprehensions respecting our principles1 measures and prospects4 ,we desire no better means of overcoming these obstacles than a fair statement of facts2 and to this we now solicit your attention4 ,,declaration ,,of ,,sentiments4 ,we believe that all men are born free and equal1 and endowed by their ,creator with certain inalienable rights1 among which are life1 liberty and the pursuit of happiness4 ,we believe ,slavery is an infraction of these rights1 a violation of the principles of christianity1 and under all circumstances sinful4 ,we believe that ,slavery is a great national evil1 political as well as moral1 opposed to the genius of a republican government1 highly dangerous to the peace and permanency of the ,union1 and if persisted in1 destined to bring upon us the severest judgments of ,heaven4 ,we believe the immediate abolition of slavery would be safe and wise1 and that it is the duty of every friend of humanity to use all fair and just means for its accomplishment4 ,we believe we have a right to express and publish our opinions respecting the customs and institutions of the people of this and every other country2 and if we think them in any degree immoral1 unequal1 or oppressive1 we are under the highest obligations1 in the exercise of all honest and lawful means1 to change them4 ,we believe that ,slavery in the several states can be lawfully abolished only by the legislatures of the states in which it prevails1 and that the exercise of any other than moral means to induce such abolition1 is unconstitutional4 ,we believe that ,congress has a right to abolish ,slavery in the ,district of ,columbia1 and in the ,territories1 and to prohibit the slave trade between the states1 and that the exercise of this right is required by the divine law1 and by the interests of our country4 ,we believe that no class of men can rightfully be denied1 on account of their color1 the enjoyment of equal rights with others1 in the protection1 immunities and administration of the government under which they live4 ,,utility ,,of ,,these ,,sentiments4 ,these are our sentiments4 ,we regret to say they are not collectively the sentiments of our countrymen4 ,it is for our zeal in propagating them1 that we have been assailed with unmeasured abuse and lawless violence4 ,we think it of high importance to our country and the world that they should be received by all the people4 ,what the effect of their general reception in the free states would be1 is very apparent4 ,we should abolish ,slavery in the ,district of ,columbia4 ,there ,congress has exclusive jurisdiction on all subjects whatsoever1 including of course the subject of ,slavery4--,this is admitted by ,martin ,van ,buren1 ,henry ,clay1 and an overwhelming majority of the present ,congress4 ,the ,abolitionists are to a man in favor of the exercise of this right4 ,if1 therefore1 the free states were thoroughly abolitionized1 their ,senators and ,representatives1 who yet compose a majority in ,congress1 would at once bow to the supremacy of their constituents1 and abolish ,slavery4 ,we should prohibit the inter state ,slave-,trade4 ,this trade has recently been carried on to a greater extent than ever was the foreign slave trade2 it being estimated that not less than #abj1jjj slaves were exported from ,virginia alone1 within little more than a year1 and removed for the most part to the southwestern states4 ,four of these states are said by their own papers1 to have received within the same period1 about #bej1jjj slaves from the old states4 ,how many tender ties have in one short year been broken by this detestable business6 ,how much bodily suffering has been endured6 ,how much guilt has been contracted6 ,this cruel and wicked traffic is at the foundation of a system of breeding slaves for market1 which is prosecuted on a large scale1 corrupting all concerned1 by its licentiousness and barbarity4 ,congress has a right to prohibit and suppress this trade1 under that article of the ,constitution which empowers ,congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations and between the several states4 ,were a majority of the citizens of the free states decided ,abolitionists1 this right could be exercised4 ,we should insist upon it4 ,why then do not they1 who profess to regard the slave trade as the worst feature of ,slavery1 join with us against it8 ,we should prevent the annexation of ,texas to the ,united ,states4 ,the ,south has long had her eye on that fine and extensive country1 intending to get it by purchase or stratagem1 for the purpose of opening a market for her redundant slave population1 and of securing the balance of power in the general government to the slave-holding interest4 ,every enemy of ,slavery and friend of free labor1 ought to oppose this design4 ,we apprehend that if the annexation of ,texas to our country should not involve us in war with ,mexico and ,great ,britain1 it would either lead to a dissolution of the union1 or indefinitely prolong the existence of ,slavery4 ,the ,abolitionists are now preparing petitions to ,congress1 protesting against this insane measure2 and were the citizens of the free states generally to join them1 and load the tables of ,congress with several millions of signatures to these protests1 the danger would be averted4 ,but they will not do it1 because they are not ,abolitionists2 and we must1 therefore1 in all probability take ,texas4 ,we should admit no new slave states to the ,union4 ,had our sentiments prevailed when the ,missouri question was decided1 the fine soil of that state would not now be cursed with ,slavery4 ,she was admitted to the union by northern men4 ,they legalized the sin4 ,it is a sad proof of the corruption of our public sentiment that several of these traitors to liberty1 have1 since that disgraceful vote was given1 been elevated to the first offices in the gift of ,new ,england2 and this without any signs of their repentance4 ,arkansas has also been lately admitted to the ,union by northern votes1 with the singular provision in her constitution1 that her legislature shall have no power to abolish ,slavery2 so that the 8peculiar institution0 may last until the greatest knave in the state is heartily weary and ashamed of it4 ,northern men thus voted for perpetual ,slavery2 and this they did in the confident expectation of being re-elected to ,congress4 ,had they known a majority of their constituents to be ,abolitionists1 they would have voted differently4 ,should ,florida be next admitted to the ,union as a slave state1 the south will have a majority in the ,senate4 ,who can predict the consequences8 ,but were the free states thoroughly abolitionized1 ,florida would never come into the ,union as a slave ,state2 for ,abolitionists are in principle opposed to it4 ,we should also prohibit the slave trade between the ,united ,states and ,texas4 ,in the constitution of ,texas1 whose independence has already been acknowledged by our government1 ,slavery is established as a permanent institution of the country1 and a monopoly of the slave trade granted to the ,united ,states4 ,already thousands of slaves have been sent there1 and unless something is done to prevent it1 vessels will soon be fitted out in northern ports1 to carry slaves from ,virginia to ,texas1 as well as to ,new ,orleans2 and this1 whether ,texas is annexed to the ,united ,states1 or remains independent4 ,were the citizens of the free states generally ,abolitionists1 they would not allow a legal commerce in slaves from our ,republic to a foreign nation4 ,we should save our own youth from the pollution and guilt of ,slavery4 ,they would not directly participate in it4 ,when they go to the ,south they would neither buy nor hire slaves4 ,hitherto nothing has been more common than for our best and most intelligent young men1 the sons of our ministers and church members1 to become slave-holders4 ,at home they were not taught the inherent and necessary sinfulness of ,slavery2 at the ,south the practice was recommended to them by the example and plausible pretexts of the best men4 ,they were accustomed from their childhood to see slave-holders treated with respect because they were rich in human chattels1 without hearing a word respecting the extortion by which their wealth comes4 ,hence many of the merchants1 physicians1 lawyers1 planters1 teachers and clergymen of the ,south1 though northern men by birth1 are either slave-holders or abettors of the system4 ,this would not be the case1 had our declaration of sentiments been taught from the first by our parents and teachers1 and been made the cherished creed of the free states4 ,then the combined instructions of the nursery1 of the school1 and of the pulpit1 together with the impressive power of a sound public sentiment1 would have established our youth in the love and veneration of human rights2 in sympathy for the colored man2 in hatred of oppression4 ,thus would the general reception of our sentiments withdraw from ,slavery one of its main supports1 and at the same time rescue our sons and daughters from the unutterable calamity of becoming rich by the spoiling of the poor4 ,we should establish the liberties of the free states on a firm foundation4 ,we are not so connected with the slave-states that we must necessarily perish in their ruin4 ,if the judgments of heaven should overtake them1 we may be spared2 should their liberties be prostrated1 ours may survive4 ,it depends on our character and conduct4 ,a people who respect the rights of others1 will have their own rights respected4 ,regarding man1 of whatever color and condition1 as entitled to the sacred rights of liberty1 of property1 and of personal security1 they will neither forge chains for others1 nor suffer chains to be imposed on themselves4 ,nor will ,god forsake them4 ,such are the character and security of ,abolitionists4 ,read our declaration of sentiments4 ,we go for human nature4 ,we protest against ,slavery1 because it is an infraction of the rights of ,,man4 ,we know that our entire country has forfeited her freedom1 by oppressing the colored man2 still we believe we may1 by hearty repentance and the adoption of just and humane sentiments1 appease the wrath of heaven1 and should our nation be rent in two1 preserve our own liberties4 ,but if we continue to connive at this wickedness1 nothing is more certain than our ruin in the common destruction of the country4 ,the free people of color would rapidly improve in their moral and physical condition4 ,a load of prejudice now crushes them in the dust4 ,they cannot rise because they are deprived of the motives and facilities for self-improvement4 ,they are a proscribed people4 ,,it ,,is ,a ,,calamity ,,in ,,this ,,christian ,,country ,,to ,,be ,,born ,,with ,a ,,colored ,,skin4 ,it shuts out human beings from schools and colleges1 from the mechanical arts1 from the house of ,god1 from a share in the government of the nation1 from social intercourse with their fellow-creatures1 from the best incitements to virtue and enterprise4 ,we freely confess1 that the ,abolitionists1 if a majority1 would correct all these evils1 and cause men in this so called christian and democratic country1 to be treated1 according to the bible without distinction of color4 ,we should do much to vindicate the honor and truth of christianity4 ,slavery is the strongest hold of infidelity at the ,south1 and a strong hold at the ,north4 ,it is so because1 while natural religion declares ,slavery to be sinful1 the ministers and professors of christianity practice it1 and defend their conduct from the bible4 ,such a religion1 says the infidel cannot be from ,god4 ,it is thus that the church is bringing into contempt and doubt our blessed religion4 ,it would greatly counteract this prolific cause of infidelity1 were all our churches1 ministers1 and theological professors1 to embrace and advocate the true doctrine of human rights as it is set forth in the word of ,god4 ,we should then hold up to the world1 this internal evidence of the divine origin of the bible1 that1 being written in ages of darkness and despotism1 it notwithstanding clearly recognizes and protects ,,man as the possessor of natural1 inalienable1 sacred rights4 ,instead of doing this1 many northern preachers of the gospel1 are now blaspheming their religion1 by saying that both ,moses and ,christ tolerated ,slavery4 ,we should no longer uphold ,slavery by recognizing slave-holders as brethren in good and regular standing in the ,church4 ,we now receive to the table of the ,redeemer1 without one word of admonition1 men1 who at the ,south1 make merchandize of the image of ,god1 of their fellow-christians4 ,what is still more astonishing if not more wicked1 we receive slave-holders to our pulpits1 to preach to us about loving ,god and ,,man6 ,thus we practically say1 that ,slavery is consistent both with morality and the gospel of ,christ4 ,were we ,abolitionists1 it would be far otherwise2 for they do not think it right to lend the sanction of the church to such outrageous wickedness4 ,such would be some of the happy results of the general adoption of our sentiments in the free states1 if nothing more could be effected4 ,but we doubt not it would issue in ,,the ,,peaceable ,,abolition ,,of ,,slavery ,,by ,,the ,,several ,,slave ,,states4 ,this is the principal object of our enterprise2 and on a strong probability of success1 we are willing to rest its character4 ,the constitutional action of ,congress in the ways above named1 would do much to induce the ,south to abolish ,slavery4 ,its abolition in the ,district of ,columbia by the assembled wisdom of the country1 would exert a powerful influence on the southern mind4 ,it would be the testimony of the nation1 corroborating the testimony of every truly civilized and christian people1 to the impolicy and wickedness of ,slavery4 ,the prohibition of the inter state slave-trade1 and the confinement of ,slavery to its present local limits would render it unprofitable to the old states1 which depend on this trade as the chief source of profit2 and also drive the new states to the necessity of introducing free labor2 for how could they otherwise cultivate their immense tracts of virgin land1 or supply the deficit occasioned by the rapid consumption of life on their cotton and sugar plantations8 ,we should make a still more direct appeal to her interests1 by saying3 ,you may keep your cotton1 rice1 and sugar1 until you have abolished ,slavery4 ,we shall no longer use the products of unrequited labor4 ,it would then be a question of dollars and cents with her1 whether or not she would give liberty to her captives4 ,we should not be obliged to deny ourselves the use of her productions one year2 for her states would vie with each other to see which could obtain a monopoly of northern patronage by first abolishing ,slavery4 ,many northern men have been bought by southern patronage to do wrong2 is it not equally possible to buy the south with northern patronage to do right2 ,human nature is every where the same4 ,we should indeed regret to have ,slavery abandoned from an exclusive regard to self-interest4 ,we would rather it should be destroyed by the spirit of repentance2 for then the emancipated slave would still be treated with justice and humanity4 ,but no means of bringing the ,south to repentance can be more promising1 than the conscientious refusal1 by northern men1 of all sects and parties1 to sustain ,slavery1 by consuming its produce4 ,at present this cannot be done on a scale sufficiently large to secure1 certainly and immediately1 the abolition of ,slavery2 but were the ,north completely abolitionized1 no doubt she would do it with the most triumphant success4 ,we should move the ,south to abandon ,slavery1 by appealing to her love of reputation4 ,the ,south shows herself sensitive on this point4 ,said ,mr4 ,calhoun in the ,united ,states ,senate1 8do they1 his southern opponents1 expect the ,abolitionists will resort to arms1 and commence a crusade to liberate our slaves by force8 ,is this what they mean when they speak of the attempt to abolish ,slavery8 ,if so let me tell our friends of the ,south who differ from us1 that the war which the ,abolitionists wage against us is of a very different character and far more effective--it is waged not against our lives1 but our character40 ,had he said our reputations and consciences1 he would have told the truth4 ,we do intend to make ,slavery disgraceful4 ,sin ought to be esteemed a reproach to any people4 ,were all northern men of our way of thinking1 this sin would be as infamous as any other kind of fraud and villainy4 ,the world is now pointing the finger of scorn at slave-holding ,america4 ,the free states bear a merited portion of the shame1 because we share largely in the responsibility4 ,as we have taken ,slavery under our patronage1 and consented to stand godfather to it1 what little respectability we have1 is thrown around it1 to the great relief and joy of its southern parents4 ,let us retire from the relation4 ,instead of defending ,slavery1 let us reiterate the just and indignant censures of the civilized world1 until all shall feel1 that so great an enormity cannot be practiced or connived at1 without a forfeiture of character4 ,this would be the state of feeling1 were the citizens of the north generally ,abolitionists2 and he knows little of human nature1 who doubts that such a state of feeling1 would render the condition of a slave-holder1 the last to be sought1 the first to be abandoned4 ,in these ways1 if in no others1 we could reach and influence the ,south4 ,although she should attempt to shut out the light by a strict censorship of the press and post-office2 though she should make the utterance of our sentiments on southern soil an offence against her laws2 she could not prevent the constitutional action of the general government2 she could not compel us to consume her produce2 she could not escape the withering contempt and indignant frown of our virtuous public sentiment4 ,we could reach her heart in these ways1 in spite of herself1 and as we think to the certain overthrow of ,slavery4 ,we could do more4 ,,we ,,could ,,convert ,,the ,,south ,,to ,,the ,,practical ,,adoption ,,of ,,our ,,sentiments ,,by ,,enlightening ,,her ,,conscience4 ,this is the principal ground of our confidence4 ,if ,slavery is sinful1 we can prove it to be such2 and this proof1 made plain to the understanding of the ,south1 cannot fail to awaken her conscience4 ,such is human nature4 ,some would have us think that none but christians have consciences1 and therefore the first step to be taken for the removal of ,slavery is to send missionaries to convert the masters to christianity1 thus laying a foundation for successful appeals to the conscience4 ,but it seems to us the work of centuries1 if not an impracticable work1 to convert the masters1 or a majority of them1 to true holiness1 while ,slavery lasts1 especially if they have no consciences2 and we think also1 if all were converted to such a christianity as consists with a hearty belief that ,slavery is not condemned by the ,bible1 it would not much facilitate our enterprise4 ,nor have we so much contempt for that word1 which is mighty through ,god to the pulling down of strong holds1 as to doubt that our doctrines will commend themselves to the reason of our southern brethren1 and receive a fruitful response from their consciences4 ,some would have the world believe1 if every person in the free states were an ,abolitionist1 it would not hasten the emancipation of the slaves2 for1 say they1 we could not then get a hearing at the south1 and if we could1 she is too much exasperated at our interference to do any thing on the subject4 ,in our opinion1 they are entirely mistaken4 ,we believe we can get a hearing at the ,south1 or convey a knowledge of our sentiments to the southern mind1 and that these sentiments are more potent than her prejudices and passions4 ,in proof of it-- ,she is now constantly receiving numerous publications containing our views4 ,there were1 the last year1 about five hundred regular southern subscribers to the publications of the ,american ,anti-,slavery ,society4 ,the ,cincinnati ,philanthropist1 the ,alton ,observer1 the ,new ,york ,evangelist1 and scores of other papers1 religious and political1 have subscribers at the ,south1 with whom from week to week they advocate this cause4 ,many valuable anti-slavery books are also doing a good work in the very midst of the evil4 ,several thousands of ,miss ,grimke's ,appeal1 together with the writings of ,jay1 ,child1 ,channing and others1 are daily tearing off the mask from ,slavery1 and awakening the slumbering conscience of the ,south4 ,not unfrequently slave-holders themselves come to the anti-slavery office in ,new ,york and buy whole sets of our publications4 ,the speeches of her ,senators1 and the messages of her ,governors evince a better acquaintance with our writings and movements than the great men of the ,north can boast4 ,her own press is doing much to disseminate our sentiments4 ,the ,united ,states ,telegraph of ,february #ah1 #ahcg1 edited by ,duff ,green1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 was nearly half filled with extracts from our prints4 ,her clergy by publishing apologies for slavery in refutation of our views1 are also making these views known and waking up a spirit of inquiry4 ,indeed1 such is human nature1 and such is the course of the south1 that we have come to believe she will not allow us at the north to think aloud on the subject of ,slavery without knowing what we think and why we think so4 ,she will not allow us to form and express opinions on this subject ,,without ,,knowing ,,our ,,opinions ,,and ,,the ,,grounds ,,of ,,them4 ,she is too much interested1 and knows that we have too much power1 to pass our sentiments by in utter contempt without even ascertaining them4 ,but were the free states completely abolitionized1 not only the presses of the ,anti-,slavery ,societies1 assisted by a few others1 would carry our doctrines to the ,south2 but all the religious1 political and commercial papers of the ,north1 indeed the whole body of our literature1 would breathe the same spirit1 would speak the same language4 ,were she1 therefore1 ever so much averse to the truth1 these numberless publications1 aided by the ,english press and by private correspondence1 would force upon her a knowledge of our faith4 ,the social intercourse of the ,north and ,south would also afford us ample opportunities for publishing our sentiments4 ,the citizens of every state in the ,union are daily meeting in the steam-boats1 coaches1 rail-road cars and hotels of our country4 ,we are constantly walking arm in arm with the ,south1 so that she cannot fail to learn what we think of ,slavery1 and of the duty and pre-eminent safety of immediate emancipation4 ,if we are decided ,abolitionists1 we shall certainly talk enough to let her know what we think and why we think so4 ,many of the youth of the ,south must continue1 as in times past1 to be educated in the free states4 ,mr4 ,calhoun was educated at ,yale ,college4 ,who can doubt that an influence might have been exerted on his mind1 in relation to ,slavery1 of the most happy character1 if the officers of that institution1 if the surrounding community1 if the literature of the day1 had all breathed the spirit of ,arthur ,tappan and ,gerritt ,smith8 ,there are now hundreds of southern youth in our schools1 and hundreds will succeed them1 whose minds would be set in deadly and deathless hostility to the robbery of ,god's poor1 were their teachers ,abolitionists4 ,some think that in such an event1 they would be kept at home4 ,a few might be1 but not all4 ,the salubrity of our climate1 the excellence of our institutions1 the comparative purity of our morals1 give us an advantage1 that the more virtuous and intelligent of southern parents1 would not relinquish1 for fear that their sons should embrace views1 which in their own hearts they must approve4 ,it should also be remembered1 that we not only educate the most precious youth of the ,south1 but we supply many of her pulpits1 professorships1 and shops with our own sons4 ,the great body of southern merchants are northern men4 ,such is the genius of ,slavery that this will continue to be the case4 ,the result would be1 were we all ,abolitionists1 that the adopted sons of the ,south would soon form a strong body of opposition to ,slavery1 laboring to overthrow it1 by their votes1 their arguments and their example4 ,some may think that lynch law would then drive us all from the ,south2 or that we should be received there only on condition of letting ,slavery alone4 ,they are mistaken4 ,were we all ,abolitionists1 we should be defended4 ,the national government would protect us4 ,the constitution guarantees the rights of a citizen in all the states to the citizens of each state2 and had the ,north been thoroughly abolitionized1 she would have demanded and obtained redress for the blood of her innocent citizens1 who have been hung without color of law1 by southern ruffians4 ,be assured when we all become ,abolitionists1 an end will be put to the reign of terror in every part of the country4 ,men of all creeds and colors1 will then go where they please1 speak what they please1 and do what they please1 with perfect safety1 so long as they commit no offence against just and impartial law4 ,the interests of a large class at the ,south must predispose them to favor our enterprise4 ,probably not more than half of the whites are directly interested in the continuance of ,slavery4 ,many hire ,slaves1 who could on equally eligible terms1 and with more peace of conscience1 hire them as free laborers1 were they emancipated4 ,some own land without slaves2 and it is admitted1 that immediately on the abolition of ,slavery1 the soil would rise in value1 and continue to appreciate with the general improvement of the country4 ,a multitude of the whites are too poor to own slaves1 and too ignorant to obtain a living1 except by manual labor1 and ,slavery makes that disreputable1 and comparatively unprofitable4 ,all these classes need only open their eyes1 to see that ,slavery is subversive of their interests3 and we may therefore rationally calculate on having their attention and sympathy4 ,what we have already effected at the ,south1 is a pledge of entire success1 the moment the leading influences at the ,north shall second our efforts instead of counteracting them4 ,several hundred slaves have been set at liberty through the labors of those two distinguished ,abolitionists1 ,david ,nelson and ,james ,g4 ,birney4 ,we have heard of various other instances in which our doctrines have had such successful access to the southern mind4 ,we will mention one4 ,some time since1 in ,new ,york1 a gentleman rose in a monthly concert of prayer for the slaves1 and said3 8,i am a slave-holder from ,virginia4 ,i came to the ,north with violent prejudices against the ,abolitionists1 in consequence of what ,i read in northern papers2 but ,i was determined to investigate the matter for myself4 ,accordingly ,i sought lodgings in the family of an ,abolitionist1 obtained and read your publications1 and attended this monthly concert2 and ,i am now convinced that not only your doctrines but your measures are righteous40 ,and he added1 turning to two gentlemen who sat beside him1 8these gentlemen are also slave-holders from ,virginia1 and my first converts to abolitionism2 and ,i know a thousand men in ,virginia1 who if they could have the truth stated to them1 would agree with us40 ,he then exhorted the ,abolitionists present to go on1 saying 8you have only to correct the public sentiment of the ,north so that their papers shall not misrepresent you at the ,south1 and ,,the ,,work ,,is ,,done40 ,besides many such facts evincive of the power of truth over the southern mind1 and proving that the leaven is working there1 we have frequent admissions from the lips and pens of the defenders of ,slavery at the ,south1 that the ,abolitionists are disturbing the conscience of her people1 that there is more sympathy with them there than it would be prudent to acknowledge2 that if the fanatics are suffered to go on they will succeed2 that they may build up a body of public sentiment which the ,south cannot resist4 ,these facts1 these admissions1 and the very nature of man1 convince us that we have many allies at the ,south4 ,the violence of the friends of ,slavery1 has forced them to a temporary silence2 but no doubt many of them long to unburden their hearts1 and are only waiting to be sustained by a healthy public sentiment among us4--,were we all ,abolitionists1 it would be less odious and less hazardous to avow our sentiments at the ,south2 and she would find a body of ,abolitionists on her own soil1 too respectable to be despised--too strong to be resisted4 ,our expectations of success in making known our sentiments to our southern brethren1 are rendered still more sanguine1 by the history of emancipation in the ,west ,indies4 ,it will be impossible for our countrymen1 to close their eyes against the light1 which the working of the ,british abolition act1 will constantly throw on the duty and safety of immediate emancipation4 ,we are nevertheless told1 with surprising assurance1 by men great and small1 that we have postponed the abolition of ,slavery1 at least half a century2 that our ultra doctrines and violent measures have so incensed the ,south1 that she has settled down in the inflexible determination to keep her slaves4 ,is this human nature8 ,they who think so1 seem to imagine that the work of reform must be carried on solely by coaxing and flattering the sinner3 that a declaration of his guilt and of his duty1 sufficiently plain and unequivocal to excite his displeasure1 is the last way to bring him to repentance4 ,we think otherwise4 ,we take the anger of the ,south as a precious omen of success4 ,the hit bird flutters4 ,she shows herself conscious of the truth of our charges4 ,accuse a consistent temperance man of drunkenness1 he will smile in your face2 accuse the drunkard himself and he will be ready to fight you4 ,the faithful reproof of sin always irritates the sinner1 and his irritation continues until he either repents or forgets the admonition4 ,had our efforts produced no such sensation among slave-holders1 we should be far more ready to despair4 ,she believes unless this discussion is stopped1 ,slavery must cease1 or else she will be disgraced in the eyes of the world1 and exceedingly embarrassed and trammeled in the possession of her slaves4 ,we do not1 however1 attribute all the wrath of the ,south against us1 to awakened conscience1 and the anticipation of our success4 ,we have been shamefully misrepresented by northern papers and mobs1 which have not hesitated to charge us with the worst of motives and the most hostile feelings towards the ,south2 as if we would gladly involve her in a servile war4 ,the belief of these calumnies has doubtless excited her worst passions2 and the moment she learns the truth1 it will create a re-action in our favor4 ,nor should it be overlooked that many of her own citizens have no sympathy for ,slavery1 and no strong prejudices against us4 ,facts also show that argument can appease this very wrath1 to which our opponents attribute such indomitable energy4 ,when the students of ,lane ,seminary1 under the ,presidency of the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,beecher1 commenced a discussion of the subject of ,slavery1 about fifteen young men from the ,south1 all of them slave-holders or sons of slave-holders1 were not a little incensed at the faithful exposure of ,slavery by their fellow-students2 but at the close of the discussion1 all these young men1 save one1 were thorough going ,abolitionists2 and several of them are now lecturing in the free states for the purpose of correcting our public sentiment1 as a necessary and infallible means of rectifying that of the ,south4 ,we believe1 therefore1 that if we succeed in abolitionizing the ,north1 we shall the ,south4 ,were the ,north already abolitionized1 we should do all the good specified above4 ,we should preserve our own liberties1 virtue and religion1 and save the ,south from man's greatest curse1 his own voluntary wickedness4 ,is it not1 then1 desirable that our sentiments should prevail8 ,do they not carry with them the clearest credentials of truth--the very best practical tendencies8 ,is it not the grossest hypocrisy in the ,north to pretend hostility to ,slavery1 when she refuses to do the good which she would rejoice to do1 were she a convert to abolitionism8 ,is it not a crime in her to fight against the diffusion of these sentiments8 ,in one word--ought not the ,abolitionists to do all they can1 in a constitutional and christian manner1 to propagate their views8 ,success at the ,north is certain2 for she has an interest in destroying ,slavery3 her political principles are opposed to it2 and the great mass of her citizens are intelligent and virtuous1 unbought by southern patronage1 and accustomed to abhor cruelty and injustice4 ,our success is also written in the desperate1 but ineffectual endeavors of the opposition1 to prevent the agitation of the subject4 ,by their own showing1 ,slavery cannot endure the light of free inquiry4 ,if northern abettors of ,slavery were not convinced1 that the discussion will inevitably abolitionize the mass of the people1 they would rely on argument rather than on lawless violence4 ,our progress too1 has already been astonishing4 ,in the course of three years nearly a thousand ,anti-,slavery ,societies have been organized2 many enemies have become friends1 and many opposers1 the able advocates of our cause4 ,the prejudices of the people have been softened1 and thousands are now on the eve of joining us1 who lately were our most bitter antagonists4 ,we have made all this progress notwithstanding the abuse of the political and commercial press has been heaped upon us without measure1 and no man could join us but at the peril of his reputation1 if not also his life and property4 ,we are1 therefore1 encouraged to persevere4 ,what have we to accomplish1 which we have not in part achieved1 while our powers and facilities are constantly augmenting4 ,,vindication ,,of ,,measures4 ,we propose to convert the country to our views by measures which some of our opponents1 7ashamed to deny our doctrines17 allege to be the principal ground of their dissent4 ,we think they have failed to make a proper distinction between our measures and the abuse of these measures4 ,the constitutional action of ,congress1 the pulpit1 the press1 public debate1 private conversation1 anti-slavery societies1 these are our measures4 ,if any of our associates1 through human infirmity1 prosecute any of these measures in ill-temper or with indiscretion1 we regret and condemn it4 ,the measures themselves1 and the prosecution of them we approve1 and shall now attempt to vindicate4 ,some object to our organizing ,anti-,slavery ,societies1 which in our opinion they would not do1 if they wished well to our enterprise4 ,for it is manifest that union gives us strength1 influence1 courage1 money and other facilities for carrying on the work2 it lays a foundation for concentrated1 permanent1 economical effort4 ,societies have their stated and occasional meetings1 without giving offence and provoking popular violence4 ,they animate each other by friendly correspondence1 and prosecute their work systematically and vigorously1 by the gratuitous labors of their most enlightened members4 ,a general organization will enable us to petition the various legislative bodies in behalf of human rights1 with unanimity and regularity1 until our objects are gained4 ,we see other ends to be secured by it4 ,there is no disputing our constitutional right to adopt this measure2 which we believe any men of common sense would adopt in our circumstances4 ,even the wisdom of ,christ sanctions the measure1 for what is his church but a society formed for the purpose of converting men to the truth and progressively sanctifying them8 ,nor do we see how we can testify to the ,south our abhorrence of ,slavery unless we form societies for the purpose4 ,had none been formed1 it might be doubted whether there are a thousand decided ,abolitionists in the country4 ,it would be said in ,congress and believed at the ,south1 that we are few in numbers1 and constantly becoming fewer and more contemptible4 ,the existence and rapidly increasing number of our societies precludes the possibility of such misrepresentations and mistakes4 ,as soon as our plan is completed1 in the formation of a flourishing society in each village of the free states1 embodying a majority of the people1 the ,south will know what our public sentiment is4 ,it will be concentrated upon her4 ,she will feel it4 ,we learn from intelligent sources1 that the general opinion at the ,south now is1 that all the citizens of the ,north who are not ,abolitionists1 sympathize with the slave-holders4 ,it is natural they should think so4 ,we must1 therefore1 rank ourselves with the ,abolitionists1 by joining an ,anti-,slavery ,society1 if we would give our decided testimony against the ,,great ,,southern ,,sin4 ,some object to our employing itinerant lecturers4 ,we think they would not object1 if they had considered the matter with friendly feelings4 ,the subject of ,slavery has so many relations in this country1 and involves so many questions in morals1 in biblical literature1 in constitutional law1 in political economy1 in history1 and other departments of learning1 that our stated clergy1 have not sufficient time for its thorough investigation1 were they disposed to make it4 ,we ought not to expect of them more than a faithful exposition of the testimony of ,god against ,slavery1 and in favor of immediate emancipation4 ,as a general rule1 they can do no more4 ,we need an extensive and thorough discussion of the whole subject4 ,nor are all our clergymen yet ,abolitionists4 ,some are with us2 others are against us4 ,this was to be expected4 ,the subject has but just come before the public mind4 ,it found almost all our ministers colonizationists4 ,it would have been surprising1 if they had all embraced our views at the first blush1 without discussion4 ,we don't do things so in ,connecticut4 ,hereafter we doubt not they will all join us2 but in the interim1 we must employ itinerant lecturers1 if we would disseminate what we believe to be the truth4 ,and who will be harmed by it8 ,the truth will hurt no one2 and even 8error10 we quote the words of ,jefferson1 8may safely be tolerated1 so long as reason is left free to combat it40 ,some think it an interference with the rights of the stated ministry to introduce an itinerant lecturer1 without the advice and consent of the settled pastor4 ,how so8 ,suppose there are several clergymen in the same village4 ,one of them being an ,abolitionist does all he can1 by conversation1 the distribution of papers1 and public lectures1 to make the people ,abolitionists1 without distinction of sect or party4 ,is that an interference with the rights of the other pastors8 ,no2 such a course has never been thought so4 ,nor is there the least difference in the two cases4 ,the several churches introduce these pastors to be their teachers4 ,we1 the ,abolitionists1 another body of people1 introduce a man to teach on a particular subject4 ,we have the right2 he has a right to come2 therefore no right is violated4#a ,some object to our employing severe epithets in speaking of ,slavery and slave-holders4 ,they say our condemnation is too hard1 denunciatory and indiscriminate4 ,we wish all who allege this against us would illustrate their meaning and sustain their charge by quoting the offensive expressions4 ,it would put them to great inconvenience4 ,they may think the language 8hard0 and 8too hard10 when it barely expresses what ought to be said1 and cannot be better said4 ,we do indeed tell slave-holders their sins plainly1 calling things by their right names2 but it is only in the conclusion of an argument to prove the charge1 that we justify making it4 ,nor is our language any harder than the sober language of moral philosophers1 and of the most eminent fathers of the church4 ,wesley says3 8,you1 the slave-holder1 first acted the villain in making them slaves1 whether you stole them or bought them40 8,this equally concerns all slave-holders1 of whatever rank and degree3 seeing men-buyers are exactly on a level with men-stealers40 ,the younger ,president ,edwards says3 8,to hold a man in a state of ,slavery is to be every day guilty of robbing him of his liberty1 or of man-stealing40 ,grotius says3 8,those are men-stealers1 who abduct1 keep1 sell or buy slaves or freemen4 ,to steal a man is the highest kind of theft40 ,adam ,clarke says3 8,among the heathen ,slavery was in some sort excusable2 among christians it is ,,an ,,enormity ,,and ,a ,,crime ,,for ,,which ,,perdition ,,has ,,scarcely ,,an ,,adequate ,,state ,,of ,,punishment40 ,we use no language more hard1 more true1 or more indiscriminate4 ,we think these great men understood how to do good1 at least as well as our critics4 ,we are also fully persuaded1 that the ,south is far less incensed at our language than at our sentiments4 ,she is indignant at what we say1 not the manner of saying it4 ,dr4 ,channing had this vulgar prejudice1 that we were injuring our cause by using abusive language4 ,and ,mr4 ,leigh of ,virginia1 took the very book1 in which he reproves us1 and quoted passages which he declared in the ,united ,states ,senate1 rivalled the most insulting language of ,garrison4 ,so difficult is it to tell the truth about ,slavery in palatable terms4 ,we are also censured for sending pictures to the ,south illustrative of the horrors of ,slavery4 ,we do indeed employ the art of painting1 as well as the arts of printing and speaking1 to awaken sympathy for the ,slave2 but our pictures are designed for the ,north1 not the ,south4 ,though some of them may find their way there1 they are never sent to the slaves1 are not apt to fall into their hands1 and not adapted to make them uneasy and turbulent4 ,were they painted as large as life1 and set up at the corner of every street and on every plantation1 the sole effect would be to awe the slaves into subjection1 by reminding them of the consequences of disobedience4 ,we are accused of sending papers to the slaves4 ,the charge is false4 ,our publications are sent exclusively to the free white population4 ,were it in our power to send to the slaves1 we should indeed rejoice at it4 ,if they could read and the mails would carry them papers1 we would prepare tracts on purpose for them1 explaining the doctrines and duties of christianity1 inculcating the forgiveness of injuries1 the patient endurance of wrong1 the faithful service of their masters1 until such time as they can be made free4 ,we would even send them the ,bible1 which says3 8,woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong2 that useth his neighbor's service without wages and giveth him not for his work40 ,jer4 xxii1 #ac4 ,the foregoing are current objections to specific measures of the ,abolitionists4 ,there are other objections of a more general and sweeping character1 which go to condemn all our measures1 calling upon us to disband our societies1 to dismiss our agents1 to break up our printing presses1 and interfere in no way with ,southern ,slavery4 ,we can give these only a brief notice4 ,it is a current objection to our enterprise1 that ,slavery is no concern of ours3 that the ,south alone is interested in the subject1 and we have no right to interfere4 ,interference is a very indefinite term4 ,we acknowledge we have no right to interfere by force of arms2 and have ever disclaimed the intention of interfering1 except by the constitutional and peaceable action of ,congress1 and the application of truth to the hearts and consciences of our southern brethren4 ,as to our having no right to interfere in this manner1 because ,slavery is no concern of ours1 it is a strange doctrine to be promulgated in the nineteenth century by republicans and christians4 ,what interest had we in the struggle of ,greece and ,poland with ,turkish and ,russian despotism8 ,what concern have we in the moral and political degradation of the ,hindoo1 ,hottentot and ,chinese8 ,we have the answer in the motto of the christian church3 ,,our ,,country ,,is ,,the ,,world1 ,,our ,,countrymen ,,mankind4 ,as christians we are concerned for the spiritual welfare of all classes at the ,south2 the great mass of whom are now sunk in infidelity and vice4 ,their alarming destitution of the means of religion1 and the general corruption of their morals1 are justly attributed to ,slavery4 ,what would become of the virtue1 intelligence and religious institutions of ,meriden1 if all the real estate and all the inhabitants of the town1 were held as property by one man8 ,he might be an infidel2 and if he were a christian1 what dependence could be placed on him to support the gospel1 or what confidence would the oppressed people have in his religion8 ,such is the state of things at the ,south4 ,slavery not only creates a distaste for true religion1 but withdraws from its support the laboring class1 which in every free country1 embodies a great proportion of the most devoted and liberal christians4 ,there is also much in the habits which ,slavery fosters1 to indispose pious youth to enter the ministry and to disqualify them for its laborious duties2 while many who enter upon the work1 abandon it for secular pursuits1 or remove to the free states1 where they can preach the whole gospel with more security and success4 ,not only must a slave-holding community be destitute of men and means to make known the way of salvation1 but the preaching of the gospel will generally be inefficacious with all classes2 with the masters1 for ,slavery fosters in them the worst passions of human nature1 affords them facilities for the unbounded indulgence of their appetites1 and relieves them from the necessity of personal exertion for a livelihood2 with the poor white population1 for ,slavery accumulates the wealth of the community in a few hands1 renders free labor disreputable1 and multiplies temptations to low and degrading vices2 with the free people of color1 for ,slavery holds most of them in a state of abject poverty1 ignorance and sin2 with the slaves1 for ,slavery robs them of the bible1 of self-control1 of hope1 of parent1 wife and child1 of the best motives to be virtuous1 and of the best evidences of christianity2 it makes them vicious2 it makes them sceptics4 ,we are concerned for these perishing millions4 ,slavery is a concern of ours for it involves our personal interests4 ,it throws back upon us a moral pestilence2 it scatters the seeds of intemperance1 licentiousness1 and infidelity2 it popularizes gambling1 ,sabbath breaking1 profaneness and lawless violence2 it casts an undeserved stigma on manual labor1 it encourages idleness and prodigality4 ,it disgraces us in the eyes of the whole world2 it impairs our national strength2 it encroaches on the spirit of liberty2 it is constantly undermining our free institutions4 ,the northern states have no greater enemy4 ,were ,slavery abolished1 her religion1 her morals1 her liberties1 her general prosperity would be far more secure4 ,the chief source of danger to the integrity of our union1 and to our domestic tranquility would be removed2 a greater market would be opened for our manufactures1 and a wider field for our industry and enterprise2 the emancipated slaves would purchase our goods1 and our youth could enter into competition with the sons of the ,south in raising cotton1 c4 without becoming slave-holders4 ,labor would soon cease to be disgraceful2 property would accumulate in every part of the land2 education would flourish2 religion would revive2 the entire country would rejoice in peace and plenty under the smiles of an approving providence4 ,tell us not1 that we have no concern in removing the greatest sin1 curse and shame of the nation1 and in securing for ourselves and our posterity1 a truly free and virtuous government4 ,it is said that ,slavery is an agitating subject1 which cannot be discussed without disturbing the peace and harmony of our churches4 ,why so8 ,this subject can be discussed in the churches in ,great ,britain without discord and division4 ,we think it could be here1 were it not for the corruption of our public sentiment1 which can be corrected only by free discussion4 ,it is where the truth needs most to be heard1 that it creates most opposition and variance4 ,primitive christianity was accused of turning the world upside down4 ,the temperance cause has occasioned strife1 and separated 8very friends40 ,we hold to the ,apostolic injunction3 8first pure1 then peaceable40 ,we love a virtuous peace4 ,a truce with sin we abhor4 ,if we must surrender our liberties1 and connive at iniquity1 to avoid a war1 we say with ,patrick ,henry1 8,the war is inevitable1 and let it come2 ,i repeat it1 sir1 let it come40 ,who does not see that if polygamy were common in our churches1 it would create a terrible excitement to preach against it1 and lead to the dismission of pastors8 ,yet any one would acknowledge1 that religion could never prosper1 while the church was so corrupt2 and that she had better be torn into ten thousand fragments1 than that polygamy should continue in vogue2 for she would soon be re-organized in greater purity and strength4 ,so it is with a slave-holding ,church2 and with a ,church in which the spirit of ,slavery is so rife1 that she will not live in peace with her ,anti-,slavery members1 nor tolerate the exercise of their ,constitutional rights4 ,but we do not believe this of our ,churches4 ,we think the more this 8delicate and agitating0 subject is discussed among us1 the less unpleasant excitement will prevail4 ,it is said that our measures to overthrow ,slavery are unconstitutional4 ,our opponents may easily test this question by bringing it before the ,u4 ,s4 ,court4 ,we claim to be acting constitutionally4 ,our plan of operations is essentially the same as that pursued by the early ,anti-,slavery ,societies1 of which such men as ,john ,jay1 ,benj4 ,franklin1 ,benj4 ,rush1 and ,jonathan ,edwards1 were active members2 some of whom were engaged in forming our federal ,constitution4 ,did they not understand that instrument8 ,did their contemporaries ever dispute their right to discuss the merits of ,slavery8 ,have not our citizens1 from time immemorial and without restriction1 exercised this right8 ,does not the ,constitution1 instead of guaranteeing ,slavery against this moral influence1 guarantee to us the right of employing it1 by forbidding ,congress to pass any law abridging the freedom of speech and of the press8 ,we are told our measures are an invasion of the rights of property4 ,this objection assumes1 what nature denies1 that man may be rightfully held as property4 ,blackstone maintains in his ,commentaries1 that man cannot be reduced by any just process to a state of absolute ,slavery2 that he cannot be born in that state1 nor sell himself into it1 nor be placed there when taken captive in war1 without flagrant injustice4 ,we also hold it to be self-evident1 that all men are born free and equal1 and entitled to certain inalienable rights1 among which are life1 liberty1 and the pursuit of happiness4 ,the ,slave owns himself by grant of his ,creator4 ,slavery is1 therefore1 an invasion of his rights of property4 ,it is the slave-master who makes an aggression on the property of others1 not we1 who exhort him to relinquish that property4 ,the ,slaves being the rightful owners of themselves1 the abolition of ,slavery is merely an act declarative of this indisputable title4 ,nor do we seek the destruction of ,slavery1 except through the constitutional authorities4 ,even were the slaves the property of their masters1 it would be lawful for us to persuade them to part with it4 ,would it not8 ,the ,legislatures of the several states have a right to abolish ,slavery4 ,have they not8 ,it has hitherto been conceded1 that the law making power of every slave-holding country has this right4 ,may we not then persuade the states to exercise it1 by convincing them of the moral wrong and frightful impolicy of ,slavery8 ,should it be said that the government encouraged its citizens to invest property under the protection of the slave code1 and therefore ought not to abolish ,slavery without indemnifying them1 our answer is1 that mankind are under a paramount obligation not to invest property under the protection of immoral laws2 that all such laws are in their nature null and void from the beginning2 that governments have always exercised the power of correcting abuses2 and there is no greater abuse than ,slavery2 none more unjust and oppressive2 none more pernicious and perilous to our national interests4 ,some object1 that the abolition of ,slavery on our plan1 without compensation to the masters1 would be taking away the bread of poor widows and orphans4 ,we have no plan4 ,we say only1 that ,slavery is wrong1 and ought forthwith to be abandoned4 ,the ,south will adopt and prosecute her own plan4 ,when her ,legislatures abolish ,slavery1 they can1 if they will1 provide for widows and children1 who are left destitute by that act4 ,if they will not do it1 we will raise contributions for their relief2 for we deem the claims of charity1 nearly as imperative as the claims of justice4 ,but we can never sanction the principle of ,slavery1 by saying1 that slave-holders have a right to compensation for restoring to the slaves their stolen rights4 ,we must always consider it a greater hardship to be unjustly held as a slave1 than to be made poor by freeing such slave4 ,it is a sad blunder in morals1 that this man may make that man1 perhaps fifty other men1 poor for life1 lest he himself should be a pauper2 that this man may make that man poor by dishonesty1 lest he himself should become poor by being honest4 ,no objection to our measures is more senseless1 or more common1 than an alleged tendency to dissolve the ,union4 ,which had we better surrender1 the ,union or our liberties8 ,the ,union is a curse instead of a blessing1 if we must surrender for it1 freedom of speech and personal protection in any part of the country4 ,and if ,slavery continues to be protected by public sentiment1 and by popular violence1 how long could the ,union last1 even were all the abolitionists this day laid in their graves8 ,slavery endangers the integrity of the ,union1 more than all other enemies2 and unless soon destroyed1 will be the destroyer both of it and us4 ,if we love the ,union1 we should labor to overthrow ,slavery4 ,wesley somewhere defines fanaticism1 to be the expectation of accomplishing ends without the use of means4 ,let us not hope for the peaceable destruction of ,slavery1 by such a fanatical course4 ,let us do something2 and if we do any thing1 what can be done which the abolitionists are not attempting8 ,in doing this we shall not peril the ,union1 but preserve it4 ,the ,south will never venture on the mad experiment of secession1 because the ,north is opposed to ,slavery4 ,such an act would be suicidal4 ,it would encourage the slaves to revolt4 ,it would leave her defenceless against the invasion of a foreign foe4 ,it would release us from the constitutional obligation to suppress domestic violence1 and to restore fugitives from service4 ,it would open several thousand miles of frontier1 over which her slaves would escape into a land of liberty4 ,it would make the south 8a good country to emigrate from10 and she would find herself losing her best citizens1 and her condition becoming more and more exposed and perilous4 ,she would be ruined4 ,she knows it4 ,were our legislators in ,congress to retort her stereotyped threat to dissolve the ,union1 with a challenge to do it1 if she dares1 we should hear no more of this empty bravado4 ,it is said1 if our measures should be successful1 the slaves would resort to the ,north1 and coming up upon our farms1 and into our shops1 like the frogs of ,egypt1 reduce the wages of our laborers4 ,no apprehension is more groundless4 ,the free colored people of the ,south are quite numerous1 and very much oppressed2 yet few of them leave that part of the country2 though the whites would be very glad to have them do so1 because they render the slaves uneasy1 and come into competition with slave labor4 ,but were slavery abolished1 the whites would desire to retain all the colored people1 in order to employ them in cultivating the soil2 precisely as is now the case in the ,west ,indies4 ,nor would the slaves be willing to leave the land of their nativity1 and of their kindred1 to reside in the cold regions of the north1 to the business and climate of which they are uninured1 and where they must labor more severely to obtain a comfortable living4 ,but should they come1 what then8 ,do you prefer perpetual slavery8 ,it is also objected to our enterprise1 that the immediate abolition of slavery1 would be 8letting the slaves loose0 to be idlers1 vagabonds1 thieves1 and cut-throats4 ,this objection is more forcible against gradual emancipation1 which would throw upon society a multitude of freedmen1 while the rest of their brethren still remained in bondage4 ,the holders of slaves would not encourage the free by giving them labor2 who would1 therefore1 be more apt to be idle and vicious2 while their release would excite uneasiness in the minds of the unemancipated4 ,the objection is also equally strong against prospective emancipation1 according to which the slaves would all be set free at once2 but not until some time after the passage of the act4 ,experience and human nature both teach us1 that slaves under such circumstances are more apt to be overworked1 than to be better prepared for the enjoyment of freedom4 ,the objection is1 therefore1 good for perpetual slavery1 or good for nothing4 ,it is good for nothing4 ,immediate emancipation would indeed deliver the slave and his family at once from the hands of an irresponsible master1 and empower him to go where he pleases and do what he pleases1 so long as he breaks none of the laws which restrain other men4 ,and why not8 ,he could not otherwise rejoin his wife and children1 whom the slave trade has torn from him1 nor secure fair wages1 nor be safe from oppression4 ,but this is not letting him loose to do evil4 ,,the ,,laws ,,of ,,slavery ,,let ,,the ,,masters ,,loose ,,upon ,,the ,,slaves1 instead of the abolition of slavery letting the slaves loose upon the masters4 ,were there a law authorizing the inhabitants of ,meriden to seize the inhabitants of ,berlin1 to confine them to jail limits1 and work them without wages1 to separate husbands and wives1 parents and children1 and even to kill them by that very indefinite thing1 called 8moderate correction20 this law would let the inhabitants of ,meriden loose upon the inhabitants of ,berlin2 for it would protect the former in the grossest outrages upon the latter4 ,but the repeal of this law would not let the inhabitants of ,berlin loose upon us4 ,extending them protection would not be letting them loose upon us4 ,had we the power of repealing the law2 or if not1 possessing the power of not enforcing it1 we should find our security in doing so4 ,the very way to make them respect our rights1 would be to respect theirs4 ,immediate emancipation places the slaves under the control as well as protection of the laws of the ,state against idleness1 vagrancy1 theft1 murder1 and all other aggressions on the rights of men4 ,we are told that the ,slaves are not fit to be free2 and therefore our scheme of immediate emancipation1 if adopted1 would prove a curse to them and the country4 ,nothing is more false4 ,the ,slaves are men2 and therefore they are more fit for freedom than for slavery2 more fit to be treated as persons than as things2 to be governed by appeals to the reason and conscience than by brute force4 ,god made man to be free and adapted him to that condition4 ,a state of ,slavery is unnatural to him4 ,nor can his nature so change1 that he shall be more fit to be treated as a brute1 than as a free moral agent4 ,slaves have often been set at liberty1 and have always proved their capacity for freedom1 by their industry1 frugality and ready obedience to the laws4 ,and why1 we would ask1 should they be thought unfit to be put under the control and protection of the same laws1 which govern freemen8 ,do their vices or their ignorance1 disqualify them8 ,while ,slavery lasts1 they will remain equally degraded4 ,are they ,sabbath breakers8 ,slavery has taught them to desecrate the day of rest1 by making it to them almost the only day of recreation1 the only day for visiting1 for trading and for tilling their gardens4 ,are they thieves8 ,they consider stealing from their masters to be only making reprisals for the robbery of their just wages2 while many of them are strongly tempted to steal by the desire of more or better food4 ,are they liars8 ,they will continue such1 while they are slaves4 ,they will pretend sickness1 to avoid labor2 they will say they do not wish to be free1 lest their masters should sell them into distant banishment2 they will lie to conceal the unavoidable delinquences1 for which slaves are daily upbraided and beaten4 ,are they idle8 ,as slaves they have no hope of reward to stimulate their exertions4 ,they will work much better1 as one facetiously expresses it1 for ,mr4 ,,cash than for ,mr4 ,,lash4 ,let their wives and children be dependent on their industry for support1 a far more noble and efficient motive than the fear of violence1 to call forth the energies of man4 ,are they improvident8 ,they cannot learn to save property1 until they are allowed to hold it in their own right4 ,make them free1 and then that faculty of their nature1 which the phrenologists call 8acquisitiveness0 will prompt them to save their earnings4 ,are they licentious8 ,then give them their liberty1 that the husband and father may be the legal protector of his wife and daughters4 ,are they revengeful8 ,redress their wrongs1 and they will forgive their oppressors4 ,are they heathen8 ,take your foot from their necks1 before you disgrace christianity1 by attempting to convert them4 ,are they ignorant of letters8 ,so are a majority of the freemen of the world2 nor is it to be expected that slave-holders will teach their slaves to read and write1 until they repent of ,slavery itself4 ,the vices of the ,slaves are inseparable from their condition4 ,if they are not now fit for freedom1 ,slavery1 which unfitted them1 will perpetuate their unfitness4 ,nor is their degradation of mind and morals a disqualification for freedom4 ,you may find its counterpart in the characters of a large class of citizens in every country4 ,while ,slavery continues1 what is the prospect of their becoming better fitted for freedom8 ,where are the men and the means8 ,who will teach them8 ,who will support the teachers8 ,the south cannot supply her free population with instruction4 ,even with the aid of the north1 she is very destitute of the means of religion4 ,nor would she be willing to adopt a general system of education for the improvement of the ,slaves4 ,instead of giving her money to fit them for freedom1 she would hunt from society any persons1 who should seriously propose the measure4 ,they know little of the spirit of ,slavery1 who imagine1 that the south was disposed to prepare her ,slaves for freedom1 until the abolitionists roused her to resistance4 ,had she really wished to free her ,slaves1 she would have welcomed us as coadjutors1 at least she would not have abandoned her own plan1 because ours was offensive to her4 ,she never intended to fit her ,slaves for freedom4 ,she does not intend it now4 ,her laws1 in most of the ,states1 are against it4 ,the mass of her ,slaves will1 no doubt1 be as unfit for freedom fifty years hence1 if ,slavery should continue so long1 as they are to day4 ,the ,british abolitionists were once deceived by this syren song of preparation1 but now in allusion to the words of ,paul2 8the glorious gospel of the blessed ,god20 they exclaim1 ,,the ,,glorious ,,doctrine ,,of ,,immediate ,,emancipation6 ,they found it the ,,power ,,of ,,god1 to awaken the slumbering conscience of the nation2 and the ,,wisdom ,,of ,,god as a measure of relief to their ,slaves4 ,we shall find it so4 ,our opponents also object to emancipation upon the soil4 ,not all1 but some of them1 are in favor of ,colonization as a remedy for ,slavery1 and others execrate us for our opposition to it as a scheme for benefiting ,africa4 ,we are especially averse to the former class4 ,when men say1 that the ,slaves ought not to be freed1 until they can be colonized1 we ought to make resistance1 for the following reasons3 #a4 ,we ought to resist every wicked prejudice2 and they who object to emancipation on the soil1 do so1 in obedience to such a prejudice4 ,they say the colored people can never rise in this country4 ,they maintain that our aversion to the race is instinctive and natural2 though we find no one averse to associating with them as slaves4 ,the two races are certainly on very intimate terms at the ,south4 ,it is only when they come as freemen between the wind and our nobility1 that they taint the air4 ,we1 therefore1 say1 this prejudice is unnatural and sinful2 and instead of fostering it1 we ought to rebuke1 and check it in ourselves and others4 ,some of us recollect the time1 when as ,colonizationists we wished to get rid of the colored people1 and were indignant at them for being unwilling to leave the country4 ,may we not repent of such a feeling and condemn in it others1 without being hunted from society8 #b4 ,by retaining the emancipated slaves on the soil1 we can at less expense of men and means educate and christianize them4 ,were we to send them beyond the ,mississippi or to ,africa1 it would take ten times the number of ,missionaries and ,teachers1 that we are now supporting among the heathen1 to save them from sinking into barbarism4 ,but if they should be retained as free laborers in the service of their present masters1 those masters would provide for their instruction1 and without diverting means from other objects1 the delightful spectacle would soon be witnessed of ,schools and ,churches springing up among them1 through the voluntary efforts of the ministers and christians of the ,south4 #c4 ,the labor of the ,slaves is wanted on the plantations at the ,south4 ,to withdraw such an amount of labor would bankrupt the entire country4 ,nor could their places be supplied1 except by the worst population of the old world2 by men1 whose religion1 whose morals1 whose politics are all1 in the highest degree1 hostile to our national interests4 ,the emancipated ,slaves1 on the contrary1 would be prejudiced in favor of the protestant faith1 and prove the staunchest friends of our free institutions4 #d4 ,the ,south will not consent to the colonization of the ,slaves4 ,she is willing we should contribute to carry off the free people of color1 8the nuisances10 8the disturbing force10 as she terms them2 and also those ,slaves1 whom the more conscientious of her citizens1 who dare not die ,slave-holders1 may emancipate for the purpose4 ,but she is unwilling we should go a step further4 ,she does not believe we can get the means of doing more4 ,we think1 if a place were provided in ,africa1 and we had the means necessary to transport every ,slave there1 and were to go and tell the south1 about the sinfulness of holding ,slaves1 when they can be colonized1 and call upon her in good earnest1 to give them up1 she would denounce us as fanatics1 and pass no more resolutions in favor of colonization4 ,she is now at peace with it1 because she does not fear it1 and hopes to find it of use in repelling the abolitionists1 in letting off1 as by a safety valve1 the pious feeling of her own citizens1 and in expelling the free people of color4 #e4 ,the ,slaves are unwilling to leave the country2 and will never consent to do it1 but on such a dread alternative as no christian people should impose4 ,first give them their liberty1 put them under the protection of impartial law1 and treat them with kindness1 and then if they ask our aid to remove their families to ,africa1 their determination to leave this country will evidently be spontaneous4 #f4 ,it is better for them to remain in the employment of southern capitalists1 who are able to pay them wages for their labor than to go out into the wilderness as paupers1 where there is no capital1 and the very necessaries of life1 are to be created4 #g4 ,they cannot be colonized without an appalling expense of money1 life and comfort4 #h4 ,to colonize the ,slaves of this country on account of their color1 would be in the highest degree dishonorable to christianity4 ,were ,christ on earth1 he would associate with the despised colored man in preference to many who think themselves the best society4 ,can we act1 as he would not and yet exemplify his religion8 ,what1 too1 would be the effect on the minds of the heathen1 nearly all of whom are colored men1 were they to learn1 that that nation1 which makes the loudest professions of attachment to christianity1 had banished more than two millions of her citizens to a land of pagan darkness1 being offended at the color of their skin8 #i4 ,to send all the slaves to ,africa would be fatal to the natives of that ,continent4 ,said ,mr4 ,pinney1 agent of the ,colonization ,society1 and once ,gov4 of ,liberia1 #8the colony must be kept pure1 or it will either enslave or exterminate the ,african tribes4' ,send #b1ejj1jjj of people to ,africa1 four-fifths of whom are in heathenish darkness1 and all of whom have been taught1 by the example of their masters1 that slavery is morally right1 and labor disgraceful1 would they hesitate to buy ,slaves of the native ,princes1 or to reduce their captives to a state of servitude8 ,it is said1 there is as strong a line of demarkation between the colonists1 and the heathen1 though of the same color1 as there is between the white and colored people in this country4 ,but if they should not become slave-holders1 would they not gradually exterminate the native tribes for the sake of revenging injuries1 and possessing themselves of their lands8 ,said ,mr4 ,pinney1 the colony must be kept pure1 or such a result is inevitable2 and it cannot be kept pure1 unless it is conducted on a very small scale4 ,we doubt whether a commercial and military colony can be so far controlled by moral principle1 as to avoid these results4 ,for if the emigrants were all pious persons1 and few in number1 their posterity might become both vicious and powerful4 ,we are not1 therefore1 without our objections to ,african colonization1 even if it should be distinctly abandoned as a remedy for slavery1 and conducted with caution1 and on a small scale4 ,we know not to what it may grow4 ,we like better1 the good1 old1 apostolic plan of sending missionaries to the heathen--men1 who have no commercial and selfish interests to subserve1 and who bear no hostile weapons4 ,there is danger that a colony1 however carefully guarded1 will misrepresent christianity and fatally prejudice the native mind against it4 ,the fact1 that not a native has yet been converted to christianity1 in connection with the colony of ,liberia1 justifies the inquiry1 whether the scheme is a good one for ,africa4 ,the transportation of all our ,slaves would confessedly form a colony too large and corrupt for the safety of the native tribes2 and we tremble for the result of the present experiment4 ,in this argument we have not denied the practicability of colonizing two millions and a half of people1 at an expense of #abe1jjj1jjj4 ,we think it enough to show the thing ought not to be done4 ,,conclusion4 ,with this view of our sentiments1 of their practical value1 and of the propriety and wisdom of our measures1 we leave you to judge whether abolitionists deserve to be out-lawed in their own country2 to be loaded with abuse and contumely2 to be denied a right1 conceded to all other decent men1 of advocating their cause in our public halls and churches2 and to be left1 unprotected1 to the violence of ill-minded men8 ,we beg you also to consider1 how terrific would be the prospects of our country1 were we in obedience to popular clamor1 to disband our societies1 and retire from the field4 ,who would ever again venture to raise his voice in behalf of the down-trodden slave8 ,should any one have the temerity to do it1 how soon would he be overwhelmed by the violence of the pro-slavery party1 encouraged by past success1 and maddened by the remembrance of the formidable array of talent1 wealth1 and piety1 which they once encountered4 ,we verily believe1 that the peaceable abolition of ,slavery depends1 under ,god1 on our perseverance4 ,moral means must continue to be used by us until they issue in success1 or slavery will terminate in a bloody revolution4 ,we anticipate such an event1 as a possibility1 with painful emotions2 and feel disposed to look1 in the use of all lawful means1 to that ,god1 who has promised to do for us1 exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think1 that so dire a catastrophe may be averted4 ,we earnestly solicit your co-operation4 ,we might have said much more to correct misapprehensions1 refute calumnies1 and fortify our positions2 but our limits forbid it4 ,we may have said some things1 which you will disapprove2 for we have ingenuously confessed our most obnoxious sentiments2 but if you will give us credit for sincerity and weigh our arguments1 we shall expect to stand better in your opinion1 than our calumniators would have us4 ,with much respect1 ,,philo ,,pratt1 ,in behalf of the ,meriden ,,walter ,,webb1 ,anti-,slavery ,society1 ,,isaac ,i4 ,,tibbals4 ,,footnote3 #a ,as our enterprise is not sectarian but national and catholic1 it is the highest pitch of arrogance for any sect to denounce this measure as a violation of ecclesiastical order4 ,religious freedom demands that all such claims should be at once and steadfastly resisted4 ,,transcriber',s ,,note ,obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources4 ,some hyphens in words have been silently removed1 some added1 when a predominant preference was found in the original book4 ,except for those changes noted below1 all misspellings in the text1 and inconsistent or archaic usage1 have been retained4 ,pg #i3 #8fraud and villany' replaced by #8fraud and villainy'4 ,pg #aa3 #8the emancipatton of' replaced by #8the emancipation of'4 ,pg #aa3 #8they abvocate this' replaced by #8they advocate this'4 ,pg #ag3 #8until onr objects' replaced by #8until our objects'4 ,pg #ag3 #8is his chnrch' replaced by #8is his church'4 ,pg #ah3 #8intinerant lecturers' replaced by #8itinerant lecturers'4 ,pg #ba3 #8,their is also' replaced by #8,there is also'4 ,pg #bb3 #8and enterprize2 the' replaced by #8and enterprise2 the'4 ,pg #be3 #8the constistutional' replaced by #8the constitutional'4 ,pg #bf3 #8not lettting him' replaced by #8not letting him'4 ,pg #bg3 #8for while slaves' replaced by #8for which slaves'4 ,pg #cj3 #8the best soeiety' replaced by #8the best society'4