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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32500-8.txt b/32500-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0bd29d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/32500-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10494 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Discussion on American Slavery, by +George Thompson and Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Discussion on American Slavery + +Author: George Thompson + Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge + +Release Date: May 23, 2010 [EBook #32500] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISCUSSION ON AMERICAN SLAVERY *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + DISCUSSION + ON + AMERICAN SLAVERY, + + BETWEEN + + GEORGE THOMPSON, ESQ., + + AGENT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SOCIETY FOR THE ABOLITION OF + SLAVERY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND + + REV. ROBERT J. BRECKINRIDGE, + + DELEGATE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH + IN THE UNITED STATES, TO THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND + AND WALES: + + HOLDEN IN THE + + REV. DR. WARDLAW'S CHAPEL, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, + + On the Evenings of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th of June, 1836, + + WITH AN APPENDIX. + + + NEGRO UNIVERSITIES PRESS + NEW YORK + + + + + Originally published in 1836 + by Isaac Knapp, Boston + + Reprinted from a copy in the collections + of the Brooklyn Public Library + + Reprinted 1969 by + Negro Universities Press + A DIVISION OF GREENWOOD PRESS, INC. + NEW YORK + + SBN 8371-2766-1 + + PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The following were the preliminary steps connected with the Discussion +reported in the succeeding pages:-- + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE'S Letter, expressing his willingness to meet Mr. +THOMPSON at Glasgow, was occasioned by the following passage in Mr. +THOMPSON'S Letter, which appeared in the _London Patriot_, in reply to +the extracts inserted in that Journal, from the work published by the +Rev. Drs. COX and HOBY, entitled, "The Baptists in America":-- + +"In the mean time, I am ready to meet Dr. COX in Exeter Hall, in his +own chapel, or in any other building, to justify my charges against +America and American Ministers; my general policy in the Anti-Slavery +cause, and any particular act of which Dr. COX complains. I am ready, +also, and anxious to meet any American Clergyman, or other gentleman, +in any part of Great Britain, to discuss the general question, or the +propriety of that interference, of which so much has been said by +persons who are otherwise engaged, and most praiseworthily so, in +interfering with the institutions, social, political, and religious, +of every _other_ quarter of the Globe." + + * * * * * + + +MR. THOMPSON'S CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. + +_To the Editor of the London Patriot._ + +SIR, + +A friend in this city, with whom I have stopped for a day or two, on +my way to Scotland, has put into my hands your paper of the 23d inst., +which contains Mr. George Thompson's letter of the 13th, attacking Dr. +Cox. + +As to the difficulties which exist between those two gentlemen, I, of +course, have no right to speak. + +Mr. Thompson, however, has not contented himself with urging a +particular controversy with Dr. Cox;--nor even a general controversy, +free for all who desire to engage him, or call in question his +'charges against America, and American Ministers'--as slave-holding +Ministers and Christians on the other side of the water. 'But,' says +he, 'I am ready, also, and anxious to meet any American clergyman, or +other gentleman, in any part of Great Britain, to discuss the general +question, &c.:' that is, the general question of his 'charges against +America and American ministers, touching the whole subject of African +slavery in that country.' + +AFTER mature and prayerful consideration, and full consultation with a +few friends, I am not able to see how I can avoid taking notice of +this direct, and almost personal challenge; which, I have some reason +to suspect, was probably intended for me. + +AND yet I feel myself encompassed by many difficulties. For some may +consider me defending the institution of slavery; whereas I myself +believe it to be contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and the natural +rights of men. Others might naturally look for more full proofs, and +more exact information than I can give, when relying almost entirely +upon mere memory. While by far the greater part, I much fear, are as +impatient of all investigation on the subject, as, I am sorry to say, +they seem to me, totally unacquainted with its real condition in +America. + +I have concluded, however, to accept the somewhat boastful challenge +of Mr. Thompson. And I trust the following suggestions and conditions +will be considered most reasonable, when the peculiar circumstances of +the case are considered:-- + +1. I will meet Mr. Thompson at Glasgow, any time during the three +first weeks of June; and spend three or four hours a day, for as many +days consecutively as may be necessary--in discussing the 'general +question,' as involved in his 'charges against America, and American +Ministers,' in reference to the whole subject of slavery there. + +2. BUT as my whole object is to get before the British churches +certain views and suggestions on this subject, which I firmly believe +are indispensable, to prevent the total alienation of British and +American christians from each other; I shall not consider it necessary +to commence the discussion at all, unless such arrangements are +previously made, as will secure the publication, in a cheap and +permanent form, of all that is said and done on the occasion. + +3. I must insist on a patient and fair hearing, by responsible +persons. Therefore I will agree that the audience shall consist of a +select number of gentlemen, say from fifty to five hundred; to be +admitted by ticket only,--and a committee previously agreed on to +distribute the tickets--only to respectable persons. + +I take it for granted that Mr. Thompson would himself prefer Glasgow +to any other city, for the scene of this meeting: as it is the home of +his most active supporters. And while the selection of the particular +time of it cannot be important to him, my own previous arrangements +are such, as to leave me no wider range than that proposed to his +choice above. + +MORE minute arrangements are left to the future; and they can, no +doubt, be easily made. + +I must ask the favour of an early insertion of this note, in the +_Patriot_; and beg to say, through you, to the Editor of the _Glasgow +Chronicle_, that I shall feel obliged by its republication in his +paper. + + R. J. BRECKINRIDGE, + + A Delegate from the General Assembly of the + Presbyterian Church of the U. S. America, + to the Congregational Union of England and + Wales. + + Durham, May 28,1836. + + * * * * * + + +TO THE EDITOR OF THE GLASGOW CHRONICLE. + + London, June 1, 1836. + +SIR, + +I forward you, without a moment's delay, a copy of this evening's +_Patriot_, containing a letter from the Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, +of Baltimore, United States. The following is my reply, which you will +oblige me by immediately inserting, in company with the communication +to which it refers. + +I feel thankful that my overture has been accepted; and, +notwithstanding the arrangements I had made to remain in London during +the whole of the present month, and the announcement of my name in the +public advertisements to lecture during the forthcoming week, I shall, +D. V. be in Glasgow on Tuesday next; and shall be ready to meet Mr. +Breckinridge, in the Religious Institution House, South Frederick +Street, at noon of that day, to settle the preliminaries of the +discussion, which, I trust, will commence the following morning. + +It is my earnest hope, that every thing said and done, will be in +accordance with gentlemanly feeling and christian courtesy. + + Your's respectfully, + + GEORGE THOMPSON. + + * * * * * + + +NOTE. + +The Speeches and Documents in this Pamphlet having been submitted to +the correction of the Speakers, the Report may be relied on as an +accurate and full account of the important proceedings. + + + + +DISCUSSION. + + + + +FIRST NIGHT--MONDAY JUNE 13. + + +Agreeably to public advertisement, the discussion betwixt Mr. GEORGE +THOMPSON and the REV. R. J. BRECKINRIDGE, was opened Monday evening, +June 13. By half-past six, the hour fixed on by the Committee, Dr. +Wardlaw's Chapel contained 1,200 individuals, the number agreed +upon by both parties. A great number could not gain admittance, in +consequence of the tickets allotted, being bought up on Saturday. On +the entrance of the two antagonists, accompanied by the Committee, the +audience warmly cheered them. By appointment of the Committee-- + + * * * * * + +REV. DR. WARDLAW took the Chair. Having thanked the Committee for the +honor they had conferred on him, and which, he trusted, would meet +with the concurrence of the meeting, he said he had accepted the +honorable post with the utmost confidence in the forbearance and +propriety of conduct of the two gentlemen--or antagonists, should he +call them? who were to address the meeting; and also, with the most +perfect confidence in the good conduct and sense of propriety +possessed by the meeting. Had he not possessed such confidence, he +would never have thought of undertaking the present task. Had he +imagined that the present meeting would give way to similar +expressions of feeling as had taken place within these walls on some +former occasions, he would at once have declined the task, as one for +which he was totally unfit,--he was not fit to manage storms. The +parties on the present occasion were different from those to whom they +had listened at the time to which he referred. One of them, it was +true, was the same, and his character all of them knew. They knew his +sentiments, his zeal, his eloquence, his devotedness to the great +cause of which he was the fearless advocate. In reference to his +opponent, on the present occasion, he would not dishonor that +gentleman by naming him along with an individual who had stood before +them formerly in opposition to their eloquent friend. He felt it to be +his duty to introduce to them his friend--for he was allowed to call +him so--the Rev. Mr. Breckinridge. That gentleman had come to this +country, the accredited agent from the Presbyterian church--a large +and influential body of Christians in America, to the congregational +union of England and Wales. It was proper that he should state to the +meeting that Mr. Breckinridge was no advocate of slavery--that he +believed it to be opposed to the letter and spirit of the gospel, and +as a proof how far he was in earnest in his professions in this +matter, he had freely parted with a patrimonial estate so far as it +consisted of slaves. (Cheers.) Having stated this, it might be further +necessary that he should mention what gave rise to the present +meeting. They were all aware, then, he said, that since his return +from America, Mr. George Thompson had been lecturing in various parts +of the kingdom. In the course of his labors he was accused of having +brought extravagant and unfounded charges against the American nation, +and especially against the ministers of religion in that country. In +consequence of this, Mr. Thompson published a challenge in the Patriot +newspaper, in which he called upon any American minister to come +forward and defend his brethren, if he were able, from the charges +which he brought against them. This challenge, through the columns of +the same newspaper, had been accepted by Mr. Breckinridge, and now +they were here met to enter upon the discussion. The Chairman then +read the regulations with regard to the conducting of the discussion +which had been agreed upon by the Committee. In addition to what they +contained, he might add that the chairman was not to be considered +judge of what was relevant or irrelevant, nor was the speaker to be +interrupted on any account. He would especially beg their serious +attention to the rule requiring the entire suppression of every +symptom of approbation or disapprobation. He trusted that his +interference would not be required, but if it were he would feel +himself called upon by imperative duty to enforce this regulation with +the utmost strictness. Mr. Breckinridge had heard from some quarter or +other very unfavorable accounts of the decorum of a Glasgow audience. +He hoped that their conduct on the present occasion would disabuse +that gentleman's mind of any unfavorable opinion he might entertain of +them on that score. In conclusion, he might repeat, that he placed the +most perfect reliance on the good sense and gentlemanly feeling of +both speakers. Let them both, then, be heard fairly. He solicited +favor for neither--he demanded justice for both. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, it was not easy to conceive of circumstances +that were more embarrassing than those in which he was placed this +evening. They had already taken for granted all that had been said and +done on one side of the question; their minds had been already made up +to oppose those conclusions to which it was his purpose to bring them. +Their affections and feelings had long been engaged to his opponent in +this cause; and all that he could say would necessarily have little +effect in changing what he would not hesitate to call those unhappy +opinions, which were long ago formed against him. Another cause of +his embarrassment was, that he would be rejudged of all he might say +here. What he said would be approved by one party in America, but +would be disapproved of by another. In the United States they were +differently situated from what the people were in this country. Here +the people seemed now united on this subject, but in America they were +split up into a great number of different parties, whose opinions and +feelings were arrayed against each other in as great a measure as it +was possible to conceive. Whatever, therefore, he might say in this +country, would be disapproved of by many in the United States, while +nothing was more certain than that, what was said by his opponent, +would the more commend him to his friends on the other side of the +Atlantic; and nothing he could say would probably lower him in the +good opinion of his friends here. Hence arose the difficulty of the +situation in which he (Mr. B.) found himself placed, and his unusual +claim upon their patience in the course of the discussion. Still he +should be unworthy of his country, he should be forgetful of the power +of truth, he would have little trust in God, if he was not ready to +espouse the cause which he believed to be right; and more especially +if he was not ready, before a Scotish and a Christian audience, to +defend the principles he adopted and avowed. He had no desire to +attempt a mitigation of their hatred to slavery; and if, at a future +time, he should meet in America with any one now present, he would +prove to them by the friendship of those who loved and respected him, +and the opposition of those who did not, that he hated slavery as much +as any one of those present could do. It was said by one of the +ancients, 'I am a man: I consider nothing that relates to man, foreign +to me.' It was a true and noble sentiment. The fate of the most +hopeless might be theirs if power could make it so; and their +condition might have been that of the poorest wretch on earth if God +had not smiled upon them and their ancestors as he had done. He did +not wish them to interfere with slavery in America. They might +interfere, but the question was, how were they to do so? He wished in +the course of the discussion to bring before them facts to show, that +if they did at all interfere with slavery in America, it must be done +as between individuals, not as a national question. That, whatever +they did, they do as Christians, not as communities. That they must +not, for a moment, look upon it as a question of rival power and +glory, as a question between Great Britain and America. If they did so +in the slightest degree, their chance of success was gone for ever. In +the prosecution of the question, they should not allow themselves to +be identified in their efforts with any party in America, in politics, +in religion, or metaphysics; more especially, with a small and odious +party as they had done to a deplorable extent. They should not +identify themselves with a party so small as not to be able to obtain +their object, and so erroneous as not to deserve success. Whatever +they did should be done meekly, and in the spirit of the gospel; they +should not press the principles of the gospel with the spirit of a +demon, but with all the sweetness and gentleness of the gospel of +peace. These were the principles which he intended to endeavor to +impress upon their minds by details which he would adduce in the +course of the discussion. It was nothing more than just to the +audience that they should know, that they should understand it +distinctly, that as far as regarded his opponent, he neither was nor +could be any thing more to him or his countrymen than as an individual +who had identified himself with certain parties and principles in +America. Neither he nor the Americans could have any object in +underrating or overrating him. America could have no desire to raise +him up or to pull him down. It is not, it cannot be any thing to +America what any individual is, or may be, in the eyes of his own +countrymen. The King of England is known to America only as the King +of Great Britain; if he ceased to be the King of that kingdom, he was +to them no more than a common individual. Let it not be supposed that +either he or America had any wish, even the most remote, to break down +or injure the well earned or ill earned reputation of his opponent. +They looked upon him only with reference to his principles, and had no +personal motive on earth in reference to that gentleman. Let them not, +therefore, think that in any remarks he might make, or charges he +might bring forward, he had any intention of implicating his opponent +as being solely responsible for these results. He called in question, +not the principles of a particular individual only, but those also of +a party in America, to whom he would have to answer when he returned +to that country. Having said thus much, he would now proceed to the +question before them, but would previously make a few preliminary +remarks, which he thought necessary to enable them to come to a proper +understanding of the subject. He did not think it necessary to trace +the progress of the great cause to the present moment. For forty years +they had suffered defeat after defeat--yet these defeats only +strengthened their cause, even in this country, till they had arrived +at a given point. He would not wish to hurt the feelings of a single +individual now present, but he was sure he spoke the feelings of all +in America, when he said that the great day of their power to do good, +as a nation, was to be dated from the passing of the Reform Bill. From +that period, they started in a new career of action, both at home and +abroad. The sending out of agents was one of the great lines of +operation attempted upon the Americans. This the Americans complained +of as having been done in an imprudent and impossible way, and sure to +meet with defeat. They have sent out agents to America who have +returned defeated. They admit they were not successful, though they +say they retreated only, that they were not defeated. They have +failed--they admit they have failed in their object. One of these +agents on his return made certain statements as to the condition of +the slaves in America; and as to the state of the churches in the +United States, which implicated not only the great body of Christian +ministers of the country, but the government, and the people of +America, except a small handful of individuals. If, as was admitted, +the number of pastors in America was twelve to fifteen thousand, and +only one thousand had embraced these views, were they anything but a +small party? While yet the whole nation was denounced as wicked--and +the wrath of Heaven invoked against the country. It was only a very +small handful that came in for a share of the praise of his opponent; +and the sympathies here were invoked, on the assumption of principles +which it was his object to prove false and unfounded. What could be +the cause of such an anomaly? that those principles which are said to +be loved and admired here, are repudiated there to the extremity of +pertinacious obstinacy? This cause it would be his duty to point out; +first, he would say what perhaps no one would believe, that the +question of American slavery, is in its name not only unjust, but +absurd. There was, properly speaking, no such thing as American +slavery. It was absurd to talk of American slavery, except in so far +as it applied to the sentiments of what was the minority, although he +would say a large minority, which tolerated slavery. It was not an +American question. In America there were twenty-four separate +republics; of these, twelve had no slaves, and twelve of them +tolerated slavery. Two new states had recently been added to the +Union, and God speed the day when others would be added, till the +whole continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific was included in +union, carrying with the union, Liberty and Independence. Of the two +states which were lately added, one was a slave state and the other +free. Of the twelve free, independent, sovereign states of America to +which he had alluded--one, Massachusetts, had, for a longer time than +his opponent had lived, not tolerated slavery. There were no slaves in +Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, +Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois, +and in four of them there never had been a slave. Eight of them, of +their own free will and choice, abolished slavery without money and +without price. By the influence of the Spirit of God, and the +influence of divine truth, they had totally abolished slavery. Of the +twelve states, at least four, Ohio, with a million of inhabitants, +Indiana, Illinois, and Maine, never had a slave. Since 1785 till this +hour, there had not been one slave in any of these states. These +twelve either never had slaves or had abolished slavery without any +remuneration. These states contain seven million out of the eleven +million of the white population of the Union, and nearly two-thirds of +the territorial extent of the republic as now peopled. And when we +remember that they have stood as they now do for the last twenty +years, as it was now more than twenty years since slavery was +abolished, how could they be charged with the responsibility of the +existence of slavery in other states, or be charged with fostering +slavery which they were the first people upon earth to abolish, and +the first to unite with other nations in putting down the slave trade +as piracy. This he was aware would be denied; but though Wilberforce +had labored in the cause for twenty years, the American constitution +had fixed a limited time for the abolition of the slave trade, and the +moment the twenty years had elapsed, the Congress did abolish it; and +this was in the same month, and some days before the Abolition Bill +had passed through Parliament. Thus, America was the first nation on +earth which had abolished the slave trade, and made it piracy. If we +judge by the number of republics which tolerate no slavery--if we +judge by the number of American citizens who abhor slavery, it will be +found not to be an American question, but one applicable only to a +small portion of the nation. If he wished to prove that the British +were idolaters, he could point to millions of idolaters in India, +under the British Government, for every one in America who approved of +slavery. If he wished to prove the British to be Catholics, and +worshippers of the Virgin Mary, he could point to the west of Ireland, +where were one thousand worshippers of the Virgin Mary for every one +in America who did not wish slavery abolished. If he were to return to +America, and get up public meetings, and address them about British +idolatry, because the Indians were Idolaters, or on British +Catholicism, because many of the Irish worshipped the Virgin Mary, +would not the world at once see the absurdity and maliciousness of the +charge; and if he heaped upon Britain every libellous epithet he could +invent--if he got the wise, the good, and the fair, to applaud him, +would not the world see at once the grossness of the absurdity. And +where, then, lay the difference? The United States Government have no +power to abolish slavery in South Carolina--Britain can abolish +idolatry throughout its dominions. It was absurd to say it was an +American question. America, as a nation, was not responsible, either +in the sight of God or man, for the existence of slavery within +certain portions of the Union. As a nation, it had done every thing +within its power. The half hour having now expired, Mr. B. sat down; +and + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON rose. He said he did not stand on the platform this +evening to explain to them his views in reference to slavery. He would +occupy no portion of their time by an exposition of any of the +principles or views entertained by himself on the subject of slavery +as it has existed in our own dependencies, or as it exists in America +at the present moment, or in other portions of the globe. He stood +there to justify that policy which in a distant land he had deemed it +right to pursue; he stood there to justify the policy which had been +adopted and pursued, and was still pursued by certain individuals in +the United States, whether many or few, whether a handful or a +multitude, who were known by the name of the abolitionists of the +United States of America. He stood there to justify himself and them +in the act of fearlessly, constantly, unceasingly, and universally, to +every class and color on the face of the habitable globe, enunciating +the great principles of equal justice and equal rights--of enunciating +this great truth that slaveholding is a crime in the sight of God, and +should be immediately and totally abolished. That God had in no +instance given to man a discretionary power to hold property in his +fellow-man; that instant emancipation was the right of the slave; that +instant manumission was the duty of the master. That no government had +a right to keep a single soul in slavery; that no nation had authority +to permit slavery, let that nation exist where it may; if professing +to be a Christian nation, so much the more atrocious was their +wickedness. The nation which permitted the keeping in slavery of God's +creatures, which allowed the traffic in human beings for 400 pieces of +silver, even in the capital itself, was not entitled to be called a +christian nation, and if professing to be a christian nation, so much +the more pre-eminently wicked and infamous was the nation. By that act +that infamous, wicked nation violated every christian feeling, and was +worthy of being exposed to the scorn and derision of every nation +under heaven, christian or pagan. This was a most momentous question, +and he spoke strongly upon it, but he spoke advisedly. He did not +speak angrily, but he did and must speak warmly on the subject of +Slavery. He could not talk of millions of men and women, each of whom +was endowed with a soul which was precious in the sight of God--each +of whom was endowed with that principle which out-valued worlds--he +could not speak of such, registered with the brutes, with calm +unconcern, or classed with chattels, and be calm--if he could do so, +he should be ready with these nails to open his breast, and tear +therefrom a heart which would be unworthy of a man. He could and would +speak calmly on other topics, but this was a subject which required +energy, unceasing energy, till the evil was removed from the face of +the earth, till all the kingdoms of the world had become the kingdoms +of our God, and of his Christ. He was thankful for the present +opportunity which had been afforded him of entering into this +discussion; he was thankful that his opponent, for so it seemed he +must be called, was an American, that he was a christian minister, +that he was an opponent of slavery, that he brought to the question +before them, talent, learning, patriotism, and christian feeling. Such +an opponent he respected and wished the audience to respect. He would +ask them to cherish his person, to respect his opinions, to weigh his +arguments, to test his facts, and if they were just and righteous, to +adopt his principles. If he (Mr. T.) knew the strongest expression he +had ever used regarding America, he would use it to-night; if he knew +in what recess of his heart his worst wish towards America was +deposited he would drag it forth to the light, that his opponent might +grapple with it in their presence. He would not soften down any of +his language; he would not sugar over his words, he would not abate +one iota of what he had ever said in reference to the wickedness of +America on former occasions. Let his opponent weigh every syllable he +(Mr. T.) had uttered, every statement he had ever made, every charge +he had ever brought against his country or against his cloth, and if +he found that he had exaggerated facts or stated what was not true, he +would be glad to be shown it. He was there before them and his +opponent to search after the truth, truth which would outlive Mr. +Breckinridge--truth which would outlive Geo. Thompson--truth which was +far more valuable than the proudest victory--truth which was +invaluable to both--and let the truth stand out during the discussion +which might follow; and when they had found out the truth, if they saw +anything which had to be taken back--anything to be given up--anything +for which to be sorry, he would try to outstrip his opponent in his +readiness to retract what was wrong, to yield what was untenable, and +to express his sorrow before God and the audience for what he had +undeservedly said of America. With regard to the feelings he +entertained towards the Americans, he need only refer to the last +letter he had published to the American people, from which he would +read a passage to show the feelings he entertained towards that +country, as well as to those of her citizens who might reach these +shores from America. Mr. Thompson then read the following passages:-- + + I love America, because her sons, though my persecutors, are + immortal--because 'they know not what they do,' or if + enlightened and wilful, are so much the more to be pitied and + cared for. I love America, because of the many affectionate + friends I have found upon her shores, by whom I have been + cherished, refreshed and strengthened; and upon whose regard + I place an incalculable value. I love America, for there + dwells the fettered slave--fettered and darkened, and + degraded now, but soon to spring into light and liberty, and + rank on earth, as he is ranked in heaven, 'but a little lower + than the angels.' I love America, because of the many mighty + and magnificent enterprises in which she has embarked for the + salvation of the world. I love her rising spires, her + peaceful villages, and her multiplied means of moral, + literary, and religious improvement. I love her hardy sons, + the tenants of her vallies and her mountains green. I love + her native children of the forest, still roaming, untutored + and untamed, in the unsubdued wildernesses of the 'far west.' + I love your country, because it is the theatre of the + sublimest contest now waging with darkness and despotism, and + misery on the face of the globe; and because your country is + ordained to be the scene of a triumph, as holy in its + character and as glorious in its results, as any ever + achieved through the instrumentality of men. + + But though my soul yearns over America, and I desire nothing + more eagerly than to see her stand forth among the nations of + the world, unsullied in reputation, and omnipotent in energy, + yet shall I, if spared, deem it my duty to publish aloud her + wide and fearful departures from rectitude and mercy. I shall + unceasingly proclaim the wrongs of her enslaved children; + and, while she continues to 'traffic in the souls of men,' + brand her as recreant to the great principles of her + revolutionary struggle, and hypocritical in all her + professions of attachment to the cause of human rights. + + I thank God, I cherish no feelings of bitterness or revenge, + towards any individual in America, my most inveterate enemy + not excepted. Should the sea on which I am about to embark + receive me ere I gain my native shore--should this be the + last letter I ever address to the people of America, Heaven + bears me witness, I with truth and sincerity affirm that, as + I look to be freely forgiven, so freely do I forgive my + persecutors and slanderers and pray--'Lord lay not this sin + to their charge.' + +In another part of the same letter he had thus expressed himself:-- + + Should a kind providence place me again upon the soil of my + birth, and when there, should any American (and I hope many + will) visit that soil to plead the cause of virtue and + philanthropy, and strive in love to provoke us to good works, + let him know that there will be one man who will uphold his + right to liberty of speech, one man who will publicly and + privately assert and maintain the divinity of his commission + to attack sin and alleviate suffering, in every form, in + every latitude, and under whatever sanction and authorities + it may be cloaked and guarded. And coming on such an errand, + I think I may pledge myself in behalf of my country, that he + shall not be driven with a wife and little ones, from the + door of a hotel in less than 36 hours after he first breathes + our air--that he shall not be denounced as an incendiary, a + fanatic, an emissary, an enemy, and a traitor--that he shall + not be assailed with oaths and missiles, while proclaiming + from the pulpit in the house of God, on the evening of a + Christian Sabbath, the doctrines of 'judgment, justice, and + mercy,'--that he shall not be threatened, wherever he goes, + with 'tar and feathers'--that he shall not be repudiated and + abused in newspapers denominated religious, and by men + calling themselves Christian Ministers--that he shall not + have a price set upon his head, and his house surrounded with + ruffians, hired to effect his abduction--that his wife and + children shall not be forced to flee from the hearth of a + friend, lest they should be 'smoked out' by men in civic + authority, and their paid myrmidons--that the mother and her + little ones shall not find at midnight, the house surrounded + by an infuriated multitude, calling with horrible execrations + for the husband and the father--that his lady shall not be + doomed, while in a strange land, to see her babes clinging to + her with affright, exclaiming, 'the mob shan't get papa,' + 'papa is good is he not? the naughty mob shan't get him, + shall they?'--that he shall not, finally, be forced to quit + the most enlightened and christian city of our nation, to + escape the assassin's knife, and return to tell his country, + that in Britain the friend of virtue, humanity, and freedom, + was put beyond the protection of the laws, and the pale of + civilized sympathy, and given over by professor and profane, + to the tender mercies of a blood-thirsty rabble. + +These extracts were from the last letter that he had written to the +people of America, and which had been widely published there; and +he was glad of an opportunity of now laying them before a Glasgow +audience, and of having them incorporated in the proceedings of the +evening, in order to show that he then forgave America, that he now +forgave America. He would stand there to defend the right of Mr. +Breckinridge to a fair hearing from his (Mr. Thompson's) countrymen; +and stand forward as his protector, to save him from the missile that +might be aimed at him, and to receive into his own bosom the dagger +which might be aimed at his heart. His opponent might be anxious to +know what report he (Mr. T.) made on his return to Britain of his +proceedings in America. He would therefore read an extract from the +minutes of the LONDON SOCIETY for UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION:-- + + George Thompson was then introduced to the Committee, and + communicated at length the result of his Mission in the + United States, and the present cheering aspect of the + Anti-Slavery cause in that country. The following is a brief + outline of his statement: + + He desired to be devoutly thankful to Divine Providence for + the signal preservation and help vouchsafed to him in all his + labors, perils, and persecutions. He considered it a high + honor to have been permitted to proclaim in the ears of a + distant people the great principles held by the Society. + + He sailed from this country on the 17th August, 1834, landed + at New York on the 20th September, and commenced his public + labors on the 1st of October. His public Lectures were + continued down to the 20th October, 1835, during which period + he delivered between 2 and 300 public Lectures, besides + innumerable shorter addresses before Committees, Conventions, + Associations, &c. &c. His audiences had invariably been + overflowing, and composed from time to time of members of + State Legislatures, the Heads of Colleges, Professors, + Clergymen of all denominations, members of the legal + profession, and the students of nearly all the Theological + and Academical Institutions in New England. The result of his + labors had been the multiplication of Anti-Slavery + Associations to an unprecedented extent. Up to the month of + May, 1835, he met with no serious or formidable opposition. + At that time the National Society reported the existence of + 250 auxiliaries, and its determination to appropriate during + the ensuing year the sum of 30,000 dollars in the printing of + papers and pamphlets to be gratuitously circulated amongst + the entire white population of the country. The Southern + States, previously almost silent and inoperative, soon after + commenced a system of terrorism, intercepting the public + conveyances, rifling the Mail Bags, scourging, mutilating or + murdering all suspected of holding Anti-Slavery views, and + calling with one consent upon the Free States to pass laws, + abridging the freedom of speech and of the press, upon the + subject of slavery. The North promptly responded to the call + of the South, and in every direction through the Free States + the Abolitionists became the victims of persecution, + proscription and outrage. The friends of Negro freedom every + where endured with a patience and spirit of christian + charity, almost unexampled, the multiplied wrongs and + injuries accumulated upon them. They ceased not to labor for + the Holy cause they had espoused, but perseveringly pursued + their course in the use of all means sanctioned by Justice, + Religion, and the Constitution of their country. The result + had been the rapid extension of their principles, and a vast + accession of moral strength. G. T. gave an appalling account + of the condition of the Southern Churches. The Presbyterians, + Baptists, and Episcopal Methodist Churches were the main + pillars of the system of Slavery. Were they to withdraw their + countenance, and cease to participate in its administration + and profit, it would not exist one year. Bishops, presiding + Elders, Travelling Preachers, Local Preachers, Trustees, + Stewards, Class Leaders, private Members, and other + attendants in the Churches of the Episcopal Methodists, with + the preachers and subordinate members of the other + denominations, are, with few exceptions, Slaveholders. Many + of the preachers, not merely possessing domestic Slaves, but + being planters 'on a pretty extensive scale,' and dividing + their time between the duties of the Pastoral Office and the + driving of a gang of Negroes upon a cotton, tobacco, or rice + plantation. + + In the great pro-Slavery Meetings at Charleston and Richmond, + the clergy of all denominations attended in a body, and at + the bidding of vigilance Committees suspended their Schools + for the instruction of the colored population, receiving as + their reward a vote of thanks from their lay Slaveholding + Brethren 'for their prudent and patriotic conduct.' + + G. T. gave a most encouraging account of the present state of + the Anti-Slavery cause, as nearly as it could be ascertained + by letters recently received. He stated that there were now, + exclusive of the Journals published by the Anti-Slavery + Societies, 100 newspapers boldly advocating the principles of + Abolition. Between 4 and 500 auxiliary associations, + comprising 15 or 1700 Ministers of the Gospel of various + denominations. G. T. stated also a number of particulars, + shewing the rapid progress of correct opinions amongst the + Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists, + producing a Document just received from the last named body, + signed by 185 Clergymen, being a reply to a letter addressed + by the Baptist ministers in and near London to the Baptist + Churches of America, and fully reciprocating all their + sentiments on the subject of immediate and entire + emancipation. The cause was proceeding with accelerated + rapidity. Ten or twelve Agents of the National Society were + incessantly laboring with many others employed by the State + Societies, of which there were seven, viz. Kentucky, (a slave + State,) Ohio, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New + Hampshire, and Vermont. Gerrit Smith, Esq. a competent + authority, had stated that every week witnessed an accession + to the ranks of the Abolitionists of not less than 500, in + the State of New York alone, and he did not know that in all + the Societies there was one intemperate or profane person. G. + T. in describing the character of the persons comprising the + Anti-Slavery Societies in America, stated, that they were + universally men and women of religious principles, and, in + most instances, of unquestioned piety. He had never known any + benevolent enterprise carried forward more in dependence upon + Divine Direction and Divine Aid, than the abolition cause in + the United States. In all their meetings, public or social, + they committed themselves to God in Prayer, and he had found + that those who had been most vehemently denounced as + 'Fanatics and Incendiaries' were men sound in judgment, calm + in temper, deliberate in council, and prudent, though + resolute, in action. The great principle on which all their + Societies were founded was the essential sinfulness of + slaveholding, and the consequent necessity of its immediate + and entire abolition. The great means by which they had + sought to accomplish their object, was the fearless + publication of the truth in love, addressed to the + understandings and hearts of their fellow citizens. + Expediency was a doctrine they abjured. Free from a + time-serving or timid spirit, they boldly relied upon the + righteousness of their cause, the potency of truth, and the + blessing of God. They were entitled to receive from the + Abolitionists of Great Britain the warmest commendation, the + fullest confidence, and most cordial co-operation. + + He was happy in being able to state, that wherever the + principles of immediate abolition had been fully adopted, + prejudice against color had been thrown aside, and that the + members of the Anti-Slavery Societies throughout the country + were endeavoring by every proper means to accomplish the + moral, intellectual, and spiritual elevation of the colored + population. + +He hoped he would yet have ample opportunities of replying to the +positions assumed by his opponent. He thought he would be able to +show that slavery in America was American slavery; that the Congress +of America--that the Constitution of America made it an institution of +the country, and therefore a national sin of America. In reference to +any question as to the Constitution and laws of the United States of +America, he was glad he had to do with a gentleman who knew these +well, who held a high character for his Constitutional and legal +attainments; and he hoped he would be able to show that Slavery in +America was American Slavery--that the people in the North did not +hate slavery--that they did not oppose slavery--that they were the +greatest supporters of slavery in the United States--that slavery in +America was a national question. But he would keep his proofs till he +had time to say something along with them. Our interference was not a +political interference with America, it was only a moral interference, +to put an end to slavery--and he hoped the people of this country, +would continue to denounce slavery in America; and at the same time he +was quite willing that his opponent should denounce the idolatry of +our eastern possessions. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would take up the line of argument in which +he had been proceeding; but before doing so he wished to make one +observation. How did it happen--admitting all that had been said by +his opponent to be true and fair, how did it happen, that the same +arguments and the same principles were so differently received in +different countries? How did it happen that the individual who +advocated the same cause, with the same temper, and almost in the same +words, in Glasgow and in Boston, should in the one place be supported +by general applause, and in the other be ill-treated and despised, and +even made to flee for his life? This was a question which was yet to +be solved. Mr. Thompson had spoken of the Northern states as the +greatest friends of slavery, forgetting that he had formerly +represented the clergy as such. This was one of the principal reasons +of his want of success--of what might justly be called his signal +failure. He had brought unjust charges against an entire people, and +had in consequence been ill-treated. Mr. Thompson had shown the better +part of valor, discretion, in taking care never to visit any of the +slave states. He had never seen a slaveholder, except, perhaps, he had +met such an individual in a free state. At least if he had done so, it +was a circumstance which was not generally known, one of those hidden +things of which it was not permitted to read. Having made this +observation, he (Mr. B.) would proceed to state that in the +slaveholding states there was a large minority--in some, nearly one +half of the population--zealously engaged in furthering the abolition +of slavery. In Kentucky, slaveholding had been introduced only by a +small majority. When some time after, a convention canvassed the +subject, that majority was diminished, and, still at this hour in that +State, in which he had been born, one of the greatest political +questions agitated was whether slaveholding should be abolished or +retained as an element of the constitution. A law had long ago been +passed imposing a fine of six hundred dollars on whoever brought a +slave into the State for sale, and three hundred dollars on whoever +bought him. A fine of nine hundred dollars was thus made the penalty +of introducing a slave into Kentucky as merchandise. He was sorry to +have to speak of buying and selling human beings; but, to be +understood, it was absolutely necessary that he should do so. In +Virginia also, from which Kentucky had been in great measure peopled, +not many years ago a frightful insurrection had taken place, and many +cruelties had been practised--it was needless to say whether most on +the side of the blacks or the whites. The succeeding legislature of +that State took up the question of slavery in its length and +breadth--passed a law for giving $20,000 to the Colonization +Society,--and rejected only by a small majority a proposal to +appropriate that fund equally to the benefit of slaves to be set +free--as of those already free. He mentioned these things merely to +show that there was a great and an increasing party in the south +favorable to the abolition of negro slavery. In fact, in some of the +Southern states the free people of color had increased faster than the +whites; in Maryland alone there were 52,000 of a free colored +population, all of whom, or their immediate progenitors, had been +voluntarily manumitted. It was needless to say, therefore, that in the +Southern states there was no anti-slavery party. There certainly was +not such a party in Mr. Thompson's sense of the word; but Mr. +Thompson's definition was not the correct one, as he (Mr. B.) would +explain directly. Was it fair then, he would ask, to hold up to the +British public, not only the people of the free states, but also this +great minority in the Southern states as pro-slavery men. Let slavery +be denounced, but let not the denunciation fall upon the whole +American people, many of whom were doing all they could for its +abolition. If Louisiana resolved on perpetuating slavery, let this be +told of Louisiana. If South Carolina adhered to the system, say so of +South Carolina; but do not implicate the mass of the American people, +so many of whom are as much opposed to slavery as is Mr. Thompson +himself. He had heard it said that the sun never sat on the British +dominions. As well, then, might the British people be identified with +the idolatry which prevailed in Hindostan as the Americans be +identified with negro slavery. The question was not American; it +existed solely between the slaveholder and the world. It was unfair, +therefore, to blame the Americans as a nation: the slaveholder, and +the slaveholder alone, should be blamed, let him reside where he +might. Having thus disposed of the first branch of his argument, he +was naturally led to explain the wonderful phenomenon of Mr. +Thompson's reception in America--to give a reason why that reception +was so different from what the same gentleman met with in Glasgow. +Mr. Thompson had taken up the question as one of civil organization. +Now the fact was, that the American nation was divided into two +parties on the subject, namely, the pro-slavery, and the anti-slavery +parties. One party said, let it alone; the other, and by far the most +numerous party, said, something ought to be done in relation to it. In +the last named class, was to be included the population of all the +non-slaveholding states. He declared, in the presence of God, his +conviction, that there was not a sane man in the free states who did +not wish the world rid of slavery. He believed the same of a large +minority in the states in which slavery existed. The pro-slavery party +themselves were also divided. One section, and he rejoiced to add, a +small one, called into exertion in fact only by that effervesence +which had been produced by the violence of Mr. T's friends--spoke of +slavery as an exceedingly good thing--as not only consistent with the +law of God, but as absolutely necessary for the advancement of +civilization. This party was organised within the last few years, and +met the violence of Mr. Thompson's party by a corresponding violence, +as a beam naturally seeks its balance. Another section of the +pro-slavery party, considered slavery a great evil, and wished that it +were abolished, but they did not see how this could be effected. They +had been born in a state of society where it had an existence, and +they could see no course to adopt but to let it cure itself. These +were the two sections into which the supporters of slavery were +divided. The anti-slavery party was also composed of individuals who +had different views of the subject. The one class had been called +Gradualists, Emancipationists, and Colonizationists.--The other were +called Abolitionists. With the latter class, Mr. Thompson had +identified himself. And now, as while in America, by his praises of +Mr. Garrison, and all their leaders, his abuse of their opponents, and +his efforts to chain the British public, hand and foot, to them and +their projects, shows his continued devotion to them. He would refer +to this party again, but, in the mean time, he would only say, that +its members manifested far more honesty than wisdom. In 1833, the +abolitionists held a Convention in Philadelphia, at which they drew up +a Declaration of Independence--a declaration which he dared to say Mr. +Thompson cherished as the apple of his eye; but which had been more +effectual in raising mobs than ever witch was in raising the wind. The +document of which he spoke announced three principles, to the +promulgation of which, the members of the Convention pledged their +lives and their fortunes. A number of the particulars specified, in +support of which they said they would live and die, went to change +materially the laws and Constitution of the United States, and yet +it was pretended that this was not a political question! Their first +principle was, that every human being has an instant right to be free, +irrespective of all consequences; and incapable of restriction or +modification. The second was like unto it, that the right of +citizenship, inherent in every man, in the spot where he is born, +is so perfect, that to deprive him of its exercise in any way +whatever--even by emigration, under strong moral constraint, is a +sin. Their third principle was, that all prejudice against color was +sinful; and that all our judgments and all our feelings towards others +should be regulated exclusively by their moral and intellectual worth. +Mr. B. said he stated these principles from memory only--as he did +most of the facts on which he relied. But he was willing to stand or +fall, in both countries, upon the substantial accuracy of his +statements. Mr. Breckinridge here closed his address, the period +allotted to him having expired. + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON was anxious to lay before the meeting documentary +testimony, in preference to any thing he could say himself. Rather +than set forth his own views, as he had done on many former occasions, +he wished to bring forward such documents as even his opponent would +admit to be really American. He pledged himself to show that this was +an American question. He was not prepared for this branch of the +subject, because he had not expected that Mr. Breckinridge would +exonerate America from the charge of being a slaveholding nation; +nevertheless, he was perfectly ready to take it up. He would undertake +to prove that the existence of slavery in the United States was the +result of a compromise--that the Constitution of the United States +was, in fact, based upon a compromise, in relation to this subject. At +the time when the Constitution was agreed to, the then slaveholding +states refused to come into what was called the confederacy of +republics, unless slaveholding was permitted. At that time there were +only three hundred thousand slaves in the Union; now there were two +millions and a half. So much, said Mr. Thompson, for what the good and +influential men of the South, spoken of by Mr. Breckinridge, had done +for the abolition of slavery. Then there were three hundred thousand; +now there were two million four hundred thousand. The method by which +these good and influential people had gone about extirpating slavery, +had been an Irish method; it had shown distinctly the extent of their +zeal and usefulness. Why, setting aside their influence altogether, +they might, had they been as numerous as represented by his respected +opponent, have manumitted as many of their own slaves. It was said, no +doubt, that the laws prevented this; but who made the laws? The child +could not do what her mamma had commanded her to do, because she was +tied to the mahogany table, she could only answer, when asked who tied +her, that it was herself. In like manner, he could turn round on those +whom his respected opponent represented, as haters of slavery. +Emancipationists they wished to be called; colonizationists they ought +to be called. He would ask them, what had they done? Had they not +compromised every principle of justice and truth, by permitting +slaveholding in their Union? Had they not even bestowed exclusive +privileges on the slaveholders? Had they not bestowed on them such +privileges as that, even now, they sent twenty-four or twenty-five +representatives to Congress more than their proportion? His respected +opponent had said this was not a national question. Why, then, send +six thousand bayonets to the South for the protection of the +slaveholder? Why were the American people taxed in order to maintain +bayonets, blunderbusses, and artillery in the South? Not a national +question! Why, then, was Missouri admitted a member of the +Union--Missouri a slaveholding State, admitted by the votes of the +Northern republics. Mr. Breckinridge had fought very shy of the state +of the Capital, and the power of Congress to suppress the internal +traffic in slaves. He (Mr. Thompson) trusted, however, that this +branch of the subject would be taken up. His opponent himself, in a +letter addressed to the New York Evangelist, had stated, that Congress +possessed full power to suppress the internal traffic in slaves; and +yet they did it not. There was in fact no question at all respecting +the power of the Congress, in this matter; yet it was said the +question of slavery was not national. The people of the Northern +states,--the slavery-hating, liberty-loving people of the Northern +states had said they would fight shoulder to shoulder with the +Slaveholders of the South, should the slaves dare to rise and say they +were men, and after all this, it was asserted that this was not a +national question. Mr. Breckinridge had said, that he (Mr. Thompson) +got all his information at second hand. He might have told the reason +why; he knew, however, that such a revelation would have been awful. +He knew that pious men, advocates of the cause of abolition had been +hanged, butchered, their backs ploughed up by Presbyterian elders; and +if such had been done towards natives of New England, what could a +stranger such as he have expected? He (Mr. T.) had, it seems, got all +at second hand. He would tell the meeting where he had obtained some +of his information. From Mr. Breckinridge himself; and he must say, +that sounder or juster views respecting slavery--or a more complete +justification of the mission in which he (Mr. T.) had been so lately +engaged, could scarcely be met with. This was evidence which he had no +fear could be ruled out of court. It was that of the friend and +defender of America. Mr. T. then read the following passage from a +speech delivered by Mr. Breckinridge:-- + + What, then, is slavery? for the question relates to the + action of certain principles on it, and to its probable and + proper results; what is slavery as it exists among us? We + reply, it is that condition enforced by the laws of one half + of the states of this confederacy, in which one portion of + the community, called masters, is allowed such power over + another portion called slaves; as + + 1. To deprive them of the entire earnings of their own labor, + except only so much as is necessary to continue labor itself, + by continuing healthful existence, thus committing clear + robbery. + + 2. To reduce them to the necessity of universal concubinage, + by denying to them the civil rights of marriage; thus + breaking up the dearest relations of life, and encouraging + universal prostitution. + + 3. To deprive them of the means and opportunities of moral + and intellectual culture, in many states making it a high + penal offence to teach them to read; thus perpetuating + whatever of evil there is that proceeds from ignorance. + + 4. To set up between parents and their children an authority + higher than the impulse of nature and the laws of God; which + breaks up the authority of the father over his own + offspring, and, at pleasure, separates the mother at a + returnless distance from her child; thus abrogating the + clearest laws of nature; thus outraging all decency and + justice, and degrading and oppressing thousands upon + thousands of beings, created like themselves, in the image of + the most high God! This is slavery as it is daily exhibited + in every slave state. + +Here, continued Mr. T., is slavery acknowledged to be clear robbery, +and yet it is not to be instantly abolished! Universal concubinage and +prostitution, which must not immediately be put an end to! Oh, these +wicked abolitionists, who seek to put an immediate close to such a +state of things. What an immensity of good have the emancipationists +of the South, as they wish to be called, of the colonizationists as +they ought to be called, done during their fifty years labor, when +this is yet left for the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge to say. Dear, +delightful, energetic men! Truly, if this is all they have been able +to effect it is time that the work were committed to abler hands. Mr. +Thompson then read an extract from the Philadelphia declaration. Mr. +Breckinridge had called it a declaration of independence, but it was +only a declaration of sentiments;-- + + We have met together for the achievement of an enterprise, + without which, that of our fathers is incomplete, and which, + for its magnitude, solemnity, and probable results upon the + destiny of the world, as far as transcends theirs, as moral + truth does physical force. + + In purity of motive, in earnestness of zeal, in decision of + purpose, in intrepidity of action, in steadfastness of faith, + in sincerity of spirit, we would not be inferior to them. + + Their principles led them to wage war against their + oppressors, and to spill human blood like water, in order to + be free. Ours forbid the doing of evil that good may come, + and lead us to reject, and entreat the oppressed to reject + the use of all carnal weapons, for deliverance from + bondage--relying solely upon those which are spiritual, and + mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. + + Their measures were physical resistance--the marshalling in + arms--the hostile array--the mortal encounter. Ours shall + be such only as the opposition of moral purity to moral + corruption--the destruction of error by the potency of + truth--the overthrow of prejudice by the power of love--and + the abolition of slavery by the spirit of repentance. + + Their grievances, great as they were, were trifling in + comparison with the wrongs and sufferings of those for whom + we plead. Our fathers were never slaves--never bought and + sold like cattle--never shut out from the light of knowledge + and religion--never subjected to the lash of brutal task + masters. + + But those, for whose emancipation we are striving, + constituting at the present, at least one-sixth part of our + countrymen,--are recognised by the laws, and treated by their + fellow-beings as marketable commodities--as goods and + chattels--as brute beasts; are plundered daily of the fruits + of their toil, without redress;--really enjoy no + constitutional or legal protection from licentious and + murderous outrages upon their persons--are ruthlessly torn + asunder--the tender babe from the arms of its frantic + mother--the heart-broken wife from her weeping husband--at + the caprice or pleasure of irresponsible tyrants;--for the + crime of having a dark complexion--they suffer the pangs of + hunger, the infliction of stripes, and the ignominy of brutal + servitude. They are kept in heathenish darkness by laws + expressly enacted to make their instruction a criminal + offence. + + These are the prominent circumstances in the condition of + more than two millions of our people, the proof of which may + be found in thousands of indisputable facts, and in the laws + of the slaveholding states. + + Hence we maintain:-- + + That in the view of the civil and religious privileges of + this nation, the guilt of its oppression is unequalled by + any other on the face of the earth--and, therefore, + + That it is bound to repent instantly, to undo the heavy + burden, to break every yoke and let the oppressed go free. + + We further maintain:-- + + That no man has a right to enslave or imbrute his brother--to + hold or acknowledge him, for one moment, as a piece of + merchandise--to keep back his hire by fraud--or to brutalize + his mind by denying him the means of intellectual, social, + and moral improvement. + + The right to enjoy liberty is inalienable. To invade it is to + usurp the prerogative of Jehovah. Every man has a right to + his own body--to the products of his own labor--to the + protection of law--and to the common advantages of society. + It is piracy to buy or steal a native African, and subject + him to servitude. Surely the sin is as great to enslave an + American as an African. + + Therefore, we believe and affirm:-- + + That there is no difference _in principle_, between the + African slave-trade and American slavery. + + That every American citizen who retains a human being in + involuntary bondage, as his property is (according to + Scripture) a man-stealer. + + That the slaves ought instantly to be set free, and brought + under the protection of law. + + That if they had lived from the time of Pharaoh down to the + present period, and had been entailed through successive + generations, their right to be free could never have been + alienated, but their claims would have constantly risen in + solemnity. + + That all those laws which are now in force, admitting the + right of slavery, are therefore, before God, utterly null and + void; being an audacious usurpation of the Divine + prerogative, a daring infringement on the law of nature, a + base overthrow of the very foundations of the social compact, + a complete extinction of all the relations, endearments, and + obligations of mankind, and a presumptuous transgression of + all the holy commandments--and that, therefore, they ought to + be instantly abrogated. + +He would ask if there was any thing here different from what he had +read from his respected opponent? The sentiments were the same, though +not given in Mr. Breckinridge's strong and glowing language. Mr. +Breckinridge's description of slavery was even more methodical, +clearer, and better arranged; he was therefore inclined to prefer it +to the other. He would, however, ask Mr. Breckinridge not to persevere +in speaking of the violence, as he called it, of the abolitionists, +only in general terms. He hoped he would point out the instances to +which he alluded, and not take advantage of them, because they were a +handful and _odious_. They were not singular in being called odious. +Noah was called odious by the men of his day, because he pointed out +to them the wickedness of which they were guilty. Every reformer had +been called odious, and he trusted to be always among those who were +deemed odious by slaveholders and their apologists. He repeated, that +he wished Mr. Breckinridge to forsake general allegations, and to +specify time and place when he brought forward his charges. The time +was passed, when, in Glasgow, vague assertions could produce any +effect. The time was not, indeed, distant when even here the friends +of negro freedom had been deemed odious--when they were a mere +handful, met in a room in the Black Bull Inn. But from being odious +they had become respectable, and from respectable triumphant, in +consequence of their having renounced expediency, and taken their +stand on the broad principles of truth and justice. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, he had on so many occasions and in so many +different forms uttered the sentiments contained in the passages which +had just been read as his, that he was unable to say from what +particular speech or writing they were taken. But he had no doubt that +if the whole passage to which they belonged were read, it would be +seen that they contained, in addition to what they had heard, the most +unqualified condemnation of the irrational course pursued by the +abolitionists. He believed also, that, whatever it was, that writing +had been uttered by him in a slave state. For he could say for +himself, that he had never said that of a brother behind his back, +which he would be afraid or unwilling to repeat before his face. He +had never gone to Boston, to cry back to Baltimore, how great a sin +they were guilty of in upholding slavery. The worst things which he +had said against slavery had been said in the slave states, and had +Mr. Thompson gone there and seen with his two eyes, what he describes +wholly upon hearsay, he would, perhaps, have understood the subject +better than he seems to do. As he felt himself divinely commissioned, +he should have felt no fear, he should have gone at whatever hazard, +he should have seen slavery in its true colors, though he had read it +in his own blood. If Saul of Tarsus had gone to America to see +slavery--I dare to say, with the help of God, he would have been right +sure to see it. He did not say that Mr. T. should have gone to the +Southern states if his life was likely to be endangered by his going +there; but he would say this, that Mr. Thompson ought not to pretend, +that he had been, in the least degree, a martyr in the cause, when, in +reality, he had exercised the most masterly discretion. With regard to +the acts of the abolitionists, as he had been called on to mention +particulars, he could not say that he had ever heard of their having +killed any person, nor had he ever heard of any of them being killed. +He might mention, however, that he himself had once almost been mobbed +in Boston, and, that too, by a mob stirred up against him, by +placards, written, as he believed, by William Lloyd Garrison. He had +never obtained direct proof of this, but he might state, as a reason +for his belief, that the inflammatory placards were of the precise +breadth and appearance of the columns of Garrison's paper--the +Liberator, and the breadth of the columns of no other newspaper in +that city. Mr. B. stated a second case, in which, on the arrival at +the city of New York of the Rev. J. L. Wilson, a missionary to Western +Africa, in charge of two lads, the sons of two African kings, +committed by their fathers to the Maryland Colonization Society for +education; some friends of the Anti-Slavery Society of that city, with +the concurrence, if not by the procurement, as was universally +believed, of Elizur Wright, Jr., a leading person, and Secretary of +the principal society of abolitionists--got out a writ to take the +bodies of the boys, under the pretence of believing, that they had +been kidnapped in Africa. These two cases he considered, would +perhaps satisfy Mr. T's appetite for facts in the meantime; he would +have plenty more of them when they came to the main question of +debate. One other instance, and he would have done. There was a law in +the United States, that if a slave run away from one of the +slaveholding states, to any of the non-slaveholding states, the +authorities of the latter were bound to give him up to his master. A +runaway slave had been confined in New York prison, previous to being +sent home, an attempt was made to stir up a mob, for the purpose of +liberating him. A bill instigating the people to take the laws into +their own hands, was traced to an abolitionist--the same Elizur +Wright, Jr. He brought to the office of one of the principal city +papers, a denial of the charge--in a note signed by him in his +official capacity. He was told that was insufficient, as it was in his +individual, not in his official capacity, that he was supposed to have +done the act in question. He replied, it would be time to make the +denial in that form, when the charge was so specifically made; +meantime he considered the actual denial sufficient. Then, sir, said +one present, I charge you with writing the placard--for I saw it in +your hand writing. These instances were sufficient to prove the charge +of violence which he had made was not unfounded. In reference to the +statement made by Mr. Thompson regarding the number of slaves in the +United States, at the commencement of the Revolution, Mr. B. said, it +was impossible to know precisely what number there was at that time, +as there had been no statistical returns before 1790, at which time +there were six hundred and sixty-five thousand slaves in the five +original slave states. The exertions of the American nation to put an +end to slavery were treated with ridicule, but he would have them to +bear in mind, that there were in the United States four hundred +thousand free people of color, all of whom, or their progenitors, had +been set free by the people of America, and not one of these, so far +as he knew, had been liberated by an abolitionist. In addition to +these, there were not less than four thousand more in Africa, many of +whom had been freed from fetters and sent to that country. He would +ask if all this was to be counted as nothing. If they were to consider +for a moment the enormous sum which it would take to ransom so many +slaves, they would perceive the value of the sacrifice. They might say +that they had given $150,000,000 towards the abolition of slavery. It +might seem selfish to talk of it thus; but if the conduct of Great +Britain, rich and powerful as she was, was not reckoned worthy of +praise for having done an act of justice, in granting emancipation to +the West India slaves, at the cost of $100,000,000, or £20,000,000, +how much more might be said of £30,000,000, being paid by a few +comparatively poor and scattered communities, and individual men. They +had been told some fine stories of a mahogany table, to which the +people of America had tied themselves, and they were left to infer +that it was quite easy, that it merely required the exertion of will, +for them to set their slaves free. Now, on this head, he would only +ask, had he the power of fixing the place of his birth? No. Nor had he +any hand in making the laws of the place where he was born, nor the +power of altering them. They might, indeed, be altered and he ought to +add, they would have been altered already, but for the passionate and +intemperate zeal of the abolitionists; but for the conduct of those +who tell the slaveholders of the Southern states, that they must at +once give freedom to the slaves, at whatever cost or whatever hazard, +and unless they do so, they will be denounced on the house-tops, by +all the vilest names which language can furnish, or the imagination of +man can conceive. And what was the answer the planters gave to these +disturbers of the public peace? First, coolly, 'there's the door;' +and next, 'if you try to tell these things to those, who, when they +learn them, will at once turn round and cut our throats, we must take +measures to prevent your succeeding.' Such conduct was just what was +to be expected on the part of the slaveholders. They saw these men +coming among their slaves, and where they could not appeal to their +judgments, endeavoring to speak to the eyes of the black population by +prints, representing their masters, harsh and cruel. It was not +surprising that such unwise conduct should beget a bitter feeling of +opposition among the inhabitants of the Southern states. They +themselves knew too well the critical nature of their position, and +the dangers of tampering with the passions of the black population. +Let him who doubted go to the Southern states, and he would learn that +those harsh laws, in regard to slavery, which had been so much +condemned, were passed immediately after some of those insurrections, +those spasmodic efforts of the slaves to free themselves by violence, +which could never end in good, and which the conduct of the +abolitionists was calculated continually to renew. They ought to take +these things into account when they heard statements made about the +strong excitement against the abolitionists. He would repeat what he +had before stated, that the cause of emancipation had been ruined by +that small party with which Mr. Thompson had identified himself: but +to whose chariot wheels he trusted the people of this country would +never suffer themselves to be bound. + + * * * * * + +MR. GEORGE THOMPSON said, the work he had to do in reference to the +last speech was by no means great or difficult. They had heard a great +many things stated by Mr. Breckinridge on the great question in +debate, but every one of these had been stated a thousand times +before, and answered again and again within the last sixty years. +Within these very walls they had heard many of them brought forward +and refuted within the last four years. But there was one part of his +opponent's speech to which he would reply with emphasis. And he could +not but confess that he had listened to that one part of it with +surprise. He knew Mr. Breckinridge to be the advocate of gradual +emancipation; he (Mr. Thompson) had therefore come prepared to hear +all the arguments employed by the gradualists, urged in the ablest +manner, but he had not been prepared to hear from that gentleman's +lips the things he had heard--he did not expect that the foul charge +of stirring up a mob against Mr. Breckinridge for advocating the +principles of colonization, would be brought against William Lloyd +Garrison. But they would here see the propriety and utility of his +calling upon his opponent to leave generalities and come to something +specific--to lay his finger on a fact which could be examined and +tested circumstantially. And what did they suppose was the truth in +the present case? Simply this, that when Mr. Breckinridge came +forward to explain the principles of the Maryland colonization scheme, +the noisy rabble who sought to mob, did so only so long as they were +under the impression that he was an abolitionist. Mr. B. and his +brother, who was along with him on that occasion, did their best to +let the meeting know that they were not abolitionists but +colonizationists, and whenever the mob learned that, they became +quiet. This was the fact in regard to that case--he would willingly +stake the merits of the whole question on the truth of what he had +just stated, and he would call on Mr. B. to say whether it was not +true; he would call on him to exhibit the placard which had been +written by Mr. Garrison, or tell what it contained. He had a copy of +the Liberator of the day referred to, and he would ask him to point +out a single word in it which could be found fault with. He would dare +Mr. B. to find a single sentence in that paper calculated to stir up a +mob, or to induce any one to hurt a single hair of his head. With +regard to the Maryland colonization scheme, he was not going to enter +upon its discussion at that hour of the evening, but the next evening, +if they were spared, he would endeavor to show the gross iniquity of +that scheme, recommended as it was by Mr. Breckinridge. In the mean +time, to return to the next charge, they were told of an active +abolitionist--Elizur Wright. And here he would at once say, that it +was too bad to bring such a charge against an individual like Elizur +Wright, than whom he knew no man, either on this or the the other side +of the Atlantic, whose nature was more imbued with the milk of human +kindness, or whose heart was more alive to the dictates of Christian +charity--it was too bad, he repeated, to bring such a charge against +that man, unless it could be substantiated beyond the possibility of +doubt. They were told that Elizur Wright had stirred up the people of +New York to insurrection, by inflammatory placards. Here indeed was a +serious charge, but they ought to know what these placards were. +Again, he would call upon Mr. B. to show a copy of the placard, or to +say what were its contents. In explanation of the matter he might +state to the meeting that there was a little truth in what had been +said about this matter; and in order to make them understand the case +properly, they must first know, that in New York there were at all +times a number of runaway slaves, and also, that there was in the same +city a class of men, who, at least wore the human form, and who were +even allowed to appear as gentlemen, whose sole profession was that of +kidnappers; their only means of subsistence was derived from laying +hold of these unfortunates, and returning them to their masters in the +South. Nothing was more common than advertisements from these +gentlemen kidnappers in the newspapers, in which they offered their +services to any slave master whose slaves had run off. All that was +necessary was merely that twenty dollars should be transmitted to them +under cover, with the marks of the runaway who was soon found out if +in the city, and with the clutch of a demon, seized and dragged to +prison. These were the kidnappers. And who was Elizur Wright? He was +the man who at all times was found ready to sympathise with those poor +unfortunate outcasts, to pour the balm of consolation into their +wounds--to come into the Recorder's Court, and stand there to plead +the cause of the injured African at the risk of his life--undeterred +by the execrations of the slave-masters, or the knife of his +myrmidons. And was it a high crime that on some occasions he had been +mistaken. But Elizur Wright would be able to reply to the charge +himself. The account of this meeting would soon find its way to +America, and he would then have an opportunity of justifying himself. +As to the charge of error in his statistics, on the subject of +American Slavery, it was very easily set at rest. He had said that the +slave population amounted to but three hundred thousand, at the date +of the Union, and that it was now two millions. The latter statement +was not questioned, but it was said that there were no authentic +returns at the date of the Union, and consequently, that it was +impossible to say precisely. But although they could not say exactly, +they could come pretty near the truth, even from the statement of Mr. +Breckinridge. That gentleman admitted, that in 1790, there were only +six hundred and sixty-five thousand slaves in the states. He (Mr. T.) +had said, that in 1776, there were only three hundred thousand; but as +the population in America doubled itself in twenty-four years, he was +warranted in saying that there was no great discrepancy. But the +question with him did not depend upon any particular number or any +particular date. It would have been quite the same for his argument, +he contended, whether he had taken six hundred and sixty-five thousand +in 1790, or three hundred thousand in 1776. All that he had wished to +show, was the rapid increase of the slave population, and +consequently, of the vice and misery inherent in that system, even +while the American people professed themselves to be so anxious to put +an end to it altogether. Had he wished to dwell on this part of the +argument, he could also have shown, that the increase of the slave +population during the first twenty years of the Union, had gone on +more rapidly even during that time, the trade in slaves having been +formally recognised by the Constitution during that period, and a duty +of $10 imposed on every slave imported into the United States. The +following was the clause from the Constitution: + + Sec. IX. The migration or importation of such persons as any + of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall + not be prohibited prior to the year 1808, but a tax or duty + may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding $10 for + each person. + +To sum up Mr. Breckinridge's last address, what, he would ask, +had been its whole aim? Clearly, that they should consider the +abolitionists as the chief promoters of all the riots that had taken +place in America on this question, by making inflammatory appeals to +the passions of the people. He would call upon Mr. Breckinridge +again, to lay his hand on a single proof of this. He would call upon +him to point out a single instance where language had been used which +was in any degree calculated to call up the blood-thirsty passions of +the mob as had been represented. If the planters of the South were +roused into fury by the declaration of anti-slavery sentiments--if +they were unable to hear the everlasting truths which it promulgated, +was that a sufficient reason for those to keep silent who felt it to +be their duty, at all hazards, to make known these truths. Or were +they to be charged with raising mobs, because the people were enraged +to hear these truths. As well might Paul of Tarsus have been charged +with the mobs which rose against his life, and that of his +fellow-apostles. As well might Galileo be charged with those +persecutions which immured him in a dungeon. As well might the +apostles of truth in every age be charged with the terrible results +which ensued from the struggle of light and darkness. In conclusion, +Mr. Thompson said, that on the following evening, he would take up the +question of the Maryland colonization scheme. + + * * * * * + +DR. WARDLAW announced to the meeting that the discussion closed for +the evening. In doing so he complimented the audience on the very +correct manner in which they had observed the rule regarding all +manifestation of applause. The attention and interest of the audience +were much excited throughout the whole proceedings, indeed, at few +meetings have we observed so lively an interest taken in the entire +business of an evening, and yet there was not a single instance in +which the interference of the chairman was required. On several +occasions the rising expression of applause was at once checked by +the general good sense of the meeting. + + + + +SECOND NIGHT--TUESDAY, JUNE 14. + + +MR. THOMPSON, before proceeding with the discusssion, would make one +or two preliminary observations. Last evening he had been led into an +error, as regarded both number and time, in speaking of the amount of +slaves in America at the adoption of the Constitution; and he was +anxious that every statement made by him should be without a flaw; and +if there should be an error committed he would be the first person to +admit and correct it when discovered. He stated that at the adoption +of the American Constitution, there were only about three hundred +thousand slaves in the United States. There were not many more in +1776, when the states declared themselves independent: in 1788 when +the Constitution was settled there were more; and in 1790, there were +between six and seven hundred thousand slaves in the United States of +America. His error consisted in his subtracting 1776 from 1790, and +saying twenty-four years instead of fourteen. He mentioned this error +to show that he held a regard to truth to be the ultimate end of their +discussion. There was one other preliminary remark. His antagonist had +repeatedly said that George Thompson had published himself a martyr. +George Thompson never did publish himself a martyr. Mr. Breckinridge, +in the course of his speeches last night, had said more of himself +than he (Mr. T.) had ever done during all the speeches he had ever +made on the question. He had only referred to himself when urgently +requested to give an account of his personal experience. He never had +a wish to be considered a martyr. If, when he had finished his course +here; if, when this probationary scene was over, he was found to have +done his duty, he would be fully satisfied. He was not pharasaical +enough to imagine that he had performed any works of supererogation. +Mr. Breckinridge had said this was not a national question; that +slavery in America was not American Slavery; that it was not a +national evil; that it was not a national sin; that is was merely a +question between the State Legislatures and the slave owners. He (Mr. +T.) had said last night, that slavery in America was a national sin, +and he would now adduce the reasons for his statement:--First--The +American people had admitted the slave states into the Union; and by +consenting to admit these states into the confederacy, although there +were in them hundreds of thousands in a state of slavery, they took +the slaves under the government of the United States, and made the sin +national. Second--For twenty years after the adoption of their +Constitution, and by virtue of that very instrument, the United States +permitted the horrid, unchristian, diabolical African slave-trade. +Third--Than the Capital of the United States of America there was not +one spot in the whole world which was more defiled by slavery; and +considering the professions and privileges of the people, there was +not a more anti-christian traffic on the face of the earth. +Fourth--each of the states is bound by the Constitution to give up all +run-away slaves; so that the poor, wretched, tortured slave might be +pursued from Baltimore to Pennsylvania, from thence to New Jersey and +New York, and dragged even from the confines of Canada, a fugitive and +a felon, back into the slavery from which he had fled. He might be +taken from the Capitol: from the very horns of the altar, to be +subjected by a cruel kidnapper to the most horrid of human sufferings. +It is not a national question! When the North violates the law of +God--when it tramples on the Decalogue--when it defies Jehovah! what +was a stronger injunction in the law of Moses than that the Israelites +should protect the run-away slave? But in America every state was +bound by law to give up the slave to his slave-master, to his ruthless +pursuer; and yet it must not be called a national question! Fifth--The +citizens of the free states were bound to go South to put down any +insurrection among the slaves. They were bound and pledged to do this +when required. The youth of Pennsylvania had pledged themselves to go +to the Southern states to annihilate the blacks in case they asserted +their rights--the rights of every human being--to be free. So also was +it in New York, and in the other free states, and yet we are to be +told that slavery is not a national question. The whole Union was +bound to crush the slave, who, standing on the ashes of Washington +said, he ought to be, and would be free. Yes, Northern bayonets would +give that slave a speedy manumission from his galling yoke, by sending +him in his gore, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary +are at rest. Yet it is not a national question! Sixth--The North is +taxed to keep up troops in the South to overawe and terrify the slave; +and yet it is not a national question! Seventh--Mr. Breckinridge has +shown in a letter published by him, that the Congress has the power to +put an end to the international slave trade, and yet this trade goes +on in America. Mr. B. well knows that at least one hundred thousand +human beings--slaves--change hands annually; he must have seen the +slaves driven in coffles through his own beloved state, to be sold +like cattle at Washington and Alexandria; he knows that thousands of +Virginia and Maryland slaves are sold at New Orleans yearly, and yet +he tells us that slavery is not a national question! Eighth--How did +they admit Missouri into the Union with slaves? Were they Southern +votes which admitted it? No! But they were the votes of recreant New +Englanders--false to the principles of freedom, who sold the honor of +their country, and with it the liberty of thousands of human beings in +Missouri--or at least consented to their bondage. And yet it is not a +national question! He (Mr. T.) would last refer to the remarks of a +constitutional lawyer, who was able, eloquent, sincere, and high +minded. Mr. T. then read the following extract:-- + + Such thoughts (referring to the judgments to be expected) + habitually crowd upon me when I contemplate those great + personal and NATIONAL evils, from which the system of + operations (vis., the movements of the Colonization Society) + which I stand here to advocate, seems to offer us some + prospect of deliverance. + + From that day (1698) till the present, there have flourished + in our country, men of large and just views, who have not + ceased to pour over this subject a stream of clear and noble + truth, and to importune their country, by every motive of + duty and advantage, to wipe from her escutcheon, the stain of + human tears. + + It is generally known, that the original members of the + American Colonization Society anticipated, that, at some + future period, the General Government, and some, if not all + the State Governments, would co-operate in their exertions + for the removal of an evil which was obviously NATIONAL in + all its aspects. + +Now who was the writer from whom he had quoted?--His friend Mr. +Breckinridge. This was his final reason. If Mr. Breckinridge's +argument survived these reasons, it would have a life like that of a +cat, which is said to have nine lives; for they were nine fatal +thrusts at his position, that slavery in America was not American +slavery. Mr. B. admits the existence of slavery, but lays no blame +either in this quarter or in that; he does not lay it on the states, +nor on the General Government. Slavery does exist in America, +but--interminably; but, but--coming as these buts did from a +temperance country, he wondered much that they had escaped being +staved. Slavery exists in America, but it is not a national question! +There are upwards of two millions and a half of slaves in the United +States of America, and of these, at least one hundred thousand changed +hands annually, thus sundering, without remorse, the tenderest ties of +human nature; at whose door, then, lay the guilt of this sin? To whom +were the people of this country to address their warnings--over whose +transgressions were they to mourn--whose hearts were they to endeavor +to humanize and mollify--where were the responsible and guilty parties +to be found--how are we to get access to their consciences on behalf +of the slave? Mr. Breckinridge says the system is one of 'clear +robbery,' 'universal concubinage,'--'unmitigated wickedness'--and yet +it is not to be immediately abolished! If it be clear robbery--if it +be universal concubinage--if it be unmitigated wickedness--let the +horrid system immediately, and totally, and eternally cease--a worse +system it was impossible to have if these were the evils it entailed. +Mr. B. triumphantly makes out my case for immediate and complete +emancipation. The duty is plain and indispensable. Mr. Breckinridge +says the abolitionists are the most despicable and odious men on the +face of the earth. Those who love liberty are always odious in the +eyes of tyrants. The lovers of things as they are, of corruption of +despotism--men who look at every thing from beneath the aprons of +their grandmothers, invariably regard as insufferably odious all who +are lovers of reformation and liberty. This always has been, and +always will be the case. As it was said in the service of the church +of England, it might be said on this subject, 'As it was in the +beginning, is now, and ever shall be' if not 'world without end,' at +least to the end of this world. On the 6th day of January, 1831, Mr. +Breckinridge delivered in Frankfort, Kentucky, an able address in +favor of the Colonization Society. In that address, Mr. B. stated that +the Society was established on the 21st day of Dec. 1816, and was of +course, at the time of his speech, fourteen years and sixteen days +old. Mr. Breckinridge said the legislatures of eleven states of the +Union had recommended this Society to Congress; that the +ecclesiastical tribunals of all the leading sects of Christians in +America had testified their approbation of its principles; and yet +there were, after fourteen years and sixteen days, with all this +support and high patronage in church and state only one hundred and +sixty auxiliary societies existing throughout the Union. Now, as to +the contemptible and odious abolitionists! as they were called by the +gentleman who differed from him. The National Society for the +immediate abolition of American slavery, was formed on the 6th of Dec. +1833; and on the 12th of May, 1835, when the anniversary was +held--without being recommended to Congress by any of the state +legislatures--without a testimony of approbation from any of the +ecclesiastical tribunals--being only one year and six months old--how +many auxiliary societies were connected with this abolition +organization? Two hundred and twenty-four. That was the number then on +the books of the Society; and the Secretary said the whole of them +were not inserted from the want of proper returns. In a letter +addressed to him (Mr. T.) by the Secretary of the American +Anti-Slavery Society, dated New York, 31st March, 1836, were the +following words:-- + + Never were societies forming in all parts of our country with + greater rapidity. At this moment we have four hundred and + fifty on our list, and doubtless, there are five hundred in + existence. We have at this time eleven agents in the field, + all good men and true, and all fast gaining converts. + +And yet the abolitionists are a handful! The one society in fourteen +years and sixteen days, having one hundred and sixty auxiliaries; the +other in two years and three months, having, without the support of +state legislatures, or of ecclesiastical tribunals, not fewer than +five hundred; and yet the abolitionists are a handful. He (Mr. T.) +held in his hand a list of delegates to the New England Convention +which was held in the city of Boston, on the 25th of May, 1835. In +that list he found two hundred and eighty-one gentlemen, who, at their +own expense, had come from all parts of New England, to attend that +Convention. On the 27th May, it was stated that the Massachusetts +Society were in want of funds, and a committee was appointed to +collect subscriptions. That committee in less than an hour obtained +$1,800, and on the following day, $4,000, for the American Society. In +New York, at the anniversary, there had been collected $14,500--and +yet the abolitionists were a handful. The American Society at its +anniversary, had collected a larger sum than was collected by all the +other societies together, during the week set apart for the purpose; +and in Boston, $6,000 had been collected in two days; whilst in two +months, a friend of Mr. B's, viz. Mr. Gurley, had only been able to +collect, in the same city, about $600 for the Colonization Society. By +their fruits shall ye know them; do men gather grapes of thorns, or +figs of thistles? You may send to New England any foreigner you +please--but he must show his cause to be sound and practicable before +he can draw a dollar or a cent from a New Englander, who gets his +bread by early rising, and laborious attention to business--yet $6,000 +were collected in two days. But the abolitionists are a mere handful! +Yes--they may be a handful, but they are most precious and multyplying +seed. Mr. B. said that many of the slave-owners were doing all they +could for the emancipation of the slaves; whether they were doing any +thing or nothing, we find New Englanders had endeavored to retrieve +the honor of their country, by a subscription for emancipation of +$6,000 in two days--and yet it was said, they were an odious handful! +When he saw the Colonization Society like a Juggernaut, endeavoring to +crush the bodies and spirits of colored men and colored women, he +would league himself with the despised and 'odious handful,' and labor +with them, and for them, till, by the blessing of God, on their +exertions, the slaves were elevated to the condition and dignity of +intelligent and intellectual beings. Mr. T. would give another proof +that the abolitionists were a handful of most odious creatures. He +would refer to the New York Convention. Mr. B. knows well that the +pro-slavery prints pointed forward to the New York Convention in +October last, as likely to be a scene of blood. Not rendered so by the +abolitionists, for they were men of peace, but by the fury of their +opponents. Notwithstanding, there were six hundred delegates assembled +in Utica, at 9 o'clock, on the first day; and when they were driven +from that city by a mob, headed by the Hon. Mr. Beardsley, member of +Congress, and by the Hon. Mr. Hayden, Judge of the county--and the +greater part of them went to Peterborough, these six hundred were +joined by other four hundred, making one thousand delegates, for one +state--and yet they were a mere handful. He would next refer to the +Rhode Island Convention, at which, though held in the smallest State +in the Union--in the depth of winter--and at a time when many of the +roads were impassible through a heavy fall of snow, four hundred +delegates attended, and $2,000 were collected--but yet the +abolitionists were a mere handful! Gerrit Smith had said that there +was an accession to the anti-slavery societies, in the State of New +York alone, of five hundred weekly, among whom he says, there is not +known one intemperate or profane person;--five hundred weekly added to +one state society--yet they are a mere handful! If they go on +increasing at this rate in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and +throughout New England, they will not long be a small handful! +Besides, many of those who were formerly on the side of colonization, +have now come over to the ranks of the abolitionists. Where are now +the Smiths, and Birneys, and Jays, and Coxs, that once were the +eloquent and munificent advocates and patrons of the Colonization +Society? They are now, with all their souls and energies, on the side +of immediate abolition. Nor these alone. He might--he ought to name +such men as President Green, and Professors Wright, Bush, Follen, +Smyth, and Gregg. He ought to speak of a Leavitt in New York, a Kirk +in Albany, a Beman in Troy, a Weld in Ohio, a Garrison in New England; +and of a Mrs. Child, a Mrs. Chapman, a John G. Whittier, a May, a +Dickinson, a Phelps, a Goodell, a Bourne, a Lundy, a Loring, a Sewall, +and a host of others. All these men esteemed it their joy and honor to +be amongst the most odious of the contemptible handful referred to. +These were men of mind, of piety, of influence, of energy; men not to +be deterred from doing their duty by the harsh music of the birds of +ill omen, from the Upas Tree of Slavery, who sent forth their +croakings, by night and by day, to scare the nation from its +indispensable work of Justice and Truth--and yet these men are odious +and contemptible! Your agent, too, is contemptible--he was the agent +of the 'goodies' of Glasgow--and--his fair auditors could scarcely +believe what epithets were lavishly bestowed on him and them--yet +their agent, as contemptible as he was, was, perhaps, the only +Englishman, who had ever been honored as he had been by the President +of the United States of America. He who was so contemptible in the +eyes of the Americans--who was a most impetuous, and untameable, and +worthless animal--who was the representative of the 'goodies' and +superannuated maids and matrons of Glasgow--was honored by a notice +and a rebuke in the message to Congress of the President of the United +States! This looked much like being insignificant and contemptible! He +did not seek the honor which had been thus conferred upon him--it came +upon him unaware--but he had not therefore refused it. It was an honor +to be persecuted in the United States with the abolitionists of 1830. +And when their children, and their children's children looked back +upon these persecutions, they would exult and be proud to say they +were the sons, the grandsons, or the great grandsons of the Coxs, the +Jays, the Garrisons, the Tappans, and the Thompsons of England and +America. After alluding to the treatment he had experienced from the +New York Courier and Enquirer, Mr. T. said--let us bear these honors +meekly--when calumniated for truth's sake, let us be humble, while we +are joyful. One word more as to the odious handful. Seven-eights of +the Methodist Episcopal ministers in the New Hampshire Conference, +and seven-eights of the New England Conference were abolitionists. The +students of the colleges and institutions, academical and theological +of the country, known by the names of Lane Seminary, Oberlin +Institute, Western Reserve College, Oneida Institute, Waterville +College, Brunswick College, Amherst College, and the Seminaries of +Andover, were many of them in some, and all of them in others, +abolitionists; and yet, when all these societies, and ministers, and +men of learning, and students were put together, they were, in their +aggregate capacity, but an odious and most contemptible handful! He +would now proceed to speak of the Maryland scheme--a scheme of obvious +wickedness. When Mr. B. came to Boston to advocate that scheme, he +says a placard was published, calling on the rabble to mob him. This +placard he attributes to Mr. Garrison and the abolitionists, as he +says it was of the same size and appearance as the type and columns of +the Liberator newspaper, and that therefore Mr. Garrison was the +publisher. This he (Mr. T.) most pointedly, and distinctly, and +solemnly denied, and challenged Mr. B. to the proof. Did Mr. B. show +the placard? No. Did he demonstrate its identity with Mr. Garrison's +paper? No. He had not done so. To make Mr. Garrison the author or +publisher of such a placard, was to publish him a coward and a +villain; for he who could point out any man, still more a Christian +minister, to the fury of a mob, was a moral monster, a coward, and a +villain. He called on Mr. B. by his regard for truth and justice, and +his reputation as a minister of Christ, to adduce the proofs necessary +to sustain so grave an accusation, and he (Mr. T.) pledged himself to +cast off the dearest friend he had, if a crime so base could be fixed +on him. To return to the Maryland scheme. In the month of July or +August, 1834, Boston was visited by his respected opponent, his +brother, Dr. J. Breckinridge, and an agent of the Maryland +Colonization Society, and a meeting was convened to enable those +gentlemen to set forth and recommend the scheme of that Society, in +aid of which the legislature of Maryland had made an appropriation of +$200,000. He (Mr. T.) was fully prepared to show, that the object of +the Society was to get rid of the free colored population, and that +according to their design the state legislature had, in immediate +connection with the grant of money, passed most rigorous and cruel +laws. The Colonization Society was the net cast for the colored +people--the laws of the state were the means devised to drive the +devoted victims into its meshes. This was called helping them out of +the country with their free consent. He (Mr. T.) would bring forward +abundant proofs when he next addressed them--he would then read the +laws which he could not now produce for want of time. Mr. Breckinridge +might or might not notice these general charges against the Maryland +scheme; but he (Mr. T.) would hereafter fully support them, and show, +too, that the National Colonization Society was equally culpable, +having at its ensuing annual meeting fully approved of the plan, and +recommended it as a bright example for the imitation of other states. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE then rose. He had last night understood Mr. Thompson +to say, that this evening he would take up and expose the colonization +scheme. It was possible that he had been wrong in this; but such was +certainly the impression made upon his mind. Instead of adopting such +a course, however, Mr. Thompson had treated them to a second edition +of his last night's speech the only difference being that the one they +had just heard was more elaborate. If they were to be called on to +hear all Mr. Thompson's speeches twice, it would be a considerable +time before they finished the discussion. He congratulated Mr. +Thompson on his second edition, being in some respects an improvement, +on his first. It was certainly better arranged. In the observations he +was about to make, he would follow the course of the argument +exhibited in Mr. Thompson's two speeches; but he, at the same time, +wished it to be understood that he would not be cast out of the line +of discussion every night in the same manner. As to what had been said +about the 'handful,' he did not think it necessary to say much. He +would simply remind Mr. T., that however great or however small the +'handful' might be, one pervading evil might pollute it all. A dead +fly could cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink. But to come +to the point. Mr. Thompson had said that the question was national as +it respected America, because slaveholding states had been admitted +into the confederacy. The simple fact of these states having been +admitted members of the Union, was, in Mr. Thompson's estimation, +proof sufficient, not only that slavery was chargeable on the whole +nation, but that there had been a positive predilection among the +American people in favor of slavery. In clearing up this point, a +little chronological knowledge would help us. He would therefore call +the attention of the audience to the real state of matters when the +confederacy was established. At that period, Massachusetts was the +only State in which slavery had been abolished; and even in +Massachusetts its formal abolition was not effected till some time +after. For in that State it came to an end in consequence of a clause +inserted in the Constitution itself--tantamount to the one in our +Declaration of Independence, that freedom is a natural and inalienable +right. Successive judicial decisions, upon this clause, without any +special legislation, had abolished slavery there; so that the exact +period of its actual termination is not easily definable. This recalls +another point on which Mr. Thompson would have been the better of +possessing a little chronological information. He had repeatedly +stated that the American Constitution was founded on the principle, +that all men are created free and equal. Now, this was not so. The +principle was no doubt, a just one; it was asserted most fully by the +Continental Congress of 1776, and might be said to form the basis of +our Declaration of Independence. But it was not contained in the +American Constitution, which was formed twelve years afterwards. That +Constitution was formed in accordance with the circumstances in which +the different states were placed. Its chief object was to guard +against external injury, and regulate external affairs; it interfered +as little as possible with the internal regulations of each state. The +American was a federative system of government; twenty-four distinct +republics were united for certain purposes, and for these alone. So +far was the national government from possessing unlimited powers, that +the Constitution itself was but a very partial grant of those, which, +in their omnipotence, resided, according to our theory, only in the +people themselves in their primary assemblies. It had been specially +agreed in the Constitution itself, that the powers not delegated +should be as expressly reserved, as if excepted by name; and, amongst +the chief subjects, exclusively interior, and not delegated, and so +reserved, is slavery. Had this not been the case, the confederacy +could not have been formed. It had been said that the American +Constitution had not only tolerated slavery, but that it had actually +guaranteed the slave-trade for twenty years. Nothing could be more +uncandid than this statement. Never had facts been more perverted. One +of the causes of the American Revolution had been the refusal of the +British King to sanction certain arrangements on which some of the +states wished to enter, for the abolition of the slave-trade. At the +formation of the Federal Constitution, while slavery was excluded from +the control of Congress, as a purely state affair, the slave trade was +deemed a fit subject, by the majority, for the executors of national +power, as being an exterior affair. And at a period prior to the very +commencement of that great plan of individual effort, guided by +Wilberforce and Clarkson, in Britain; and which required twenty years +to rouse the conscience of this nation--our distant, and now traduced +fathers, had already made up their minds, that this horrid traffic, +which they found not only existing, but encouraged by the whole power +of the King, should be abolished. It was granted, perhaps too readily +to the claims of those who thought, (as nearly the whole world +thought) that twenty years should be the limit of the trade; and at +the end of that period it was instantly prohibited, as a matter +course, and by unanimous consent. How unjust then was it to charge on +America, as a crime, what was one of the brightest virtues in her +escutcheon. Mr. Thompson had next asserted, that slavery of the most +horrid description existed in the Capital of America, and in the +surrounding District, subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of +Congress. He (Mr. Breckinridge) did not hesitate to deny this. It was +not true. Slavery did exist there; but it was not of the horrible +character which had been represented. It was well known that the +slavery existing in the United States was the mildest to be seen in +any country under Heaven. Nothing but the most profound ignorance +could lead any one to assert the contrary. Mr. Thompson had a +colleague in his recent exhibitions in London, who seemed to have +taken interludes in all Mr. T's speeches. In one of these, that +colleague had said, he knew of his own knowledge a case, in which a +man had given $500 for a slave, in order to burn him alive! Mr. +Thompson, no doubt knew, that even on the supposition that such a +monster was to be found, he was liable in every part of the United +States, to be hanged as any other murderer. Slavery was bad enough +anywhere; but to say that it was more unmitigated in America than in +the West Indies, where emigration had always been necessary to keep up +the numbers, while in America, the slave population increased faster +than any part of the human race, was a gross exaggeration, or a proof +of the profoundest ignorance. To say that the slavery of the District +of Columbia was the most horrid that ever existed, when it, along with +the whole of the slavery on that continent, was so hedged about by +human laws, that in every one of the states cruelty to the slave was +punished as an offence against the state; the killing of a slave was +punished every where with death; while in all ages, and nearly in all +countries where slavery has existed besides, the master was not only +the exclusive judge of the treatment of his slave, but the absolute +disposer of his life, which he could take away at will; these +statements can proceed only from unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose +to mislead. As to the abolition of slavery in the District of +Columbia, there might, at first sight, appear to be some grounds of +accusation; but yet, when the subject was considered in all its +bearings, so many pregnant, if not conclusive, reasons presented +themselves against interference, that though much attention had been +bestowed upon it for many years, the result had been that nothing was +done. It was to be recollected that the whole District of Columbia was +only ten miles square; and that it was surrounded by states in which +slavery was still legalized. It was thus clear, that though slavery +were abolished in Columbia, not an individual of the six thousand +slaves now within its bounds, would necessarily be relieved of his +fetters. Were an abolition bill to pass the House of Representatives +to-day, the whole six thousand could be removed to a neighboring slave +state before it could be taken up in the Senate to-morrow. It was, +therefore, worse than idle to say so much on what could never be a +practical question. Again; the District of Columbia had been ceded to +the General Government by Maryland and Virginia, both slaveholding +states, for national purposes; but this would never have been done had +it been contemplated that Congress would abolish slavery within its +bounds, and thus establish a nucleus of anti-slavery agitation in the +heart of their territory. The exercise of such a power, therefore, on +the part of Congress, could be viewed in no other light than as a +gross fraud on those two states. It should never be forgotten that +slavery can be abolished in any part of America only by the persuasive +power of truth voluntarily submitted to the slaveholders themselves. +And though much is said in that country, and still more here, about +the criminality of the Northern States in not declaring that they +would not aid in the suppression of a servile war--such declamation is +worse than idle. But there is a frightful meaning in this unmeasured +abuse heaped by Mr. Thompson on the people of the free states, for +their expressions of devotion to the Union and the Constitution, and +their determination to aid, if necessary, in suppressing by force--all +force used by, or on behalf of the slaves. Is it then true, that Mr. +Thompson and his American friends, did contemplate a servile war? If +not, why denounce the North for saying it should be suppressed? Were +the people of America right when they charged him and his co-workers +with stirring up insurrection? If not, why lavish every epithet of +contempt and abhorrence upon those who have declared their readiness +to put a stop to the indiscriminate slaughter and pillage of a region +as large as Western Europe? Such speeches as that I have this night +heard go far to warrant all that has ever been said against this +individual in America, and to excuse those who considered him a +general disturber of their peace, and were disposed to proceed against +him accordingly. It was, however, the opinion of many that Congress +had no power to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr. B. +said his opinion was different; yet it must be admitted that the +obstacles to the exercise of this power were of the most serious kind, +and such as, to a candid mind, would free those who hesitated, from +the charge of being pro-slavery men. Perhaps the great reason against +the exercise of that power, even if its existence in Congress were +clear, was, that it would inevitably produce a dissolution of the +Union. When he spoke of the free states bringing about the abolition +of slavery in the South, he was to be understood as meaning that these +states, in accordance with what had been so often hinted at, should +march to the South with arms in their hands, and declare the slaves +free. Now, even supposing that the people of the North had no regard +for the peace of their country--that they were perfectly indifferent +to the glory, the power, and the happiness resulting from the Federal +Union--was it certain, that by adopting such a course, they would +really advance the welfare of the slave? Every candid man would at +once see that the condition of the slave population would be made more +hopeless than ever by it. The fourth proof brought forward by Mr. +Thompson, in support of his proposition that America was chargeable, +in a national point of view, with the guilt of slavery, was the fact +that the different states were bound to restore all run-away slaves. +But this was a regulation which applied to the case of all servants +who leave their masters in an improper manner. Apprentices, children, +even wives, if it might be supposed that a wife would ever leave her +husband, were to be restored as well as the slaves. Were this not +provided, the different states would form to each other the most +horrible neighborhood that could be imagined. No state is expected to +say, that any man is of right or should be 'held to service' of any +kind, in another state; for such are the words of the Constitution. +But the purely internal arrangements of each state, must necessarily +be respected by all the others; or eternal border wars must be the +result. In the re-delivery of a run-away slave, or apprentice, +therefore, the court of the one state is only required to say what are +the law, and the fact of the other state from which the claimant +comes, and to decide accordingly. And when Mr. T. says that this +proceeding is not only contrary to the spirit of the gospel, but to +the express command of God under the Jewish dispensation, I need only +to defend the practice, by questioning his biblical capacities, and +referring for explanation to his second printed speech before the +Glasgow Emancipation Society. In that, he states a fictitious case as +regards Ireland--resembling remarkably the case recorded in holy writ, +of Egypt under the government of Joseph; and while all men have +thought that Joseph came from God, and was peculiarly approved of +him--Mr. T. has represented, that he who should do in Ireland, very +much what Joseph did in Egypt, could be considered as coming only +'from America, or from the bottomless pit!!!' As long as the Holy +Ghost gives men reason to consider certain principles right, they may +be well content to abide under the wrath of Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson +said, in the fifth place, that slavery was a national crime, because +the states were all bound to assist each other, in suppressing +internal insurrection. To this he would answer, that as it regarded +the duty of the nation to the several states, there were two, and but +two great guarantees--namely, the preservation of internal peace, and +the upholding of republican institutions, tranquillity, and +republicanism. Carolina was as much bound to assist Rhode Island as +Rhode Island was to assist Carolina. All were mutually bound to each; +and if things went on as of late, the South were as likely to be +called on to suppress mobs at the North, as the North to suppress +insurrection at the South. It was next advanced by Mr. T. that the +people of the North were taxed for the support of slavery. Now, the +fact was, that America presented the extraordinary spectacle of a +nation free of taxes altogether; free of debt, with an overflowing +Treasury, with so much money, indeed, that they did not well know what +to do with it. It was almost needless to explain that the American +revenue was at present and had been for many years past, derived +solely from the sale of public lands, and from the customs or duties +levied on imported articles of various kinds. The payment of these +duties was entirely a voluntary tax, as in order to avoid it, it was +only necessary to refrain from the use of articles on which they were +imposed. As for Mr. T's argument about the standing army, employed in +keeping down the slaves, its value might be judged from the fact, +that, though even according to Mr. T's own showing, the slave +population amounted to two and a half millions, the army was composed +of only six thousand men, scattered along three frontiers, extending +two thousand miles each. Throughout the whole slaveholding states +there were not probably fifteen hundred soldiers. The charge was, in +fact, complete humbug, founded upon just nothing at all. Mr. +Thompson's seventh charge was, that Congress refused to suppress the +internal slave-trade. This was easily answered. There was in America +not one individual among five hundred who believed that Congress had +the power to do so. And, although he (Mr. B.) believed that Congress +had power to prevent the migration of slaves from state to state, as +fully as they had to prevent the importation of them into the states +from foreign countries; and that the exercise of this power, would +prevent, in a great degree, the trade in slaves from state to state, +yet very few concurred with him even in this modified view of the +case. And it must be admitted that the exercise of such a power, if +it really exists, would be attended with such results of unmixed evil +at this time, that no one whatever would deem it proper to attempt, or +possible to enforce its exercise. It was next said, that as Missouri, +a slaveholding state, had been admitted into the Union after the full +consideration of the subject by Congress, therefore the nation had +become identified with slavery, and responsible for its existence, at +least in Missouri. But on the supposition that, before receiving +Missouri as a member of the confederacy, it had been demanded of her +that she should abolish slavery; and supposing Missouri had acceded to +the terms proposed, that she had really given her slaves freedom, and +been added to the Federal Union in consequence: suppose Missouri had +done all this; what was there to prevent her from re-establishing +slavery so soon as the end she sought was gained. No power was +possessed by the other states in the matter, and all that could have +been said was, that Missouri had acted with bad faith--that she had +broken a condition precedent--that she had given just cause of war. +According to the most latitudinarian notions, this was the extent of +the remedy in the hands of Congress. But Mr. Thompson, being a holder +of peace principles--if we may judge by his published speeches--must +admit it to be as really a sin to kill, as to enslave men; so that, in +his own showing, this argument amounts to nothing. But when it is +considered that every state in the American Union has the recognized +right to alter its Constitution, when, and how it may think fit, +saving only that it be republican; it is most manifest that Congress +and the other states have, and could have in no case, any more power +or right to prevent Missouri's continuing, or creating slavery, than +they had to prevent Massachusetts from abolishing it. But, if we were +to stand upon the mere rights of war, he (Mr. B.) did not know but +that America had just cause of war against Britain, according to the +received notions on that subject, in the speeches delivered by Mr. +Thompson under the connivance of the authorities here. But the causes +of war were very different in the opinions of men, and in the eye of +God. If Mr. Thompson was right in condemning America for the guilt of +Missouri, then they should go to war at once and settle the question. +But, if they were not ready for this conclusion, they could do +nothing. In the edition of Mr. Thompson's speech which had been +delivered on the preceding evening, an argument had been adduced which +was omitted in the present. The argument to which he referred, was +concerning the right of the slaves to be represented. A slight +consideration of the subject might have shown that the whole power +over the subject of citizenship in each state, was exclusive in the +state itself, and was differently regulated in different states. In +some, the elective franchise was given to all who had attained the age +of twenty-one. In some, it was made to depend on the possession of +personal property; and in others, of real property. That in the +Southern states, the power of voting should be given to the masters, +and not to the slaves, was not calculated to excite surprise in +Britain, where such a large proportion of the population, and that in +a number of instances composed of men of high intelligence, were not +entitled to the elective franchise. The origin of this arrangement, +like many others involved in our social system, was a compromise of +apparently conflicting interests in the states which were engaged in +forming the Federal Constitution. The identity of taxation and +representation, was the grand idea on which the nation went into the +war of independence. When it was agreed that all white citizens, and +three-fifths of all other persons, as the Constitution expresses it, +should be represented, it followed of course, that they should be +subject to taxation. Or, if it were first agreed that they should be +taxed, it followed as certainly they should be represented. Who should +actually cast the votes, was, of necessity, left to be determined by +the states themselves, and as has been said, was variously determined; +many permitting free negroes, Indians, and mulattos, who are all +embraced, as well as slaves, to vote. That three-fifths, instead of +any other part, or the whole should be agreed on, was, no doubt, the +result of reasons which appeared conclusive to the wise and benevolent +men who made the Constitution; but I am not able to tell what they +were. It must, however, be very clear, that to accuse my country, in +one breath, for treating the negroes, bond and free, as if they were +not human beings at all--and to accuse her in the next, of fostering +and encouraging slavery, for allowing so large a proportion of the +blacks to be a part of the basis of national representation in all the +states, and then, in the third, because the whole are not so treated, +to be more abusive than ever--is merely to show plainly, how earnestly +an occasion is sought to traduce America, and how hard it is to find +one. He came now to the last charge. He himself, it seems, had +admitted, on former occasions, that slavery was a national evil. He +certainly did believe that the people of America, whether anti-slavery +or pro-slavery, would be happier and better, in conscience and +feelings, were slavery abolished. He believed that every interest +would be benefited by such an event, whether political, moral, or +social. The existence of slavery was one of the greatest evils of the +world, but it was not the crime of all the world. Though, therefore, +he considered slavery a national evil, it was not to be inferred that +he viewed it as a national crime. The cogency of such an argument was +equal to the candor of the citation on which it was founded. He would +now come to matters rather more personal. In enumerating the great +numbers of anti-slavery societies in America, Mr. Thompson had paraded +one as formed in Kentucky, for the whole state. Now, he would venture +to say that there were not ten persons in that whole State, holding +anti-slavery principles, in the Garrison sense of the word. If this +was to be judged a fair specimen of the hundreds of societies boasted +of by Mr. Thompson, there would turn out but a beggarly account of +them. He found also the name of Groton, Massachusetts, as the location +of one of the societies in the boasted list. He had once preached, and +spoken on the subject of slavery, in that sweet little village, and +been struck with the scene of peace and happiness which it presented. +He afterwards met the clergyman of that village in the city of +Baltimore, and asked him what had caused him to leave the field of his +labors. The clergyman answered, that the anti-slavery people had +invaded his peaceful village, and transformed it into such a scene of +strife that he preferred to leave it. And so it was. The pestilence, +which, like a storm of fire and brimstone from hell, always followed +the track of abolitionism, had overtaken many a peaceful village, and +driven its pastor to seek elsewhere a field not yet blasted by it. He +would conclude by remarking, that Mr. Thompson and he (Mr. B.) were +now speaking, as it were, in the face of two worlds, for Western +Europe was the world to America. And it was for England to know--that +the opinion of America--that America which already contained a larger +reading population than the whole of Britain--was as important to her, +as hers could be to us. What he had said of Mr. Garrison and of Mr. +Wright, he had said; and he was ready to answer for it in the face of +God and man. But he had something else to do, he thanked God, than to +go about the country carrying placards, ready to be produced on all +occasions. Nor where he was known, was such a course needful, to +establish what he said. When those gentlemen should make their +appearance, in defence or explanation of what he had said, he would be +the better able to judge--whether it would be proper for him to take +any notice--and if any, what--of the defence for which Mr. Thompson +had so frankly pledged himself. In the mean time, he would say to that +gentleman himself, that his attempts at brow-beating were lost upon +him. + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON said he should commence with the end of his opponent's +speech, and notice what that gentleman had said in regard to the +charges brought by him against William Lloyd Garrison and Elizur +Wright. It appeared as if Mr. Breckinridge expected that, because in +his own country his character for veracity stood high, that therefore, +he was entitled, if he chose, to enter an assembly of twelve hundred +persons in Great Britain, and utter the gravest charges against +certain individuals 3,000 miles away, and when called upon as he had +been for proof, that he had nothing to do but turn round and say, +'Why, I am not bound to furnish proof; let the parties accused +demonstrate their innocence.' This was American justice with a +vengeance. This might be Kentucky law, or Lynch law, but could hardly +be called justice by any assembly of honest and impartial persons. +Such justice might suit the neighborhood of Vicksburg, but it would +not recommend itself to a Scotish audience. He (Mr. T.) would not +undertake at this time the task of justifying the men who had been +calumniated. He knew these gentlemen, and had no doubt when they heard +the charges preferred against them in this country, they would be able +and ready to clear themselves before the world. He would not say that +Mr. Breckinridge did not himself believe the allegations to be true, +but he would say that had that gentleman possessed a knowledge of the +true character of those he had spoken against--had he known them as he +(Mr. T.) knew them, he would have held them incapable of the dark +deeds alleged against them. With regard to Mr. B's remarks upon the +number of the slave population, the amount of the troops in the United +States, and the existence of slavery in the district of Columbia, he +must say that they were nothing but special pleadings; that the whole +was a complete specimen of what the lawyers termed pettifogging. He +(Mr. T.) was not prepared to hear a minister say that because only +1500 troops out of 6000 were found in the southern states, that, +therefore, the nation was not implicated--that because, if the slavery +of the district was abolished, there would be no fewer slaves in the +country--that, therefore, the seat of government should not be +cleansed from its abomination. He would remind his opponent that they +were discussing a question of principle, and that the scriptures had +declared that he who was unjust in the least, was unjust also in the +greatest. Mr. Breckinridge had still cautiously avoided naming the +parties in the United States who were responsible for the sin of +Slavery. They were told that neither New Hampshire nor Massachusetts, +nor any other of the Northern states were to blame; that the +government was not to blame, nor, had it even yet been said, that the +Southern states were to blame. Still the aggregate of the guilt +belonged somewhere; and if the parties to whom reference had been made +were to be exculpated, at whose door, he would ask, were the sin and +shame of the system to be laid. The gentleman with whom he was +debating had repeatedly told him (Mr. T.) that he did not understand +'the system.' He frankly confessed that he did not. It was a +mystery of iniquity which he could not pretend to fathom; but he +thought he might add that the Americans themselves, at least the +Colonizationists, did not seem to understand it very well neither, +for they had been operating for a very long time, without effecting +any favorable change in the system. A word with regard to the +representation of slaves in Congress. Mr. B. had spoken as if he had +intended to have it understood, that the slaves were themselves +benefited by that representation--that it was a partial representation +of the slave population by persons in their interest. How stood the +fact? The slaves were not at all represented as men, but as things. +They swelled, it was true, the number of members upon the floor of +Congress, but that extra number only helped to rivet their bonds +tightly upon them, being as they were, in the interest of the tyrant, +and themselves slaveholders, and not in the interest of the slaves. +What said John Quincy Adams in his celebrated report on the Tariff:-- + + 'The representation of the slave population in this House + has, from the establishment of the Constitution of the United + States, amounted to rather more than one-tenth of the whole + number. In the present Congress (1833,) it is equivalent to + twenty-two votes; in the next Congress it will amount to + twenty-five. This is a combined and concentrated power, + always operating to the support and exclusive favor of the + slave-holding interest.' + +Here was a mighty engine in the cause of oppression. It was a wicked +misrepresentation to say that the slaves were benefited by such an +arrangement. Instead of being a lever in their hands to aid them in +the overthrow of the system which was crushing them, it was a vast +addition of strength to the ranks of their tyrants, who went to +Congress to cry down discussion, to cry up Lynch law, and shout Hail +Columbia. Mr. Thompson then proceeded to give some account of the +Maryland Colonization scheme. + +The first movement on the subject was in March, 1831, when Mr. Brawner +submitted the following resolutions to the Maryland Legislature, which +were by that assembly adopted. He begged particular attention both to +the letter and spirit of this document, exhibiting as it did, the +feelings of 'the good people of the state' towards the colored +population:-- + + Resolved, That the increased proportion of the free people of + color in this state, to the white population, the evils + growing out of their connection and unrestrained association + with the slaves their habits and manner of obtaining a + subsistence, and their withdrawing a large portion of + employment from the laboring class of the white population, + are subjects of momentous and grave consideration to the good + people of this state. + + Resolved, That as philanthropists and lovers of freedom, we + deplore the existence of slavery amongst us, and would use + our utmost exertions to ameliorate its condition, yet we + consider the unrestrained power of manumission as fraught + with ultimate evils of a more dangerous tendency than the + circumstance of slavery alone, and that any act, having for + its object the mitigation of these joint evils, not + inconsistent with other paramount considerations, would be + worthy the attention and deliberation of the representatives + of a free, liberal-minded, and enlightened people. + + Resolved, That we consider the colonization of free people of + color in Africa as the commencement of a system, by which if + judicious encouragement be afforded, these evils may be + measurably diminished, so that in process of time, the + relative proportion of the black to the white population, + will hardly be matter for serious and unpleasant + consideration. + + Ordered, therefore, That a committee of five members be + appointed by the Chair, with instructions to report a bill, + based as nearly as may be, upon the principles contained in + the foregoing resolutions, and report the same to the + consideration of this house. + +Such was the first movement on the subject. At the next session of +the legislature Mr. Brawner presented the report of the committee, +some of the extracts from which he (Mr. T.) would read:-- + + The committee to whom was referred the several memorials from + numerous citizens in this state, upon the subject, of the + colored population, Report,-- + + That the views presented by the memorialists are various, and + the recommendations contained in some of the memorials are + entirely repugnant to those contained in others. The + subjects, however, upon which legislative action is required, + may be embraced under a few general heads: + + First, That a law be passed prohibiting the future + emancipation of the slaves, unless provision be made for + their removal from the state. + + Secondly, That a sum of money adequate for the attainment of + the object, be raised and appropriated for the further + removal of those already free. + + Thirdly, That a system of police be established, regulating + the future conduct and morals of this class of our + population. + + And, Fourthly, There are several memorials from different + parts of our state, signed by a numerous and highly + respectable portion of our citizens, recommending the entire + abolition of slavery in the state. + +On the 14th of March, 1832, the State Legislature of Maryland +appropriated for the use of the State Colonization Society the sum +of two hundred thousand dollars, payable in sums of twenty thousand +dollars per annum for ten years. Having made the grant, the +legislature next proceeded to pass acts to obtain the consent of the +colored population to quit the state and country, and emigrate to +Africa. He (Mr. T.) claimed special attention to some short extracts +from those laws. They would reveal more powerfully than any language +of his, the benevolent or rather atrociously cruel designs of the +'good people' of the state. He should quote first from 'An Act +relating to Free Negroes and Slaves,' passed within a few days of the +grant and part and parcel of the same benevolent scheme:-- + + Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, + That after the passage of this act, no free negro or mulatto + shall emigrate to, or settle in this State; and no free negro + or mulatto belonging to any other state, district or + territory, shall come into this State, and therein remain for + the space of ten successive days, whether such free negro or + mulatto intends settling in this State or not, under the + penalty of fifty dollars for each and every week such persons + coming into, shall thereafter remain in this State; the one + half to the informer and the other half to the sheriff for + the use of the county. * * * and any free negro or mulatto + refusing or neglecting to pay said fine or fines, shall be + committed to the jail of the county; and shall be sold by the + sheriff at public sale, for such time as may be necessary to + cover the aforesaid penalty, first giving ten days previous + notice of such sale. + + Sec. 2d. And be it enacted, That no person in this State, + shall hereafter hire, employ, or harbor any free negro or + mulatto who shall emigrate or settle in this state, after the + first day of June next, or any free negro or mulatto who + shall come into this state from any other state, district or + territory, and continue in this state for the space of ten + successive days as above, under the penalty of twenty dollars + for every day after the expiration of four days, any such + free negro or mulatto * * * shall be so employed, hired or + harbored, and all fines accruing under this act, * * * one + half thereof to be applied to the informer, and the other + half to the use of the county; and if any negro or mulatto + shall remove from this state and remain without the limits + thereof for a space longer than thirty consecutive days, + unless before leaving the state he deposits with the clerk of + the county in which he resides, a written statement of his + object in so doing, and his intention of returning again, or + unless he shall have been detained by sickness or coercion, + of which he shall bring a certificate, he shall be regarded + as a resident of another state, and be subject, if he return, + to the penalties imposed by the foregoing provisions upon + free negroes and mulattoes of another state, migrating to + this state: Provided that nothing contained in this act shall + prevent any free negro or mulatto from visiting Liberia, and + returning to the state whenever he may choose to do so. + + Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful from + and after the first of June next, to import or bring into + this state by land or water, any negro, mulatto or other + slave for sale, or to reside within this state: * * * and any + person or persons so offending, shall forfeit for every such + offence, any negro, mulatto or other slave brought into this + state contrary to this act, and such negro, mulatto or other + slave, shall be entitled to freedom upon condition that he + consent to be sent to Liberia, or to leave the state + forthwith, otherwise such negro or mulatto or other slave, + shall be seized and taken and confined in jail by the sheriff + of the county where the offence is committed, which sheriff + shall receive ten dollars for every negro, mulatto or other + slave so brought into this state and forfeited as aforesaid, + and seized and taken by him. * * * Moreover, said sheriff + shall receive five dollars for such negro, mulatto or other + slave actually confined by him in jail, and the usual prison + fee as now allowed by law, and any person or persons so + offending under this act, shall be punished by indictment in + the county court of the county where the offence shall be + committed, and upon conviction thereof, the said court shall, + by its order, direct said sheriff to sell any negro, mulatto + or other slaves so seized and taken by him, under this act, + to the Colonization Society for said five dollars, and the + prison fees * * * to be taken to Liberia: and if such + Colonization Society shall not receive such negroes, + mulattoes or other slaves for said five dollars each, and the + prison fees of each, upon refusing, said sheriff shall, after + three weeks' public notice given by advertisements, sell any + such negro, mulatto or other slave to some person or persons, + with a condition that any such negro, mulatto or other slave + shall be removed and taken forthwith beyond the limits of + this state to settle and reside. + +Such was the scheme which had been advocated in Boston and elsewhere +by his opponent. He now left the matter in his hands, recommending him +to exert all his eloquence and ingenuity in behalf of the honor of +Maryland, but warning him beforehand that his labors would be in vain. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would now proceed with what remained of the +argument on the general question. He had been asked to point out the +responsible parties in regard to slavery, and this was what he was +about to do. It was indeed much more easy to show who were the +responsible parties than to prove the innocence of those unjustly +accused--it was perhaps his duty to do both--the first he had been +attempting. It would be easy to do the other, and he trusted, that +after he had done so--if the good people of Glasgow on any future +occasion should meet to pass resolutions applauding Mr. Thompson, for +the vast sacrifices he had made, and the suffering he had endured in +the cause of emancipation, they would not again feel obliged to pass +resolutions condemning the whole American nation, as the vilest nation +that ever existed, for maintaining slavery. He would say, then, that +he considered the owners of the slaves, as in the first place, +responsible. The slave-owner had two important duties to perform in +reference to those of his fellow-beings, who were held in bondage. In +the first place, he was bound to inform himself of the whole question, +in its length and breadth, and having done so, he ought, in the +speediest manner possible, consistent with the happiness of the slaves +themselves, to set them free. This was the duty of a slave-owner, as +an individual. But, as his lot might be cast in a slaveholding state, +it was his duty, in addition to freeing his own slaves, that he should +use every lawful means to enlighten public opinion. Whatever faculties +he possessed, it was his duty to use them in the attempt to remove the +prejudices of those whose minds were not yet enlightened on this +important question. But, while it was his duty to do this, he was to +refrain from every thing which would naturally tend to exasperate the +minds of the masters. He was not to go and take hold of a man by the +throat, and say, 'You are a great thieving, man-dealing villain, and +unless you instantly give your slaves liberty, I will pitch you out of +this three story window.' That was not the mode in which a prudent man +would go to work. And he (Mr. Breckinridge) would like, above all +things, to make Mr. Thompson, and his fellow-laborers sensible of this +important truth; that in their efforts to give freedom to the slaves, +nothing could be done without the consent of the slave-owners. And +unless it was kept in view, Mr. Thompson might labor, to use an +American homely phrase, 'till the cows come home,' but he would not +move a single step nearer his object. While on this head there was +another saying which he had no doubt Mr. Thompson had frequently heard +in America, and which might be of some use for him to bear in mind, if +he revisited that horrible country; it was that one 'spoonful of +molasses would catch more flies than a hogshead of vinegar.' With +regard to the mode in which the question of slavery should be taken up +in those states where it existed, he would say that every thing had +been done--agitation, as it was called in this country--to enlighten +the public mind on the whole question, was the only thing that could +advance the cause. If there was any thing else that could be taken +advantage of for that end, he was willing to learn it, and to go home +and try to teach his countrymen who were laboring in the same cause. +In the second place, Mr. B. proceeded to say, that the parties +responsible for the existence of slavery were the states which +tolerated it. If slavery were wrong, as he was fully prepared to +assert it to be, then those states or communities which tolerate it +were justly responsible at the bar of God, at the tribunal of an +enlightened world. If slavery were wrong, those who have power were +bound to abolish it as soon as it could be done consistently with the +greatest amount of good to all concerned. Now, slavery could end in +any state only by violence, or by the consent of the masters. This +made it obviously the duty of all who had right views in such +communities, to extend and enforce them in such a way as shall appear +most likely to secure the object in view--namely, peaceful, voluntary, +and legal abolition. It demonstrates too, that whenever the majority +of such a community are ready to act in this behalf, they are bound to +act in such a manner as will constitutionally and speedily effect the +object, even though multitudes in that community should still oppose +it. But here again it is most clear that such a result can never be +brought about, till the majority of such slaveholding communities +shall not only consent to it, but require it. So that in every branch +of the matter, it constantly appears how indispensable, light, and +love, gentleness, wisdom, and truth are; and how perfectly mad it is +to expect to do any thing in America by harsh vituperation, hasty and +violent proceedings. But, say the anti-slavery people, you can abolish +slavery in the District of Columbia, and might purchase the freedom of +all the slaves throughout the whole of the states with the public +money. But it was not the price of the slaves that was the chief +difficulty in making an end of slavery. The inhabitants of the +Southern states reckoned this the least part of the case. To take away +our slaves, say they, is to take away not our property alone, but our +country also; for without them the country would not be cultivated. He +did not say that the Southern planters were right in thinking so, but +he knew that they did think so; and therefore, it was necessary to +take their opinion into account. This was only an instance of the many +difficulties by which the question was beset, and would let them see +that it was not a mere matter of pounds, shillings, and pence. In +reference to the efforts made by the American people to abolish +slavery, Mr. Breckinridge said they had done much in this cause before +Mr. Thompson was born, and possibly before his father was born. They +had labored for ages, he might almost say for half centuries. During +that time they had effected much, and they would have done more but +for the interference of the party with which Mr. Thompson was +identified. A party whose principles were based on false +metaphysics--on false morality, who came often with the fury of +demons, and yet said they were sent by God. He would say the cause of +emancipation had been much injured by the ill-designed efforts of that +party, they had thrown the cause a hundred years farther back, than it +was five years ago. In reference to the Maryland colonization scheme, +of which they had heard so much from Mr. Thompson, he would only be +able, as his time was nearly expired, to make a remark or two. That +Society had existed for about four years. In its fourth annual report +there is a statement from the managers of the Maryland State fund, +that within the preceding year, two hundred and ninety-nine +manumissions had been reported to them, which, with those previously +reported, make eleven hundred and one slaves manumitted, purely and +freely manumitted, within four years in that State: while the total +number of colored persons transported to Liberia since the Society +commenced its operations was then only one hundred and forty, as +exhibited by the same report. Nothing could show more clearly the +falsity of those statements which represent the scheme of Maryland +colonization, as being cruel, oppressive, and peculiarly opposed to +the progress of emancipation. The direct contrary is in all respects +true. With regard to the book from which Mr. Thompson had read some +extracts, purporting to be the laws of Maryland; if he were not +mistaken, that book was a violent and inflammatory pamphlet written by +some person, perhaps Mr. Thompson himself, shortly after his (Mr. B's) +visit to Boston. He would not enter upon the discussion of the merits +of that pamphlet, against which it had been alleged in America, at +the place where it originated, and he believed truly charged, that +instead of containing faithful extracts from the laws of Maryland, it +did in fact, contain only schemes of laws which had been proposed in +the Assembly of Maryland, but which had never received their sanction; +chiefly in consequence of the opposition of the friends of +colonization. In conclusion, he would say, that the Maryland scheme +was, as a whole, one of the most wise and humane projects that had +ever been devised. He had no objection on proper occasions, to go +fully into it, and he hoped to be able to show that it would do much +for the amelioration of the negro race. + + + + +THIRD NIGHT--WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15. + + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, the subject for discussion this evening by two +appointments, was the great cause of colonization, as it presented +itself in America; and he was aware that of all the parts of the +subject of these discussions there were none on which their opinions +were more decidedly made up against what he believed to be the truth. +It was, therefore, peculiarly embarrassing for him to enter upon the +subject, but he did so with that frankness and candor with which he +had entered upon the other topics of discussion; and if he would not +show them sufficient reason to commend the principle of colonization +to their minds and feelings, he could only expect that they should +remain of their present opinions. The scheme of colonization was not a +new one in America. It had been spoken of 40 or 50 years ago, by him +who in his day ranked next to the father of his country in the +affections of the American people, Mr. Jefferson, before he filled the +president's chair, while he was president, and afterwards occupied his +thoughts with this great scheme. Being himself a decided enemy to +slavery, he tried to rouse the minds of his countrymen to the +advantages which would arise from the colonizing of the free blacks of +America on some part of the Western coast of Africa. With this view he +entered into negotiations with the Sierra Leone Company in this +country, to receive into their colony free people of color from +America; and he also had applied to the Portuguese government, at that +time a large African proprietor, for a place where the free blacks +might be allowed to colonize themselves. Whether these efforts, which +were applauded and aided by many wise and good men, deserved to be +praised or blamed, was not the topic to be taken up at present; but +they showed that the scheme was one which could not be called a new +scheme. This proposal of colonizing the free blacks of America on the +West coast of Africa had obtained the approbation of nine tenths of +all those throughout America who took any interest in the fate of the +black race: for even the great bulk of those who were now in favor of +"abolitionism," were at one time the friends of colonization. Whether +they had good or bad reasons for the change which had taken place in +their opinions, would be more apparent, perhaps, when they arrived at +the end of the discussion. It was in the course of the years 1822 or +1823 that the first colonists were sent out from America. He might not +be perfectly accurate in his dates, as he gave them from memory, but +the present argument did not depend on exact accuracy in that respect. +The society for promoting the colonization scheme was organized some +years before the date stated above, when an expedition was sent out to +explore the coast of Africa with a view to establishing the colony; +and afterwards another to purchase territory; and then the colonists +were sent out, which he believed took place for the first time after +1820. The society continued to pursue the scheme for a period of 9 or +10 years, and met with no opposition except from some parties in the +extreme South; but had the concurrence of almost all the wise, the +good, and the benevolent in America. It was not till about 1830 that +any very violent opposition was made to the society's operations; and +he believed Mr. Garrison was among the first who opposed it, on the +ground that its operations were injurious to the interests of the +colored race in America. Mr. Arthur Tappan also seceded from the +society about the same time, but upon different grounds from Garrison. +His opposition arose from the society's not taking up his ground in +reference to Temperance. He had no hesitation in saying that Mr. +Tappan was right, and that the society was wrong; as they did not go +far enough in regard to this point. He the more readily admitted that +in this particular Mr. Tappan's views were right, as he was wrong in +every other point which he assumed in reference to the society. But it +was not till about 1832, that an organized opposition to the society +began to manifest itself. In 1833 the American Anti-Slavery Society +was established, one of the fundamental principles of which, and +perhaps the one they most zealously propagated, was uncompromising +hostility to the colonization scheme. In the progress of events too, +it turned out that all the friends of colonization did not see alike +on all parts of the subject. Many of them thought that the interests +involved were too important and too great to be left to a single board +of management or staked on a single series of experiments. Some +considered that one general principle of operation could not be made +broad enough for the circumstances of all the states, and hence arose +several separate societies,--as that of Maryland, organized on +peculiar principles, which have direct reference to general +emancipation; and as those of New York and Philadelphia, which have +founded a colony on principles of peace,--the temperance principle +being held equally by them and the Maryland society. The general +society at Washington assumed the ground of colonizing, on the West +coast of Africa with their own consent, persons of color from America +who were of good character, and who were free at the time of their +being sent out. The Maryland Society went a step farther. They saw +that the colonization scheme would have a reflection favorable to +emancipation; and they carried on their operations with a direct and +avowed reference to the ultimate emancipation of the slaves in that +state. The New York and Philadelphia societies were founded, as I have +above said, on the principles of temperance and peace--the former +principle being common also to the Maryland scheme. The united +societies of New York and Philadelphia first took 120 slaves who had +been manumitted by the late Dr. Hawes, of Va., and formed them into a +colony. The Parent Society's territory in Africa was called Liberia. +It was about 100 leagues in length along the coast, about 10 or 15 +leagues deep, and there were 5 or 6 settlements, all under the general +control of that society. There were in them all about 4,000 colonists, +a great portion of whom were manumitted slaves. The colony of the +Maryland Society was farther South than that of the Parent Society. It +was situated on that point of the coast called Cape Palmas, and was +itself called Maryland in Africa. It was under the charge of a board +of management in Maryland, and consisted at this time of between two +and three hundred colonists, who were chiefly manumitted slaves. The +other colony, that belonging to the New York and Philadelphia Society, +was at Bassa Cove, and was under the charge of the directors of that +society. There were in all about 5000 colonists under the charge of +these societies. For the first few years of the existence of the +Parent Society, it was supported by a number of gentlemen for +different reasons. At the commencement it was not perhaps perfectly +clear how it might operate. Some advocated the cause and supported the +interests of the society, on the principles of direct humanity to the +free colored persons of America. Others again supported it as +calculated to produce collateral effects favorable to the slaves, and +the general cause of emancipation in the country. Others on the ground +that it would enable the country to get rid of the colored population, +without much reference to what might be the result to the colored +population themselves; just as if in England there were individuals +who would promote emigration, to get the country rid of those who were +as they supposed given to idleness and a burden upon the country. +There may have been some who supported the society from an actual love +for slavery, and as a means which they supposed might lessen some of +the evils by which it was accompanied. During the first years of the +society's operations, many thousands of speeches were delivered, and +many hundreds of pamphlets were published about the society, its +operations, and their effects; and it was quite possible that Mr. +Thompson might be able to bring forward some sentences and scraps from +the speeches of a slave-owner, who looked upon the society as a means +of perpetuating slavery in America; or he might produce some speech, +in which the society was supported as a means of ridding the country +of the free people of color, no matter what became of them afterward. +But it was uncandid and unjust to take this plan of opposing the +cause; because it was well known that whatever might be the case in +particular instances, the general fact was, that the great majority of +the supporters of the society had always supported it, because of the +good effects they anticipated from it in favor of ultimate +emancipation, as well as its present and immense benefits to the free +blacks. Now I challenge Mr. Thompson to the plain admission, or the +plain denial of these statements. If he denies them I am content; for +in that case, he will stand convicted in America, for the denial of +that which every man, woman and child there knows to be true. If he +admits my statements to be substantially true, then the entire point +of the charges brought by him and his friends against colonization, is +broken off; and all he or they can allege against it, can equally be +alleged against every thing, good or bad, that ever existed, namely, +that men supported it for various, or even opposite reasons. I go +farther--I assert, and call upon Mr. Thompson to admit or to deny it, +I care not which--that just in proportion as the cause has developed +itself, and its natural and legitimate influences been plainly +exhibited--those who favor slavery have cooled in its support, or +withdrawn entirely from it--while those who favor emancipation, and +desire the good of the free people of color, have, in the same degree, +and with increasing cordiality, rather avowed it, insomuch that it +will be difficult if not wholly impossible for our evidences of +friendship to it, from an avowed friend of slavery, to be culled out +of all his scraps, as occurring within the last three or four years. +Indeed no persons were more persecuted after what Mr. T. calls +persecution in some of the Southern states, than those who advocate +the cause of colonization, a fact which began to occur as soon as +those slave owners, who desired slavery to continue, clearly saw that +the natural result was the ultimate emancipation of the slaves. How +far the conduct of Mr. Thompson and his friends was calculated to +produce a reaction in the South, and incline moderate and humane +masters to the views of the emancipationists, cannot now be +determined. But that the increasing wisdom and benevolence of the +South will compensate for the folly and phrenzy at the North, there is +good reason to hope. He would now proceed to give a few reasons why +this scheme of colonization should be supported. But he would first +call their attention to a resolution proposed by Mr. George Thompson +at a meeting of the Young Mens' Anti Slavery Society of Boston:-- + + That as the American Colonization Society has been + demonstrated to be in its principles unrighteous, unnatural, + and proscriptive, the attempt now made to give permanency to + this institution is a fraud upon the ignorance and an outrage + upon the intelligence of the public, and as such deserves the + severest reprobation. + +The verbiage of this resolution showed its parentage. No one who had +ever heard one of Mr. Thompson's speeches could for a moment doubt the +authorship of the resolution. But what were they to think of an +individual who, being almost a perfect stranger in America, came +forward at a public meeting, and spoke in terms like these of a +society, supported and encouraged by the great majority of the +nation--embracing in that majority most of what is distinguished by +rank, by knowledge, or by virtue, in the country? What but universal +execration from the violent, and pity and contempt from all--could be +expected to follow such proceedings. And yet London, Edinburgh, and +Glasgow, celebrate the prudence of Mr. George Thompson in America, and +praise his conduct there on their behalf! It was not demonstrated that +the scheme was either unnatural, proscriptive, or foolish. He wished +much to hear Mr. Thompson attempt that demonstration. He (Mr. B.) +would attempt to prove, on the other hand, that in itself the scheme +was good, wise, and benevolent. His first reason was that it was good +for the free black population of America, for whose benefit it was +intended, whatever might be the opinions entertained regarding +slavery; whatever might be the opinion as to the duty of admitting the +free colored population to all the rights and privileges of white +people; taking it for granted that slavery should be abolished, taking +it for granted that the free colored population should have the same +rights and privileges as the white population; admitting, as so many +have declared, that these free people of color are generally very +little elevated above the condition of the slaves; granting the +existence of the absurd prejudice among the white population against +people of color; taking as true, all the assertions of all, or any +parties, on this subject, and then say, if it is not a good, a wise, a +humane reason for encouraging the society, that they are able to +snatch 1000 or 10,000 of these degraded, ruined, undone, and unhappy +people from the condition they are placed in, and plant them in +comfort, freedom, and peace in Africa? While Mr. Thompson and his +friends were trying their schemes to terminate slavery, and break down +prejudice against color--schemes which were likely to be long in +progress, if we were to judge by the past--it seemed most +extraordinary that they should object to our efforts to take a portion +of these people out of the grasp of their present sorrows, and do for +them in Africa all that has been done for ourselves in America. Above +all things, is it not inexplicable, that they should consider slavery +on one side of the Atlantic, better than freedom on the other,--a +thought, proving him who held it unworthy of freedom anywhere. If this +was not a scheme, full of wisdom, of goodness and benevolence, he know +not what wisdom, goodness, or benevolence meant. They proposed to do +nothing without the free consent of the colored people. And now, if a +similar offer were made to every poor and unfortunate inhabitant of +Glasgow, and all of them chose to remain here, except one, and that +one were captivated by the account of some distant El Dorado, and +chose to push his fortune there, could the rest assume over this one +the right of saying, you shall not go; we are determined not to go, +and equally determined not to let you go. Yet the abolitionists have +been going about, from Dan to Beersheba, not only attacking and +vilifying the whites, for proposing to colonize the blacks with their +own free consent; but equally attacking the blacks for availing +themselves of the offer. And though the colony had been stigmatized as +a grave, as a place of skulls, it was the very place fitted by nature +for the black population, the land granted by God to their fathers. It +is in one sense, then, a matter of no moment, what the causes are +which induce the society to make the offer, or the black population to +emigrate to Africa--even on the showing of the abolitionists +themselves, the colored population are kept in a state of degradation; +and it is certainly just and good that means should be afforded them +for getting rid of that degradation. In the second place, he +maintained that this colonization scheme naturally tended to promote +the cause of general emancipation. To illustrate this, Mr. +Breckinridge read the following extract from the Maryland report of +1835, p. 17:-- + + The number of manumissions in the state reported to the board + since the last annual report, is two hundred and ninety-nine, + making the whole number reported as manumitted, since the + passage of the act of 1831, eleven hundred and one. + +This extract showed that the scheme did not prevent manumission, but +had tended gradually to increase its amount. That this was the +intention and actual effect of the colonization scheme, he would now +prove to the meeting in so far as regarded Maryland; and if he did so +of that state, he supposed they would not find it difficult to believe +the same thing of other states, as it was against Maryland that Mr. +Thompson had expended his peculiar virulence. Mr. B. then read the +following:-- + + Resolved, That this society believe, and act upon the belief + that colonization has a tendency to promote emancipation, by + affording to the emancipated slave a home, where he can be + happier and better, in every point of view, than in this + country, and so inducing masters to manumit, for removal to + Africa, who would not manumit unconditionally.--3rd A. Rep. + page 5. + + Maryland, through her State Society, is about trying the + important experiment, whether, by means of colonies on the + coast of Africa, slave-holding states may become free states. + The Board of Managers cannot doubt of success, however; and + in exercising the high and responsible duties devolving upon + them, it is with the firm belief that the time is not very + remote, when, with the full and free consent of those + interested in this species of property, the state of Maryland + will be added to the list of the non-slave-holding states of + the Union.--3 A. R. page 6. + + It has been charged, again and again, against the general + scheme, that its tendencies were to perpetuate slavery; and, + at this moment, both in this country and in Europe, there are + those who stigmatize the labors of men like Finley, Caldwell, + Harper, Ayres, Ashmun, Key, Gurley, Anderson and Randall, as + leading to this end. Unfounded as is the charge, it has many + believers. The colonization law of Maryland is based upon a + far different principle; for the immigration of slaves is + expressly prohibited, and the transportation of those who are + emancipated is amply provided for. In accordance, therefore, + with the general sentiment of the public, and anxious that + colonization in the state should be relieved from the + imputation put upon the cause, resolutions were unanimously + adopted, avowing that the extirpation of slavery in Maryland + was the chief object of the society's existence.--3 A. R. + page 33. + +Throughout the report the same current of events was referred to; and +they were found to be everywhere the same as to the effects of the +colonial scheme on the manumission of slaves. To show the cause of the +objections to the scheme by free persons of color, Mr. B. read the +following extract:-- + + The Board would here remark, that in collecting emigrants + from among the free persons of color in the state, the + greatest difficulty they have experienced has grown out of + the incredulity of these with regard to the accounts given to + them of Africa. Even when their friends in Liberia have + written to them, inviting them to emigrate, and speaking + favorably of the country, they have believed that a restraint + was upon the writers, and that the society's agents prevented + any letter from reaching America, which did not speak in + terms of praise of Africa. The ingenuity of the colored + people in this state devised a simple test of the reliance + that was to be placed in letters, purporting to be written by + their friends; which they have, during the last year or + eighteen months, been putting into practice. When the + emigrant sailed from the United States, he took with him one + half of a strip of calico, the other half being retained by + the person to whom he was to write when he reached Africa. If + he was permitted to write without restraint, and if he spoke + his real sentiments in his letter, he enclosed his portion of + the calico, which, matching with that from which it had been + severed, gave authenticity and weight to the correspondence. + Many of these tokens, as they are called, have been received, + and their effect has been evident in the greater willingness + manifested by the free people of color to emigrate; + especially those of them who are at all well judging and well + informed.--4 A. R. page 6. + +Whatever difficulties now exist as to getting free people of color to +avail themselves of the society's scheme and emigrate to Africa, arise +in a great degree from the efforts of the abolition party to +misrepresent the intentions of the society, and the state and +prospects of the colony, to the free colored people of the United +States,--thus showing the double atrocity of preventing these people +from being benefited, and of traducing those persons who wish to +benefit them. In an address from Cape Palmas, by the Colonists to +their brethren in America, dated in October, 1834, there was a +distinct avowal of the fact that it was better for them that they had +gone there; and urging others to come also. Mr. B. then read the +following extract from the address:-- + + Dear Brethren--Agreeably to a resolution of our fellow + citizens herewith enclosed, we now endeavor to lay before you + a fair and impartial statement of the actual situation of + this colony; of our advantages and prospects, both temporal + and spiritual. + + We are aware of the great difference of opinion which exists + in America with respect to colonization. We are aware of the + fierce contentions between its advocates and opposers; and we + are of opinion that this contention, among the well meaning, + is based principally upon the various and contradictory + accounts concerning this country and its advantages; + receiving on the one hand from the enthusiastic and visionary + new comers, who write without having made themselves at all + acquainted with the true state of affairs in Africa; and on + the other, from the timorous, dissipated and disheartened, + who long to return to their former degraded situation, and + are willing to assign any reason, however false and + detrimental to their fellow citizens, rather than the true + one, viz:--that they are actually unfit, from want of virtue, + energy and capacity, to become freemen in any country. + + We judge that the time which has elapsed since our first + arrival, (eight months,) has enabled us to form a pretty + correct opinion of this our new colony, of the climate, and + of the fitness of our government. Therefore we may safely say + we write not ignorantly. And as to the truth of our + assertions we here solemnly declare, once for all, that we + write in the fear of God, and are fully sensible that we + stand pledged to maintain them both here and hereafter. + + Of our Government--We declare that we have enjoyed (and the + same is for ever guaranteed to us by our Constitution) all + and every civil and religious right and privilege, which we + have ever known enjoyed by the white citizens of the United + States, excepting the election of our chief magistrate, who + is appointed by the board of managers of the Maryland State + Colonization Society. Other officers are appointed or elected + from the colonists.--Freedom of speech and the press, + election by ballot, trial by jury, the right to bear arms, + and the liberty of worshipping God agreeably to the dictates + of our own consciences, are rendered for ever inviolate by + the Constitution. + + That we may not weary your patience or be suspected of a + desire to set forth matters in too favorable a light, we have + been thus brief in our statements. It will naturally be + supposed, brethren, that the object of this address is to + induce you to emigrate and join us. To deny this would be a + gross want of candor, and not in unison with our professions + at the outset. We do wish it, and we tender you both the + heart and hand of good fellowship. + + But here again, let us be equally candid with you. It is not + every man we could honestly advise or desire to come to this + colony. To those who are contented to live and educate their + children as house servants and lackeys, we would say, stay + where you are; here we have no masters to employ you. To the + indolent, heedless and slothful, we would say, tarry among + the flesh pots of Egypt; here we get our bread by the sweat + of the brow. To drunkards and rioters, we would say, come not + to us; you can never become naturalized in a land where there + are no grog shops, and where temperance and order is the + motto. To the timorous and suspicious, we would say, stay + where you have protectors; here we protect ourselves. But the + industrious, enterprising and patriotic of what occupation or + profession soever; the merchant, the mechanic, and farmer, + (but more particularly the latter,) we would counsel, advise + and entreat to come and be one with us, and assist in this + glorious enterprise, and enjoy with us that liberty to which + we ever were, and the man of color ever must be, a stranger + in America. To the ministers of the gospel, both white and + colored, we would say, come to this great harvest, and + diffuse amongst us and our benighted neighbors, that light of + the gospel, without which liberty itself is but slavery, and + freedom but perpetual bondage. + + Accept, brethren, our best wishes; and, praying that the + Great Disposer of events will direct you to that course, + which will tend to your happiness and the benefit of our race + throughout the world, + + We subscribe ourselves + + Yours, most affectionately, + + JACOB GROSS, + WILLIAM POLK, + CHARLES SCOTLAND, + ANTHONY WOOD, + THOMAS JACKSON. + + The report having been read, it was then moved by James M. + Thompson and seconded, that the report be approved and + accepted. The yeas and nays were presented as follows:-- + + Yeas--Jeremiah Stewart, James Martin, Samuel Wheeler, H. + Duncan, Daniel Banks, Joshua Stewart, John Bowen, James + Stewart, Henry Dennis, Eden Harding, Robert Whitefield, + Nathan Lee, Nathaniel Edmondson, Charles Scotland, Nathaniel + Harmon, Bur. Minor, Anthony Howard, James M. Thompson, + Anthony Wood, Jacob Gross, Wm. Polk, Thomas Jackson. + + Nays--Nicholas Thomson, William Reynolds, William Cassel. + + N. B. Those who voted in the negative, declared that the + statements contained in the report were true, both in spirit + and letter, but they preferred returning to + America--whereupon the meeting adjourned, sine die. + + A true copy of the record of the proceedings. + + WM. POLK. + +If any weight was due to human testimony, it was made probable, at +least, if not certain, that the intentions of the promoters of the +scheme were that it should be most kind to the black man, in all its +direct action, and by its indirect influences, the precursor of the +abolition of slavery; and if the society had fallen into a mistake, +the colonists themselves had also fallen into the same; as in this +address they say the scheme has proved successful. He would, +therefore, conclude this second reason, by maintaining that he had +sufficiently proved that the scheme had been productive of good, not +only to the colored population, but also to the cause of universal +freedom. + +The reasons he would now offer would be more general. And in bringing +forward the third head of argument, he observed, that the uniform +method which God had selected to civilize and enlighten mankind, and +to carry through the world a knowledge of the arts and laws, with all +the kindred blessings of civilization, was colonization. Amongst the +first commands given by God to man, was to replenish and subdue the +earth; and there was a striking fulness of meaning in the expression. +While there seemed to exist in the whole human family an instinctive +obedience to this command, God had so directed its manifestation, that +he believed he might safely challenge any one to show him any one +nation which had located the permanent seat of its empire in the +native land of its inhabitants. Every nation had been a conquered +nation; every people has been in turn enlightened from others, and in +turn colonists again. This nation, which has reputed itself the most +enlightened in the world, and far be it from him to controvert the +opinion in their presence, might trace its superior enlightenment in +part to the fact of its having been so much oftener conquered than any +other, and the consequent greater mixture of nations among the +inhabitants. Again, he observed, that God had kept several races of +men distinct, from the time of Noah down to the present day; and in +their mutual action upon each other, there was this extraordinary +fact, that wherever the descendants of Shem had colonized a country +occupied by the descendants of Japhet or Ham, they had extirpated +those who were before them. When the descendants of Japhet conquered +the descendants of Shem, they were extirpated before them; when the +descendants of Shem conquered those of Japhet, the case was the same; +and so of the descendants of Ham upon either. But when Japhet +conquered Japhet there was no extirpation, and when Shem conquered +Shem there was no extirpation, as also of Ham conquering Ham. Now as +to the continent of Africa, if history taught any truth, they must +roll back all its tide, or Africa was destined to be still farther +colonized. As yet, the pestilence, like the flaming sword before the +garden of the Lord, had kept the way hedged up, the white man and +yellow man away from the spot,--reserved till the fit hour and people +came. If we take the bodings of Providence all is well. But if we rely +on the lessons of the past, the only means in our power to prevent the +ultimate colonization of Africa by some strange race, and the +consequent extirpation of its race of blacks, is to colonize it with +blacks. If they let Shem colonize there, the blacks will be +extirpated; if they let Japhet colonize, the blacks will be +extirpated. Africa must be undone, or she must be colonized with +blacks; or all history is but one prodigious lie. To Britain seems +specially committed, by a good Providence, the destinies of Asia; and +we say to her, kindly and faithfully, Enter and occupy, till Messiah +come; enter at once, lest we enter before you. To America, in like +manner, is Africa committed. To do our Master's work there, we must +colonize it by blacks, we must enlighten it by blacks. And when Mr. T. +and his friends come to us with their quackery, scarcely four year's +old, and require us to forego for it our clearest convictions, our +most cherished plans, and our most enlightened views of truth and +duty, we can only say to them, "We are much obliged to you, but pray +excuse us, gentlemen; we have considered the matter before." Every +benevolent and right thinking person must see that the scheme of +colonizing Africa by black men, is necessary to enlighten Africa, and +prevent the extirpation of the black men there. He would, in the +fourth place, take up the question of christianizing Africa, separate +from the other question of mere civilization and preservation. There +were only three ways, as had been argued, in which the works of +missions could be possibly conducted. In an admirable little treatise +on the subject, published in this country, and he regretted he knew +not the author, or he would name him in pure honor, these methods were +ably defined and illustrated. One method was, to send out +missionaries, and do the work, as many are now attempting it, in so +many lands. Another was, by bringing the people to be converted, to +those whom God chose to make the means of their conversion. And when +Britain thinks harshly of America about slavery, let her remember, and +melt into kindness at the thought, of what we are doing to convert the +tens of thousands of Irish Catholics she sends to us yearly. The third +way was by colonization; and this, in past ages, has been the great +and glorious plan. By this, Europe became what she is; by this, +America was Christianized; and he would again refer them to the little +book of which he had spoken--which, not being written by a slave +owner, nor even an American, might possibly be true--to convince them, +that it was, in all cases, a most efficient means to save the world. +But in this peculiar case, it seemed to be the chief, if not the only +means. The climate suited the black man, while hundreds of whites had +fallen victims to it. So peculiar does this appear to me, that I have +never been able to comprehend how the pious and enlightened free +blacks of America could so long, or at all, resist the manifest call +of God, to go and labor for Him in their father land. There she is, +"sitting in darkness and drinking blood,"--with a full capacity, and a +perfect fitness on their parts, to enlighten, to comfort, and to save +her--their mother, doubly requiring their care, that she knows not +that she is blind and naked! And yet they linger on a distant shore; +and fill the air with empty murmurs, of time and earth, and its poor +vanities; and Christian men around them caress and applaud them for +their heathen hard-heartedness; and Christian communities, in their +strange infatuation, send missions to them, to prevent them from +becoming the truest missionaries that the earth could furnish! +Shadows that we are, shadows that we pursue! It was, in the fifth +place, the only effectual and practical mode of putting an end to the +slave trade. There was, indeed, another way--by stopping the demand. +But while they disputed the means of stopping the demand, there was +another way--the stopping of the supply. This had long been an object +dear to several nations. The government of Britain, the government of +America, and the governments of several other states, had sent several +cruisers to stop the supply; but would any slaves be taken from +Africa, if there was even a single city on the western coast, with ten +thousand inhabitants, and three vessels of war at their command? They +would put an end to the trade the moment they were able to chastise +the pirates, or make reprisals on the nations to which they belonged. +Why is it we never hear of the stealing of an Englishman, a German, or +a Turk? Because the thief knows that reprisals would be made, or that +he or some of his countrymen would be chastised or stolen in return. +So that all that was required, was to plant a city on the west coast +of Africa, and this would give protection to the population of that +country. Nothing is plainer, than that any nation which will make +reprisals, will have none of the inhabitants stolen. If reprisals were +made effective, the slave trade would be immediately stopped. It is +the course pursued by Mr. Thompson and his friends, not the course +pursued by us, which is likely to continue the slave trade. On one +hundred leagues of African coast, it is already to a great degree +suppressed; and if we had been aided as the importance of the cause +demanded, instead of being resisted with untiring activity, this +blessed object might now have been granted to the prayers of +Christendom. + + * * * * * + +Mr. THOMPSON earnestly hoped that every word which Mr. Breckinridge +had that night uttered respecting the principles of the Colonization +Society, and what had been effected by that institution, would be +carefully preserved; that on other occasions, and by other persons, on +both sides the Atlantic, Mr. Breckinridge's arguments might be +canvassed, his facts investigated, and his sentiments made known. I +shall offer no apology (continued Mr. T.) for referring to a point +discussed last evening, but not fairly disposed of. I am by no means +satisfied, nor do I think the enlightened, and least of all the +Christian world, will be satisfied with the doctrine which for two +evenings has been laid down and maintained by Mr. Breckinridge, that +America, as a nation, is not responsible before God for the sin of +slavery. I cannot, sir, receive that doctrine. I cannot lightly pass +it over. Much hinges upon this point, nor will I consent that America +shall lay the flattering unction to her soul that she is not her +brother's keeper; that any wretches within her precincts may commit +soul-murder, and she be innocent, by reason of her wilful, self +induced, and self continued impotency. I do not believe the doctrine +of "the irresponsibleness of America as a nation" to be politically +sound; still less do I believe it to be the doctrine of the Bible. + +Sir, I fearlessly charge America, as a nation--as the United States of +America--as a voluntary confederacy of free republics--as living under +one common constitution, and one common government--with being a +nation of slave-holders, and the vilest and most culpable on the face +of the earth. + +I charge America with having a slave-holding president; with holding +seven thousand slaves at the seat of government; with licensing the +slave trade for four hundred dollars; with permitting the domestic +slave trade to the awful extent of one hundred thousand souls per +annum; with allowing prisons, built with the public money, to be made +the receptacles of unoffending, home-born Americans, destined for the +southern market; with permitting her legislators and the highest +functionaries in the state to trample upon every dictate of humanity, +and every principle sacred in American independence, by trafficking +"in slaves and the souls of men." + +I charge America, "as a nation," with permitting within her boundaries +a wide spread system, which my opponent has himself described as one +of clear robbery, universal concubinage, horrid cruelty, and +unilluminated ignorance. + +I charge America, before the world and God, with the awful crime of +reducing more than two millions of her own children, born on her own +soil, and entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," +to the state of _beasts_; withholding from them every right, and +privilege, and social or political blessing, and leaving them the prey +of those who have legislated away the word of life, and the ordinances +of religion, lest their victims should at any time see with their +eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and +should assume the bearing, and the name, and the honors of humanity. + +I charge America, "as a nation," with being wickedly, cruelly, and, in +the highest sense, criminally indifferent to the happiness and +elevation of the free colored man; with crushing and persecuting him +in every part of the country; with regarding him as belonging to a +low, degraded, and irreclaimable _caste_, who ought not to call +America his country or his home, but seek in Africa, on the soil of +his ancestors, a refuge from persecution in the land which the +English, and the Dutch, and the French, and the Irish, have wrested +from the _red_ men, and which they now proudly and self complacently, +but most falsely style the _white_ man's country. + +I charge all this, and much more, upon the _government_ of America, +upon the _church_ of America, and upon the _people_ of America. + +It is idle, to say the least, to talk of rolling the guilt of the +system upon the individual slave-holder, and the individual state. +This cannot fairly be done while the citizens throughout the land are +banded, confederated, united. It is the sin of the entire church. The +Presbyterians throughout the country are one body; the Baptists are +one body; the Episcopalian Methodists are one body; they acknowledge +one another; they cordially fellowship one another. They make the sin, +if it be a sin, theirs, by owning as brethren in Christ Jesus, and +ministers of Him, who was anointed to preach deliverance to the +captives, men who shamelessly traffic in rational, blood-redeemed +souls; nay, even barter away for accursed gold, their own church +members. It is pre-eminently the sin of the church. It is the sin of +the people at large. It is said the laws recognize slavery. I reply, +the entire nation is answerable for those laws. We hear that the +"Constitution can do nothing," that "the Congress can do nothing," to +which I reply, Woe, and shame, and guilt, and execration must be, and +ought to be, the portion of that people calling themselves Christians +and republicans, who can tolerate, through half a century, a +Constitution and a Congress that cannot prevent nor cure the buying +and selling of sacred humanity; the sundering of every fibre that +binds heart to heart, and the dehumanization and butchery of peaceful +and patriotic citizens within the territories over which they extend. +In whatever aspect I view this question, the people, and the whole +people, appear to be, before God and man, responsible, politically and +morally, for the sin of slave-holding. They are responsible for the +Constitution, with any deficiencies and faults it may have, for they +have the power, and it is therefore their duty, to amend it. They are +responsible for the character and acts of Congress, for they make the +senators and representatives that go there. In a word, they are +properly and solemnly responsible for that "system" of which we have +heard so much, and for "the workings of that system;" and I declare it +little better than subterfuge to say, that the people of America, the +source of power, the sovereign, the omnipotent people, are not +responsible for the existence of slavery and all its kindred +abominations, within the territorial limits of the United States. + +The charges which he had here made were important, grave and awful. He +made them under the full and solemn impression of his accountableness +to mankind, and the God of nations. He believed them to be true; he +was prepared to substantiate them. That not one tittle of them might +be lost or misrepresented in Great Britain or America, he had penned +them with his own hand, out of his own heart, and he was prepared to +support them in England, or in Scotland, or in America itself: for he +hoped yet again to visit that country, and there resume his advocacy +of the cause of the slave. + +He would now come to the colonization question, on which he felt +completely at home. In adverting to this question, however, he +experienced a difficulty, which he had felt on many former occasions, +that of not being able to compress what he had to say within the +compass of one address. He would not only have to reply to what Mr. +Breckinridge had advanced, but he would have to touch on topics which +Mr. Breckinridge had overlooked--principles affecting the origin, +character, and very existence of that society, which Mr. Breckinridge +had taken under his special protection. He (Mr. T.) would show that +the improvement of the black man's condition was not the chief object +of the Colonization Society; that its operations sprung from that +loathing of color which might be denominated the peculiar sin of +America. Slavery might be found in many countries, but it was in +America alone that there existed an aristocracy founded on the color +of the skin. A race of pale-skinned patricians, resting their claims +to peculiar rank and privileges upon the hue of the skin, the texture +of the hair, the form of the nose, and the size of the calf! But for +this abhorrence of color, Mr. B. would not have been contented with +the means proposed by the Colonization Society for the amelioration of +slavery; he would not have spoken a word of colonization, or of that +Golgotha, Liberia. + +Acquainted as he (Mr. T.) was with America, he had been able to come +to no other conclusion, but that the prejudice of color was that on +which the colonization of the free negro was founded. There had been a +great deal said of the inferior intellect of the black race, and of a +marked deficiency in their moral qualities; but these were not the +grounds on which it was sought to expatriate them; the injustice +practised towards them rested solely on the prejudice which had been +excited against their external personal peculiarities. Every word +spoken by Mr. Breckinridge in defence of colonization, went directly +to prove this. The whole scheme rested on the dark color of those to +be expatriated. Had the sufferers been white in the skin, Mr. B. would +have advocated immediate, complete, and everlasting emancipation. + +He would now turn to a matter, regarding which he considered Mr. +Breckinridge had treated the abolitionists of America with +injustice--with unkindness--with something which he did not like even +to name. Mr. B. had charged the abolitionists with having published a +law as the law of the state of Maryland, which had never been adopted +by the legislature of that state; and when he (Mr. T.) had required of +Mr. B. evidence in support of his grave allegations, it was in this +case precisely as in the case of Mr. Garrison and Mr. Wright,--the +proofs were non est inventus. Now, he would ask, was this fair; was it +magnanimous; was it generous; was it Christianlike? + +The charge had been distinctly made, and then it had been asked of the +parties accused to prove a negative. Mr. Breckinridge was not likely +to be long in Glasgow, and it was therefore most easy, and most +convenient, to prefer charges which could not, even on the testimony +of the parties implicated, be answered until Mr. Breckinridge was far +away, and the poison had had full time to work its effect. He (Mr. T.) +would, however, give it as his opinion, that his fellow laborers on +the other side of the Atlantic, would triumphantly clear themselves of +this and every other imputation, and finally emerge from the ordeal, +however fierce, pure, untarnished, and unscathed. + +Such a charge, however, should not be brought against him (Mr. T.). +The laws of Maryland, he cited, were to be found in the pages of the +Colonization Society's accredited organ, the African Repository, an +entire set of which was on the platform, open to inspection. + +Mr. Breckinridge had taken great pains to make out a case for the +Maryland Colonization Society. This was not to be wondered at. That +society was a protege of his own. It had been patronized and fostered +by him. For it, it appeared, he had almost suffered martyrdom, when, +in advocating its cause in Boston, he had been mistaken for an +abolitionist,--in that same city of Boston, where a gentlemanly mob of +5000 individuals, fashionably attired, in black, and brown, and blue +cloth, had joyfully engaged in assaulting and dispersing a peaceful +meeting of forty ladies. + +He had not yet done with the Maryland Colonization Society. He was +prepared to prove that it was, taken as a whole, a most oppressive and +iniquitous scheme. The laws framed to support it prohibited +manumission, except on condition of the removal of the freed slaves; +thus submitting a choice of evils, both cruel to the last +extent,--perpetual bondage, or banishment from the soil of their +birth, and the scenes and associations of infancy and youth. He could +show, that free persons of color, coming into the state, were liable +to be seized and sold; and white persons inviting them, and harboring +them, liable to the infliction of heavy fines. + +These, and similar provisions, all disgraceful and cruel, were the +prominent features of the laws which had been framed to carry into +effect the benevolent and patriotic designs of the Maryland +Colonization Society! + +That expulsion from the state was the thing intended, he would show +from newspapers published in the state. What said the Baltimore +Chronicle, a pro-slavery and colonization paper, at the time when the +laws referred to were passed? Let his auditory hear with attention. + + "The intention of those laws was, and their effect must be, + to EXPEL the free people of color from this state. They will + find themselves so hemmed in by restrictions, that their + situation cannot be otherwise than uncomfortable should they + elect to remain in Maryland. These laws will no doubt be met + by prohibitory laws in other states, which will greatly + increase the embarrassments of the people of color, and leave + them no other alternative than to emigrate or remain in a + very unenviable condition." + +What said the Maryland Temperance Herald of May 3, 1835? + + "We are indebted to the committee of publication for the + first No. of the Maryland Colonization Journal, a new + quarterly periodical, devoted to the cause of colonization in + our state. Such a paper has long been necessary; we hope this + will be useful. + + "Every reflecting man must be convinced, that the time is not + far distant when the safety of the country will require the + EXPULSION of the blacks from its limits. It is perfect folly + to suppose, that a foreign population, whose physical + peculiarities must forever render them distinct from the + owners of the soil, can be permitted to grow and strengthen + among us with impunity. Let hair-brained enthusiasts + speculate as they may, no abstract considerations of the + natural rights of man, will ever elevate the negro population + to an equality with the whites. As long as they remain in the + land of their bondage, they will be morally, if not + physically enslaved, and, indeed, so long as their distinct + nationality is preserved, their enlightenment will be a + measure of doubtful policy. Under such circumstances every + philanthropist will wish to see them removed, but gradually, + and with as little violence as possible. For effecting this + purpose, no scheme is liable to so few objections, as that of + African Colonization. It has been said, that this plan has + effected but little--true, but no other has done any thing. + We do not expect that the exertions of benevolent individuals + will be able to rid us of the millions of blacks who oppress + and are oppressed by us. All they can accomplish, is to + satisfy the public of the practicability of the scheme--they + can make the experiment--they are making it and with success. + The state of Maryland has already adopted this plan, and + before long every Southern state will have its colony. The + whole African coast will be strewn with cities, and then, + should some fearful convulsion render it necessary to the + public safety TO BANISH THE MULTITUDE AT ONCE, a house of + refuge will have been provided for them in the land of their + fathers." + +Yet this was the plan of which the American Colonization Society, at +its annual meeting in 1833, had spoken in the following terms:-- + + Resolved, That the Society view, with the highest + gratification, the continued efforts of the State of Maryland + to accomplish her patriotic and benevolent system in regard + to her colored population; and that the last appropriation by + that state of two hundred thousand dollars, in aid of African + colonization, is hailed by the friends of the system, as a + BRIGHT EXAMPLE to other states. + +Mr. Breckinridge had lauded the Colonization Society as a scheme of +benevolence and patriotism. He (Mr. T.) did not mean to deny that +there had been many pious and excellent men found amongst its founders +and subsequent supporters, but he was prepared to demonstrate that it +had grown out of prejudice, was based upon prejudice, made its appeal +to prejudice, and could not exist were the prejudice against the +colored man conquered. It had, moreover, made an appeal to the fears +and cupidity of the slaveholder, by setting forth, that, in its +operations, it would remove from the southern states the most +dangerous portion of the free population, and also enhance the value +of the slaves left remaining in the country. The doctrines found +pervading the publications of the society were of the most absurd and +anti-christian character. He would mention three, viz., 1st, that +_Africa_, and not _America_, was the true and appropriate home of the +colored man; 2dly, that prejudice against color was _invincible_, and +the elevation of the colored man, therefore, while in America, beyond +the reach of humanity, legislation and religion; and, 3dly, that there +should be no emancipation except for the purposes of colonization. How +truly monstrous were these doctrines! How calculated to cripple +exertion, to retard freedom, and mark the colored man out as a +foreigner and alien, to be driven out of the country as soon as the +means for his removal were provided. Such had really been the effect +of the society's views upon the public mind in America. If the colored +man was to be expatriated because his ancestors were Africans, then +let General Jackson be sent to Ireland, because his parents were +Irish; and Mr. Van Buren be sent to Holland, because his ancestors +were Dutch; and let the same rule be applied to all the other white +inhabitants of the country. Then would Great Britain, and France, and +Germany, and Switzerland recover their children; America be delivered +of her conquerors, and the red man come forth from the wilds and the +wildernesses of the back country, to enjoy, in undisturbed security, +the soil from which his ancestors had been driven. Mr. Breckinridge +had said much respecting his (Mr. T.'s) presumption in bringing +forward a resolution in Boston, so strongly condemning the measures +and principles of the Colonization Society. He (Mr. T.) might be +permitted to say, that if he had acted presumptuously, he had also +acted boldly and honestly; and that the auditory should know, that the +resolution referred to had been debated for one entire evening, and +from half past nine till half past one, the next day, with the Rev. R. +R. Gurley, the secretary and agent of the Colonization Society, who, +for eight or nine years, had been the editor of the African +Repository, and was, perhaps, better qualified than any other man in +the United States, to discuss the subject--always, of course, +excepting his Rev. opponent, then on the platform. He admitted, the +resolution was strongly worded; that it repudiated the society as +unrighteous, unnatural, and proscriptive; and declared the efforts +then making to give strength and permanency to the institution, were a +fraud upon the ignorance, and an outrage upon the intelligence and +humanity of the community. But this country should know that he had +defended his propositions, face to face, with one of the ablest +champions of the cause, before two American audiences, in the city of +Boston. That the assembly then before him might judge of the character +of the debate, and know its result, he would read a few short +extracts, taken from a respectable daily paper, published in Boston, +and entirely unconnected with the Abolitionists. The editor himself, +B. F. Hallett, Esq., reported the proceedings, and thus remarked:-- + + "One of the most interesting, masterly, and honorable + discussions ever listened to in this community, took place on + Friday evening and Saturday morning. The hall was as full as + it could hold. * * * * * * The whole discussion was a model + for courtesy and christian temper in like cases, and did + great credit to all parties concerned. We question if a + public debate was ever conducted in this city, in a better + spirit, and with more ability. There was not a discourteous + word passed, through the whole, and no occurrence which for + an instant marred the entire cordiality with which the + dispute was conducted. It was not men but principles that + were contending, and we venture to say that no public + discussion was ever managed on higher grounds, or was more + deeply interesting to an audience. The resolution was put, + all present being invited to vote. It was carried in the + affirmative with FOUR voices in the negative." + +So said the Boston Daily Advocate. + +The following extracts from the published addresses of some of the +most eminent and gifted supporters of the Colonization Society, would +show, that the _compulsory_ removal of the colored population, had +from the first been contemplated. If it was replied, "You cannot find +compulsion in the Constitution," he (Mr. T.) would rejoin, No; but +herein consists the wickedness and hypocrisy of the scheme; that while +it puts forth a fair face in its constitution, it does, really and in +truth, contain the elements of all oppression. The written +constitution of the Society was but the robe of an angel, covering an +implacable and devouring demon. He would make another remark, also, +before submitting the extracts in his hand. Mr. Breckinridge had +strenuously endeavored to lay the guilt of the oppressive laws in the +south upon the Abolitionists, declaring that those laws had resulted +from the spread of Anti-slavery principles. From the passages about to +be cited, and, more especially, from the words of Mr. Clay, it would +be found, that long prior to the "quackery" of the Abolitionists, +there had existed harsh and cruel laws, calling forth the regrets and +censures of Slaveholders themselves. Even admitting the truth of what +Mr. B. had said, did it follow that the truth should not therefore be +published. By no means. The Israelites, in their bondage, murmured +against the measures of him whom God had raised up to deliver them, +and complained that their burdens had increased since Pharaoh had been +remonstrated with. He would quote, for the benefit of Mr. B. a very +laconic remark, by an old commentator, "When the bricks are doubled, +Moses is near." + + 1. Charles Carrol Harper, Son of General Harper, to the + voters of Baltimore, 1826. Af. Repy., vol. 2. page 188. For + several years the subject of Abolition of Slavery has been + brought before you. I am decidedly opposed to the project + recommended. No scheme of abolition will meet my support, + that leaves the emancipated blacks among us. Experience has + proved that they become a corrupt and degraded class, as + burthensome to themselves, as they are hurtful to the rest + of society. + + Again, page 189, "To permit the blacks to remain amongst us + after their emancipation, would be to aggravate, and not to + cure the evil." + + 2. Extracted with approbation from the Public Ledger, + Richmond, Indiana, Af. Repy., vol. 3. page 26. "We would say, + liberate them only on condition of their going to Africa or + Hayti." + + 3. Extracts from an address delivered at Springfield, before + the Hamden Col. Society, July 4th, 1828. By Wm. B. O. + Peabody, Esq. published by request of the Society. Af. Repy., + vol. 4. page 226. "I am not complaining of the owners of + Slaves; they cannot get rid of them; it would be as humane to + throw them from the decks in the middle passage, as to set + them free in our country." Upon which the following eulogy is + pronounced, page 230. "We need hardly say that Mr. Peabody's + address is an excellent one. May its spirit universally + pervade and animate the minds of our countrymen. + + 4. Extracts from an Address to the Col. Socy. of Kentucky, at + Frankfort, Dec. 17th., 1829, by the Hon. Henry Clay. Af. + Repy., vol. 6, page 5. "If the question were submitted, + whether there should be immediate or gradual emancipation of + all the slaves in the United States, without their removal or + colonization, painful as it is to express the opinion, I have + no doubt it would be unwise to emancipate them. For I believe + that the aggregate of the evils which would be engendered in + Society, upon the supposition of such general emancipation, + and of the liberated slaves remaining promiscuously among us, + would be greater than all the evils of Slavery, great as they + unquestionably are." + + Again, page 12. "Is there no remedy, I again ask, for the + evils of which I have sketched a faint and imperfect picture? + Is our posterity doomed to endure forever, not only all the + ills flowing from the state of Slavery, but all which arise + from incongruous elements of population, separated from each + other by invincible prejudices, and by natural causes? + Whatever may be the character of the remedy proposed, we may + confidently pronounce it inadequate, unless it provides + efficaciously for the total and absolute separation, by an + extensive space of water or of land, at least of the white + portion of our population, from that which is free of the + colored." + + 5. Extracts from the speech of Geo. Washington Park Curtis at + the 14th Annual meeting of the Amer. Col. Soc., Af. Repy., + vol. 6. page 371-2. "Some benevolent minds in the + overflowings of their philanthropy, advocate amalgamation of + the two classes, saying, let the colored classes be freed and + remain among us as denizens of the empire; surely all classes + of mankind are alike descended from the primitive parentage + of Eden, then why not intermingle in one common society as + friends and brothers. No, Sir; no. I hope to prove, at no + very distant day, that a Southron can make sacrifices for the + cause of Colonization beyond seas, but for a Home Department + in those matters, I repeat no, Sir; no. What right, I demand, + have the children of Africa to a homestead in the white man's + country? + + "If, as is most true, the crimes of the white man robbed + Africa of her sons, let atonement be made by returning the + descendants of the stolen to the clime of their ancestors, + and then all the claims of redeeming justice will have been + discharged. There let centuries of future rights, atone for + centuries of past wrongs. Let the regenerated African rise to + Empire; nay, let Genius flourish, and Philosophy shed its + mild beams to enlighten and instruct the posterity of Ham, + returning 'redeemed and disenthralled' from their long + captivity in the new world. But, Sir, be all these benefits + enjoyed by the African race under the shade of their native + palms. Let the Atlantic billow heave its high and everlasting + barrier between their country and ours. Let this fair land + which the white man won by his chivalry, which he has adorned + by the arts and elegancies of polished life, be kept sacred + for his descendants, untarnished by the footprint of him who + hath ever been a slave." + + 6. Mr. Henry Clay's speech, before the Society, January 1st, + 1818--2d Annual Report, page 110. "Further, several of the + slaveholding states had, and perhaps all of them would, + prohibit entirely, emancipation, without some such outlet was + created. A sense of their own safety required the painful + prohibition. Experience proved that persons turned loose who + were neither freemen nor slaves, constituted a great moral + evil, threatening to contaminate all parts of society. Let + the colony once be successfully planted, and legislative + bodies who have been grieved at the necessity of passing + those 'prohibitory laws,' which at a distance might appear to + 'stain our codes,' will hasten to remove the impediments to + the exercise of benevolence and humanity. They will annex the + condition that the emancipated shall leave the country, and + he has placed a false estimate upon liberty, who believes + there are many who would refuse the boon, when coupled even + with such a condition." + +Here there was compulsion, both in principle and precept. In the laws +of Maryland, and elsewhere, were found abundant evidences of +compulsion in practice, and where there were no direct acts forcing +them to depart, a public sentiment had been created, which, in its +manifold operations, brought the colored man, crushed and hopeless, to +the conclusion, that it would be better for him to say farewell to +home and country, than remain a proverb and a nuisance amongst a +prejudiced and persecuting people. No colored man could justly be said +to go to Liberia, or elsewhere, with his free and unconstrained +consent, until the laws were equal, the treatment kind, prejudice +founded on complexion destroyed, and he presented himself a voluntary +agent, and asked the means to transport him to a foreign shore. As one +proof that compulsion had been openly and unblushingly advocated, he +would quote the words of Mr. Broadnax in the Virginia House of +Delegates:---- + + "It is idle to talk about not resorting to force; every body + must look to the introduction of force of some kind or + other--and it is in truth a question of expediency, of moral + justice, of political good faith--whether we shall fairly + delineate our whole system on the face of the bill, or leave + the acquisition of extorted consent to other processes. The + real question, the only question of magnitude to be settled, + is the great preliminary question--Do you intend to send the + free persons of color out of Virginia, or not? + + "If the free negroes are willing to go, they will go--if not + willing they must be compelled to go. Some gentlemen think it + politic not now to insert this feature in the bill, though + they proclaim their readiness to resort to it when it becomes + necessary; they think that for a year or two a sufficient + number will consent to go, and then the rest can be + compelled. For my part, I deem it better to approach the + question and settle it at once, and avow it openly. + + "I have already expressed it as my opinion that few, very + few, will voluntarily consent to emigrate if no COMPULSORY + measure be adopted. + + "I will not express, in its full extent, the idea I entertain + of what has been done, or what enormities will be perpetrated + to induce this class of persons to leave the Slate. Who does + not know that when a free negro, by crime or otherwise, has + rendered himself obnoxious to a neighborhood, how easy it is + for a party to visit him one night, take him from his bed and + family, and apply to him the gentle admonition of a SEVERE + FLAGELLATION, to induce Kim to consent to go away I In a few + nights the dose can be repeated, perhaps increased, until, in + the language of the physician, quantum sufficit has been + administered to produce the desired operation; and the fellow + then becomes PERFECTLY WILLING to move away. + +Finally, on this part of the subject, he would cite the Rev. R. J. +Breckinridge, who, at the annual meeting of the American Colonization +Society, in 1834, had used the following language:-- + + "Two years ago I warned the Managers of this Virginia + business, and yet they sent out TWO SHIP-LOADS OF VAGABONDS, + not fit to go to such a place, and they were COERCED away as + truly as if it had been done with a CART-WHIP. + +His grand complaint against the Colonization Society was this--that +instead of grappling with the reigning prejudices of the community, it +falsely assumed the _insensibility_ of those prejudices, and proceeded +to legislate accordingly. They thus sanctioned and perpetuated the +greatest sources of suffering and wrong to the colored population. The +prejudice against the people of color had greatly increased since the +formation of the Society. The present supporters of the Society were +those who thoroughly loathed the free people of color, and the most +cruel and sanguinary opponents of the Abolitionists were the +boisterous defenders of the American Colonization Society. For +example, when a mob assailed the inhabitants in New York, broke up +their meetings, assaulted their persons, and sacked the house of Mr. +Lewis Tappan, that mob could, in the midst of their ruffian-like and +felonious exploits, most unanimously and heartily shout, "Three cheers +for the Colonization Society," and "away with the niggers." In +travelling in steamboats and stage coaches, he (Mr. T.) had invariably +found that his most furious and malignant opponents, and the most +determined haters of the black man, were loud in their profession of +attachment to the principles and plans of the society. Why had not the +wise and benevolent members of the society denounced that prejudice? +Because the best among them were themselves partakers of that +prejudice. It was evident, from all that Mr. Breckinridge had said, +that he was deeply imbued with that prejudice. It gave tone, and +color, and direction to all his remarks. Such men might profess to +love the black man; but they were likely to be suspected of +insincerity, when they uniformly manifested their love by driving the +object of it as far away as possible. Such a mode of expressing love +was contrary to all our ideas of the natural manifestations of that +feeling. If the Colonization Society was indeed so full of benevolence +and mercy, how was it that its character was so misunderstood by the +colored people, for whose special benefit it had been originated? +Surely they were likely to be the best judges of its effect upon their +welfare and happiness. What was the fact? The entire free colored +population of the United States were opposed to the expatriating +project. But his opponent would say it was owing to the abuse poured +upon the society by the foul-mouthed Abolitionists. He (Mr. T.) +should, however, deprive the gentleman of this refuge, by laying +before the meeting a very interesting fact, which would at once show +the feeling of the colored people when the plan was first submitted to +them. It would show, that in a meeting of three thousand, convened in +the city of Philadelphia, to decide whether the society should, or +should not, receive their countenance, they decided _against_ it +without a dissentient voice. He would lay before them a letter written +by a highly respectable, enlightened, and wealthy gentleman of color +in Philadelphia, Mr. James Forten. The letter was written to the +editor of the New England Spectator, in consequence of a remark made +by Mr. Gurley, during the debate in Boston. + + PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, 1835. + + REV. W. S. PORTER,--Dear Sir,--I cheerfully comply with the + request contained in your note of the 3d inst., to give you a + brief statement of a meeting held in 1817, by the people of + color in this city, to express their opinion on the Liberia + project. It was the largest meeting of colored persons ever + convened in Philadelphia,--I will say 3000, though I might + safely add 500 more. To show you the deep interest evinced, + this large assemblage remained in almost breathless and fixed + attention during the reading of the resolutions and the other + business of the meeting; and when the question was put in the + affirmative you might have heard a pin drop, so profound was + the silence. But when in the negative, one long, loud, ay, + tremendous NO, from this vast audience, seemed as if it would + bring down the walls of the building. Never did there appear + a more unanimous opinion. Every heart seemed to feel that it + was a life and death question. Yes, even then, at the very + onset, when the monster came in a guise to deceive some of + our firmest friends, who hailed it as the dawning of a + brighter day for our oppressed race,--even then we penetrated + through its thickly-laid covering, and beheld it + prospectively as the scourge which in after years was to + grind us to the earth, and, by a series of unrelenting + persecution, force us into involuntary exile. + + I was not a little surprised to learn that Mr. Gurley + professed to be ignorant of this fact; for in the African + Repository he reviewed Mr. Garrison's Thoughts on African + Colonization; and a whole chapter of the work, if I mistake + not, is taken up with the sentiments of the people of color + on colonization, commencing with the Philadelphia meeting. + Perhaps Mr. Gurley did not read that chapter. But if his + memory is not very treacherous, he ought to have known the + circumstance, for I related it to him myself in a + conversation which I had with him at my house one evening, in + company with the Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, and our beloved + friend, William Lloyd Garrison. The subject of colonization + was warmly discussed; and I well recollect bringing our + meeting of 1817 forward as a proof of our early and decided + opposition to the measure. No doubt Mr. Garrison also + remembers it. + + Three meetings were held by us in 1817. The two first you + will find in the "Thoughts on Colonization," part 2d, page 9. + Of the protest and remonstrance adopted at the third meeting, + I send you an exact copy. It is in answer to an address to + the citizens of New York and Philadelphia, calling upon them + to aid a number of persons of color, whom they said were + anxious to join the projected colony in Africa. Those persons + were mostly from the south, and it was to disabuse the public + mind on this subject, that our meeting was held. + + I remain, with great respect, + Yours, JAMES FORTEN. + +He (Mr. T.) could pledge himself that such were still the feelings +of the free colored people of America. Wherever they possessed a +glimmering of light upon the subject, they utterly abhorred the +society, and would as soon _consent_ to be cut to pieces, as sent to +any of the colonies prepared for their reception. Was it not then too +bad that Christians should be called upon to support a society so +utterly at variance with the wishes and feelings of the parties most +nearly concerned? As a few moments yet remained, he would occupy it +in quoting the opinions of two gentlemen, ministers of religion, and +standing high in their own country, who had furnished lamentable +evidence of the extent to which prejudice might possess otherwise +strong and enlarged minds. The first quotation was from a report of +a committee at the Theological Seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, +presented to the Colonization Society of that institution in 1823. +It was from the pen of the Rev. Leonard Bacon, now pastor of a +Congregational church at New Haven, Connecticut. + + "The Soodra is not farther separated from the Brahmin, in + regard to all his privileges, civil, intellectual, and moral, + than the negro is from the white man, by the prejudices which + result from the difference made between them by the God of + nature. A barrier more difficult to be surmounted than the + institution of the Caste, cuts off, and while the present + state of society continues, must always cut off, the negro + from all that is valuable in citizenship." + +The other was his opponent on that platform; who, in a letter to the +New York Evangelist, had said, that emancipation, to be followed by +amalgamation, at the option of the parties, would be reckless +wickedness. But lest he should misrepresent that gentleman, he would +turn to the paper, and quote the passage cited. + + "I know that any abolition without the consent of the States + holding the slaves, is impossible; that to obtain this + consent on any terms, is very difficult;--that to obtain it + without the prospect of extensive removal by colonization, is + impossible; that to obtain it instantly on any terms, is the + dream of ignorance; that to expect it instantly with + subsequent equality, is frantic nonsense; and that to demand + it, as an instant right, irrespective of consequences, and to + be followed by amalgamation at the option of the parties, is + RECKLESS WICKEDNESS!" + +All the alarm created on the subject of amalgamation was totally +unfounded. The views of the Abolitionists were simple and scriptural. +They held that there should be no distinctions on account of color. +That to treat a man with coldness, unkindness, or contempt, on +account of his complexion, was to quarrel with the Maker of us all. +They held that this prejudice should be given up, and the colored man +be treated as a white man, according to his intellect, morality, and +fitness for the duties of civil life. They did not interfere with +those tastes by which human beings were regulated in entering into the +nearest and most permanent relations of life. They confined themselves +to the exhibition of gospel truth upon the subject, and left it to an +overruling and watchful Providence to guard and control the +consequences springing from a faithful and fearless discharge of duty. +Mr. Thompson concluded, by observing, that he considered the readiest +way to make men curse their existence and their God, was to oppress +and enslave them on account of that complexion, and those +peculiarities, which the Creator of the world had stamped upon them. + + * * * * * + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would commence with a slight allusion to two +references which had been made to himself by Mr. Thompson. And in +regard to certain passages which had been read from speeches of his, +he would only say, that he had never written or uttered a single word +on this subject, which he would not rejoice to see laid before the +British public. But he had a right to complain of the manner in which +these passages had been quoted. It was not fair, he contended, to +break down a passage, and read only half a sentence, passing over the +other half because it would not answer the purpose of the reader; in +fact, because it would alter the sense of the passage altogether. He +charged Mr. T. with having been guilty of this in the last quotation +which he had made, and, in order to show the true meaning of the +garbled passage, he would read it as it stood: [See the passage as it +appears in Mr. T.'s speech.] He had read this the more particularly, +in order to show the consistency of his present opinions with those +which he had held and uttered two years ago. They would now perceive, +he said, that when the sentence was given entire, he said, that +setting the slaves free without reference to consequences, constituted +a material and an omitted part of that procedure, which he had +characterized as reckless wickedness, whereas by breaking it up in the +middle, he was made to say, that to permit voluntary amalgamation, +after instant abolition, was by itself to be so considered. He was now +ready to defend this statement as he had at first made it. + +The next thing he would refer to, was the report of a speech which he +[Mr. B.] had delivered at an annual meeting of the American +Colonization Society. And with regard to it, if he was in America, he +would say, decidedly, that it was not a fair report: that it was an +unfair report, got up by Mr. Leavitt, the editor of the New York +Evangelist, to serve a special purpose. He would not deny that he had +said something which might give a pretext for the report. He had +charged the parent society with having been guilty of a gross +dereliction of duty to the colony and the cause, in sending away two +ships' cargoes of negroes to Liberia, who were not fit for that place, +and he believed that those two expeditions had done much to injure +the colony itself, as well as to impair public confidence in the +firmness and judiciousness of the parent board. They were emigrants +unfit to be sent out--the refuse of the counties around South Hampton +in Virginia; who were hurried out by the violent state of public +sentiment in that region, after the insurrection and massacre there. +Like a man conscious of rectitude, he had gone to the very parties +concerned, and declared his grounds of complaint; a line of conduct he +could not too often commend to Mr. Thompson, and no proof could be +more conclusive than this anecdote afforded, that the active friends +of colonization in America, however they might differ about details, +meant kindly by the blacks, and by Africa. Mr. B. again expressed his +surprise that Mr. Thompson should occupy the time of the meeting by +repeating his own speeches. He had adverted to this matter before, he +said, and as he was in a poor state of health, and had work elsewhere, +and as there was much ground yet to go over, and Mr. T. declared his +materials to be most abundant, he thought those repetitions might have +been spared. They who took the trouble to read the published speeches +of this gentleman, would find, that however exhaustless might be the +boasted stores of his facts, proofs, and illustrations, about what he +called "American Slavery," he was exceedingly economical of them. +After reading six or seven of them, he found them so very like each +other, that the same stories, in the same order, and the same +illustrations, in the same sequence, and the same unfounded charges, +in the same terms of unmeasured bitterness, may be often expected, and +never in vain. Indeed, so meagre was his supply of wit, even, that it +also went on very few changes. The whole case exhibiting a most +striking illustration of the truth uttered in a personal sense by one +of their own statesmen and scholars, and now proved to be of general +application, namely, that when a man resorted to his memory for his +jokes, it was very probable that he would draw upon his imagination +for his facts. As he [Mr. B.] had been so often asked to produce +certain placards for the purpose of substantiating some of his +statements, there could be no better connexion in which to call upon +Mr. Thompson to bring forward proof of those charges which he brought +against certain persons, and classes of persons, unless he wished the +world to believe that he had brought those charges without having a +single iota of evidence on which to found them. He would call upon Mr. +Thompson to bring forward his proofs in support of all those charges, +those reckless and extravagant charges, which he brought against the +ministers of religion in America. Mr. Thompson had stood before +several London audiences with a runaway slave from America, who +charged certain individuals with unparalleled cruelty! Amongst other +things, with burning a slave alive; a matter to which Mr. T's +attention had in vain been called, and his proofs demanded. He would +take no further notice of the gross things he had uttered of the +president of the United States than to say, that if he (Mr. B.) could +condescend to imitate his conduct, and utter ribaldrous things of the +king of Great Britain, he should richly deserve to be turned with +contempt out of this sacred place. He would proceed, then, with his +remarks on the Maryland colonization scheme. They had been told by Mr. +T. that the object of the Maryland society was compulsory +expatriation, as a condition precedent to freedom. When proof of this +was required, he could bring none; and when he (Mr. B.) had showed +that it was not so, but that its object was of unmixed good to the +blacks, an object accomplished as to many, on their showing, in the +proof produced, Mr. Thompson turned round, and said, that it was +entirely contrary to his preconceived notions, and repeated +statements, and must be false! But facts were better than notions and +statements both. And what were the facts in the present case? Why, +that on the one hand Mr. Thompson asserts that no slave can be +manumitted in Maryland except he will instantly depart the country; +whereas Messrs. Harper, Howard and Hoffman assert, in an official +report, on the 31st of last December, that 299 manumissions within +that state had been officially reported to them within a year, and +1101 within four years. At the same moment I have produced a record of +the very names and periods of emigration, of 140, bond and free, all +told, who, within the same four years, under the action of the very +laws in question, had gone from the state; admitting half of whom to +be of those particular manumitted slaves, there would be left 1021 +more of them to prove that Mr. T. either totally misunderstood, or +mis-stated, that of which he affirms--either way, his assertions are +demonstrated to be untrue. As to the laws of Maryland, of which +mention had been made, he had not seen them since his visit to Boston +two years ago, and in adverting to them he had stated in general terms +what he understood them to be. The great object of these laws was said +to be the driving out of the free blacks from the state of Maryland. +Now that the means taken to promote this end were not of that grinding +and iniquitous character which Mr. Thompson had represented them as +being, would be sufficiently obvious to the meeting, when it was +considered that in that state there were three times the number of +free persons of color, than were to be found in the majority of the +free states, and considerably more than there were in any other state +in the Union. If the laws were found more oppressive in Maryland, how +did it come that the free blacks congregated there from all other +parts of America? Or if they were set free by the people so much +opposed to their increase, why did they not rather go to Pennsylvania, +which was separated from Maryland only by an imaginary line, and where +free blacks enjoyed almost the same rights as white men? But, again, +it was said, that that colonization scheme was an awfully wicked +scheme, because it sought to prevent the increase of free persons of +color in Maryland. But if this were a grievous sin, were the people of +Great Britain not equally guilty in sending away out of the country +ship loads of paupers, free whites, to other parts of the globe, in +order to prevent the increase of pauperism in this country? Why had +not this branch of the subject been adverted to by Mr. Thompson? Why +had he not, in the paroxysms of his enfuriated eloquence, while +abusing the American colonizationists, not included the king and +parliament of Britain for allowing the existence of laws, or if there +be no such law, for a practice rife in England, of expatriating +thousands of paupers not only by contributions, but at the public +expense. He would be told that the paupers were sent away to distant +parts of the globe, where they would be more comfortable in every +respect than they were at present. And had Mr. T. bowels of compassion +only for the black man? Is it lawful to export a white man against his +will, at the public charge, while it is unlawful to export a black +man, with his free consent, by private benevolence? Is America so +detestable a place, that England may lawfully make her the receptacle +of the refuse of the poor houses of the realm; while Africa is so +sacred a place, that no one that can even do her good is to be +permitted to go there from America, if his skin is dark? May Britain +say, she has more paupers than she can support, and so make it state +policy to force emigration from Ireland, by a system which makes a +quarter of the people there beg bread eight months out of twelve, and +produces inexpressible distress; and yet is Maryland to be precluded, +on any account, or upon any terms, from seeking the diminution, or +rather preventing the disproportionate increase, of a population, +anomalous, and difficult of proper regulation? He should be most happy +to receive an explanation of these strange contradictions! There was +another feature of the Maryland laws, which he might mention, which +forbade the emigration of slaves into Maryland, even along with their +owners. Mr. Thompson had prudently omitted all notice of that +enactment, while he had said a great deal about the registration of +free persons of color, as if it were a most intolerable hardship. He +(Mr. B.) was unable to see in what respect the great hardship +consisted. Was not every freeholder in this country registered? But +the free black was not allowed to leave the state of Maryland without +giving notice, it was said. There was nothing very oppressive in all +that. It was no worse interference on the part of the government, than +for the king of Great Britain to say to his subjects, You must return +home under certain contingencies; you shall not dwell in particular +places, nor fight for certain nations. Were the governments of +America, because they were republicans, not to have the power which +other nations had, of controlling the actions of that portion of their +population, whose movements must be regarded by all who regarded the +peace of society or the public good. He admitted, that some of the +laws in several of the states were hard and severe in reference to the +free colored population, but while he said so, it was but fair to add +that he considered the conduct of the abolitionists, in spreading +their new fangled notions, had done much to alter these laws for the +worse. In many instances the bad laws had become worse, and good laws +had become bad, solely through the imprudent conduct of Mr. Thompson's +associates. And this specific law of registration, and loss of right +of residence, by removal for any considerable time out of the state, +was obviously intended to prevent free persons of color from going out +and becoming imbued with false and bloody theories, and then returning +to disturb the public peace. The law says to them, Abide at home, or, +if you prefer it, depart, and find a home more to your mind; but if +you go, prudence requests us to prohibit your return. Mr. T.'s +complaints of this enactment, showed how necessary it was to have made +it. + +In conclusion, he would recommend to Mr. Thompson, should he ever +return to America, he need not be so tremendously prudent in regard to +his personal safety, if he would just not be so tremendously imprudent +in the principles and proceedings he advocated, and the statements he +made with regard to the conduct of the American people. He had now +gone over the assertions of Mr. Thompson, regarding the Maryland +colonization scheme, and he trusted that he had shown the unfounded +nature of those assertions. All that had been said by Mr. T. as to the +principles and objects of the colonizationists, and the scope and +influence of their course, had no other proof than the writings of +those persons, who for some years, had formed a very small portion of +the supporters of this great interest; and who, without exception, +belonged to those classes, who at first, as had already been admitted, +supported it, for reasons, some of which were entirely political, +others perhaps severe to the slaves, and others unjust or +inconsiderate towards the free blacks. But that directly opposite +views, statements and arguments, could be more amply procured from the +still greater, and still proportionately increasing party, who support +this cause, as a great benevolent and religious operation, must be +perfectly known to the individual himself. If he admit this, said Mr. +B., it will show his present course to be of the same uncandid kind +with all the rest of his conduct towards America, in selecting what +answered his purpose; that always being the worst thing he could find, +and representing it as a fair sample of all. It will do more, it will +show that what he calls proof is no proof at all. But if he denies my +repeated representations as to the various classes of the original +supporters of the parent society, and the present state of them, I am +equally content; as, in that case, all America would have a fair +criterion by which to test his statements. As to the Maryland plan, +and that pursued by the united societies of Philadelphia and New York, +if they have any supporters except such as love the cause of the black +man, of temperance, and of peace, the world has yet to find it out. + +The time being expired, Mr. B. sat down. + + + + +FOURTH NIGHT--THURSDAY, JUNE 16. + + +MR. THOMPSON said that before proceeding to the subject decided upon +for that evening's discussion, he must, in justice to himself and his +cause, offer a remark or two. He had on the previous evening been +struck with surprise at the extraordinary injustice of charging him +(Mr. T.) with quoting unfairly from the letter of Mr. Breckinridge in +the New-York Evangelist. It must have been obvious to all, that in the +first instance, he quoted from memory, but all would recollect with +the avowed wish of avoiding misrepresentation, he had gone to his +table--produced the letter, and read the passage entire without the +omission or interpolation of a letter or a comma. He, therefore, +emphatically denied the charge of garbling. Mr. Breckinridge did +himself, immediately afterwards, read the passage, and read it +precisely as he (Mr. Thompson) had read it. The imputation, therefore, +was equally unfounded and unfair. He (Mr. T.) was thankful that his +argument needed not such help. It would be as absurd as it would be +wicked for him to attempt to support his cause by any garbled +statement. + +He begged also that it might be distinctly understood that he had by +no means exhausted the evidence in his possession on the subject of +Colonization. He could adduce a thousand times as much as that which +had been already brought forward. He had much to say of the colony at +Liberia; the means taken to establish it, the nature of the climate, +the character of the emigrants, the mortality amongst the settlers, +how much it had done towards the suppression of the slave trade, &c. +In fact, he was prepared with overwhelming evidence upon every branch +of the subject, and was willing to return to it at any moment, +confident that the arguments he could produce, and the facts by which +he could support them, would, in the estimation of the public, destroy +forever the claim of the Colonization Society to be considered a pure, +peaceful, or benevolent institution. I now, (said Mr. T.) come to the +topic immediately before us. + +It is my solemn and responsible duty to bring before you to-night the +_principles_ and _measures_ of a large, respectable, and powerful body +in the United States, known by the name of IMMEDIATE ABOLITIONISTS. A +body of individuals embracing not fewer than fifteen hundred ministers +of the gospel, and men of the highest station and largest attainments. +A body of persons that have been charged upon this platform with being +a handful, "so small that they could not obtain their object, and so +erroneous (_despicable_ was, I believe, the word used) as not to +deserve success,"--charged with being the enemies of the +slave-holder--taking him by the throat, and saying "you great +thieving, man-stealing villain, unless you instantly give your slaves +liberty, I will pitch you out of this third-story window,"--charged +with carrying in their track a pestilence like a storm of fire and +brimstone from hell; forcing ministers of religion to seek peaceful +villages not yet blasted by it,--charged with saying that they were +sent from God, when they possessed the fury of demons,--charged, +finally, with having "thrown the cause" of emancipation "a _hundred +years_ farther back than it was five years ago." These are fearful +indictments, and Mr. Breckinridge has a weighty duty to fulfil +to-night, for he is bound to sustain them. They have been brought by +himself, a Christian minister, the professed friend of the slave; and +he must, therefore, abundantly support them by incontrovertible +evidence, or stand branded before the world as the worst foe of human +freedom--the foul calumniator of the friends and advocates of the +oppressed, the suffering, and the dumb. + +He would lay the principles of the American abolitionists before the +audience in the words of their solemn and official documents. He would +go back to the commencement of the five years mentioned by his +opponent, and read from the "CONSTITUTION of the NEW-ENGLAND +ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY," a lucid exposition of the principles and +objects of the first Anti-Slavery Society (technically so called) in +the United States. + + "We, the undersigned, hold that every person of full age and + sane mind, has a right to immediate freedom from personal + bondage of whatsoever kind, unless imposed by the sentence of + the law for the commission of some crime. + + We hold that man cannot, consistently with reason, religion, + and the eternal and immutable principles of justice, be the + property of man. + + We hold that whoever retains his fellow man in bondage, is + guilty of a grevious wrong. + + We hold that a mere difference of complexion is no reason why + any man should be deprived of any of his natural rights, or + subjected to any political disability. + + While we advance these opinions as the principles on which we + intend to act, we declare that we will not operate on the + existing relations of society by other than peaceful and + lawful means, and that we will give no countenance to + violence or insurrection. + + With these views, we agree to form ourselves into a society, + and to be governed by the rules specified in the following + constitution, viz: + + ARTICLE 1. This Society shall be called the New-England + Anti-Slavery Society. + + ARTICLE 2. The object of the society will be to endeavor, by + all means sanctioned by law, humanity, and religion, to + effect the Abolition of Slavery in the United States, to + improve the character and condition of the free people of + color, to inform and correct public opinion in relation to + their situation and rights, and obtain for them equal civil + and political rights and privileges with the whites." + +He would now pass on to the formation of the National Anti-Slavery +Society, in December, 1833, and submit all that was material in the +"CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY." + + + ARTICLE 2. The object of this Society is the entire abolition + of slavery in the United States. While it admits that each + State in which Slavery exists has, by the Constitution of the + United States, the exclusive right to legislate in regard to + its abolition in that State, it shall aim to convince all our + fellow-citizens, by arguments addressed to their + understandings and consciences, that slave-holding is a + heinous crime in the sight of God; and that the duty, safety, + and best interest of all concerned, require its immediate + abandonment, without expatriation. The Society will also + endeavor, in a constitutional way, to influence Congress, to + put an end to the domestic slave trade; and to abolish + slavery in all those portions of our common country which + come under its control, especially in the district of + Columbia, and likewise to prevent the extension of it to any + State that may hereafter be admitted to the Union. + + ARTICLE 3. This Society shall aim to elevate the character + and condition of the people of color, by encouraging their + intellectual, moral, and religious improvement, and by + removing public prejudice; that thus they may, according to + their intellectual and moral worth, share an equality with + the whites of civil and religious privileges; but the Society + will never in any way countenance the oppressed in + vindicating their rights by resorting to physical force. + + ARTICLE 4. Any person who consents to the principles of this + Constitution, who contributes to the funds of this Society, + and is not a slave-holder, may be a member of this Society, + and shall be entitled to a vote at its meetings." + +He would next read the "Preamble" to the Constitution of the +New-Hampshire State Anti-Slavery Society: + + "The most high God hath made of one blood all the families of + man to dwell on the face of all the earth, and hath endowed + all alike with the same inalienable rights, of which are + life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; yet there are + now in this land, more than two millions of human beings, + possessed of the same deathless spirits, and heirs to the + same immortal hopes and destinies with ourselves, who are + nevertheless deprived of these sacred rights, and kept in the + most cruel and abject bondage; a bondage under which human + beings are bred and fattened for the market, and then bought, + sold, mortgaged, leased, bartered, fettered, tasked, + scourged, beaten, killed, hunted even like the veriest + brutes,--nay, made often the unwilling victims of ungodly + lust; while, at the same time, their minds are, by law and + custom, generally shut out from all access to letters, and in + various other ways all their upward tendencies are repressed + and crushed, so as to make their "moral and religious + condition such that they may justly be considered the heathen + of this country;" and since we regard such oppression as one + of the greatest wrongs that man can commit against his + fellow; and existing as it does, and tolerated as it is, + under this free and Christian government, sapping its + foundation, bringing its institutions into contempt among + other nations, thus retarding the march of freedom and + religion, and strengthening the hands of despotism and + irreligion throughout the world; and since we deem it a + duty to ourselves, to our government, to the world, to + the oppressed, and to God, to do all we can to end this + oppression, and to secure an immediate and entire + emancipation of the oppressed; and believe we can act most + efficiently in the case, in the way of combined and organized + action:--Therefore, we, the undersigned, do form ourselves + into a Society for the purpose." + +If there was anything for which the abolitionists as a body were +peculiarly distinguished, it was for the perfect uniformity of +sentiment upon all great points connected with the general question of +slavery. This was attributable to the clearness and fullness with +which the principles of the Society had been enunciated. Not so with +the Colonization Society. You quoted the language of the most eminent +of its supporters, but were immediately told that the Society was not +answerable for the views or designs of its advocates. How very +different a course did the Colonizationists pursue towards the +Anti-Slavery Society. That Society was not only made answerable for +all which the abolitionists _really_ said, and _really_ designed, but +for things they never said, and never designed. No Society was more +conspicuous for the simplicity of its principles, or the harmony of +views subsisting among its members. All regarded slave-holding as +sinful. All considered immediate emancipation to be the duty of the +master and the right of the slave. All deprecated the thought of a +servile insurrection to effect the extinction of slavery. All abhorred +the doctrine that "the end sanctifies the means." But all deemed it a +solemn duty to pursue, with energy and boldness, the overthrow of +slavery; all were one in believing and teaching, that the means +adopted should be honest, holy, peaceful, and moral. It had been said +that the only weapon should be "persuasion." He (Mr. T.) believed that +if no other weapon than "persuasion" was resorted to, slavery would be +perpetual. He believed that the gathered, concentrated, withering +scorn of the whole world, Pagan and Christian, must be brought down +upon slave-holding America, ere much effect could be produced. If this +was insufficient, it would be the duty of Britain to consider well +whether it was right to hold the destinies of the slaves of America in +her hand and not act accordingly. It would be the duty of the friends +of the slave to point to slave-grown produce, and cry, "touch not, +taste not, handle not" the accursed thing! Great Britain had the +power, by adopting a system of prohibitory duties or bounties, to +affect very materially the question at issue, and he (Mr. T.) doubted +not, that, if some such course was adopted, certain of the slave +States would immediately abolish slavery that they might find a +readier market and a higher price for their produce. + +Notwithstanding, however, the precision with which the abolitionists +had stated their principles, and the wide publicity they had given +them, designs the most black, and measures the most monstrous and +wicked, had been charged upon them. They had been represented as +"firebrands," "incendiaries," "disorganizers," "amalgamatists"--as +promoting "disunion," "rebellion," and the "intermixture of the +races." Again and again, had they solemnly disclaimed the views +imputed to them, and pointed to their published "constitutions" and +"declarations;" but as often had their enemies returned to their work +of calumny and misrepresentation. How totally absurd was it to charge +upon the abolitionists the design of promoting amalgamation, while, +under the system of slavery, an unholy amalgamation was going on to +the most awful extent; demonstrated by the endless shades of +complexion at the south; and when nothing was more obvious than this, +that when a female was rescued from her present condition--inspired +with self-respect, and became the protector of her own virtue,--and +when fathers, and brothers, and husbands, were free to defend the +honor of their wives and daughters, the great causes, and incentives, +and facilities would cease, and cease forever, and to prove to the +world how solemnly the abolitionists had denied the imputations cast +upon them by their enemies, he would read from two documents put forth +during the great excitement which prevailed through the United States +in August last. The American Anti-Slavery Society, in "_An Address to +the public_," thus anew declared their principles and objects. + + "We hold that Congress has no more right to abolish slavery + in the southern States, than in the French West-India + Islands. Of course we desire no national legislation on the + subject." + + "We hold that slavery can only be lawfully abolished by the + Legislatures of the several States in which it prevails, and + that the exercise of any other than moral influence to induce + such abolition is unconstitutional." + + "We believe that Congress has the same right to abolish + slavery in the District of Columbia, that the State + Governments have within their respective jurisdictions, and + that it is their duty to efface so foul a blot from the + national escutcheon." + + "We believe that American citizens have the right to express + and publish their opinions of the constitutions, laws, and + institutions, of any and every state and nation under Heaven; + and we mean never to surrender the liberty of speech, of the + press, or of conscience--blessings we have inherited from our + fathers, and which we intend, as far as we are able, to + transmit unimpaired to our children." + + "We are charged with sending incendiary publications to the + south. If by the term _incendiary_ is meant publications + containing arguments and facts to prove slavery to be a moral + and political evil, and that duty and policy require its + immediate abolition, the charge is true. But if the term is + used to imply publications _encouraging insurrection_, and + designed to excite the slaves to break their fetters, the + charge is utterly and unequivocally false. We beg our + fellow-citizens to notice that this charge is made without + proof, and by many who confess that they have never read our + publications, and that those who make it, offer to the public + no evidence from our writings in support of it." + + "We have been charged with a design to encourage + intermarriages between the whites and blacks. The charge has + been repeatedly, and is now again denied, while we repeat + that the tendency of our sentiments is to _put an end_ to the + criminal amalgamation that prevails wherever slavery exists." + +These were only extracts from the address, which was of considerable +length, and thus concluded: + + "Such, fellow-citizens, are our principles. Are they unworthy + of republicans and of Christians? Or are they in truth so + atrocious, that in order to prevent their diffusion you are + yourselves willing to surrender, at the dictation of others, + the invaluable privilege of free discussion, the very + birth-right of Americans? Will you, in order that the + abomination of slavery may be concealed from public view, and + that the capital of your republic may continue to be, as it + now is, under the sanction of Congress, the great slave mart + of the American Continent, consent that the general + government, in acknowledged defiance of the constitution and + laws, shall appoint, throughout the length and breadth of + your land, ten thousand censors of the press, each of whom + shall have the right to inspect every document you may commit + to the Post-Office, and to suppress every pamphlet and + newspaper, whether religious or political, which, in its + sovereign pleasure, he may adjudge to contain an incendiary + article? Surely we need not remind you, that if you submit to + such an encroachment on your liberties, the days of our + Republic are numbered, and that, although abolitionists may + be the first, they will not be the last victims offered at + the shrine of arbitrary power. + + ARTHUR TAPPAN, _President_. + JOHN RANKIN, _Treasurer_. + WILLIAM JAY, _Sec. For. Cor._ + ELIZUR WRIGHT, Jr.,_ Sec. Dom. Cor._ + ABRAHAM L. COX, M. D., _Rec. Sec._ + LEWIS TAPPAN, } + JOSHUA LEAVITT, } Members + SAMUEL E. CORNISH, } of the + SIMEON S. JOCELYN, } Executive + THEODORE S. WRIGHT, } Committee. + + New-York, September 3, 1835." + +The other document to which he had referred, was an "Address" adopted +at "A meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, duly held in +Boston, on Monday, August 17, A. D., 1835," signed by W. L. Garrison, +and twenty-seven highly respectable citizens of Boston, on behalf of +the Massachusetts Society, and others concurring generally in its +principles. He (Mr. T.) would only quote a few brief passages. + + "We are charged with violating, or wishing to violate, the + Constitution of the United States. What have we done, what + have we said to warrant this charge? We have held public + meetings, and taken other usual means of convincing our + countrymen that slave-holding is sin, and, like all sin, + ought to be, and can be, immediately abandoned. We have said, + in the words of the Declaration of Independence, that "ALL + MEN are created equal," and that liberty is an inalienable + gift of God to every man. We know of no clause in the + Constitution which forbids our saying this. We appeal to the + calm judgment of the community, to decide, in view of recent + events, whether the measures of the friends, or those of the + opposers of abolition, are more justly chargeable with the + violation of the Constitution and laws." + + * * * * * + + "The foolish tale, that we would encourage amalgamation by + intermarriage between the whites and blacks, though often + refuted, as often re-appears. We shall content ourselves with + a simple denial of this charge. We challenge our opponents to + point to one of our publications in which such intermarriages + are recommended. One of our objects is to prevent the + amalgamation now going on, so far as can be done, by placing + one million of the females of this country under the + protection of law." + + "We are accused of interfering in the domestic concerns of + the southern States. We would ask those, who charge this, to + explain precisely what they mean by "interference." If, by + interference be meant any attempt to legislate for the + southern States, or to compel them, by force or intimidation, + to emancipate their slaves, we at once deny any such + pretension. We are utterly opposed to any force on the + subject, but that of conscience and reason, which are + "mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." We + fully acknowledge that no change in the slave-laws of the + southern States can be made, unless by the southern + Legislatures. Neither Congress nor the Legislatures of the + free States have authority to change the condition of a + single slave in the slave States. But, if by "interference" + be intended the exercise of the right of freely discussing + this subject, and, by speech, and through the press, creating + a public sentiment, which will reach the conscience, and + blend with the convictions of the slave-holder, and thus + ultimately work the complete extinction of slavery, this is a + species of interference which we can never consent to + relinquish." + + * * * * * + + "We respectfully ask our fellow-citizens, whether we are to + be deprived of these sacred privileges,--and, if so, whether + the sacrifice of our rights will not involve consequences + dangerous to all mental and even personal freedom. We have + violated, we mean to violate, no law. We have acted, we + shall continue to act, under the sanction of the Constitution + of the United States. Nothing that we propose to do can be + prevented by our opposers, without violating the Charter of + our rights. To the Law and to the Constitution we appeal." + +Such were the sentiments of the abolitionists of the United States of +America. + +He (Mr. T.) would embrace the present opportunity of saying a few +words respecting his own mission to the United States. It had been +much denounced as an impertinent foreign interference; but he thought +the charge had neither grace nor honesty when it came from those who +were engaged, and, as he believed, most conscientiously and +praiseworthily, in seeking, by their missionaries and agents, to +overturn the institutions, social, political, and religious, of every +other quarter of the globe. Mr. Breckinridge had said that it would be +as just on his part to inveigh against England on account of Roman +Catholicism in the west of Ireland, or Idolatry in India, as it was on +his (Mr. T's.) to condemn America for the slavery existing in that +country. The cases were not quite parallel. Before they could be +compared, Mr. B. must prove that the population of Ireland were +_constrained_ to worship the Virgin Mary--that in India, men were +_forced_ by British Law to worship idols. No British subject was +compelled by any law of this country, or any other country to which +British sway extended, to be either a _Papist_ or an _Idolator_. But +in America, men were converted into _beasts_, "according to law," and +their souls and bodies crushed and degraded by a system most +vigorously enforced by the strong arm of the _State_. His opponent had +said, however, that slavery was not a national sin. He (Mr. T.) had to +thank a friend for suggesting an illustration of the knotty problem. +Suppose a number of _Agriculturists_ and _Merchants_ and _Highway +Robbers_ were to meet together to form a Union, and the Highway +Robbers were to say--come, let us unite for the purpose of common +security, and common prosperity: we will defend each other, and trade +with each other, but we will not "interfere" in each other's +_internal_ affairs. You, gentlemen, Agriculturists and Merchants, +shall promise that you will take no notice of my felonious and +cut-throat proceedings, and I, on my part, will pledge my honor not to +intermeddle in the affairs of your farms or counting-houses: and +suppose they were to shake hands, complete the bargain, and ratify an +indissoluble union of Agriculturists, Merchants, and Highway Robbers! +would the world hold the farmer or the merchant guiltless? Mr. B. had +said much of the purity and emancipation principles of Massachusetts, +and New-Hampshire and Maine. How came it to pass, then, that they were +in terms of such close and cordial fellowship with South Carolina, +and Georgia, and Louisiana, and so ready to mob, stone, and outlaw +those who deemed it their duty to cry aloud on behalf of the +oppressed? To return to his own mission. He would never condescend to +apologize for speaking the truth. He had a commission direct from the +skies, to rebuke sin and compassionate suffering wherever on the face +of the earth they existed. This world belonged to God; and all men +were His subjects and his (Mr. Thompson's) brethren. Men might be +naturally divided by rivers, and oceans, and mountains; they might be +politically divided by different forms of government, and specified +lines of demarkation; but he (Mr. T.) took the Bible in his hand and +deemed himself at liberty to address every human being on the face of +the earth in reference to those eternal principles of justice and +truth, which are alike in all countries and in all ages, and which the +subjects of God's moral government are everywhere bound to respect. He +would say to America and to England, silence your cry of foreign +interference, or call home your Missionaries from India, and China, +and Constantinople. To shew that the object of his mission was in +accordance with the spirit of the gospel, he would read an extract +from an article in the first number of the "_Abolitionist_," the organ +of "The British and Foreign Society for the Universal Abolition of +Slavery and the Slave Trade"--a Society with which he was connected +when he went to America, and whose Agent he still was. The objects of +his mission were thus set forth: + + "1. To lecture in the principal cities and towns of the free + States, upon the character, guilt, and tendency of slavery, + and the duty, necessity, and advantages of immediate and + entire abolition. These addresses will be founded upon those + great principles of humanity and religion, which have been so + fully enunciated in this country, and will consequently be + wholly unconnected with particular and local politics. This + work will be carried on under the advice and with the + co-operation of the Anti-Slavery Societies at present in + existence in the United States. + + 2. To aim, by every Christian means, at the overthrow of that + prejudice against the colored classes, which now so + lamentably prevails through all the States of America; and to + regard as a principal mean to obtain this desirable object, + their elevation in intellect and moral worth. + + 3. To suggest to the friends of negro freedom in the United + States the adoption and prosecution of such measures as were + found conducive to the cause of abolition in this country, + and may be found applicable to existing circumstances in + that. + + 4. To seek access to influential persons of various religious + denominations, and especially to ministers of the gospel, for + the purpose of explanatory conversation on the subjects of + slavery and prejudice. + + 5. To endeavor to effect a junction between the abolitionists + of the United States of America and great Britain, with a + view to the abolition of slavery and the slave trade + throughout the world." + +The principles of the American Societies, his own principles, and the +objects proposed by his mission to America, were now before his +opponent. He called upon him to throw aside his quibbles on legal +technicalities, and point out, if he were able, anything in the +documents he had read, or the sentiments he had advanced, +inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, or the genius of +rational freedom. It had been said that abolitionism was "quackery," +only four years old. He would give them a little of the quackery of +Benjamin Franklin, in the year 1790. He held in his hand a petition +drawn up by that celebrated man, and adopted by the "_Pennsylvania +Society for the Abolition of Slavery_," the preamble of which +recognizes the doctrines which are maintained by American +Abolitionists at the present day, and expresses the (_now incendiary_) +desire of diffusing them "_wherever the evils of Slavery exist_." Of +this Society, Dr. Franklin was elected President, and Dr. Rush the +Secretary. In 1790, this Society presented to the first Congress a +petition, from which the following is an extract:-- + + "From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the + portion, and is still the birth-right of all men, and + influenced by the strong ties of humanity, and the principles + of their institutions, your memorialists conceive themselves + bound to use all justifiable endeavors to loosen the bands of + slavery, and promote a general enjoyment of the blessings of + freedom. Under these impressions, they earnestly entreat your + serious attention to the subject of slavery; that you may be + pleased to countenance the restoration to liberty of those + unhappy men, who, alone in a land of freedom, are degraded + into perpetual bondage, and who, amidst the general joy of + surrounding freemen, are groaning in servile subjection; that + you will devise means for removing this inconsistency from + the character of the American people; that you will promote + mercy and justice towards this oppressed race, and that you + will step to the very verge of the power vested in you, for + discouraging every species of traffic in the persons of our + fellow-men." + (Signed) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, + President. + _Philadelphia, February 2, 1790._" + +Besides the venerable Franklin in 1790, he might refer to the truly +able speech of the Rev. David Rice, in the Convention held at +Danville, Kentucky, before, or soon after the petition just read--to +the sermon of Jonathan Edwards, the younger, in the year 1791--and to +a most excellent sermon by Alexander M'Leod, through whose zeal and +labors chiefly, the Reformed Presbyterians were brought to the +determination to rid their church of slavery, an object they +accomplished in the year 1802. It was a painful fact that the American +community had retrograded in feeling and sentiment upon the subject of +slavery. The anti-slavery feeling of 1820 was neither so pure nor so +strong as in 1800, or 1790; and in 1830 the feeling had become still +weaker, and the views of the community still more corrupted. This was +owing to the formation of the colonization society, which, like a +great sponge, gathered up and absorbed the anti-slavery feeling of the +country, and by proposing the removal of the colored population, and +constantly preaching such doctrines as were calculated to advance that +object, drew public attention away from the duty of immediate +emancipation on the soil, and caused the Christian community to rest +in a scheme based upon expediency, and fully in unison with their +prejudice against color. To those who compared the various sentiments +contained in the writings and speeches of the colonizationists, with +the pure and uncompromising principles advocated towards the close of +the last, and the beginning of the present century, nothing was more +obvious than the fact he had just stated, namely, that there had been +a gradual giving up of sound views and principles, for others +accommodated to the prejudices and interests and fears of the +different portions of the community. For instance, nothing was more +common in the records of the Colonization Society than the recognition +of a right of property in man; to find the advocates of the Society, +when speaking of the slaveholder and his slaves, saying, "we hold +their _slaves_, as we hold their other _property_, _sacred_." Mr. +Breckinridge might say "these are not my opinions;"--but he must know +they were the published opinions of the managers and chief advocates +of the Society, and it was for him to explain how he could lend a +Society his countenance and aid, which promulgated and upheld so +impious a doctrine as the right of property in God's rational, +accountable, and immortal creatures. He (Mr. T.) knew, however, that +the Society could assume all colors, and preach all kinds of +doctrines. At one time it was promoting emancipation, and at another, +increasing the value of slaves, and securing the master in the +possession of them. It had one face for the north, and another for the +south--a very Proteus enacting every sort of character; having no +fixed principles--never consistent with itself in anything but its +determination by all means to get rid, if possible, of the colored +man. If there was any one thing which, more than another, was +calculated to demonstrate the true character and tendency of the +Society, it was the opinions everywhere entertained respecting it by +the colored population. It was a fact that they loathed and abhorred +the Society. No man advocating it could be popular amongst them. Even +Mr. Breckinridge, with all his virtues and benevolence, was considered +by the colored people as practically their enemy, by helping to +sustain a Society which they regarded as the most effective engine of +oppression ever invented. Surely they were qualified to form a +judgment upon the subject. They had looked into its workings--they had +narrowly watched its movements, and had satisfied themselves that it +was full of all unrighteousness. If, on the other hand, the +abolitionists were, by their measures, doing vast injury to the cause +of the free colored people, how came it to pass, that they had the +love and confidence of that entire class of the population? How was it +that even the arch fiend of abolition, George Thompson, was by them +caressed and beloved, and that they would hang for hours upon the +accents of his lips--and that the tear of gratitude would start into +their eyes wherever he met them? The secret was soon told. He (Mr. T.) +spoke _to_ them and _of_ them, as _men_. He compromised none of their +rights--he exhibited no prejudice against their complexion. He did not +recommend exile as their only way of escape from their present and +dreaded ills. He preached justice, and kindness, and repentance to +their persecutors, and maintained the right of the bleeding captive to +full and unconditional liberty, with all the privileges and honors of +humanity. Therefore they loved him--therefore they would lay down +their lives for him. He would read a list of places, in all of which +the colored people had held meetings, and denounced the plans of the +Colonization Society, viz,-- + +Philadelphia, New-York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington; Brooklyn and +Rochester, in the State of New-York; Hartford, Middletown, New-Haven, +and Lime in the State of Connecticut; Columbia, Pittsburg, Lewistown, +and Harrisburg, in the State of Pennsylvania; Providence, in the State +of Rhode-Island; Trenton, in the State of New-Jersey; Wilmington, in +the State of Delaware; New-Bedford, in the State of Massachusetts; +Nantucket; in the National Convention of free colored persons, held in +Philadelphia, in 1831--by the same Convention in 1832, and, he +believed, in very subsequent Conventions. + +To return to the Anti-Slavery Societies of the United States. He (Mr. +T.) knew them to be composed of the finest and purest elements in the +country. They were numerous and powerful. It would soon be proved +that, with the blessing of God, they were omnipotent. Knowing the +piety, intelligence, wealth, and energy of the abolitionists of +America, it required some effort to be calm when Mr. Breckinridge +stood before a British audience and compared them to Falstaff's ragged +regiment. The Society of Kentucky might be small in regard to numbers. +He believed, however, they were highly respectable. He referred to Mr. +J. G. Birney on this point. Mr. Breckinridge might represent on the +present occasion, if it pleased him, the abolitionists of his (Mr. +B's) country as beggarly, odious, and despicable: but if he lived to +revisit England (and he hoped he might) he believed he would then have +to find some other illustration of their character, numbers and +appearance, than the ragged regiment of Shakspeare's Falstaff. + +Having stated the principles of the Anti-Slavery Societies in America, +he would exhibit, in the words of the Philadelphia declaration of +sentiments, their mode of operations. The National Society, formed +during the convention, thus made known to the world its intended +course of action:-- + + We shall organize Anti-Slavery Societies, if possible, in + every city, town and village in our land. + + We shall send forth Agents to lift up the voice of + remonstrance, of warning, of entreaty and rebuke. + + We shall circulate, unsparingly, and extensively, + anti-slavery tracts and periodicals. + + We shall enlist the "Pulpit" and the "Press" in the cause of + the suffering and the dumb. + + We shall aim at a purification of the churches from all + participation in the guilt of slavery. + + We shall encourage the labor of freemen rather than that of + the slaves, by giving a preference to their productions: and + + We shall spare no exertions nor means to bring the whole + nation to speedy repentance. + + Our trust for victory is solely in GOD. We may be personally + defeated, but our principles never. Truth, Justice, Reason, + Humanity, must and will gloriously triumph. Already a host is + coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and the + prospect before us is full of encouragement. + + Submitting this declaration to the candid examination of the + people of this country, and of the friends of liberty + throughout the world, we hereby affix our signatures to it; + pledging ourselves that, under the guidance and by the help + of Almighty God, we will do all that in us lies, consistently + with this Declaration of our principles, to overthrow the + most execrable system of slavery that has ever been witnessed + upon earth; to deliver our land from its deadliest curse; to + wipe out the foulest stain which rests upon our national + escutcheon; and to secure to the colored population of the + United States all the rights and privileges which belong to + them as men and as Americans--come what may to our persons, + our interests, or our reputations--whether we live to witness + the triumph of Liberty, Justice, and Humanity, or perish + untimely as martyrs in this great, benevolent and holy cause. + + _Signed in the Adelphi Hall, in the City of Philadelphia, + on the 6th day of December, A. D. 1833._ + +True to the pledges given in this declaration, the abolitionists had +printed, preached, and prayed without ceasing. As a proof of what they +were doing in one department of their work, he would exhibit a number +of newspapers, tracts, pamphlets, and other periodicals, which were in +circulation throughout the country. Mr. Thompson then produced copies +of the "Slaves Friend," "Anti-Slavery Records," "Anti-Slavery +Anecdotes," "Human Rights," "Emancipator," "Liberator," "New-York +Evangelist," "Zion's Herald," "Zion's Watchman," "Philadelphia +Independent Weekly Press," "Herald of Freedom," "Lynn Record," "New +England Spectator," &c., and an "Anti-Slavery Quarterly," edited by +Professor Wright, the Secretary of the National Society, and +distinguished by considerable literary talent. These were amongst the +means pursued by the Abolitionists. They were peaceful and honorable +means, and under God, would prove effectual to bring the +blood-cemented fabric of Slavery to the ground. Other than moral and +constitutional means, the abolitionists sought not to employ. Their's +would not be the glory reaped upon the crimson field amidst the +carnage and the din of war. Their victory would not be a victory +achieved by the use of carnal weapons, effecting the freedom of one +man by the destruction of another. Their victory would be a victory +won by the potency of principles drawn from the Gospel of the Prince +of Peace--their glory the glory of those who had obtained a bloodless +conquest over the consciences and hearts of men. In the full +conviction that the principles he (Mr. Thompson) had that night +maintained, were the principles of the word of God, he would still +prosecute the work to which he had for some years devoted himself. He +called upon those around him to be true to those principles, and to +continue zealously to advocate them, and leave the consequences in the +hands of God. Let the friends of human rights again rally under the +banner which had aforetime led them to battle--under which they had +together fought and together triumphed--and to remember that the motto +inscribed upon its ample folds--a motto which, though oft abused, had +oft sustained them in the hour of conflict--was, Fiat Justicia ruat +Coelum. + + * * * * * + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE rose. Having taken a good many notes of what Mr. +Thompson had said in the speech now delivered, he was prepared for +replying, if an opportunity were presented after he should have +finished saying what seemed to him more pertinent to the subject in +hand. In the meantime, he would introduce what he had now to say by +reading another version of the events which had been represented as +one of Mr. Thompson's triumphs at Boston. + + Mr. May introduced a resolution denouncing the Colonization + Society as unworthy of patronage, because it disseminates + opinions unfavorable to the interest of the colored people. + + Mr. Gurley replied. He finished the consideration of Mr. + May's objections, went into an exposition of the advantages + of the Colonization Society, and contrasted its claims with + those of the Anti-Slavery Society. In doing this, he + exhibited a handbill, having a large cut of a negro in + chains, with some inflammatory sentences under it. Here he + was interrupted by hisses, which were answered by clapping. + Mr. George Thompson rose and attempted to address the + meeting. This increased the confusion, Cries of "sit + down--shame--be silent--let Mr. May answer if he can--no + foreign interference," &c., from all parts of the hall. Mr. + Thompson persevered as few men would have done, but at last + yielded to the evident determination of the audience, and + took his seat. The hall then became still, and Mr. Gurley + proceeded. + + We do not know that any Anti-Colonizationist was convinced by + these discussions; except men who are committed against the + Society, we believe the very general opinion is, that their + overthrow on the field of argument was as complete as any + could desire. It is evident that the cause of the + Colonization Society is gaining a hold on the convictions and + affections of the people of New-England stronger than it ever + had before. We say this in view of facts which are coming to + our knowledge from various parts. The storm of abuse and + misrepresentation with which it has been assailed, is + beginning already to contribute to its strength. + +Now he begged to remark that the paper from which he had read the +foregoing extract, the New-York Observer, together with the one from +which it was originally taken, the Boston Recorder, printed more +matter weekly than all the avowed abolition newspapers, in America, +put together, did in half a year. He would notice farther, in relation +to the great display of abolition publications which had been made by +Mr. Thompson on the platform, that one of the papers lying there on +the table, had advocated his principles and cause when he was in +Boston, and likely to be mobbed at the instigation, as he believed, +of Mr. Garrison. Some of the remainder of the publications were, he +believed, long ago dead; some could hardly be said ever to have +lived; some were purely occasional; the greater part as limited in +circulation as they were contemptible in point of merit. Not above +two or three of the dozen or fifteen that had been produced before +them--and the names of which he (Mr. B.) required to be recorded--were +in fact, worthy to be called respectable and avowed abolition +newspapers. But to come to the point immediately in hand. He would +on the present occasion attempt to show that abolition was not worthy +to supplant the colonization scheme in the affections of Americans +or Britons, or of any other thinking people. He acknowledged that +there were many respectable men in the ranks of the abolitionists; +but these, almost without exception, had been at one time +colonizationists; and had he time he might show that many of them +had deserted the colonization society on some peculiar or personal +grounds, not involving the principles of the cause. He was prepared +to show, however, that by whomsoever supported, the principles of the +abolitionists were essentially wrong, and that their practice was +still worse. He had not access to the voluminous documents brought +forward by Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson had, indeed, that evening, on +this platform, publicly offered him access to them. Had that offer +been made at the beginning of the discussion, instead of the end of +it, or during the four or five days we spent in Glasgow before it +commenced, it might have been turned to some advantage. But as it +was, the audience would know how to appreciate it; and he must rely +solely upon memory, when he stated the principles promulgated by +abolitionists; though at the same time he pledged himself that his +statements not only were intended to be, but were, substantially +correct and entirely candid. The abolitionists held, then, in the +first place, as a fundamental truth, that every human being had an +instant right to be free, irrespective of consequences to himself and +others; consequently that it was the duty of masters to set free their +slaves instantly, and irrespective of all consequences; and of course, +sinful to exercise the powers of a master for one moment, or for any +purpose. This was, in substance, the great principle on which the +abolitionists acted--a principle which he was now prepared to +question. He had, on a former occasion, shown that there were only two +parties responsible for the existence of slavery, namely, individual +slave-holders, and slave-holding communities. He would now attempt to +prove, that, as applied to either of these, this principle was not +only false, but that it was a mere figment, and calculated to produce +tremendous evil. Let them first attend to what the abolitionists say +to the individual slave-holder. Perhaps the person addressed was an +inhabitant of Louisiana; where, if it is not directly contrary to +law, to manumit a slave--the law refuses to recognize the act. Was he +to be told then that he should turn off his slaves, the young and +helpless along with the old and the infirm, with the certain knowledge +that so soon as they left his plantation, they would commence a career +of trouble and sorrow most likely to end in their being seized, +imprisoned, fined, and again enslaved. Mr. Thompson had mentioned, in +nearly all his printed speeches, the case of a certain colored man, +who had been thrown into prison at Washington city, and sold into +eternal slavery to discharge the fees which had accrued by reason of +his oppression. Now he (Mr. B.) took leave to say that this story was +false, in toto. It was customary in some parts of America to sell +vagabonds, in order to make up their jail fees; but they were bound +for no longer a period than was necessary to do this. The system was +this--they were taken up as vagrants. If they were able and willing to +show that they had some regular and honest means of livelihood, they +were of course acquitted and discharged; but when they were unable to +do this, they were sold for as much as would pay the fees of +detention, trial, &c. That any person, black or white, once recognized +by the law as free, was ever sold into everlasting slavery, he +positively denied, and demanded proof. In Louisiana, however, it being +illegal to manumit a slave, those whom the abolitionists would set +free, would not be considered free in the eye of the law. They might +be harrassed, imprisoned as vagabonds, sold to pay expenses, as +vagabonds, and so soon as set free again imprisoned. He admitted that +such proceedings would be inexcusable; but what was a benevolent man, +who had the welfare of his slave really at heart, to do with an eye to +them? To act upon the abolitionist principle, would be to consign the +slave to incalculable misery, for they had but one lesson to +teach--turn loose the slaves, and leave consequences to God! The +colonizationists, however, are provided with a better remedy. If +Louisiana would not countenance manumission, nor suffer manumitted +slaves to remain within her bounds, with the usual privileges of +freemen, let them be taken to some other State, where such laws did +not exist; or if this should not on the whole be desirable, let them +be taken to Liberia. No, repeats Mr. Thompson; discharge your slaves +at once, and leave the consequences to God. If, by the wicked laws of +Louisiana, they are left to starve, or driven to desperation, or sold +again into slavery, the responsibility is theirs; do you your duty in +setting them immediately at liberty. It would require, however, that a +humane individual should be very strongly impressed with the truth of +this principle before he could persuade himself to do that which was +evidently so cruel in its immediate effects, and so likely to be +ruinous in those that are more remote. Yet that principle was, to say +the least, extremely doubtful, and ought not at every hazard to be +crammed down the throats of an entire nation. If the laws of the +community were bad, as he admitted it to be the case, he supposed it +was the duty of enlightened citizens to seek a change of that law by +proper means, but not in the meantime to do that which would be +totally insubordinate to the State--and injurious to all parties. +Whether, moreover, it was either fair or candid to denounce, as had +been done, the free States as being participators in slavery, because, +though they did not themselves hold a property in slaves, they did not +choose to swallow such nostrums even without chewing, could not be a +question. If it was so doubtful whether duty to the slaves themselves +rendered the immediate breaking up of all relations between them and +their masters a proper or even a permitted thing, it was still more +questionable whether our duties to the State may not imperiously +forbid what our duties to the slave have already warned us against. I +have omitted all considerations of a personal or selfish kind--all +rules of conduct drawn from what is due to one's self, one's family, +or one's condition, or engagements. Common benevolence forbids, as we +have seen, and common loyalty prohibits, as we shall see--what a man +must do, or lie under the curse of abolitionism. For though it be our +duty to seek the amendment of bad laws, because they are bad, it is +equally our duty to obey laws because they are laws, unless it is +clear that greater ill will follow from obedience than from +disobedience. Now all our slave States are perfectly willing that +their citizens should emancipate their slaves; only many of them +insist on their doing it elsewhere, than within their borders. As long +as other lands exist, ready to receive the manumitted slave, and +certain to be benefitted by his reception, it is to preach treason, as +well as cruelty, and folly as well as either, to assert the bounden +duty of the individual slave-holder, at all hazards, to attempt an +impossibility on the instant, rather than accomplish a better result +by foresight, preparation, and suitable delay. It may therefore be +boldly said that instant surrender of the authority of the master, +irrespective of all other considerations, must, in many cases, be a +great crime in the individual slave-holder. He would now speak of this +abolition principle to which he had adverted as a rule of conduct for +slave-holding communities. In this respect, also, he considered that +it was at best extremely questionable. Let us illustrate the principle +by the oft-repeated case of the District of Columbia. Abolitionism +asserts that it is the clear duty of Congress to abolish slavery +instantly in that District, without regard to what may occur +afterwards in consequence of that act. Let us admit that the +dissolution of the Federal Union is a consequence not worthy of +regard--even when distinctly foreseen; and that all the evils +attendant on such a result, to human society, and to all the great +interests of man throughout the earth, are as nothing, compared with +the establishment of a doubtful definition, having an antiquity of at +least four years, and a paternity disputed between Mr. Garrison and +Mr. Thompson. As a principle concerning no other creature but the +slaves of the District, and no interest but theirs, it can be shown to +be false. If Congress were instantly to abolish slavery there, with a +tolerable certainty that every slave in the District would be removed +and continued with their issue in perpetual slavery; when by an +arrangement with the owners, they might so prospectively abolish it as +to secure the freedom of every slave in five or ten years, and of +their issue as they successively arrived at twenty or twenty-five +years of age; if Congress could do the latter, and were in preference +to do the former, they would deserve the execrations of the world. The +first plea is Mr. Thompson and abolitionism; the second express my +principles and those of the despised gradualists. At all events, the +truth of the principle involved in the former supposition was not so +manifest as to justify Mr. Thompson in denouncing, as he had done, +those who did not see proper to follow it. A wise man would +hesitate--he would weigh well the resulting circumstances as one of +the best tests of the truth and utility of his principles before he +propagated, as indisputably and exclusively true, and that in despite +of all results, such principles, with the violence which had been +manifested--principles which, he repeated, were but four years old, +and which he was still convinced, were but arrant quackery. There was +another aspect of the subject. Reference had been made to the +representation of the black population in the National Government. He +would remark on this subject that it was the duty of every State to +see that power was committed only to the hands of those qualified to +exercise it properly, wisely, and beneficially. What would be said in +this country, were Mr. Thompson to propose that the elective franchise +should be made universal, and that the age at which it might be +exercised should be fixed at fifteen years? He would venture to say +that the ministry who would introduce such a scheme to Parliament, +would not exist for three days. The proposal, as Mr. T. no doubt knew, +would be considered altogether revolutionary and shocking. Yet it must +be admitted that the average of the boys of Britain who are fifteen +years old, are fully as well qualified for the exercise of the elected +franchise, as the average of the slaves in the various parts of the +United States are at the age of twenty-one years. But with us, as with +you, twenty-one years is the age at which electors vote. As I have +shown, in most of our States the elective franchise is extended to +every white man, who has attained that age; while the qualifications +of a property kind, anywhere required, are so extremely moderate, that +in all our communities nine-tenths at least of the adult white males +are entitled to vote. Now let it be borne in mind, that abolitionism +requires not only instant freedom for the slave, but also instant +treatment of him, in every civil and political, as well as every +social and religious respect, as if he were white, that is, in plain +terms--if we should follow the dogmas you sent Mr. T. to teach us, and +in which we have been held up to the scorn of all good men, for +declining to receive, a revolution far more terrible and revolting +would immediately follow throughout all our slave States, than would +follow in Britain by enfranchising in a day, every boy in it fifteen +years old--even if your house of lords were substituted by an elective +senate, and your parliaments made annual! And it is in the light of +such results, that America has received with horror the enunciation of +principles which lead directly to them, while their advocates declare +"all consequences" indifferent as it regards their conduct! And can it +be the duty of any commonwealth to bring upon itself "instantly,"--or +at all--such a condition as this? The abolitionists themselves had +evidently felt that their scheme was absurd; for they had never +ventured to propose it to a slave State. Their papers were published +and their efforts all made, and their organized agitation carried on, +and a tremendous uproar raised in States where there existed no power +whatever to put an end to slavery; but hardly a syllable had been +uttered where, if anywhere, some effect might have been produced +beneficial to the slaves, had abolition principles been practicable +anywhere. The conduct of the abolitionists had been of a piece with +what would have taken place in this country, had an agitation been got +up for the direct abolition of idolatry in China, or of popery in +Spain. Their principles had never yet been advocated in the South, but +by means of the post-office, the effects of which, in the tearing up +of mail bags, &c., Mr. Thompson well knew, and had declared. But the +fact was, that such metaphysical propositions as those propounded by +the abolitionists--even admitting them to be true--were altogether +uncalled for. Thousands of slaves had been emancipated before the +abolition principles were heard of, and all that was needed, was, that +those who were engaged in the good work should have been let alone or +aided on their own principles. What was the use of blazoning forth a +doctrine which was in all likelihood false and ruinous, but which, +were it true, could do no good? For if you could persuade a man that +his duty required him to give freedom to his slaves, and he became +suitably impressed with a sense thereof--he would do it just as +certainly and effectually as though you had begun by saying to +him--now as soon as I convince you, you must set them free +immediately! He could indeed characterize such a mode of proceeding by +no other term than that of gratuitous folly. + +Again he might say that this principle of abolitionism was contrary to +all the experience which America had acquired as a nation on this +subject. Principles favorable to emancipation first took root where +there were few slaves, and when the products of their labor were of +little value. They had spread gradually towards the South, the border +States being always first inoculated, till no fewer than eight States +which tolerated slavery, adopted this principle, and successively +abolished it. To these eight States were to be added four others, +created since the formation of the Federal Constitution, which never +tolerated slavery, thus making twelve States in which slavery was not +permitted. By the influence of gradualism alone, had the cause of +freedom advanced steadily to this point, and every day rendered its +ultimate triumph throughout the whole empire more and more probable. +At this time it might have been carried South by at least 5 degrees of +latitude; and Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri, +added to the free States; and the shackles of 1,000,000 slaves been in +a process of gradual melting off. If fifty years had seen the rise of +12 free States, was it too much to hope that the next fifty years +should enfranchise twelve more. For all the ruin brought on this +glorious cause during the last four years by principles and practices +of Mr. Thompson's friends, what have they to compensate suffering +humanity? Have they or theirs released from his bonds a single slave? +The abolition plan had in fact, been a signal, a total, absolute +failure. Mr. Thompson himself did not pretend to say that a twentieth +part of the population of America had embraced his views. The whole +theory was as false as the whole practice was fatal; and just and +pious men would hereafter hesitate before they sent out new missions +to advocate them, or lent the influence of their just weight to +denunciations levelled against all who did not think them worthy of +their applause. The _second_ great _principle_ of the abolitionists, +to which he would invite attention, was this--that it was the inherent +and indestructible right of every man to abide in perfect freedom in +whatever spot he was born; and that while it is a crime to deny him +there all the rights of a man, a citizen and a Christian, it was not +less so to persuade, to win, or to coerce him into what they called +exile--this principle was levelled at the Colonization Society; and +while instant abolition formed the first, and denunciation of what +they call prejudice against color formed the last; hatred to +colonization formed the middle and active principle of the band. Of +this, it might be said, first, that it had the advantage of +contradicting all the wisdom and practice of mankind. Whether it was +meant to embrace women and minors--or at what age to establish the +beginning of rights so extraordinary and unprecedented, whether at +twenty-one, as here, or twenty-five, as in some countries, or +twenty-eight, as in others, had not yet been defined. Thus much at +least might be said--that if these rights resided in black men, they +resided in no others, of whatever hue or race; and the philosophers +who discovered their existence had found out something to compensate +these unhappy men for their unparalleled sufferings. It certainly need +not create surprise that we should listen with suspicion to such +dogmas taught by an Englishman, when we remember that, from time +immemorial, all the institutions of his own country were built upon +dogmas precisely opposite; and all her practice the reverse of the +preaching of the semi-national representative. Mr. Thompson says, a +man is a citizen by inherent right, wherever he is born; the British +monarchy, which Mr. Thompson says he prefers to all things else, says +on the contrary, that let a man be born where he may he is a Briton, +if born of British parents; and it both claims his allegiance, and +will extend to him every right of a subject born at home! Then why is +not a man an African if born of African parents in America, as well as +a Briton, if born of British parents there? Or why are we to be +attacked first with cannon on one side, and then with Billingsgate on +the other side of this vexed question? Nor did our own notions, +adverse as they were to those of Britain, conflict less with Mr. T. +and abolitionism on another part of the principle. All our notions +permit men to expatriate themselves, many of our constitutions +guarantee it as a natural right, and America had actually gone to war +with Britain in defence of that right in her unnaturalized citizens. +Britain had insisted on searching American vessels for British +sailors--America had refused to submit to the search; because, among +other things the man sought was, by naturalization, an American. +America did not oppose any of her citizens becoming Britons, if they +thought fit, and was resolved to maintain the right of those who chose +to become American citizens, from whatever country they might have +emigrated, and therefore could hear only with contempt this dictum of +abolitionism. Again he would say that, this principle is contrary to +common sense. Rights of citizenship were not to be considered natural +rights. They were given by the community--they might be withheld by +the community; and, therefore, to talk of their being indestructible, +was sheer nonsense. No man had a natural right to say, I will be a +citizen of this or that State; and in point of fact, the great bulk of +mankind were not citizens at all, but merely subjects. There were laws +establishing the present form of government, giving a certain power +to the king and to the Parliament, and regulating the mode in which +Parliament was to be elected. These laws were altogether conventional; +and as well might a man claim a natural right to be a king or a judge +as to be a citizen. It might be as truly said that one is inherently a +shark because he was born at sea, or a horse because he happened to +have been born in a stable. So far is the theory of abolition from the +truth; and so widely remote is their hatred to colonization, from +being based in justice, or reason, that circumstances may occur in +which it shall become imperative duty for men to emigrate. America +presented a striking example of the truth of this. In this country it +was customary to talk of America as a daughter of England. He had +heard people talk as if America were about as large as one English +shire, and settled principally from their own villages. But the fact +was that America was an epitome of the whole world, peopled by +colonies from almost all parts of it. It was an eclectic nation; and +to talk to Americans, of the inherent right of a man to stay and be +oppressed, where he happened to be born--or the guilt of seducing him +to emigrate, is only to expose one's self to pity or scorn. To realize +this, it is only necessary to take a map of our wide empire, washed by +both oceans, and embracing all the climates of the earth, and get some +American boy to tell you the migrations of his ancestors. To omit all +mention of the red man, from Asia, and the poor black man, from +Africa; there, he will say in New-England, are the children of the +pilgrims, who were the fathers of your own Roundheads, driven out by +the mean and vexatious tyranny of James I.; and there, in lower +Virginia, three hundred leagues off, are the descendants of the +Cavaliers and Malignants. There, in the back parts of the same ancient +commonwealth, and in all western Pennsylvania, are the sturdy Scotch, +whose fathers were hanged in the streets of your cities, by that +perjured Charles II., who thus rewarded the loyalty that gave him back +his crown. In the same key State, of the Union is a nation of +industrious Germans; while in the empire state of New-York, are the +children of those glorious United Provinces, that disputed with +yourselves for ages, the empire of the seas; and between them both in +New-Jersey the descendants of those ancient Danes who often ravaged +your own coasts. The descendants of the Hugonauts, whose ancestors +Louis XIV. expelled from France, and placed cordons on his frontiers +to butcher as they went out, simply because they were Protestants, +peopling parts of the south; in other parts of which, are colonies of +Swiss, of Spaniards, and of Catholic French. The Irishmen is +everywhere; and everywhere better treated than at home. Amongst such a +people, it must needs be an instinctive sentiment, that he who loves +country more than liberty, is unworthy to have either; that he who +inculcates or affects the love of place above the possession of +precious privileges, must have a sinister object. But he might proceed +much farther; and having shown that it might be the duty of men to +emigrate under various circumstances, prove that such a duty never was +more imperative than on the free colored population of America. +Possessing few motives to remain in America that were not base or +insignificant compared with those that ought to urge their return, +every attempt to explain and defend their conduct revealed a +selfishness on their part a thousand times greater than that they +charge upon the whites; and a cruelty on the part of their advisers +towards the dying millions of heathen in Africa, more atrocious than +that charged, even by them, on the master against his slave. The love +of country, of kindred, of liberty, of the souls of men, and of God +himself, impels them to depart, and do a work which none but they can +do; and which they forego through the love of ease, the lack of +energy, vanity gratified by the caresses of abolitionists, and +deadness to the great motives detailed above. But there was another, +and most obvious truth, which shows the utter futility of the +principle of abolition now contested. So far was the fact from being +so, that anybody, black or white, held an inherent right of +citizenship in the place of his birth; that it is most certain, no man +had even a right of bare residence, which the state might not justly +and properly deprive him of--upon sufficient reason. The state has the +indisputable right to coerce emigration, whenever the public good +required it; and when that public good coincided with the interest of +the emigrating party--and that also of the land to which they went--to +coerce such emigration might become a most sacred duty. It was indeed +true, that the friends of colonization had not contemplated nor +proposed any other than a purely voluntary emigration; for even the +traduced State of Maryland not only made the fact of removal +voluntary, but, going a step further than any other, gave a choice of +place to the emigrant. I recommend Africa, says she, but I will aid +you to go wherever you prefer to go. It should, however, be borne in +mind that this power is inherent in all communities, and has been +exercised in all time. And it were well for the advocates of abolition +principles to remember that the final, and, if necessary, forcible +separation of the parties is surely preferable to the annihilation, or +the eternal slavery of either; while it is infinitely more probable +than the instant emancipation--the universal levelling--or the general +mixture for which they contend. He had still left a _third principle_ +advanced by the abolitionists on which to comment, but as only two or +three minutes of his allotted time remained, he would not enter on the +subject; but would read, for the information of the audience a speech +delivered by Mr. Thompson at Andover, in Massachusetts, the seat of +one of our largest theological seminaries, as reported by a student +who was present. He wished this speech to be put on record for the +information of the British public. + + Students--I shall first speak of the natural and inalienable + rights to discuss slavery. It is not a question; you ought to + do it; you sin against God and conscience, and are traitors + to human nature and truth, if you neglect it. Whoever + attempts to stop you from the exercise of this right, + snatches the trident from the Almighty, and whoever dares to + put manacles upon mind must answer for it to the bar of God. + It belongs to God, and to God exclusively. You are not at + liberty to give respect to any entreaty or suggestion or to + take into consideration the feelings of any man or body of + men on the subject. The wicked spirit of expediency is the + spirit of hell, the infamous doctrines of the demons of hell; + and whoever attempts to preach it to the rising youth of the + land, preaches the doctrine of the damned spirits. It is the + spirit of the flame and faggot, revealing itself as it dares, + and corrupting the atmosphere so as to prevent the free + breathing of a free soul. Where are the students of the Lane + seminary? Where they ought to be;--from Georgia to Maine, and + from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains--far from a + prison-house where fetters are forged and rivetted. They + could not stay in a place where a thermometer was hung up to + graduate the state of their feelings. It was not till Dr. + Beecher consulted the faculty at New-Haven and Andover, to + see if they would sustain him, that he ventured to put the + screws on. But, perhaps you may say, we must bid farewell to + promotion if we do as you desire. The faculty have the power, + in a degree, to fix our future settlements by the + recommendation, and, therefore, we must desist. What if you + do have to leave the seminary? Far better to be away than to + breathe the tainted air of tyranny. I proclaim it here, that + the only reason why abolition is not countenanced at Andover + is, because it is unpopular; when it is popular it will be + received. In 1823, the Colonization Society was the pet child + of the churches, the seminaries, and the colleges of the + land; but now, forsooth, because it is unpopular, it is cast + off. Aye, once the eloquent tongues voiced its praise, and + the gold and silver were its tributaries--where is it now? + Cast off because it is not popular. This is rather hard; in + its old age, too. But I forbear, it is a touching theme. I + return to the Lane seminary. Never were nobler spirits and + finer minds congregated together; never in all time and place + a more heroic and generous band. Dr. Beecher himself has + pronounced the eulogy. In what condition is the seminary now. + Lying in ruins, irretrievably gone! Dr. Beecher then + sacrificed honor and reputation. + + Mr. Thompson read extracts from an article in the Liberator, + which went to show that the faculty at Andover advised the + students to be uncommitted on the dividing topic of slavery. + Yes, added Mr. Thompson, go out uncommitted; wait till you + get into a pulpit and have it cushioned and a settee in it, + and then you may commit yourself. The speaker observed that + very ill effects had resulted from the failure of the + students at Andover to form themselves into an Anti-Slavery + Society--the evil example had extended to Philip's Academy, + Amherst College, &c. He had been twitted about it wherever he + had been, but you may recover yourselves, he added, + condescendingly; there is some apology for you, only let a + Society be formed instantly. Those who attempted to show from + the Bible that slavery was justifiable, were paving the + slave-holders' paths to hell with texts of Scripture. Mr. + Thompson enlarged upon the merits of the refractory students + at Lane Seminary, with a most abundant supply of adjectives; + and the mean-spirited students of Andover, although not + expressly designated as such, were understood by the manner + of expression to be placed in contrast. Mr. Thompson remarked + that such conduct would not be tolerated by the students of + any college in England, Scotland, or Ireland. This abuse, of + the faculty at Andover was more personal and pointed than I + have described; one of the faculty was called by name, but + the severe expressions I have forgotten. He would probably + have outrun himself, and exhausted the vocabulary of + opprobrious epithets, had he not been interrupted. At the + conclusion of the lecture, with the strange inconsistency + which belongs to the man, he remarked that he had a high + respect for the members of the faculty, and that he would + willingly sit at their feet as a learner. + +He had only one remark before he sat down. It had been publicly +stated by a student of this seminary, that Mr. Thompson, in a +conversation with him, had said, that _every slave-holder deserved to +have his throat cut_, and that his slaves ought to do it. He could +not, of course, vouch for the truth of this; but Mr. Thompson was +there to explain. One thing, however, he could state as an +indisputable fact, namely, that the professors of the seminaries had +signed a document in which it was asserted that the young man had been +in the college for three years, and that his veracity was unimpeached +and unimpeachable. If the story were true--it was well that it was +timely made public. If the young man misunderstood Mr. Thompson, he +(Mr. B.) believed he formed one of a very large class in America, who +had fallen into similar mistakes, and drawn similar conclusions from +the general drift of his doings and sayings in that country. + + * * * * * + +Mr. THOMPSON, on rising, observed that no one could be more ready than +himself to commend the gentleman who had just resumed his seat for the +courage which he had shewn in dealing so frankly and faithfully with +him, (Mr. T.) in the presence of those to whom he (Mr. B.) was +comparatively a stranger, and whose favorable opinion he (Mr. T.) had +had many opportunities of conciliating. He rejoiced that his opponent +had, towards the end of his speech, attempted to state facts and +specify charges, and had thus afforded him an opportunity of showing +how completely and triumphantly he could meet the charges brought +against himself personally, and support the statements he had made in +reference to America. He would commence with the Andover story about +cutting throats. The truth of the matter was this. A student in the +Theological Seminary of the name of A. F. Kaufman, Jr., charged him, +George Thompson, with having said, in a private conversation, that +every slave-holder ought to have his throat cut, and that if the +abolitionists preached what they ought to preach, they would tell +every slave to cut his master's throat. Mr. Kaufman was from Virginia, +the son of a slave-holder, and heir to slave property. The story was +first circulated in Andover, and was afterwards published in the +New-York Commercial Advertiser, in a communication dated from the +Saratoga Springs. In reply to the printed version, I (said Mr. T.) +printed a letter denying the charge in the most solemn manner, and +referring to my numerous public addresses, and innumerable private +conversations, in proof of the perfectly pacific character of my +views. Then came forth a long statement from Mr. Kaufman, with a +certificate to his veracity and general good character, signed by +professors Woods, Stuart, and Emerson, of Andover. Here the matter +must have rested--Mr. Kaufman's charge on one side, and my denial on +the other--had the conversation been strictly private; but, +fortunately for me, there were witnesses of every word; and this +brings me to notice other circumstances connected with the affair, +constituting a most complete contradiction of the charge. I was +staying at the time under the roof of the Rev. Shipley W. Willson, the +minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Andover, and when I had +the conversation with Mr. Kaufman, in which the language imputed to me +is alleged to have been uttered, there were present, besides +ourselves, my host the Rev. S. W. Willson; the Rev. Amos A. Phelps, +congregational clergyman, and one of the agents of the American +Anti-Slavery Society; the Rev. La Roy Sunderland Methodist Episcopal +clergyman, and at present the editor of Zion's Watchman, New-York; and +the Rev. Jarvis Gregg, now a Professor in Western Reserve College, +Ohio. In consequence of the use made of the statement put forth by Mr. +Kaufman, I wrote to Professor Gregg, and Mr. Phelps, requesting them +to give their version of the conversation in writing; and their +letters in reply, which, together with one written without +solicitation by Mr. Sunderland, have been published. They not only +flatly contradict the account given by Mr. Kaufman, but prove that I +advocated in the strongest language the doctrine of non-resistance on +the part of the slaves. These letters, however, never appeared in the +columns of the papers which brought the charge and defied me to the +proof of my innocence. + +It may be well to give some idea of the conversation out of which the +charge grew. Mr. Kaufman complained of the harsh language of the +abolitionists, and challenged me to quote a passage of scripture +justifying our conduct in that respect. I quoted the passage "Whoso +stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he +shall surely be put to death;" and observed, that in this text we had +a proof of the awful demerit of the slaveholder; that he was +considered worthy of death; and that the modern slaveholder, under the +Christian dispensation, was not less guilty than the slaveholder under +the Jewish law. I then reminded him of the political principles of the +Americans, and cited the words of the declaration of Independence, +"RESISTANCE _to tyrants is obedience to God_." I then contrasted the +injuries inflicted on the slave with the grievances complained of in +the Declaration of Independence, and argued, that, if the Americans +deemed themselves justified in resisting to blood the payment of a +threepenny tea tax and a stamp duty, how much more, upon the same +principles, would the slave be justified in cutting his masters' +throat, to obtain deliverance from personal thraldom. Nay more, that +every American, true to the principles of the revolution, ought to +teach the slaves to cut their master's throats--but that while these +were fair deductions from their own revolutionary principles, I held +the doctrine that it was invariably wrong to do evil that good might +come, and that I dared not purchase the freedom of the slaves by +consenting to the death of one master. + +He (Mr. T.) had thus disposed of one of the most tangible portions of +his opponent's speech. He regretted there had not been more of +matter-of-fact statement in the speech of one hour in length, to which +they had just listened; a speech, which, however creditable to the +intellect of his opponent on account of its ingenuity, was by no means +creditable to his heart. Instead of dealing fairly with the documents +he (Mr. T.) had produced, and which contained a true and ample +statement of the views, feelings, principles, purposes and plans of +the abolitionists, Mr. Breckinridge had manufactured a series of +dextrous sophisms, calculated to keep out of sight the real merits of +the question. Was it not strange, that, covered as that platform was +with the documents of the abolitionists, his opponent had not quoted +one word from their writings, but had based all he had said upon a +statement of their principles made out by himself; and had then given +to that statement an interpretation of his own, utterly at variance +with all the views and doctrines entertained by the abolitionists. The +gentleman had most ably played the part of Tom Thumb, who made the +giants he so valiantly demolished. He would not attempt to grapple +with that which rested altogether upon a gross misstatement of the +principles and views of the Abolitionists. He had a right to expect +that Mr. B. would go to the many sources of official information +touching the principles he professed to denounce; but instead, he had +put forth a creed, as the creed of the Abolitionists of America, which +was nowhere to be found in their writings, and he (Mr. T.) should +therefore wait until an objection had been taken to something they +(the abolitionists) had really said or done. + +Mr. Breckinridge had amused them with another Andover story. He had +read an extract from a speech said to have been delivered by him (Mr. +T.) during the protracted meeting he had held there. He would just +take the liberty of assuring the audience that he had never uttered +the speech which had that night been put into his mouth. It had been +said that the speech was reported by a student. Had Mr. B. given the +name of the student?--No. He (Mr. B.) knew that it was an anonymous +communication, written by a vile enemy of a righteous cause, who was +too much ashamed of his own productions to sign his name, but put the +initial C. at the end of his libellous productions, which were +greedily copied into the pro-slavery papers of the United States. The +reports furnished by that scribbler were known in Andover to be false, +and laughed at by the students as monstrous and ludicrous perversions +of the truth. Upon this point also, he (Mr. T.) had ample documentary +evidence. He did not wonder that Mr. Breckinridge had so frequently +twitted him respecting the multitude of documents which he (Mr. T.) +was in the habit of producing. It must be peculiarly unpleasant to +find that he (Mr. T.) had always the document at hand necessary to +annihilate the pretended proof of his opponent. He would now read from +a report of the proceedings at Andover--but a very different report +compared with that they had just heard--not an anonymous one, but +signed by a respectable and pious student in the Theological Seminary, +R. Reed, Corresponding Secretary of the Andover Anti-Slavery Society. +As reference was made, in the extract he was going to read, to a +former visit, he would just state, that about three months after his +arrival in the United States, he visited Andover, and delivered three +lectures, besides undergoing a long examination into his principles in +the College Chapel; and that on his return to Boston, where he was +then residing, he received from the Institution a series of +resolutions signed by upwards of fifty of the students, expressive of +their entire concurrence in the sentiments he had advanced, and their +high approbation of the temper in which he had advocated those +sentiments, and commending him to the blessing and protection of +Heaven. He (Mr. T.) need not say that such a testimonial from +theological students, unasked and unexpected, was peculiarly +gratifying. + +The account of his second visit in July, 1835, was thus given in a +letter addressed to the editor of the Liberator. + + "It had been previously announced that Mr. Thompson would + address us on Tuesday evening. The hour arrived, and a large + and respectable audience were convened in the expectation of + again listening to the--(Mr. Thompson here omitted some + complimentary expressions.) After the introductory prayer, + Mr. Phelps arose, and said he regretted that he was obliged + to state that Mr. Thompson had not yet arrived in town, but + he thought it probable he would soon be with us. He then + resumed the subject of American Slavery. He had, however, + uttered but a few sentences before Mr. T. came in. His + arrival was immediately announced from the desk, and the + expression of satisfaction, manifested by the audience, told, + more eloquently than words, the estimation in which they held + this beloved brother, and the pleasure they felt on again + enjoying the opportunity of listening to his appeals. Mr. + Thompson took his seat in the desk, and Mr. Phelps then + proceeded at some length. When he closed his remarks, Mr. + Thompson arose, and after some introductory remarks, + answered, in a powerful and eloquent manner, the inquiry, + 'Why don't you go to the South.' + + "The first part of the three succeeding evenings was occupied + by Mr. Phelps, in exposing the janus-faced monster, the + American Colonization Society, which he did in so masterly a + manner, that we are quite sure none of his auditors, save + those who are willfully blinded, will hereafter doubt of its + being 'a fraud upon the ignorance, and an outrage upon the + intelligence of the community.'" + + "Thursday evening Mr. Thompson vindicated himself against the + aspersions heaped upon him for denouncing Dr. Cox. I would + that all Mr. Thompson's friends had been present, and his + enemies too, for I am sure that unless encased in a shield of + prejudice more impenetrable than steel, they would have been + compelled to acknowledge that his denunciation of Dr. Cox was + just, and not such an instance of tiger-like malice as some + have represented it to be." "Friday evening (the evening to + which the extract read by Mr. Breckinridge referred) he spoke + of the 'armed neutrality' of the seminary and the course + which had been taken in the Academical Institutions of + Andover. He is accused of wantonly abusing our Professors and + Teachers--of making personal attacks upon them. No personal + attacks however were made; no man's motives were impeached. + He attacked PRINCIPLES and not MEN for while he would render + to the guardians of the seminary and academies all that + respect which their station and learning and piety demands, + he would at the same time condemn the course that had been + pursued, as having a tendency to retard the progress of + emancipation. Let the public judge as to the propriety of his + remarks. + +It would be recollected that the same question had been put to him +here in Glasgow, as that which he had answered at Andover. "Why don't +you go to the South?" He would tell his opponent on the present +occasion, that even he could not advocate abolition sentiments in the +South, purely and openly, without endangering his life. The reason he +was able to express his views on slavery and remain unmolested, was +because it was known that he denounced the abolitionists, and +advocated colonization. The experience of Mr. Birney was in point. +That gentleman hated slavery before he joined the abolitionists, and +was in the habit of speaking against it, in connection with the +colonization cause, and was permitted to do so without hindrance; but +when he emancipated his slaves, and called upon others to do likewise, +upon true anti-slavery principles, he was forced to fly from his +residence and family, and was now in the city of Cincinnati. + +It had been tauntingly Said, "show us the fruits of your principles." +"Where are the slaves you have liberated?" He would reply, that in +Kentucky, very recently, nineteen slaves had been liberated upon +anti-slavery principles:--enough to answer Mr. B's demand, "point us +to _one_ slave your Society has been the means of liberating." But the +question was not to be so tested. The abolitionists of Britain were +often called upon in the same way; and their answer was, our +principles are extending, and when they are sufficiently impressed +upon the public mind, there will be a _general_ emancipation of the +slaves. On the 31st of July, 1834, they could not point to any +actually free in consequence of their efforts; but the night came and +passed away, and the morrow dawned upon 800,000 human beings, lifted +by the power of anti-slavery principles, out of the legal condition of +chattels, into the position of free British subjects. So in the United +States. The principles of abolition would necessarily be some time +extending, but ultimately they would effect a change in public +opinion, and a corresponding change in the treatment of the black man. + +Mr. Breckinridge had disputed the truth of the fact he (Mr. T.) had +stated relative to the imprisonment and sale into bondage for life, in +the city of Washington, of a black man, justly entitled to his +freedom. He (Mr. T.) trusted that in this matter also he should be +able most satisfactorily to establish his own veracity. The evidence +he would produce to support the statement he had made, was, "A +memorial of the inhabitants of the District of Columbia, U. S., signed +by one thousand of the most respectable citizens of the District, and +presented to Congress, March 24, 1828, then referred to the Committee +on the District, and on the motion of Mr. Hubbard, of New-Hampshire, +Feb. 9, 1835, ordered to be printed." He (Mr. T.) held in his hand the +genuine document printed by Congress, "22d Congress, 2d Session, House +of Representatives, Doc. No. 140." The following was the part +containing the fact he had mentioned. + + "A colored man, who stated that he was entitled to freedom + was taken up as a runaway slave, and lodged in the jail of + Washington City. He was advertised, but no one appearing to + claim him, he was according to law, put up at public auction + for the payment of his jail fees, and SOLD as a SLAVE for + LIFE. He was purchased by a slave trader, who was not + required to give security for his remaining in the District + and he was soon shipped at Alexandria for one of the southern + States. An attempt was made by some benevolent individual to + have the sale postponed until his claim to freedom could be + investigated; but their efforts were unavailing; and thus was + a human being SOLD into PERPETUAL BONDAGE at the capital of + the freest government on earth, without even a pretence of + trial, or an allegation of crime." + +He should be glad to find that Mr. B. had a satisfactory explanation +of this most revolting case. Such things were enough to make any man +speak hardly of America. If he (Mr. T.) said severe things of that +country, it was not, Heaven knew, because he did not love that +country, for his heart's desire and prayer was, that she might soon be +free from every drawback upon her prosperity and usefulness. He told +these things because they ought to be known and branded as they +deserved, that the nation guilty of them might repent and abandon +them. _He_ was not the enemy of America that faithfully pointed out +her follies and crimes. No. He was the man that loved America, that +seeing her, like some lofty tree, spreading abroad her branches, and +furnishing at once shelter and sustenance to all who sought refuge +under her shade, observed with sorrow and dismay, a canker-worm at the +root, threatening to consume her beauty and her strength, and could +not rest day or night in his efforts to bring so great and glorious a +nation to a sense of her danger, and an apprehension of her duty. Let +others do the pleasant work of flattery and panegyric, and be it his +more ungracious, but not less salutary work, of proclaiming her +errors, and denouncing her sins, until she learns to do justice and +love mercy. + +(He (Mr. T.) thought he might with some justice complain of the manner +in which he had been treated by his opponent. He (Mr. T.) had made +every concession which truth and justice would warrant to Mr. B.; had +honored his motives, and studiously separated him from those upon whom +his heaviest censures had fallen--the lovers and abettors of the slave +system. But a similar course had not been pursued towards him. In many +ways his motives had been impeached and his statements so denied as to +throw discredit upon his intentions in making them. In a word, Mr. +B's. whole course had been wanting in that courtesy which he had a +right to expect would be exhibited by one disputant towards another. +At the same time, he earnestly desired Mr. B. to state freely all he +thought of his motives and conduct. + +A few moments yet remaining, he would say a word or two in reference +to the designs attributed to the abolitionists, in respect of the +privileges to which the colored people were entitled. He denied that +the abolitionists had ever asked for the blacks, either in regard to +political rights or social privileges, anything unreasonable. They +asked for their immediate release from personal bondage, and a +subsequent participation of civil rights; according to the amount in +which they possessed the qualifications demanded of others. Where, in +the documents of abolitionists, was the doctrine of instant and +universal enfranchisement, of which so much had been heard? He knew +not the abolitionist who had contended for such a thing. He asked +nothing for him over and above what would be freely bestowed on him if +he were white. Oh! it was an awful crime to have a black skin! There +lay all the disqualification. + +The great fault which Mr. B. seemed to find with the principles of the +abolitionists was that they were too lofty; too grand; too little +accommodated to the spirit of the age; that, in the adoption of their +views and principles, they had not consulted the manners and habits +and prejudices of their country; and the whole of his (Mr. +Breckinridge's) argument had been in favor of expediency. He hated +that word "expediency," as ordinarily used. It contained, as he had +often said, the doctrine of devils. It was so congenial with our +depraved nature to make ourselves a little wiser than God--to believe +that we understood better than God's servants of old the best way of +reforming mankind. Oh! that men would take the Almighty at his word, +and simply doing their duty, leaving him to take care of consequences. +Doubtless, the dauntless Hebrew, Daniel, was deemed, in his day, a +rash man. He might so very easily have escaped the snare laid for him. +Why did he not go to the back of the house? Why not shut the window? +Why could he not pray silently to the searcher of hearts? Daniel +scorned compromise. He prayed as he had ever prayed--aloud--with his +window open, and his face to Jerusalem. He boldly met the +consequences. He walked to the lion's den--he entered, he remained: +but lo! on the third day he came forth unhurt, to tell mankind to the +end of time that, if they will do their duty and trust in Daniel's +God, no weapon formed against them shall prosper, but they shall in +His strength stop the mouths of lions, and put to flight the armies of +the aliens. + + * * * * * + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE said that, so far as the present respectable audience +was concerned, he would make but a single remark. Mr. Thompson and he +had already trespassed on their patience, but they would probably do +so no longer than to-morrow night; at least so far as he was +concerned, he thought it unnecessary, if not improper. The chief +reason of his (Mr. B's.) coming here was to defend the churches, +ministers and Christians of America, from the false and dreadful +charges which had been proclaimed over Britain against them by Mr. +Thompson, and which he had challenged all the world to give him an +opportunity to prove. Upon this topic that gentleman had, as yet, +fought shy. He could wait on him no longer. They might expect, +therefore, that next evening he would take up that subject, whether +Mr. Thompson should follow him or not. If the audience considered that +the general subject had been sufficiently discussed already--as from +some manifestations he was inclined to suppose--he would at once +retire. (Slight hissing.) Was he to consider that as an answer in the +affirmative? (Renewed hissing.) Why, then, he had erred in laying any +of the blame of trying their patience on Mr. Thompson, and it was his +duty to take it all to himself; and, when he returned home, to tell +his countrymen that no charges were too gross or caluminous to be +entertained against them--nor any length of time, a weariness in +hearing them--but that the hearing of defence and proof of innocence +was an insupportable weariness. (Increased hissing, with cries of +'no'.) The only remaining supposition was, that Mr. T's. partizans had +become convinced he needed succor, and therefore gave it most +naturally in the form of organized violence. (The hissing was again +attempted, but was put down by the general voice of the meeting.) Mr. +T., he said, had at length brought accusations against him, and had +complained that although he (Mr. T.) had repeatedly and cordially +expressed good feelings towards him, (Mr. B.) he had in no instance +returned this kindness or justice; nor said a word favorable to him +throughout the debate. He would appeal to the Chairman, to know +distinctly, if Mr. Thompson had any right to demand, or if he (Mr. B.) +were bound to express his opinion of that individual. Because, +continued Mr. B., as I have in the beginning said that Mr. T. as an +individual could be nothing to me or my countrymen, I have preferred +to be silent as to him individually. If he is right, however, in +bringing such things as charges against me, and continues to demand +my opinion, I will give it fearlessly. But let him beware--for I will +call no man friend who gains his bread by calumniating my country. Nor +can he who traduces my bretheren--my kindred--my home--all that I most +venerate and revere--honor me so much as by traducing me. They had +been told that Mr. J. G. Birney had fled from Kentucky, and left his +wife and children behind him in great danger, he being obliged to flee +for his life. It was true, he believed, that Mr. Birney, excellent and +beloved as he was, had found it best to emigrate from that State. But +that he had _fled_, rested, he believed, on Mr. T's. naked assertion. +That he had left his wife and children behind, believing them to be in +personal danger, was a thing which it would require amazingly clear +proof to establish against the gentleman in question. But he would +show to the meeting that there was one individual who could do such an +act. (Mr. B. then read the following extract from a speech, delivered +at a meeting in Edinburgh, on the 28th of January, 1836:) + + "He stood there not to defame America. It was true they had + persecuted him; but that was a small matter. It was true they + had hunted him like a partridge on the mountains; that he had + to lecture with the assassin's knife glancing before his + eyes; AND HIS WIFE AND HIS LITTLE ONES WERE IN DANGER OF + FALLING BY THE RUTHLESS HANDS OF MURDERERS." + +And again, from the preface to the same pamphlet in which the above +cited speech is found, a pamphlet intended perhaps for America, and +called, "A Voice to her from the Metropolis of Scotland," the +following paragraph occurs:---- + + "Mr. Thompson having proceeded by way of St. John's, New + Brunswick, embarked on board of a British vessel for + Liverpool, where he arrived on the 4th of January, and on the + 12th was happily joined by his family who had left New-York + on the 16th December. + +So that it appeared from these statements that Mr. Thompson, believing +that the Americans meant to take away the lives of his wife and +children, left them to their fate while he prudently consulted his own +safety by flight. In regard to the alleged case of the sale of a free +man of color, at Washington city, the proof stood thus: Mr. T. broadly +asserted, again and again, that a free man had been sold, without +trial, into eternal slavery. He, (Mr. B.) without knowing the especial +facts relied on, but knowing America, and knowing abolitionism, had +flatly and emphatically denied that such a thing ever did or could +happen in the District of Columbia. Mr. Thompson re-asserts, and +triumphantly proves it, as he says. His first step in the proof is, a +printed scrap, which, he says, is the identical memorial laid on the +table of the Senate of the United States, who, as they received and +printed it, he insinuates, thereby avouched its truth. Upon which +principle I also avouch all Mr. T.'s charges, as I hear them and +consent to their publication. But, he adds, there were once one +thousand signatures to this document, all witnesses of the truth of +its contents. To which I reply--I see no name to it at all now; and +secondly, if there were a million, the paper does not assert, much +less prove, what Mr. T. produces it to sustain. It merely declares +_that the man said he was free_; without even expressing the opinion +of the writer or any signer of the paper. Now, upon this case, and +this proof, it is nearly certain that the man was not free, and +extremely probable that the whole case is fictitious. For the glorious +writ of habeas corpus, one of the main pillars of your liberty--a +privileged writ which no English judge, for his right hand, would dare +illegally refuse; that writ is one of the great heirlooms we got with +our Anglo-Saxon blood, and is dearer to us than that blood itself. +Here, by act of Parliament, you do sometimes suspend this writ; with +us the tyrant does not breathe who would dare to whisper a wish for +its suspension. Now, if this man was, or believed himself to be free, +what hindered him, from the moment of his arrest to that of his sale, +from demanding and receiving a fair trial? Will it be said he did not +know his rights? But will it be pretended that the one thousand +signers of the memorial, the many abolitionists at Washington of whom +Mr. T. boasts, did not know his rights--in a land where every man +knows and is ready to defend his rights? If they did not, they were +thrice sodden asses, fit only to be tools in gulling mankind into the +belief of a tale that had not feasibility enough to gull a child. Upon +the face of his own proof Mr. Thompson had shown that he had not the +slightest authority for the assertions he had so often made in arguing +this case; by all of which he intended to make men believe that in +America it was not uncommon to sell free men into slavery! Mr. +Breckinridge then resumed the consideration of abolition principles; +the _third of which_ was, that all prejudice against color is sinful, +and that everything which induces us to refuse any social, personal, +religious, civil, or political right to a black man, which is allowed +to a white one, not superior to him in moral or intellectual +qualifications, is a prejudice, and therefore sinful. He believed this +to be a fair statement of their principles on that head. And he would, +in the first place, remark concerning them, that even if they were +true, which he denied, the discussion of them was worse than useless. +It could not advance the cause of emancipation, nor improve the +condition of the free blacks. And whatever the abolitionists might +say, the slaves when freed would follow their own course and +inclinations; nor could the declaration of an abstract principle alter +either their conduct or that of the whites, in any material degree. +If, as Mr. Thompson asserted, prejudice against color was the +national sin of America, the plague-spot of the nation, it had just as +often been asserted by others that the prejudice itself originated at +first out of the relation of slavery. The latter was the disease, the +former a mere symptom. If there were no black slaves on earth there +would no longer be any aversion against that color, which went beyond +the invariable and mutual restraints of nature, or was tolerated by a +proper Christian liberty. They know little of human prejudices who do +not know that they are more invincible in the bulk of mankind than the +dictates of reason, or the impulses of virtue itself. The case of the +abolitionists must therefore be pronounced foolish on their own +showing. For they undertook to break down the strongest of all +prejudices, as they themselves say, as a condition precedent to the +doing of acts which, to do at all, required great pecuniary sacrifices +and a high tone of moral feeling. But if, as I shall try to show, +their doctrines are contrary to all the course of nature and all the +teachings of Providence--their behavior is to be considered little +else than sheer madness. Again: even if it did not prejudice the case +of the slave--as none can deny it did--to agitate this question of +color, and mix it up inseparably with the question of freedom, of what +use was it to him? If the whites treat him with scorn, give him his +liberty--and he may pity, forgive, or return the scorn. What advantage +was he to gain as a slave, by the discussion, even if no harm came +from it? What advantage was he to obtain as a freeman even if its +agitation did not forever prevent him from being free? It is, in all +its aspects, the most remarkable illustration of a weak, heady, and +ignorant fanaticism which this age has produced, and has been, of them +all, the most fruitful of evil. The truth was, that many of the rights +and privileges of free persons of color were better secured to them in +America than corresponding rights and privileges were to the white +peasantry of any other country on the globe. With regard to the +religious rights of colored persons, he could only say that he had sat +in Presbyteries with them, that he had dispensed the Sacrament to them +together with white persons; and that he and multitudes of others had +sat in the same class with them at our Theological Seminaries. As for +all the stories which Mr. T. was accustomed to tell about Dr. Sprague +having part of his church curtained round for persons of color, he +knew personally nothing, and noticed it only because it was told as a +_specimen_ story. He merely knew that Dr. Sprague was accounted a +benevolent man, and common charity required him not readily to believe +anything of him in a bad sense which could be justified in a good one. +But if there was anything so very exclusive and revolting in these +marks of superiority or inferiority in a church, let them not look to +America alone; nor limit their sympathies exclusively to the blacks. +In almost every church in England in which he had been, from the +cathedral of St. Paul's at London, to the curate's village church, he +had seen seats railed off, or curtained, or cushioned, or elevated, +and some how distinguished from the rest. And when he inquired why +these things were so, and for whose accommodation, the answer was +ready. "O, that is for My Lord this; or Sir Harry that; or Mr. Prebend +so and so; or the Lord Bishop of what not." And very often, even in +dissenting chapels, he had seen part of the seats of an inferior +description in particular parts of the house, which he had as often +been told were free seats for the poor; an arrangement which has +struck him as favorably as the similar one in Dr. Sprague's church did +Mr. T. the reverse. This preparation of free and separate seats for +the poor is, if he is rightly informed, nearly universal, in both the +Scotch and English establishments, whenever the poor have seats in +their churches. Now, if Mr. Thompson wished to begin a system of +levelling--if he meant to preach universal equality, why did he not +begin here? Why did he not try to convert Earl Grey and Lord +Melbourne, instead of going across the Atlantic in order to try his +experiments on the despised Americans? As to the civil rights of the +free blacks in America, the most erroneous notions were entertained in +both countries, but especially here. The truth was, they enjoyed +greater _civil_ rights than the peasantry of Britain herself; and +those rights were fully as well protected in their exercise. Their +right to acquire property of any kind, anywhere, without being hedged +about with exclusive privileges and ancient corporations; their right +to enjoy that property, unencumbered with poor rates, and church +rates, and tithes and tiends, and untold taxes and vexations; their +right to pursue trades, callings, or business, without regard to +monopolies, and innumerable vexatious and worrying preliminaries; +their right to be free in person--subject neither to forcible +impressment, nor to the serveilance of an innumerable police: their +right to be cared for in sickness and destitution, without questions +of domicile previously settled; their right to the speedy and cheap +administration of justice without "sale, denial or delay"--and +unattended with ruinous expenses; these, with whatever may truly be +considered civil rights, are enjoyed by the free colored people in +nearly every part of America, to a degree utterly unknown by millions +of British subjects, not only in the East and West-Indies, but in +Ireland, and even in England itself. If any rights had been denied +them, as the following of certain professions, as that of a minister +of the gospel, for example, as Virginia had lately done, he could +point their attention to the time when these laws were passed, and +show that it was not till after the era of abolition; and that would +never have been, but for its fury. It was not till after they had +learned with bell book and candle to curse the white man, and teach +sedition and murder to the slaves. The nature of _political_ rights +claimed by Mr. Thompson for the blacks, in his sweeping claim to have +them put on a footing of perfect equality with the whites, seemed to +be utterly unknown to him, both as to their origin and character. +Whilst he advocated a scheme in America which demanded the most +extensive political changes, and claimed political rights as the +birthright of certain parties, he still persisted in assuring the +British nation that he had never touched the subject in a political +aspect! Now what political rights does he claim for the free +blacks--and denounce all America for refusing, on account of this +prejudice against color? Is it right of suffrage? is it right of +office? is it perfect, personal, and political equality? If not, what +does he mean? But if he means that it already exists in all the free +States and in several of the slave States, in behalf of the free +blacks, to a far greater extent than the same exists in England, as +between the privileged classes and the bulk of the nation, though all +are white,--I boldly assert, that a greater part of the free men of +color in America did enjoy perfect political privileges at the rise of +abolitionism, than of the white men of Britain at this day. There were +more free black voters in North America, in proportion to the free +black race, than there are white voters in all Britain, in proportion +to the white inhabitants of the British empire. And this, even leaving +out the red millions of the East, and the black thousands of the +West-Indies; and making the Reform Bill the basis of calculation! If +some have been deprived of these privileges, let abolitionists blame +themselves. If in most places these privileges have been dormant, it +only proves that their exercise was a very secondary advantage--that +the present outcry is but the more wicked and absurd. As to the social +rights which were demanded for the slaves and free blacks both, there +seemed to be a complete confusion of ideas in the minds of the +abolitionists. Did they mean to say that all distinctions and +gradations of rank were iniquitous, or did they mean that men ought to +enjoy rights because they were black, which were justly denied to the +whites? Who had ever heard of a nobleman marrying a gipsy? or, of a +king of England marrying a laborer's daughter? But the fact was, +everything tended to prove that in preaching against the alleged +prejudice against color, the abolitionists were really advocating +general amalgamation. There were three opinions on the the subject: +1st. That in a State situated like most of those in America, public +policy required the mixture of the races to be prohibited; so that, in +nearly all the States, intermarriages were prohibited, and in many +States they were punishable as a felony with fine or imprisonment. +2d. That the practice was inexpedient, but so far innocent as to be +left to the discretion of the parties, which he believed was the +opinion of sober-minded people generally in this country. 3d. That, as +the chief practical objection to it is a sinful prejudice against +color, that prejudice is to be broken down, and the contrary right +upheld, as neither improper nor inexpedient, when voluntarily +exercised. This last, or even a much stronger advocacy of +amalgamation, is the doctrine of abolitionism; facts deducible from +their declaration of independence, and found in the whole scope of +their writings and speeches. Mr. Breckinridge then went on to show the +utter folly, and, as he believed, wickedness of advocating +amalgamation; or so acting or talking as to create the universal +impression that was what was meant. In the first place, the result +after which the abolitionists seemed to strive, was impossible; in the +most strict sense of the terms, naturally or physically impossible. He +by no means meant to contend with some freethinkers, who, to upset the +Mosaic cosmogony, asserted that the different races of men were not +fruitful if intermixed beyond a given and very near point. But what he +meant was this: all who believe the Mosaic account of the origin of +the human race, must, of course, believe that they were once all of +one complexion. Now, if they could all be amalgamated and made of one +complexion again, those causes, whatever they are, which have produced +so great diversities, would, after a time, reproduce them. And having +gratified Mr. Thompson and his friends, by universal levelling and +mixing the world, would soon find that they had done a work which +nature did not permit to stand; and would again behold, in one belt +upon the earth's surface, the black, in another the red, and in a +third the white man. And to whatever degree they carried their +principles into practice, they would find proportionately great +counteracting causes--continually fighting against them, and +continually requiring the reproduction of their amalgamated breed, +from the original stocks. This, then, is a fatal objection to their +scheme; the course of nature is against it. But again, he would say, +as a second fundamental objection against all such schemes, that +wherever, in the past history of the world, the various races of men +had been allowed freely to amalgamate, one of two concomitants had +universally attended the process, namely, polygamy or prostitution. If +either of these be permitted, as innocent, amalgamation can easily be +pushed through its first stage; without one at least of these two +engines, no progress has ever yet been made in this work of fighting +against the overwhelming course of events. He regretted he had not +time to go over these branches of the argument with that pains which +he could wish. If he had, he believed, notwithstanding all that Mr. +Thompson had said, or might say, about sophistry, they could each of +them be demonstrated as clearly as that gentleman could demonstrate +any proposition in geometry. Again, in the third place, he believed, +from what was contained in the Bible, that in preserving distinct from +each other the three families of mankind, as descended from the three +sons of Noah, God had great and yet undeveloped purposes to +accomplish. How far the whole history of his providence led to the +same conclusion, he must leave to their own reflections to determine. +But on the admission of such a truth as even possible--it was surely +natural to look for something in the structure of nature that would +effectually prevent the obliteration of either race. One may find this +in those general considerations which make intermarriages, in his +view, inexpedient; or another in the innate and absolute instincts of +the creature. But both will receive with suspicion, as an undoubted +and fundamental rule of Christian morals, a dogma which requires us to +contend against the clear leadings of providence, and the good and +merciful intentions of our Creator. We tax our faith but slightly when +we believe that as soon as these purposes of mercy and glory are +accomplished, and the signal revolution in the social condition of man +now contended for shall be required by the Almighty, we may look for a +channel of communication between him and the world more in accordance +with the Spirit of his Son than any which has yet brought us messages +on the subject. The _fourth_ objection which struck him against this +whole procedure was, that in point of fact the world has need of +every race that now exists on its surface. It has taken forty +centuries to adjust the nicely-balanced and adapted relations and +proportions of a vast and complicated structure,--which the finger of +all-pervading wisdom has itself guided in all the steps of its +development. And now, a stroke of the pen is to subvert it all, and +one dictum, of the world knows not whom, accomplish the most +stupendous revolution which all these forty centuries have witnessed. +Suppose the end gained. If any one race now existing was obliterated, +or very materially altered in its physical condition, how large a +proportion of the world's surface would become speedily depopulated, +and so remain until the present condition of things were restored! If +this could happen as to every race _but one_, what a wreck would the +earth exhibit! He who will look with a Christian's eye abroad upon the +families of men, must feel that to accomplish the great hopes that his +heart has conceived for this ruined world, he needs every race that +now peoples it; and must see the hand of God in arresting so speedily +and so signally this pernicious heresy. In the fifth place, he +suggested an argument against amalgamation, which at once showed +the injustice of the outcry against America, and the total +inconsiderateness of Mr. Thompson and his party. The fact was that +this prejudice of color, as it was called, was in all respects mutual; +and so far from being the peculiar sin of America, was the common +instinct of the human race, and existed as really, if not as strongly +on the side of the colored population as on that of the whites. In +proof of this, Mr. Breckinridge cited the case of Hayti, where no man +is allowed the rights of citizenship, unless a certain portion of +black blood runs in his veins; and that of Richard Lander, who, while +travelling in the interior of Africa, as the servant of Park, was +looked upon with comparative favor by the natives on account of his +dark complexion, while his master, who was of a very fair complexion, +was far less a favorite on that account. The North American Indians +and the blacks more readily intermixed than the Indians and the +whites, while the latter connexion, which is not indeed uncommon, is +formed by the marriage of a white man with a squaw; never, or most +rarely, of an Indian and a white woman, the slight, and most +exaggerated number of mulattoes, are nearly without exception, the +offspring of white men and colored women. These facts seemed to show +the reality and nature or the mutual aversion of which I have spoken; +an aversion never overcome but in gross minds. And the whole current +of remark proves that those who attempted to promote amalgamation are +fighting equally against the purposes of providence, the convictions +of reason, and the best impulses of nature. He had much to say, which +time failed him to say, on the spirit in which the abolition had been +advocated in America. He would therefore merely remark whether it +might be taken as a compliment, or the reverse, that the spirit of all +Mr. Thomson's speeches, which he had heard or read--might give them a +tolerable idea of the spirit of abolitionism everywhere: a spirit +which many seemed to consider as from above, but for himself he prayed +to be preserved from any such spirit. He had much also to say upon the +malignant feeling and spirit of insubordination which had been +produced by the discussion of these questions in the breasts of +multitudes of free colored people. The riots, of which so much had +been said in this country, were as often produced by the imprudence +and insolence of these deluded people, as by the wanton violence and +prejudices of the lowest classes of the whites. In consequence of the +influence of the Jacobinical principles of the abolitionists, many +free colored servants left employments they had held for years; +because the claim then first set up, of perfect domestic equality with +their masters, was refused; while many cases of insult to females, in +the streets of our cities, signalized the same season and spirit. He +had also much to say of the wide-spread feeling, looking towards +immediate deliverance, from a distance, and by force, which suddenly, +and, if the abolitionists are innocent as they pretend, miraculously +got possession of the minds of the slaves over all the southern +country; and which led to such stern, and but the more unhappy, if +necessary, consequences. It had been said, in justification of his +conduct by Mr. Thompson, that persuasion had never yet induced any one +to relax his hold on slaves--and that as for America, in particular, +she would never be made to feel ought on the subject, till her pride +and fears were awakened. To that he would reply that, as regarded +pride, perhaps America had her share of it; but if abolition was not +to be looked for till her fears granted it, he apprehended they would +have sufficient time yet left to send Mr. Thompson on several new +voyages before the whole country was frightened into his terms. + + + + +FIFTH NIGHT--FRIDAY, JUNE 17. + + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said that the order of the exercises of this evening +had, without the fault of any one, placed him in a position which was +not the most natural. Considering that it was his duty to support the +negative of the point for this evening's discussion, it would have +been most natural had the affirmation been first brought out. He said +this arrangement was not the fault of any one, because it was not +known that the point would fall to be discussed on this particular +evening; for had it fallen on last night or to-morrow night, the order +would have been as it ought to be. His position was, however, made +somewhat better by the fact, that nothing that Mr. Thompson could say +this evening, in an hour or two, could alter the assertions which he +had already repeatedly made and published in Britain. Since the notice +of this discussion had been published, he had, through the providence +of God, been put in possession of six or seven papers and pamphlets +containing the substance of what had been said by Mr. Thompson +throughout the country, and reiterated by associated bodies of his +friends under his eye. After reading these carefully, he found himself +pretty fully possessed of that individual's charges and testimony +against the ministers, private Christians, and churches of America; he +would, therefore, take them as he found them in those publications, +while Mr. Thompson's presence would enable him to explain, correct, or +deny anything that might be erroneously stated. The first thing he +should attempt to do, was to impeach the competency of Mr. Thompson as +a witness in this or any similar case. Mr. Thompson had shown that he +was utterly incompetent, wisely to gather and faithfully to report +testimony on any subject involving great and complicated principles. +He did not wish to say anything personally offensive to Mr. Thompson; +but he must be plain, and he would first produce proof of what he +said, which was as it regarded this whole nation perfectly _ad +hominem_. He would show the audience what Mr. Thompson had said of +them, and then they would better judge what was his competency to be a +witness against the Americans. At a meeting in the Hopeton Rooms at +Edinburgh, since his return from the United States, Mr. Thompson said: + + We were really under a worse bondage than the slaves of the + United States. We kissed our chains and hugged our fetters. + We were governed by our drunken appetite. + + The lecturer, in the concluding portion of his address, + depicted in a tone of high moral feeling, the degraded + condition of Great Britain as a nation, in consequence of her + extreme drunkenness. He shewed that habits of intemperance, + or feelings and prejudices generated by intemperance, + pervaded every class, from the highest to the lowest, the + richest to the poorest. Statesmen bowed upon the altar of + expediency; and, above all, the sanctuary was not clean. As a + Christian nation, we were paralized in our efforts to + evangelize the world--partly by the millions upon millions + actually expended upon ardent spirits--partly by the selfish + and demoralizing feelings which this sensual indulgence in + particular was known to produce. How could we, as a nation, + upbraid America with her system of slavery when we ourselves + were but glorying in a voluntary slavery of a thousand times + more defiling and abominable description? In our own country, + it might be said that there was, as it were, a conspiracy + against the bodies and souls of her people. + +Now in any Court of Justice, he would take his stand upon the fact +that the man who made that speech must be a _monomaniac_, and he +believed no competent tribunal, after hearing it, would receive his +testimony as to the character or conduct of any nation on the face of +the earth. Or if there lingered a doubt on the subject, he should show +from the burden of his charges against America, that he spoke in the +same general spirit, and nearly in the very same terms of her as of +Britain, although the fault found with each country was totally +different. He spoke of each as the very worst nation on the earth, +because of the special crime charged. Any man who could allow himself +to say that the two most enlightened nations on earth were in +substance the two most degraded nations on earth; who could permit +himself to bring such _railing accusations_ successively against two +great people, on account of the sins of a small portion of each, which +he had looked at till he could see nothing else, and with the +perseverance of a goldleaf-beater, exercised his ingenuity in +stretching out to the utmost limits over each community; a man who not +only can see little to love anywhere that does not derive its +complexion from himself, and who, the moment he finds a blot on his +brethren, or his country, instead of walking backwards and hiding it +with the filial piety of the elder sons of Noah, mocks over it with +the rude and unfeeling bitterness of Canaan; such a man is worthily +impeached, as incompetent to testify. Nay, I put the issue where Mr. +Thompson has put it. If this nation be such as he has described it to +be, I demand, with unanswerable emphasis, how can it dare to call us, +or any other people, to account on any subject whatever? If, on the +other hand, what he has said of this nation be false, I equally demand +how can he be credited in what he says of us--of any other nation +under the sun? After this caveat against all that such a witness could +say, he would in the first place observe, that all the accusations +brought by Mr. Thompson against Americans, were imbued with such +bitterness and intemperance as ought to awaken suspicion in the minds +of all who hear them. There was visible not only a violent national +antipathy against that whole country, but also a strong prejudice in +favor of the one side and against the other in the local parties +there, which, before any impartial tribunal, ought greatly to weaken +any credit that might otherwise be attached to his testimony. Besides +an open hostility to the nation as such, and a most envomed hatred to +certain men, parties, and principles in America, the witness has +exhibited such a wounded feeling of vanity from his want of success in +America; such a glorying of his friends, and that just in proportion +to their subserviency to him, and such a contemptuous and unmerited +depreciation of his opponents, as should put every man who reads or +hears his proofs at once on his guard. As to the opinions and +conclusions of such a person, even from admitted facts, they are of +course worthless; and his inferences from hearsay and idle reports, +worse than trash. But what I mean to say is, that such a witness, +considered strictly as testifying to what he asserts of his own +knowledge, is to be heard by a just man with very great caution. For +my own part, at the risk of being called again a pettifogger, by this +informer, I am bound to say that his conduct impeaches his credibility +fully as much as it has before been shown to affect his competency; +and while I have peculiar knowledge of the facts, sufficient to assert +that his main accusations are false, I fully believe that the case he +had himself made, did of itself justify all good men to draw the same +conclusion, merely from general principles. I will venture to go a +step farther, and express the opinion that they who are acquainted +with Mr. Thompson, as he exhibits himself in the public eye, and who +have knowledge of the past success, which really did, or which he +allows himself to believe did attend his efforts in West-India +emancipation, (a success, however, which I do not comprehend, as the +case was settled against him and his party, on the two chief points on +which they staked themselves, namely, _immediate abolition_ and _no +compensation_,) they who can call to mind the preparation and +pretension with which he set out for America, the gigantic work he had +carved for himself there, the signal defeat he met with, and the +terror in which he fled the country; may find enough to justify the +fear that the fate of George Thompson has fully as large a share in +his recollections of America as the fate of the poor slave. In the +_second place_, I charge upon Mr. Thompson that those parts of his +statements which might possibly be in part true, are so put as to +create false impressions, and have nearly the same effect as if they +were wholly false on the minds of those who read or hear them. This +results from the constant manner of stating what might possibly be +true; and it is not only calculated to produce a false impression, and +make the casual reader believe in a result different from what would +be presented if Mr. Thompson were on oath and forced to tell the whole +truth, but the uniformity and dexterity with which this is done, +leaves us astonished how it could be accidental. He (Mr. B.) assumed +that all of them had read or would read Mr. Thompson's charges. After +doing so they would the better apprehend what was now meant; but, in +the mean time, he would illustrate it by a case or two. Thus, when Mr. +T. spoke of the ministers in the United States being slave-holders, he +did it in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that this was a +general thing; that the most of them, if not the whole of them, were +slave-owners. He did not tell them that none of the ministers in +twelve whole States were or could easily be slave-holders, seeing they +were not inhabitants of a slave State; he did not tell them that the +cases of ministers owning slaves were rare even in some of the slave +States; and a fair sample of the majority in not a single State of the +Union; he left the charge indefinite, and did not condescend to tell +whether the number of ministers so accused was one half, or one third, +or one fourth, or one hundredth part of the whole number in the United +States. He left it wholly indefinite, on the broad charge that +American ministers were slave-holding ministers; knowing, perhaps +intending, that the impression taken up should be of the aggregate +mass of American ministers; when he knew himself all the while that +the overwhelming mass of American ministers had never owned a slave; +and that those who had, were exceptions from the general rule rather +than samples of the whole. It may well be asked how much less sinful +it was to rob men of their good name, than of their freedom? Not +content with even this injustice, Mr. Thompson had gone so far as to +charge the ministers of America with dealing in slaves; _slave-driving +ministers_ and _slave-dealing ministers_, were amongst his common +accusations. Now, said Mr. B., he would lay a strong constraint upon +himself, and reply to these statements as if they were not at once +atrocious and insupportable. The terms used by Mr. Thompson were +universally understood in the United States, to mean the carrying on +of a regular traffic in slaves as a business. The meaning was the same +here, and every one who had heard or read one of his printed speeches, +was ex vi termini obliged to understand this charge like the +preceding, as expressing his testimony as to the conduct of American +ministers generally, if not universally. + +Now I will admit that there may be in America, one minister in one +thousand, or perhaps five hundred, who may at some period of his +ministry, when he had no sufficient light on the subject, have bought +or sold slaves a single time, or perhaps twice, or possibly thrice. +But I solemnly declare I never knew, nor heard of, nor do I believe +there exists in all America, one such minister, as is above described; +nor any sect that would hold fellowship with him. He would throw under +the _third general head_ charges of a different kind from the +preceding. Mr. Thompson, when generalities fail, takes up some extreme +case, which might probably be founded on truth, and gives it as a +specimen of the general practice; thereby creating by false instances, +as well as by indefinite accusations, an impression which he knows to +be entirely foreign from the truth. If he, (Mr. B.) were to tell in +America that on his way to this meeting to-night, he saw two blind men +begging in the streets, with their arms locked to support their +tottering steps, while the crowd passed them idly by; and if he gave +this as a specimen of the manner in which the unfortunate poor were +treated in Scotland, he would not give a worse impression, nor make a +more unfair statement of the fact, than Mr. Thompson had done, nearly +without exception, in his statements of America. Such a spirit and +practice as this, pervaded the whole of Mr. Thompson's speeches. He +would select a few instances to enforce his meaning. There was a +single Presbyterian Church at Nashville, Tennessee. Now he, (Mr. B.) +happened, in the providence of God, to be somewhat acquainted with the +past history of that church; and was happy to call its present +benevolent minister his friend. He could consequently speak of it from +his own knowledge. Mr. Thompson said that a young man went to +Nashville, who, either through his own imprudence, or the violence of +the disjointed times, was arrested, tried by a popular committee, +found guilty of spreading seditious papers, and sentenced to be +whipped; that he had received twenty lashes, and was then discharged. +This he believed to be substantially true, and well remembered hearing +of the occurrence; and taking the young man's account of it as true, +he had been greatly shocked at it, and had now no idea of defending +it. But in Mr. Thompson's statement of the case, there was a minute +misrepresentation, which showed singular indifference to facts. Mr. T. +said the young man went to Tennessee to sell cottage bibles, in which +business he succeeded well, for the reason, adds the narrator, that +Bibles were scarce in the South; although he could not fail to know, +that before the period in question, every family in all those States +that would receive a Bible, had been furnished with one by the various +Bible Societies. This, however, was not the main reason for a +reference to this case; but was mentioned incidentally, to show the +nature of the feelings and accusations indulged in by this gentleman. +His account went on to say, sometimes that there were seven, sometimes +eleven elders of this Presbyterian Church. It was not intended to lay +any stress on the discrepancy; as the fault might be the reporter's. +But seven, or eleven; it was again and again charged, that all of +them, every one, was present, trying, and consenting to the punishment +of the unhappy young man, "plowing up his back," and mingling, perhaps +in the mob who cursed him, even for his prayers. To make the case +inexpressibly horrible, it is added, that these seven or eleven +elders, had as to part of them, distributed the sacramental elements, +to the abolitionist, the very Sabbath before, the day on which the +seven elders participated in this outrage. Now I say first, that if +this story were literally true, no man knows better than Mr. Thompson, +that no falsehood could be more glaring than to say or insinuate, that +the case would be a fair average specimen of what the leading men in +the American churches generally might be expected to do, in like +circumstances. Yet for this purpose, he has repeatedly used it! No man +could know better than he, that if the case were true in all its +parts, it would every where be accounted a violent and unprecedented +thing, which could happen at all only in most extraordinary +circumstances. Yet he has so stated it, over and over, as to force the +impression that it is a fair sample of American Christianity. But, +said Mr. B. I call in question all parts of the story, that implicate +any Christian. I do not believe the statements. Let me have proof. I +do not believe there were either seven or eleven elders in the church +in question. Record their names. If there were so many, it is next to +impossible, that every one of them, was on the comparatively small +committee that tried the abolitionist. Produce the proofs; and I +believe it will turn out, that if either of them was present, it was +to mitigate popular violence; and that his influence perhaps, saved +the life of him he is traduced for having oppressed. He did not mean +to stake his assertion against proof; but from his experience and +general knowledge of the parties, he had no hesitation in giving it as +his opinion, that the facts, when known, would not justify the +assertions of Mr. Thompson, even as to the particular case; and +believing this, I again challenge the production of his authority. +But, if it be true in all its parts, I repeat, it is every thing but +truth, to say that it affords a just specimen of the elders of the +Presbyterian Churches of America. Another case resembling the +preceding in its principle, is found in what Mr. Thompson has said of +the Baptists of the Southern States. There are, says he, above 157,000 +members in upwards of 3000 Baptist Churches, in those States, "almost +all both ministers and members being slave holders." Allowing this +statement to be true, and that each slave holder has ten slaves on an +average, which is too small for the truth, there would be an amount of +slaves equal to 1,570,000 owned by the Baptist of the Southern States. +If this be true, and the census of 1830 true also, there were only +left about 500,000 slaves to divide among all the other churches; +leaving for the remainder of the people, none at all! So that after +all this, though churches be bad, the nation is clean enough. + +Let us now make some allowance for this gentleman's extravagance, +especially as he did think he was speaking under correction, and +divide his 157,000 Baptists into 52,000 families, of three professors +of religion in each. This is more than the average for each family; +especially in a church admitting only adults; and the true number of +families, for that number of professors, would be nearer one hundred +than fifty thousand. Twenty slaves to the family is below the average +of the slave owning families of the South; so that at the lowest rate, +the Baptists in a few States, according to this person, own 1,040,000 +slaves at the least, or above half the number that our last census +gives to the whole union. The extraordinary folly of such statements, +would appear more clearly to the audience when they understood, that +as large a proportion of all the blacks, as of all the whites in +America are professors of religion; that above half of all slaves who +profess religion, are Baptists; and that, therefore, if there are +157,000 Baptists in the Southern States, instead of being "almost all +slave holders," at least a third of them are themselves slaves. He +gave these instances to show that Mr. Thompson had taken extreme cases +containing some show of truth as specimens of the whole of America, +and had thereby produced totally false impressions. What truth there +was in them, was so terrifically exaggerated, that no dependence +whatever could be placed upon any of his testimony. And this would be +still more manifest after examining the charge brought by Mr. +Thompson, that the very churches in America own slaves; and several of +his speeches contain a pretty little dialogue with some slaves in the +fields, the whole interest of which turns on their calling themselves +"_the Church's Slaves_." This was spoken of as it were in accordance +with the usual course of things in the United States. Indeed, Mr. +Thompson had not only spoken with his usual violence and generality of +the "slave holding churches of America," and declared his conviction +that "all the guilt of the system" should be laid "on the church of +America;" but at the very latest joint exhibition of himself and his +friend _Moses Roper_, in London, it was stated by the latter in one of +his usual interludes to Mr. Thompson, perhaps in his presence, +certainly uncontradicted, that, slave holding was universally +practised by "all Christian _societies_" in America; the societies of +Friends only excepted. It may excite a blush in America, to know that +the poor negro's silly falsehood was received with cheers by the +London audience. + +What then should the similar declarations of Mr. Thompson, made +deliberately and repeatedly, and with infinite pretence of candour and +affection, what feelings _can_ they excite; and how will that insulted +people regard the easy credulity which has led the Christians of +Britain to believe and reiterate charges in which it is not easy to +tell whether there is less truth or more malignity? For how stood the +facts? What church owns slaves? What Christian corporation is a +proprietor of men? Out of our ten thousand churches perhaps half are +involved in this sin? Perhaps a tenth part? Surely one Presbytery at +least? No,--this mountain of fiction has but a grain of truth to +support its vast and hateful proportions. If there be above five +congregations in all America that own slaves, I never heard of them. +The actual number, of whose existence I ever heard, is, I believe, +precisely _three_! They are all Presbyterian congregations, and +churches situated in the southern part of Virginia, and got into their +unhappy condition in the following manner:--Many years ago, during +those times of ignorance at which God winked--when such a man as John +Newton could go a slaving voyage to Africa, and write back that he +never had enjoyed sweeter communion with God than on that voyage; +during such a period as that, a few well meaning individuals had +bequeathed a small number of slaves for the support of the gospel in +three or four churches. These unfortunate legacies had increased and +multiplied themselves to a great extent, and under present +circumstances to a most inconvenient degree. A fact which puts the +clearest contradiction on that assertion of this "accuser of the +brethren"--representing their condition as being one of unusual +privation and suffering. Of late years these cases had attracted +attention, and given great uneasiness to some of the persons connected +with these churches. I have on this platform, kindly furnished me, +like most of the other documents I have, since this debate was +publicly known--a volume of letters written to one of these churches +on the whole case, by the Rev. Mr. Paxton, at that time its pastor. +That gentleman is now on this side of the Atlantic, and may perhaps +explain what Mr. Thompson has so sedulously concealed; how he was a +colonizationist; how he manumitted and sent his own servants to +Liberia; how he labored in this particular matter with his church, +long before the existence of abolitionism; and how, finding the +difficulties insuperable, he had written this kind and modest volume, +worth all the abolition froth ever spued forth,--and left the charge +in which he found it so difficult to preserve at once an honest +conscience and a healthful influence. It will not, however, be +understood that even these few churches are worthy of the +indiscriminate abuse lavished on us, all for their sakes; nor that +their present path of duty is either an easy or a plain one. Whether +it is that there are express stipulations in the original instruments +conveying the slaves in trust for certain purposes; or whether the +general principle of law, which would transfer to the State, or to the +heir of the first owner, the slaves with their increase,--upon a +failure of the intention of the donor, either by act of God, or of the +parties themselves, embarrass the subject; it is very certain that +wiser and better men than either Mr. Thompson or myself, are convinced +that these vilified churches have no power whatever to set their +slaves free. If the churches were to give up the slaves, it could only +have the effect, it is believed, to send them into everlasting bondage +to the heirs of the original proprietors. They have therefore justly +considered it better for the slaves themselves that they should remain +as they were in a state of nominal servitude, rather than be remitted +into real slavery. Such is the real state of the few cases which have +first been exhibited as the sin, if not the actual condition of the +American churches; and then exaggerated into the utmost turpitude by +hiding every mitigating circumstance, adding some purely new, and +distorting all things. Whether right or wrong, the same state of +things exists amongst the Society of Friends in North Carolina, to a +partial extent, and in another form. They did not consider themselves +liable to just censure, although they held title in and authority over +slaves, as individuals, while they gave them their whole earnings, and +had collected large sums from their brethren in England, which were +applied to the benefit of these slaves. It is not now for the first +time that charges have been made against the Church of God--that Judah +is like all the heathen. But all who embark in such courses--have met +with the common fate of the revilers of God's people; and they, with +such as select to stand in their lot--may find in the word of life a +worse end apportioned for them, than even for those they denounce, in +case every word they utter had been true. We bless God that no weapon +formed against Zion can prosper. There was one other instance which he +had noted under this head as requiring some comment, which could not +bear omission, regarding the private members of the Christian churches +in the United States, of whom a casual hearer or reader of Mr. +Thompson's speeches would believe that the far greater part actually +owned slaves; that very few, and they almost exclusively +abolitionists, considered slavery at all wrong; that with one accord +they deprived the slaves of all religious privileges, and used them, +not only as a chattel, but as nothing else than a chattel. According +to our last census, there were about 11,000,000 of whites, 2,000,000 +of slaves, and 400,000 free blacks in America, making a total of +nearly thirteen and a half millions. All the slaves were gathered into +the 12 most southerly states, free blacks were not far from half in +the free and half in the slave states, and of the whites over +7,000,000 were in the free, and less than 3,000,000 in the slave +states. The best information I possess on this subject, authorizes me +to say--about 1 person in 9, throughout the nation, black and white, +is a member of a Christian church, the proportion being somewhat +larger to the north, and comparatively smaller at the south. There +are, therefore, above 1,100,000 white Christians in the United States, +of which about 800,000 live in the 12 free States, and neither own +slaves nor think slavery right; leaving rather over 330,000 for the 12 +slave States. Now, if these white Christians in the slave States own +all the slaves, and the other 8-9ths of the whites owned none at all, +there will be only about 6 slaves to each Christian there, a number +far below the average of the slave holders; and all the North, and all +the South, except Christians, free of charge and guilt, in the +specific thing. But if we divide these Christians into families, and +suppose there may be as many, as one in three or four of them, who is +a head of a family, say 100,000; and that they own all the slaves: in +that case, there would be an average of twenty slaves to every white +head of a Christian family in the slave States. But here again all the +slaves would be absorbed: all the North innocent, above two-thirds of +the Christians at the South proved to be not slave holders at all; +and all the followers of the devil wholly innocent of that crime. +These calculations demonstrate that these accusations are as +groundless and absurd as any of the preceding. And while it is +painfully true that in the slaveholding States far too many Christians +do still own slaves; it is equally true, that they bear a small +proportion to those who own none, even in those States. If we suppose +the Christians in America to be about on an equal footing as to wealth +with other people; and to have no more conscience about slavery, than +those around them in the slave States; and that twenty slaves may be +taken as the average, to each master; and a ninth of the people pious, +as stated before, it follows that only about 11,000 professors of +religion can be slaveholders; or about one in every hundred of the +whole number in the nation. Yet every one of the above suppositions is +against the churches, and yet upon this basis rests the charges of a +candid, affectionate Christian brother against them all! The only +remaining illustration of Mr. Thompson's proneness to represent a +little truth, in such a way as to have all the effects of an immense +misrepresentation, regards his own posture, doings and sufferings in +America. "Fourteen months of toil, of peril, and persecution, almost +unparalleled;" "there were paid myrmidons seeking my blood;" "there +were thousands waiting to rejoice over my destruction;" "when any +individual tells George Thompson who has put his life into his hands, +and gone where slavery is rife; when I, George Thompson, am told I am +to be spared," &c. Similar statements, ad infinitum, fill up all his +speeches; and are noticed now, not for the purpose of commenting on, +or even contradicting them, but of affording my countrymen, who may +chance to see the report of this discussion, specimens, as our +certificates often run "of the modesty, probity, and good demeanor," +of the individual. + +He would pass next to a fourth general objection against Mr. +Thompson's testimony, as regards America, which was, that much of it +was in the strictest sense, positively untrue. For instance, Mr. +Thompson had twice put a runaway slave forward upon the platform at +London; or at least connived at the doing of it; who stated of his own +knowledge, that a Mr. Garrison, of South Carolina, had paid 500 +dollars for a slave, that he might burn him, and that he had done so +without hindrance or challenge, afterwards. This statement Mr. T. has +never yet contradicted in any one of his numerous speeches, although +he must have known it to be untrue. I have myself several times +directed his attention to the subject, and yet the only answer is, +"expressive silence." Then I distinctly challenge his notice of the +case; and while I solemnly declare, that according to my belief, +whoever should do such an act in any part of America, would be hung: I +as distinctly charge Mr. Thompson, with giving countenance to, and +deriving countenance from this wilful misstatement. + +As an other instance of the same kind, you are told that a free man +was sold from the jail at Washington city, as a slave, without even +the form of a trial; which is farther aggravated by the assertion +that this is vouched as a fact, on the testimony of 1000 signatures. +This matter, when Mr. Thompson's own proof is produced, resolves +itself into this: that Mr. Thompson said, there had been a thousand +signatures to a certain paper, which said, that a certain man taken up +as a runaway slave, said he was free! If he was a slave, the whole +case falls; whether he was a slave or not, was a fact that could have +been judicially investigated and decided, if the person most +interested, or any other, had chosen to demand it. So that in point of +fact, Mr. Thompson's whole statements, touching this oft repeated +case, are all purely gratuitous. And with what horror, must every good +man hear that Mr. Thompson, within the last two or three weeks, told a +crowd of people in Mr. Price's Chapel, Devonshire Square, London, in +allusion to this very case, that the poor black had "DEMONSTRATED HIS +FREEDOM," and afterwards been "sold into everlasting bondage!" And yet +upon this fiction he bases one of his most effective "illustrations of +American slavery," and some of his fiercest denunciations of the +American people. Oh! shame, where is thy blush! He could if time +permitted exhibit other cases,--in principle perhaps worse than these; +in which neither the false assertions of Moses Roper--nor the +pretended evidence of misrepresented petitions existed to make a show +of evidence; and which nothing but the most extraordinary ignorance, +or recklessness could explain. Such are the assertions made by himself +or his coadjutors in his presence, that slaves are brought to the +district of Columbia from all the slave states for sale; that five +years is the average number, that slaves carried to the Southern +States live; that slaves without trial, or even examination, were +often executed, by tens, twenties, and even thirties; that the banner +of the United States, which floated over a slave dealing congress, in +the midst of the slave market of the entire nation, had the word +"_Liberty_" upon it (which single sentence contained three +misstatements;) that religious men weighed children in scales, and +sold them by the pound like meat;--that there were 2,000,000 of slaves +in America who never heard the name of Christ; that no white man would +ever be respected after he had been seen to shake hands with a man of +colour; all which _unnameable_ assertions are contained, along with +double as many others like them, in one single newspaper (the London +_Patriot_ of June 1, 1835;) and in a portion of the report of only two +of Mr. Thompson's meetings! Alas! for poor human nature! Having now +gone through all that his time permitted him to say, of the proof +against America, he would lay before them some counter testimony upon +several parts of this great subject. He had at one time greatly feared +that he might be obliged to ask them to believe his mere word, perhaps +in the face of other proof; but through the providence of God, he had +been put in possession of a very limited file of American newspapers, +from the contents of which he thought he should be able to make out as +strong a case for the truth, as he had proved the case against it to +be weak and rotten. There were so many denominations of Christians in +America, that he would only tire the meeting by enumerating them. +They were of every variety of name and opinion. As to many of them he +knew but little, and the present audience perhaps less. The Societies +of Friends generally did not tolerate slaveholding among their +members; neither did the Covenanters. The Congregationalists, or +Independents, had not, he believed, a dozen churches in all the Slave +States, and, of course, they should be considered as exempt from the +charge. It was, however, the less necessary to occupy ourselves in +general remarks, inasmuch as Mr. Thompson had laid the stress of his +accusations on the three great denominations of America. "He took all +the guilt of this system, and he laid it where? On the Church of +America. When he said the Church, he did not allude to any particular +denomination. He spoke of Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists, the +three great props--the all-sustaining pillars of that blood-cemented +fabric." Such were the words of Mr. T., and it would therefore be +needless to trouble ourselves about the minor, if we could settle the +major to our satisfaction. As to two of these denominations, he should +say but little; his chief and natural business being to defend that +one of which he knew most. In regard to the Baptists, he was sorry to +be obliged to say, that he believed they were the least defensible of +the three denominations, now principally implicated; indeed that some +of their Associations had taken ground on the whole case, from which +he entirely dissented,--and which, he was sure, had given great pain +to the majority of their own brethren. He begged leave to refer them +to the work of Drs. Cox and Hoby, just through the press, in which he +presumed, for he had not seen it, they would find an authentic and +ample information on this and every other point relating to that +denomination in America. In relation to the Methodists, his knowledge +was both more full and more accurate. Their discipline denounced +Slavery, and prohibited their Members from owning slaves, and though +their discipline itself was not carried into effect with rigid +exactness, he did not believe that there was a Methodist Church in the +United States, or upon the Earth, which owned slaves, as a Church. He +believed that very few Methodist preachers--indeed, almost none, owned +any slaves, and nothing but the most direct proof could for a moment +make him believe, that one of them was a slave-dealer. The whole sect, +or at least the great majority of it, might be considered as fairly +represented, in the following Resolutions passed in the Conference, +held at Baltimore; and which could be a set off to those read by Mr. +Thompson, from one of the northern Conferences. + + METHODIST'S RESOLUTIONS ON ABOLITION. + + At a late meeting of the Baltimore Annual Conference of the + Methodist Episcopal Church held at Baltimore, the following + preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the + names of all the members and probationers present, in number, + one hundred and fifty-seven, were subscribed, and ordered to + be published. The secretary was also directed to furnish Rev. + John A. Collins, with a copy for insertion in the Globe and + Intelligencer, of Washington City. + + Whereas great excitement has pervaded this country for some + time past on the subject of abolition; and whereas such + excitement is believed to be destructive to the best + interests of the country and of religion; therefore + + 1. _Resolved_, That "we are as much as ever convinced of the + great evil of slavery." + + 2. That we are opposed in every part and particular to the + proceedings of the abolitionists, which look to the immediate + indiscriminate, and general emancipation of slaves. + + 3. That we have no connexion with any press, by whomsoever + conducted, in the interest of the abolition cause. + +As to his own Connection, the Presbyterian, he would go as fully as +his materials permitted, into the proof of their past principles, and +present posture. And in the first place he was most happy to be able +to present them with an abstract of the decisions of the General +Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. +He found it printed in the New York Observer, of May 23, 1835, +embodied in the proceedings of the Presbytery of Montrose, and +transcribed by it no doubt from the Assembly's digest. + + As early as A. D. 1787, the Synod of N. York and Philadelphia + issued an opinion adverse to slavery, and recommended + measures for its final extinction; and in the year 1796 the + General Assembly assured "all the churches under their care, + that they viewed with the deepest concern any vestiges of + slavery which then existed in our country;" and in the year + 1815 the same judicatory decided, "that the buying and + selling of slaves by way of traffic, (meaning, doubtless, the + domestic traffic,) is inconsistent with the spirit of the + gospel." But in the year 1818, a more full and explicit + avowal of the sentiments of the church was unanimously agreed + on in the General Assembly. "We consider, (say the Assembly,) + the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human race by + another, as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred + rights of human nature; as utterly inconsistent with the law + of God, which requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves; + and as totally irreconcilable with the spirit and principles + of the gospel of Christ, which enjoin, that "whatever ye + would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." They + add, "It is manifestly the duty of all Christians who enjoy + the light of the present day, when the inconsistency of + slavery, both with the dictates of humanity and religion, has + been demonstrated, and is generally seen and acknowledged, to + use their honest, earnest and unwearied endeavors to correct + the errors of former times, and as speedily as possible, to + efface this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the + complete abolition of slavery throughout Christendom and if + possible, throughout the world." + +If, said Mr. B., he had expressed sentiments different from these, or +if he had inculcated as the principles of his brethren any thing +different from these just and noble sentiments, let the blame be +heaped upon his bare head. These sentiments they had held from a +period to which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Here +tonight, 3000 miles off, God enabled him to produce a record proving +an antiquity of half a century, in full maturity! How grand, how far +sighted, how illustrious is truth--compared with the wretched and new +born, and blear eyed fanaticism that carps at her! These are the +principles of the Presbyterian church of the United States. She has +risen with them, she will stand, or, if it be God's will, she will +fall with them. But she will not change them less or more. The General +Assembly is but now adjourned. They have had this question before +them--perhaps have been deeply agitated by its discussion. But so +tranquilly does my heart rest on the truth of these principles, and on +the fixed adherence to them, by my brethren, that nothing but a +feeling that it would be impertinent, in one like me, to vouch for a +body like that, could deter me from any lawful gage, that all its +decisions will stand with its ancient and unaltered principles. In +accordance with these principles the great body of the members of that +church had been all along acting.--There were about 24 synods under +the care of the General Assembly, of which about one third were in +the slave country. The number was constantly increasing, on which +account, and in the absence of all records, he could not be more +exact. The synods in the free states stood, he believed, without +exception, just where the Assembly stood, on this subject. In the +slave states, much had been done--much was still doing--and in proof +of this as regarded this particular denomination--in addition to what +he had all along declared, with reference to the great emancipation +party, in all of those states, he asked attention to the several +documents he was about to lay before them. The first was a series of +resolutions appended to a lucid and extended report, drawn up by a +large committee of Ministers and Elders of the synod of Kentucky--in +obedience to its orders after the subject had been several years +before that body. That Synod embraces the whole state of _Kentucky_, +which is one of the largest slave states in the Union. The resolutions +are quoted from the New York Observer, of April 23, 1836. + + 1. We would recommend that all slaves now under 20 years of + age, and all those yet to be born in our possession be + emancipated, as they severally reach their 25th year. + + 2. We recommend that deeds of emancipation be now drawn up, + and recorded in our respective County Courts, specifying the + slaves we are about to emancipate, and the age at which each + is to become free. + + This measure is highly necessary, as it will furnish to our + own minds, to the world, and to our slaves, satisfactory + proof of our sincerity in this work; and it will also secure + the liberty of the slaves against contingencies. + + 3. We recommend that our slaves be instructed in the common + elementary branches of education. + + 4. We recommend that strenuous and persevering efforts be + made, to induce them to attend regularly upon the ordinary + services of religion, both domestic and public. + + 5. We recommend that great pains be token to teach them the + Holy Scriptures; and that to effect this, the instrumentality + of Sabbath Schools, wherever they can be enjoyed, be united + with that of domestic instruction. + +The plan revealed in these resolution, was the one of all others, +which most commended itself to his (Mr. B.'s) judgment. And he most +particularly asked their attention to it, on an account somewhat +personal. He had several times been publicly referred to in this +country, as having shown the sincerity of his principles in the +manumission of his own slaves. He was most anxious that no error +should exist on this subject, which he had not at any time, had any +part in bringing before the public, and which, as often only as he was +forced to do so, had he explained. The introductory remarks of the +Chairman, had laid him under the necessity of such an explanation, +which had not so naturally occurred, as in this connexion. He took +leave, therefore, to say, that this Kentucky plan, was in substance +the one he had been acting on for some years before its existence; and +which he should probably be among the earliest, if his life was +spared, fully to complete. He considered it substantially the same as +their system for West India Emancipation; only more rapid as to +adults, more tardy, cautious, and beneficent as to minors; and more +generous, as being wholly without compensation. In plans that affect +whole nations, and successive generations, questions of _time_ are of +all others, least important; of all others the most proper to make +bend to the necessities of the case. He went only to say further, that +his brother, the Rev. Dr. Breckinridge, of whom Mr. Thompson speaks +with such affectation of scorn, had entered this good field before +him, and taken one course with his manumitted slaves. That a younger +brother, whose name, along with nine other beloved and revered names, +is attached to this Kentucky report, had also entered it before him; +and taken a second course, a different course still, in liberating +his. When he came, last of all, he had taken still a third, different +from each; while other friends had pursued others still. What wisdom +their combined, and yet varied experience could have afforded, was of +course useless; now that all the deepest questions of abstract truth, +and the most difficult of personal practice, were solved by instinct, +and carried by storm. + +The next extract related to the great slave holding State of North +Carolina, and revealed a plan for the religious instruction and care +of the souls of the slaves, intended to cover the States of Virginia, +Georgia, and South Carolina, all slave States of the first class, as +well as the one in which it originated. Its origin is due to the +Presbyterian Synod, covering the whole of that State. The extract is +from the New York Observer of June 20, 1835. + + RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES. + + "The Southern Evangelical Society," is the title of a + proposed association among the Presbyterians at the South, + for the propagation of the gospel among the people of color. + The constitution originated in the Synod of North Carolina, + and is to go into effect as soon as adopted by the Synod of + Virginia, or that of South Carolina and Georgia. The voting + members of the Society are to be elected by the Synods. + Honorary members are created by the payment of thirty + dollars. All members of Synods united with the Society, are + corresponding members; other corresponding members maybe + chosen by the voting members. Article 4th of the + Constitution, provides that "there shall not exist between + this Society and any other Society, any connexion whatever, + except with a similar Society in the slave holding States." + Several resolutions follow the Constitution; one of these + provides that a presbytery in a slave holding district of the + country, not united with a Synod in connexion with the + Society, may become a member by its own act. The fifth and + sixth resolutions are as follows: + + _Resolved_, 5, That it be very respectfully and earnestly + recommended to all the heads of families in connexion with + our congregations, to take up and vigorously prosecute the + business of seeking the salvation of the slaves in the way of + maintaining and promoting family religion. + + _Resolved_, 6, That it be enjoined upon all the presbyteries + composing this Synod, to take order at their earliest + meeting, to obtain full and correct statistical information + as to the number of people of color, in the bounds of our + several congregations, the number in actual attendance at our + several places of worship, and the number of colored members + in our several churches, and make a full report to the Synod + at its next meeting, and for this purpose, that the Clerk of + this Synod furnish a copy of this resolution to the stated + Clerk of each Presbytery. + +The next document carried them one State farther South, and related to +South Carolina, in which that horrible Governor M'Duffie, who seems to +haunt Mr. Thompson's imagination with his threats of "death without +benefit of clergy," lives, and perhaps still rules. It is taken from +the same paper as the next preceding extract; + + RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES. + + We cheerfully insert the following letter from an intelligent + New Englander at the South. + + _To the Editor of the New York Observer._ + + I am apprehensive that many of your readers, who feel a + lively interest in the welfare of the slaves, are not + correctly and fully informed as to their amount of religious + instruction. From the speeches of Mr. Thompson and others, + they might be led to believe that slaves in our Southern + States never read a Bible, hear a gospel sermon, or partake + of a gospel ordinance. It is to be hoped, however, that + little credit will be given to such misrepresentations, + notwithstanding the zeal and industry with which they are + disseminated. + + What has been done on a single plantation. + + I will now inform your readers what has been done, and is now + doing, for the moral and religious improvement of the slaves + on a single plantation, with which I am well acquainted, and + these few facts may serve as a commentary on the unsupported + assertions of Mr. Thompson and others. And here I could wish + that all who are so ready to denounce every man that is so + unfortunate as to be born to a heritage of slaves, could go + to that plantation, and see with their own eyes, and hear + with their own ears, the things which I despair of adequately + describing. Truly, I think they would be more inclined, and + better qualified to use those weapons of light and love which + have been so ably and justly commended to their hands. + + On this plantation there are from 150 to 200 slaves, the + finest looking body that I have seen on any estate. Their + master and mistress have felt for years how solemn are the + responsibilities connected with such a charge; and they have + not shrunk from meeting them. The means used for their + spiritual good, are abundant. They enjoy the constant + preaching of the gospel. A young minister of the Presbyterian + church, who has received a regular collegiate and theological + education, is laboring among them, and derives his entire + support from the master, with the exception of a trifling sum + which he receives for preaching one Sabbath in each month for + a neighboring church. On the Sabbath, and during the week, + you may see them filling the place of worship, from the man + of grey hairs to the small child, all neatly and comfortably + clothed, listening with respectful, and in many cases, eager + attention to the truth as it is in Jesus, delivered in terms + adapted to their capacities, and in a manner suited to their + peculiar habits, feelings and circumstances; engaging with + solemnity and propriety in the solemn exercise of prayer, and + mingling their melodious voices in the hymn of praise. + Sitting among them are the white members of the family + encouraging them by their attendance, manifesting their + interest in the exercises, and their anxiety for the eternal + well-being of their people. Of the whole number, forty-five + or fifty have made a profession of religion, and others are + evidently deeply concerned. + + Let me now conduct you to a Bible class of ten or twelve + adults who can read, met with their Bibles to study and have + explained to them the word of God. They give unequivocal + demonstrations of much interest in their employment, and of + an earnest desire to understand and remember what they read. + From hence we will go to another room, where are assembled + eighteen to twenty lads, attending upon catechetical + instruction, conducted by their young master. Here you will + notice many intelligent countenances, and will be struck with + the promptitude and correctness of their answers. + + But the most interesting spectacle is yet before you. It is + to be witnessed in the Infant School Room, nicely fitted up + and supplied with the customary cards and other + appurtenances. Here every day in the week, you may find + twenty-five or thirty children, neatly clad and wearing + bright and happy faces. And as you notice their correct + deportment, hear their unhesitating replies to the questions + proposed, and above all when they unite their sweet voices in + their touching songs, if your heart is not affected and your + eyes do not fill, you are the hardest-hearted and driest-eyed + visitor that has ever been there. But who is their teacher? + Their mistress, a lady whose amiable Christian character and + most gifted and accomplished mind and manners are surpassed + by none. From day to day, month to month, and year to year, + she has cheerfully left her splendid halls and circle of + friends, to visit her school room, where, standing up before + those young immortals, she trains them in the way in which + they should go, and leads them to Him who said, "suffer + little children to come unto me." + + From the Infant School room, we will walk through a beautiful + lawn half a mile, to a pleasant grove commanding a view of + miles in extent. Here is a brick chapel, rising for the + accommodation of this interesting family; sufficiently large + to receive two or three hundred hearers. When completed, in + beauty and convenience it will be surpassed by few churches + in the Southern country. + + On the plantation you might also see other things of great + interest. Here a negro is the overseer. Marriages are + regularly contracted. No negro is sold, except as a + punishment for bad behavior, and a dreaded one it is. None is + bought, save for the purpose of uniting families. Here you + will near no clanking of chains, no cracking of whips; (I + have never seen a blow struck on the estate,) and here last, + but not least, you will find a flourishing Temperance + Society, embracing almost every individual on the premises. + And yet the "Christianity of the South is a chain-forging, a + whip-plaiting, marriage discouraging, Bible-withholding + Christianity!" + + I have confined myself to a single plantation. But I might + add many most interesting facts in regard to others, and the + state of feeling in general, but I forbear. + + Yours, &c + A NEW ENGLAND MAN. + +He would now connect the peculiar and local facts of the preceding +statement, with the whole community of slave holders, in the same +State, and show by competent and disinterested testimony, the real +and common state of things. The following extracts were from a letter +printed in the New York Observer, of July 25, 1835: + + I have resided eight years in South Carolina, and have an + extensive acquaintance with the planters of the middle and + low country. I have seen much of slavery, and feel competent + to speak in regard to many facts connected with it. + + What your correspondent has stated of the condition of one + plantation, is in its essential points a common case + throughout the whole circle of my acquaintance. + + The negroes generally, in this State, are well fed, well + clothed, and have the means of religious instruction. + According to my best judgment, the work which a slave here is + required to do, amounts to about one third the ordinary labor + commonly performed by a New England farmer. A similar + comparison would hold true in regard to the labor of + domestics. In the family where I reside, consisting of nine + white persons, seven slaves are employed to do the work. This + is a common case. + + In the village where I live, there are about four hundred + slaves, and they generally attend church. More than one + hundred of them are members of the church. Perhaps two + hundred are assembled every Sabbath in the Sunday Schools. In + my own Sunday School are about sixty, and most of them + professors of religion. They are perfectly accessible and + teachable. In the town of my former residence, in New + England, there were three hundred free blacks. No more than + eight or ten of these were professors of religion, and not + more than twice that number could generally be induced to + attend church. They could not be induced to send their + children to the district schools, which were always open to + them, nor could they generally be hired to work. They are + thievish, wretched and troublesome. I have no hesitation in + saying, and I say it deliberately, it would be a great + blessing to them to exchange conditions with the slaves of + the village in which I now live. Their intellectual and moral + characters, and real means of improvement, would be promoted + by the exchange. + + There are doubtless some masters who treat their slaves + cruelly in this State, but they are exceptions to the general + fact. Public opinion is in a wholesome state and the man who + does not treat his slaves kindly, is disgraced. + + Great and increasing efforts are made to instruct the slaves + in religion, and elevate their characters. Missionaries are + employed solely for their benefit. It is very common for + ministers to preach in the forenoon to the whites, and in the + afternoon of every Sabbath to the blacks. The slaves of my + acquaintance are generally contented and happy. The master is + reprobated who will divide families. Many thousands of slaves + of this State give evidence of piety. In many churches they + form the majority. Thousands of them give daily thanks to God + that they or their fathers were brought to this land of + slavery. + + And now, perhaps, I ought to add, that I am not a + slave-holder, and do not intend to continue in a slave + country; but wherever I may be, I intend to speak the TRUTH. + +The next document related particularly to _Virginia_,--the largest and +most powerful of the Slave States; but had also a general reference to +the whole south, and the whole question at issue. The sentiments it +contained were entitled to extraordinary consideration, on account of +the source of them. Mr. Van Renselear, was the son of one of the most +wealthy and distinguished citizens of the great free state of New +York. He had gone to Virginia, to preach to the slaves. He had every +where succeeded; was every where beloved by the slaves, and honored by +their masters. He had access to perhaps forty plantations,--on which +he from time to time preached,--and which might have been doubled, +had his strength been equal to the work. In the midst of his +usefulness--the storm of abolition arose. Mr. Thompson, like some +baleful star landed on our shores; organized a reckless agitation, +made many at the north frantic with folly--and as many at the south +furious with passion. Mr. Van Renselear, like many others, saw a storm +raging which they had no power to control; and like them withdrew from +his benevolent labors. The following brief statements made by him at a +great meeting of the colonization society of New York, exhibit his own +view of the conduct and duty of the parties. + + The Rev. Cortlandt Van Renselear, formerly of Albany, but who + has lately resided in Virginia, addressed the meeting, and + after alluding to the difference of opinion which prevailed + among the friends of Colonization, touching the present + condition and treatment of the colored population in this + country, proceeded to offer reasons why the people of the + North should approach their brethren in the South, who held + the control of the colored population, with defference, and + in a spirit of kindness and conciliation. + + These reasons were briefly as follows: 1. Because the people + of the South had not consented to the original introduction + of slaves into the country, but had solemnly, earnestly, and + repeatedly remonstrated against it. 2. Because having been + born in the presence of slavery, and accustomed to it from + their infancy, they could not be expected to view it in the + same light as we view it at the North. 3. Slavery being there + established by law, it was not in the power of individuals to + act in regard to it as their personal feelings might dictate. + The evil had not been eradicated from the state of New York + all at once: It had been a gradual process, commencing with + the law 1799 and not consumated until 1827. Ought we to + denounce our Southern neighbors if they refuse to do the work + at a blow? 4. The constitution of the United States tolerated + slavery, in its articles apportioning representation with + reference to the slave population, and requiring the + surrender of runaway slaves. 5. Slavery had been much + mitigated of late years, and the condition of the slave + population much ameliorated. Its former rigor was almost + unknown, at least in Virginia, and it was lessening + continually. It was not consistent with truth to represent + the slaves as groaning day and night under the lash of + tyranical task-masters. And as to being kept in perfect + ignorance, Mr. V. had seldom seen a plantation where some of + the slaves could not read, and where they were not encouraged + to learn. In South Carolina, where it was said the gospel was + systematically denied to the slaves, there were twenty + thousand of them church members in the Methodist denomination + alone. He knew a small church where out of 70 communicants, + 50 were in slavery. 6. There were very great difficulties + connected with the work of Abolition. The relations of + slavery had ramified themselves through all the relations of + society. The slaves were comparatively very ignorant; their + character degraded; and they were unqualified for immediate + freedom. A blunder in such a concern as universal abolition, + would be no light matter. Mr. V. here referred to the result + of experience and personal observation on the mind of the + well-known Mr. Parker, late a minister of this city, but now + of New-Orleans. He had left this city for the South with the + feeling of an immediate abolitionist; but he had returned + with his views wholly changed. After seeing slavery and + slave-holders, and that at the far South, he now declared the + idea of immediate and universal abolition to be a gross + absurdity. To liberate the two and a half millions of slaves + in the midst of us, would be just as wise and as humane, as + it would be for the father of a numerous family of young + children to take them to the front door, and there bidding + them good bye, tell them they were free, and send them out + into the world to provide for and govern themselves. 7. + Foreign interference was, of necessity, a delicate thing, and + ought ever to be attempted with the utmost caution. 8. There + was a large amount of unfeigned Christian anxiety at the + South to obey God and do good to man. There were many tears + and prayers continually poured out over the condition of + their colored people, and the most earnest desire to mitigate + their sorrows. Were such persons to be approached with + vituperation and anathemas? 9. There was no reason why all + our sympathies should be confined to the colored race and + utterly withheld from our white southern brethren. The + apostle Paul exhibited no such spirit. 10. A regard to the + interest of the slaves themselves dictated a cautious and + prudent and forbearing course. It called for conciliation: + for the fate of the slaves depended on the will of their + masters, nor could the north prevent it. The late laws + against teaching the slaves to read had not been passed until + the Southern people found inflamatory publications + circulating among the colored people. 11. The spirit of the + gospel forbade all violence, abuse and threatening. The + apostles had wished to call fire from heaven on those they + considered as Christ's enemies; but the Saviour, instead of + approving this fiery zeal, had rebuked it. 12. These Southern + people, who were represented as so grossly violating all + Christian duty, had been the subjects of gracious blessings + from God in the outpourings of his Spirit. 13. When God + convinced men of error, he did it in the spirit of mercy; we + ought to endeavor to do the same thing in the same spirit. + +The only remaining testimony relates to the states of Louisiana and +Mississippi, in the south west. The letter from which it is taken is +written by a son of that Mr. Finley, who perhaps more than any one +else, set on foot the original scheme of African colonization; and +whose name, as a man of pure and enlarged benevolence and wisdom, the +enemies of his plans quote with respect. The son well deserves to have +had such a father. + + _New-Orleans, March 12, 1835._ + + In my former letter I gave you some account of the leading + characters amongst the free people of color who recently + sailed from this port in the Brig "Rover." for Liberia. I + then promised you in my next to give you some account of the + emancipated slaves who sailed in the same expedition. This + promise I will now endeavor to fulfil, and I will begin with + the case of an individual emancipation, and then state the + case of an emancipated family, and conclude with an account + of the emancipation of several families by the same + individual. + + The first case alluded to is that of a young woman + emancipated by the last will and testament of the late Judge + James Workman, of this city, the same who left a legacy of + ten thousand dollars to the American Colonization Society. + Judge Workman's will contains the following clause in + relation to her, viz:--"I request my statu liber, Kitty, a + quarteroon girl, to be set free as soon as convenient. And I + request my executors may send her, as she shall prefer, and + they think best, either to the Colonization Society at + Norfolk, to be sent to Liberia or to Hayti; and if she prefer + remaining in Louisiana, that they may endeavor to have an act + passed for her emancipation; if the same cannot be attained + otherwise; and it is my will that the sum of three hundred + dollars be paid to her after she shall be capable of + receiving the same. I request my executors to hold in their + hands money for this purpose. I particularly request my + friend John G. Greene to take charge of this girl, and do the + best for her that he can." Mr. Greene provided her with a + handsome outfit, carefully attended to her embarkation, and + the shipment of her freight, and placed her under the care of + the Rev. Gloster Simpson. + + The next case, alluded to above, is that of a family of + eleven slaves emancipated for faithful and meritorious + services, by the will of of the late Mrs. Bullock, of + Claiborne county, Miss. Mrs. Moore, the sister and executrix + of Mrs. Bullock's estate, gave them 700 dollars to furnish an + outfit and give them a start in the colony. + + The third and last case alluded to above, consisted of + several families, amounting in the whole to 26 individual + slaves belonging to the estate of the late James Green, of + Adams county, Mississipi. The following interesting + circumstances concerning their liberation, were communicated + to me by James Railey, Esq., the brother-in-law and acting + executor of Mr. Green's Estate. Mr. Green died on the 15th of + May, 1832, the proprietor of about 130 slaves, and left Mr. + Railey, his brother-in-law, and his sisters, Mrs. Railey and + Mrs. Wood, executors of his last will and testament. Mr. + Green's will provides for the unconditional emancipation of + but one of his slaves--a faithful and intelligent man named + Granger, whom Mr. Green had raised and taught to read, write, + and keep accounts. He acted as foreman for his master for + about five years previous to his death. Mr. Green, by his + will, left him 3000 dollars, on condition that he went to + Liberia, otherwise, 2000 dollars. Provision was also made in + the will for securing to him his wife. Granger has been + employed since the death of Mr. Green, until recently, as + overseer for Mr. Railey, at a salary of 600 dollars per + annum. Granger declines going to Liberia at present on + account of the unwillingness of his mother to go there. She + is very aged and infirm, and he is very much attached to her. + She was a favorite slave of Mr. Green's mother, who + emancipated her and left her a legacy of 1000 dollars. + Granger came to this city with Mr. Railey to see his friends + and former fellow-servants embark: and when he bade them + farewell, he said, with a very emphatic tone and manner, "I + will follow you in about 18 months." + + The executors of Mr. Green's estate were by no means slack in + meeting the testator's wishes concerning these people. Mr. + Railey accompanied them to New-Orleans, and both he and Mrs. + Wood, who also was in New-Orleans while they were preparing + to embark, took a lively and active interest in providing + them with everything necessary for their comfort on the + voyage, and their welfare after their arrival in the Colony, + and placed in my hand 7000 dollars for their benefit, one + thousand dollars of which were appropriated towards the + charter of a vessel to convey them to the Colony, with the + privilege of 140 barrels freight--sixteen hundred dollars + towards the purchase of an outfit, consisting of mechanics' + tools, implements of agriculture, household furniture, + medicines, clothing, &c., and the remaining four thousand + four hundred dollars, partly invested in trade, goods, and + partly in specia, were shipped and consigned to the Governor + of Liberia, for their benefit, with an accompanying + memorandum made out by Mr. Railey, showing how much was each + one's portion. + + I will close this communication by relating one additional + circumstance communicated to me by Mr. Railey, to show the + interest felt by Mr. Green in the success of the scheme of + African Colonization. The day previous to his death, he + requested Mr. Railey to write a memorandum of several things + which he wished done after his death, which memorandum + contains the following clause, viz:--"After executing all my + wishes as expressed by Will, by this memorandum, and by + verbal communications, I sincerely hope there will be a + handsome sum left for benefitting the emancipated negroes + emigrating from this State to Liberia; and to that end I have + more concern than you are aware of." + + I am authorized by the Executors to state that there will be + a residuum to Mr. Green's estate of twenty or thirty-five + thousand dollars, which they intend to appropriate in + conformity with the views of Mr. Green expressed above. + + Yours, &c., + ROBERT S. FINLEY. + +And now I rest the case, and commit the result to an enlightened +public. Here are my proofs and arguments showing as I believe +conclusively, that the slanderous accusations against my country and +my brethren which I have come to this city to repel,--are not only +false, but incredible. Here are my testimonials, few and casually +gathered up, but yet, as it seems to me, irresistibly convincing, that +the people and churches of America--in the very thing charged,--have +been and are acting, a wise, self-denying and humane part. That they +should move onward in it as rapidly as the happiness of all the +parties will allow, must be the wish of all good men. That obstacles +should be interposed through the error, the imprudence, or the +violence of well meaning but ill-judging persons, is truly deplorable. +But that we should be traduced before the whole world, when we are +innocent; that we should first be forced into most difficult +circumstances, and then forced to manage those circumstances in such a +way as to cause our certain ruin, by the very same people; or in +default of submitting to both requirments, be forced first into war, +and afterwards into a state of bitter mutual contention, only less +dreadful than war itself, is outrageous and intolerable. While we +justly complain of these things, we discharge ourselves of the guilt +attributed to us, and acquit ourselves to God and our consciences, of +all the fatal consequences likely to follow such conduct. + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON rose, and spoke in nearly the following words: + +_Mr. Chairman_, + +If I were to say that I rose on the present occasion without a feeling +of anxiety regarding the issue of the discussion now drawing to a +close, I should say what is not the truth. I cannot remember that I +ever stood before an auditory in a more interesting or responsible +position. The question before us is one of momentous magnitude; and +that branch of it which to-night claims our special attention, is of +all others, the most solemn and delicate. I am, therefore, anxious, +deeply anxious, respecting the impression which shall rest upon the +minds of this assembly, when I have occupied the attention of yourself +and of it, for a portion of time equal to that which has been expended +by my opponent. If, however, I were to say that I rose with any +feeling of alarm in the contemplation of the result of that ordeal +through which I am about to pass, I should speak that which would be +equally at variance with the truth. So far from indulging any fear, or +wishing to propitiate this audience, I pray that for the sake of +truth, humanity, and the country represented by my opponent; for the +sake of our character in the sight of God at the audit of the great +day; there may be a severe, jealous and impartial judgment formed, +according to the evidence which shall be submitted. Or, if it be +impossible to hold the balance strictly even, I ask that the bias for +the present, may be in favor of my opponent. It is true, I am not an +American. It is true, I was in the United States but fourteen months. +It is true, I never crossed the Potomac; never saw a slave, unless +that slave had been brought to the North by some temporary resident. +Receive, therefore, with caution and suspicion my statements. Let +there be every discount upon my assertions which my youth and +rashness, my want of observation and experience demand. At the same +time I ask that every proper degree of respect shall be paid to the +witnesses I shall bring before you; and that however my testimony may +be doubted, theirs at least may have the weight which their character, +and station, and opportunities shall appear to entitle them to. + +I am accused of monstrous injustice towards America, when I say that +in that country slavery wears its most horrid forms. In saying this, I +must not be understood as speaking according to the actual physical +condition of the slave, or even of his legal and political condition, +apart from the religion and institutions of the land in which he +lives. I judge not by the number of links in his chain; the number of +lashes inflicted on his back; the nature of his toil, or the quality +or quantity of his food. It is, when irrespective of the treatment of +the body, I find two millions of human beings regarded as merchandise; +ranked with the beasts of the field, and reduced by the neglect of +their immortal minds to the condition of heathens; it is when I find +this awful system in full operation, surrounded by the barriers and +safeguards of the Law and the Constitution, in the United States of +North America; the land of Republicanism, and Christianity, and +Revivals, that I say, Slavery in America wears a form more horrid than +in any other part of the world. Yes, Sir; when I am told that in that +land, liberty is enjoyed to a greater extent than in any other +country; that the principles on which this liberty and independence +rest are these: "God created all men free and equal." "Resistance to +Tyrants is obedience to God;" and see also two millions of captives; +their dungeon barred and watched by proud Republicans, and boasting +Christians; I turn with horror and indignation away, exclaiming as I +quit the sickening scene, Slavery wears its most loathsome form in the +United States of America! + +Before I come to that portion of my Address which I shall present as a +reply to Mr. Breckinridge, I beg to say one word in vindication of the +character and temper of American Abolitionists; and I am glad on this +occasion to be able to cite the testimony of a gentleman, whom Mr. +Breckinridge has not declined to call his friend; I mean James G. +Birney, Esq., formerly residing in the same State with Mr. B., and now +in Cincinnati. Mr. Birney made a visit to the North last year, for the +purpose of ascertaining for himself, by actual observation and +intercourse, the real character of the Abolitionists, and the manner +in which they prosecuted their work. Having done this, he thus writes: + + Last spring I attended the Ohio Anti-Slavery Convention; was + present at the several meetings of the American Anti-Slavery + Society in New York, and at the Anti-Slavery Convention held + in Boston. On these several occasions, I became acquainted, + and deliberated with, it may be, not less than one thousand + persons, who may be fairly set down as among the most + intelligent of the abolitionists. Subjects on which the most + diverse opinions were entertained, and which to ambitious and + untrained minds would be agitating and dissensious in the + extreme, were discussed with the most calm and unruffled + composure. And while some of the leading journals were + teeming with the foulest and the falsest charges of moral and + political turpitude; while there were produced in their + assemblies placards, calling on the mob for appropriate + deeds, and designating the time and place of holding their + meetings, that its violence might know at what point it might + most effectually spend itself; yet, never elsewhere have I + seen so much of sedate deliberation of sober conclusion, of + dignified moderation, sanctified by earnest prayer to God, + not only for the oppressed, but for the oppressor of his + fellow; not only for such as they loved, but for their + slanderers, and persecutors, and enemies. + + The above is a fair account, so far as my knowledge enables + me to speak, of the character of those whom you are pleased + to describe "a band of fanatical abolitionists." Light and + rash minds, unaccustomed to penetrate to the real causes of + great revolutions in public sentiment, will, of course, think + and speak contemptuously of them, while the philosophic + observer clearly sees, that such antagonists of error, armed + with so powerful a weapon as the Truth, must, at all times, + be invincible; and that in the end they will be triumphant. + +A word, too, before I come to the state of the churches, with regard +to Mr. Breckinridge's concluding topic last evening; to which I had +not, of course, any opportunity to reply; and, as the time allotted +for this discussion is now determined, I shall be permitted to dwell a +few moments on the subject. Mr. Breckinridge did, I am ready to +acknowledge, with tolerable fairness, state the views of the +abolitionists with regard to prejudice against color; that it was +sinful, that it ought to be abandoned, and that the colored man should +be raised to the enjoyment of equal civil and religious privileges +with the whites. But after he had laid down, generally speaking +correctly, the views of the abolitionists, he proceeded to put the +most _unfair_ interpretation upon those views, and strangely contended +that they were directly aiming to accomplish the amalgamation of the +races in the fullest sense of that word. Once again, I _deny_ this. +Once again I appeal to all that the abolitionists have ever written or +spoken: to their published, official, solemn, authoritative +disclaimers; and I say on my behalf and on theirs, that with the +intermixture of "the races," as they are called, (a phrase I do not +like,) the abolitionists have nothing to do. What they have ever +contended for is this, that the colored man should now be delivered +from the condition of a beast; that he should cease to be regarded as +the property of his fellow man; and that according to the laws of the +state regulating the qualifications of citizens, he should be admitted +to a participation of the privileges that are enjoyed by other classes +of the community. We have never asked for more. We have left the +doctrine of amalgamation to be settled by our opponents. The slave +holders are the amalgamationists whose licentiousness has gone far to +put an end to the existence of a black race in the South, and who are +still carrying on, to use their own expression, "a bleaching system," +whitening the population of the South, so that you may now discover +all shades of colored persons; from those who are so fair that they +are scarcely distinguishable from the whites, to the pure black of the +unmixed negro. But my opponent defeated himself. While attempting to +expose the folly and wickedness of amalgamation, he at the same time +contended that the thing was physically impossible; that even a +partial amalgamation could only be brought about by polygamy or +prostitution, but that general amalgamation was hopeless, because +physically impossible. If the thing be utterly beyond the reach of the +abolitionists, why dread it as an evil? Why not let the abolitionists +pursue their foolish and impracticable schemes? Why so much wrath +against them for aiming at that which nature has rendered +unattainable. I leave Mr. Breckinridge to find his way out of this +difficulty in the best manner he is able. + +Again, we are told, that in attempting to bring about amalgamation, +and in preventing Colonization, we are interfering with the _purposes_ +of God; fighting against His ordinances, and exposing Africa to the +horrors of extermination, should the descendants of Shem or Japhet +colonize her shores, and not the black man who has sprung from her +tribes. I confess I am somewhat surprised, when told by a Presbyterian +clergyman of Calvinistic sentiments, that I am to regulate my conduct +towards my fellow-men by the _purposes_ of God, rather than by the +_law_ of God. This is surely a new doctrine! What, I ask, have I to do +with the decrees of the Almighty? Has he not given me a law by which +to walk? Has he not told me to love my neighbor as myself? to "honor +all men?" Am I not told that God hath made of _one_ blood all nations +of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth? Where is the +prohibition to marry with Shem or Ham. I know of no directions in the +Old Testament respecting marriages, save such as were founded on +religious differences, and I have yet to learn that there are any in +the New Testament. That blessed Book declares, that in Christ Jesus +there is neither Jew nor Greek, circumcision nor uncircumcision, +Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but all are _one_. The only +injunction I am aware of is this, "be not unequally yoked together +with unbelievers." + +Mr. Breckinridge made a considerable parade of his knowledge of +Universal History, and pretended to build his theory upon the most +correct historical data. While upon this subject of _amalgamation_ and +_extermination_, I will take the liberty of submitting one or two +inquiries to Mr. Breckinridge. + +Is there any law in America forbidding ministers to celebrate +marriages between Japhethite American Christians and Jewesses, (by +birth, even if Christians by faith,) and Jews, (even if Christians.) +to marry Japhethite, American females? If there be not, then, why may +Shem and Japhet intermarry, but Ham with neither? Again: If there be +no such law, then the doctrine about Noah's three sons, is not a +principle on which the American people act, but Mr. B.'s individual +dogma, got up to defend a line of conduct really proceeding without +reference to any such principle. If it be said that Jewish and +Japhethite Americans are very nearly, if not altogether, of the same +color; and that there are no political evils to be dreaded from the +intermixture of Jews with Japhethites; I reply, that, admitting the +truth of both these representations, is not the sin of mixing Noah's +sons, and counter-working the designs of God, the same in the case of +Shem and Japhet as it would be in the case of Japhet or Shem with the +tribes of Ham? Again, + +Did the Romans, (Japhethites,) exterminate the Jews, (Shemites?) + +Did the Arab Shemite conquerors of Egypt exterminate the ancient +inhabitants (Hamites,) who still exist, and are known by the name of +Copts or Cophti? + +Did not the Tartars, now Turks, a (Japhethite tribe,) when they +conquered the Caliphs, embrace the religion of the conquered, who were +Mohamedans and Shemites? + +Did not the Shemite Mohamedans conquer the Persians, (Japhethites,) a +part of whom, who would not embrace the Mohamedan religion, and could +not be tolerated by the Mohamedans in theirs, (viz. fire worship,) +flee to India, where they still exist, known by the name of Guebers, +while the rest of the people, embracing Mohamedanism, amalgamated with +their conquerors; and is not the modern Persian language a proof of +this, in which all the terms of religion and science are Arabic, +(Shemite,) the rest of the language being a colluvies of the Deri, +Zend, and Pehlavi dialects, which the most eminent phylologists +consider as all resolvable into Sanscrit, the most ancient Japhethite +speech existing? + +The cases of the Romans and Jews, and of the Arab conquerors of Egypt +and the Copts, are instances of conquest _without extermination_; the +parties remaining dissevered by religious differences. The cases of +the Tartar-Turks, and the Arabs, and of the Arabs and the Persians, +are cases of conquest without extermination, and _with amalgamation_; +the conquerors in the first case having adopted the religion of the +conquered, and the conquered in the second case, that of the +conquerors. + +Instead of the Americans proceeding in their conduct towards the +colored people with any reference either to the divine laws or the +divine decrees, they act solely under the influence of their pride and +prejudice. How their prejudice was in the first place produced, it is +not necessary at this time to inquire. I may just remark that color +has long been the badge of slavery. Long have the negroes been an +enslaved and degraded class. The child is tutored to look upon a +colored man as an inferior, and this feeling of superiority, implanted +early in the mind of the child, growing with his growth, and +strengthening with his strength, becomes at last a confirmed and +almost invincible principle, disposing him with eagerness to adopt any +views of revelation which will permit him to cherish and gratify his +pride and hatred towards the colored man. Hence has arisen the +aristocracy of the skin. Hence the many lamentable departures from the +spirit and precepts of the gospel, every day witnessed in the United +Slates. Two illustrations of the force of prejudice are now before me. +The first is a short article from the New York Evangelist, copied into +the Scottish Guardian of this city. I will read it entire. It is as +follows: + + A HARD CASE. A native born American applied to our + authorities this morning for a license to drive a cart. He + has been for years employed as a porter in Pearl Street, + principally among the booksellers, who were his petitioners + to the number of forty firms. He is an honest, temperate, and + in every respect a worthy man; of an amiable disposition, + muscular frame, and of good address, and every way calculated + for the situation he seeks; besides being a member of the + Society of Friends, a sufficient recommendation of itself; + for the office is now filled in part by swearing, drunken, + quarrelling foreigners, who are daily disturbing the quiet of + our streets by their broils; and endangering the lives of our + citizens by their infuriate conduct. + + Wm. S. Hewlett was refused by our Mayor, on the ground of + public opinion! because + + "----guilty of a skin + Not colored like his own." + + Hewlett owns property in William Street, to the amount of + 20,000 dollars; but prefers, unlike many of no more income, a + life of industry and economy, to seeking "otium cum + dignitate." + + "What man seeing this, + And having human feelings, does not blush, + And hang his head to own himself a man." + +The next is found in a letter written by a Professor Smith, of the +Wesleyan University, Connecticut, who, while vindicating the +University from the charge of having expelled a young man "for the +crime of color," makes the following admission: + + "That it would be difficult, in the present state of public + feeling, to preserve a colored individual from inquietude in + any of our collegiate schools, and to render his connection + with them tolerable, is not denied." + +I come now, (continued Mr. T.) to the state of the American Churches, +in regard to Slavery; and to attempt a justification of the heavy +charges I have brought against them. If at the close of this address +it shall appear that I have misrepresented the Christians of America; +that I have stated as facts, things which are untrue, I solemnly call +upon those who have hitherto vindicated my reputation, and sustained +me as the truthful advocate of the cause of human rights, to discard +me as utterly disqualified to be their representative in so sacred a +work, because, capable of pleading for JUSTICE at the expense of +TRUTH. + +Of slaveholding ministers in America, Mr. Breckinridge has asserted, +that they are as ONE IN A THOUSAND, or at most, as ONE IN FIVE +HUNDRED. The first document I shall quote to disprove this assertion, +will be a letter in the "Southern Religious Telegraph," of October 31, +1835, addressed to the Presbyterian Clergy of Virginia; written to +warn those ministers against pursuits calculated to injure their +spirituality, destroy their usefulness, and prevent those revivals of +religion with which other portions of the Church of Christ had been +favored; also to account for an apparent declension in piety in the +State generally. It is proper to remark, that the letter from which I +make the present extract, was not written to promote the cause of +abolition; that the writer never imagined it would be used on such an +occasion; and that the newspaper in which it appears is _pro_-slavery +to the very core. + + "In one region of country, where I am acquainted, of rather + more than THIRTY Presbyterian ministers, including + missionaries, TWENTY are farmers, viz. (planters and + SLAVEHOLDERS,) ON A PRETTY EXTENSIVE SCALE; three are school + teachers; one is a farmer and a teacher; one, a farmer and a + merchant, and joint proprietor of iron works, which must be + in operation on the Sabbath; and one is a farmer and editor + of a political newspaper. These farmers generally superintend + their own business. THEY OVERSEE THEIR NEGROES, attend to + their stock, make purchases, and visit the markets to make + sale of their crops. They necessarily have much intercourse + with their neighbors on worldly business, and not + unfrequently come into unpleasant collision with the + merchants." + +O, Sir, what a revelation of things is here! These are not the +calumnies of George Thompson, but the confessions of one, striving +earnestly to awaken the attention of the Virginia clergy to a sense of +the degradation and barrenness of the church, and to direct their +attention to the main causes of such lamentable effects. + +Next, permit me to request your attention to an extract from "An +Address to the Presbyterians of Kentucky, proposing a plan for the +instruction and emancipation of their slaves; by a Committee of the +SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. Cincinnati: published by Eli Taylor, 1835." We +shall, in this document, get at the opinion of men, sensitively +jealous for the honor, purity, and usefulness of the Presbyterian +churches, from which Mr. Breckinridge is A DELEGATE. What say they of +slavery in general, and the practice of THEIR CHURCH in particular: + + "Brutal stripes, and all the various kinds of personal + indignities, are not the only species of cruelty, which + slavery licenses. The law does not recognize the family + relations of a slave; and extends to him no protection in the + enjoyment of domestic endearments. The members of a slave + family may be forcibly separated, so that they shall never + more meet until the final judgment. And cupidity often + induces the masters to practise what the law allows. Brothers + and sisters, parents and children, husbands and wives, are + torn asunder, and permitted to see each other no more. These + acts are daily occurring in the midst of us. The shrieks and + the agony, often witnessed on such occasions, proclaim with a + trumpet-tongue, the iniquity and cruelty of our system. The + cry of these sufferers goes up to the ears of the Lord of + Sabaoth. There is not a neighborhood, where these + heart-rending scenes are not displayed. There is not a + village or road that does not behold the sad procession of + manacled outcasts, whose chains and mournful countenances + tell that they are exiled by force from all that their hearts + held dear. Our church, years ago, raised its voice by solemn + warning against this flagrant violation of every principle of + mercy, justice, and humanity. Yet WE BLUSH TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU + AND TO THE WORLD, THAT, THIS WARNING HAS BEEN OFTEN + DISREGARDED, EVEN BY THOSE WHO HOLD TO OUR COMMUNION. CASES + HAVE OCCURRED, IN OUR OWN DENOMINATION, WHERE PROFESSORS OF + THE RELIGION OF MERCY HAVE TORN THE MOTHER FROM HER CHILDREN, + AND SENT HER INTO A MERCILESS AND RETURNLESS EXILE. YET ACTS + OF DISCIPLINE HAVE RARELY FOLLOWED SUCH CONDUCT." + +Follow me now into the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Presbyterian Church of +the United States, convened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May, 1835, +and let the individual who addresses you be forgotten, while you +listen to the things uttered in the midst of that solemn convocation. +At the time when the passages I am about to read, were spoken, there +were sitting in that Assembly, men from all parts of the country. The +Southern Churches fully represented by row upon row of ministers and +elders from every region of the slaveholding States. In that Assembly, +one year from this time, did the Rev. J. H. Dickey, of the Chilicothe +Presbytery, Ohio, (a clergyman who had passed thirty years of his life +in a slave State.) and Mr. Stewart, a ruling elder from the Presbytery +of Schuyler, Illinois, make the following statements, which have +remained, I believe, uncontradicted to this hour: + + "He (Mr. Dickey,) believed there were many, and great evils + in the Presbyterian Church; but the doctrine of slaveholding, + he was fully persuaded, was the worst heresy now found in the + Church." + + "MR. STEWART--I hope this Assembly are prepared to come out + fully, and declare their sentiments, that slaveholding is a + most flagrant and heinous SIN. Let us not pass it by in this + indirect way, while so many thousands and thousands of our + fellow-creatures are writhing under the lash, often inflicted + too by MINISTERS AND ELDERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH." + + * * * * * + + "IN THIS CHURCH, a man may take a free born child, force it + away from its parents, to whom God gave it in charge, saying, + 'Bring it up for me,' and sell it as a beast, or hold it in + perpetual bondage, and not only escape corporal punishment, + but really be esteemed an excellent Christian. NAY, EVEN + MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND DOCTORS OF DIVINITY, may engage + in this unholy traffic, and yet sustain their high and holy + calling." + + * * * * * + + "ELDERS, MINISTERS, AND DOCTORS OF DIVINITY, ARE WITH BOTH + HANDS ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE. * * * * * * A Slave-holder who + is making gains by the trade, may have as good a character + for honesty as any other man." + + * * * * * + + "No language can paint the injustice and abominations of + slavery, But in these United States, this vast amount of + moral turpitude is (as I believe) justly chargeable to the + Church. I do not mean to say those church members who + actually engage in this diabolical practice, but I mean to + say THE CHURCH. Yes, Sir, all the infidelity that is the + result of this unjust conduct of the professed followers of + CHRIST; all the unholy amalgamation; all the tears and + groans; all the eyes that have been literally plucked from + their sockets; all the pains and violent deaths from the + lash, and the various engines of torture, and all the souls + that are, or will be eternally damned, as a consequence of + slavery in these United States, ARE ALL JUSTLY CHARGEABLE TO + THE CHURCH; AND HOW MUCH FALLS TO THE SHARE OF THIS + PARTICULAR CHURCH YOU CAN ESTIMATE AS WELL AS I." + + * * * * * + + "The judgments of God are staring this Church full in the + face, and threatening her dissolution. She is all life and + nerve in matters of doctrine, and on some points where men + may honestly differ; while sins of a crimson dye are + committed in open day, BY MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH WITH PERFECT + IMPUNITY." + +I appeal to you, Sir, and this audience; did George Thompson ever +utter charges against the American churches more awful than those +contained in the extracts I have read--extracts from speeches made in +the General Assembly of the body from which Mr. Breckinridge is a +delegate? I leave for the present the Presbyterians, and proceed to +notice the state of the + + +METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. + +Mr. Breckinridge displayed great regard for the reputation of +this body. He believed they were almost free from the sin of +slaveholding--their discipline was most emphatic in its condemnation +of it, and he defied me to show that any Methodist was engaged in the +infernal practice of slave trading. First, as to the probable extent +of slavery in the church. On this point I shall quote from a solemn +and authenticated document issued by a number of ministers in the +Methodist Episcopal body in New England, entitled:-- + + "An appeal on the subject of Slavery, addressed to the + members of the New England and New Hampshire conferences of + the Methodist Episcopal Church;" and signed by + + SHIPLEY W. WILSON. + ABRAM D. MERRILL. + LA ROY SUNDERLAND. + GEORGE STORRS. + JARED PERKINS. + + Boston, Dec. 19th, 1834. + +In answer to the question-- + +"When will slavery cease from our church, if we continue to alter our +rules against it as we have done for some years past?" they observe-- + + "But we will not dwell on this part of our subject; it is + painful enough to think of; and as members of the Methodist + Episcopal Church, and as Methodist preachers, we readily + confess we are exceedingly afflicted with a view of it, and + still more with a knowledge of the fact, that the "great + evil" of slavery has been _increasing_, both among the + membership and ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at + a _fearful rate_, for thirty or forty years past. The general + minutes of our Annual Conferences, announce about 80,000 + colored members in our church; and it is highly probable, + from various reasons which might be named, that _as many as + sixty thousand, or upwards of these, are slaves_; but what + proportion of these and _others_, are enslaved by the + _Methodist members_ and _Methodist preachers_, we have no + means of determining precisely; but the _alterations_ which + have been made in the discipline, show at once that _the + number is neither few nor small_; and if this evil was a + "great" one fifty years ago, what must it be now? What will + it be fifty or a hundred years hence, _should the discipline + be_ ALTERED _as it has been during half a century past_? Who + can tell where this "great" and growing "evil," will end? We + frequently hear Christians and Christian ministers expressing + the greatest fears for the safety of the "political" union of + these United States, whenever the subject of slavery is + mentioned; but no fears as to the prosperity and peace of the + Christian church, though this "evil" be ever so "great," and + though it be increased every day a thousand fold. But can it + be supposed that any branch of the Christian church is in a + healthy and prosperous state, while it slumbers and nurses in + its bosom so great an evil." + +In reply to the challenge to produce one instance of a slave trading +Methodist, I give the following from "Zion's Watchman," a Methodist +newspaper, published in New York. It is from a letter of a +correspondent of that paper: + + "A man came among us where I was preaching, a class-leader, + from Georgia, having a regular certificate, who appeared to + be very zealous, exhorting and praying in our meetings, &c. I + thought I had got an excellent helper; but, on inquiring his + business, I found he was a SLAVE TRADER: come on purpose to + buy up men, women, and children, to drive to the South!!! I + expostulated with him; but he said it was not thought wrong + where he came from. I told him we could not countenance such + a thing here, and that we could hold no fellowship with him." + He farther told me that on inquiring of a slave he had with + him, what sort of a master he was, he replied, "I have had + four masters, but this is the most cruel of them all;" and + told him, as a proof of it, to look at his back, which, said + the minister, "was cut with a whip, from his head to his + heels!!" The Rev. S. W. Wilson, of Andover, United States, + gives also an extract of a letter he had seen from a + gentleman of high standing, who was at the South at the time + of writing, which says, "The South is too much interested in + the continuance of slavery, to hear any thing upon the + subject. The preachers of the gospel are in the same + condemnation, and METHODIST PREACHERS ESPECIALLY. The + principal reason why the Methodists in these regions are more + numerous and popular than other denominations is, THEY STICK + SO CLOSELY TO SLAVERY!! THEY DENOUNCE BOTH THE ABOLITIONISTS + AND THE COLONIZATIONISTS." + +To show the extent to which THE BAPTIST CHURCHES SHARE THE GUILT OF +THE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA, it will be sufficient to read an +extract from a letter addressed to the Board of Baptist ministers in +and near London, by the Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D., the Corresponding +Secretary of the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. The +testimony is the stronger, because the whole letter is a carefully +written apology for Southern religious slaveholders, and an attempt to +silence the remonstrances of the English churches. + + "There is a pleasing degree of union among the multiplying + thousands of Baptists throughout the land. Brethren from all + parts of the country meet in one General Convention and + co-operate in sending the gospel to the heathen. Our Southern + brethren are liberal and zealous in the promotion of every + holy enterprize for the extension of the gospel. THEY ARE, + GENERALLY, BOTH MINISTERS AND PEOPLE, SLAVE-HOLDERS." + +In this connection, I may notice the recommendation of the work of +Drs. Cox and Hoby. We are assured by Mr. Breckinridge, (though he +confesses he has not read the book,) that every representation it +contains relative to slavery among "the Baptists in America," may be +relied on. That book, thus endorsed by Mr. B., informs us that the +deputation were permitted to sit in the convention at Richmond, +Virginia, only on condition of _profound silence_, touching the wrongs +of more than two millions of heathenized slaves. We are gravely told +that the introduction of abolition would have been "an INTRUSION, as +RUDE as it would have been UNWELCOME." It would, says the Delegates, +have "FRUSTRATED every object of our mission;" "awakened HOSTILITY, +and kindled DISLIKE;" "roused into EMBITTERED ACTIVITY feelings +between Christian brethren, which must have SEVERED the Baptist +churches." It would have occasioned the "UTTER CONFUSION OF ALL ORDER, +the RUIN of all Christian feeling," and "THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL LOVE +AND FELLOWSHIP;" and the Convention would either have been "DISSOLVED" +by "MAGISTERIAL INFLUENCE," or "THE DELEGATES WOULD HAVE DISSOLVED +THEMSELVES." Yet this was "a sacred and heavenly meeting," in which +"the kindliest emotions, the warmest affections, the loveliest spirit +towards ourselves, (the Baptist Delegates,) towards England and +mankind" existed! Oh, Sir, is it possible to draw a more affecting +picture of the withering and corrupting influences of slavery, than is +here presented to our view in this description of the triennial +convention of Baptist ministers, assembled in the city of Richmond, +Virginia, in the year 1835. + + +AMOS DRESSER'S CASE. + +I proceed to notice the case of Amos Dresser; the young man who was so +inhumanly tortured by the citizens and professing Christians of the +city of Nashville, Tennessee. I can assure my opponent, that the +discrepancy in my statements which he has noticed, is an error in +reporting. I am not aware of having ever stated the number of elders +in the committee to be _eleven_. My statement of the case has always +been simply this--that Mr. Dresser, a pious and respectable young man, +was apprehended in Nashville, on suspicion of being an abolitionist; +brought before a Vigilance Committee, and, according to "Lynch Law," +was sentenced to receive twenty lashes with a cowskin, on his bare +back. That he was so punished; and that upon the Committee were seven +elders of the Presbyterian church, and one Campbellite minister. The +whole case as narrated by Mr. Dresser, and published in the Cincinnati +Gazette, is now before me. The Committee, by which Mr. Dresser was +tried and sentenced, is called a "Committee of Vigilance and Safety." + +The following are the names of the seven elders in the Presbyterian +Church: + + JOHN NICHOL, + ALPHA KINGSLEY, + A. A. CASSEDAY, + WM. ARMSTRONG, + SAMUEL SEAY, + S. V. D. STOUT. + S. C. ROBINSON. + The name of the Campbellite Minister, THOMAS CLAIBORNE. + +The Committee, after examining his books, papers, and private +memoranda, and hearing his defence, found him guilty--1st. "Of being a +member of an Anti-Slavery Society in Ohio." 2d. "Of having in his +possession periodicals published by the American Anti-Slavery +Society." And 3d. "They BELIEVED he had circulated these periodicals, +and advocated in the community the principles they inculcated." The +Chairman, (says Mr. Dresser,) then pronounced that I was condemned to +receive twenty lashes on my bare back, and ordered to leave the place +in twenty-four hours. This was not an hour previous to the +commencement of the Sabbath. Mr. Dresser gives the following account +of the infliction of the sentence: + + "I knelt to receive the punishment, which was inflicted by + Mr. Braughton, the city officer, with a HEAVY COWSKIN. When + the infliction ceased, an involuntary feeling of thanksgiving + to God, for the fortitude with which I had been enabled to + endure it, arose in my soul, to which I began aloud to give + utterance. The death-like silence that prevailed for a + moment, was suddenly broken, with loud exclamations, "G--d + d--m him, stop his praying." I was raised to my feet by Mr. + Braughton, and conducted by him to my lodging, where it was + thought safe for me to remain but for a few moments. + + "Among my triers, there was a great portion of the + respectability of Nashville. Nearly half the whole number, + professors of Christianity, the reputed stay of the church, + supporters of the cause of benevolence in the form of tract + and missionary societies and Sabbath schools, several members + and most of the elders of the Presbyterian church, from whose + hands, but a few days before, I had received the emblems of + the broken body, and shed blood of our blessed Saviour." + (!!!!) + +Mr. Breckinridge has twice referred to the appearance of a runaway +slave at my lectures in London, and has accused me of carrying him +about with me, to enact interludes during my meeting. I can assure Mr. +Breckinridge that I never had any thing to do with the attendance of +Moses Roper at my meetings, or with the speeches he delivered. On +neither of the occasions mentioned had I any knowledge of his being in +the chapel until I found him among the rest of my auditors. As for +denying the facts stated by him, knowing as I do the brutalizing +effects of slavery, and the state of society in the slave States of +America, it is out of the question. I see nothing in the facts stated +by Moses Roper at all improbable. Since I last came to this city, I +have read in an American newspaper, an account of an affair in +Tennessee, at which the blood runs cold. A black man having committed +some crime, was lodged in prison by the authorities, but being +demanded by the citizens, was given up to them, tied to a tree, and +BURNT ALIVE! During my residence in the United States, a negro was +burnt alive, according to a sentence given by one of the constituted +tribunals of the State! It was called an exemplary punishment, and +many of the papers throughout the country were filled with long and +learned articles, justifying the horrid outrage. Mr. Breckinridge may +point to the laws and the constitution of the country, but I tell him +they and the authorities appointed to enforce them are alike +powerless. I point him to the atrocities of Lynch law all over the +land; to the brutal massacre of the gamblers in Mississippi, where men +in the broad daylight were dragged forth, and tied by the neck to +branches of trees, their eyes starting from their sockets, and their +wives driven across the river, in open boats; their lives threatened, +for daring to ask for the dead bodies of their husbands. I ask if any +law reached the fiends in human shape, who perpetrated these deeds. I +ask Mr. Breckinridge if any law punished the felons of Charleston, +who, seizing the public conveyances, violated the constitution, and +the law of the State, by robbing the mail bags of their contents, and +burning them? Did not the Post Master General encouragingly say, "I +cannot sanction, but I will not condemn what you have done. In your +circumstances I would have acted in a similar manner." Need I remind +Mr. Breckinridge of the mobs at the North; the riots of New York; the +sacking of Mr. Tappan's house, and the demolition of colored schools? +Laws there may be, but while slavery exists, and is defended by public +sentiment, and while the ferocious prejudice against color remains, +they will want the "executory principle," without which they are but +cruel mockery. + +A glance at the moral and religious state of the slave population will +show the amount of care and attention exercised by the Christian +churches at the South. + +What says the Rev. C. C. Jones, in a sermon preached before two +associations of planters in Georgia, in 1831? + + "Generally speaking, they (the slaves,) appear to us to be + without God, and without hope in the world, a NATION OF + HEATHEN in our very midst. We cannot cry out against the + Papists for withholding the Scriptures from the common + people, and keeping them in ignorance of the way of life, for + we WITHHOLD the Bible from our servants, and keep them in + ignorance of it, while we will not use the means to have it + read and explained to them. The cry of our perishing servants + comes up to us from the sultry plains as they bend at their + toil; it comes up from their humble cottages when they return + at evening to rest their weary limbs; it comes up to us from + the midst of their ignorance, and superstition, and adultery, + and lewdness. We have manifested no emotions of horror at + abandoning the souls of our servants to the adversary, the + roaring lion that walketh about seeking whom he may devour." + +Again: what said the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, in a report +on the state of the colored population, in respect of religious +instruction? + + "Who would credit it, that in these years of revivals and + benevolent effort, in this Christian Republic, there are over + TWO MILLIONS of human beings in the condition of HEATHEN, and + in some respects in a worse condition. From long continued + and close observation, we believe that their moral and + religious condition is such, that they may justly be + considered the HEATHEN of this Christian country, and will + bear comparison with heathen in any country of the world. The + negroes are destitute of the gospel, and EVER WILL BE UNDER + THE PRESENT STATE OF THINGS. In the vast field extending from + an entire State beyond the Potomac, to the Sabine River, and + from the Atlantic to the Ohio, there are to the best of our + knowledge, not TWELVE men exclusively devoted to the + religious instruction of the negroes. In the present state of + feeling in the South, a ministry of their own color could + neither be obtained NOR TOLERATED." + +Again: what says a writer in a recent number of the Charleston, South +Carolina, Observer? + + "Let us establish missionaries among our negroes, who, in + view of religious knowledge, are as debasingly ignorant as + any one on the coast of Africa; for I hazard the assertion, + that throughout the bounds of our Synod, there are at least + one hundred thousand slaves, speaking the same language as + ourselves, who never HEARD of the plan of salvation by a + Redeemer." + +A writer in the Western Luminary, a respectable religious paper in +Lexington, Kentucky, says, + + "I proclaim it abroad to the Christian world, that heathenism + is as real in the slave States as it is in the South Sea + Islands, and that our negroes are as justly objects of + attention to the American and other Boards of Foreign + Missions, as the Indians of the Western wilds. What is it + constitutes heathenism? Is it to be destitute of a knowledge + of God; of his holy word; never to have heard scarcely a + sentence of it read through life; to know little or nothing + of the history, character, instruction and mission of Jesus + Christ; to be almost totally devoid of moral knowledge and + feeling, of sentiments of probity, truth and chastity? If + this constitutes heathenism, then are there thousands, + millions, of heathen in our beloved land. There is one topic + to which I will allude, which will serve to establish the + heathenism of this population. I allude to the universal + licentiousness which prevails. It may be said emphatically, + that chastity is no virtue among them; that its violation + neither injures female character in their own estimation, or + that of their master or mistress. No instruction is ever + given; no censure pronounced. I speak not of the world; I + speak of Christian families generally." + +Again: I give the words of the son of a Kentucky slaveholder, who +became an abolitionist at Lane Seminary, and has since induced his +father to emancipate his slaves. Hear James A. Thome. + + "Licentiousness. I shall not speak of the far South, whose + sons are fast melting away under the UNBLUSHING PROFLIGACY + which prevails. I allude to the slaveholding West. It is well + known that the slave lodgings, I refer now to village slaves, + are exposed to the entrance of strangers every hour of the + night, and that the SLEEPING APARTMENTS OF BOTH SEXES ARE + COMMON. + + "It is also a fact, that there is no allowed intercourse + between the families and servants, after the work of the day + is over. The family, assembled for the evening, enjoy a + conversation elevating and instructive. But the poor slaves + are thrust out. No ties of sacred home thrown around them; no + moral instruction to compensate for the toils of the day; no + intercourse as of man with man; and should one of the younger + members of the family, led by curiosity, steal out into the + filthy kitchen, the child is speedily called back, thinking + itself happy if it escape an angry rebuke. Why is this? The + dread of moral contamination. Most excellent reason; but it + reveals a horrid picture. THE SLAVE CUT OFF FROM ALL + COMMUNITY OF FEELING WITH THEIR MASTER, ROAM OVER THE VILLAGE + STREETS, SHOCKING THE EAR WITH THEIR VULGAR JESTINGS, AND + VOLUPTUOUS SONGS, OR OPENING THEIR KITCHENS TO THE RECEPTION + OF THE NEIGHBORING BLACKS, THEY PASS THE EVENING IN GAMBLING, + DANCING, DRINKING, AND THE MOST OBSCENE CONVERSATION, KEPT UP + UNTIL THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT, THEN CROWN THE SCENE WITH + INDISCRIMINATE DEBAUCHERY. WHERE DO THESE THINGS OCCUR? IN + THE KITCHENS OF CHURCH MEMBERS AND ELDERS! + +I shall now take the liberty of reading two letters from highly +respectable gentlemen in the South, to friends in New England. The +first is from a clergyman in North Carolina, to one of the Professors +in Bowdoin College, Maine. + + "You remember that when I was with you last summer, I was + much opposed to the Anti-Slavery Society, and contended that + the colonization scheme was a full, and the only remedy, for + the evils of slavery, and that I made a sort of talk before + the students on the subject of slavery. It was a poor talk, + for it was a miserable theme. I do not think what I said had + any effect against the Anti-Slavery people, or at all + strengthened the cause of the Colonization Society. Be this + as it may, I feel it a duty I owe both to myself and to the + friends I have with you, to say, that my views and feelings, + which were then wavering, have since, after mature + deliberation and much prayer, been entirely changed, and that + I am now a strong Anti-Slavery man. Yes, after mature + reflection, I am the sworn enemy of slavery in all its forms, + with all its evils. Henceforth it is a part of my religion to + oppose slavery. I am greatly surprised, that I should in any + form have been the apologist of a system, so full of deadly + poison to all holiness and benevolence as slavery, the + concocted essence of fraud, selfishness, and cold-hearted + tyranny, and the fruitful parent of unnumbered evils, both to + the oppressor and the oppressed, the one thousandth part of + which has never been brought to light. + + "Do you ask, why this change, after residing in a slave + country for twenty years. You recollect the lines of Pope, + beginning, + + 'Vice is a monster of such frightful mein, + That to be hated, needs but to be seen.' + + I had become so familiar with the loathsome features of + slavery, that they ceased to offend; besides, I had become a + Southern man in all my feelings, and it is a part of our + creed to defend slavery. I had also considered it was + impossible to free the slaves in this country. But it is + unnecessary to investigate the ground of my former opinions. + As to the Colonization Society, I have this among many + objections that it has two faces, one for the North, and a + very different one for the South. If the agents of the + Colonization Society will come here and say what I heard them + say in New York, I will insure them a good coat of tar and + feathers for their labor. That Society has few friends here, + a few large slaveholders who by it hope to send off the free + people in their neighborhood, and a few others, whose + consciences are not quite easy, get a salvo by advocating the + Colonization Society. These last are many of them ministers. + The mass of the people regard it as a Yankee plan, and hate + it of course. I remember, among other things, I told the + students in my address, that the only way to do away slavery + was to give us more religion. This argument then seemed to be + good. Send us preachers said I, and as religion spreads, + slavery will melt away, it cannot stand the gospel. I did not + reflect that the religion we have here, justifies and upholds + slavery. Our religion does not permit the preacher to touch + the subject. It is not the whole gospel. I have not yet seen + the man who would venture to take for his text, 'Masters, + give to your servants that which is just and equal.' If every + man in the country was a professor of religion, the religion + we have, it would not much help the cause. I think that I can + safely say that as a general thing, the Presbyterians are by + far the best masters, and give more attention to the + religious instruction of their slaves than others, but I know + one of these, an elder, who contends that slavery is no + violation of the law, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as + thyself,' and whose slaves are driven in the field with the + long whip! But it is just to add, that they are not + over-worked, and they are well fed and clothed. You are at + liberty to inform the students, and others who heard me on + that occasion, that I am now an anti-slavery man; but I do + not wish the letter published with my name to it, as it would + be copied by other papers, and find its way back, and do me + injury, for no man is free, fully to express his thoughts in + this country." + +The next is from a merchant in St. Louis, Missouri, to a Clergyman in +New Hampshire. + + SAINT LOUIS, Jan. 18, 1835. + + Very Dear Brother. + + I want to say a good deal to you, Brother, on the subject, + which seems to interest you much at this time. I am now, and + was before I left Hartford, an abolitionist; and that too, + from deep and thorough conviction that the eternal rule of + right requires the immediate freedom of every bond-man in + this and every other country. Since my residence in this + slaveholding State, I have seen nothing which should tend to + alter my previous sentiments on this subject, on the contrary + much to confirm me in them. You, who reside in happy New + England, can have but very faint conceptions of the blighting + and corrupting influence of Slavery on a community. Although + in Missouri we witness Slavery in its mildest form, yet it is + enough to sicken the heart of benevolence to witness its + effects on society generally, and its awfully demoralizing + influence on the slaves themselves: being counted as property + among the cattle and flocks of their possessors, (forgive the + word,) their standard of morality and virtue is on a level + (generally) with the beasts with which they are classed: and + I am credibly informed that many emigrants from the slave + states, who own plantations on the Missouri River, finding + themselves disqualified by their former habits of indolence + to compete with emigrants of another character in enterprize, + turn their attention to the raising of slaves as they would + cattle, to be sold to the Negro dealers to go down the river. + What sort of standard of virtue, think you, will have place + on such a plantation; and at what period in the history of + our country will these degraded sons of Africa be + christianized under existing circumstances. + + The ungodly man who is a slaveholder, is well enough pleased + with the efforts and views of the Colonization Society, + because he can manage to throw off responsibility, and date + far a-head the time when he shall be called upon to do right; + but state to him the sentiments and principles of the + abolitionists, and he at once begins to froth and rage--all + the malignity of his nature is called into action--and why? + He feels the pressure of responsibility, he acts very like an + impenitent sinner, pricked with the truth, and like him, too, + he either comes on the side of right, or is hardened into a + stern opposer. It is gratifying to notice the gradual + influence the abolition principles are obtaining over the + hearts and consciences of every slaveholding community, + especially over the hearts of Christian slaveholders. Many of + them who have allowed the subject to have a place in their + thoughts, are greatly agitated, and dare not sell or buy + again for their peace-sake. But more of this another time." + + +I shall now lay before the meeting the sentiments of General George +M'Duffie, Governor of the State of South Carolina; as contained in a +message delivered by him to the two branches of the Legislature, +towards the close of the last year. I charge these sentiments upon the +State, 1st, because the representatives of its citizens, in a series +of resolutions presented to the Governor, unanimously expressed their +special approbation of them; and 2dly, because I am not aware that any +protest has been entered against them by any part of the Christian +community. Sentiments more atrocious were, perhaps, never penned. + +The first extract, recommending legislation, has reference to the +diffusion of Anti-Slavery publications. + + "IT IS MY DELIBERATE OPINION THAT THE LAWS OF EVERY COMMUNITY + SHOULD PUNISH THIS SPECIES OF INTERFERENCE BY DEATH WITHOUT + BENEFIT OF CLERGY, REGARDING THE AUTHORS OF IT AS ENEMIES TO + THE HUMAN RACE. Nothing could be more appropriate than for + South Carolina to set the example in the present crisis, and + I trust the Legislature will not adjourn till it discharges + this high duty of patriotism." + +Let us look at the theological views of this profound Statesman on the +subject of Slavery. + + NO HUMAN INSTITUTION, IN MY OPINION, IS MORE MANIFESTLY + CONSISTENT WITH THE WILL OF GOD, THAN DOMESTIC SLAVERY, and + no one of his ordinances is written in more legible + characters than that which consigns the African Race to this + condition AS MORE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR OWN HAPPINESS, THAN ANY + OTHER OF WHICH THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE. Whether we consult the + sacred Scriptures or the lights of nature and reason, we + shall find these truths as abundantly apparent as if written + with a sun-beam in the heavens. Under both the Jewish and + Christian dispensations of our religion, DOMESTIC SLAVERY + existed with the unequivocal sanction of its prophets, its + apostles, and finally its great Author. The patriarchs + themselves, those chosen instruments of God, were + slaveholders. In fact the divine sanction of this institution + is so plainly written that "he who runs may read" it, and + those over-righteous pretenders and pharisees, who affect to + be scandalized by its existence among us, would do well to + inquire how much more nearly they walk in the way of + godliness, than did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That the + African negro is DESTINED BY PROVIDENCE TO OCCUPY THIS + CONDITION OF SERVILE DEPENDENCE, is not less manifest. It is + marked on the face, stamped on the skin, and evinced by the + intellectual inferiority, and natural improvidence of his + race. THEY HAVE ALL THE QUALITIES THAT FIT THEM FOR SLAVES, + AND NOT ONE OF THOSE THAT WOULD FIT THEM TO BE FREEMEN, they + are utterly unqualified not only for rational freedom, but + for self-government of any kind. They are in all respects + physical, moral and political, inferior to millions of the + human race, who have for consecutive ages dragged out a + wretched existence under a grinding political despotism, and + who are doomed to this hopeless condition by the very + qualities which unfit them for a better. It is utterly + astonishing that any enlighted American, after contemplating + all the manifold forms in which even the white race of + mankind are doomed to slavery and oppression, should suppose + it possible to reclaim the Africans from their destiny. THE + CAPACITY TO ENJOY FREEDOM IS AN ATTRIBUTE NOT TO BE + COMMUNICATED BY HUMAN POWER. IT IS AN ENDOWMENT OF GOD, AND + ONE OF THE RAREST WHICH IT HAS PLEASED HIS INSCRUTABLE WISDOM + TO BESTOW UPON THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. IT IS CONFERRED AS + THE REWARD OF MERIT, and only upon those who are qualified to + enjoy it. Until the "Ethiopian can change his skin," it will + he vain to attempt, by any human power, to make freemen of + those whom God has doomed to be slaves, by all their + attributes. + + Let not, therefore, the misguided and designing intermeddlers + who seek to destroy our peace, imagining that they are + serving the cause of God by practically arraigning the + decrees of his Providence. Indeed it would scarcely excite + surprise, if with the impious audacity of those who projected + the tower of Babel, they should attempt to scale the + battlements of Heaven, and remonstrate with the God of wisdom + for having put THE MARK OF CAIN AND THE CURSE OF HAM upon the + African race instead of the European. + +The Governor then proceeds to give his views on the political bearings +of the question, and thus sums them up:-- + + "DOMESTIC SLAVERY, THEREFORE, INSTEAD OF BEING A POLITICAL + EVIL, IS THE CORNER STONE OF OUR REPUBLICAN EDIFICE. No + patriot who justly estimates our privileges, will tolerate + the idea of emancipation, at any period however remote, or on + any conditions of pecuniary advantage, however favorable. I + would as soon think of opening a negotiation for selling the + liberty of the State at once, as for making any stipulations + for the ultimate emancipation of our slaves. So deep is my + conviction on this subject, that if I were doomed to die + immediately after recording these sentiments, I could say in + all sincerity, and under all the sanctions of Christianity + and patriotism, GOD FORBID THAT MY DESCENDANTS, IN THE + REMOTEST GENERATIONS, SHOULD LIVE IN ANY OTHER THAN A + COMMUNITY HAVING THE INSTITUTION OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY." + +The conduct of the clergy of South Carolina, may be inferred from the +following account of a great _pro_-slavery meeting, held in the city +of Charleston, to denounce in the most malignant spirit, the +abolitionists of the North: + + (_From the Charleston Courier._) + + GREAT AND IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING. + + One of the most imposing assemblages of citizens in respect + of numbers, intelligence and respectability that we have ever + witnessed, met yesterday morning at the City Hall, to receive + the report of the Committee of twenty-one, appointed by the + meeting on the 4th inst. on the incendiary machinations now + in progress against the peace and welfare of the Southern + States. THE CLERGY OF ALL DENOMINATIONS ATTENDED IN A BODY, + LENDING THEIR SANCTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS, AND AIDING BY + THEIR PRESENCE, TO THE IMPRESSIVE CHARACTER OF THE SCENE! + +After thundering forth the most violent threats against the discussion +of the subject of slavery, the meeting closed with the following +resolution: + + On the motion of Captain LYNCH, + + "_Resolved_, That the thanks of this meeting are due to the + Reverend gentlemen of the CLERGY in this city, who have so + promptly, and so effectually, responded to public sentiment, + BY SUSPENDING THEIR SCHOOLS IN WHICH THE FREE COLORED + POPULATION WERE TAUGHT; and that this meeting deem it a + patriotic action worthy of all praise, and proper to be + imitated by other teachers of similar schools throughout the + State." + +The following document will speak for itself. I commend it to the +consideration of ministers of Christ throughout the world. + + CHARLESTON PRESBYTERY ON SLAVERY. + + Extract from the minutes of Charleston Union Presbytery, at + their meeting on the 7th of April, 1836. + + With reference to the relation which the church sustains to + the institution of slavery, and the possibility of attempts + to agitate the question in the next General Assembly, this + presbytery deem it expedient to state explicitly the + principles which they maintain, and the course which will be + pursued by their commissioners in the Assembly. It is a + principle which meets the views of this body, that slavery as + it exists among us, is a political institution, with which + ecclesiastical judicatories have not the smallest right to + interfere; and in relation to which any such interference, + especially at the present momentous crisis, would be morally + wrong and fraught with the most dangerous and pernicious + consequences. Should any attempt be made to discuss this + subject, our Commissioners are expected to meet it at the + very threshold, and of any report, memorial or document, + which may be the occasion of agitating this question in any + form. And it is further expected, that our Commissioners, + should the case require it, will distinctly avow our full + conviction of the truth of the principles which we hold in + relation to this subject, and our resolute determination to + abide by them, whatever may be the issue; that it may appear + that the sentiments which we maintain, in common with + Christians at the South, of every denomination, are + sentiments which so fully approve themselves to our + consciences, are so identified with our solemn convictions of + duty, that we should maintain them under any circumstances; + and at the same time, the peculiar circumstances in which we + are placed, constitute an imperious necessity that we should + act in accordance with these principles, and make it + impossible for us to yield any thing in a matter which + concerns not merely our personal interests, but the cause of + Christ, and the peace, if not the very existence of the + Southern community. + + Should our Commissioners fail of accomplishing this object, + it is expected that they will withdraw from the Assembly, + with becoming dignity; not willing to be associated with a + body of men who denounce the ministers and members of + Southern churches as pirates and men-stealers, or who + co-operate with those who thus denounce them. + + In conclusion, this Presbytery would suggest to their + Commissioners the expediency of conferring with the + Commissioners from other Southern presbyteries, that there + may be a common understanding between them as to the course + most suitable to be pursued at this crisis, and on this + absorbing question. And may that wisdom which is from above, + which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be + entreated, be their guide in managing the important trust + committed to their hands. + + _Resolved_, That this expression of our views be signed by + the Moderator and Clerk; that a copy be given to each of our + Commissioners to the General Assembly, and that it be + published in the Charleston Observer. + + E. T. BUIST, _Moderator_. + + B. GILDERSLEEVE, _Temporary Clerk_. + +Resolutions of the Presbyterian Synods of South Carolina and Georgia, +December, 1834. + + "_Resolved unanimously_, That in the opinion of this Synod, + Abolition Societies, and the principles on which they are + founded, in the United States, are inconsistent with the best + interests of the slaves, the rights of the holders, and the + great principles of our political institutions." + +The following declaration of sentiments has been published in +Charleston, South Carolina, by the Board of Managers of the Missionary +Society, of the South Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal +Church: + + "We denounce the principles and opinions of the abolitionists + in toto; and do solemnly declare our conviction and belief, + that, whether they were originated, as some business men have + thought, as a money speculation, or, as some politicians + think, for party electioneering purposes, or, as we are + inclined to believe, in a false philosophy, over-reaching or + setting aside the Scriptures through a vain conceit of higher + moral refinement, they are utterly erroneous, and altogether + hurtful. We consider and believe that the Holy Scriptures, so + far from giving any countenance to this delusion, do + unequivocally authorize the relation of master and slave. We + hold that a Christian slave must be submissive, faithful and + obedient, for reasons of the same authority with those which + oblige husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, to fulfil + the duties of these relations. We would employ no one in the + work who might hesitate to teach thus; nor can such an one be + found in the whole number of the preachers in this + Conference." + +One other document in reference to South Carolina, viz., the +resolutions recently passed by the "Hopewell Presbytery." On the +subject of domestic slavery, this Presbytery believe the following +facts have been most incontrovertibly established, viz: + + I. Slavery has existed in the church of God from the time of + Abraham to this day. Members of the church of God have held + slaves bought with their money, and born in their houses; and + this relation is not only recognized, but its duties are + defined clearly, both in the Old and New Testaments. + + II. Emancipation is not mentioned among the duties of the + master to his slave. While obedience "even to the froward" + master is enjoined upon the slave. + + III. No instance can be produced of an otherwise orderly + Christian, being REPROVED, much less EXCOMMUNICATED from the + church, for the single act of holding domestic slaves, from + the days of Abraham down to the date of the modern + Abolitionists. + + IV. SLAVERY EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE OUR + ECCLESIASTICAL BODY WAS ORGANIZED. IT IS NOT CONDEMNED IN OUR + CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND HAS ALWAYS EXISTED IN OUR CHURCH + WITHOUT REPROOF OR CONDEMNATION. + + V. Slavery is a political institution, with which the Church + has nothing to do, except to inculcate the duties of master + and slave, and to use lawful spiritual means to have all, + both bond and free, to become one in Christ by faith. + + Regarding these positions as undoubtedly true, our views of + duty constrain us to adopt the following resolutions: + + _Resolved_, That the political institution of domestic + slavery, as it exists in the South, is not a lawful or + constitutional subject of discussion, much less, of action by + the General Assembly. + + _Resolved_, That so soon as the General Assembly passes any + ecclesiastical laws, or recommends any action, which shall + interfere with this institution, this Presbytery will regard + such laws and acts as tyranical and odious; and from that + moment will regard itself independent of the General Assembly + of the Presbyterian Church. + + _Resolved_, That our delegates to the approaching Assembly + are hereby enjoined to use all Christian means to prevent the + discussion of domestic slavery in the Assembly; to protest in + our name, against all acts that involve or approve abolition; + and to withdraw from the Assembly and return home, if, in + spite of their efforts, acts of this character shall be + passed." + +From the official account of the proceedings of the Synod of Virginia, +I take the following + + REPORT ON ABOLITION. + + "The Committee to whom were referred the resolutions, &c., + have, according to order, had the same under consideration: + and respectfully report that in their judgment, the following + resolutions are necessary and proper to be adopted by the + Synod at the present time. + + "_Whereas_, The publications and proceedings of certain + organized associations commonly called Anti-slavery, or + Abolition Societies, which have arisen in some parts of our + land, have greatly disturbed, and are still greatly + disturbing the peace of the church, and of the country; and + the Synod of Virginia deem it a solemn duty which they owe to + themselves and to the community, to declare their sentiments + upon the subject; therefore, + + "_Resolved unanimously_, That we consider the dogma fiercely + promulgated by said associations; that slavery as it actually + exists in our slaveholding States, is necessarily sinful, and + ought to be immediately abolished, and the conclusions which + naturally follow from that dogma, as directly and palpably + contrary to the plainest principles of common sense and + common humanity, and to the clearest authority of the word of + God. + + "2. _Resolved unanimously_, That in the deliberate judgment + of the Synod, it is the duty of all ministers of the gospel + to follow the example of our Lord and Saviour, and of his + apostles in similar circumstances, in abstaining from all + interference with the state of slavery, as established among + us by the Commonwealth, and confining themselves strictly to + their proper province of inculcating upon masters and slaves + the duties enjoined upon them respectively in the sacred + Scriptures, which must tend immediately to promote the + welfare of both, and ultimately to restore the whole world to + that state of holy happiness which is the earnest desire of + every Christian heart. + + "The above preamble and resolutions having been severally + read, and adopted by paragraphs, the Moderator asked and + obtained leave to vote with the Synod, on the adoption of the + entire report. The question being put, it was unanimously + adopted, every member it is believed, giving it a hearty + response." + +The last document I shall quote on this part of the subject, is one +which will fill this meeting with horror; but it is right that it +should be placed on record, to show the opinion entertained by a +minister of the Presbyterian church of his brethren and fellow +Christians, and to show also, what kind of communications pass current +among the professed disciples of Christ in a slaveholding community. + + "To the Sessions of the Presbyterian Congregations within the + bounds of West Hanover Presbytery: + + "At the approaching stated meeting of our Presbytery, I + design to offer a preamble and string of resolutions on the + subject of the use of wine in the Lord's Supper; and also a + preamble and a string of resolutions on the subject of the + treasonable and abominably wicked interference of the + Northern and Eastern fanatics, with our political and civil + rights, our property and our domestic concerns. You are aware + that our clergy, whether with or without reason, are more + suspected by the public than are the clergy of other + denominations. Now, dear Christian brethren, I humbly express + it as my earnest wish, that you quit yourselves like men. _If + there be any stray goat of a minister among us, tainted with + the blood-hound principles of abolitionism, let him be + ferreted out, silenced, excommunicated, and left to the + public to dispose of him in other respects._ + + "Your affectionate brother in the Lord, + + "ROBERT N. ANDERSON."!!! + +I trust I have adduced sufficient evidence upon this heart-rending +topic, and abundantly proved the allegations I have deemed it my duty +to bring against the American churches. No one can accuse me of +wishing that any thing should be believed upon my bare assertion. I +have furnished documentary proof of the truth of all my statements. +Presbyterians, and Conferences, and Ministers, and Elders, and Synods, +and Assemblies have spoken for themselves through their solemn and +accredited Speeches, and Letters, and Reports, and Resolutions. Judge, +therefore, whether I have libelled America; whether I am the foul +traducer that some would have you believe, but for believing which +they supply you no ground, save their own ill-natured vituperations. +Let the facts I have brought before you be deliberately considered, +and let such a verdict be given as will approve itself to the world +and to God. Before sitting down, however, I must observe, that it has +always given me the sincerest pleasure to notice any Anti-slavery +movements among the clergy of America. With delight I have stated the +fact, that in the General Assembly of 1835, there were FORTY EIGHT +immediate Abolitionists. I refer again, on the present occasion, with +unfeigned satisfaction, to the indications of a better state of things +in many portions of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Breckinridge has +quoted the Assembly's views on the subject of Slavery; so have I. In +the recent meeting of the United Secession Synod, held a short time +since in Edinburgh, I stated fully the sentiments of the Presbyterian +body in America. At the same time, I could not omit naming one +striking fact, viz. that in 1816, the Assembly struck out of the +Confession of the Church, the following note, adopted in 1794, and +which contained the doctrine of the church at that period on the +subject of slaveholding. The note was appended to the one hundred and +forty-second question of the larger catechism. + + "1 Tim. 1:10. The law is made for MAN STEALERS. This crime + among the Jews exposed the perpetrators of it to capital + punishment; Exodus 21:16; and the apostle here classes them + with sinners of the first rank. The word he uses, in its + original import, comprehends all who are concerned in + bringing any of the human race into slavery, OR IN RETAINING + THEM IN IT. Hominum fures, qui servos vel liberos abducunt, + retinent vendunt, vel emunt. Stealers of men are all those + who bring off slaves or freemen AND KEEP, SELL, OR BUY THEM. + To steal a free man, says Grotius, is the highest kind of + theft. In other instances, we only steal human property, but + when we steal or retain men in slavery, we seize those who, + in common with ourselves, are constituted by the original + grant, lords of the earth. Genesis 1:28, Vide Poli synopsin + in loc." + +Why this note has been cancelled, I shall not attempt to say. Neither +Mr. Breckinridge nor this Assembly need be at any loss to imagine for +what reasons so strong and unequivocal a passage was omitted by a body +in which so large a proportion were slaveholders. I have recently +read, and publicly commended, an address put forth by the Synod of +Kentucky, containing a very faithful, though appalling disclosure of +the state of Slavery in Kentucky; and expressing an earnest hope that +the members of the Presbyterian body will, without delay, take steps +to promote the education and emancipation of the slaves. Let me also +state, that the following ecclesiastical meetings have passed +resolutions, and many of them adopted rules of church membership, in +accordance with the views of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Some +of them have specially approved the principles and measures of that +body. I beg, while I read this list, to remind Mr. Breckinridge that +these form a part of that ragged regiment, respecting which he was so +merry in one of his by-gone speeches, + + SYNODS of Utica and Cincinnati. + Eastern Sub-Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. + PRESBYTERIES of Delaware, Champlain, Erie, Chillicothe, Detroit, + and Genesee. + General Association of New York. + Central Evangelical Association. + Cumberland Baptist Association.--Equally divided. + One Hundred and Eighty-Five Baptist Clergymen. + The vast majority of the New England and New Hampshire Conferences + of Episcopal Methodists, and a large number of individual + Churches. + +Thus is the cause advancing! The purifying leaven is extending through +all the country. The elements which are ordained to redeem America +from the pollution and infamy of slavery, are working mightily. When I +went to the United Slates, I took the principles I found lying +comparatively forgotten, and proclaimed them abroad. I planted myself +upon the American Bible, and the American Declaration of Independence, +and preached from these that the varied tribes of men are of _one +blood_, and that all men should be "free and equal." I have not +labored in vain. There is now a mighty and indomitable host of pure +and ardent friends to the freedom and elevation of the long degraded +colored man. Let us thank God and take courage, and expect with +confidence the speedy arrival of the happy day, when the soil of +America shall be untrodden by the foot of a slave. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said he regretted to be obliged to say anything more +on this subject, which he had wished to consider concluded, so far as +he was concerned, at the close of his preceding speech. He felt +obliged, however, by the importance of the whole case, to consume a +portion of this, his last address--and which he had desired to occupy +in a different way--in making a few explanations which seemed +indispensable. It would be observed, first, that the great bulk of the +testimonies produced throughout, and especially in his last speech, by +Mr. Thompson, were individual opinions and assertions, often of +obscure persons, and therefore, for ought the world could tell, +fictitious persons; or if known persons they were often men of the +world, and avowedly acting on worldly principles, and therefore, no +more affording a criterion of the state of the American churches, than +the immoralities of any public functionary here, could be justly made +a rule of judgment of the faith and morals of British Christians. A +considerable portion also were taken from the transient and heated +declamations of violent party newspapers, which wrested from their +original purpose and connection, might mean what never was meant, or +even, if fairly collated, expressed what their authors, perhaps, would +now gladly recall. How far would it be proof of the assertions of Mr. +T. of America--if in some other land, some bigot should quote as +indisputable, Mr. Thompson's story of the colored man in Washington +City, whose assertion, at third hand, that he was free, authorised the +declaration that "_he had demonstrated his freedom_," and yet after +all had been sold into everlasting slavery without a trial! And yet +many of his proofs are of no more value to him, than his assertions +ought to be to any who come after him. It is next most worthy of note, +that so far as all his proofs establish any thing against either any +portion of the American nation or the American church, they all run +upon the assumed truth of all my explanations of their real state and +operations. It is the slaveholding portion, it is the comparatively +small body of slaveholding professors of religion, it is the minority +of the nation, the very small minority of the Christians of it, +implicated continually; and therefore, if every word produced were +true, the sweeping conclusions from them would be gross fraud on the +prevailing ignorance of all American affairs. But what is most +important to observe, and what must be palpable to the capacity of +every child who has attended to this discussion, the weightiest of Mr. +Thompson's proofs ceased to be proofs at all, the moment the facts, +cant words and circumstances connected are explained. He used words in +one sense which he knows you will understand in another--sporting at +once with your good feelings and your want of minute information while +all the result is false as to us, and unhappy as to every thing +concerned, except "Othello's occupation" which meanwhile is _not_ +gone. When decided and perhaps violent terms are used against +"abolition" or "abolitionists" or "anti-slavery" or "the anti-slavery +society," they are adduced to convince you that those who use them are +pro-slavery men: that they understand the terms as you do; and that it +is an expression of rank hostility to all emancipation on the part of +the American tyrants, in whose nostrils according to this gentleman +the slave and freedom equally stink! A metaphor nearly as full of +truth as decency. The fact however is, that although many would +decline the use of the harsh and vindictive language which, caught +from abolitionists, has been turned against them; yet the bulk of the +real sentiments, as brought forward by Mr. Thompson as proofs of +American slavery, on account of American hatred to his peculiar plans, +principles and spirit in attempting its removal, are true, just and +defensible.--And I am ready to advocate and to defend much that he by +a disingenuous citation has made at first odious, and then +characteristic of America. They prove only that he and his coadjutors +are most odious to the country, which is a fact never denied except by +himself or them. And to what has the whole current of his testimony +tended if not to show that they might reasonably have expected and did +a great deal to deserve such a conclusion.--But it is now impossible +to enter again upon these matters and upon the case as presented, he +was willing for the world to pass its verdict. While he would +therefore take no farther notice of any new matter contained in the +last speech, there were several remarks necessary to be made, to +elucidate subjects that had already been several times before them. +The first case was that of Amos Dresser the abolitionist whipped at +Nashville. He would pass over what Mr. T. had said relating to his +(Mr. B.'s) notice of the discrepancy in the number of Elders in the +Nashville Church. He had treated that gentleman with great candor in +the matter, which he had returned with incivility and injustice, and +there he was content to let it rest. But how stood the facts of the +case itself? Amos Dresser is reported to have said that there were +seven elders of the church; that all of them were on the committee of +vigilance of Nashville; that _most_ of them were among his triers, and +that _some_ of them had administered the communion to him the +preceding sabbath. Now let us admit that this is literally +true--(which I believe however is not the case, in at least three +particulars)--how does it justify Mr. Thompson in asserting as he did +at London and elsewhere "that on that Lynch Committee _there sat seven +Elders and one Minister, some of whom_ had sat with the young man at +the table of the Lord on the preceding Sunday"? Mr. Thompson +positively contradicts his own and only witness when he says that all +the seven elders sat as triers;--he enlarges his testimony when he +insinuates that they not only concurred in his punishment, but were +present and active in its infliction; and he infers without the least +authority, and adds it to the words of the witness, that those very +elders who administered the Lord's Supper to Dresser, on Sunday +"ploughed up his back"--as Lynch Committee men on a subsequent day of +the same week. How in the name of common honesty is such deceitful +handling of the truth to be tolerated in a Christian community? Oh! +what a spectacle would we behold--if I had but the privilege before +some competent tribunal--to take the published accusations of this man +in my hands and force him to reveal on oath the whole grounds on which +he makes them!--Mr. B. then stated that after he entered the house +to-night two packages had been put into his hands, which he could not +examine then, as he was just about to open the discussion. He had +snatched a moment during the interval to glance his eyes over their +contents, and considered it his duty to say a few words in reference +to each. One of them was a little volume from the pen of Dr. Channing, +of Boston, on the subject of slavery, just passing through the press +of an enterprising bookseller of Glasgow, who had done him the favor +of presenting to him, in very kind terms, the first copy of the +edition. They who would take the trouble of looking over the printed +report of Mr. Thompson's second address to the Glasgow Emancipation +Society, would find that in speaking of the Unitarians of America, he +had used the following language:--"One of their greatest men, a giant +in intellect, had already taken the right view of the subject, and +there could not exist a doubt that ere long, he would bring over the +body to the good cause." In this sentence, as it stands in the speech, +at the end of the words "giant in intellect,"--stands a star,--at the +bottom of the page another, before the words "Dr. Channing." Now it so +happens that in this little book, there is a chapter headed +"Abolitionism." I have looked through it casually, within the last +hour; and I beseech you all to read it carefully, and judge for +yourselves, of the utter recklessness with which Mr. Thompson makes +assertions. The other parcel, contained a letter from an American +gentleman residing in Britain, and one half of the New York Spectator, +of October 1, 1835. Under the head of editorial correspondence, is an +article above a column and a half in length devoted in great part to +Mr. Thompson. Amongst other passages, it adverts to his doings at +Andover, and the charges made against him there, on such weighty +authority; and in that connexion has the following explicit paragraph: + + Mr. Thompson in conversation with some of the students + repeatedly averred that every slaveholder in the United + States OUGHT TO HAVE HIS THROAT CUT; or DESERVED TO HAVE HIS + THROAT CUT; although he afterwards publicly denied that he + had said so. But the proof is direct and positive. In + conversation with one of the theological students in regard + to the moral instruction which ought to be enjoyed by the + slaves, he distinctly declared THAT EVERY SLAVE SHOULD BE + TAUGHT TO CUT HIS MASTER'S THROAT! I state the fact--knowing + the responsibility I am assuming, and challenge a legal + investigation. + +On this tremendous document, I make but two remarks--The first is that +Francis Hall & Co. the publishers of the Spectator, were in character +and fortune, perfectly responsible to Mr. Thompson. The second is, +that if Mr. Thompson's rule of judgment was just, in that branch of +this same case--in the exercise of which he declared that another +paper in New York could never be got to publish his exculpatory +certificates in regard to this very transaction, _because_ the +publisher knew them to be true; then we are irresistibly bound on his +own showing to conjecture, that for the same reason he declined taking +up the challenge of the Spectator. There was only one more topic on +which he seemed called on to remark; and that he had several times +passed over, out of consideration of delicacy. It had all along been +his aim to use as little freedom as possible with the names of +individuals--and he could declare, that he had implicated by name, no +one except out of absolute necessity--that he had forborne to say true +but severe things of several who had been most unjustly commended +during this discussion--and had omitted of the very few he had +censured by name, decidedly worse things, than those he had uttered of +them--and which he might have uttered both truly and pertinently. +Amongst the cases of rather peculiar forebearance, was the oft cited +one, of a misguided young man, by the name of Thome, who went from +Kentucky to New York to repeat a most audacious speech which was no +doubt prepared for him, before an assembly literally the most _mixed_ +that was ever convened in that city: having delivered which, he +departed with the pity or contempt of 9 10ths of all the decent people +in it, and went I know not whither, and dwells I know not where. The +victory as there trumpeted, and now celebrated, of which he was part +gainer, consisted of two portions--the destruction of the colonization +cause--and the degradation of Kentucky, his native state. The death of +the Society was signalised by a subscription of six thousand dollars +on the part of its friends; and the infamy of Kentucky was +illustrated by the ready stepping forward of four of her sons to +confront and confound the ingrate who commenced his career of manhood +by smiting his parent in the face. Who made the defence, may be +surmised from Mr. Thompson's bitterness--I will not trust myself to +repeat his name. But this thousands can testify--that never was a +great cause more signally successful--never were folly and wickedness +more thoroughly beaten into the dust--never did any community heap +more cordial and unanimous applause upon an effort of great and +successful eloquence. + +And now, Sir, (said Mr. B., addressing Dr. Wardlaw, the Chairman of +the meeting)--I repeat the expressions of my regret, that these last +moments allowed to me should have been required for any other purpose +than that which so sacredly belonged to them. Exhausted by a series of +most exciting, and to me perfectly new contentions, I am altogether +unequal to the task, which I should yet esteem myself degraded if I +did not attempt in some way to perform. + +To this large committee which has so kindly taken up this subject--so +considerately provided for every contingency--so delicately considered +all my wishes, and even all my weaknesses--to these respected +gentlemen surrounding us upon this platform, whose conduct amid very +peculiar circumstances has been towards me, full of candor, honor, +courtesy and Christian kindness, it would have been most gross +ingratitude, to have forborne this public expression of my regard and +cordial thanks. + +For yourself, Sir, what can I say more, or how could I say less, than +that in that distant country, which I love but too fondly, there are +scores, there are hundreds, who would esteem all the trials through +which this strife has led me, and all the weight of responsibility +which my posture has forced me to assume, more than counter-balanced +by the privilege of looking upon your venerated face. It is good to +live for the whole world; and it is but just to receive in recompense +the world's thanks. + +And you, my respected auditors, whose patience I must needs have so +severely taxed, and who have borne with much that possibly has tried +you deeply, you who have given me so many reasons to thank you, and +not one to regret the errand that brought me here; if in the course of +providence, you or yours, should be thrown on whatever spot my resting +place may be, you need but say, "I come from Glasgow, and I need a +friend," and it shall go hard with me, but I will find a way to prove, +that kindness is never thrown away. + +But even as we part, let us not forget that cause which has chained us +here so long. We are free. Alas! how few can utter these words with +truth! We are Christian men. Alas! what multitudes have never heard +our Master's name. Oh! how horrible must slavery be, when God himself +illustrates the power of sin by calling it bondage! Oh! how sweet +should union with Christ be thought, when he proclaims it glorious +liberty! Freedom and redemption are in our hands; the heritage in +trust for a lost world. It is not then our own souls only, but our +divine Lord, and our dying brethren, that we sin against and rob, when +we mismanage or pervert this great inheritance. We needs must labor; +but let us do it wisely. And though we may differ in many things, in +this at least we can agree, to importune our heavenly Father to +prosper by his constant blessing what we do aright, and overrule by +his continued care all that we do amiss. (Cheers.) + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON then rose amidst much cheering, and said, Sir, after the +valedictory address to which we have just listened, it would ill +become me to touch upon any topic calculated to disturb feelings which +I trust and believe that address has awakened in the breasts of this +assembly. Sir, it is my conviction, that I and those with whom it is +my joy and honor to act, in the advancement of the cause of Universal +Emancipation, are much misunderstood. We are represented as the +violent, acrimonious, ferocious and sanguinary foes of the +slaveholder; when, if he could look into our inmost hearts, he would +discover no enmity to him abiding there, but on the contrary, an +earnest desire to promote his safety, his honor, and his happiness. If +we act as we do, it is not that we love him less, but that we love +truth and freedom more. It is not with us a matter of choice that we +pursue our present course, but one of stern imperative duty; because +we believe that God will vouchsafe his blessing only to those who +preach the doctrine of an immediate, entire, and uncompromising +discharge of duty, leaving to Him the consequences flowing from +obedience to His law. To discover truth wherever it is hidden, should +be the aim and effort of every rational mind. It has been my desire to +arrive at truth upon the great question of Slavery; and after much +investigation, and many conflicts, I have reached the conclusion, that +slaveholding is sinful; that man cannot hold property in man; that to +do right, and to do it _now_, fearless of results, is the doctrine of +the Bible; and that a simple and strict compliance with the Divine +Law, is man's noblest and safest course. These being my settled views, +I say to the slaveholder, give immediate freedom to your slaves. To +the non-slaveholder, I say, preach a pure doctrine; grapple with the +prejudices and fears of the community around you; strive to raise the +tone of public morals, and create a public sentiment unfavorable to +the continuance of slavery. To the private Christian, I say, betake +yourself to prayer, and the study of the Scriptures; and invoke a +blessing upon every righteous instrumentality for the overthrow of the +abomination. To the minister of the gospel, I say, be bold for God; +cry aloud, and spare not, till the merchants of the earth cease to +make merchandise of slaves, and the souls of men. + +Much fault is found with our measures. What, Sir, are our measures, +but the simplest means of making known our principles? Having +deliberately and prayerfully adopted certain views, we take the +ordinary, common sense, every day methods of making those views known, +and of recommending them to the adoption of others. Believing slavery +to be sin, is it strange that we hate it, and speak strongly +respecting it? Believing immediate emancipation _a duty_, is it +strange that we pray, and preach, and print about it? That we take all +peaceful means of making known the great truth; of warning men against +the danger of delay; and exhorting them to repentance? The +abolitionists have done no more. To have done less, would have been to +prove themselves unfaithful to the high and heaven-born principles +they profess. They court investigation. They scatter their +publications on the winds to be read by all. They have not an office +nor a book that is not open to the inspection of all. Their language +to all who suspect their motives or their designs is, "search us, and +know our hearts; try us, and know our thoughts; and see if there be +any wicked way in us." If in the ardor of their zeal, and inherited +infirmities, and surrounded by influences, from which none of us are +exempt; they sometimes apply epithets and bring charges with too +little discrimination, "something should be pardoned to the spirit of +liberty;" something granted to the advocates of outraged humanity; to +those, who, remembering them that are in bonds as bound with them, +plead as for mothers, children, sisters, and brothers; at present lost +to all the joys and purposes of life. Sir, I think it hard that on all +occasions like these, the heaviest artillery should be levelled +against the abolitionists, and the small arms only directed against +the slaveholder. I call upon those who act with such gentleness +towards the latter individual; who are so fearful of doing him +injustice and so readily to discover in him any thing that is amiable +in character, or extenuating in conduct, to exercise some small +portion of the same candor and kindness, and consideration towards the +former. Let not _that_ man be most hateful in their eyes, who of all +others is most earnestly engaged for the deliverance of the slave. + +A word before we part, for my honored co-adjutors on the other side of +the Atlantic. Should this be the last address of mine ever delivered +and recorded for perusal when I am gone to give account of my sayings +upon earth, I can with every feeling of sincerity aver, that to the +best of my knowledge and belief, there is not to be found on the face +of the earth at the present time, engaged in any religious or +benevolent enterprise, a body of men more pure in their motives, more +simple and elevated in their aim, more dependent upon divine aid in +their efforts, or, generally speaking, more unexceptionable in their +measures, than the _immediate_ abolitionists of the United States of +America. It has been my high privilege to mingle much with devoted +Christians of all denominations in my native land, and to enjoy the +friendship of some of the noblest and most laborious of living +philanthropists; but I have not yet seen the wisdom, the ardor, the +humanity or the faith of the abolitionists of America exceeded. + +Another word and I have done. It is for one whom I love as a brother, +and to whom my soul is united by a bond which death cannot dissolve; +of one, who, though still young, has for ten years toiled with +unremitting ardor, and unimpeached disinterestedness in the cause of +the bleeding slave; of one, who, though accused of scattering around +him fire-brands, arrows and death; though branded as a madman, an +incendiary, and a fanatic; though denounced by the State, and reviled +by a portion of the church, possesses a soul as peaceful and as pure +as ever tenanted our fallen nature. I speak not to exalt him or +gratify his love of praise. I know he seeks not the honor that cometh +from man, nor the riches that perish in the using. He looks not for +his reward on earth. With the approbation of his conscience, he is +content; with the blessing of the perishing, he is rich; with the +favor of God, he is blessed forever. He seeks no monumental marble, no +funeral oration, no proud escutcheon, no partial page of history to +perpetuate his name. He knows that when resting from his labors, the +tears of an enfranchised race + + Shall sprinkle the cold dust in which he sleeps, + Pompless, and from a scornful world withdrawn: + The laurel, which its malice rent, shall shoot, + So watered, into life, and mantling throw + Its verdant honors o'er his grassy tomb. + +That man is WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. Sir, I thank God for having given +him to the age and country in which he lives. He is a man +pre-eminently qualified for the mighty work in which he has engaged. +May the God of the oppressed bless him, and keep him humble, and cheer +him onwards in his rugged path! May his lion heart never be subdued! +May his eloquent pen never cease to move while a slave breathes to +require its advocacy! Heaven grant, and I can ask no more, that the +wish of his heart may be fulfilled; and that the time may soon come, +when, looking abroad over his beloved country with the soul of a +Patriot, and the eye of a Philanthropist and a Christian, he shall not +be able to discover in State, or city, or town, or hamlet, a lingering +trace of a tyrant or a Slave! + +I shall not, Sir, attempt (turning to the Chairman,) to express the +feelings of my heart towards _you_, or my opinion of the manner in +which you have discharged the duties of the Chair, through four of the +evenings of this discussion. I cordially unite with the gentleman +opposite, in thanking you for the dignity and strict impartiality with +which you have borne yourself. I know you look for the reward of your +labors of love in another and a better world. In that world may we all +meet! There our jars and discords will be at an end. There we shall +see, eye to eye; and know, even as we are known. There, in the +presence of one Saviour, our joys, our voices, our occupations will be +_one_; and there I trust that we, who have been antagonists on earth, +will together meet and celebrate the glories of a common redemption +from the sorrows and the sins of earth. (Mr. Thompson resumed his seat +amidst loud and long continued cheers.) + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON moved that the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to +the Rev. Dr. WARDLAW, for his able, dignified, and impartial conduct +in the chair, and also to Dr. KIDSTON, who presided on Thursday +evening, which was carried with acclamation. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +In reading the foregoing discussion, we have been utterly astonished +at the grossness and magnitude of the falsehoods--not to mention the +numerous miscolorings and misrepresentations--which the reverend +apologist for slavery has, with brazen effrontery, unblushingly +uttered even though aware of the fact that they were to be published +to the world. It would seem as if feeling the necessity of defending a +desperate cause by desperate means, he had resolved to pour out his +misstatements and inaccuracies with such lavish liberality, that his +opponent would be absolutely unable, in the time allotted to him, to +correct them all, and thus contrive to make some of his falsehoods, +because uncontradicted, pass for truth, and some of his distortions +and perversions for fair representations. The event, we cannot help +thinking, will show that he has presumed with far too much rashness on +the supposed ignorance of the British people. Some of his falsehoods, +mistakes, and misrepresentations, which were either wholly unnoticed, +or not fully answered by Mr. Thompson, for want, as he has informed +us, of time to do it, we shall briefly notice here, + +First, however, we would call attention to the remark, that 'he is not +a slaveholder,' with which Dr. Wardlaw introduced Mr. Breckinridge to +the audience, and in reference to it quote part of a letter from Dr. +A. L. Cox of New York, to the editor of the emancipator. 'The only +knowledge I have on this subject,' says Dr. C., 'is what I derived +from the confession of R. J. Breckinridge, extorted at an anniversary +meeting of the Colonization Society in this city, in the spring of +1834.' After mentioning some of the circumstances which led him to +speak, the letter goes on to say, 'Just as Robert J. Breckinridge was +on the point of speaking, one of the assembly inquired, 'Is he a +slaveholder?' The orator seemed somewhat disconcerted, but answered +'_I have_ that honor.' + +In the first evening's discussion, page 6, Mr. Breckinridge says that +the British people 'had sent out agents to America, who had returned +defeated. They have failed--they admit they have failed in their +object.' To say nothing of the accuracy which speaks in the plural +number of a single individual, and which can easily be excused to one +who in encountering him, probably felt that that individual was +himself a host,--when or where has the alleged admission been made? +Never. Nowhere. The assertion is untrue. + +During the same evening, page 7, Mr. B. tells his audience that 'of +the twelve [free] states, at least four, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and +Maine never had a slave.' What says the United States' census? In +1830, there were 2 slaves in Maine, 6 in Ohio, 3 in Indiana, and +747[A] in Illinois. In 1820, there were 190 in Indiana, and 917 in +Illinois. In 1810, Indiana contained 237, Illinois 168. In 1800, there +were 135 in Indiana. But Mr. B. says, that 'since 1785, till this +hour, there never had been one slave in any of these states.' + + [A] Called indented apprentices, but from the connection + in which it stands in the census, we infer that they are + virtually slaves. + +'America,' he tells us, 'was the first nation upon earth, which +abolished the slave trade and made it piracy.' See page 8. This will +be unwelcome news to Messrs. Franklin and Armfield of Alexandira, D. +C., whose standing advertisements in the Washington papers, offer cash +for negroes of both sexes, from 12 to 25 years of age, and announce +the 'regular trips' twice a month, of their vessels engaged in the +slave trade between the District and New Orleans. It will be +unpleasant intelligence in the city of Washington, where for $400 a +year, the 'trade or traffic in slaves' is licensed for the benefit of +the canal fund. It will be news to the keepers of the prisons in the +District, who, in their official capacity, carry on the slave trade by +selling men 'for their prison and other expenses, _as the law +directs_.' + +But Mr. B. means the _foreign_ slave trade, not the domestic. The +latter, indeed, may be licensed, and protected, and deemed honorable +as it is lucrative. Those who engage in it, may be like Armfield and +Woolfolk, gentlemen 'of engaging and graceful manners,' reported to be +'mild, indulgent, upright, and scrupulously honest,' but the _foreign_ +trade is _piracy_ by the law of the land. Very meritorious truly! and +worthy of abundant eulogy! to prohibit piracy on the high seas, or the +African coast, while selling permission to do along her own coast, and +on her own territories, the same acts which, when done abroad, +constitute piracy. But to what does her abolition of even the foreign +slave trade amount? Do her cruizers ever capture a slave ship? Seldom, +if ever. Does she consent to such arrangements, in her treaties with +other nations which are in earnest in their endeavors to suppress the +slave trade, as will prevent her flag from being made a protection to +the detestable traffic? No. The N. Y. Journal of Commerce, in a recent +article very truly asserts, that 'We neither do any thing ourselves to +put down the accursed traffic, nor afford any facilities to enable +others to put it down. Nay, rather, we stand between the slave and his +deliverer. We are a drawback--a dead weight on the cause of bleeding +humanity.' And a late number of the Edinburgh Review, speaking of the +application of the British Government to this, for its co-operation, +says, 'The final answer, however, is, that _under no condition, in no +form, and with no restrictions, will the United States enter into any +convention or treaty, or make combined efforts of any sort or kind, +with other nations for the suppression of the trade_.' With what face, +then, can she claim praise for having merely made a law, which she +almost never executes, and to the execution of which, by others, she +permits her flag to be used as a hindrance. + +The next assertion of Mr. B's that we notice, is the astounding one, +that America, 'as a nation, has done every thing in her power' for the +abolition of slavery. See page 8. This, while the national domain is +the home of slavery and the seat of the slave trade! While the +domestic slave trade, so far from being abolished by the National +Legislature, as it may constitutionally be, is shielded and licensed! +This, while the moral power of the nation is slumbering, or if awake, +arrayed to a great extent, in the defence of slavery! That a man who +values his reputation--that a minister of the gospel of Mr. B's +intelligence and knowledge of the country's condition and history in +regard to this matter, should make such a declaration, is truly most +wonderful. Could he have expected it to be believed? Could he have +believed it himself? + +Mr. B., page 15, by way of explaining why Mr. Thompson was so +differently received in Glasgow and Boston, applauded in the one +place, and abused in the other, says that he took up the question of +slavery as one of political organization. We give to this assertion, +the answer of the editor of the Emancipator. 'This we pronounce +_utterly and unequivocally false_. We were with Mr. Thompson, while he +was in this country, as much probably as any other one individual. We +were with him in private and in public, in the house and by the way, +in the public convention and the public lecture, and we most solemnly +declare, that we never heard George Thompson, on any occasion, take up +or discuss the question of American Slavery, 'as one of civil +organization.' He always discussed it primarily and essentially as a +moral and religious question, and never went into its political +relations and bearings, except to answer the objections of cavillers +and opponents. And we are astonished that R. J. Breckinridge should +dare to make such an assertion, when, we venture to say, he never +heard George Thompson in America.' + +The same editor has furnished a better solution than Mr. B's, of +the--not very difficult--problem of Mr. Thompson's different reception +in Boston and Glasgow. 'For the same reason that Knibb, and Taylor, +and Burchell did not meet with the same reception in Glasgow and +Jamaica--because, and simply because the slave spirit was diffused +through the land, infecting and corrupting alike the leading +influences of Church and State, so that Mr. T. could not condemn +slavery and prejudice 'in Boston as in Glasgow,' without constraining +the conviction and the outcry from the implicated and the prejudiced, +"so saying thou condemnest us also."' + +'There is not a sane man in the free states, who does not wish the +world rid of slavery.' This Mr. B. states as his conviction, page 15. +Perhaps it is correct, but if so, there are a great many _insane_ men +in the free states, or a great many who have a very strange way of +manifesting their wishes. The fact is notorious, that Northern men who +remove to the South, almost uniformly become slaveholders the moment +their convenience or pecuniary interest can thereby be promoted. + +On page 20, Mr. B. accuses Garrison of having written placards to stir +up a mob against him, when he lectured in Boston, in behalf of +colonization. A charge more utterly false was never made, and it +requires a great exercise of charity to believe that Mr. B. did not +know its falsehood. It will have been seen that Mr. Thompson +challenged proof of the accusation, but none was produced except the +word of the accuser--evidence on which, any reader who compares his +assertions in several other instances, with facts, will place very +little reliance. + +Another of Mr. B's accusations against 'some of the friends of the +Anti-Slavery Society,' is, that they procured a writ to take the two +'African princes,' who had been sent to the Maryland Colonization +Society to be educated, and that Elizur Wright was the instigator of +the measure, on pretence that the boys had been kidnapped. See page +20. The truth of this matter as given in the Emancipator, on Mr. +Wright's authority, is that, on learning that two native African boys, +supposed to be slaves, were on board a schooner in New York harbor, +bound for Baltimore, Mr. Wright made inquiries on board, and could +only learn that they were brought from Africa by a passenger, and +consigned to some one in Baltimore. To make sure of the means of +prosecuting a legal inquiry, a writ was obtained, but as soon as Mr. +W. discovered that the lads were sent to this country to be educated, +he ordered the officer _not to serve it_. + +The next slanderous charge uttered by the reverend delegate is, that +Elizur Wright tried to stir up a mob to liberate a fugitive slave +confined in New York prison. The story of course is wholly false. + +In the second evening's discussion, Mr. B. says, page 34, the +admission of a clause into the Constitution prohibiting the abolition +of the slave trade for twenty years, 'was one of the brightest virtues +in the escutcheon of America,' A dark escutcheon, then, must be hers, +if the protection of the slave trade for twenty years is the +'brightest' spot on it. The 'importation of such persons,' &c. +(meaning slaves,) 'shall _not_ be prohibited prior to 1808,' says the +Constitution, 'The brightest virtue in her escutcheon!' exclaims Mr. +Breckinridge. + +'It was well known that the slavery existing in the United States was +the mildest to be seen in any country under heaven.' Page 34. Of this +assertion of Mr. B., we have only to say in the words of the +Emancipator, 'It is "well known that the slavery existing in the +United States," is _not_ "the mildest to be seen in any country under +heaven," and to say so is demonstration absolute of the most +"unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose to mislead." Witness the fact, +that the man who teaches the slave to read, or gives him the religious +tract, or the Bible even, does it at his peril. Witness the fact, on +the testimony of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, that the +large majority of the slave population are "heathen, and will bear +comparison with the heathen in any country in the world." Witness the +slave-code every where--particularly the following, which is the law +of North Carolina, and in Georgia nearly the same, "that if any person +hereafter shall be guilty of killing a slave, he shall, upon the first +conviction, suffer the same punishment as if he had killed a free +man"--(i. e. if any white man is witness, and will come forward to +testify in the case, for the testimony of a million of colored men +would go for nothing,) and "_Provided always, that this act shall not +extend to the person killing a slave outlawed_, (and running away, +concealment, and the stealing of a hog, or some animal of the cattle +kind, to sustain life, outlaws him,) _or to any slave in the act of +resistance to his lawful owner or master or to any slave_ DYING UNDER +MODERATE CORRECTION"--thus by the very law which prohibits, giving the +master express license to kill as many, and as often as he pleases, +provided he will only take care to do it, first, when no white men are +present who will inform or testify against him, or secondly, when the +slave is an outlaw; or, thirdly, when he lifts his hand in opposition +to his master, no matter how cruel the punishment or how base the +design upon his or her person; or, fourthly, by "moderate correction." +Let him only see to it, that it is done in one or all of these ways, +and under one or all these circumstances, and if reckless enough to do +so, he may kill ad libitum, and nobody to say why do ye so. Witness +the fact, trumpeted through all the papers within five years, that a +Southern man seeing another passing across his grounds in the evening, +and supposing that he was a runaway slave, _shot him dead_, because, +although he hailed him, he did not stop--when lo! it appeared that he +had shot a white neighbor, and that, the wind being high, he did not +hear, and therefore did not stop at the summons!--a striking +illustration of the carelessness and perfect impunity with which, as +a matter of fact, black men are and may be shot when attempting an +escape from their thraldom. And, once more, witness the fact, that the +way to emancipation is hedged up in this country so as it is in no +other "country under heaven," and then say what but "ignorance, or a +purpose to mislead," could lead to such statements?' + +'Perhaps the great reason against the exercise of that power' [to +abolish slavery in the District of Columbia,] was, that it would +_inevitably_ produce a dissolution of the Union. Put 'this and that +together.' 'There is not a sane man in the free states, but wishes the +world rid of slavery;' the free states contain 'seven millions out of +the eleven millions of the white population of the Union;' (see page +7,) 'a large minority in the slaveholding states, in some nearly one +half of the population,' (see page 13,) 'are _zealously_ engaged in +furthering the abolition of slavery,' and yet the exercise by Congress +of its constitutional power to abolish slavery in the national +district would '_inevitably_ dissolve the Union.' Verily, the old +proverb hath well said that a certain class of persons should have a +good memory. + +Mr. B. sneers at 'Mr. Thompson's argument about the standing army +employed in keeping down the slaves,' and declares that it was +'complete humbug, founded upon just nothing at all.' Will the citizens +of Southampton county, Virginia, who called in the aid of the U. S. +dragoons to quell an insurrection a few years ago, corroborate his +testimony? 'An officer of the United States' army, who was in the +expedition from fortress Monroe, against the Southampton slaves in +1831, speaks with constant horror of the scenes which he was compelled +to witness. Those troops, agreeably to their orders, which were to +exterminate the negroes, killed all that they met with, although they +encountered neither resistance, nor show of resistance: and the first +check given to this wide, barbarous slaughter grew out of the fact, +that the law of Virginia, which provides for the payment to the master +of the full value of an executed slave, was considered as not applying +to the cases of slaves put to death without trial. In consequence of +numerous representations to this effect, sent to the officer of the +United States' army, commanding the expedition, the massacre was +suspended.'--_Child's Oration._ + +And what says Mr. B. to this assertion of John Q. Adams, that were it +not for the protection of the western frontier against the Indians, +and of the Southern slaveholder against his human 'machinery,' this +country would scarcely have any need of a standing army. Is that +'complete humbug' too? + +Mr. B. ventures to say that 'there are not ten persons in the whole +state of Kentucky, holding anti-slavery principles, in the Garrison +sense of the word.' Page 40. We know not how many there may be now, +but in 1835, a constitution of a state society, framed on anti-slavery +principles, 'in the Garrison sense of the word,' was signed by more +than forty persons. + +Mr. B. tells about a minister who was driven, he says, from Groton, +Mass., by the storm of abolitionism, and who seems to have fled to +Baltimore, doubtless, seeking a congenial climate. See page 40. But +Mr. B. forgot to mention the many cases in which the _slave_ spirit, +'like a storm of fire and brimstone from hell,' has driven faithful +pastors from their charges, just for the crime of praying and +preaching now and then for the enslaved. + +Mr. B. says of a document from which his opponent quoted certain +Maryland laws that placed the 'benevolent colonization scheme' in any +thing but a favorable light, that it was said in America, and he +believed truly, to contain not the laws, but only schemes of laws +which never passed the Assembly. See page 47. On this the Emancipator +remarks, 'This was never alleged against the pamphlet. The pamphlet +contains the laws precisely as they stand in the statute book of +Maryland, as Mr. B. would have seen had he ever taken the trouble to +compare them. And for him to make such assertions, without having done +so, is only another instance of "unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose +to mislead."' + +In the third evening's discussion, Mr. B. asserted, page 50, that Mr. +Garrison was among the first who opposed the Colonization Society, 'on +the ground that its operations were injurious to the colored race in +America.' To this the Emancipator says, 'This is partly true and +partly not. The Society was decidedly opposed, at the outset, both by +the colored people and by those who, up to that time, had been most +active in promoting the cause of emancipation. As early as August, +1817, the subject came before the "American Convention for Promoting +the Abolition of Slavery," &c., at its session in Philadelphia. This +body, representing for the most part Friends, and made up of delegates +from abolition and manumission societies in different parts of the +country, after a full discussion, appointed a committee on the +subject. That committee reported, that "they must express their +unqualified wish, that no plan of colonization shall be permitted to +go into effect without an _immutable pledge_ from the slaveholding +states of a just and wise system of gradual emancipation;" and they +conclude their report, which was approved and adopted by the +Convention with the following resolution:-- + + "Resolved, As a sense of this Convention, that the gradual + and total emancipation of all persons of color, and their + literary and moral education, should precede their + colonization." + +When the Convention met again in 1819, the Pennsylvania society, in +sending up a statement of its views and proceedings, warned the +"abolitionists of our country to retain in view the lessons of +experience, and avoid substituting for them, schemes however splendid, +yet of questionable result;" and added, "for ourselves there is but +one principle on which we can act. It is the principle of immutable +justice! We can make no compromise with the prejudices of slavery, or +with the slavery of prejudice. The same arguments that are now urged +against emancipation, unless the subjects of it be removed from our +territory, were used with more plausibility when abolition was an +experiment, yet they were combatted with success." + +Mr. B. says, page 52, it 'would-be difficult, if not utterly +impossible, for evidences of friendship to the Colonization Society +from an avowed friend of slavery to be culled out, as occurring within +the last three or four years.' Says the Emancipator, "So far is this +from being true, that the most decisive evidences of this sort are +found, _within_ the last three or four years. Scarce a pro-slavery +mob, or speech, or meeting, during this whole time, but has contained, +in one and the same breath, a condemmnation of abolition and a +commendation of colonization." + +After quoting the resolution against the Colonization Society, in +Boston last year, Mr. B. remarks, 'that the verbiage of this +resolution, showed its parentage. No one who had ever heard one of Mr. +Thompson's speeches could, for a moment, doubt the authorship of the +resolution!' This is a small mistake indeed, and among so many great +ones, scarce merits a notice, but to show that Mr. B's sagacity in +conjecture, exceeds not much his veracity in assertion, we just +mention in passing, that the 'authorship of the resolution' belongs +_not_ to Mr. Thompson. + +'The abolitionists,' says Mr. B. page 54, 'have been going about, from +Dan to Beersheba, not only attacking and vilifying the whites, for +proposing to colonize the blacks, with their own free consent; but +equally attacking the blacks for availing themselves of the offer.' An +assertion utterly false, and wickedly slanderous. + +On page 55, Mr. B. introduces an extract from an address of some of +the Cape Palmas Colonists to their friends in America, for the purpose +of showing the prosperity of the Colony. In connection with this, let +the following letter from a colonist be read:-- + + 'CAPE PALMAS, MAY 5TH, 1834. + + _Dear Mother_,--I write you with regret. It is true, I wrote + to you of my passage, how I enjoyed it. I spent a very + agreeable time, and also on my first arrival; but now I am + distressed, and all Mr. C's family also. * * * O! I am sorry! + yes, sorry that I ever came to this country. It is true, + mother, had I taken your advice, I would not have been here. + I have suffered and all my family, and Mr. C's family too, + and we still continue to suffer. Not a cent of money have any + of us got. Now, mother, if you can get any gentleman to + advance the amount of three hundred dollars, or two hundred + and fifty dollars I will work for them for it four years. I + will serve as a waiter in a house, or any thing at all, to + pay for it. My wife says she would maintain herself and + sister, if that could get her home once more, for here they + can do nothing, for we are not able, the country is so + sickly--we have been sick ever since we have been here--* * * + I will serve any way or at any thing. _I will sell myself as + a slave_, for the sake of getting HOME once more. Try for me, + if you please, for my _family's_ sake. If I was by myself, I + might scuffle for myself.' + +In a subsequent letter, dated August 3, 1834, this same writer +communicates the additional intelligence, that Mrs. C 'died of grief.' + +'Every benevolent and right thinking person must see, that the scheme +of colonizing Africa by black men, is necessary to enlighten Africa, +and prevent the extirpation of the black man there.' So says Mr. +Breckinridge. Doubtless it was to _enlighten_ the poor natives, and +_prevent their_ extirpation, that a brisk traffic in rum, tobacco, +gunpowder, and spear-pointed knives, has been carried on with them by +black men colonized in Africa--that nine pound balls from 'a gun of +great power' were discharged into a body of eight hundred men, +standing within sixty yards, pressed shoulder to shoulder, in so +compact a form that a child might easily walk upon their heads from +one end of the mass to the other' and 'every shot literally spent its +force in a solid mass of living human flesh[B]--that by fraud and +injustice the colonists excited the hostility of the Africans, and +stirred up a war with King Joe Harris, which resulted in the slaughter +of numbers of the ignorant barbarians, who were unable to cope with +the superior arms, and discipline, and military prowess of the +American blacks--the 'missionaries in the holy cause of civilization, +religion, and free institutions.'[C] + + [B] See Gurley's Life of Ashmun, page 139. + + [C] Speech of Henry Clay. Tenth Annual Report of the + American Colonization Society. + +'America,' says Mr. B., 'was christianized by colonization.' Yea, +verily! and in this case we have another precious example of the +enlightening, civilizing, and christianizing influence of colonies. +The poor Indian has felt, and faded away before it, along the +Atlantic-shores, and still the 'missionary' work is going on at the +far southwest. Ask the Seminoles and the Creeks if colonization has +not Christianized America. Ask the shades of Metacom, and Canonicus, +and Sarsacus; ask the feeble remnants of the mighty tribes which once +dwelt from the lakes to the Gulf, and from the ocean to the Alleghany, +and learn of them the process of christianization which colonies have +introduced into America. Is it by a similar process that 'colonizing +Africa by black men,' is to 'prevent the extirpation' of the natives +of that continent? + +'The climate' of Africa Mr. B. says, page 58 'suits the black man, +while hundreds of white men have fallen victims to it.' And how many +'hundreds of black men' have fallen victims to it? Those especially +who have gone from the Northern states, have found it as fatal as have +the whites themselves, nor has it been very remarkably healthy to any +portion of the colonists. + +Mr. B. is very certain that colonizing Africa will destroy the slave +trade. He says the colonists 'would put an end to the trade the moment +they were able to chastise the pirates, or make reprisals on the +nations to which they belonged. Nothing is plainer, than that any +nation that will make reprisals, will have none of the inhabitants +stolen. If reprisals were made effective, the slave trade would be +immediately stopped.' A Christian mode of reforming vices and removing +evils, truly! '_Any nation that will make reprisals!_' So, if Peter +steals John's child, John must steal Peter's by way of reprisal, and +that will put a stop to the mischief at once! And why not reprisals +prevent all other kinds of violence, as well as man-stealing? If an +Englishman shoots a Frenchman, let a Frenchman shoot an Englishman in +return, and the quarrel is settled, and peace restored! For 'nothing +is plainer, than that any nation that will make reprisals, will have +none of the inhabitants' shot. Does past history sustain this +doctrine? Do present facts sustain it? No longer let our clergy +preach, that 'all they who take the sword, shall perish by the sword.' +'Nothing is plainer,' than that those nations 'which take the sword' +to 'make reprisals,' 'will have none of the inhabitants' injured by +the sword. But where is the need of colonies? If the 'Foulahs' will +only steal as many men, women, and children, from the 'Ialoffs,' as +the latter from the former, 'nothing is plainer than that these two +tribes will have none of the inhabitants stolen.' Do the various +African tribes never make reprisals? How happens it then, that the +slave trade, and the whole business of man-stealing has not been long +since suppressed? + +'On one hundred leagues of the African coast,' says Mr. B., 'it is +already to a great degree suppressed' by the operation of the +colonization societies and their colonies. To this the Emancipator +says, 'These statements are far, very far from true, and we can +account for them only on the ground of "unpardonable ignorance, or a +purpose to mislead." Again and again have we been assured, and on +colonial colonization authority too, that the trade still goes on in +the vicinity of the colony as briskly as ever, nay, that it is even +prosecuted within the limits of the colony, and in sight of Monrovia +itself. Indeed, at this very moment the colony, instead of being able +to suppress or destroy the trade, is in danger of being itself +destroyed by it, and is sending out its appeal to this country for +help, praying that some "American vessels" may be sent upon the coast +to seize the traders, and to protect the colony. Let our friends in +this country and in England peruse the following extracts from the +Liberia Herald just received in this country, and then say what shall +be thought of the man or the men who, in the face of such and similar +testimony repeatedly received, can unblushingly pretend "that on one +hundred leagues of the African coast, the trade is already to a great +degree suppressed?" + +Extracts from late Liberia papers, received at the office of the N. Y. +Commercial Advertiser:-- + + "_Slave Trade._--This nefarious traffic is again lifting its + horrid head in our vicinity, and increasing in a fearful + ratio. Within one hundred miles of the settlement, there are + at this very time, at least _four_ factories for the purchase + of slaves, and one of them not more than eighteen miles off! + The consequences are most severely felt by the colony. It is + now impossible to purchase rice, at any rate that would not + starve the most fortunate man. In our immediate vicinity, it + is reported, slavers have lately given the natives a musket + for four cross! the retail price of which, in the colony, is + six dollars! To the Spaniards, in view of a successful voyage, + the profits of which are so enormous, goods are of no value; + but it is far otherwise with us. The natives, like other men, + disposed to get the most for their articles, will of course + sell to those who will give the highest. This being the case, + we ask, _how are the people of this colony to live_? We have + sometimes thought if the people of the United States once + knew the _inconvenience_ to which the slave trade subjects + us, and what an _effectual check_ it is upon the advancement + and prosperity of the colony, and how little of those surplus + and useless millions, whose proper place of deposite has + created so much contention, that without an exception, saints + and sinners, politicians, philosophers, colonizationists, and + abolitionists, anti-colonizationists, anti-abolitionists, and + anti-all, would rise up, and with one general voice decree, + that a small armed vessel shall ply between Sherbro Islands + and Kroo country, and thus _effectually protect_ a few poor + OUTCASTS, while millions of their brethren are faithfully + slaving to enrich us at home." + +And so, notwithstanding the Paradise to which they have gone, and +their "free consent" to go, they are "poor outcasts" when they get +there after all; and the very trade which they were sent to abolish, +is in a fair way of abolishing them, unless government vessels go out +to their aid!' + +Of the remark said to have been made by him at the colonization +meeting, in 1834, that certain emigrants to Liberia 'were coerced +away, as truly as if it had been done with a cart-whip,' Mr. B. says +'it was an unfair report, got up by Mr. Leavitt, the editor of the N. +Y. Evangelist, to serve a special purpose.' The Emancipator answers +the assertion thus, 'This passage has been quoted and requoted in this +country, in times and ways well nigh innumerable, but, to the best of +our knowledge, it was never before pronounced an unfair report, either +by Mr. B. or any other individual. And now, while we leave Mr. Leavitt +to answer for himself on the question of its fairness, we take the +liberty to say, that if unfair, it will not relieve Mr. B. of +difficulty. For if the report be fair, and Mr. B. did say the things +attributed to him, why then, as every body knows, he said what was +true. If, however, it be unfair, and he did not say those things, then +as every body knows, he did _not_ say what was true, and what, if he +had spoken the truth, he would have said. For that they were "coerced +away as truly as if it had been done with a cart-whip," every body +knows to be fact.' + + _Mr. Leavitt's Note to the Editor of the Emancipator._ + + 'In reply to Mr. Breckinridge's allegation, that I "got up" + a report of his speech, "to serve a special purpose," I will + only say, that Mr. Breckinridge did prudently to go across + the Atlantic before he made that charge. My character as a + _fair_ reporter, will not be affected _here_ by such + insinuations. I have no doubt that the report in question + gives the ideas Mr. B. uttered, mostly in the very language + he used. My recollection, in this case, is very distinct, and + the words taken down at the time. + + JOSHUA LEAVITT. + +Mr. B. says, that 'in many instances the bad laws had become worse, +and good laws had become bad, solely through the imprudent conduct of +Mr. Thompson's associates.' Some of the most unrighteous, barbarous, +and abominable laws ever enacted in this land, whose rulers have so +long occupied the 'throne of iniquity,' and been so often and so +deeply guilty of 'framing mischief by a law,' are cited in Stroud's +Sketch, a work published several years before 'Mr. Thompson and his +associates' had commenced their 'imprudent' measures. Those laws +certainly were not occasioned by their imprudence. It is nearly a +hundred years at least, since these statutes of pandemonium began to +disgrace American legislation. + +In the fourth evening's discussion, Mr. B. asserts, page 88, that the +N. Y. Observer and Boston Recorder, 'print more matter weekly than all +the abolition newspapers in America, put together, do in half a year.' +It is really matter of astonishment, that he should venture the +utterance of such a glaring falsehood. He ought to have learned to +keep at least within the bounds of probability in his fictions. There +were at the time when his assertion was made--to say nothing of the +monthlies--not less than eight or nine _weekly_ anti-slavery papers, +some of which circulated more widely than the Recorder, and not much +less widely than the Observer. If we do not mistake, Mr. B. told a +story at least forty or fifty times as large as the truth, and we are +by no means sure that the proportion is not much larger. + +Mr. Thompson, for the purpose of showing what the abolitionists are +doing in one department of their work, produced copies of the Slaves +Friend, Anti-Slavery Record, Anti-Slavery Anecdotes, Human Rights, +Emancipator, Liberator, New York Evangelist, Zion's Herald, Zion's +Watchman, Philadelphia Independent Weekly Press, Herald of Freedom, +Lynn Record, New England Spectator, &c., and an Anti-Slavery +Quarterly. Of these, Mr. B. said 'some of them were, he believed, long +ago dead; some could hardly be said ever to have lived; some were +purely occasional; the greater part as limited in circulation, as they +were contemptible in point of merit. Not above two or three of the +dozen or fifteen that had been produced before them were, in fact, +worthy to be called respectable and avowed abolition newspapers.' Now +for the truth. _Not one_ of them was 'long ago,' or is now 'dead.' +Only one of them is 'purely occasional'--the Anti-Slavery +Anecdotes--but, with that exception, all are now alive, and nearly +every one has a circulation as extensive as that of the +Recorder--some, as already stated, still more extensive. And beside +these which Mr. Thompson exhibited, there are several other weekly and +monthly anti-slavery publications, which are neither dead, nor likely +soon to be. The Philanthropist, (its publication suspended indeed, for +a short time by the destruction of its press, but soon to be resumed,) +the Friend of Man, the American Citizen, the Vermont Telegraph, the +Middlebury Free Press, the Vermont State Journal, and a number more, +weekly, and some monthly periodicals are 'avowed abolition +newspapers,' some of them devoted almost exclusively to this cause, +and all 'respectable' both in character and extent of circulation. +Some of them are of the very highest order in point of ability and +merit, of the weekly periodicals of the country. Mr. T., therefore, +instead of exaggerating in regard to the number of the abolition +papers, fell considerably short of the truth. + +'Was he [the inhabitant of Louisiana] to be told then, that he should +turn off his slaves?' &c., asks Mr. B., page 90, Certainly not--at +least, not by abolitionists. They propose that the slaves should be +permitted to remain on the plantations and work as free laborers, +where their services will be needed, and will be mutually advantageous +to themselves and their employers. + +Mr. B. denies, page 90, that any person legally free, 'was ever sold +into everlasting slavery,' but his denial is only another evidence of +the facility with which he can utter, not only gross falsehoods, but +falsehoods which contradict _notorious_ facts, and which of course +cannot escape detection. Mr. T. has fully exposed this falsehood, by +presenting documentary evidence of the fact denied. + +Of Mr. B's declarations, on page 91, to which we refer the reader, the +Emancipator says, 'All this, if not "gratuitous folly," is at least, +unfounded and reckless assertion, which we have scarcely ever seen +equalled.' + +We ask our readers to turn back, and read again the paragraph on page +97, ending '_to_ COERCE _such emigration, might be a_ MOST SACRED +DUTY,' This has frankness at least, if it has no other good quality to +recommend it. But it is the frankness of the tyrant, who, confident of +his power to effect his purposes, fears not to avow them, however +iniquitous or abominable. And if there be frankness in letting out the +design, there is most unblushing impudence in calling its execution +'_a sacred duty_.' What utter heartlessness too, and what obliquity of +moral vision does it exhibit. And this man dares to rank himself with +the friends of the colored people! Such a friend as the Holy +Inquisitors of Spain, to the heretical Protestants, whom they deem it +their 'sacred duty to coerce' with rack and fire, to a renunciation of +their heresies. Such a friend as Louis XIV., to the Huguenots,--James +I., to the Puritans, and Charles II., to the Scottish Covenanters. + +On page 98, Mr. B. introduces what he calls a speech of Mr. T. at +Andover, as reported by a student in the Theological Seminary. Mr. T. +has met this anonymous report with counter testimony, not anonymous, +but we will add that of the editor of the Emancipator, who says, 'Mr. +B. although so often pretending that he had no documents, &c., here +read the false and distorted account of Mr. Thompson's speech on this +occasion, published at the time in the Boston Courier, and signed C. +Having been there at the time, we here record our testimony to the +fact of its being false and distorted in its representations.' + +Mr. B. on page 109, alludes to what Mr. Thompson has said 'about Dr. +Sprague having part of his church curtained round for persons of +color,' and says he notices it 'only because it was told as a +_specimen_ story.' In the same connection he evidently endeavors to +create the impression that the religious privileges of the free +colored people are equal to those of the whites. On this, the +Emancipator remarks, 'We can testify to the truth of the story in +regard to Dr. Sprague's church; and although every church does not +separate the blacks from the whites with so much care, or in precisely +the same way, yet it is strictly true, that almost, without exception, +the separation is made and carefully kept up, and this not only in the +ordinary worship of the Sabbath, but even when the church gather about +the table of their crucified and common Lord, to partake of the +emblems of his dying love.' And after admitting that colored men have, +in a few instances, been admitted to theological seminaries, and to a +seat in ecclesiastical bodies, the editor adds, and truly, as all +familiar with the facts can testify, 'Such instances, however, are few +and far between, and whenever they do occur, the individuals concerned +are, in many ways, made to feel their inferiority and to _know their +place_. The impression made by Mr. B's representation would be, as a +whole, incorrect.' + +Mr. B. asserts, page 110, that the free blacks 'in nearly every part +of America,' enjoy all civil rights 'to a degree utterly unknown to +millions of British subjects,' in various parts of the empire, and +'even in England itself.' 'It would be easy,' says the Emancipator, +'to show that he is wrong in several particulars.' And then, as one, +refers to the fact, that the colored man is not secure in his rights +or person, but may be dragged into slavery, even from free states, +without a jury trial. This one fact is certainly sufficient to +disprove Mr. B's assertion. + +'But,' says Mr. B. 'If any rights have been denied them,' as for +instance, that of preaching the gospel, 'which Virginia had lately +done,' it was all owing to the fury of abolition. See page 110. Yet +Stroud cites a law of Virginia, dating back as far as 1819, and being +then but the re-enactment of a law before in force, which rendered all +assemblies of slaves and free negroes in a meeting house or other +place by night, or at any school for teaching reading and writing, by +day or night, _unlawful_ assemblies, and subjects any person, slave or +free black, found in them, to the punishment of twenty lashes, by +order of a justice of the peace. Stroud, page 89. + +Mr. B. in the true colonization spirit, takes occasion to slander the +colored people, accusing them of 'insolence and imprudence,' and of +'insulting females in the streets of our cities,' and 'setting up +claim of perfect domestic equality with their masters,' &c. See page +114. We give the Emancipator's note on this wicked accusation, which +is as cruel as it is false. 'This whole representation is false. +Nothing can be more so. The modest deportment and the spirit of +forbearance manifested by the colored people, from the outset, has +been of the most marked as well as praiseworthy character, and in +instances not a few, has secured to them the approbation of avowed +enemies of the anti-slavery cause.' We add our own testimony, so far +as our observation has extended, to the truth of this statement. + +In the fifth evening's debate, Mr. B. complains, page 120, that Mr. +Thompson 'did not tell them that none of the ministers in twelve whole +states were or could easily be slaveholders, seeing they were not +inhabitants of a slave state.' And why should he. Would not the mere +knowledge of the fact, that 'they were not inhabitants of slave +states' render it unnecessary that his hearers should be particularly +informed that they were not slaveholders? Does Mr. B. believe that the +people of Glasgow supposed Northern ministers to be generally +slaveholders? We say _generally_, for we should not dare to assert +that '_none_' of them 'were,' whether they '_easily_ could be' or not. +If we have not been misinformed, and we believe we have not, it has +been our fortune, good or ill, to hear a northern slaveholding +minister preach, a minister too, whose pastoral charge was in the very +cradle of this _free_ nation. + +'The overwhelming mass of American ministers,' says Mr. B., 'never +owned a slave, and those who had, were exceptions from the general +rule.' Mr. T. has demolished this position with a most tremendous +broadside of evidence. We add the following quotation, which we find +in the Emancipator, from a document published a few months ago, by the +Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. 'The number of our ministers is +but little more than half the number of our churches, and of those +ministers _not one fifth sustain any pastoral relation_.' The number +of ministers is about 100, 'and many of them are obliged to devote a +part or the whole of their time to teaching, _farming_, or some other +secular employment, to procure a support for their families.' Farming +we all know, means in the slave states, 'slaveholding and +slave-driving.' + +Mr. B. seems very indignant at the declarations of his opponent, and +Moses Roper, (a colored man who had been present at some of the +meetings which Mr. T. addressed,) that slaves in America were owned, +not only by ministers and church members, but even by churches +themselves. He calls Roper's statement, 'the poor negro's silly +falsehood,' and says, page 123, 'If there be above five congregations +in all America, that own slaves, I never heard of them.' He then +mentions three of which he has heard, all in the Southern part of +Virginia. The Emancipator, in a note on this part of Mr. B's speech, +remarks, 'True, it is not the _general_ practice for churches or +ecclesiastical societies at the South, to own slaves as church +property, yet we suppose that the practice is by no means uncommon; +and the proof is threefold: _first_, that a number of instances of the +kind are actually known; _second_, that when such instances do occur, +they never produce any special sensation in the public mind--are never +spoken of as special and extraordinary cases, and never subjects such +church to reproof or the loss of ecclesiastical fellowship with other +churches; and _third_, that ministers very generally at the South hold +slaves, and that oftentimes when they are unable to buy for +themselves, some kind friend makes them a present of one or two for +house servants; and if to the ministry, why not the church?' It then +goes on to enumerate two instances, beside those admitted by Mr. B., +of churches holding slaves, and one of a bequest of slaves to the +Missionary Society, [A. B. C. F. M.] and gives also an advertisement +of the sale of certain property 'belonging to the estate of the late +Rev. Dr. Truman,' including land, 'a library _chiefly theological_,' +and '_twenty-seven negroes_, two mules, one horse, and an old wagon.' +The note thus continues, 'And when these notices appeared in the +Southern prints, no body was struck with amazement; no protestation +was given to the public that they were extraordinary cases; no +Christian minister or Christian newspaper, as we are aware, ever +lifted their voice against them as rare cases, or bore their testimony +against them as being as monstrous as they were rare. What then is the +inference? Why, that such things, if not _general_, are yet never +regarded as singular or uncommon. Now add to these; and others that +might be named, the cases admitted by Mr. B., and to this, add the +fact that Mr. Paxton at least felt that his church in Virginia _could_ +emancipate the _fifty_ slaves they owned, but _would_ not, and then +say whose statements have most of the "silly falsehoods" about them, +those of Mr. B., or the despised but honest-hearted negro?' + +Mr. B. seems to regard it as a mighty grievance, that when there are +so few slaveholding ministers, church members, and churches in +America, his opponent should charge the guilt of slavery upon the +whole American church. But why is not the whole church guilty, if any +of its members persist in committing the sin, and yet are regarded as +worthy members, in regular standing?--if any of its ministers with +hands polluted by the abominable thing, are still allowed, without any +ecclesiastical censure, not only to dispense the bread of life from +the store-house of God's word, but to distribute the emblems of +Christ's body and blood, to those who come around the table to +commemorate a Saviour's dying love?--if any of its branches, claiming +to hold God's image as property, and treating as 'chattels personal,' +their Saviour, in the person of 'one of the least of these' his +'brethren,' are fellow-shipped as sister churches, and unreproved for +their iniquity? 'Who dare pretend,' asks the Emancipator, 'That the +American church does not uphold and countenance Christian slaveholders +in their conduct? True, there are individuals, and individual churches +not a few, who do not, but who bear a faithful testimony against them. +But how is it with the _governing influences_ of the church? Their +character and their acts, and not those of a minority, however large +or respectable are the character and the acts of the church. What then +is the position of the governing influences of the American church in +regard to American slavery? It is that of protection and countenance. +The proceedings of the last General Convention of the Baptists, and +the last General Conference of the Methodists, and the last General +Assembly of the Presbyterians are our confirmation--and they are +"confirmation strong as holy writ." At this very moment, these three +bodies stand before the world as the three great Patrons and +Protectors of American slavery. Deny it as they will, the gains of the +oppressor, the hire kept back by fraud is in their coffers, the blood +of the oppressed stains their garments, and they refuse to confess or +forsake their sin.' + +Mr. B. would doubtless have thought it very uncharitable to cause a +large army of Israelites to turn their backs before their enemies, and +suffer a shameful and disastrous defeat, just because there was _one_ +Achan in the camp. + +We cannot but think that the reverend disputant rather unfortunate in +his reference to the book of Drs. Cox and Hoby, (see page 128,) for +information about the connection of the Baptists with slavery. In +looking there for light on that particular point, the reader might +chance to stumble on some things about the wicked prejudice against +the black man, as well as some sentiments in regard to the treatment +of slaves and free blacks generally, that would ill accord with the +expressed notions of the Presbyterian delegate. + +On page 133, Mr. B. introduces a letter, published in the N. Y. +Observer, and signed Truth, which represents the negroes of South +Carolina as '_generally_ well fed, well clothed,' and enjoying '_the +means of religious instruction_,' and declares that '_great and +increasing efforts are made to instruct them in religion, and elevate +their characters_.' We request our readers to turn back and read the +whole letter, and then to compare it with the following extracts from +a report on the subject of the religious instruction of the colored +people, published in 1834, by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. +'We believe that their (the colored population's) moral and religious +condition is such, as that they may justly be considered the _heathen_ +of this christian country, and will bear comparison with heathen in +any country in the world.' + +'The negroes are destitute of the privileges of the gospel, and ever +will be, under the present state of things. There were some exceptions +to this, the Synod say, and they "rejoice" in it; but although our +assertion is broad, we believe that, in general, it will be found to +be correct.' + +'They can have no access to the the scriptures. They are dependent for +their knowledge of Christianity, upon _oral instruction_. Have they +then that amount of oral instruction, which, in their circumstances, +is necessary to their enjoyment of the gospel? _They have not._ From +an entire state beyond the Potomac to the Sabine, and from the +Atlantic to the Ohio, there are, to the best of our knowledge, not +_twelve_ men exclusively devoted to the religious instruction of the +negroes.' + +The report then goes on to say that 'the negroes do not have access to +the gospel through the stated ministry of the whites,' that 'a _very +small proportion_ of the ministers in the slaveholding states, _pay +any attention to them_,' that 'they have no churches, neither is there +sufficient room for their accommodation in white churches,' and that, +in some cases, for want of a place within, 'the negroes who attend, +must catch the gospel as it escapes by the doors and windows.' 'We +venture to say,' the report continues, 'that _not a twentieth part_ of +the negroes attend divine worship on the Sabbath. Thousands and +thousands hear not the sound of the gospel, or _ever_ enter a church +_from one year to another_.' + +The report says too, that they 'do not enjoy the privileges of the +gospel in private, at their houses, or on their plantations. If the +master is pious, the house servants _alone_, and frequently few or +none of these attend family worship. In general it does not enter into +the arrangement of the plantations, to make provision for their +religious instruction. We feel warranted, therefore, in the +conclusion, that the negroes are _destitute of the privileges of the +gospel, and must continue to be so_, if nothing more is done for +them.' + +'We are astonished,' say the Synod, 'thus to find Christianity in +absolute conjunction with _Heathenism_, and yet conferring few or no +benefits.' + +Our readers, after comparing the above with the letter read by Mr. B., +can decide how much right the author of that letter had to sign it +'Truth.' + +Mr. B., page 155, endeavors to escape the force of the immense weight +of evidence with which his antagonist presses him to the earth, by +sneering at the witnesses as 'obscure,' and for aught that could be +known, 'fictitious persons,' although the names are generally given, +and yet he quotes evidence to sustain himself, which is absolutely +anonymous. See page 132. The Emancipator pertinently asks, 'Can Mr. B. +tell us who "Truth" and "A New England man" are? Or are the persons as +"fictitious" as their stories?' + +Upon Mr. B.'s assertion that Mr. Thompson's testimonies were of this +worthless character, the Emancipator has the following note. 'We beg +our readers to stop here, and go back and count the documents, and +they will find that the very reverse of what Mr. B. has stated is the +fact; and that while Mr. B.'s _main_ proofs are, first, his _own_ +assertions, and, second, the assertion of individuals, or of anonymous +writers in partisan newspapers, Mr. Thompson's _main_ proofs are the +formal resolutions and declarations of ecclesiastical bodies, and of +those who represent the _governing_ influence in church and state, and +that the testimony of individuals, so far as it is used, is brought in +only as confirmatory of the other.' + +On page 158, Mr. B. attacks Mr. J. A. Thome of Kentucky, with +characteristic virulence, because, in a speech at an Anti-Slavery +meeting, that young man had boldly exposed the abominations of slavery +in his native state. For this act his slanderer calls him 'the ingrate +who commenced his career of manhood, by smiting his parent in the +face.' But he cautiously avoids attempting--what he was doubtless +sensible would be a somewhat difficult task--to disprove the +statements of Mr. Thome. It is a little remarkable that the facts +stated by Thome, and denied by Mr. B. and his brother at the time, +were confirmed abundantly by an article published in the Western +Luminary, a Kentucky paper, on the very day on which Mr. Thome made +his statement in New York. Thus without any concert or arrangement, +two witnesses at a long distance from each other, testified to the +same facts, and unfortunately for the credibility of Mr. Breckinridge, +those were the facts which he was almost at the same time stoutly +denying. Other witnesses of unimpeachable veracity, have since +attested the same facts, and now Mr. B.'s impotent efforts to +discredit Mr. Thome, only serve to show his own vexation, malignity +and falsehood. + +We do not pretend to have noticed all the slips of Mr. B.'s 'unruly +member' in this discussion, or to have pointed out every instance in +which he has labored with all that ability and ingenuity which we +readily admit he possesses, to create false impressions on the minds +of his audience; but enough have been pointed out to show in some +measure, the degree of confidence which ought to be reposed in his +veracity as a witness and his candor and fairness as a reasoner. + +A few trifling errors into which Mr. Thompson has fallen, we feel +bound to correct; in proceeding to which, however, we cannot but +remark that considering the shortness of the time which Mr. T. spent +among us, the amount of labor which he performed in lecturing, +addressing conventions, debating, &c. &c. and the large portion of his +time necessarily consumed in social intercourse with his extensive +circle of acquaintance--nay, the very considerable share of it which +was required for the mere answering of applications to lecture, which +came from every quarter; we are actually astonished at the extent and +minuteness of his information, the mass of facts and documents which +he has contrived to collect, and what is more, at the general--the +almost uniform accuracy of his knowledge of American affairs. The +reader has seen how completely furnished he was, how armed at all +points, and ever ready to lay his hand on the very weapon which was +needed at any stage of the conflict, whether to parry the blow aimed +at himself, or to send home to his antagonist's bosom, a vigorous +thrust which neither the dexterity of sophistry could elude, nor the +buckler of brazen falsehood ward off. Indeed the mass of his +documents, and the readiness and aptness to the purpose with which he +used them, seems to have been one of the chief causes of the bitter +vexation which his opponent continually betrays. That he should have +fallen into a few mistakes is nothing surprising--that he should have +fallen into _so_ few, is indeed wonderful, and proves the industry and +diligence with which he labored at times when from the fatiguing +nature, and great amount of his public efforts, one would have +supposed he must have been obliged to indulge in perfect repose. But +to the errors. + +He stated the first evening, page 12, that there were now, exclusive +of the publications of the Anti-Slavery Society, one hundred +newspapers boldly advocating the principles of abolition. 'There are,' +says the Emancipator, 'about that number friendly to our cause, and +that occasionally speak in our behalf, but not that _boldly advocate_ +our principles,' or, as perhaps would be the more accurate mode of +expression, that do not boldly advocate our principles, _in their +application_ to the subject to which we apply them. + +On the second evening, Mr. Thompson in speaking of the New York State +Anti-Slavery Convention, page 30, said there were 600 delegates at +Utica the first day, and that when driven away by a mob, these went to +Peterboro', and were there joined by 400 more, making 1000 in all. In +reality, it was estimated that nearly or quite 1000 went to Utica, and +of these only about 400 went to Peterboro'. The error is indeed +immaterial. + +In the fourth evening's debate, Mr. T. alluding to Kaufman's +slanderous story about him, calls Kaufman 'the son of a slaveholder, +and heir to slave property.' Such was supposed to be the case, and we +were not aware that this supposition was erroneous, till we met, in +the Emancipator's note to this remark of Mr. T., an intimation that +this report had been contradicted. 'Mr. K. is from Virginia,' says the +note, 'but we believe not a slaveholder or heir to slave property.' + +These are all the errors we have observed in the statements of Mr. +Thompson, and these are of so little moment that we should not have +considered them worthy of notice in his opponent. + +It is perhaps unnecessary in concluding, formally to acknowledge, +what the reader cannot fail to have perceived, our large indebtedness +to the editor of the Emancipator for aid in the preparation of this +appendix. The truth is, our hands are at this time so plentifully +filled with business, that we have had but little time, to spare for +this work, and were glad to avail ourselves of the labors of one who +had, to such good purpose, just gone over the ground before us. + + C. C. BURLEIGH. + + Boston, Sept. 22, 1836. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +Other than a few punctuation errors and the misprints corrected in the +list below, printer's inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and +hyphenation have been retained: + + "solictied" corrected to "solicited" (page 4) + "conclusinos" corrected to "conclusions" (page 4) + "belived" corrected to "believed" (page 5) + "anamoly" corrected to "anomaly" (page 7) + "wasnot" corrected to "was not" (page 7) + "Birtish" corrected to "British" (page 8) + "him self" corrected to "himself" (page 10) + "alloted" corrected to "allotted" (pages 16, 163) + "immeditate" corrected to "immediate" (page 18) + "decison" corrected to "decision" (page 18) + "spirtual" corrected to "spiritual" (page 18) + "kidknapped" corrected to "kidnapped" (page 20) + "aleady" corrected to "already" (page 21) + "colonziation" corrected to "colonization" (page 23) + "however. Mr. Thomppson" corrected to "however, Mr. Thompson" + (page 33) + "actualy" corrected to "actually" (page 34) + "abosolute" corrected to "absolute" (page 35) + "opionion" corrected to "opinion" (page 36) + "capacties" corrected to "capacities" (page 37) + "excercise" corrected to "exercise" (page 38) + "elighten" corrected to "enlighten" (page 44) + "commited" corrected to "committed" (page 44) + "thoughout" corrected to "throughout" (page 87) + "alledged" corrected to "alleged" (page 111) + "ojection" corrected to "objection" (page 112) + "proceedure" corrected to "procedure" (page 113) + "equesterd" corrected to "requested" (page 135) + "occuring" corrected to "occurring" (page 171) + "comendation" corrected to "commendation" (page 171) + "Engl shman" corrected to "Englishman" (page 174) + "succesful" corrected to "successful" (page 175) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Discussion on American Slavery, by +George Thompson and Rev. Robert J. 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Breckinridge. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-variant:normal; + font-weight:normal; + text-decoration: none; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + p.author {text-align: right; margin-right: 2em;} + .regards {text-align: right; margin-right: 4em;} + .desig {text-align: right;} + .salute {text-align: left; margin-left: 2em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Discussion on American Slavery, by +George Thompson and Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Discussion on American Slavery + +Author: George Thompson + Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge + +Release Date: May 23, 2010 [EBook #32500] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISCUSSION ON AMERICAN SLAVERY *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h3>DISCUSSION</h3> +<h4>ON</h4> +<h1>AMERICAN SLAVERY,</h1> + +<h4>BETWEEN</h4> + +<h3>GEORGE THOMPSON, ESQ.,<br /> +<small>AGENT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SOCIETY FOR THE ABOLITION +OF SLAVERY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND</small></h3> + +<h3>REV. ROBERT J. BRECKINRIDGE,<br /> +<small>DELEGATE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN +CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES, TO THE CONGREGATIONAL +UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES:</small></h3> + +<h4>HOLDEN IN THE</h4> + +<h3>REV. DR. WARDLAW'S CHAPEL, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND,</h3> + +<h4>On the Evenings of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th of June, 1836,</h4> + +<h2>WITH AN APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<h3>NEGRO UNIVERSITIES PRESS<br /> +<small>NEW YORK</small></h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="blockquot"><p> +Originally published in 1836<br /> +by Isaac Knapp, Boston<br /> +<br /> +Reprinted from a copy in the collections<br /> +of the Brooklyn Public Library<br /> +<br /> +Reprinted 1969 by<br /> +Negro Universities Press<br /> +<span class="smcap">A Division of Greenwood Press, Inc.<br /> +New York</span><br /> +<br /> +SBN 8371-2766-1<br /> +<br /> +<small>PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</small></p></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<p>The following were the preliminary steps connected with the Discussion +reported in the succeeding pages:—</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Breckinridge</span>'s Letter, expressing his willingness to meet Mr. +<span class="smcap">Thompson</span> at Glasgow, was occasioned by the following passage in Mr. +<span class="smcap">Thompson</span>'s Letter, which appeared in the <i>London Patriot</i>, in reply to +the extracts inserted in that Journal, from the work published by the +Rev. Drs. <span class="smcap">Cox</span> and <span class="smcap">Hoby</span>, entitled, "The Baptists in America":—</p> + +<p>"In the mean time, I am ready to meet Dr. <span class="smcap">Cox</span> in Exeter Hall, in his +own chapel, or in any other building, to justify my charges against +America and American Ministers; my general policy in the Anti-Slavery +cause, and any particular act of which Dr. <span class="smcap">Cox</span> complains. I am ready, +also, and anxious to meet any American Clergyman, or other gentleman, +in any part of Great Britain, to discuss the general question, or the +propriety of that interference, of which so much has been said by +persons who are otherwise engaged, and most praiseworthily so, in +interfering with the institutions, social, political, and religious, +of every <i>other</i> quarter of the Globe."</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h4>MR. THOMPSON'S CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.</h4> + +<h4><i>To the Editor of the London Patriot.</i></h4> + +<p>SIR,</p> + +<p>A friend in this city, with whom I have stopped for a day or two, on +my way to Scotland, has put into my hands your paper of the 23d inst., +which contains Mr. George Thompson's letter of the 13th, attacking Dr. +Cox.</p> + +<p>As to the difficulties which exist between those two gentlemen, I, of +course, have no right to speak.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thompson, however, has not contented himself with urging a +particular controversy with Dr. Cox;—nor even a general controversy, +free for all who desire to engage him, or call in question his +'charges against America, and American Ministers'—as slave-holding +Ministers and Christians on the other side of the water. 'But,' says +he, 'I am ready, also, and anxious to meet any American clergyman, or +other gentleman, in any part of Great Britain, to discuss the general +question, &c.:' that is, the general question of his 'charges against +America and American ministers, touching the whole subject of African +slavery in that country.'</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">After</span> mature and prayerful consideration, and full consultation with a +few friends, I am not able to see how I can avoid taking notice of +this direct, and almost personal challenge; which, I have some reason +to suspect, was probably intended for me.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">And</span> yet I feel myself encompassed by many difficulties. For some may +consider me defending the institution of slavery; whereas I myself +believe it to be contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and the natural +rights of men. Others might naturally look for more full proofs, and +more exact information than I can give, when relying almost entirely +upon mere memory. While by far the greater part, I much fear, are as +impatient of all investigation on the subject, as, I am sorry to say, +they seem to me, totally unacquainted with its real condition in +America.</p> + +<p>I have concluded, however, to accept the somewhat boastful challenge +of Mr. Thompson. And I trust the following suggestions and conditions +will be considered most reasonable, when the peculiar circumstances of +the case are considered:—</p> + +<p>1. I will meet Mr. Thompson at Glasgow, any time during the three +first weeks of June; and spend three or four hours a day, for as many +days consecutively as may be necessary—in discussing the 'general +question,' as involved in his 'charges against America, and American +Ministers,' in reference to the whole subject of slavery there.</p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap">But</span> as my whole object is to get +before the British churches certain views and suggestions on this +subject, which I firmly believe are indispensable, to prevent +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +the total alienation of British and American christians from each +other; I shall not consider it necessary to commence the discussion at +all, unless such arrangements are previously made, as will secure the +publication, in a cheap and permanent form, of all that is said and +done on the occasion.</p> + +<p>3. I must insist on a patient and fair hearing, by responsible +persons. Therefore I will agree that the audience shall consist of a +select number of gentlemen, say from fifty to five hundred; to be +admitted by ticket only,—and a committee previously agreed on to +distribute the tickets—only to respectable persons.</p> + +<p>I take it for granted that Mr. Thompson would himself prefer Glasgow +to any other city, for the scene of this meeting: as it is the home of +his most active supporters. And while the selection of the particular +time of it cannot be important to him, my own previous arrangements +are such, as to leave me no wider range than that proposed to his +choice above.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">More</span> minute arrangements are left to the future; and they can, no +doubt, be easily made.</p> + +<p>I must ask the favour of an early insertion of this note, in the +<i>Patriot</i>; and beg to say, through you, to the Editor of the <i>Glasgow +Chronicle</i>, that I shall feel obliged by its republication in his +paper.</p> + +<p class="regards">R. J. BRECKINRIDGE,</p> +<p class="desig">A Delegate from the General Assembly of the<br /> +Presbyterian Church of the U. S. America,<br /> +to the Congregational Union of England and<br /> +Wales.</p> + +<p class="salute">Durham, May 28,1836.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h4>TO THE EDITOR OF THE GLASGOW CHRONICLE.</h4> + +<p class="author">London, June 1, 1836.</p> + +<p>SIR,</p> + +<p>I forward you, without a moment's delay, a copy of this evening's +<i>Patriot</i>, containing a letter from the Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, +of Baltimore, United States. The following is my reply, which you will +oblige me by immediately inserting, in company with the communication +to which it refers.</p> + +<p>I feel thankful that my overture has been accepted; and, +notwithstanding the arrangements I had made to remain in London during +the whole of the present month, and the announcement of my name in the +public advertisements to lecture during the forthcoming week, I shall, +D. V. be in Glasgow on Tuesday next; and shall be ready to meet Mr. +Breckinridge, in the Religious Institution House, South Frederick +Street, at noon of that day, to settle the preliminaries of the +discussion, which, I trust, will commence the following morning.</p> + +<p>It is my earnest hope, that every thing said and done, will be in +accordance with gentlemanly feeling and christian courtesy.</p> + +<p class="regards">Your's respectfully,</p> +<p class="author">GEORGE THOMPSON.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h3>NOTE.</h3> + +<p>The Speeches and Documents in this Pamphlet having been +submitted to the correction of the Speakers, the Report may be +relied on as an accurate and full account of the important proceedings.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> +<h1>DISCUSSION.</h1> + +<h2>FIRST NIGHT—MONDAY JUNE 13.</h2> + + +<p>Agreeably to public advertisement, the discussion betwixt Mr. <span class="smcap">George +Thompson</span> and the <span class="smcap">Rev. R. J. Breckinridge</span>, was opened Monday evening, +June 13. By half-past six, the hour fixed on by the Committee, Dr. +Wardlaw's Chapel contained 1,200 individuals, the number agreed upon +by both parties. A great number could not gain admittance, in +consequence of the tickets allotted, being bought up on Saturday. On +the entrance of the two antagonists, accompanied by the Committee, the +audience warmly cheered them. By appointment of the Committee—</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Rev. Dr. WARDLAW</span> took the Chair. Having thanked the Committee for the +honor they had conferred on him, and which, he trusted, would meet +with the concurrence of the meeting, he said he had accepted the +honorable post with the utmost confidence in the forbearance and +propriety of conduct of the two gentlemen—or antagonists, should he +call them? who were to address the meeting; and also, with the most +perfect confidence in the good conduct and sense of propriety +possessed by the meeting. Had he not possessed such confidence, he +would never have thought of undertaking the present task. Had he +imagined that the present meeting would give way to similar +expressions of feeling as had taken place within these walls on some +former occasions, he would at once have declined the task, as one for +which he was totally unfit,—he was not fit to manage storms. The +parties on the present occasion were different from those to whom they +had listened at the time to which he referred. One of them, it was +true, was the same, and his character all of them knew. They knew his +sentiments, his zeal, his eloquence, his devotedness to the great +cause of which he was the fearless advocate. In reference to his +opponent, on the present occasion, he would not dishonor that +gentleman by naming him along with an individual who had stood before +them formerly in opposition to their eloquent friend. He felt it to be +his duty to introduce to them his friend—for he was allowed to call +him so—the Rev. Mr. Breckinridge. That gentleman had come to this +country, the accredited agent from the Presbyterian church—a large and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +influential body of Christians in America, to the congregational +union of England and Wales. It was proper that he should state to the +meeting that Mr. Breckinridge was no advocate of slavery—that he +believed it to be opposed to the letter and spirit of the gospel, and +as a proof how far he was in earnest in his professions in this +matter, he had freely parted with a patrimonial estate so far as it +consisted of slaves. (Cheers.) Having stated this, it might be further +necessary that he should mention what gave rise to the present +meeting. They were all aware, then, he said, that since his return +from America, Mr. George Thompson had been lecturing in various parts +of the kingdom. In the course of his labors he was accused of having +brought extravagant and unfounded charges against the American nation, +and especially against the ministers of religion in that country. In +consequence of this, Mr. Thompson published a challenge in the Patriot +newspaper, in which he called upon any American minister to come +forward and defend his brethren, if he were able, from the charges +which he brought against them. This challenge, through the columns of +the same newspaper, had been accepted by Mr. Breckinridge, and now +they were here met to enter upon the discussion. The Chairman then +read the regulations with regard to the conducting of the discussion +which had been agreed upon by the Committee. In addition to what they +contained, he might add that the chairman was not to be considered +judge of what was relevant or irrelevant, nor was the speaker to be +interrupted on any account. He would especially beg their serious +attention to the rule requiring the entire suppression of every +symptom of approbation or disapprobation. He trusted that his +interference would not be required, but if it were he would feel +himself called upon by imperative duty to enforce this regulation with +the utmost strictness. Mr. Breckinridge had heard from some quarter or +other very unfavorable accounts of the decorum of a Glasgow audience. +He hoped that their conduct on the present occasion would disabuse +that gentleman's mind of any unfavorable opinion he might entertain of +them on that score. In conclusion, he might repeat, that he placed the +most perfect reliance on the good sense and gentlemanly feeling of +both speakers. Let them both, then, be heard fairly. He solicited +favor for neither—he demanded justice for both.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> said, it was not easy +to conceive of circumstances that were more embarrassing than those in +which he was placed this evening. They had already taken for granted +all that had been said and done on one side of the question; their +minds had been already made up to oppose those conclusions to which it +was his purpose to bring them. Their affections and feelings had long +been engaged to his opponent in this cause; and all that he could say +would necessarily have little effect in changing what he would not +hesitate to call those unhappy opinions, which were long ago +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +formed against him. Another cause of his embarrassment was, that he +would be rejudged of all he might say here. What he said would be +approved by one party in America, but would be disapproved of by +another. In the United States they were differently situated from what +the people were in this country. Here the people seemed now united on +this subject, but in America they were split up into a great number of +different parties, whose opinions and feelings were arrayed against +each other in as great a measure as it was possible to conceive. +Whatever, therefore, he might say in this country, would be +disapproved of by many in the United States, while nothing was more +certain than that, what was said by his opponent, would the more +commend him to his friends on the other side of the Atlantic; and +nothing he could say would probably lower him in the good opinion of +his friends here. Hence arose the difficulty of the situation in which +he (Mr. B.) found himself placed, and his unusual claim upon their +patience in the course of the discussion. Still he should be unworthy +of his country, he should be forgetful of the power of truth, he would +have little trust in God, if he was not ready to espouse the cause +which he believed to be right; and more especially if he was not +ready, before a Scotish and a Christian audience, to defend the +principles he adopted and avowed. He had no desire to attempt a +mitigation of their hatred to slavery; and if, at a future time, he +should meet in America with any one now present, he would prove to +them by the friendship of those who loved and respected him, and the +opposition of those who did not, that he hated slavery as much as any +one of those present could do. It was said by one of the ancients, 'I +am a man: I consider nothing that relates to man, foreign to me.' It +was a true and noble sentiment. The fate of the most hopeless might be +theirs if power could make it so; and their condition might have been +that of the poorest wretch on earth if God had not smiled upon them +and their ancestors as he had done. He did not wish them to interfere +with slavery in America. They might interfere, but the question was, +how were they to do so? He wished in the course of the discussion to +bring before them facts to show, that if they did at all interfere +with slavery in America, it must be done as between individuals, not +as a national question. That, whatever they did, they do as Christians, +not as communities. That they must not, for a moment, look upon it as +a question of rival power and glory, as a question between Great +Britain and America. If they did so in the slightest degree, their +chance of success was gone for ever. In the prosecution of the question, +they should not allow themselves to be identified in their efforts +with any party in America, in politics, in religion, or metaphysics; +more especially, with a small and odious party as they had done to a +deplorable extent. They should not identify themselves with a party so +small as not to be able to obtain their object, and so erroneous as +not to deserve success. Whatever they did should be done meekly, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +and in the spirit of the gospel; they should not press the +principles of the gospel with the spirit of a demon, but with all the +sweetness and gentleness of the gospel of peace. These were the +principles which he intended to endeavor to impress upon their minds +by details which he would adduce in the course of the discussion. It +was nothing more than just to the audience that they should know, that +they should understand it distinctly, that as far as regarded his +opponent, he neither was nor could be any thing more to him or his +countrymen than as an individual who had identified himself with +certain parties and principles in America. Neither he nor the +Americans could have any object in underrating or overrating him. +America could have no desire to raise him up or to pull him down. It +is not, it cannot be any thing to America what any individual is, or +may be, in the eyes of his own countrymen. The King of England is +known to America only as the King of Great Britain; if he ceased to be +the King of that kingdom, he was to them no more than a common +individual. Let it not be supposed that either he or America had any +wish, even the most remote, to break down or injure the well earned or +ill earned reputation of his opponent. They looked upon him only with +reference to his principles, and had no personal motive on earth in +reference to that gentleman. Let them not, therefore, think that in +any remarks he might make, or charges he might bring forward, he had +any intention of implicating his opponent as being solely responsible +for these results. He called in question, not the principles of a +particular individual only, but those also of a party in America, to +whom he would have to answer when he returned to that country. Having +said thus much, he would now proceed to the question before them, but +would previously make a few preliminary remarks, which he thought +necessary to enable them to come to a proper understanding of the +subject. He did not think it necessary to trace the progress of the +great cause to the present moment. For forty years they had suffered +defeat after defeat—yet these defeats only strengthened their cause, +even in this country, till they had arrived at a given point. He would +not wish to hurt the feelings of a single individual now present, but +he was sure he spoke the feelings of all in America, when he said that +the great day of their power to do good, as a nation, was to be dated +from the passing of the Reform Bill. From that period, they started in +a new career of action, both at home and abroad. The sending out of +agents was one of the great lines of operation attempted upon the +Americans. This the Americans complained of as having been done in an +imprudent and impossible way, and sure to meet with defeat. They have +sent out agents to America who have returned defeated. They admit they +were not successful, though they say they retreated only, that they +were not defeated. They have failed—they admit they have failed in +their object. One of these agents on his return made certain +statements as to the condition of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> the slaves in America; and as to +the state of the churches in the United States, which implicated not +only the great body of Christian ministers of the country, but the +government, and the people of America, except a small handful of +individuals. If, as was admitted, the number of pastors in America was +twelve to fifteen thousand, and only one thousand had embraced these +views, were they anything but a small party? While yet the whole +nation was denounced as wicked—and the wrath of Heaven invoked +against the country. It was only a very small handful that came in for +a share of the praise of his opponent; and the sympathies here were +invoked, on the assumption of principles which it was his object to +prove false and unfounded. What could be the cause of such an anomaly? +that those principles which are said to be loved and admired here, are +repudiated there to the extremity of pertinacious obstinacy? This +cause it would be his duty to point out; first, he would say what +perhaps no one would believe, that the question of American slavery, +is in its name not only unjust, but absurd. There was, properly +speaking, no such thing as American slavery. It was absurd to talk of +American slavery, except in so far as it applied to the sentiments of +what was the minority, although he would say a large minority, which +tolerated slavery. It was not an American question. In America there +were twenty-four separate republics; of these, twelve had no slaves, +and twelve of them tolerated slavery. Two new states had recently been +added to the Union, and God speed the day when others would be added, +till the whole continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific was +included in union, carrying with the union, Liberty and Independence. +Of the two states which were lately added, one was a slave state and +the other free. Of the twelve free, independent, sovereign states of +America to which he had alluded—one, Massachusetts, had, for a longer +time than his opponent had lived, not tolerated slavery. There were no +slaves in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New +Hampshire, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, +or Illinois, and in four of them there never had been a slave. Eight +of them, of their own free will and choice, abolished slavery without +money and without price. By the influence of the Spirit of God, and +the influence of divine truth, they had totally abolished slavery. Of +the twelve states, at least four, Ohio, with a million of inhabitants, +Indiana, Illinois, and Maine, never had a slave. Since 1785 till this +hour, there had not been one slave in any of these states. These +twelve either never had slaves or had abolished slavery without any +remuneration. These states contain seven million out of the eleven +million of the white population of the Union, and nearly two-thirds of +the territorial extent of the republic as now peopled. And when we +remember that they have stood as they now do for the last twenty +years, as it was now more than twenty years since slavery was +abolished, how could they be charged with the responsibility of the +existence of slavery in other states,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> or be charged with fostering +slavery which they were the first people upon earth to abolish, and +the first to unite with other nations in putting down the slave trade +as piracy. This he was aware would be denied; but though Wilberforce +had labored in the cause for twenty years, the American constitution +had fixed a limited time for the abolition of the slave trade, and the +moment the twenty years had elapsed, the Congress did abolish it; and +this was in the same month, and some days before the Abolition Bill +had passed through Parliament. Thus, America was the first nation on +earth which had abolished the slave trade, and made it piracy. If we +judge by the number of republics which tolerate no slavery—if we +judge by the number of American citizens who abhor slavery, it will be +found not to be an American question, but one applicable only to a +small portion of the nation. If he wished to prove that the British +were idolaters, he could point to millions of idolaters in India, +under the British Government, for every one in America who approved of +slavery. If he wished to prove the British to be Catholics, and +worshippers of the Virgin Mary, he could point to the west of Ireland, +where were one thousand worshippers of the Virgin Mary for every one +in America who did not wish slavery abolished. If he were to return to +America, and get up public meetings, and address them about British +idolatry, because the Indians were Idolaters, or on British +Catholicism, because many of the Irish worshipped the Virgin Mary, +would not the world at once see the absurdity and maliciousness of the +charge; and if he heaped upon Britain every libellous epithet he could +invent—if he got the wise, the good, and the fair, to applaud him, +would not the world see at once the grossness of the absurdity. And +where, then, lay the difference? The United States Government have no +power to abolish slavery in South Carolina—Britain can abolish +idolatry throughout its dominions. It was absurd to say it was an +American question. America, as a nation, was not responsible, either +in the sight of God or man, for the existence of slavery within +certain portions of the Union. As a nation, it had done every thing +within its power. The half hour having now expired, Mr. B. sat down; +and</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> rose. He said he did not stand on the platform this +evening to explain to them his views in reference to slavery. He would +occupy no portion of their time by an exposition of any of the +principles or views entertained by himself on the subject of slavery +as it has existed in our own dependencies, or as it exists in America +at the present moment, or in other portions of the globe. He stood +there to justify that policy which in a distant land he had deemed it +right to pursue; he stood there to justify the policy which had been +adopted and pursued, and was still pursued by certain individuals in +the United States, whether many or few, whether a handful or a +multitude, who were known by the name of the abolitionists of the +United States of America. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>He stood there to justify himself and them +in the act of fearlessly, constantly, unceasingly, and universally, to +every class and color on the face of the habitable globe, enunciating +the great principles of equal justice and equal rights—of enunciating +this great truth that slaveholding is a crime in the sight of God, and +should be immediately and totally abolished. That God had in no +instance given to man a discretionary power to hold property in his +fellow-man; that instant emancipation was the right of the slave; that +instant manumission was the duty of the master. That no government had +a right to keep a single soul in slavery; that no nation had authority +to permit slavery, let that nation exist where it may; if professing +to be a Christian nation, so much the more atrocious was their +wickedness. The nation which permitted the keeping in slavery of God's +creatures, which allowed the traffic in human beings for 400 pieces of +silver, even in the capital itself, was not entitled to be called a +christian nation, and if professing to be a christian nation, so much +the more pre-eminently wicked and infamous was the nation. By that act +that infamous, wicked nation violated every christian feeling, and was +worthy of being exposed to the scorn and derision of every nation +under heaven, christian or pagan. This was a most momentous question, +and he spoke strongly upon it, but he spoke advisedly. He did not +speak angrily, but he did and must speak warmly on the subject of +Slavery. He could not talk of millions of men and women, each of whom +was endowed with a soul which was precious in the sight of God—each +of whom was endowed with that principle which out-valued worlds—he +could not speak of such, registered with the brutes, with calm +unconcern, or classed with chattels, and be calm—if he could do so, +he should be ready with these nails to open his breast, and tear +therefrom a heart which would be unworthy of a man. He could and would +speak calmly on other topics, but this was a subject which required +energy, unceasing energy, till the evil was removed from the face of +the earth, till all the kingdoms of the world had become the kingdoms +of our God, and of his Christ. He was thankful for the present +opportunity which had been afforded him of entering into this +discussion; he was thankful that his opponent, for so it seemed he +must be called, was an American, that he was a christian minister, +that he was an opponent of slavery, that he brought to the question +before them, talent, learning, patriotism, and christian feeling. Such +an opponent he respected and wished the audience to respect. He would +ask them to cherish his person, to respect his opinions, to weigh his +arguments, to test his facts, and if they were just and righteous, to +adopt his principles. If he (Mr. T.) knew the strongest expression he +had ever used regarding America, he would use it to-night; if he knew +in what recess of his heart his worst wish towards America was +deposited he would drag it forth to the light, that his opponent might +grapple with it in their presence. He would not soften down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> any of +his language; he would not sugar over his words, he would not abate +one iota of what he had ever said in reference to the wickedness of +America on former occasions. Let his opponent weigh every syllable he +(Mr. T.) had uttered, every statement he had ever made, every charge +he had ever brought against his country or against his cloth, and if +he found that he had exaggerated facts or stated what was not true, he +would be glad to be shown it. He was there before them and his +opponent to search after the truth, truth which would outlive Mr. +Breckinridge—truth which would outlive Geo. Thompson—truth which was +far more valuable than the proudest victory—truth which was +invaluable to both—and let the truth stand out during the discussion +which might follow; and when they had found out the truth, if they saw +anything which had to be taken back—anything to be given up—anything +for which to be sorry, he would try to outstrip his opponent in his +readiness to retract what was wrong, to yield what was untenable, and +to express his sorrow before God and the audience for what he had +undeservedly said of America. With regard to the feelings he +entertained towards the Americans, he need only refer to the last +letter he had published to the American people, from which he would +read a passage to show the feelings he entertained towards that +country, as well as to those of her citizens who might reach these +shores from America. Mr. Thompson then read the following passages:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I love America, because her sons, though my persecutors, are +immortal—because 'they know not what they do,' or if enlightened and +wilful, are so much the more to be pitied and cared for. I love +America, because of the many affectionate friends I have found upon +her shores, by whom I have been cherished, refreshed and strengthened; +and upon whose regard I place an incalculable value. I love America, +for there dwells the fettered slave—fettered and darkened, and +degraded now, but soon to spring into light and liberty, and rank on +earth, as he is ranked in heaven, 'but a little lower than the +angels.' I love America, because of the many mighty and magnificent +enterprises in which she has embarked for the salvation of the world. +I love her rising spires, her peaceful villages, and her multiplied +means of moral, literary, and religious improvement. I love her hardy +sons, the tenants of her vallies and her mountains green. I love her +native children of the forest, still roaming, untutored and untamed, +in the unsubdued wildernesses of the 'far west.' I love your country, +because it is the theatre of the sublimest contest now waging with +darkness and despotism, and misery on the face of the globe; and +because your country is ordained to be the scene of a triumph, as holy +in its character and as glorious in its results, as any ever achieved +through the instrumentality of men.</p> + +<p>But though my soul yearns over America, and I desire nothing more +eagerly than to see her stand forth among the nations of the world, +unsullied in reputation, and omnipotent in energy, yet shall I, if +spared, deem it my duty to publish aloud her wide and fearful +departures from rectitude and mercy. I shall unceasingly proclaim the +wrongs of her enslaved children; and, while she continues to 'traffic +in the souls of men,' brand her as recreant to the great principles of +her revolutionary struggle, and hypocritical in all her professions of +attachment to the cause of human rights.</p> + +<p>I thank God, I cherish no feelings of bitterness or revenge, towards +any individual in America, my most inveterate enemy not excepted. +Should the sea on which I am about to embark receive me ere I gain my +native shore—should this be the last letter I ever address to the +people of America, Heaven bears me witness, I with truth and sincerity +affirm that, as I look to be freely forgiven, so freely do I forgive +my persecutors and slanderers and pray—'Lord lay not this sin to +their charge.'</p></div> + +<p>In another part of the same letter he had thus expressed himself:— +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Should a kind providence place me again upon the soil of my birth, and +when there, should any American (and I hope many will) visit that soil +to plead the cause of virtue and philanthropy, and strive in love to +provoke us to good works, let him know that there will be one man who +will uphold his right to liberty of speech, one man who will publicly +and privately assert and maintain the divinity of his commission to +attack sin and alleviate suffering, in every form, in every latitude, +and under whatever sanction and authorities it may be cloaked and +guarded. And coming on such an errand, I think I may pledge myself in +behalf of my country, that he shall not be driven with a wife and +little ones, from the door of a hotel in less than 36 hours after he +first breathes our air—that he shall not be denounced as an +incendiary, a fanatic, an emissary, an enemy, and a traitor—that he +shall not be assailed with oaths and missiles, while proclaiming from +the pulpit in the house of God, on the evening of a Christian Sabbath, +the doctrines of 'judgment, justice, and mercy,'—that he shall not be +threatened, wherever he goes, with 'tar and feathers'—that he shall +not be repudiated and abused in newspapers denominated religious, and +by men calling themselves Christian Ministers—that he shall not have +a price set upon his head, and his house surrounded with ruffians, +hired to effect his abduction—that his wife and children shall not be +forced to flee from the hearth of a friend, lest they should be +'smoked out' by men in civic authority, and their paid myrmidons—that +the mother and her little ones shall not find at midnight, the house +surrounded by an infuriated multitude, calling with horrible +execrations for the husband and the father—that his lady shall not be +doomed, while in a strange land, to see her babes clinging to her with +affright, exclaiming, 'the mob shan't get papa,' 'papa is good is he +not? the naughty mob shan't get him, shall they?'—that he shall not, +finally, be forced to quit the most enlightened and christian city of +our nation, to escape the assassin's knife, and return to tell his +country, that in Britain the friend of virtue, humanity, and freedom, +was put beyond the protection of the laws, and the pale of civilized +sympathy, and given over by professor and profane, to the tender +mercies of a blood-thirsty rabble.</p></div> + +<p>These extracts were from the last letter that he had written to the +people of America, and which had been widely published there; and he +was glad of an opportunity of now laying them before a Glasgow +audience, and of having them incorporated in the proceedings of the +evening, in order to show that he then forgave America, that he now +forgave America. He would stand there to defend the right of Mr. +Breckinridge to a fair hearing from his (Mr. Thompson's) countrymen; +and stand forward as his protector, to save him from the missile that +might be aimed at him, and to receive into his own bosom the dagger +which might be aimed at his heart. His opponent might be anxious to +know what report he (Mr. T.) made on his return to Britain of his +proceedings in America. He would therefore read an extract from the +minutes of the <span class="smcap">London Society</span> for <span class="smcap">Universal Emancipation</span>:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>George Thompson was then introduced to the Committee, and communicated +at length the result of his Mission in the United States, and the +present cheering aspect of the Anti-Slavery cause in that country. The +following is a brief outline of his statement:</p> + +<p>He desired to be devoutly thankful to Divine Providence for the signal +preservation and help vouchsafed to him in all his labors, perils, and +persecutions. He considered it a high honor to have been permitted to +proclaim in the ears of a distant people the great principles held by +the Society.</p> + +<p>He sailed from this country on the 17th August, 1834, landed at New +York on the 20th September, and commenced his public labors on the 1st +of October. His public Lectures were continued down to the 20th +October, 1835, during which period he delivered between 2 and 300 +public Lectures, besides innumerable shorter addresses before +Committees, Conventions, Associations, &c. &c. His audiences had +invariably been overflowing, and composed from time to time of members +of State Legislatures, the Heads of Colleges, Professors, Clergymen of +all denominations, members of the legal profession, and the students +of nearly all the Theological and Academical Institutions in New +England. The result of his labors had been the multiplication of +Anti-Slavery Associations to an unprecedented extent. Up to the month +of May, 1835, he met with no serious or formidable opposition. At that +time the National Society reported the existence of 250 auxiliaries, +and its determination to appropriate during the ensuing year the sum +of 30,000 dollars in the printing of papers and pamphlets to be +gratuitously circulated amongst the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>entire white population of the +country. The Southern States, previously almost silent and +inoperative, soon after commenced a system of terrorism, intercepting +the public conveyances, rifling the Mail Bags, scourging, mutilating +or murdering all suspected of holding Anti-Slavery views, and calling +with one consent upon the Free States to pass laws, abridging the +freedom of speech and of the press, upon the subject of slavery. The +North promptly responded to the call of the South, and in every +direction through the Free States the Abolitionists became the victims +of persecution, proscription and outrage. The friends of Negro freedom +every where endured with a patience and spirit of christian charity, +almost unexampled, the multiplied wrongs and injuries accumulated upon +them. They ceased not to labor for the Holy cause they had espoused, +but perseveringly pursued their course in the use of all means +sanctioned by Justice, Religion, and the Constitution of their +country. The result had been the rapid extension of their principles, +and a vast accession of moral strength. G. T. gave an appalling +account of the condition of the Southern Churches. The Presbyterians, +Baptists, and Episcopal Methodist Churches were the main pillars of +the system of Slavery. Were they to withdraw their countenance, and +cease to participate in its administration and profit, it would not +exist one year. Bishops, presiding Elders, Travelling Preachers, Local +Preachers, Trustees, Stewards, Class Leaders, private Members, and +other attendants in the Churches of the Episcopal Methodists, with the +preachers and subordinate members of the other denominations, are, +with few exceptions, Slaveholders. Many of the preachers, not merely +possessing domestic Slaves, but being planters 'on a pretty extensive +scale,' and dividing their time between the duties of the Pastoral +Office and the driving of a gang of Negroes upon a cotton, tobacco, or +rice plantation.</p> + +<p>In the great pro-Slavery Meetings at Charleston and Richmond, the +clergy of all denominations attended in a body, and at the bidding of +vigilance Committees suspended their Schools for the instruction of +the colored population, receiving as their reward a vote of thanks +from their lay Slaveholding Brethren 'for their prudent and patriotic +conduct.'</p> + +<p>G. T. gave a most encouraging account of the present state of the +Anti-Slavery cause, as nearly as it could be ascertained by letters +recently received. He stated that there were now, exclusive of the +Journals published by the Anti-Slavery Societies, 100 newspapers +boldly advocating the principles of Abolition. Between 4 and 500 +auxiliary associations, comprising 15 or 1700 Ministers of the Gospel +of various denominations. G. T. stated also a number of particulars, +shewing the rapid progress of correct opinions amongst the +Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists, producing +a Document just received from the last named body, signed by 185 +Clergymen, being a reply to a letter addressed by the Baptist +ministers in and near London to the Baptist Churches of America, and +fully reciprocating all their sentiments on the subject of immediate +and entire emancipation. The cause was proceeding with accelerated +rapidity. Ten or twelve Agents of the National Society were +incessantly laboring with many others employed by the State Societies, +of which there were seven, viz. Kentucky, (a slave State,) Ohio, New +York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Gerrit +Smith, Esq. a competent authority, had stated that every week +witnessed an accession to the ranks of the Abolitionists of not less +than 500, in the State of New York alone, and he did not know that in +all the Societies there was one intemperate or profane person. G. T. +in describing the character of the persons comprising the Anti-Slavery +Societies in America, stated, that they were universally men and women +of religious principles, and, in most instances, of unquestioned +piety. He had never known any benevolent enterprise carried forward +more in dependence upon Divine Direction and Divine Aid, than the +abolition cause in the United States. In all their meetings, public or +social, they committed themselves to God in Prayer, and he had found +that those who had been most vehemently denounced as 'Fanatics and +Incendiaries' were men sound in judgment, calm in temper, deliberate +in council, and prudent, though resolute, in action. The great +principle on which all their Societies were founded was the essential +sinfulness of slaveholding, and the consequent necessity of its +immediate and entire abolition. The great means by which they had +sought to accomplish their object, was the fearless publication of the +truth in love, addressed to the understandings and hearts of their +fellow citizens. Expediency was a doctrine they abjured. Free from a +time-serving or timid spirit, they boldly relied upon the +righteousness of their cause, the potency of truth, and the blessing +of God. They were entitled to receive from the Abolitionists of Great +Britain the warmest commendation, the fullest confidence, and most +cordial co-operation.</p> + +<p>He was happy in being able to state, that wherever the principles of +immediate abolition had been fully adopted, prejudice against color +had been thrown aside, and that the members of the Anti-Slavery +Societies throughout the country were endeavoring by every proper +means to accomplish the moral, intellectual, and spiritual elevation +of the colored population.</p></div> + +<p>He hoped he would yet have ample opportunities of replying to +the positions assumed by his opponent. He thought he would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +able to show that slavery in America was American slavery; that +the Congress of America—that the Constitution of America made +it an institution of the country, and therefore a national sin of +America. In reference to any question as to the Constitution and +laws of the United States of America, he was glad he had to do +with a gentleman who knew these well, who held a high character +for his Constitutional and legal attainments; and he hoped he +would be able to show that Slavery in America was American Slavery—that +the people in the North did not hate slavery—that they +did not oppose slavery—that they were the greatest supporters of +slavery in the United States—that slavery in America was a national +question. But he would keep his proofs till he had time to +say something along with them. Our interference was not a political +interference with America, it was only a moral interference, +to put an end to slavery—and he hoped the people of this country, +would continue to denounce slavery in America; and at the +same time he was quite willing that his opponent should denounce +the idolatry of our eastern possessions.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> said, he would take up the line of +argument in which he had been proceeding; but before doing so he +wished to make one observation. How did it happen—admitting all that +had been said by his opponent to be true and fair, how did it happen, +that the same arguments and the same principles were so differently +received in different countries? How did it happen that the individual +who advocated the same cause, with the same temper, and almost in the +same words, in Glasgow and in Boston, should in the one place be +supported by general applause, and in the other be ill-treated and +despised, and even made to flee for his life? This was a question +which was yet to be solved. Mr. Thompson had spoken of the Northern +states as the greatest friends of slavery, forgetting that he had +formerly represented the clergy as such. This was one of the principal +reasons of his want of success—of what might justly be called his +signal failure. He had brought unjust charges against an entire +people, and had in consequence been ill-treated. Mr. Thompson had +shown the better part of valor, discretion, in taking care never to +visit any of the slave states. He had never seen a slaveholder, +except, perhaps, he had met such an individual in a free state. At +least if he had done so, it was a circumstance which was not generally +known, one of those hidden things of which it was not permitted to +read. Having made this observation, he (Mr. B.) would proceed to state +that in the slaveholding states there was a large minority—in some, +nearly one half of the population—zealously engaged in furthering the +abolition of slavery. In Kentucky, slaveholding had been introduced +only by a small majority. When some time after, a convention canvassed +the subject, that majority was diminished, and, still at this hour in +that State, in which he had been born, one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> the greatest political +questions agitated was whether slaveholding should be abolished or +retained as an element of the constitution. A law had long ago been +passed imposing a fine of six hundred dollars on whoever brought a +slave into the State for sale, and three hundred dollars on whoever +bought him. A fine of nine hundred dollars was thus made the penalty +of introducing a slave into Kentucky as merchandise. He was sorry to +have to speak of buying and selling human beings; but, to be +understood, it was absolutely necessary that he should do so. In +Virginia also, from which Kentucky had been in great measure peopled, +not many years ago a frightful insurrection had taken place, and many +cruelties had been practised—it was needless to say whether most on +the side of the blacks or the whites. The succeeding legislature of +that State took up the question of slavery in its length and +breadth—passed a law for giving $20,000 to the Colonization +Society,—and rejected only by a small majority a proposal to +appropriate that fund equally to the benefit of slaves to be set +free—as of those already free. He mentioned these things merely to +show that there was a great and an increasing party in the south +favorable to the abolition of negro slavery. In fact, in some of the +Southern states the free people of color had increased faster than the +whites; in Maryland alone there were 52,000 of a free colored +population, all of whom, or their immediate progenitors, had been +voluntarily manumitted. It was needless to say, therefore, that in the +Southern states there was no anti-slavery party. There certainly was +not such a party in Mr. Thompson's sense of the word; but Mr. +Thompson's definition was not the correct one, as he (Mr. B.) would +explain directly. Was it fair then, he would ask, to hold up to the +British public, not only the people of the free states, but also this +great minority in the Southern states as pro-slavery men. Let slavery +be denounced, but let not the denunciation fall upon the whole +American people, many of whom were doing all they could for its +abolition. If Louisiana resolved on perpetuating slavery, let this be +told of Louisiana. If South Carolina adhered to the system, say so of +South Carolina; but do not implicate the mass of the American people, +so many of whom are as much opposed to slavery as is Mr. Thompson +himself. He had heard it said that the sun never sat on the British +dominions. As well, then, might the British people be identified with +the idolatry which prevailed in Hindostan as the Americans be +identified with negro slavery. The question was not American; it +existed solely between the slaveholder and the world. It was unfair, +therefore, to blame the Americans as a nation: the slaveholder, and +the slaveholder alone, should be blamed, let him reside where he +might. Having thus disposed of the first branch of his argument, he +was naturally led to explain the wonderful phenomenon of Mr. +Thompson's reception in America—to give a reason why that reception +was so different from what the same gentleman met with in Glas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>gow. +Mr. Thompson had taken up the question as one of civil organization. +Now the fact was, that the American nation was divided into two +parties on the subject, namely, the pro-slavery, and the anti-slavery +parties. One party said, let it alone; the other, and by far the most +numerous party, said, something ought to be done in relation to it. In +the last named class, was to be included the population of all the +non-slaveholding states. He declared, in the presence of God, his +conviction, that there was not a sane man in the free states who did +not wish the world rid of slavery. He believed the same of a large +minority in the states in which slavery existed. The pro-slavery party +themselves were also divided. One section, and he rejoiced to add, a +small one, called into exertion in fact only by that effervesence +which had been produced by the violence of Mr. T's friends—spoke of +slavery as an exceedingly good thing—as not only consistent with the +law of God, but as absolutely necessary for the advancement of +civilization. This party was organised within the last few years, and +met the violence of Mr. Thompson's party by a corresponding violence, +as a beam naturally seeks its balance. Another section of the +pro-slavery party, considered slavery a great evil, and wished that it +were abolished, but they did not see how this could be effected. They +had been born in a state of society where it had an existence, and +they could see no course to adopt but to let it cure itself. These +were the two sections into which the supporters of slavery were +divided. The anti-slavery party was also composed of individuals who +had different views of the subject. The one class had been called +Gradualists, Emancipationists, and Colonizationists.—The other were +called Abolitionists. With the latter class, Mr. Thompson had +identified himself. And now, as while in America, by his praises of +Mr. Garrison, and all their leaders, his abuse of their opponents, and +his efforts to chain the British public, hand and foot, to them and +their projects, shows his continued devotion to them. He would refer +to this party again, but, in the mean time, he would only say, that +its members manifested far more honesty than wisdom. In 1833, the +abolitionists held a Convention in Philadelphia, at which they drew up +a Declaration of Independence—a declaration which he dared to say Mr. +Thompson cherished as the apple of his eye; but which had been more +effectual in raising mobs than ever witch was in raising the wind. The +document of which he spoke announced three principles, to the +promulgation of which, the members of the Convention pledged their +lives and their fortunes. A number of the particulars specified, in +support of which they said they would live and die, went to change +materially the laws and Constitution of the United States, and yet it +was pretended that this was not a political question! Their first +principle was, that every human being has an instant right to be free, +irrespective of all consequences; and incapable of restriction or +modification. The second was like unto it, that the right of +citizenship, inherent in every man, in the spot where he is born, is +so perfect, that to deprive him of its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> exercise in any way +whatever—even by emigration, under strong moral constraint, is a sin. +Their third principle was, that all prejudice against color was +sinful; and that all our judgments and all our feelings towards others +should be regulated exclusively by their moral and intellectual worth. +Mr. B. said he stated these principles from memory only—as he did +most of the facts on which he relied. But he was willing to stand or +fall, in both countries, upon the substantial accuracy of his +statements. Mr. Breckinridge here closed his address, the period +allotted to him having expired.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> was anxious to lay before the meeting documentary +testimony, in preference to any thing he could say himself. +Rather than set forth his own views, as he had done on many former +occasions, he wished to bring forward such documents as even +his opponent would admit to be really American. He pledged +himself to show that this was an American question. He was not +prepared for this branch of the subject, because he had not expected +that Mr. Breckinridge would exonerate America from the charge +of being a slaveholding nation; nevertheless, he was perfectly +ready to take it up. He would undertake to prove that the existence +of slavery in the United States was the result of a compromise—that +the Constitution of the United States was, in fact, based +upon a compromise, in relation to this subject. At the time when +the Constitution was agreed to, the then slaveholding states refused +to come into what was called the confederacy of republics, unless +slaveholding was permitted. At that time there were only three +hundred thousand slaves in the Union; now there were two millions +and a half. So much, said Mr. Thompson, for what the good and +influential men of the South, spoken of by Mr. Breckinridge, had +done for the abolition of slavery. Then there were three hundred +thousand; now there were two million four hundred thousand. +The method by which these good and influential people had gone +about extirpating slavery, had been an Irish method; it had shown +distinctly the extent of their zeal and usefulness. Why, setting +aside their influence altogether, they might, had they been as numerous +as represented by his respected opponent, have manumitted +as many of their own slaves. It was said, no doubt, that the laws prevented +this; but who made the laws? The child could not do what her mamma +had commanded her to do, because she was tied to the mahogany table, +she could only answer, when asked who tied her, that it was herself. +In like manner, he could turn round on those whom his respected +opponent represented, as haters of slavery. Emancipationists they +wished to be called; colonizationists they ought to be called. He +would ask them, what had they done? Had they not compromised +every principle of justice and truth, by permitting slaveholding in +their Union? Had they not even bestowed exclusive privileges on +the slaveholders? Had they not bestowed on them such privileges +as that, even now, they sent twenty-four or twenty-five represen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>tatives +to Congress more than their proportion? His respected opponent +had said this was not a national question. Why, then, send +six thousand bayonets to the South for the protection of the slaveholder? +Why were the American people taxed in order to maintain +bayonets, blunderbusses, and artillery in the South? Not a +national question! Why, then, was Missouri admitted a member of the +Union—Missouri a slaveholding State, admitted by the votes of the +Northern republics. Mr. Breckinridge had fought very shy of the +state of the Capital, and the power of Congress to suppress the +internal traffic in slaves. He (Mr. Thompson) trusted, however, +that this branch of the subject would be taken up. His opponent +himself, in a letter addressed to the New York Evangelist, had +stated, that Congress possessed full power to suppress the internal +traffic in slaves; and yet they did it not. There was in fact no +question at all respecting the power of the Congress, in this matter; +yet it was said the question of slavery was not national. The people +of the Northern states,—the slavery-hating, liberty-loving people +of the Northern states had said they would fight shoulder to shoulder +with the Slaveholders of the South, should the slaves dare to +rise and say they were men, and after all this, it was asserted that +this was not a national question. Mr. Breckinridge had said, that +he (Mr. Thompson) got all his information at second hand. He +might have told the reason why; he knew, however, that such a +revelation would have been awful. He knew that pious men, advocates +of the cause of abolition had been hanged, butchered, their +backs ploughed up by Presbyterian elders; and if such had been +done towards natives of New England, what could a stranger such +as he have expected? He (Mr. T.) had, it seems, got all at second +hand. He would tell the meeting where he had obtained some +of his information. From Mr. Breckinridge himself; and he must +say, that sounder or juster views respecting slavery—or a more complete +justification of the mission in which he (Mr. T.) had been so +lately engaged, could scarcely be met with. This was evidence +which he had no fear could be ruled out of court. It was that of +the friend and defender of America. Mr. T. then read the following +passage from a speech delivered by Mr. Breckinridge:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>What, then, is slavery? for the question relates to the action of +certain principles on it, and to its probable and proper results; what +is slavery as it exists among us? We reply, it is that condition +enforced by the laws of one half of the states of this confederacy, in +which one portion of the community, called masters, is allowed such +power over another portion called slaves; as</p> + +<p>1. To deprive them of the entire earnings of their own labor, except +only so much as is necessary to continue labor itself, by continuing +healthful existence, thus committing clear robbery.</p> + +<p>2. To reduce them to the necessity of universal concubinage, by +denying to them the civil rights of marriage; thus breaking up the +dearest relations of life, and encouraging universal prostitution.</p> + +<p>3. To deprive them of the means and opportunities of moral and +intellectual culture, in many states making it a high penal offence to +teach them to read; thus perpetuating whatever of evil there is that +proceeds from ignorance.</p> + +<p>4. To set up between parents and their children an authority higher +than the impulse of nature and the laws of God; which breaks up the +authority of the father over his own <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>offspring, and, at pleasure, +separates the mother at a returnless distance from her child; thus +abrogating the clearest laws of nature; thus outraging all decency and +justice, and degrading and oppressing thousands upon thousands of +beings, created like themselves, in the image of the most high God! +This is slavery as it is daily exhibited in every slave state.</p></div> + +<p>Here, continued Mr. T., is slavery acknowledged to be clear robbery, +and yet it is not to be instantly abolished! Universal concubinage and +prostitution, which must not immediately be put an end to! Oh, these +wicked abolitionists, who seek to put an immediate close to such a +state of things. What an immensity of good have the emancipationists +of the South, as they wish to be called, of the colonizationists as +they ought to be called, done during their fifty years labor, when +this is yet left for the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge to say. Dear, +delightful, energetic men! Truly, if this is all they have been able +to effect it is time that the work were committed to abler hands. Mr. +Thompson then read an extract from the Philadelphia declaration. Mr. +Breckinridge had called it a declaration of independence, but it was +only a declaration of sentiments;—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We have met together for the achievement of an enterprise, without +which, that of our fathers is incomplete, and which, for its +magnitude, solemnity, and probable results upon the destiny of the +world, as far as transcends theirs, as moral truth does physical +force.</p> + +<p>In purity of motive, in earnestness of zeal, in decision of purpose, +in intrepidity of action, in steadfastness of faith, in sincerity of +spirit, we would not be inferior to them.</p> + +<p>Their principles led them to wage war against their oppressors, and +to spill human blood like water, in order to be free. Ours forbid the +doing of evil that good may come, and lead us to reject, and entreat +the oppressed to reject the use of all carnal weapons, for deliverance +from bondage—relying solely upon those which are spiritual, and mighty +through God to the pulling down of strong holds.</p> + +<p>Their measures were physical resistance—the marshalling in arms—the +hostile array—the mortal encounter. Ours shall be such only as the +opposition of moral purity to moral corruption—the destruction of +error by the potency of truth—the overthrow of prejudice by the power +of love—and the abolition of slavery by the spirit of repentance.</p> + +<p>Their grievances, great as they were, were trifling in comparison with +the wrongs and sufferings of those for whom we plead. Our fathers were +never slaves—never bought and sold like cattle—never shut out from +the light of knowledge and religion—never subjected to the lash of +brutal task masters.</p> + +<p>But those, for whose emancipation we are striving, constituting at the +present, at least one-sixth part of our countrymen,—are recognised by +the laws, and treated by their fellow-beings as marketable +commodities—as goods and chattels—as brute beasts; are plundered +daily of the fruits of their toil, without redress;—really enjoy no +constitutional or legal protection from licentious and murderous +outrages upon their persons—are ruthlessly torn asunder—the tender +babe from the arms of its frantic mother—the heart-broken wife from +her weeping husband—at the caprice or pleasure of irresponsible +tyrants;—for the crime of having a dark complexion—they suffer the +pangs of hunger, the infliction of stripes, and the ignominy of brutal +servitude. They are kept in heathenish darkness by laws expressly +enacted to make their instruction a criminal offence.</p> + +<p>These are the prominent circumstances in the condition of more than +two millions of our people, the proof of which may be found in +thousands of indisputable facts, and in the laws of the slaveholding +states.</p> + +<p>Hence we maintain:—</p> + +<p>That in the view of the civil and religious privileges of this nation, +the guilt of its oppression is unequalled by any other on the face of +the earth—and, therefore,</p> + +<p>That it is bound to repent instantly, to undo the heavy burden, to +break every yoke and let the oppressed go free.</p> + +<p>We further maintain:—</p> + +<p>That no man has a right to enslave or imbrute his brother—to hold or +acknowledge him, for one moment, as a piece of merchandise—to keep +back his hire by fraud—or to brutalize his mind by denying him the +means of intellectual, social, and moral improvement.</p> + +<p>The right to enjoy liberty is inalienable. To invade it is to usurp +the prerogative of Jehovah. Every man has a right to his own body—to +the products of his own labor—to the protection of law—and to the +common advantages of society. It is piracy to buy or steal <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>a native +African, and subject him to servitude. Surely the sin is as great to +enslave an American as an African.</p> + +<p>Therefore, we believe and affirm:—</p> + +<p>That there is no difference <i>in principle</i>, between the African +slave-trade and American slavery.</p> + +<p>That every American citizen who retains a human being in involuntary +bondage, as his property is (according to Scripture) a man-stealer.</p> + +<p>That the slaves ought instantly to be set free, and brought under the +protection of law.</p> + +<p>That if they had lived from the time of Pharaoh down to the present +period, and had been entailed through successive generations, their +right to be free could never have been alienated, but their claims +would have constantly risen in solemnity.</p> + +<p>That all those laws which are now in force, admitting the right of +slavery, are therefore, before God, utterly null and void; being an +audacious usurpation of the Divine prerogative, a daring infringement +on the law of nature, a base overthrow of the very foundations of the +social compact, a complete extinction of all the relations, +endearments, and obligations of mankind, and a presumptuous +transgression of all the holy commandments—and that, therefore, they +ought to be instantly abrogated.</p></div> + +<p>He would ask if there was any thing here different from what he had +read from his respected opponent? The sentiments were the same, though +not given in Mr. Breckinridge's strong and glowing language. Mr. +Breckinridge's description of slavery was even more methodical, +clearer, and better arranged; he was therefore inclined to prefer it +to the other. He would, however, ask Mr. Breckinridge not to persevere +in speaking of the violence, as he called it, of the abolitionists, +only in general terms. He hoped he would point out the instances to +which he alluded, and not take advantage of them, because they were a +handful and <i>odious</i>. They were not singular in being called odious. +Noah was called odious by the men of his day, because he pointed out +to them the wickedness of which they were guilty. Every reformer had +been called odious, and he trusted to be always among those who were +deemed odious by slaveholders and their apologists. He repeated, that +he wished Mr. Breckinridge to forsake general allegations, and to +specify time and place when he brought forward his charges. The time +was passed, when, in Glasgow, vague assertions could produce any +effect. The time was not, indeed, distant when even here the friends +of negro freedom had been deemed odious—when they were a mere +handful, met in a room in the Black Bull Inn. But from being odious +they had become respectable, and from respectable triumphant, in +consequence of their having renounced expediency, and taken their +stand on the broad principles of truth and justice.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> said, he had on so many occasions and +in so many different forms uttered the sentiments contained in the +passages which had just been read as his, that he was unable to say +from what particular speech or writing they were taken. But he +had no doubt that if the whole passage to which they belonged +were read, it would be seen that they contained, in addition to what +they had heard, the most unqualified condemnation of the irrational +course pursued by the abolitionists. He believed also, that, whatever +it was, that writing had been uttered by him in a slave state. For +he could say for himself, that he had never said that of a brother be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>hind +his back, which he would be afraid or unwilling to repeat before +his face. He had never gone to Boston, to cry back to Baltimore, +how great a sin they were guilty of in upholding slavery. +The worst things which he had said against slavery had been said +in the slave states, and had Mr. Thompson gone there and seen +with his two eyes, what he describes wholly upon hearsay, he would, +perhaps, have understood the subject better than he seems to do. As +he felt himself divinely commissioned, he should have felt no fear, +he should have gone at whatever hazard, he should have seen slavery +in its true colors, though he had read it in his own blood. If +Saul of Tarsus had gone to America to see slavery—I dare to say, +with the help of God, he would have been right sure to see it. He +did not say that Mr. T. should have gone to the Southern states if +his life was likely to be endangered by his going there; but he would +say this, that Mr. Thompson ought not to pretend, that he had +been, in the least degree, a martyr in the cause, when, in reality, he +had exercised the most masterly discretion. With regard to the +acts of the abolitionists, as he had been called on to mention particulars, +he could not say that he had ever heard of their having killed +any person, nor had he ever heard of any of them being killed. +He might mention, however, that he himself had once almost been mobbed +in Boston, and, that too, by a mob stirred up against him, +by placards, written, as he believed, by William Lloyd Garrison. +He had never obtained direct proof of this, but he might state, as +a reason for his belief, that the inflammatory placards were of the +precise breadth and appearance of the columns of Garrison's paper—the +Liberator, and the breadth of the columns of no other newspaper +in that city. Mr. B. stated a second case, in which, on the +arrival at the city of New York of the Rev. J. L. Wilson, a missionary +to Western Africa, in charge of two lads, the sons of two +African kings, committed by their fathers to the Maryland Colonization +Society for education; some friends of the Anti-Slavery Society +of that city, with the concurrence, if not by the procurement, as was +universally believed, of Elizur Wright, Jr., a leading person, and +Secretary of the principal society of abolitionists—got out a writ to +take the bodies of the boys, under the pretence of believing, that +they had been kidnapped in Africa. These two cases he considered, +would perhaps satisfy Mr. T's appetite for facts in the meantime; +he would have plenty more of them when they came to the main +question of debate. One other instance, and he would have done. +There was a law in the United States, that if a slave run away from +one of the slaveholding states, to any of the non-slaveholding states, +the authorities of the latter were bound to give him up to his master. +A runaway slave had been confined in New York prison, previous +to being sent home, an attempt was made to stir up a mob, for the +purpose of liberating him. A bill instigating the people to take the +laws into their own hands, was traced to an abolitionist—the same +Elizur Wright, Jr. He brought to the office of one of the princi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>pal +city papers, a denial of the charge—in a note signed by him in +his official capacity. He was told that was insufficient, as it was +in his individual, not in his official capacity, that he was supposed to +have done the act in question. He replied, it would be time to make +the denial in that form, when the charge was so specifically made; +meantime he considered the actual denial sufficient. Then, sir, said +one present, I charge you with writing the placard—for I saw it in +your hand writing. These instances were sufficient to prove the +charge of violence which he had made was not unfounded. In reference +to the statement made by Mr. Thompson regarding the number +of slaves in the United States, at the commencement of the +Revolution, Mr. B. said, it was impossible to know precisely what +number there was at that time, as there had been no statistical returns +before 1790, at which time there were six hundred and sixty-five +thousand slaves in the five original slave states. The exertions +of the American nation to put an end to slavery were treated with +ridicule, but he would have them to bear in mind, that there were +in the United States four hundred thousand free people of color, all +of whom, or their progenitors, had been set free by the people of +America, and not one of these, so far as he knew, had been liberated +by an abolitionist. In addition to these, there were not less +than four thousand more in Africa, many of whom had been freed +from fetters and sent to that country. He would ask if all this was +to be counted as nothing. If they were to consider for a moment +the enormous sum which it would take to ransom so many slaves, +they would perceive the value of the sacrifice. They might say that +they had given $150,000,000 towards the abolition of slavery. It +might seem selfish to talk of it thus; but if the conduct of Great +Britain, rich and powerful as she was, was not reckoned worthy of +praise for having done an act of justice, in granting emancipation to +the West India slaves, at the cost of $100,000,000, or £20,000,000, +how much more might be said of £30,000,000, being paid by +a few comparatively poor and scattered communities, and individual +men. They had been told some fine stories of a mahogany table, +to which the people of America had tied themselves, and they were +left to infer that it was quite easy, that it merely required the exertion +of will, for them to set their slaves free. Now, on this head, +he would only ask, had he the power of fixing the place of his birth? +No. Nor had he any hand in making the laws of the place where +he was born, nor the power of altering them. They might, indeed, be +altered and he ought to add, they would have been altered already, +but for the passionate and intemperate zeal of the abolitionists; but +for the conduct of those who tell the slaveholders of the Southern +states, that they must at once give freedom to the slaves, at whatever +cost or whatever hazard, and unless they do so, they will be +denounced on the house-tops, by all the vilest names which language +can furnish, or the imagination of man can conceive. And what was +the answer the planters gave to these disturbers of the public peace? +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>First, coolly, 'there's the door;' and next, 'if you try to tell these +things to those, who, when they learn them, will at once turn +round and cut our throats, we must take measures to prevent your +succeeding.' Such conduct was just what was to be expected on +the part of the slaveholders. They saw these men coming among +their slaves, and where they could not appeal to their judgments, +endeavoring to speak to the eyes of the black population by prints, +representing their masters, harsh and cruel. It was not surprising +that such unwise conduct should beget a bitter feeling of opposition +among the inhabitants of the Southern states. They themselves +knew too well the critical nature of their position, and the +dangers of tampering with the passions of the black population. +Let him who doubted go to the Southern states, and he would +learn that those harsh laws, in regard to slavery, which had been so +much condemned, were passed immediately after some of those +insurrections, those spasmodic efforts of the slaves to free themselves +by violence, which could never end in good, and which the +conduct of the abolitionists was calculated continually to renew. +They ought to take these things into account when they heard statements +made about the strong excitement against the abolitionists. +He would repeat what he had before stated, that the cause of +emancipation had been ruined by that small party with which Mr. +Thompson had identified himself: but to whose chariot wheels he +trusted the people of this country would never suffer themselves +to be bound.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON</span> said, the work he had to do in reference to the +last speech was by no means great or difficult. They had heard a great +many things stated by Mr. Breckinridge on the great question in +debate, but every one of these had been stated a thousand times +before, and answered again and again within the last sixty years. +Within these very walls they had heard many of them brought forward +and refuted within the last four years. But there was one part of his +opponent's speech to which he would reply with emphasis. And he could +not but confess that he had listened to that one part of it with +surprise. He knew Mr. Breckinridge to be the advocate of gradual +emancipation; he (Mr. Thompson) had therefore come prepared to hear +all the arguments employed by the gradualists, urged in the ablest +manner, but he had not been prepared to hear from that gentleman's +lips the things he had heard—he did not expect that the foul charge +of stirring up a mob against Mr. Breckinridge for advocating the +principles of colonization, would be brought against William Lloyd +Garrison. But they would here see the propriety and utility of his +calling upon his opponent to leave generalities and come to something +specific—to lay his finger on a fact which could be examined and +tested circumstantially. And what did they suppose was the truth in +the present case? Simply this, that when Mr. Breckinridge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> came +forward to explain the principles of the Maryland colonization scheme, +the noisy rabble who sought to mob, did so only so long as they were +under the impression that he was an abolitionist. Mr. B. and his +brother, who was along with him on that occasion, did their best to +let the meeting know that they were not abolitionists but +colonizationists, and whenever the mob learned that, they became +quiet. This was the fact in regard to that case—he would willingly +stake the merits of the whole question on the truth of what he had +just stated, and he would call on Mr. B. to say whether it was not +true; he would call on him to exhibit the placard which had been +written by Mr. Garrison, or tell what it contained. He had a copy of +the Liberator of the day referred to, and he would ask him to point +out a single word in it which could be found fault with. He would dare +Mr. B. to find a single sentence in that paper calculated to stir up a +mob, or to induce any one to hurt a single hair of his head. With +regard to the Maryland colonization scheme, he was not going to enter +upon its discussion at that hour of the evening, but the next evening, +if they were spared, he would endeavor to show the gross iniquity of +that scheme, recommended as it was by Mr. Breckinridge. In the mean +time, to return to the next charge, they were told of an active +abolitionist—Elizur Wright. And here he would at once say, that it +was too bad to bring such a charge against an individual like Elizur +Wright, than whom he knew no man, either on this or the the other side +of the Atlantic, whose nature was more imbued with the milk of human +kindness, or whose heart was more alive to the dictates of Christian +charity—it was too bad, he repeated, to bring such a charge against +that man, unless it could be substantiated beyond the possibility of +doubt. They were told that Elizur Wright had stirred up the people of +New York to insurrection, by inflammatory placards. Here indeed was a +serious charge, but they ought to know what these placards were. +Again, he would call upon Mr. B. to show a copy of the placard, or to +say what were its contents. In explanation of the matter he might +state to the meeting that there was a little truth in what had been +said about this matter; and in order to make them understand the case +properly, they must first know, that in New York there were at all +times a number of runaway slaves, and also, that there was in the same +city a class of men, who, at least wore the human form, and who were +even allowed to appear as gentlemen, whose sole profession was that of +kidnappers; their only means of subsistence was derived from laying +hold of these unfortunates, and returning them to their masters in the +South. Nothing was more common than advertisements from these +gentlemen kidnappers in the newspapers, in which they offered their +services to any slave master whose slaves had run off. All that was +necessary was merely that twenty dollars should be transmitted to them +under cover, with the marks of the runaway who was soon found out if +in the city, and with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> clutch of a demon, seized and dragged to +prison. These were the kidnappers. And who was Elizur Wright? He was +the man who at all times was found ready to sympathise with those poor +unfortunate outcasts, to pour the balm of consolation into their +wounds—to come into the Recorder's Court, and stand there to plead +the cause of the injured African at the risk of his life—undeterred +by the execrations of the slave-masters, or the knife of his +myrmidons. And was it a high crime that on some occasions he had been +mistaken. But Elizur Wright would be able to reply to the charge +himself. The account of this meeting would soon find its way to +America, and he would then have an opportunity of justifying himself. +As to the charge of error in his statistics, on the subject of +American Slavery, it was very easily set at rest. He had said that the +slave population amounted to but three hundred thousand, at the date +of the Union, and that it was now two millions. The latter statement +was not questioned, but it was said that there were no authentic +returns at the date of the Union, and consequently, that it was +impossible to say precisely. But although they could not say exactly, +they could come pretty near the truth, even from the statement of Mr. +Breckinridge. That gentleman admitted, that in 1790, there were only +six hundred and sixty-five thousand slaves in the states. He (Mr. T.) +had said, that in 1776, there were only three hundred thousand; but as +the population in America doubled itself in twenty-four years, he was +warranted in saying that there was no great discrepancy. But the +question with him did not depend upon any particular number or any +particular date. It would have been quite the same for his argument, +he contended, whether he had taken six hundred and sixty-five thousand +in 1790, or three hundred thousand in 1776. All that he had wished to +show, was the rapid increase of the slave population, and +consequently, of the vice and misery inherent in that system, even +while the American people professed themselves to be so anxious to put +an end to it altogether. Had he wished to dwell on this part of the +argument, he could also have shown, that the increase of the slave +population during the first twenty years of the Union, had gone on +more rapidly even during that time, the trade in slaves having been +formally recognised by the Constitution during that period, and a duty +of $10 imposed on every slave imported into the United States. The +following was the clause from the Constitution:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Sec. IX. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the +states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be +prohibited prior to the year 1808, but a tax or duty may be imposed on +such importation, not exceeding $10 for each person.</p></div> + +<p>To sum up Mr. Breckinridge's last address, what, he would ask, +had been its whole aim? Clearly, that they should consider the +abolitionists as the chief promoters of all the riots that had taken +place in America on this question, by making inflammatory appeals +to the passions of the people. He would call upon Mr. Breckinridge +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +again, to lay his hand on a single proof of this. He would +call upon him to point out a single instance where language had +been used which was in any degree calculated to call up the blood-thirsty +passions of the mob as had been represented. If the planters +of the South were roused into fury by the declaration of anti-slavery +sentiments—if they were unable to hear the everlasting +truths which it promulgated, was that a sufficient reason for those +to keep silent who felt it to be their duty, at all hazards, to make +known these truths. Or were they to be charged with raising mobs, +because the people were enraged to hear these truths. As well +might Paul of Tarsus have been charged with the mobs which rose +against his life, and that of his fellow-apostles. As well might Galileo +be charged with those persecutions which immured him in a +dungeon. As well might the apostles of truth in every age be +charged with the terrible results which ensued from the struggle of +light and darkness. In conclusion, Mr. Thompson said, that on +the following evening, he would take up the question of the Maryland +colonization scheme.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. WARDLAW</span> announced to the meeting that the discussion +closed for the evening. In doing so he complimented the audience +on the very correct manner in which they had observed the +rule regarding all manifestation of applause. The attention and +interest of the audience were much excited throughout the whole +proceedings, indeed, at few meetings have we observed so lively +an interest taken in the entire business of an evening, and yet +there was not a single instance in which the interference of the +chairman was required. On several occasions the rising expression +of applause was at once checked by the general good sense +of the meeting.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<h2>SECOND NIGHT—TUESDAY, JUNE 14.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span>, before proceeding with the discussion, would make one +or two preliminary observations. Last evening he had been led into an +error, as regarded both number and time, in speaking of the amount of +slaves in America at the adoption of the Constitution; and he was +anxious that every statement made by him should be without a flaw; and +if there should be an error committed he would be the first person to +admit and correct it when discovered. He stated that at the adoption +of the American Constitution, there were only about three hundred +thousand slaves in the United States. There were not many more in +1776, when the states declared themselves independent: in 1788 when +the Constitution was settled there were more; and in 1790, there were +between six and seven hundred thousand slaves in the United States of +America. His error consisted in his subtracting 1776 from 1790, and +saying twenty-four years instead of fourteen. He mentioned this error +to show that he held a regard to truth to be the ultimate end of their +discussion. There was one other preliminary remark. His antagonist had +repeatedly said that George Thompson had published himself a martyr. +George Thompson never did publish himself a martyr. Mr. Breckinridge, +in the course of his speeches last night, had said more of himself +than he (Mr. T.) had ever done during all the speeches he had ever +made on the question. He had only referred to himself when urgently +requested to give an account of his personal experience. He never had +a wish to be considered a martyr. If, when he had finished his course +here; if, when this probationary scene was over, he was found to have +done his duty, he would be fully satisfied. He was not pharasaical +enough to imagine that he had performed any works of supererogation. +Mr. Breckinridge had said this was not a national question; that +slavery in America was not American Slavery; that it was not a +national evil; that it was not a national sin; that is was merely a +question between the State Legislatures and the slave owners. He (Mr. +T.) had said last night, that slavery in America was a national sin, +and he would now adduce the reasons for his statement:—First—The +American people had admitted the slave states into the Union; and by +consenting to admit these states into the confederacy, although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> there +were in them hundreds of thousands in a state of slavery, they took +the slaves under the government of the United States, and made the sin +national. Second—For twenty years after the adoption of their +Constitution, and by virtue of that very instrument, the United States +permitted the horrid, unchristian, diabolical African slave-trade. +Third—Than the Capital of the United States of America there was not +one spot in the whole world which was more defiled by slavery; and +considering the professions and privileges of the people, there was +not a more anti-christian traffic on the face of the earth. +Fourth—each of the states is bound by the Constitution to give up all +run-away slaves; so that the poor, wretched, tortured slave might be +pursued from Baltimore to Pennsylvania, from thence to New Jersey and +New York, and dragged even from the confines of Canada, a fugitive and +a felon, back into the slavery from which he had fled. He might be +taken from the Capitol: from the very horns of the altar, to be +subjected by a cruel kidnapper to the most horrid of human sufferings. +It is not a national question! When the North violates the law of +God—when it tramples on the Decalogue—when it defies Jehovah! what +was a stronger injunction in the law of Moses than that the Israelites +should protect the run-away slave? But in America every state was +bound by law to give up the slave to his slave-master, to his ruthless +pursuer; and yet it must not be called a national question! Fifth—The +citizens of the free states were bound to go South to put down any +insurrection among the slaves. They were bound and pledged to do this +when required. The youth of Pennsylvania had pledged themselves to go +to the Southern states to annihilate the blacks in case they asserted +their rights—the rights of every human being—to be free. So also was +it in New York, and in the other free states, and yet we are to be +told that slavery is not a national question. The whole Union was +bound to crush the slave, who, standing on the ashes of Washington +said, he ought to be, and would be free. Yes, Northern bayonets would +give that slave a speedy manumission from his galling yoke, by sending +him in his gore, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary +are at rest. Yet it is not a national question! Sixth—The North is +taxed to keep up troops in the South to overawe and terrify the slave; +and yet it is not a national question! Seventh—Mr. Breckinridge has +shown in a letter published by him, that the Congress has the power to +put an end to the international slave trade, and yet this trade goes +on in America. Mr. B. well knows that at least one hundred thousand +human beings—slaves—change hands annually; he must have seen the +slaves driven in coffles through his own beloved state, to be sold +like cattle at Washington and Alexandria; he knows that thousands of +Virginia and Maryland slaves are sold at New Orleans yearly, and yet +he tells us that slavery is not a national question! Eighth—How did +they admit Missouri into the Union with slaves? Were they Southern +votes which admitted it? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>No! But they were the votes of recreant New +Englanders—false to the principles of freedom, who sold the honor of +their country, and with it the liberty of thousands of human beings in +Missouri—or at least consented to their bondage. And yet it is not a +national question! He (Mr. T.) would last refer to the remarks of a +constitutional lawyer, who was able, eloquent, sincere, and high +minded. Mr. T. then read the following extract:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Such thoughts (referring to the judgments to be expected) habitually +crowd upon me when I contemplate those great personal and NATIONAL +evils, from which the system of operations (vis., the movements of the +Colonization Society) which I stand here to advocate, seems to offer +us some prospect of deliverance.</p> + +<p>From that day (1698) till the present, there have flourished in our +country, men of large and just views, who have not ceased to pour over +this subject a stream of clear and noble truth, and to importune their +country, by every motive of duty and advantage, to wipe from her +escutcheon, the stain of human tears.</p> + +<p>It is generally known, that the original members of the American +Colonization Society anticipated, that, at some future period, the +General Government, and some, if not all the State Governments, would +co-operate in their exertions for the removal of an evil which was +obviously NATIONAL in all its aspects.</p></div> + +<p>Now who was the writer from whom he had quoted?—His friend Mr. +Breckinridge. This was his final reason. If Mr. Breckinridge's +argument survived these reasons, it would have a life like that of a +cat, which is said to have nine lives; for they were nine fatal +thrusts at his position, that slavery in America was not American +slavery. Mr. B. admits the existence of slavery, but lays no blame +either in this quarter or in that; he does not lay it on the states, +nor on the General Government. Slavery does exist in America, +but—interminably; but, but—coming as these buts did from a +temperance country, he wondered much that they had escaped being +staved. Slavery exists in America, but it is not a national question! +There are upwards of two millions and a half of slaves in the United +States of America, and of these, at least one hundred thousand changed +hands annually, thus sundering, without remorse, the tenderest ties of +human nature; at whose door, then, lay the guilt of this sin? To whom +were the people of this country to address their warnings—over whose +transgressions were they to mourn—whose hearts were they to endeavor +to humanize and mollify—where were the responsible and guilty parties +to be found—how are we to get access to their consciences on behalf +of the slave? Mr. Breckinridge says the system is one of 'clear +robbery,' 'universal concubinage,'—'unmitigated wickedness'—and yet +it is not to be immediately abolished! If it be clear robbery—if it +be universal concubinage—if it be unmitigated wickedness—let the +horrid system immediately, and totally, and eternally cease—a worse +system it was impossible to have if these were the evils it entailed. +Mr. B. triumphantly makes out my case for immediate and complete +emancipation. The duty is plain and indispensable. Mr. Breckinridge +says the abolitionists are the most despicable and odious men on the +face of the earth. Those who love liberty are always odious in the +eyes of tyrants. The lovers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> of things as they are, of corruption of +despotism—men who look at every thing from beneath the aprons of +their grandmothers, invariably regard as insufferably odious all who +are lovers of reformation and liberty. This always has been, and +always will be the case. As it was said in the service of the church +of England, it might be said on this subject, 'As it was in the +beginning, is now, and ever shall be' if not 'world without end,' at +least to the end of this world. On the 6th day of January, 1831, Mr. +Breckinridge delivered in Frankfort, Kentucky, an able address in +favor of the Colonization Society. In that address, Mr. B. stated that +the Society was established on the 21st day of Dec. 1816, and was of +course, at the time of his speech, fourteen years and sixteen days +old. Mr. Breckinridge said the legislatures of eleven states of the +Union had recommended this Society to Congress; that the +ecclesiastical tribunals of all the leading sects of Christians in +America had testified their approbation of its principles; and yet +there were, after fourteen years and sixteen days, with all this +support and high patronage in church and state only one hundred and +sixty auxiliary societies existing throughout the Union. Now, as to +the contemptible and odious abolitionists! as they were called by the +gentleman who differed from him. The National Society for the +immediate abolition of American slavery, was formed on the 6th of Dec. +1833; and on the 12th of May, 1835, when the anniversary was +held—without being recommended to Congress by any of the state +legislatures—without a testimony of approbation from any of the +ecclesiastical tribunals—being only one year and six months old—how +many auxiliary societies were connected with this abolition +organization? Two hundred and twenty-four. That was the number then on +the books of the Society; and the Secretary said the whole of them +were not inserted from the want of proper returns. In a letter +addressed to him (Mr. T.) by the Secretary of the American +Anti-Slavery Society, dated New York, 31st March, 1836, were the +following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Never were societies forming in all parts of our country with greater +rapidity. At this moment we have four hundred and fifty on our list, +and doubtless, there are five hundred in existence. We have at this +time eleven agents in the field, all good men and true, and all fast +gaining converts.</p></div> + +<p>And yet the abolitionists are a handful! The one society in fourteen +years and sixteen days, having one hundred and sixty auxiliaries; the +other in two years and three months, having, without the support of +state legislatures, or of ecclesiastical tribunals, not fewer than +five hundred; and yet the abolitionists are a handful. He (Mr. T.) +held in his hand a list of delegates to the New England Convention +which was held in the city of Boston, on the 25th of May, 1835. In +that list he found two hundred and eighty-one gentlemen, who, at their +own expense, had come from all parts of New England, to attend that +Convention. On the 27th May, it was stated that the Massachusetts +Society were in want of funds, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> committee was appointed to +collect subscriptions. That committee in less than an hour obtained +$1,800, and on the following day, $4,000, for the American Society. In +New York, at the anniversary, there had been collected $14,500—and +yet the abolitionists were a handful. The American Society at its +anniversary, had collected a larger sum than was collected by all the +other societies together, during the week set apart for the purpose; +and in Boston, $6,000 had been collected in two days; whilst in two +months, a friend of Mr. B's, viz. Mr. Gurley, had only been able to +collect, in the same city, about $600 for the Colonization Society. By +their fruits shall ye know them; do men gather grapes of thorns, or +figs of thistles? You may send to New England any foreigner you +please—but he must show his cause to be sound and practicable before +he can draw a dollar or a cent from a New Englander, who gets his +bread by early rising, and laborious attention to business—yet $6,000 +were collected in two days. But the abolitionists are a mere handful! +Yes—they may be a handful, but they are most precious and multyplying +seed. Mr. B. said that many of the slave-owners were doing all they +could for the emancipation of the slaves; whether they were doing any +thing or nothing, we find New Englanders had endeavored to retrieve +the honor of their country, by a subscription for emancipation of +$6,000 in two days—and yet it was said, they were an odious handful! +When he saw the Colonization Society like a Juggernaut, endeavoring to +crush the bodies and spirits of colored men and colored women, he +would league himself with the despised and 'odious handful,' and labor +with them, and for them, till, by the blessing of God, on their +exertions, the slaves were elevated to the condition and dignity of +intelligent and intellectual beings. Mr. T. would give another proof +that the abolitionists were a handful of most odious creatures. He +would refer to the New York Convention. Mr. B. knows well that the +pro-slavery prints pointed forward to the New York Convention in +October last, as likely to be a scene of blood. Not rendered so by the +abolitionists, for they were men of peace, but by the fury of their +opponents. Notwithstanding, there were six hundred delegates assembled +in Utica, at 9 o'clock, on the first day; and when they were driven +from that city by a mob, headed by the Hon. Mr. Beardsley, member of +Congress, and by the Hon. Mr. Hayden, Judge of the county—and the +greater part of them went to Peterborough, these six hundred were +joined by other four hundred, making one thousand delegates, for one +state—and yet they were a mere handful. He would next refer to the +Rhode Island Convention, at which, though held in the smallest State +in the Union—in the depth of winter—and at a time when many of the +roads were impassible through a heavy fall of snow, four hundred +delegates attended, and $2,000 were collected—but yet the +abolitionists were a mere handful! Gerrit Smith had said that there +was an accession to the anti-slavery societies, in the State of New +York alone, of five hundred weekly, among whom he says,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> there is not +known one intemperate or profane person;—five hundred weekly added to +one state society—yet they are a mere handful! If they go on +increasing at this rate in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and +throughout New England, they will not long be a small handful! +Besides, many of those who were formerly on the side of colonization, +have now come over to the ranks of the abolitionists. Where are now +the Smiths, and Birneys, and Jays, and Coxs, that once were the +eloquent and munificent advocates and patrons of the Colonization +Society? They are now, with all their souls and energies, on the side +of immediate abolition. Nor these alone. He might—he ought to name +such men as President Green, and Professors Wright, Bush, Follen, +Smyth, and Gregg. He ought to speak of a Leavitt in New York, a Kirk +in Albany, a Beman in Troy, a Weld in Ohio, a Garrison in New England; +and of a Mrs. Child, a Mrs. Chapman, a John G. Whittier, a May, a +Dickinson, a Phelps, a Goodell, a Bourne, a Lundy, a Loring, a Sewall, +and a host of others. All these men esteemed it their joy and honor to +be amongst the most odious of the contemptible handful referred to. +These were men of mind, of piety, of influence, of energy; men not to +be deterred from doing their duty by the harsh music of the birds of +ill omen, from the Upas Tree of Slavery, who sent forth their +croakings, by night and by day, to scare the nation from its +indispensable work of Justice and Truth—and yet these men are odious +and contemptible! Your agent, too, is contemptible—he was the agent +of the 'goodies' of Glasgow—and—his fair auditors could scarcely +believe what epithets were lavishly bestowed on him and them—yet +their agent, as contemptible as he was, was, perhaps, the only +Englishman, who had ever been honored as he had been by the President +of the United States of America. He who was so contemptible in the +eyes of the Americans—who was a most impetuous, and untameable, and +worthless animal—who was the representative of the 'goodies' and +superannuated maids and matrons of Glasgow—was honored by a notice +and a rebuke in the message to Congress of the President of the United +States! This looked much like being insignificant and contemptible! He +did not seek the honor which had been thus conferred upon him—it came +upon him unaware—but he had not therefore refused it. It was an honor +to be persecuted in the United States with the abolitionists of 1830. +And when their children, and their children's children looked back +upon these persecutions, they would exult and be proud to say they +were the sons, the grandsons, or the great grandsons of the Coxs, the +Jays, the Garrisons, the Tappans, and the Thompsons of England and +America. After alluding to the treatment he had experienced from the +New York Courier and Enquirer, Mr. T. said—let us bear these honors +meekly—when calumniated for truth's sake, let us be humble, while we +are joyful. One word more as to the odious handful. Seven-eights of +the Methodist Episcopal ministers in the New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> Hampshire Conference, +and seven-eights of the New England Conference were abolitionists. The +students of the colleges and institutions, academical and theological +of the country, known by the names of Lane Seminary, Oberlin +Institute, Western Reserve College, Oneida Institute, Waterville +College, Brunswick College, Amherst College, and the Seminaries of +Andover, were many of them in some, and all of them in others, +abolitionists; and yet, when all these societies, and ministers, and +men of learning, and students were put together, they were, in their +aggregate capacity, but an odious and most contemptible handful! He +would now proceed to speak of the Maryland scheme—a scheme of obvious +wickedness. When Mr. B. came to Boston to advocate that scheme, he +says a placard was published, calling on the rabble to mob him. This +placard he attributes to Mr. Garrison and the abolitionists, as he +says it was of the same size and appearance as the type and columns of +the Liberator newspaper, and that therefore Mr. Garrison was the +publisher. This he (Mr. T.) most pointedly, and distinctly, and +solemnly denied, and challenged Mr. B. to the proof. Did Mr. B. show +the placard? No. Did he demonstrate its identity with Mr. Garrison's +paper? No. He had not done so. To make Mr. Garrison the author or +publisher of such a placard, was to publish him a coward and a +villain; for he who could point out any man, still more a Christian +minister, to the fury of a mob, was a moral monster, a coward, and a +villain. He called on Mr. B. by his regard for truth and justice, and +his reputation as a minister of Christ, to adduce the proofs necessary +to sustain so grave an accusation, and he (Mr. T.) pledged himself to +cast off the dearest friend he had, if a crime so base could be fixed +on him. To return to the Maryland scheme. In the month of July or +August, 1834, Boston was visited by his respected opponent, his +brother, Dr. J. Breckinridge, and an agent of the Maryland +Colonization Society, and a meeting was convened to enable those +gentlemen to set forth and recommend the scheme of that Society, in +aid of which the legislature of Maryland had made an appropriation of +$200,000. He (Mr. T.) was fully prepared to show, that the object of +the Society was to get rid of the free colored population, and that +according to their design the state legislature had, in immediate +connection with the grant of money, passed most rigorous and cruel +laws. The Colonization Society was the net cast for the colored +people—the laws of the state were the means devised to drive the +devoted victims into its meshes. This was called helping them out of +the country with their free consent. He (Mr. T.) would bring forward +abundant proofs when he next addressed them—he would then read the +laws which he could not now produce for want of time. Mr. Breckinridge +might or might not notice these general charges against the Maryland +scheme; but he (Mr. T.) would hereafter fully support them, and show, +too, that the National Colonization Society was equally culpable, +having at its ensuing annual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> meeting fully approved of the plan, and +recommended it as a bright example for the imitation of other states.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> then rose. He had last night understood Mr. Thompson +to say, that this evening he would take up and expose the colonization +scheme. It was possible that he had been wrong in this; but such was +certainly the impression made upon his mind. Instead of adopting such +a course, however, Mr. Thompson had treated them to a second edition +of his last night's speech the only difference being that the one they +had just heard was more elaborate. If they were to be called on to +hear all Mr. Thompson's speeches twice, it would be a considerable +time before they finished the discussion. He congratulated Mr. +Thompson on his second edition, being in some respects an improvement, +on his first. It was certainly better arranged. In the observations he +was about to make, he would follow the course of the argument +exhibited in Mr. Thompson's two speeches; but he, at the same time, +wished it to be understood that he would not be cast out of the line +of discussion every night in the same manner. As to what had been said +about the 'handful,' he did not think it necessary to say much. He +would simply remind Mr. T., that however great or however small the +'handful' might be, one pervading evil might pollute it all. A dead +fly could cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink. But to come +to the point. Mr. Thompson had said that the question was national as +it respected America, because slaveholding states had been admitted +into the confederacy. The simple fact of these states having been +admitted members of the Union, was, in Mr. Thompson's estimation, +proof sufficient, not only that slavery was chargeable on the whole +nation, but that there had been a positive predilection among the +American people in favor of slavery. In clearing up this point, a +little chronological knowledge would help us. He would therefore call +the attention of the audience to the real state of matters when the +confederacy was established. At that period, Massachusetts was the +only State in which slavery had been abolished; and even in +Massachusetts its formal abolition was not effected till some time +after. For in that State it came to an end in consequence of a clause +inserted in the Constitution itself—tantamount to the one in our +Declaration of Independence, that freedom is a natural and inalienable +right. Successive judicial decisions, upon this clause, without any +special legislation, had abolished slavery there; so that the exact +period of its actual termination is not easily definable. This recalls +another point on which Mr. Thompson would have been the better of +possessing a little chronological information. He had repeatedly +stated that the American Constitution was founded on the principle, +that all men are created free and equal. Now, this was not so. The +principle was no doubt, a just one; it was asserted most fully by the +Continental Congress of 1776, and might be said to form the basis of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +our Declaration of Independence. But it was not contained in the +American Constitution, which was formed twelve years afterwards. That +Constitution was formed in accordance with the circumstances in which +the different states were placed. Its chief object was to guard +against external injury, and regulate external affairs; it interfered +as little as possible with the internal regulations of each state. The +American was a federative system of government; twenty-four distinct +republics were united for certain purposes, and for these alone. So +far was the national government from possessing unlimited powers, that +the Constitution itself was but a very partial grant of those, which, +in their omnipotence, resided, according to our theory, only in the +people themselves in their primary assemblies. It had been specially +agreed in the Constitution itself, that the powers not delegated +should be as expressly reserved, as if excepted by name; and, amongst +the chief subjects, exclusively interior, and not delegated, and so +reserved, is slavery. Had this not been the case, the confederacy +could not have been formed. It had been said that the American +Constitution had not only tolerated slavery, but that it had +actually guaranteed the slave-trade for twenty years. Nothing could be +more uncandid than this statement. Never had facts been more +perverted. One of the causes of the American Revolution had been the +refusal of the British King to sanction certain arrangements on which +some of the states wished to enter, for the abolition of the +slave-trade. At the formation of the Federal Constitution, while +slavery was excluded from the control of Congress, as a purely state +affair, the slave trade was deemed a fit subject, by the majority, for +the executors of national power, as being an exterior affair. And at a +period prior to the very commencement of that great plan of individual +effort, guided by Wilberforce and Clarkson, in Britain; and which +required twenty years to rouse the conscience of this nation—our +distant, and now traduced fathers, had already made up their minds, +that this horrid traffic, which they found not only existing, but +encouraged by the whole power of the King, should be abolished. It was +granted, perhaps too readily to the claims of those who thought, (as +nearly the whole world thought) that twenty years should be the limit +of the trade; and at the end of that period it was instantly +prohibited, as a matter course, and by unanimous consent. How unjust +then was it to charge on America, as a crime, what was one of the +brightest virtues in her escutcheon. Mr. Thompson had next asserted, +that slavery of the most horrid description existed in the Capital of +America, and in the surrounding District, subject to the exclusive +jurisdiction of Congress. He (Mr. Breckinridge) did not hesitate to +deny this. It was not true. Slavery did exist there; but it was not of +the horrible character which had been represented. It was well known +that the slavery existing in the United States was the mildest to be +seen in any country under Heaven. Nothing but the most profound +ignorance could lead any one to as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>sert the contrary. Mr. Thompson had +a colleague in his recent exhibitions in London, who seemed to have +taken interludes in all Mr. T's speeches. In one of these, that +colleague had said, he knew of his own knowledge a case, in which a +man had given $500 for a slave, in order to burn him alive! Mr. +Thompson, no doubt knew, that even on the supposition that such a +monster was to be found, he was liable in every part of the United +States, to be hanged as any other murderer. Slavery was bad enough +anywhere; but to say that it was more unmitigated in America than in +the West Indies, where emigration had always been necessary to keep up +the numbers, while in America, the slave population increased faster +than any part of the human race, was a gross exaggeration, or a proof +of the profoundest ignorance. To say that the slavery of the District +of Columbia was the most horrid that ever existed, when it, along with +the whole of the slavery on that continent, was so hedged about by +human laws, that in every one of the states cruelty to the slave was +punished as an offence against the state; the killing of a slave was +punished every where with death; while in all ages, and nearly in all +countries where slavery has existed besides, the master was not only +the exclusive judge of the treatment of his slave, but the absolute +disposer of his life, which he could take away at will; these +statements can proceed only from unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose +to mislead. As to the abolition of slavery in the District of +Columbia, there might, at first sight, appear to be some grounds of +accusation; but yet, when the subject was considered in all its +bearings, so many pregnant, if not conclusive, reasons presented +themselves against interference, that though much attention had been +bestowed upon it for many years, the result had been that nothing was +done. It was to be recollected that the whole District of Columbia was +only ten miles square; and that it was surrounded by states in which +slavery was still legalized. It was thus clear, that though slavery +were abolished in Columbia, not an individual of the six thousand +slaves now within its bounds, would necessarily be relieved of his +fetters. Were an abolition bill to pass the House of Representatives +to-day, the whole six thousand could be removed to a neighboring slave +state before it could be taken up in the Senate to-morrow. It was, +therefore, worse than idle to say so much on what could never be a +practical question. Again; the District of Columbia had been ceded to +the General Government by Maryland and Virginia, both slaveholding +states, for national purposes; but this would never have been done had +it been contemplated that Congress would abolish slavery within its +bounds, and thus establish a nucleus of anti-slavery agitation in the +heart of their territory. The exercise of such a power, therefore, on +the part of Congress, could be viewed in no other light than as a +gross fraud on those two states. It should never be forgotten that +slavery can be abolished in any part of America only by the persuasive +power of truth voluntarily submitted to the slaveholders them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>selves. +And though much is said in that country, and still more here, about +the criminality of the Northern States in not declaring that they +would not aid in the suppression of a servile war—such declamation is +worse than idle. But there is a frightful meaning in this unmeasured +abuse heaped by Mr. Thompson on the people of the free states, for +their expressions of devotion to the Union and the Constitution, and +their determination to aid, if necessary, in suppressing by force—all +force used by, or on behalf of the slaves. Is it then true, that Mr. +Thompson and his American friends, did contemplate a servile war? If +not, why denounce the North for saying it should be suppressed? Were +the people of America right when they charged him and his co-workers +with stirring up insurrection? If not, why lavish every epithet of +contempt and abhorrence upon those who have declared their readiness +to put a stop to the indiscriminate slaughter and pillage of a region +as large as Western Europe? Such speeches as that I have this night +heard go far to warrant all that has ever been said against this +individual in America, and to excuse those who considered him a +general disturber of their peace, and were disposed to proceed against +him accordingly. It was, however, the opinion of many that Congress +had no power to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr. B. +said his opinion was different; yet it must be admitted that the +obstacles to the exercise of this power were of the most serious kind, +and such as, to a candid mind, would free those who hesitated, from +the charge of being pro-slavery men. Perhaps the great reason against +the exercise of that power, even if its existence in Congress were +clear, was, that it would inevitably produce a dissolution of the +Union. When he spoke of the free states bringing about the abolition +of slavery in the South, he was to be understood as meaning that these +states, in accordance with what had been so often hinted at, should +march to the South with arms in their hands, and declare the slaves +free. Now, even supposing that the people of the North had no regard +for the peace of their country—that they were perfectly indifferent +to the glory, the power, and the happiness resulting from the Federal +Union—was it certain, that by adopting such a course, they would +really advance the welfare of the slave? Every candid man would at +once see that the condition of the slave population would be made more +hopeless than ever by it. The fourth proof brought forward by Mr. +Thompson, in support of his proposition that America was chargeable, +in a national point of view, with the guilt of slavery, was the fact +that the different states were bound to restore all run-away slaves. +But this was a regulation which applied to the case of all servants +who leave their masters in an improper manner. Apprentices, children, +even wives, if it might be supposed that a wife would ever leave her +husband, were to be restored as well as the slaves. Were this not +provided, the different states would form to each other the most +horrible neighborhood that could be imagined. No state is expected to +say, that any man is of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> right or should be 'held to service' of any +kind, in another state; for such are the words of the Constitution, +But the purely internal arrangements of each state, must necessarily +be respected by all the others; or eternal border wars must be the +result. In the re-delivery of a run-away slave, or apprentice, +therefore, the court of the one state is only required to say what are +the law, and the fact of the other state from which the claimant +comes, and to decide accordingly. And when Mr. T. says that this +proceeding is not only contrary to the spirit of the gospel, but to +the express command of God under the Jewish dispensation, I need only +to defend the practice, by questioning his biblical capacities, and +referring for explanation to his second printed speech before the +Glasgow Emancipation Society. In that, he states a fictitious case as +regards Ireland—resembling remarkably the case recorded in holy writ, +of Egypt under the government of Joseph; and while all men have +thought that Joseph came from God, and was peculiarly approved of +him—Mr. T. has represented, that he who should do in Ireland, very +much what Joseph did in Egypt, could be considered as coming only +'from America, or from the bottomless pit!!!' As long as the Holy +Ghost gives men reason to consider certain principles right, they may +be well content to abide under the wrath of Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson +said, in the fifth place, that slavery was a national crime, because +the states were all bound to assist each other, in suppressing +internal insurrection. To this he would answer, that as it regarded +the duty of the nation to the several states, there were two, and but +two great guarantees—namely, the preservation of internal peace, and +the upholding of republican institutions, tranquillity, and +republicanism. Carolina was as much bound to assist Rhode Island as +Rhode Island was to assist Carolina. All were mutually bound to each; +and if things went on as of late, the South were as likely to be +called on to suppress mobs at the North, as the North to suppress +insurrection at the South. It was next advanced by Mr. T. that the +people of the North were taxed for the support of slavery. Now, the +fact was, that America presented the extraordinary spectacle of a +nation free of taxes altogether; free of debt, with an overflowing +Treasury, with so much money, indeed, that they did not well know what +to do with it. It was almost needless to explain that the American +revenue was at present and had been for many years past, derived +solely from the sale of public lands, and from the customs or duties +levied on imported articles of various kinds. The payment of these +duties was entirely a voluntary tax, as in order to avoid it, it was +only necessary to refrain from the use of articles on which they were +imposed. As for Mr. T's argument about the standing army, employed in +keeping down the slaves, its value might be judged from the fact, +that, though even according to Mr. T's own showing, the slave +population amounted to two and a half millions, the army was composed +of only six thousand men, scattered along three frontiers, extending +two thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>sand miles each. Throughout the whole slaveholding states +there were not probably fifteen hundred soldiers. The charge was, in +fact, complete humbug, founded upon just nothing at all. Mr. +Thompson's seventh charge was, that Congress refused to suppress the +internal slave-trade. This was easily answered. There was in America +not one individual among five hundred who believed that Congress had +the power to do so. And, although he (Mr. B.) believed that Congress +had power to prevent the migration of slaves from state to state, as +fully as they had to prevent the importation of them into the states +from foreign countries; and that the exercise of this power, would +prevent, in a great degree, the trade in slaves from state to state, +yet very few concurred with him even in this modified view of the +case. And it must be admitted that the exercise of such a power, if +it really exists, would be attended with such results of unmixed evil +at this time, that no one whatever would deem it proper to attempt, or +possible to enforce its exercise. It was next said, that as Missouri, +a slaveholding state, had been admitted into the Union after the full +consideration of the subject by Congress, therefore the nation had +become identified with slavery, and responsible for its existence, at +least in Missouri. But on the supposition that, before receiving +Missouri as a member of the confederacy, it had been demanded of her +that she should abolish slavery; and supposing Missouri had acceded to +the terms proposed, that she had really given her slaves freedom, and +been added to the Federal Union in consequence: suppose Missouri had +done all this; what was there to prevent her from re-establishing +slavery so soon as the end she sought was gained. No power was +possessed by the other states in the matter, and all that could have +been said was, that Missouri had acted with bad faith—that she had +broken a condition precedent—that she had given just cause of war. +According to the most latitudinarian notions, this was the extent of +the remedy in the hands of Congress. But Mr. Thompson, being a holder +of peace principles—if we may judge by his published speeches—must +admit it to be as really a sin to kill, as to enslave men; so that, in +his own showing, this argument amounts to nothing. But when it is +considered that every state in the American Union has the recognized +right to alter its Constitution, when, and how it may think fit, +saving only that it be republican; it is most manifest that Congress +and the other states have, and could have in no case, any more power +or right to prevent Missouri's continuing, or creating slavery, than +they had to prevent Massachusetts from abolishing it. But, if we were +to stand upon the mere rights of war, he (Mr. B.) did not know but +that America had just cause of war against Britain, according to the +received notions on that subject, in the speeches delivered by Mr. +Thompson under the connivance of the authorities here. But the causes +of war were very different in the opinions of men, and in the eye of +God. If Mr. Thompson was right in condemning America for the guilt of +Mis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>souri, then they should go to war at once and settle the question. +But, if they were not ready for this conclusion, they could do +nothing. In the edition of Mr. Thompson's speech which had been +delivered on the preceding evening, an argument had been adduced which +was omitted in the present. The argument to which he referred, was +concerning the right of the slaves to be represented. A slight +consideration of the subject might have shown that the whole power +over the subject of citizenship in each state, was exclusive in the +state itself, and was differently regulated in different states. In +some, the elective franchise was given to all who had attained the age +of twenty-one. In some, it was made to depend on the possession of +personal property; and in others, of real property. That in the +Southern states, the power of voting should be given to the masters, +and not to the slaves, was not calculated to excite surprise in +Britain, where such a large proportion of the population, and that in +a number of instances composed of men of high intelligence, were not +entitled to the elective franchise. The origin of this arrangement, +like many others involved in our social system, was a compromise of +apparently conflicting interests in the states which were engaged in +forming the Federal Constitution. The identity of taxation and +representation, was the grand idea on which the nation went into the +war of independence. When it was agreed that all white citizens, and +three-fifths of all other persons, as the Constitution expresses it, +should be represented, it followed of course, that they should be +subject to taxation. Or, if it were first agreed that they should be +taxed, it followed as certainly they should be represented. Who should +actually cast the votes, was, of necessity, left to be determined by +the states themselves, and as has been said, was variously determined; +many permitting free negroes, Indians, and mulattos, who are all +embraced, as well as slaves, to vote. That three-fifths, instead of +any other part, or the whole should be agreed on, was, no doubt, the +result of reasons which appeared conclusive to the wise and benevolent +men who made the Constitution; but I am not able to tell what they +were. It must, however, be very clear, that to accuse my country, in +one breath, for treating the negroes, bond and free, as if they were +not human beings at all—and to accuse her in the next, of fostering +and encouraging slavery, for allowing so large a proportion of the +blacks to be a part of the basis of national representation in all the +states, and then, in the third, because the whole are not so treated, +to be more abusive than ever—is merely to show plainly, how earnestly +an occasion is sought to traduce America, and how hard it is to find +one. He came now to the last charge. He himself, it seems, had +admitted, on former occasions, that slavery was a national evil. He +certainly did believe that the people of America, whether anti-slavery +or pro-slavery, would be happier and better, in conscience and +feelings, were slavery abolished. He believed that every interest +would be benefited by such an event, whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> political, moral, or +social. The existence of slavery was one of the greatest evils of the +world, but it was not the crime of all the world. Though, therefore, +he considered slavery a national evil, it was not to be inferred that +he viewed it as a national crime. The cogency of such an argument was +equal to the candor of the citation on which it was founded. He would +now come to matters rather more personal. In enumerating the great +numbers of anti-slavery societies in America, Mr. Thompson had paraded +one as formed in Kentucky, for the whole state. Now, he would venture +to say that there were not ten persons in that whole State, holding +anti-slavery principles, in the Garrison sense of the word. If this +was to be judged a fair specimen of the hundreds of societies boasted +of by Mr. Thompson, there would turn out but a beggarly account of +them. He found also the name of Groton, Massachusetts, as the location +of one of the societies in the boasted list. He had once preached, and +spoken on the subject of slavery, in that sweet little village, and +been struck with the scene of peace and happiness which it presented. +He afterwards met the clergyman of that village in the city of +Baltimore, and asked him what had caused him to leave the field of his +labors. The clergyman answered, that the anti-slavery people had +invaded his peaceful village, and transformed it into such a scene of +strife that he preferred to leave it. And so it was. The pestilence, +which, like a storm of fire and brimstone from hell, always followed +the track of abolitionism, had overtaken many a peaceful village, and +driven its pastor to seek elsewhere a field not yet blasted by it. He +would conclude by remarking, that Mr. Thompson and he (Mr. B.) were +now speaking, as it were, in the face of two worlds, for Western +Europe was the world to America. And it was for England to know—that +the opinion of America—that America which already contained a larger +reading population than the whole of Britain—was as important to her, +as hers could be to us. What he had said of Mr. Garrison and of Mr. +Wright, he had said; and he was ready to answer for it in the face of +God and man. But he had something else to do, he thanked God, than to +go about the country carrying placards, ready to be produced on all +occasions. Nor where he was known, was such a course needful, to +establish what he said. When those gentlemen should make their +appearance, in defence or explanation of what he had said, he would be +the better able to judge—whether it would be proper for him to take +any notice—and if any, what—of the defence for which Mr. Thompson +had so frankly pledged himself. In the mean time, he would say to that +gentleman himself, that his attempts at brow-beating were lost upon +him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> said he should commence with the end of +his opponent's speech, and notice what that gentleman had said in +regard to the charges brought by him against William Lloyd Garri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>son +and Elizur Wright. It appeared as if Mr. Breckinridge expected +that, because in his own country his character for veracity stood +high, that therefore, he was entitled, if he chose, to enter an assembly +of twelve hundred persons in Great Britain, and utter the +gravest charges against certain individuals 3,000 miles away, and +when called upon as he had been for proof, that he had nothing to +do but turn round and say, 'Why, I am not bound to furnish proof; +let the parties accused demonstrate their innocence.' This was +American justice with a vengeance. This might be Kentucky law, +or Lynch law, but could hardly be called justice by any assembly +of honest and impartial persons. Such justice might suit the neighborhood +of Vicksburg, but it would not recommend itself to a Scotish +audience. He (Mr. T.) would not undertake at this time the +task of justifying the men who had been calumniated. He knew +these gentlemen, and had no doubt when they heard the charges +preferred against them in this country, they would be able and ready +to clear themselves before the world. He would not say that Mr. +Breckinridge did not himself believe the allegations to be true, +but he would say that had that gentleman possessed a knowledge +of the true character of those he had spoken against—had he +known them as he (Mr. T.) knew them, he would have held them +incapable of the dark deeds alleged against them. With regard +to Mr. B's remarks upon the number of the slave population, the +amount of the troops in the United States, and the existence of slavery +in the district of Columbia, he must say that they were nothing +but special pleadings; that the whole was a complete specimen of +what the lawyers termed pettifogging. He (Mr. T.) was not prepared +to hear a minister say that because only 1500 troops out of +6000 were found in the southern states, that, therefore, the nation +was not implicated—that because, if the slavery of the district was +abolished, there would be no fewer slaves in the country—that, +therefore, the seat of government should not be cleansed from its +abomination. He would remind his opponent that they were discussing +a question of principle, and that the scriptures had declared that +he who was unjust in the least, was unjust also in the greatest. Mr. +Breckinridge had still cautiously avoided naming the parties in the +United States who were responsible for the sin of Slavery. They +were told that neither New Hampshire nor Massachusetts, nor any +other of the Northern states were to blame; that the government +was not to blame, nor, had it even yet been said, that the Southern +states were to blame. Still the aggregate of the guilt belonged +somewhere; and if the parties to whom reference had been +made were to be exculpated, at whose door, he would ask, were +the sin and shame of the system to be laid. The gentleman with +whom he was debating had repeatedly told him (Mr. T.) that he +did not understand 'the system.' He frankly confessed that he +did not. It was a mystery of iniquity which he could not pretend +to fathom; but he thought he might add that the Americans them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>selves, +at least the Colonizationists, did not seem to understand it +very well neither, for they had been operating for a very long time, +without effecting any favorable change in the system. A word with +regard to the representation of slaves in Congress. Mr. B. had spoken +as if he had intended to have it understood, that the slaves were +themselves benefited by that representation—that it was a partial +representation of the slave population by persons in their interest. +How stood the fact? The slaves were not at all represented as men, +but as things. They swelled, it was true, the number of members +upon the floor of Congress, but that extra number only helped to +rivet their bonds tightly upon them, being as they were, in the interest +of the tyrant, and themselves slaveholders, and not in the interest +of the slaves. What said John Quincy Adams in his celebrated +report on the Tariff:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'The representation of the slave population in this House has, from +the establishment of the Constitution of the United States, amounted +to rather more than one-tenth of the whole number. In the present +Congress (1833,) it is equivalent to twenty-two votes; in the next +Congress it will amount to twenty-five. This is a combined and +concentrated power, always operating to the support and exclusive +favor of the slave-holding interest.'</p></div> + +<p>Here was a mighty engine in the cause of oppression. It was a wicked +misrepresentation to say that the slaves were benefited by such an +arrangement. Instead of being a lever in their hands to aid them in +the overthrow of the system which was crushing them, it was a vast +addition of strength to the ranks of their tyrants, who went to +Congress to cry down discussion, to cry up Lynch law, and shout Hail +Columbia. Mr. Thompson then proceeded to give some account of the +Maryland Colonization scheme.</p> + +<p>The first movement on the subject was in March, 1831, when Mr. Brawner +submitted the following resolutions to the Maryland Legislature, which +were by that assembly adopted. He begged particular attention both to +the letter and spirit of this document, exhibiting as it did, the +feelings of 'the good people of the state' towards the colored +population:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Resolved, That the increased proportion of the free people of color in +this state, to the white population, the evils growing out of their +connection and unrestrained association with the slaves their habits +and manner of obtaining a subsistence, and their withdrawing a large +portion of employment from the laboring class of the white population, +are subjects of momentous and grave consideration to the good people +of this state.</p> + +<p>Resolved, That as philanthropists and lovers of freedom, we deplore +the existence of slavery amongst us, and would use our utmost +exertions to ameliorate its condition, yet we consider the +unrestrained power of manumission as fraught with ultimate evils of a +more dangerous tendency than the circumstance of slavery alone, and +that any act, having for its object the mitigation of these joint +evils, not inconsistent with other paramount considerations, would be +worthy the attention and deliberation of the representatives of a +free, liberal-minded, and enlightened people.</p> + +<p>Resolved, That we consider the colonization of free people of color in +Africa as the commencement of a system, by which if judicious +encouragement be afforded, these evils may be measurably diminished, +so that in process of time, the relative proportion of the black to +the white population, will hardly be matter for serious and unpleasant +consideration.</p> + +<p>Ordered, therefore, That a committee of five members be appointed by +the Chair, with instructions to report a bill, based as nearly as may +be, upon the principles contained in the foregoing resolutions, and +report the same to the consideration of this house.</p></div> + +<p>Such was the first movement on the subject. At the next ses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>sion +of the legislature Mr. Brawner presented the report of the +committee, some of the extracts from which he (Mr. T.) would +read:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The committee to whom was referred the several memorials from numerous +citizens in this state, upon the subject, of the colored population, +Report,—</p> + +<p>That the views presented by the memorialists are various, and the +recommendations contained in some of the memorials are entirely +repugnant to those contained in others. The subjects, however, upon +which legislative action is required, may be embraced under a few +general heads:</p> + +<p>First, That a law be passed prohibiting the future emancipation of the +slaves, unless provision be made for their removal from the state.</p> + +<p>Secondly, That a sum of money adequate for the attainment of the +object, be raised and appropriated for the further removal of those +already free.</p> + +<p>Thirdly, That a system of police be established, regulating the future +conduct and morals of this class of our population.</p> + +<p>And, Fourthly, There are several memorials from different parts of our +state, signed by a numerous and highly respectable portion of our +citizens, recommending the entire abolition of slavery in the state.</p></div> + +<p>On the 14th of March, 1832, the State Legislature of Maryland +appropriated for the use of the State Colonization Society the sum +of two hundred thousand dollars, payable in sums of twenty thousand +dollars per annum for ten years. Having made the grant, the +legislature next proceeded to pass acts to obtain the consent of the +colored population to quit the state and country, and emigrate to +Africa. He (Mr. T.) claimed special attention to some short extracts +from those laws. They would reveal more powerfully than +any language of his, the benevolent or rather atrociously cruel designs +of the 'good people' of the state. He should quote first from +'An Act relating to Free Negroes and Slaves,' passed within a +few days of the grant and part and parcel of the same benevolent +scheme:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That +after the passage of this act, no free negro or mulatto shall emigrate +to, or settle in this State; and no free negro or mulatto belonging to +any other state, district or territory, shall come into this State, +and therein remain for the space of ten successive days, whether such +free negro or mulatto intends settling in this State or not, under the +penalty of fifty dollars for each and every week such persons coming +into, shall thereafter remain in this State; the one half to the +informer and the other half to the sheriff for the use of the county. +* * * and any free negro or mulatto refusing or neglecting to pay said +fine or fines, shall be committed to the jail of the county; and shall +be sold by the sheriff at public sale, for such time as may be +necessary to cover the aforesaid penalty, first giving ten days +previous notice of such sale.</p> + +<p>Sec. 2d. And be it enacted, That no person in this State, shall +hereafter hire, employ, or harbor any free negro or mulatto who shall +emigrate or settle in this state, after the first day of June next, or +any free negro or mulatto who shall come into this state from any +other state, district or territory, and continue in this state for the +space of ten successive days as above, under the penalty of twenty +dollars for every day after the expiration of four days, any such free +negro or mulatto * * * shall be so employed, hired or harbored, and +all fines accruing under this act, * * * one half thereof to be +applied to the informer, and the other half to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>the use of the county; +and if any negro or mulatto shall remove from this state and remain +without the limits thereof for a space longer than thirty consecutive +days, unless before leaving the state he deposits with the clerk of +the county in which he resides, a written statement of his object in +so doing, and his intention of returning again, or unless he shall +have been detained by sickness or coercion, of which he shall bring a +certificate, he shall be regarded as a resident of another state, and +be subject, if he return, to the penalties imposed by the foregoing +provisions upon free negroes and mulattoes of another state, migrating +to this state: Provided that nothing contained in this act shall +prevent any free negro or mulatto from visiting Liberia, and returning +to the state whenever he may choose to do so.</p> + +<p>Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful from and after +the first of June next, to import or bring into this state by land or +water, any negro, mulatto or other slave for sale, or to reside within +this state: * * * and any person or persons so offending, shall +forfeit for every such offence, any negro, mulatto or other slave +brought into this state contrary to this act, and such negro, mulatto +or other slave, shall be entitled to freedom upon condition that he +consent to be sent to Liberia, or to leave the state forthwith, +otherwise such negro or mulatto or other slave, shall be seized and +taken and confined in jail by the sheriff of the county where the +offence is committed, which sheriff shall receive ten dollars for +every negro, mulatto or other slave so brought into this state and +forfeited as aforesaid, and seized and taken by him. * * * Moreover, +said sheriff shall receive five dollars for such negro, mulatto or +other slave actually confined by him in jail, and the usual prison fee +as now allowed by law, and any person or persons so offending under +this act, shall be punished by indictment in the county court of the +county where the offence shall be committed, and upon conviction +thereof, the said court shall, by its order, direct said sheriff to +sell any negro, mulatto or other slaves so seized and taken by him, +under this act, to the Colonization Society for said five dollars, and +the prison fees * * * to be taken to Liberia: and if such Colonization +Society shall not receive such negroes, mulattoes or other slaves for +said five dollars each, and the prison fees of each, upon refusing, +said sheriff shall, after three weeks' public notice given by +advertisements, sell any such negro, mulatto or other slave to some +person or persons, with a condition that any such negro, mulatto or +other slave shall be removed and taken forthwith beyond the limits of +this state to settle and reside.</p></div> + +<p>Such was the scheme which had been advocated in Boston and elsewhere +by his opponent. He now left the matter in his hands, recommending him +to exert all his eloquence and ingenuity in behalf of the honor of +Maryland, but warning him beforehand that his labors would be in vain.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> said, he would now proceed with what remained of the +argument on the general question. He had been asked to point out the +responsible parties in regard to slavery, and this was what he was +about to do. It was indeed much more easy to show who were the +responsible parties than to prove the innocence of those unjustly +accused—it was perhaps his duty to do both—the first he had been +attempting. It would be easy to do the other, and he trusted, that +after he had done so—if the good people of Glasgow on any future +occasion should meet to pass resolutions applauding Mr. Thompson, for +the vast sacrifices he had made, and the suffering he had endured in +the cause of emancipation, they would not again feel obliged to pass +resolutions condemning the whole American nation, as the vilest nation +that ever existed, for maintaining slavery. He would say, then, that +he considered the owners of the slaves, as in the first place, +responsible. The slave-owner had two important duties to perform in +reference to those of his fellow-beings, who were held in bondage. In +the first place, he was bound to inform himself of the whole question, +in its length and breadth, and having done so, he ought, in the +speediest manner possible, consistent with the happiness of the slaves +themselves, to set them free. This was the duty of a slave-owner, as +an individual. But, as his lot might be cast in a slaveholding state, +it was his duty, in addition to freeing his own slaves, that he should +use every lawful means to enlighten public opinion. Whatever faculties +he possessed, it was his duty to use them in the attempt to remove the +prejudices of those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> whose minds were not yet enlightened on this +important question. But, while it was his duty to do this, he was to +refrain from every thing which would naturally tend to exasperate the +minds of the masters. He was not to go and take hold of a man by the +throat, and say, 'You are a great thieving, man-dealing villain, and +unless you instantly give your slaves liberty, I will pitch you out of +this three story window.' That was not the mode in which a prudent man +would go to work. And he (Mr. Breckinridge) would like, above all +things, to make Mr. Thompson, and his fellow-laborers sensible of this +important truth; that in their efforts to give freedom to the slaves, +nothing could be done without the consent of the slave-owners. And +unless it was kept in view, Mr. Thompson might labor, to use an +American homely phrase, 'till the cows come home,' but he would not +move a single step nearer his object. While on this head there was +another saying which he had no doubt Mr. Thompson had frequently heard +in America, and which might be of some use for him to bear in mind, if +he revisited that horrible country; it was that one 'spoonful of +molasses would catch more flies than a hogshead of vinegar.' With +regard to the mode in which the question of slavery should be taken up +in those states where it existed, he would say that every thing had +been done—agitation, as it was called in this country—to enlighten +the public mind on the whole question, was the only thing that could +advance the cause. If there was any thing else that could be taken +advantage of for that end, he was willing to learn it, and to go home +and try to teach his countrymen who were laboring in the same cause. +In the second place, Mr. B. proceeded to say, that the parties +responsible for the existence of slavery were the states which +tolerated it. If slavery were wrong, as he was fully prepared to +assert it to be, then those states or communities which tolerate it +were justly responsible at the bar of God, at the tribunal of an +enlightened world. If slavery were wrong, those who have power were +bound to abolish it as soon as it could be done consistently with the +greatest amount of good to all concerned. Now, slavery could end in +any state only by violence, or by the consent of the masters. This +made it obviously the duty of all who had right views in such +communities, to extend and enforce them in such a way as shall appear +most likely to secure the object in view—namely, peaceful, voluntary, +and legal abolition. It demonstrates too, that whenever the majority +of such a community are ready to act in this behalf, they are bound to +act in such a manner as will constitutionally and speedily effect the +object, even though multitudes in that community should still oppose +it. But here again it is most clear that such a result can never be +brought about, till the majority of such slaveholding communities +shall not only consent to it, but require it. So that in every branch +of the matter, it constantly appears how indispensable, light, and +love, gentleness, wisdom, and truth are; and how perfectly mad it is +to expect to do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> any thing in America by harsh vituperation, hasty and +violent proceedings. But, say the anti-slavery people, you can abolish +slavery in the District of Columbia, and might purchase the freedom of +all the slaves throughout the whole of the states with the public +money. But it was not the price of the slaves that was the chief +difficulty in making an end of slavery. The inhabitants of the +Southern states reckoned this the least part of the case. To take away +our slaves, say they, is to take away not our property alone, but our +country also; for without them the country would not be cultivated. He +did not say that the Southern planters were right in thinking so, but +he knew that they did think so; and therefore, it was necessary to +take their opinion into account. This was only an instance of the many +difficulties by which the question was beset, and would let them see +that it was not a mere matter of pounds, shillings, and pence. In +reference to the efforts made by the American people to abolish +slavery, Mr. Breckinridge said they had done much in this cause before +Mr. Thompson was born, and possibly before his father was born. They +had labored for ages, he might almost say for half centuries. During +that time they had effected much, and they would have done more but +for the interference of the party with which Mr. Thompson was +identified. A party whose principles were based on false +metaphysics—on false morality, who came often with the fury of +demons, and yet said they were sent by God. He would say the cause of +emancipation had been much injured by the ill-designed efforts of that +party, they had thrown the cause a hundred years farther back, than it +was five years ago. In reference to the Maryland colonization scheme, +of which they had heard so much from Mr. Thompson, he would only be +able, as his time was nearly expired, to make a remark or two. That +Society had existed for about four years. In its fourth annual report +there is a statement from the managers of the Maryland State fund, +that within the preceding year, two hundred and ninety-nine +manumissions had been reported to them, which, with those previously +reported, make eleven hundred and one slaves manumitted, purely and +freely manumitted, within four years in that State: while the total +number of colored persons transported to Liberia since the Society +commenced its operations was then only one hundred and forty, as +exhibited by the same report. Nothing could show more clearly the +falsity of those statements which represent the scheme of Maryland +colonization, as being cruel, oppressive, and peculiarly opposed to +the progress of emancipation. The direct contrary is in all respects +true. With regard to the book from which Mr. Thompson had read some +extracts, purporting to be the laws of Maryland; if he were not +mistaken, that book was a violent and inflammatory pamphlet written by +some person, perhaps Mr. Thompson himself, shortly after his (Mr. B's) +visit to Boston. He would not enter upon the discussion of the merits +of that pam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>phlet, against which it had been alleged in America, at +the place where it originated, and he believed truly charged, that +instead of containing faithful extracts from the laws of Maryland, it +did in fact, contain only schemes of laws which had been proposed in +the Assembly of Maryland, but which had never received their sanction; +chiefly in consequence of the opposition of the friends of +colonization. In conclusion, he would say, that the Maryland scheme +was, as a whole, one of the most wise and humane projects that had +ever been devised. He had no objection on proper occasions, to go +fully into it, and he hoped to be able to show that it would do much +for the amelioration of the negro race.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> +<h2>THIRD NIGHT—WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span>, the subject for discussion this evening by two +appointments, was the great cause of colonization, as it presented +itself in America; and he was aware that of all the parts of the +subject of these discussions there were none on which their opinions +were more decidedly made up against what he believed to be the truth. +It was, therefore, peculiarly embarrassing for him to enter upon the +subject, but he did so with that frankness and candor with which he +had entered upon the other topics of discussion; and if he would not +show them sufficient reason to commend the principle of colonization +to their minds and feelings, he could only expect that they should +remain of their present opinions. The scheme of colonization was not a +new one in America. It had been spoken of 40 or 50 years ago, by him +who in his day ranked next to the father of his country in the +affections of the American people, Mr. Jefferson, before he filled the +president's chair, while he was president, and afterwards occupied his +thoughts with this great scheme. Being himself a decided enemy to +slavery, he tried to rouse the minds of his countrymen to the +advantages which would arise from the colonizing of the free blacks of +America on some part of the Western coast of Africa. With this view he +entered into negotiations with the Sierra Leone Company in this +country, to receive into their colony free people of color from +America; and he also had applied to the Portuguese government, at that +time a large African proprietor, for a place where the free blacks +might be allowed to colonize themselves. Whether these efforts, which +were applauded and aided by many wise and good men, deserved to be +praised or blamed, was not the topic to be taken up at present; but +they showed that the scheme was one which could not be called a new +scheme. This proposal of colonizing the free blacks of America on the +West coast of Africa had obtained the approbation of nine tenths of +all those throughout America who took any interest in the fate of the +black race: for even the great bulk of those who were now in favor of +"abolitionism," were at one time the friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> of colonization. Whether +they had good or bad reasons for the change which had taken place in +their opinions, would be more apparent, perhaps, when they arrived at +the end of the discussion. It was in the course of the years 1822 or +1823 that the first colonists were sent out from America. He might not +be perfectly accurate in his dates, as he gave them from memory, but +the present argument did not depend on exact accuracy in that respect. +The society for promoting the colonization scheme was organized some +years before the date stated above, when an expedition was sent out to +explore the coast of Africa with a view to establishing the colony; +and afterwards another to purchase territory; and then the colonists +were sent out, which he believed took place for the first time after +1820. The society continued to pursue the scheme for a period of 9 or +10 years, and met with no opposition except from some parties in the +extreme South; but had the concurrence of almost all the wise, the +good, and the benevolent in America. It was not till about 1830 that +any very violent opposition was made to the society's operations; and +he believed Mr. Garrison was among the first who opposed it, on the +ground that its operations were injurious to the interests of the +colored race in America. Mr. Arthur Tappan also seceded from the +society about the same time, but upon different grounds from Garrison. +His opposition arose from the society's not taking up his ground in +reference to Temperance. He had no hesitation in saying that Mr. +Tappan was right, and that the society was wrong; as they did not go +far enough in regard to this point. He the more readily admitted that +in this particular Mr. Tappan's views were right, as he was wrong in +every other point which he assumed in reference to the society. But it +was not till about 1832, that an organized opposition to the society +began to manifest itself. In 1833 the American Anti-Slavery Society +was established, one of the fundamental principles of which, and +perhaps the one they most zealously propagated, was uncompromising +hostility to the colonization scheme. In the progress of events too, +it turned out that all the friends of colonization did not see alike +on all parts of the subject. Many of them thought that the interests +involved were too important and too great to be left to a single board +of management or staked on a single series of experiments. Some +considered that one general principle of operation could not be made +broad enough for the circumstances of all the states, and hence arose +several separate societies,—as that of Maryland, organized on +peculiar principles, which have direct reference to general +emancipation; and as those of New York and Philadelphia, which have +founded a colony on principles of peace,—the temperance principle +being held equally by them and the Maryland society. The general +society at Washington assumed the ground of colonizing, on the West +coast of Africa with their own consent, persons of color from America +who were of good character, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> who were free at the time of their +being sent out. The Maryland Society went a step farther. They saw +that the colonization scheme would have a reflection favorable to +emancipation; and they carried on their operations with a direct and +avowed reference to the ultimate emancipation of the slaves in that +state. The New York and Philadelphia societies were founded, as I have +above said, on the principles of temperance and peace—the former +principle being common also to the Maryland scheme. The united +societies of New York and Philadelphia first took 120 slaves who had +been manumitted by the late Dr. Hawes, of Va., and formed them into a +colony. The Parent Society's territory in Africa was called Liberia. +It was about 100 leagues in length along the coast, about 10 or 15 +leagues deep, and there were 5 or 6 settlements, all under the general +control of that society. There were in them all about 4,000 colonists, +a great portion of whom were manumitted slaves. The colony of the +Maryland Society was farther South than that of the Parent Society. It +was situated on that point of the coast called Cape Palmas, and was +itself called Maryland in Africa. It was under the charge of a board +of management in Maryland, and consisted at this time of between two +and three hundred colonists, who were chiefly manumitted slaves. The +other colony, that belonging to the New York and Philadelphia Society, +was at Bassa Cove, and was under the charge of the directors of that +society. There were in all about 5000 colonists under the charge of +these societies. For the first few years of the existence of the +Parent Society, it was supported by a number of gentlemen for +different reasons. At the commencement it was not perhaps perfectly +clear how it might operate. Some advocated the cause and supported the +interests of the society, on the principles of direct humanity to the +free colored persons of America. Others again supported it as +calculated to produce collateral effects favorable to the slaves, and +the general cause of emancipation in the country. Others on the ground +that it would enable the country to get rid of the colored population, +without much reference to what might be the result to the colored +population themselves; just as if in England there were individuals +who would promote emigration, to get the country rid of those who were +as they supposed given to idleness and a burden upon the country. +There may have been some who supported the society from an actual love +for slavery, and as a means which they supposed might lessen some of +the evils by which it was accompanied. During the first years of the +society's operations, many thousands of speeches were delivered, and +many hundreds of pamphlets were published about the society, its +operations, and their effects; and it was quite possible that Mr. +Thompson might be able to bring forward some sentences and scraps from +the speeches of a slave-owner, who looked upon the society as a means +of perpetuating slavery in America; or he might produce some speech, +in which the soci<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>ety was supported as a means of ridding the country +of the free people of color, no matter what became of them afterward. +But it was uncandid and unjust to take this plan of opposing the +cause; because it was well known that whatever might be the case in +particular instances, the general fact was, that the great majority of +the supporters of the society had always supported it, because of the +good effects they anticipated from it in favor of ultimate +emancipation, as well as its present and immense benefits to the free +blacks. Now I challenge Mr. Thompson to the plain admission, or the +plain denial of these statements. If he denies them I am content; for +in that case, he will stand convicted in America, for the denial of +that which every man, woman and child there knows to be true. If he +admits my statements to be substantially true, then the entire point +of the charges brought by him and his friends against colonization, is +broken off; and all he or they can allege against it, can equally be +alleged against every thing, good or bad, that ever existed, namely, +that men supported it for various, or even opposite reasons. I go +farther—I assert, and call upon Mr. Thompson to admit or to deny it, +I care not which—that just in proportion as the cause has developed +itself, and its natural and legitimate influences been plainly +exhibited—those who favor slavery have cooled in its support, or +withdrawn entirely from it—while those who favor emancipation, and +desire the good of the free people of color, have, in the same degree, +and with increasing cordiality, rather avowed it, insomuch that it +will be difficult if not wholly impossible for our evidences of +friendship to it, from an avowed friend of slavery, to be culled out +of all his scraps, as occurring within the last three or four years. +Indeed no persons were more persecuted after what Mr. T. calls +persecution in some of the Southern states, than those who advocate +the cause of colonization, a fact which began to occur as soon as +those slave owners, who desired slavery to continue, clearly saw that +the natural result was the ultimate emancipation of the slaves. How +far the conduct of Mr. Thompson and his friends was calculated to +produce a reaction in the South, and incline moderate and humane +masters to the views of the emancipationists, cannot now be +determined. But that the increasing wisdom and benevolence of the +South will compensate for the folly and phrenzy at the North, there is +good reason to hope. He would now proceed to give a few reasons why +this scheme of colonization should be supported. But he would first +call their attention to a resolution proposed by Mr. George Thompson +at a meeting of the Young Mens' Anti Slavery Society of Boston:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That as the American Colonization Society has been demonstrated to be +in its principles unrighteous, unnatural, and proscriptive, the +attempt now made to give permanency to this institution is a fraud +upon the ignorance and an outrage upon the intelligence of the public, +and as such deserves the severest reprobation.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +The verbiage of this resolution showed its parentage. No one who had +ever heard one of Mr. Thompson's speeches could for a moment doubt the +authorship of the resolution. But what were they to think of an +individual who, being almost a perfect stranger in America, came +forward at a public meeting, and spoke in terms like these of a +society, supported and encouraged by the great majority of the +nation—embracing in that majority most of what is distinguished by +rank, by knowledge, or by virtue, in the country? What but universal +execration from the violent, and pity and contempt from all—could be +expected to follow such proceedings. And yet London, Edinburgh, and +Glasgow, celebrate the prudence of Mr. George Thompson in America, and +praise his conduct there on their behalf! It was not demonstrated that +the scheme was either unnatural, proscriptive, or foolish. He wished +much to hear Mr. Thompson attempt that demonstration. He (Mr. B.) +would attempt to prove, on the other hand, that in itself the scheme +was good, wise, and benevolent. His first reason was that it was good +for the free black population of America, for whose benefit it was +intended, whatever might be the opinions entertained regarding +slavery; whatever might be the opinion as to the duty of admitting the +free colored population to all the rights and privileges of white +people; taking it for granted that slavery should be abolished, taking +it for granted that the free colored population should have the same +rights and privileges as the white population; admitting, as so many +have declared, that these free people of color are generally very +little elevated above the condition of the slaves; granting the +existence of the absurd prejudice among the white population against +people of color; taking as true, all the assertions of all, or any +parties, on this subject, and then say, if it is not a good, a wise, a +humane reason for encouraging the society, that they are able to +snatch 1000 or 10,000 of these degraded, ruined, undone, and unhappy +people from the condition they are placed in, and plant them in +comfort, freedom, and peace in Africa? While Mr. Thompson and his +friends were trying their schemes to terminate slavery, and break down +prejudice against color—schemes which were likely to be long in +progress, if we were to judge by the past—it seemed most +extraordinary that they should object to our efforts to take a portion +of these people out of the grasp of their present sorrows, and do for +them in Africa all that has been done for ourselves in America. Above +all things, is it not inexplicable, that they should consider slavery +on one side of the Atlantic, better than freedom on the other,—a +thought, proving him who held it unworthy of freedom anywhere. If this +was not a scheme, full of wisdom, of goodness and benevolence, he know +not what wisdom, goodness, or benevolence meant. They proposed to do +nothing without the free consent of the colored people. And now, if a +similar offer were made to every poor and unfortunate inhabitant of +Glasgow, and all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> of them chose to remain here, except one, and that +one were captivated by the account of some distant El Dorado, and +chose to push his fortune there, could the rest assume over this one +the right of saying, you shall not go; we are determined not to go, +and equally determined not to let you go. Yet the abolitionists have +been going about, from Dan to Beersheba, not only attacking and +vilifying the whites, for proposing to colonize the blacks with their +own free consent; but equally attacking the blacks for availing +themselves of the offer. And though the colony had been stigmatized as +a grave, as a place of skulls, it was the very place fitted by nature +for the black population, the land granted by God to their fathers. It +is in one sense, then, a matter of no moment, what the causes are +which induce the society to make the offer, or the black population to +emigrate to Africa—even on the showing of the abolitionists +themselves, the colored population are kept in a state of degradation; +and it is certainly just and good that means should be afforded them +for getting rid of that degradation. In the second place, he +maintained that this colonization scheme naturally tended to promote +the cause of general emancipation. To illustrate this, Mr. +Breckinridge read the following extract from the Maryland report of +1835, p. 17:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The number of manumissions in the state reported to the board since +the last annual report, is two hundred and ninety-nine, making the +whole number reported as manumitted, since the passage of the act of +1831, eleven hundred and one.</p></div> + +<p>This extract showed that the scheme did not prevent manumission, but +had tended gradually to increase its amount. That this was the +intention and actual effect of the colonization scheme, he would now +prove to the meeting in so far as regarded Maryland; and if he did so +of that state, he supposed they would not find it difficult to believe +the same thing of other states, as it was against Maryland that Mr. +Thompson had expended his peculiar virulence. Mr. B. then read the +following:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Resolved, That this society believe, and act upon the belief that +colonization has a tendency to promote emancipation, by affording to +the emancipated slave a home, where he can be happier and better, in +every point of view, than in this country, and so inducing masters to +manumit, for removal to Africa, who would not manumit +unconditionally.—3rd A. Rep. page 5.</p> + +<p>Maryland, through her State Society, is about trying the important +experiment, whether, by means of colonies on the coast of Africa, +slave-holding states may become free states. The Board of Managers +cannot doubt of success, however; and in exercising the high and +responsible duties devolving upon them, it is with the firm belief +that the time is not very remote, when, with the full and free consent +of those interested in this species of property, the state of Maryland +will be added to the list of the non-slave-holding states of the +Union.—3 A. R. page 6.</p> + +<p>It has been charged, again and again, against the general scheme, that +its tendencies were to perpetuate slavery; and, at this moment, both +in this country and in Europe, there are those who stigmatize the +labors of men like Finley, Caldwell, Harper, Ayres, Ashmun, Key, +Gurley, Anderson and Randall, as leading to this end. Unfounded as is +the charge, it has many believers. The colonization law of Maryland is +based upon a far different principle; for the immigration of slaves is +expressly prohibited, and the transportation of those who are +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>emancipated is amply provided for. In accordance, therefore, with the +general sentiment of the public, and anxious that colonization in the +state should be relieved from the imputation put upon the cause, +resolutions were unanimously adopted, avowing that the extirpation of +slavery in Maryland was the chief object of the society's +existence.—3 A. R. page 33.</p></div> + +<p>Throughout the report the same current of events was referred to; and +they were found to be everywhere the same as to the effects of the +colonial scheme on the manumission of slaves. To show the cause of the +objections to the scheme by free persons of color, Mr. B. read the +following extract:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Board would here remark, that in collecting emigrants from among +the free persons of color in the state, the greatest difficulty they +have experienced has grown out of the incredulity of these with regard +to the accounts given to them of Africa. Even when their friends in +Liberia have written to them, inviting them to emigrate, and speaking +favorably of the country, they have believed that a restraint was upon +the writers, and that the society's agents prevented any letter from +reaching America, which did not speak in terms of praise of Africa. +The ingenuity of the colored people in this state devised a simple +test of the reliance that was to be placed in letters, purporting to +be written by their friends; which they have, during the last year or +eighteen months, been putting into practice. When the emigrant sailed +from the United States, he took with him one half of a strip of +calico, the other half being retained by the person to whom he was to +write when he reached Africa. If he was permitted to write without +restraint, and if he spoke his real sentiments in his letter, he +enclosed his portion of the calico, which, matching with that from +which it had been severed, gave authenticity and weight to the +correspondence. Many of these tokens, as they are called, have been +received, and their effect has been evident in the greater willingness +manifested by the free people of color to emigrate; especially those +of them who are at all well judging and well informed.—4 A. R. page +6.</p></div> + +<p>Whatever difficulties now exist as to getting free people of color to +avail themselves of the society's scheme and emigrate to Africa, arise +in a great degree from the efforts of the abolition party to +misrepresent the intentions of the society, and the state and +prospects of the colony, to the free colored people of the United +States,—thus showing the double atrocity of preventing these people +from being benefited, and of traducing those persons who wish to +benefit them. In an address from Cape Palmas, by the Colonists to +their brethren in America, dated in October, 1834, there was a +distinct avowal of the fact that it was better for them that they had +gone there; and urging others to come also. Mr. B. then read the +following extract from the address:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dear Brethren—Agreeably to a resolution of our fellow citizens +herewith enclosed, we now endeavor to lay before you a fair and +impartial statement of the actual situation of this colony; of our +advantages and prospects, both temporal and spiritual.</p> + +<p>We are aware of the great difference of opinion which exists in +America with respect to colonization. We are aware of the fierce +contentions between its advocates and opposers; and we are of opinion +that this contention, among the well meaning, is based principally +upon the various and contradictory accounts concerning this country +and its advantages; receiving on the one hand from the enthusiastic +and visionary new comers, who write without having made themselves at +all acquainted with the true state of affairs in Africa; and on the +other, from the timorous, dissipated and disheartened, who long to +return to their former degraded situation, and are willing to assign +any reason, however false and detrimental to their fellow citizens, +rather than the true one, viz:—that they are actually unfit, from +want of virtue, energy and capacity, to become freemen in any country.</p> + +<p>We judge that the time which has elapsed since our first arrival, +(eight months,) has enabled us to form a pretty correct opinion of +this our new colony, of the climate, and of the fitness of our +government. Therefore we may safely say we write not ignorantly. And +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>as to the truth of our assertions we here solemnly declare, once for +all, that we write in the fear of God, and are fully sensible that we +stand pledged to maintain them both here and hereafter.</p> + +<p>Of our Government—We declare that we have enjoyed (and the same is +for ever guaranteed to us by our Constitution) all and every civil and +religious right and privilege, which we have ever known enjoyed by the +white citizens of the United States, excepting the election of our +chief magistrate, who is appointed by the board of managers of the +Maryland State Colonization Society. Other officers are appointed or +elected from the colonists.—Freedom of speech and the press, election +by ballot, trial by jury, the right to bear arms, and the liberty of +worshipping God agreeably to the dictates of our own consciences, are +rendered for ever inviolate by the Constitution.</p> + +<p>That we may not weary your patience or be suspected of a desire to set +forth matters in too favorable a light, we have been thus brief in our +statements. It will naturally be supposed, brethren, that the object +of this address is to induce you to emigrate and join us. To deny this +would be a gross want of candor, and not in unison with our +professions at the outset. We do wish it, and we tender you both the +heart and hand of good fellowship.</p> + +<p>But here again, let us be equally candid with you. It is not every man +we could honestly advise or desire to come to this colony. To those +who are contented to live and educate their children as house servants +and lackeys, we would say, stay where you are; here we have no masters +to employ you. To the indolent, heedless and slothful, we would say, +tarry among the flesh pots of Egypt; here we get our bread by the +sweat of the brow. To drunkards and rioters, we would say, come not to +us; you can never become naturalized in a land where there are no grog +shops, and where temperance and order is the motto. To the timorous +and suspicious, we would say, stay where you have protectors; here we +protect ourselves. But the industrious, enterprising and patriotic of +what occupation or profession soever; the merchant, the mechanic, and +farmer, (but more particularly the latter,) we would counsel, advise +and entreat to come and be one with us, and assist in this glorious +enterprise, and enjoy with us that liberty to which we ever were, and +the man of color ever must be, a stranger in America. To the ministers +of the gospel, both white and colored, we would say, come to this +great harvest, and diffuse amongst us and our benighted neighbors, +that light of the gospel, without which liberty itself is but slavery, +and freedom but perpetual bondage.</p> + +<p>Accept, brethren, our best wishes; and, praying that the Great +Disposer of events will direct you to that course, which will tend to +your happiness and the benefit of our race throughout the world,</p> + +<p class="regards">We subscribe ourselves <br /> +Yours, most affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"> +JACOB GROSS,<br /> +WILLIAM POLK,<br /> +CHARLES SCOTLAND,<br /> +ANTHONY WOOD,<br /> +THOMAS JACKSON.<br /> +</p> + +<p>The report having been read, it was then moved by James M. Thompson +and seconded, that the report be approved and accepted. The yeas and +nays were presented as follows:—</p> + +<p>Yeas—Jeremiah Stewart, James Martin, Samuel Wheeler, H. Duncan, +Daniel Banks, Joshua Stewart, John Bowen, James Stewart, Henry Dennis, +Eden Harding, Robert Whitefield, Nathan Lee, Nathaniel Edmondson, +Charles Scotland, Nathaniel Harmon, Bur. Minor, Anthony Howard, James +M. Thompson, Anthony Wood, Jacob Gross, Wm. Polk, Thomas Jackson.</p> + +<p>Nays—Nicholas Thomson, William Reynolds, William Cassel.</p> + +<p>N. B. Those who voted in the negative, declared that the statements +contained in the report were true, both in spirit and letter, but they +preferred returning to America—whereupon the meeting adjourned, sine +die.</p> + +<p>A true copy of the record of the proceedings.</p> + +<p class="desig">WM. POLK.</p></div> + +<p>If any weight was due to human testimony, it was made probable, at +least, if not certain, that the intentions of the promoters of the +scheme were that it should be most kind to the black man, in all its +direct action, and by its indirect influences, the precursor of the +abolition of slavery; and if the society had fallen into a mistake, +the colonists themselves had also fallen into the same; as in this +address they say the scheme has proved successful. He would, +therefore, conclude this second reason, by maintaining that he had +sufficiently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> proved that the scheme had been productive of good, not +only to the colored population, but also to the cause of universal +freedom.</p> + +<p>The reasons he would now offer would be more general. And in bringing +forward the third head of argument, he observed, that the uniform +method which God had selected to civilize and enlighten mankind, and +to carry through the world a knowledge of the arts and laws, with all +the kindred blessings of civilization, was colonization. Amongst the +first commands given by God to man, was to replenish and subdue the +earth; and there was a striking fulness of meaning in the expression. +While there seemed to exist in the whole human family an instinctive +obedience to this command, God had so directed its manifestation, that +he believed he might safely challenge any one to show him any one +nation which had located the permanent seat of its empire in the +native land of its inhabitants. Every nation had been a conquered +nation; every people has been in turn enlightened from others, and in +turn colonists again. This nation, which has reputed itself the most +enlightened in the world, and far be it from him to controvert the +opinion in their presence, might trace its superior enlightenment in +part to the fact of its having been so much oftener conquered than any +other, and the consequent greater mixture of nations among the +inhabitants. Again, he observed, that God had kept several races of +men distinct, from the time of Noah down to the present day; and in +their mutual action upon each other, there was this extraordinary +fact, that wherever the descendants of Shem had colonized a country +occupied by the descendants of Japhet or Ham, they had extirpated +those who were before them. When the descendants of Japhet conquered +the descendants of Shem, they were extirpated before them; when the +descendants of Shem conquered those of Japhet, the case was the same; +and so of the descendants of Ham upon either. But when Japhet +conquered Japhet there was no extirpation, and when Shem conquered +Shem there was no extirpation, as also of Ham conquering Ham. Now as +to the continent of Africa, if history taught any truth, they must +roll back all its tide, or Africa was destined to be still farther +colonized. As yet, the pestilence, like the flaming sword before the +garden of the Lord, had kept the way hedged up, the white man and +yellow man away from the spot,—reserved till the fit hour and people +came. If we take the bodings of Providence all is well. But if we rely +on the lessons of the past, the only means in our power to prevent the +ultimate colonization of Africa by some strange race, and the +consequent extirpation of its race of blacks, is to colonize it with +blacks. If they let Shem colonize there, the blacks will be +extirpated; if they let Japhet colonize, the blacks will be +extirpated. Africa must be undone, or she must be colonized with +blacks; or all history is but one prodigious lie. To Britain seems +specially committed, by a good Providence, the destinies of Asia; and +we say to her, kindly and faithfully, Enter and oc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>cupy, till Messiah +come; enter at once, lest we enter before you. To America, in like +manner, is Africa committed. To do our Master's work there, we must +colonize it by blacks, we must enlighten it by blacks. And when Mr. T. +and his friends come to us with their quackery, scarcely four year's +old, and require us to forego for it our clearest convictions, our +most cherished plans, and our most enlightened views of truth and +duty, we can only say to them, "We are much obliged to you, but pray +excuse us, gentlemen; we have considered the matter before." Every +benevolent and right thinking person must see that the scheme of +colonizing Africa by black men, is necessary to enlighten Africa, and +prevent the extirpation of the black men there. He would, in the +fourth place, take up the question of christianizing Africa, separate +from the other question of mere civilization and preservation. There +were only three ways, as had been argued, in which the works of +missions could be possibly conducted. In an admirable little treatise +on the subject, published in this country, and he regretted he knew +not the author, or he would name him in pure honor, these methods were +ably defined and illustrated. One method was, to send out +missionaries, and do the work, as many are now attempting it, in so +many lands. Another was, by bringing the people to be converted, to +those whom God chose to make the means of their conversion. And when +Britain thinks harshly of America about slavery, let her remember, and +melt into kindness at the thought, of what we are doing to convert the +tens of thousands of Irish Catholics she sends to us yearly. The third +way was by colonization; and this, in past ages, has been the great +and glorious plan. By this, Europe became what she is; by this, +America was Christianized; and he would again refer them to the little +book of which he had spoken—which, not being written by a slave +owner, nor even an American, might possibly be true—to convince them, +that it was, in all cases, a most efficient means to save the world. +But in this peculiar case, it seemed to be the chief, if not the only +means. The climate suited the black man, while hundreds of whites had +fallen victims to it. So peculiar does this appear to me, that I have +never been able to comprehend how the pious and enlightened free +blacks of America could so long, or at all, resist the manifest call +of God, to go and labor for Him in their father land. There she is, +"sitting in darkness and drinking blood,"—with a full capacity, and a +perfect fitness on their parts, to enlighten, to comfort, and to save +her—their mother, doubly requiring their care, that she knows not +that she is blind and naked! And yet they linger on a distant shore; +and fill the air with empty murmurs, of time and earth, and its poor +vanities; and Christian men around them caress and applaud them for +their heathen hard-heartedness; and Christian communities, in their +strange infatuation, send missions to them, to prevent them from +becoming the truest missionaries that the earth could furnish! +Shadows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> that we are, shadows that we pursue! It was, in the fifth +place, the only effectual and practical mode of putting an end to the +slave trade. There was, indeed, another way—by stopping the demand. +But while they disputed the means of stopping the demand, there was +another way—the stopping of the supply. This had long been an object +dear to several nations. The government of Britain, the government of +America, and the governments of several other states, had sent several +cruisers to stop the supply; but would any slaves be taken from +Africa, if there was even a single city on the western coast, with ten +thousand inhabitants, and three vessels of war at their command? They +would put an end to the trade the moment they were able to chastise +the pirates, or make reprisals on the nations to which they belonged. +Why is it we never hear of the stealing of an Englishman, a German, or +a Turk? Because the thief knows that reprisals would be made, or that +he or some of his countrymen would be chastised or stolen in return. +So that all that was required, was to plant a city on the west coast +of Africa, and this would give protection to the population of that +country. Nothing is plainer, than that any nation which will make +reprisals, will have none of the inhabitants stolen. If reprisals were +made effective, the slave trade would be immediately stopped. It is +the course pursued by Mr. Thompson and his friends, not the course +pursued by us, which is likely to continue the slave trade. On one +hundred leagues of African coast, it is already to a great degree +suppressed; and if we had been aided as the importance of the cause +demanded, instead of being resisted with untiring activity, this +blessed object might now have been granted to the prayers of +Christendom.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +Mr. THOMPSON earnestly hoped that every word which Mr. Breckinridge +had that night uttered respecting the principles of the Colonization +Society, and what had been effected by that institution, would be +carefully preserved; that on other occasions, and by other persons, on +both sides the Atlantic, Mr. Breckinridge's arguments might be +canvassed, his facts investigated, and his sentiments made known. I +shall offer no apology (continued Mr. T.) for referring to a point +discussed last evening, but not fairly disposed of. I am by no means +satisfied, nor do I think the enlightened, and least of all the +Christian world, will be satisfied with the doctrine which for two +evenings has been laid down and maintained by Mr. Breckinridge, that +America, as a nation, is not responsible before God for the sin of +slavery. I cannot, sir, receive that doctrine. I cannot lightly pass +it over. Much hinges upon this point, nor will I consent that America +shall lay the flattering unction to her soul that she is not her +brother's keeper; that any wretches within her precincts may commit +soul-murder, and she be innocent, by reason of her wilful, self +induced, and self continued impotency. I do not believe the doctrine +of "the irresponsibleness of America as a nation" to be politically +sound; still less do I believe it to be the doctrine of the Bible.</p> + +<p>Sir, I fearlessly charge America, as a nation—as the United States of +America—as a voluntary confederacy of free republics—as living under +one common constitution, and one common government—with being a +nation of slave-holders, and the vilest and most culpable on the face +of the earth.</p> + +<p>I charge America with having a slave-holding president; with holding +seven thousand slaves at the seat of government; with licensing the +slave trade for four hundred dollars; with permitting the domestic +slave trade to the awful extent of one hundred thousand souls per +annum; with allowing prisons, built with the public money, to be made +the receptacles of unoffending, home-born Americans, destined for the +southern market; with permitting her legislators and the highest +functionaries in the state to trample upon every dictate of humanity, +and every principle sacred in American independence, by trafficking +"in slaves and the souls of men."</p> + +<p>I charge America, "as a nation," with permitting within her boundaries +a wide spread system, which my opponent has himself described as one +of clear robbery, universal concubinage, horrid cruelty, and +unilluminated ignorance.</p> + +<p>I charge America, before the world and God, with the awful crime of +reducing more than two millions of her own children, born on her own +soil, and entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," +to the state of <i>beasts</i>; withholding from them every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> right, and +privilege, and social or political blessing, and leaving them the prey +of those who have legislated away the word of life, and the ordinances +of religion, lest their victims should at any time see with their +eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and +should assume the bearing, and the name, and the honors of humanity.</p> + +<p>I charge America, "as a nation," with being wickedly, cruelly, and, in +the highest sense, criminally indifferent to the happiness and +elevation of the free colored man; with crushing and persecuting him +in every part of the country; with regarding him as belonging to a +low, degraded, and irreclaimable <i>caste</i>, who ought not to call +America his country or his home, but seek in Africa, on the soil of +his ancestors, a refuge from persecution in the land which the +English, and the Dutch, and the French, and the Irish, have wrested +from the <i>red</i> men, and which they now proudly and self complacently, +but most falsely style the <i>white</i> man's country.</p> + +<p>I charge all this, and much more, upon the <i>government</i> of America, +upon the <i>church</i> of America, and upon the <i>people</i> of America.</p> + +<p>It is idle, to say the least, to talk of rolling the guilt of the +system upon the individual slave-holder, and the individual state. +This cannot fairly be done while the citizens throughout the land are +banded, confederated, united. It is the sin of the entire church. The +Presbyterians throughout the country are one body; the Baptists are +one body; the Episcopalian Methodists are one body; they acknowledge +one another; they cordially fellowship one another. They make the sin, +if it be a sin, theirs, by owning as brethren in Christ Jesus, and +ministers of Him, who was anointed to preach deliverance to the +captives, men who shamelessly traffic in rational, blood-redeemed +souls; nay, even barter away for accursed gold, their own church +members. It is pre-eminently the sin of the church. It is the sin of +the people at large. It is said the laws recognize slavery. I reply, +the entire nation is answerable for those laws. We hear that the +"Constitution can do nothing," that "the Congress can do nothing," to +which I reply, Woe, and shame, and guilt, and execration must be, and +ought to be, the portion of that people calling themselves Christians +and republicans, who can tolerate, through half a century, a +Constitution and a Congress that cannot prevent nor cure the buying +and selling of sacred humanity; the sundering of every fibre that +binds heart to heart, and the dehumanization and butchery of peaceful +and patriotic citizens within the territories over which they extend. +In whatever aspect I view this question, the people, and the whole +people, appear to be, before God and man, responsible, politically and +morally, for the sin of slave-holding. They are responsible for the +Constitution, with any deficiencies and faults it may have, for they +have the power, and it is therefore their duty, to amend it. They are +responsible for the character and acts of Congress, for they make +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +the senators and representatives that go there. In a word, they are +properly and solemnly responsible for that "system" of which we have +heard so much, and for "the workings of that system;" and I declare it +little better than subterfuge to say, that the people of America, the +source of power, the sovereign, the omnipotent people, are not +responsible for the existence of slavery and all its kindred +abominations, within the territorial limits of the United States.</p> + +<p>The charges which he had here made were important, grave and awful. He +made them under the full and solemn impression of his accountableness +to mankind, and the God of nations. He believed them to be true; he +was prepared to substantiate them. That not one tittle of them might +be lost or misrepresented in Great Britain or America, he had penned +them with his own hand, out of his own heart, and he was prepared to +support them in England, or in Scotland, or in America itself: for he +hoped yet again to visit that country, and there resume his advocacy +of the cause of the slave.</p> + +<p>He would now come to the colonization question, on which he felt +completely at home. In adverting to this question, however, he +experienced a difficulty, which he had felt on many former occasions, +that of not being able to compress what he had to say within the +compass of one address. He would not only have to reply to what Mr. +Breckinridge had advanced, but he would have to touch on topics which +Mr. Breckinridge had overlooked—principles affecting the origin, +character, and very existence of that society, which Mr. Breckinridge +had taken under his special protection. He (Mr. T.) would show that +the improvement of the black man's condition was not the chief object +of the Colonization Society; that its operations sprung from that +loathing of color which might be denominated the peculiar sin of +America. Slavery might be found in many countries, but it was in +America alone that there existed an aristocracy founded on the color +of the skin. A race of pale-skinned patricians, resting their claims +to peculiar rank and privileges upon the hue of the skin, the texture +of the hair, the form of the nose, and the size of the calf! But for +this abhorrence of color, Mr. B. would not have been contented with +the means proposed by the Colonization Society for the amelioration of +slavery; he would not have spoken a word of colonization, or of that +Golgotha, Liberia.</p> + +<p>Acquainted as he (Mr. T.) was with America, he had been able to come +to no other conclusion, but that the prejudice of color was that on +which the colonization of the free negro was founded. There had been a +great deal said of the inferior intellect of the black race, and of a +marked deficiency in their moral qualities; but these were not the +grounds on which it was sought to expatriate them; the injustice +practised towards them rested solely on the prejudice which had been +excited against their external personal peculiarities. Every word +spoken by Mr. Breckinridge in defence of colonization, went directly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +to prove this. The whole scheme rested on the dark color of those to +be expatriated. Had the sufferers been white in the skin, Mr. B. would +have advocated immediate, complete, and everlasting emancipation.</p> + +<p>He would now turn to a matter, regarding which he considered Mr. +Breckinridge had treated the abolitionists of America with +injustice—with unkindness—with something which he did not like even +to name. Mr. B. had charged the abolitionists with having published a +law as the law of the state of Maryland, which had never been adopted +by the legislature of that state; and when he (Mr. T.) had required of +Mr. B. evidence in support of his grave allegations, it was in this +case precisely as in the case of Mr. Garrison and Mr. Wright,—the +proofs were non est inventus. Now, he would ask, was this fair; was it +magnanimous; was it generous; was it Christianlike?</p> + +<p>The charge had been distinctly made, and then it had been asked of the +parties accused to prove a negative. Mr. Breckinridge was not likely +to be long in Glasgow, and it was therefore most easy, and most +convenient, to prefer charges which could not, even on the testimony +of the parties implicated, be answered until Mr. Breckinridge was far +away, and the poison had had full time to work its effect. He (Mr. T.) +would, however, give it as his opinion, that his fellow laborers on +the other side of the Atlantic, would triumphantly clear themselves of +this and every other imputation, and finally emerge from the ordeal, +however fierce, pure, untarnished, and unscathed.</p> + +<p>Such a charge, however, should not be brought against him (Mr. +T.). The laws of Maryland, he cited, were to be found in the pages +of the Colonization Society's accredited organ, the African +Repository, an entire set of which was on the platform, open to +inspection.</p> + +<p>Mr. Breckinridge had taken great pains to make out a case for the +Maryland Colonization Society. This was not to be wondered at. That +society was a protege of his own. It had been patronized and fostered +by him. For it, it appeared, he had almost suffered martyrdom, when, +in advocating its cause in Boston, he had been mistaken for an +abolitionist,—in that same city of Boston, where a gentlemanly mob of +5000 individuals, fashionably attired, in black, and brown, and blue +cloth, had joyfully engaged in assaulting and dispersing a peaceful +meeting of forty ladies.</p> + +<p>He had not yet done with the Maryland Colonization Society. He was +prepared to prove that it was, taken as a whole, a most oppressive and +iniquitous scheme. The laws framed to support it prohibited +manumission, except on condition of the removal of the freed slaves; +thus submitting a choice of evils, both cruel to the last +extent,—perpetual bondage, or banishment from the soil of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> their +birth, and the scenes and associations of infancy and youth. He could +show, that free persons of color, coming into the state, were liable +to be seized and sold; and white persons inviting them, and harboring +them, liable to the infliction of heavy fines.</p> + +<p>These, and similar provisions, all disgraceful and cruel, were the +prominent features of the laws which had been framed to carry into +effect the benevolent and patriotic designs of the Maryland +Colonization Society!</p> + +<p>That expulsion from the state was the thing intended, he would show +from newspapers published in the state. What said the Baltimore +Chronicle, a pro-slavery and colonization paper, at the time when the +laws referred to were passed? Let his auditory hear with attention.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The intention of those laws was, and their effect must be, to EXPEL +the free people of color from this state. They will find themselves so +hemmed in by restrictions, that their situation cannot be otherwise +than uncomfortable should they elect to remain in Maryland. These laws +will no doubt be met by prohibitory laws in other states, which will +greatly increase the embarrassments of the people of color, and leave +them no other alternative than to emigrate or remain in a very +unenviable condition."</p></div> + +<p>What said the Maryland Temperance Herald of May 3, 1835?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We are indebted to the committee of publication for the first No. of +the Maryland Colonization Journal, a new quarterly periodical, devoted +to the cause of colonization in our state. Such a paper has long been +necessary; we hope this will be useful.</p> + +<p>"Every reflecting man must be convinced, that the time is not far +distant when the safety of the country will require the EXPULSION of +the blacks from its limits. It is perfect folly to suppose, that a +foreign population, whose physical peculiarities must forever render +them distinct from the owners of the soil, can be permitted to grow +and strengthen among us with impunity. Let hair-brained enthusiasts +speculate as they may, no abstract considerations of the natural +rights of man, will ever elevate the negro population to an equality +with the whites. As long as they remain in the land of their bondage, +they will be morally, if not physically enslaved, and, indeed, so long +as their distinct nationality is preserved, their enlightenment will +be a measure of doubtful policy. Under such circumstances every +philanthropist will wish to see them removed, but gradually, and with +as little violence as possible. For effecting this purpose, no scheme +is liable to so few objections, as that of African Colonization. It +has been said, that this plan has effected but little—true, but no +other has done any thing. We do not expect that the exertions of +benevolent individuals will be able to rid us of the millions of +blacks who oppress and are oppressed by us. All they can accomplish, +is to satisfy the public of the practicability of the scheme—they can +make the experiment—they are making it and with success. The state of +Maryland has already adopted this plan, and before long every Southern +state will have its colony. The whole African coast will be strewn +with cities, and then, should some fearful convulsion render it +necessary to the public safety TO BANISH THE MULTITUDE AT ONCE, a +house of refuge will have been provided for them in the land of their +fathers."</p></div> + +<p>Yet this was the plan of which the American Colonization Society, at +its annual meeting in 1833, had spoken in the following terms:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Resolved, That the Society view, with the highest gratification, the +continued efforts of the State of Maryland to accomplish her patriotic +and benevolent system in regard to her colored population; and that +the last appropriation by that state of two hundred thousand dollars, +in aid of African colonization, is hailed by the friends of the +system, as a BRIGHT EXAMPLE to other states.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +Mr. Breckinridge had lauded the Colonization Society as a scheme of +benevolence and patriotism. He (Mr. T.) did not mean to deny that +there had been many pious and excellent men found amongst its founders +and subsequent supporters, but he was prepared to demonstrate that it +had grown out of prejudice, was based upon prejudice, made its appeal +to prejudice, and could not exist were the prejudice against the +colored man conquered. It had, moreover, made an appeal to the fears +and cupidity of the slaveholder, by setting forth, that, in its +operations, it would remove from the southern states the most +dangerous portion of the free population, and also enhance the value +of the slaves left remaining in the country. The doctrines found +pervading the publications of the society were of the most absurd and +anti-christian character. He would mention three, viz., 1st, that +<i>Africa</i>, and not <i>America</i>, was the true and appropriate home of the +colored man; 2dly, that prejudice against color was <i>invincible</i>, and +the elevation of the colored man, therefore, while in America, beyond +the reach of humanity, legislation and religion; and, 3dly, that there +should be no emancipation except for the purposes of colonization. How +truly monstrous were these doctrines! How calculated to cripple +exertion, to retard freedom, and mark the colored man out as a +foreigner and alien, to be driven out of the country as soon as the +means for his removal were provided. Such had really been the effect +of the society's views upon the public mind in America. If the colored +man was to be expatriated because his ancestors were Africans, then +let General Jackson be sent to Ireland, because his parents were +Irish; and Mr. Van Buren be sent to Holland, because his ancestors +were Dutch; and let the same rule be applied to all the other white +inhabitants of the country. Then would Great Britain, and France, and +Germany, and Switzerland recover their children; America be delivered +of her conquerors, and the red man come forth from the wilds and the +wildernesses of the back country, to enjoy, in undisturbed security, +the soil from which his ancestors had been driven. Mr. Breckinridge +had said much respecting his (Mr. T.'s) presumption in bringing +forward a resolution in Boston, so strongly condemning the measures +and principles of the Colonization Society. He (Mr. T.) might be +permitted to say, that if he had acted presumptuously, he had also +acted boldly and honestly; and that the auditory should know, that the +resolution referred to had been debated for one entire evening, and +from half past nine till half past one, the next day, with the Rev. R. +R. Gurley, the secretary and agent of the Colonization Society, who, +for eight or nine years, had been the editor of the African +Repository, and was, perhaps, better qualified than any other man in +the United States, to discuss the subject—always, of course, +excepting his Rev. opponent, then on the platform. He admitted, the +resolution was strongly worded; that it repudiated the society as +unrighteous, unnatural, and proscriptive; and declared the efforts +then making to give strength and permanency to the institution, were a +fraud upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> the ignorance, and an outrage upon the intelligence and +humanity of the community. But this country should know that he had +defended his propositions, face to face, with one of the ablest +champions of the cause, before two American audiences, in the city of +Boston. That the assembly then before him might judge of the character +of the debate, and know its result, he would read a few short +extracts, taken from a respectable daily paper, published in Boston, +and entirely unconnected with the Abolitionists. The editor himself, +B. F. Hallett, Esq., reported the proceedings, and thus remarked:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"One of the most interesting, masterly, and honorable discussions ever +listened to in this community, took place on Friday evening and +Saturday morning. The hall was as full as it could hold. * * * * * * +The whole discussion was a model for courtesy and christian temper in +like cases, and did great credit to all parties concerned. We question +if a public debate was ever conducted in this city, in a better +spirit, and with more ability. There was not a discourteous word +passed, through the whole, and no occurrence which for an instant +marred the entire cordiality with which the dispute was conducted. It +was not men but principles that were contending, and we venture to say +that no public discussion was ever managed on higher grounds, or was +more deeply interesting to an audience. The resolution was put, all +present being invited to vote. It was carried in the affirmative with +FOUR voices in the negative."</p></div> + +<p>So said the Boston Daily Advocate.</p> + +<p>The following extracts from the published addresses of some of the +most eminent and gifted supporters of the Colonization Society, would +show, that the <i>compulsory</i> removal of the colored population, had +from the first been contemplated. If it was replied, "You cannot find +compulsion in the Constitution," he (Mr. T.) would rejoin, No; but +herein consists the wickedness and hypocrisy of the scheme; that while +it puts forth a fair face in its constitution, it does, really and in +truth, contain the elements of all oppression. The written +constitution of the Society was but the robe of an angel, covering an +implacable and devouring demon. He would make another remark, also, +before submitting the extracts in his hand. Mr. Breckinridge had +strenuously endeavored to lay the guilt of the oppressive laws in the +south upon the Abolitionists, declaring that those laws had resulted +from the spread of Anti-slavery principles. From the passages about to +be cited, and, more especially, from the words of Mr. Clay, it would +be found, that long prior to the "quackery" of the Abolitionists, +there had existed harsh and cruel laws, calling forth the regrets and +censures of Slaveholders themselves. Even admitting the truth of what +Mr. B. had said, did it follow that the truth should not therefore be +published. By no means. The Israelites, in their bondage, murmured +against the measures of him whom God had raised up to deliver them, +and complained that their burdens had increased since Pharaoh had been +remonstrated with. He would quote, for the benefit of Mr. B. a very +laconic remark, by an old commentator, "When the bricks are doubled, +Moses is near."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. Charles Carrol Harper, Son of General Harper, to the voters of +Baltimore, 1826. Af. Repy., vol. 2. page 188. For several years the +subject of Abolition of Slavery has been brought before you. I am +decidedly opposed to the project recommended. No scheme of abolition +will meet my support, that leaves the emancipated blacks among us. +Experience has proved that they become a corrupt and degraded class, +as burthensome to themselves, as they are hurtful to the rest of +society.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again, page 189, "To permit the blacks to remain amongst us after +their emancipation, would be to aggravate, and not to cure the evil."</p> + +<p>2. Extracted with approbation from the Public Ledger, Richmond, +Indiana, Af. Repy., vol. 3. page 26. "We would say, liberate them only +on condition of their going to Africa or Hayti."</p> + +<p>3. Extracts from an address delivered at Springfield, before the +Hamden Col. Society, July 4th, 1828. By Wm. B. O. Peabody, Esq. +published by request of the Society. Af. Repy., vol. 4. page 226. "I +am not complaining of the owners of Slaves; they cannot get rid of +them; it would be as humane to throw them from the decks in the middle +passage, as to set them free in our country." Upon which the following +eulogy is pronounced, page 230. "We need hardly say that Mr. Peabody's +address is an excellent one. May its spirit universally pervade and +animate the minds of our countrymen.</p> + +<p>4. Extracts from an Address to the Col. Socy. of Kentucky, at +Frankfort, Dec. 17th., 1829, by the Hon. Henry Clay. Af. Repy., vol. +6, page 5. "If the question were submitted, whether there should be +immediate or gradual emancipation of all the slaves in the United +States, without their removal or colonization, painful as it is to +express the opinion, I have no doubt it would be unwise to emancipate +them. For I believe that the aggregate of the evils which would be +engendered in Society, upon the supposition of such general +emancipation, and of the liberated slaves remaining promiscuously +among us, would be greater than all the evils of Slavery, great as +they unquestionably are."</p> + +<p>Again, page 12. "Is there no remedy, I again ask, for the evils of +which I have sketched a faint and imperfect picture? Is our posterity +doomed to endure forever, not only all the ills flowing from the state +of Slavery, but all which arise from incongruous elements of +population, separated from each other by invincible prejudices, and by +natural causes? Whatever may be the character of the remedy proposed, +we may confidently pronounce it inadequate, unless it provides +efficaciously for the total and absolute separation, by an extensive +space of water or of land, at least of the white portion of our +population, from that which is free of the colored."</p> + +<p>5. Extracts from the speech of Geo. Washington Park Curtis at the 14th +Annual meeting of the Amer. Col. Soc., Af. Repy., vol. 6. page 371-2. +"Some benevolent minds in the overflowings of their philanthropy, +advocate amalgamation of the two classes, saying, let the colored +classes be freed and remain among us as denizens of the empire; surely +all classes of mankind are alike descended from the primitive +parentage of Eden, then why not intermingle in one common society as +friends and brothers. No, Sir; no. I hope to prove, at no very distant +day, that a Southron can make sacrifices for the cause of Colonization +beyond seas, but for a Home Department in those matters, I repeat no, +Sir; no. What right, I demand, have the children of Africa to a +homestead in the white man's country?</p> + +<p>"If, as is most true, the crimes of the white man robbed Africa of her +sons, let atonement be made by returning the descendants of the stolen +to the clime of their ancestors, and then all the claims of redeeming +justice will have been discharged. There let centuries of future +rights, atone for centuries of past wrongs. Let the regenerated +African rise to Empire; nay, let Genius flourish, and Philosophy shed +its mild beams to enlighten and instruct the posterity of Ham, +returning 'redeemed and disenthralled' from their long captivity in +the new world. But, Sir, be all these benefits enjoyed by the African +race under the shade of their native palms. Let the Atlantic billow +heave its high and everlasting barrier between their country and ours. +Let this fair land which the white man won by his chivalry, which he +has adorned by the arts and elegancies of polished life, be kept +sacred for his descendants, untarnished by the footprint of him who +hath ever been a slave."</p> + +<p>6. Mr. Henry Clay's speech, before the Society, January 1st, 1818—2d +Annual Report, page 110. "Further, several of the slaveholding states +had, and perhaps all of them would, prohibit entirely, emancipation, +without some such outlet was created. A sense of their own safety +required the painful prohibition. Experience proved that persons +turned loose who were neither freemen nor slaves, constituted a great +moral evil, threatening to contaminate all parts of society. Let the +colony once be successfully planted, and legislative bodies who have +been grieved at the necessity of passing those 'prohibitory laws,' +which at a distance might appear to 'stain our codes,' will hasten to +remove the impediments to the exercise of benevolence and humanity. +They will annex the condition that the emancipated shall leave the +country, and he has placed a false estimate upon liberty, who believes +there are many who would refuse the boon, when coupled even with such +a condition."</p></div> + +<p>Here there was compulsion, both in principle and precept. In +the laws of Maryland, and elsewhere, were found abundant evidences +of compulsion in practice, and where there were no direct acts forcing +them to depart, a public sentiment had been created, which, in its +manifold operations, brought the colored man, crushed and hopeless, to +the conclusion, that it would be better for him to say farewell to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +home and country, than remain a proverb and a nuisance amongst a +prejudiced and persecuting people. No colored man could justly be +said to go to Liberia, or elsewhere, with his free and unconstrained +consent, until the laws were equal, the treatment kind, prejudice +founded on complexion destroyed, and he presented himself a voluntary +agent, and asked the means to transport him to a foreign shore. +As one proof that compulsion had been openly and unblushingly advocated, +he would quote the words of Mr. Broadnax in the Virginia +House of Delegates:——</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is idle to talk about not resorting to force; every body must look +to the introduction of force of some kind or other—and it is in truth +a question of expediency, of moral justice, of political good +faith—whether we shall fairly delineate our whole system on the face +of the bill, or leave the acquisition of extorted consent to other +processes. The real question, the only question of magnitude to be +settled, is the great preliminary question—Do you intend to send the +free persons of color out of Virginia, or not?</p> + +<p>"If the free negroes are willing to go, they will go—if not willing +they must be compelled to go. Some gentlemen think it politic not now +to insert this feature in the bill, though they proclaim their +readiness to resort to it when it becomes necessary; they think that +for a year or two a sufficient number will consent to go, and then the +rest can be compelled. For my part, I deem it better to approach the +question and settle it at once, and avow it openly.</p> + +<p>"I have already expressed it as my opinion that few, very few, will +voluntarily consent to emigrate if no COMPULSORY measure be adopted.</p> + +<p>"I will not express, in its full extent, the idea I entertain of what +has been done, or what enormities will be perpetrated to induce this +class of persons to leave the Slate. Who does not know that when a +free negro, by crime or otherwise, has rendered himself obnoxious to a +neighborhood, how easy it is for a party to visit him one night, take +him from his bed and family, and apply to him the gentle admonition of +a SEVERE FLAGELLATION, to induce Kim to consent to go away I In a few +nights the dose can be repeated, perhaps increased, until, in the +language of the physician, quantum sufficit has been administered to +produce the desired operation; and the fellow then becomes PERFECTLY +WILLING to move away.</p></div> + +<p>Finally, on this part of the subject, he would cite the Rev. R. J. +Breckinridge, who, at the annual meeting of the American Colonization +Society, in 1834, had used the following language:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Two years ago I warned the Managers of this Virginia business, and +yet they sent out TWO SHIP-LOADS OF VAGABONDS, not fit to go to such a +place, and they were COERCED away as truly as if it had been done with +a CART-WHIP.</p></div> + +<p>His grand complaint against the Colonization Society was this—that +instead of grappling with the reigning prejudices of the community, it +falsely assumed the <i>insensibility</i> of those prejudices, and proceeded +to legislate accordingly. They thus sanctioned and perpetuated the +greatest sources of suffering and wrong to the colored population. The +prejudice against the people of color had greatly increased since the +formation of the Society. The present supporters of the Society were +those who thoroughly loathed the free people of color, and the most +cruel and sanguinary opponents of the Abolitionists were the +boisterous defenders of the American Colonization Society. For +example, when a mob assailed the inhabitants in New York, broke up +their meetings, assaulted their persons, and sacked the house of Mr. +Lewis Tappan, that mob could, in the midst of their ruffian-like and +felonious exploits, most unanimously and heartily shout, "Three cheers +for the Colonization Society," and "away with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> niggers." In +travelling in steamboats and stage coaches, he (Mr. T.) had invariably +found that his most furious and malignant opponents, and the most +determined haters of the black man, were loud in their profession of +attachment to the principles and plans of the society. Why had not the +wise and benevolent members of the society denounced that prejudice? +Because the best among them were themselves partakers of that +prejudice. It was evident, from all that Mr. Breckinridge had said, +that he was deeply imbued with that prejudice. It gave tone, and +color, and direction to all his remarks. Such men might profess to +love the black man; but they were likely to be suspected of +insincerity, when they uniformly manifested their love by driving the +object of it as far away as possible. Such a mode of expressing love +was contrary to all our ideas of the natural manifestations of that +feeling. If the Colonization Society was indeed so full of benevolence +and mercy, how was it that its character was so misunderstood by the +colored people, for whose special benefit it had been originated? +Surely they were likely to be the best judges of its effect upon their +welfare and happiness. What was the fact? The entire free colored +population of the United States were opposed to the expatriating +project. But his opponent would say it was owing to the abuse poured +upon the society by the foul-mouthed Abolitionists. He (Mr. T.) +should, however, deprive the gentleman of this refuge, by laying +before the meeting a very interesting fact, which would at once show +the feeling of the colored people when the plan was first submitted to +them. It would show, that in a meeting of three thousand, convened in +the city of Philadelphia, to decide whether the society should, or +should not, receive their countenance, they decided <i>against</i> it +without a dissentient voice. He would lay before them a letter written +by a highly respectable, enlightened, and wealthy gentleman of color +in Philadelphia, Mr. James Forten. The letter was written to the +editor of the New England Spectator, in consequence of a remark made +by Mr. Gurley, during the debate in Boston.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, June 10th, 1835.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rev. W. S. Porter</span>,—Dear Sir,—I cheerfully comply with the request +contained in your note of the 3d inst., to give you a brief statement +of a meeting held in 1817, by the people of color in this city, to +express their opinion on the Liberia project. It was the largest +meeting of colored persons ever convened in Philadelphia,—I will say +3000, though I might safely add 500 more. To show you the deep +interest evinced, this large assemblage remained in almost breathless +and fixed attention during the reading of the resolutions and the +other business of the meeting; and when the question was put in the +affirmative you might have heard a pin drop, so profound was the +silence. But when in the negative, one long, loud, ay, tremendous NO, +from this vast audience, seemed as if it would bring down the walls of +the building. Never did there appear a more unanimous opinion. Every +heart seemed to feel that it was a life and death question. Yes, even +then, at the very onset, when the monster came in a guise to deceive +some of our firmest friends, who hailed it as the dawning of a +brighter day for our oppressed race,—even then we penetrated through +its thickly-laid covering, and beheld it prospectively as the scourge +which in after years was to grind us to the earth, and, by a series of +unrelenting persecution, force us into involuntary exile.</p> + +<p>I was not a little surprised to learn that Mr. Gurley professed to be +ignorant of this fact; for in the African Repository he reviewed Mr. +Garrison's Thoughts on African Colonization; and a whole chapter of +the work, if I mistake not, is taken up with the sentiments of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>the +people of color on colonization, commencing with the Philadelphia +meeting. Perhaps Mr. Gurley did not read that chapter. But if his +memory is not very treacherous, he ought to have known the +circumstance, for I related it to him myself in a conversation which I +had with him at my house one evening, in company with the Rev. Robert +J. Breckinridge, and our beloved friend, William Lloyd Garrison. The +subject of colonization was warmly discussed; and I well recollect +bringing our meeting of 1817 forward as a proof of our early and +decided opposition to the measure. No doubt Mr. Garrison also +remembers it.</p> + +<p>Three meetings were held by us in 1817. The two first you will find in +the "Thoughts on Colonization," part 2d, page 9. Of the protest and +remonstrance adopted at the third meeting, I send you an exact copy. +It is in answer to an address to the citizens of New York and +Philadelphia, calling upon them to aid a number of persons of color, +whom they said were anxious to join the projected colony in Africa. +Those persons were mostly from the south, and it was to disabuse the +public mind on this subject, that our meeting was held.</p> + +<p class="regards">I remain, with great respect,</p> +<p class="author">Yours, JAMES FORTEN.</p> +</div> + +<p>He (Mr. T.) could pledge himself that such were still the feelings +of the free colored people of America. Wherever they possessed a +glimmering of light upon the subject, they utterly abhorred the society, +and would as soon <i>consent</i> to be cut to pieces, as sent to any of the +colonies prepared for their reception. Was it not then too bad that +Christians should be called upon to support a society so utterly at +variance with the wishes and feelings of the parties most nearly +concerned? As a few moments yet remained, he would occupy it in +quoting the opinions of two gentlemen, ministers of religion, and +standing high in their own country, who had furnished lamentable +evidence of the extent to which prejudice might possess otherwise +strong and enlarged minds. The first quotation was from a report of +a committee at the Theological Seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, +presented to the Colonization Society of that institution in 1823. +It was from the pen of the Rev. Leonard Bacon, now pastor of a +Congregational church at New Haven, Connecticut.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Soodra is not farther separated from the Brahmin, in regard to +all his privileges, civil, intellectual, and moral, than the negro is +from the white man, by the prejudices which result from the difference +made between them by the God of nature. A barrier more difficult to be +surmounted than the institution of the Caste, cuts off, and while the +present state of society continues, must always cut off, the negro +from all that is valuable in citizenship."</p></div> + +<p>The other was his opponent on that platform; who, in a letter to the +New York Evangelist, had said, that emancipation, to be followed by +amalgamation, at the option of the parties, would be reckless +wickedness. But lest he should misrepresent that gentleman, he would +turn to the paper, and quote the passage cited.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I know that any abolition without the consent of the States holding +the slaves, is impossible; that to obtain this consent on any terms, +is very difficult;—that to obtain it without the prospect of +extensive removal by colonization, is impossible; that to obtain it +instantly on any terms, is the dream of ignorance; that to expect it +instantly with subsequent equality, is frantic nonsense; and that to +demand it, as an instant right, irrespective of consequences, and to +be followed by amalgamation at the option of the parties, is RECKLESS +WICKEDNESS!"</p></div> + +<p>All the alarm created on the subject of amalgamation was totally +unfounded. The views of the Abolitionists were simple and scriptural. +They held that there should be no distinctions on account of +color. That to treat a man with coldness, unkindness, or contempt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +on account of his complexion, was to quarrel with the Maker of us +all. They held that this prejudice should be given up, and the colored +man be treated as a white man, according to his intellect, morality, +and fitness for the duties of civil life. They did not interfere +with those tastes by which human beings were regulated in entering +into the nearest and most permanent relations of life. They confined +themselves to the exhibition of gospel truth upon the subject, and +left it to an overruling and watchful Providence to guard and control +the consequences springing from a faithful and fearless discharge of +duty. Mr. Thompson concluded, by observing, that he considered +the readiest way to make men curse their existence and their God, +was to oppress and enslave them on account of that complexion, and +those peculiarities, which the Creator of the world had stamped upon +them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p>Mr. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would commence with a slight allusion to two +references which had been made to himself by Mr. Thompson. And in +regard to certain passages which had been read from speeches of his, +he would only say, that he had never written or uttered a single word +on this subject, which he would not rejoice to see laid before the +British public. But he had a right to complain of the manner in which +these passages had been quoted. It was not fair, he contended, to +break down a passage, and read only half a sentence, passing over the +other half because it would not answer the purpose of the reader; in +fact, because it would alter the sense of the passage altogether. He +charged Mr. T. with having been guilty of this in the last quotation +which he had made, and, in order to show the true meaning of the +garbled passage, he would read it as it stood: [See the passage as it +appears in Mr. T.'s speech.] He had read this the more particularly, +in order to show the consistency of his present opinions with those +which he had held and uttered two years ago. They would now perceive, +he said, that when the sentence was given entire, he said, that +setting the slaves free without reference to consequences, constituted +a material and an omitted part of that procedure, which he had +characterized as reckless wickedness, whereas by breaking it up in the +middle, he was made to say, that to permit voluntary amalgamation, +after instant abolition, was by itself to be so considered. He was now +ready to defend this statement as he had at first made it.</p> + +<p>The next thing he would refer to, was the report of a speech which he +[Mr. B.] had delivered at an annual meeting of the American +Colonization Society. And with regard to it, if he was in America, he +would say, decidedly, that it was not a fair report: that it was an +unfair report, got up by Mr. Leavitt, the editor of the New York +Evangelist, to serve a special purpose. He would not deny that he had +said something which might give a pretext for the report. He had +charged the parent society with having been guilty of a gross +dereliction of duty to the colony and the cause, in sending away two +ships' cargoes of negroes to Liberia, who were not fit for that place, +and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> believed that those two expeditions had done much to injure +the colony itself, as well as to impair public confidence in the +firmness and judiciousness of the parent board. They were emigrants +unfit to be sent out—the refuse of the counties around South Hampton +in Virginia; who were hurried out by the violent state of public +sentiment in that region, after the insurrection and massacre there. +Like a man conscious of rectitude, he had gone to the very parties +concerned, and declared his grounds of complaint; a line of conduct he +could not too often commend to Mr. Thompson, and no proof could be +more conclusive than this anecdote afforded, that the active friends +of colonization in America, however they might differ about details, +meant kindly by the blacks, and by Africa. Mr. B. again expressed his +surprise that Mr. Thompson should occupy the time of the meeting by +repeating his own speeches. He had adverted to this matter before, he +said, and as he was in a poor state of health, and had work elsewhere, +and as there was much ground yet to go over, and Mr. T. declared his +materials to be most abundant, he thought those repetitions might have +been spared. They who took the trouble to read the published speeches +of this gentleman, would find, that however exhaustless might be the +boasted stores of his facts, proofs, and illustrations, about what he +called "American Slavery," he was exceedingly economical of them. +After reading six or seven of them, he found them so very like each +other, that the same stories, in the same order, and the same +illustrations, in the same sequence, and the same unfounded charges, +in the same terms of unmeasured bitterness, may be often expected, and +never in vain. Indeed, so meagre was his supply of wit, even, that it +also went on very few changes. The whole case exhibiting a most +striking illustration of the truth uttered in a personal sense by one +of their own statesmen and scholars, and now proved to be of general +application, namely, that when a man resorted to his memory for his +jokes, it was very probable that he would draw upon his imagination +for his facts. As he [Mr. B.] had been so often asked to produce +certain placards for the purpose of substantiating some of his +statements, there could be no better connexion in which to call upon +Mr. Thompson to bring forward proof of those charges which he brought +against certain persons, and classes of persons, unless he wished the +world to believe that he had brought those charges without having a +single iota of evidence on which to found them. He would call upon Mr. +Thompson to bring forward his proofs in support of all those charges, +those reckless and extravagant charges, which he brought against the +ministers of religion in America. Mr. Thompson had stood before +several London audiences with a runaway slave from America, who +charged certain individuals with unparalleled cruelty! Amongst other +things, with burning a slave alive; a matter to which Mr. T's +attention had in vain been called, and his proofs demanded. He would +take no further notice of the gross things he had uttered of the +president of the United States than to say, that if he (Mr. B.) could +condescend to imitate his conduct,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> and utter ribaldrous things of the +king of Great Britain, he should richly deserve to be turned with +contempt out of this sacred place. He would proceed, then, with his +remarks on the Maryland colonization scheme. They had been told by Mr. +T. that the object of the Maryland society was compulsory +expatriation, as a condition precedent to freedom. When proof of this +was required, he could bring none; and when he (Mr. B.) had showed +that it was not so, but that its object was of unmixed good to the +blacks, an object accomplished as to many, on their showing, in the +proof produced, Mr. Thompson turned round, and said, that it was +entirely contrary to his preconceived notions, and repeated +statements, and must be false! But facts were better than notions and +statements both. And what were the facts in the present case? Why, +that on the one hand Mr. Thompson asserts that no slave can be +manumitted in Maryland except he will instantly depart the country; +whereas Messrs. Harper, Howard and Hoffman assert, in an official +report, on the 31st of last December, that 299 manumissions within +that state had been officially reported to them within a year, and +1101 within four years. At the same moment I have produced a record of +the very names and periods of emigration, of 140, bond and free, all +told, who, within the same four years, under the action of the very +laws in question, had gone from the state; admitting half of whom to +be of those particular manumitted slaves, there would be left 1021 +more of them to prove that Mr. T. either totally misunderstood, or +mis-stated, that of which he affirms—either way, his assertions are +demonstrated to be untrue. As to the laws of Maryland, of which +mention had been made, he had not seen them since his visit to Boston +two years ago, and in adverting to them he had stated in general terms +what he understood them to be. The great object of these laws was said +to be the driving out of the free blacks from the state of Maryland. +Now that the means taken to promote this end were not of that grinding +and iniquitous character which Mr. Thompson had represented them as +being, would be sufficiently obvious to the meeting, when it was +considered that in that state there were three times the number of +free persons of color, than were to be found in the majority of the +free states, and considerably more than there were in any other state +in the Union. If the laws were found more oppressive in Maryland, how +did it come that the free blacks congregated there from all other +parts of America? Or if they were set free by the people so much +opposed to their increase, why did they not rather go to Pennsylvania, +which was separated from Maryland only by an imaginary line, and where +free blacks enjoyed almost the same rights as white men? But, again, +it was said, that that colonization scheme was an awfully wicked +scheme, because it sought to prevent the increase of free persons of +color in Maryland. But if this were a grievous sin, were the people of +Great Britain not equally guilty in sending away out of the country +ship loads of paupers, free whites, to other parts of the globe, in +order to prevent the increase of pauperism in this country? Why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> had +not this branch of the subject been adverted to by Mr. Thompson? Why +had he not, in the paroxysms of his enfuriated eloquence, while +abusing the American colonizationists, not included the king and +parliament of Britain for allowing the existence of laws, or if there +be no such law, for a practice rife in England, of expatriating +thousands of paupers not only by contributions, but at the public +expense. He would be told that the paupers were sent away to distant +parts of the globe, where they would be more comfortable in every +respect than they were at present. And had Mr. T. bowels of compassion +only for the black man? Is it lawful to export a white man against his +will, at the public charge, while it is unlawful to export a black +man, with his free consent, by private benevolence? Is America so +detestable a place, that England may lawfully make her the receptacle +of the refuse of the poor houses of the realm; while Africa is so +sacred a place, that no one that can even do her good is to be +permitted to go there from America, if his skin is dark? May Britain +say, she has more paupers than she can support, and so make it state +policy to force emigration from Ireland, by a system which makes a +quarter of the people there beg bread eight months out of twelve, and +produces inexpressible distress; and yet is Maryland to be precluded, +on any account, or upon any terms, from seeking the diminution, or +rather preventing the disproportionate increase, of a population, +anomalous, and difficult of proper regulation? He should be most happy +to receive an explanation of these strange contradictions! There was +another feature of the Maryland laws, which he might mention, which +forbade the emigration of slaves into Maryland, even along with their +owners. Mr. Thompson had prudently omitted all notice of that +enactment, while he had said a great deal about the registration of +free persons of color, as if it were a most intolerable hardship. He +(Mr. B.) was unable to see in what respect the great hardship +consisted. Was not every freeholder in this country registered? But +the free black was not allowed to leave the state of Maryland without +giving notice, it was said. There was nothing very oppressive in all +that. It was no worse interference on the part of the government, than +for the king of Great Britain to say to his subjects, You must return +home under certain contingencies; you shall not dwell in particular +places, nor fight for certain nations. Were the governments of +America, because they were republicans, not to have the power which +other nations had, of controlling the actions of that portion of their +population, whose movements must be regarded by all who regarded the +peace of society or the public good. He admitted, that some of the +laws in several of the states were hard and severe in reference to the +free colored population, but while he said so, it was but fair to add +that he considered the conduct of the abolitionists, in spreading +their new fangled notions, had done much to alter these laws for the +worse. In many instances the bad laws had become worse, and good laws +had become bad, solely through the imprudent conduct of Mr. Thompson's +associates. And this specific law of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> registration, and loss of right +of residence, by removal for any considerable time out of the state, +was obviously intended to prevent free persons of color from going out +and becoming imbued with false and bloody theories, and then returning +to disturb the public peace. The law says to them, Abide at home, or, +if you prefer it, depart, and find a home more to your mind; but if +you go, prudence requests us to prohibit your return. Mr. T.'s +complaints of this enactment, showed how necessary it was to have made +it.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, he would recommend to Mr. Thompson, should he +ever return to America, he need not be so tremendously prudent in +regard to his personal safety, if he would just not be so tremendously +imprudent in the principles and proceedings he advocated, and the +statements he made with regard to the conduct of the American people. +He had now gone over the assertions of Mr. Thompson, regarding +the Maryland colonization scheme, and he trusted that he had +shown the unfounded nature of those assertions. All that had been +said by Mr. T. as to the principles and objects of the colonizationists, +and the scope and influence of their course, had no other +proof than the writings of those persons, who for some years, had +formed a very small portion of the supporters of this great interest; +and who, without exception, belonged to those classes, who at +first, as had already been admitted, supported it, for reasons, some +of which were entirely political, others perhaps severe to the +slaves, and others unjust or inconsiderate towards the free blacks. +But that directly opposite views, statements and arguments, could be +more amply procured from the still greater, and still proportionately +increasing party, who support this cause, as a great benevolent and +religious operation, must be perfectly known to the individual himself. +If he admit this, said Mr. B., it will show his present course to +be of the same uncandid kind with all the rest of his conduct towards +America, in selecting what answered his purpose; that always being +the worst thing he could find, and representing it as a fair sample of +all. It will do more, it will show that what he calls proof is no proof +at all. But if he denies my repeated representations as to the various +classes of the original supporters of the parent society, and the present +state of them, I am equally content; as, in that case, all America +would have a fair criterion by which to test his statements. As to +the Maryland plan, and that pursued by the united societies of Philadelphia +and New York, if they have any supporters except such as +love the cause of the black man, of temperance, and of peace, the +world has yet to find it out.</p> + +<p>The time being expired, Mr. B. sat down.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> +<h2>FOURTH NIGHT—THURSDAY, JUNE 16.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> said that before proceeding to the subject +decided upon for that evening's discussion, he must, in justice to +himself and his cause, offer a remark or two. He had on the previous +evening been struck with surprise at the extraordinary injustice of +charging him (Mr. T.) with quoting unfairly from the letter of Mr. +Breckinridge in the New-York Evangelist. It must have been obvious to +all, that in the first instance, he quoted from memory, but all would +recollect with the avowed wish of avoiding misrepresentation, he had +gone to his table—produced the letter, and read the passage entire +without the omission or interpolation of a letter or a comma. He, +therefore, emphatically denied the charge of garbling. Mr. +Breckinridge did himself, immediately afterwards, read the passage, +and read it precisely as he (Mr. Thompson) had read it. The +imputation, therefore, was equally unfounded and unfair. He (Mr. T.) +was thankful that his argument needed not such help. It would be as +absurd as it would be wicked for him to attempt to support his cause +by any garbled statement.</p> + +<p>He begged also that it might be distinctly understood that he had by +no means exhausted the evidence in his possession on the subject of +Colonization. He could adduce a thousand times as much as that which +had been already brought forward. He had much to say of the colony at +Liberia; the means taken to establish it, the nature of the climate, +the character of the emigrants, the mortality amongst the settlers, +how much it had done towards the suppression of the slave trade, &c. +In fact, he was prepared with overwhelming evidence upon every branch +of the subject, and was willing to return to it at any moment, +confident that the arguments he could produce, and the facts by which +he could support them, would, in the estimation of the public, destroy +forever the claim of the Colonization Society to be considered a pure, +peaceful, or benevolent institution. I now, (said Mr. T.) come to the +topic immediately before us.</p> + +<p>It is my solemn and responsible duty to bring before you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> to-night the +<i>principles</i> and <i>measures</i> of a large, respectable, and powerful body +in the United States, known by the name of <span class="smcap">Immediate Abolitionists</span>. A +body of individuals embracing not fewer than fifteen hundred ministers +of the gospel, and men of the highest station and largest attainments. +A body of persons that have been charged upon this platform with being +a handful, "so small that they could not obtain their object, and so +erroneous (<i>despicable</i> was, I believe, the word used) as not to +deserve success,"—charged with being the enemies of the +slave-holder—taking him by the throat, and saying "you great +thieving, man-stealing villain, unless you instantly give your slaves +liberty, I will pitch you out of this third-story window,"—charged +with carrying in their track a pestilence like a storm of fire and +brimstone from hell; forcing ministers of religion to seek peaceful +villages not yet blasted by it,—charged with saying that they were +sent from God, when they possessed the fury of demons,—charged, +finally, with having "thrown the cause" of emancipation "a <i>hundred +years</i> farther back than it was five years ago." These are fearful +indictments, and Mr. Breckinridge has a weighty duty to fulfil +to-night, for he is bound to sustain them. They have been brought by +himself, a Christian minister, the professed friend of the slave; and +he must, therefore, abundantly support them by incontrovertible +evidence, or stand branded before the world as the worst foe of human +freedom—the foul calumniator of the friends and advocates of the +oppressed, the suffering, and the dumb.</p> + +<p>He would lay the principles of the American abolitionists before the +audience in the words of their solemn and official documents. He would +go back to the commencement of the five years mentioned by his +opponent, and read from the "<span class="smcap">Constitution</span> of the <span class="smcap">New-England +Anti-Slavery Society</span>," a lucid exposition of the principles and +objects of the first Anti-Slavery Society (technically so called) in +the United States.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We, the undersigned, hold that every person of full age and sane +mind, has a right to immediate freedom from personal bondage of +whatsoever kind, unless imposed by the sentence of the law for the +commission of some crime.</p> + +<p>We hold that man cannot, consistently with reason, religion, and the +eternal and immutable principles of justice, be the property of man.</p> + +<p>We hold that whoever retains his fellow man in bondage, is guilty of a +grevious wrong.</p> + +<p>We hold that a mere difference of complexion is no reason why any man +should be deprived of any of his natural rights, or subjected to any +political disability.</p> + +<p>While we advance these opinions as the principles on which we intend +to act, we declare that we will not operate on the existing relations +of society by other than peaceful and lawful means, and that we will +give no countenance to violence or insurrection.</p> + +<p>With these views, we agree to form ourselves into a society, and to be +governed by the rules specified in the following constitution, viz:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 1.</span> This Society shall be called the New-England Anti-Slavery +Society.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 2.</span> The object of the society will be to endeavor, by all means +sanctioned by law, humanity, and religion, to effect the Abolition of +Slavery in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>United States, to improve the character and condition +of the free people of color, to inform and correct public opinion in +relation to their situation and rights, and obtain for them equal +civil and political rights and privileges with the whites."</p></div> + +<p>He would now pass on to the formation of the National Anti-Slavery +Society, in December, 1833, and submit all that was material in the +"<span class="smcap">Constitution of the American Anti-Slavery Society</span>."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Article 2.</span> The object of this Society is the entire abolition of +slavery in the United States. While it admits that each State in which +Slavery exists has, by the Constitution of the United States, the +exclusive right to legislate in regard to its abolition in that State, +it shall aim to convince all our fellow-citizens, by arguments +addressed to their understandings and consciences, that slave-holding +is a heinous crime in the sight of God; and that the duty, safety, and +best interest of all concerned, require its immediate abandonment, +without expatriation. The Society will also endeavor, in a +constitutional way, to influence Congress, to put an end to the +domestic slave trade; and to abolish slavery in all those portions of +our common country which come under its control, especially in the +district of Columbia, and likewise to prevent the extension of it to +any State that may hereafter be admitted to the Union.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 3.</span> This Society shall aim to elevate the character and +condition of the people of color, by encouraging their intellectual, +moral, and religious improvement, and by removing public prejudice; +that thus they may, according to their intellectual and moral worth, +share an equality with the whites of civil and religious privileges; +but the Society will never in any way countenance the oppressed in +vindicating their rights by resorting to physical force.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 4.</span> Any person who consents to the principles of this +Constitution, who contributes to the funds of this Society, and is not +a slave-holder, may be a member of this Society, and shall be entitled +to a vote at its meetings."</p></div> + +<p>He would next read the "Preamble" to the Constitution of the +New-Hampshire State Anti-Slavery Society:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The most high God hath made of one blood all the families of man to +dwell on the face of all the earth, and hath endowed all alike with +the same inalienable rights, of which are life, liberty, and the +pursuit of happiness; yet there are now in this land, more than two +millions of human beings, possessed of the same deathless spirits, and +heirs to the same immortal hopes and destinies with ourselves, who are +nevertheless deprived of these sacred rights, and kept in the most +cruel and abject bondage; a bondage under which human beings are bred +and fattened for the market, and then bought, sold, mortgaged, leased, +bartered, fettered, tasked, scourged, beaten, killed, hunted even like +the veriest brutes,—nay, made often the unwilling victims of ungodly +lust; while, at the same time, their minds are, by law and custom, +generally shut out from all access to letters, and in various other +ways all their upward tendencies are repressed and crushed, so as to +make their "moral and religious condition such that they may justly be +considered the heathen of this country;" and since we regard such +oppression as one of the greatest wrongs that man can commit against +his fellow; and existing as it does, and tolerated as it is, under +this free and Christian government, sapping its foundation, bringing +its institutions into contempt among other nations, thus retarding the +march of freedom and religion, and strengthening the hands of +despotism and irreligion throughout the world; and since we deem it a +duty to ourselves, to our government, to the world, to the oppressed, +and to God, to do all we can to end this oppression, and to secure an +immediate and entire emancipation of the oppressed; and believe we can +act most efficiently in the case, in the way of combined and organized +action:—Therefore, we, the undersigned, do form ourselves into a +Society for the purpose."</p></div> + +<p>If there was anything for which the abolitionists as a body were +peculiarly distinguished, it was for the perfect uniformity of +sentiment upon all great points connected with the general question of +slavery. This was attributable to the clearness and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> fullness with +which the principles of the Society had been enunciated. Not so with +the Colonization Society. You quoted the language of the most eminent +of its supporters, but were immediately told that the Society was not +answerable for the views or designs of its advocates. How very +different a course did the Colonizationists pursue towards the +Anti-Slavery Society. That Society was not only made answerable for +all which the abolitionists <i>really</i> said, and <i>really</i> designed, but +for things they never said, and never designed. No Society was more +conspicuous for the simplicity of its principles, or the harmony of +views subsisting among its members. All regarded slave-holding as +sinful. All considered immediate emancipation to be the duty of the +master and the right of the slave. All deprecated the thought of a +servile insurrection to effect the extinction of slavery. All abhorred +the doctrine that "the end sanctifies the means." But all deemed it a +solemn duty to pursue, with energy and boldness, the overthrow of +slavery; all were one in believing and teaching, that the means +adopted should be honest, holy, peaceful, and moral. It had been said +that the only weapon should be "persuasion." He (Mr. T.) believed that +if no other weapon than "persuasion" was resorted to, slavery would be +perpetual. He believed that the gathered, concentrated, withering +scorn of the whole world, Pagan and Christian, must be brought down +upon slave-holding America, ere much effect could be produced. If this +was insufficient, it would be the duty of Britain to consider well +whether it was right to hold the destinies of the slaves of America in +her hand and not act accordingly. It would be the duty of the friends +of the slave to point to slave-grown produce, and cry, "touch not, +taste not, handle not" the accursed thing! Great Britain had the +power, by adopting a system of prohibitory duties or bounties, to +affect very materially the question at issue, and he (Mr. T.) doubted +not, that, if some such course was adopted, certain of the slave +States would immediately abolish slavery that they might find a +readier market and a higher price for their produce.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding, however, the precision with which the abolitionists +had stated their principles, and the wide publicity they had given +them, designs the most black, and measures the most monstrous and +wicked, had been charged upon them. They had been represented as +"firebrands," "incendiaries," "disorganizers," "amalgamatists"—as +promoting "disunion," "rebellion," and the "intermixture of the +races." Again and again, had they solemnly disclaimed the views +imputed to them, and pointed to their published "constitutions" and +"declarations;" but as often had their enemies returned to their work +of calumny and misrepresentation. How totally absurd was it to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> charge +upon the abolitionists the design of promoting amalgamation, while, +under the system of slavery, an unholy amalgamation was going on to +the most awful extent; demonstrated by the endless shades of +complexion at the south; and when nothing was more obvious than this, +that when a female was rescued from her present condition—inspired +with self-respect, and became the protector of her own virtue,—and +when fathers, and brothers, and husbands, were free to defend the +honor of their wives and daughters, the great causes, and incentives, +and facilities would cease, and cease forever, and to prove to the +world how solemnly the abolitionists had denied the imputations cast +upon them by their enemies, he would read from two documents put forth +during the great excitement which prevailed through the United States +in August last. The American Anti-Slavery Society, in "<i>An Address to +the public</i>," thus anew declared their principles and objects.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We hold that Congress has no more right to abolish slavery in the +southern States, than in the French West-India Islands. Of course we +desire no national legislation on the subject."</p> + +<p>"We hold that slavery can only be lawfully abolished by the +Legislatures of the several States in which it prevails, and that the +exercise of any other than moral influence to induce such abolition is +unconstitutional."</p> + +<p>"We believe that Congress has the same right to abolish slavery in the +District of Columbia, that the State Governments have within their +respective jurisdictions, and that it is their duty to efface so foul +a blot from the national escutcheon."</p> + +<p>"We believe that American citizens have the right to express and +publish their opinions of the constitutions, laws, and institutions, +of any and every state and nation under Heaven; and we mean +never to surrender the liberty of speech, of the press, or of +conscience—blessings we have inherited from our fathers, and which we +intend, as far as we are able, to transmit unimpaired to our +children."</p> + +<p>"We are charged with sending incendiary publications to the south. If +by the term <i>incendiary</i> is meant publications containing arguments +and facts to prove slavery to be a moral and political evil, and that +duty and policy require its immediate abolition, the charge is true. +But if the term is used to imply publications <i>encouraging +insurrection</i>, and designed to excite the slaves to break their +fetters, the charge is utterly and unequivocally false. We beg our +fellow-citizens to notice that this charge is made without proof, and +by many who confess that they have never read our publications, and +that those who make it, offer to the public no evidence from our +writings in support of it."</p> + +<p>"We have been charged with a design to encourage intermarriages +between the whites and blacks. The charge has been repeatedly, and is +now again denied, while we repeat that the tendency of our sentiments +is to <i>put an end</i> to the criminal amalgamation that prevails wherever +slavery exists."</p></div> + +<p>These were only extracts from the address, which was of considerable +length, and thus concluded:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Such, fellow-citizens, are our principles. Are they unworthy of +republicans and of Christians? Or are they in truth so atrocious, that +in order to prevent their diffusion you are yourselves willing to +surrender, at the dictation of others, the invaluable privilege of +free discussion, the very birth-right of Americans? Will you, in order +that the abomination of slavery may be concealed from public view, and +that the capital of your republic may continue to be, as it now is, +under the sanction of Congress, the great slave mart of the American +Continent, consent that the general government, in acknowledged +defiance of the constitution and laws, shall appoint, throughout the +length and breadth of your land, ten thousand censors of the press, +each of whom shall have the right to inspect every document you may +commit to the Post-Office, and to suppress every pamphlet and +newspaper, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>whether religious or political, which, in its sovereign +pleasure, he may adjudge to contain an incendiary article? Surely we +need not remind you, that if you submit to such an encroachment on +your liberties, the days of our Republic are numbered, and that, +although abolitionists may be the first, they will not be the last +victims offered at the shrine of arbitrary power.</p> + +<p class="author"> +ARTHUR TAPPAN, <i>President</i>.<br /> +JOHN RANKIN, <i>Treasurer</i>.<br /> +WILLIAM JAY, <i>Sec. For. Cor.</i><br /> +ELIZUR WRIGHT, Jr.,<i> Sec. Dom. Cor.</i><br /> +ABRAHAM L. COX, M. D., <i>Rec. Sec.</i><br /> +LEWIS TAPPAN, Member of the Executive Committee.<br /> +JOSHUA LEAVITT, Member of the Executive Committee.<br /> +SAMUEL E. CORNISH, Member of the Executive Committee.<br /> +SIMEON S. JOCELYN, Member of the Executive Committee.<br /> +THEODORE S. WRIGHT, Member of the Executive Committee.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="salute">New-York, September 3, 1835."</p></div> + +<p>The other document to which he had referred, was an "Address" adopted +at "A meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, duly held in +Boston, on Monday, August 17, A. D., 1835," signed by W. L. Garrison, +and twenty-seven highly respectable citizens of Boston, on behalf of +the Massachusetts Society, and others concurring generally in its +principles. He (Mr. T.) would only quote a few brief passages.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We are charged with violating, or wishing to violate, the +Constitution of the United States. What have we done, what have we +said to warrant this charge? We have held public meetings, and taken +other usual means of convincing our countrymen that slave-holding is +sin, and, like all sin, ought to be, and can be, immediately +abandoned. We have said, in the words of the Declaration of +Independence, that "ALL MEN are created equal," and that liberty is an +inalienable gift of God to every man. We know of no clause in the +Constitution which forbids our saying this. We appeal to the calm +judgment of the community, to decide, in view of recent events, +whether the measures of the friends, or those of the opposers of +abolition, are more justly chargeable with the violation of the +Constitution and laws."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The foolish tale, that we would encourage amalgamation by +intermarriage between the whites and blacks, though often refuted, as +often re-appears. We shall content ourselves with a simple denial of +this charge. We challenge our opponents to point to one of our +publications in which such intermarriages are recommended. One of our +objects is to prevent the amalgamation now going on, so far as can be +done, by placing one million of the females of this country under the +protection of law."</p> + +<p>"We are accused of interfering in the domestic concerns of the +southern States. We would ask those, who charge this, to explain +precisely what they mean by "interference." If, by interference be +meant any attempt to legislate for the southern States, or to compel +them, by force or intimidation, to emancipate their slaves, we at once +deny any such pretension. We are utterly opposed to any force on the +subject, but that of conscience and reason, which are "mighty, through +God, to the pulling down of strongholds." We fully acknowledge that no +change in the slave-laws of the southern States can be made, unless by +the southern Legislatures. Neither Congress nor the Legislatures of +the free States have authority to change the condition of a single +slave in the slave States. But, if by "interference" be intended the +exercise of the right of freely discussing this subject, and, by +speech, and through the press, creating a public sentiment, which will +reach the conscience, and blend with the convictions of the +slave-holder, and thus ultimately work the complete extinction of +slavery, this is a species of interference which we can never consent +to relinquish."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"We respectfully ask our fellow-citizens, whether we are to be +deprived of these sacred privileges,—and, if so, whether the +sacrifice of our rights will not involve consequences dangerous to all +mental and even personal freedom. We have vio<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>lated, we mean to +violate, no law. We have acted, we shall continue to act, under the +sanction of the Constitution of the United States. Nothing that we +propose to do can be prevented by our opposers, without violating the +Charter of our rights. To the Law and to the Constitution we appeal." +</p></div> + +<p>Such were the sentiments of the abolitionists of the United States of +America.</p> + +<p>He (Mr. T.) would embrace the present opportunity of saying a few +words respecting his own mission to the United States. It had been +much denounced as an impertinent foreign interference; but he thought +the charge had neither grace nor honesty when it came from those who +were engaged, and, as he believed, most conscientiously and +praiseworthily, in seeking, by their missionaries and agents, to +overturn the institutions, social, political, and religious, of every +other quarter of the globe. Mr. Breckinridge had said that it would be +as just on his part to inveigh against England on account of Roman +Catholicism in the west of Ireland, or Idolatry in India, as it was on +his (Mr. T's.) to condemn America for the slavery existing in that +country. The cases were not quite parallel. Before they could be +compared, Mr. B. must prove that the population of Ireland were +<i>constrained</i> to worship the Virgin Mary—that in India, men were +<i>forced</i> by British Law to worship idols. No British subject was +compelled by any law of this country, or any other country to which +British sway extended, to be either a <i>Papist</i> or an <i>Idolator</i>. But +in America, men were converted into <i>beasts</i>, "according to law," and +their souls and bodies crushed and degraded by a system most +vigorously enforced by the strong arm of the <i>State</i>. His opponent had +said, however, that slavery was not a national sin. He (Mr. T.) had to +thank a friend for suggesting an illustration of the knotty problem. +Suppose a number of <i>Agriculturists</i> and <i>Merchants</i> and <i>Highway +Robbers</i> were to meet together to form a Union, and the Highway +Robbers were to say—come, let us unite for the purpose of common +security, and common prosperity: we will defend each other, and trade +with each other, but we will not "interfere" in each other's +<i>internal</i> affairs. You, gentlemen, Agriculturists and Merchants, +shall promise that you will take no notice of my felonious and +cut-throat proceedings, and I, on my part, will pledge my honor not +to intermeddle in the affairs of your farms or counting-houses: and +suppose they were to shake hands, complete the bargain, and ratify an +indissoluble union of Agriculturists, Merchants, and Highway Robbers! +would the world hold the farmer or the merchant guiltless? Mr. B. had +said much of the purity and emancipation principles of Massachusetts, +and New-Hampshire and Maine. How came it to pass, then, that they were +in terms of such close and cordial fellowship with South<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> Carolina, +and Georgia, and Louisiana, and so ready to mob, stone, and outlaw +those who deemed it their duty to cry aloud on behalf of the +oppressed? To return to his own mission. He would never condescend to +apologize for speaking the truth. He had a commission direct from the +skies, to rebuke sin and compassionate suffering wherever on the face +of the earth they existed. This world belonged to God; and all men +were His subjects and his (Mr. Thompson's) brethren. Men might be +naturally divided by rivers, and oceans, and mountains; they might be +politically divided by different forms of government, and specified +lines of demarkation; but he (Mr. T.) took the Bible in his hand and +deemed himself at liberty to address every human being on the face of +the earth in reference to those eternal principles of justice and +truth, which are alike in all countries and in all ages, and which the +subjects of God's moral government are everywhere bound to respect. He +would say to America and to England, silence your cry of foreign +interference, or call home your Missionaries from India, and China, +and Constantinople. To shew that the object of his mission was in +accordance with the spirit of the gospel, he would read an extract +from an article in the first number of the "<i>Abolitionist</i>," the organ +of "The British and Foreign Society for the Universal Abolition of +Slavery and the Slave Trade"—a Society with which he was connected +when he went to America, and whose Agent he still was. The objects of +his mission were thus set forth:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"1. To lecture in the principal cities and towns of the free States, +upon the character, guilt, and tendency of slavery, and the duty, +necessity, and advantages of immediate and entire abolition. These +addresses will be founded upon those great principles of humanity and +religion, which have been so fully enunciated in this country, and +will consequently be wholly unconnected with particular and local +politics. This work will be carried on under the advice and with the +co-operation of the Anti-Slavery Societies at present in existence in +the United States.</p> + +<p>2. To aim, by every Christian means, at the overthrow of that +prejudice against the colored classes, which now so lamentably +prevails through all the States of America; and to regard as a +principal mean to obtain this desirable object, their elevation in +intellect and moral worth.</p> + +<p>3. To suggest to the friends of negro freedom in the United States the +adoption and prosecution of such measures as were found conducive to +the cause of abolition in this country, and may be found applicable to +existing circumstances in that.</p> + +<p>4. To seek access to influential persons of various religious +denominations, and especially to ministers of the gospel, for the +purpose of explanatory conversation on the subjects of slavery and +prejudice.</p> + +<p>5. To endeavor to effect a junction between the abolitionists of the +United States of America and great Britain, with a view to the +abolition of slavery and the slave trade throughout the world."</p></div> + +<p>The principles of the American Societies, his own principles, +and the objects proposed by his mission to America, were now +before his opponent. He called upon him to throw aside his +quibbles on legal technicalities, and point out, if he were able, +anything in the documents he had read, or the sentiments he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +had advanced, inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, or the +genius of rational freedom. It had been said that abolitionism +was "quackery," only four years old. He would give them a +little of the quackery of Benjamin Franklin, in the year 1790. +He held in his hand a petition drawn up by that celebrated man, +and adopted by the "<i>Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of +Slavery</i>," the preamble of which recognizes the doctrines +which are maintained by American Abolitionists at the present +day, and expresses the (<i>now incendiary</i>) desire of diffusing +them "<i>wherever the evils of Slavery exist</i>." Of this Society, +Dr. Franklin was elected President, and Dr. Rush the Secretary. +In 1790, this Society presented to the first Congress a petition, +from which the following is an extract:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the portion, and +is still the birth-right of all men, and influenced by the strong ties +of humanity, and the principles of their institutions, your +memorialists conceive themselves bound to use all justifiable +endeavors to loosen the bands of slavery, and promote a general +enjoyment of the blessings of freedom. Under these impressions, they +earnestly entreat your serious attention to the subject of slavery; +that you may be pleased to countenance the restoration to liberty of +those unhappy men, who, alone in a land of freedom, are degraded into +perpetual bondage, and who, amidst the general joy of surrounding +freemen, are groaning in servile subjection; that you will devise +means for removing this inconsistency from the character of the +American people; that you will promote mercy and justice towards this +oppressed race, and that you will step to the very verge of the power +vested in you, for discouraging every species of traffic in the +persons of our fellow-men."</p> + +<p class="author">(Signed) <span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin</span>,</p> +<p class="desig">President.</p> +<p class="salute"><i>Philadelphia, February 2, 1790.</i>"</p> +</div> + +<p>Besides the venerable Franklin in 1790, he might refer to the truly +able speech of the Rev. David Rice, in the Convention held at +Danville, Kentucky, before, or soon after the petition just read—to +the sermon of Jonathan Edwards, the younger, in the year 1791—and to +a most excellent sermon by Alexander M'Leod, through whose zeal and +labors chiefly, the Reformed Presbyterians were brought to the +determination to rid their church of slavery, an object they +accomplished in the year 1802. It was a painful fact that the American +community had retrograded in feeling and sentiment upon the subject of +slavery. The anti-slavery feeling of 1820 was neither so pure nor so +strong as in 1800, or 1790; and in 1830 the feeling had become still +weaker, and the views of the community still more corrupted. This was +owing to the formation of the colonization society, which, like a +great sponge, gathered up and absorbed the anti-slavery feeling of the +country, and by proposing the removal of the colored population, and +constantly preaching such doctrines as were calculated to advance that +object, drew public attention away from the duty of immediate +emancipation on the soil, and caused the Christian community to rest +in a scheme based upon expediency, and fully in unison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> with their +prejudice against color. To those who compared the various sentiments +contained in the writings and speeches of the colonizationists, with +the pure and uncompromising principles advocated towards the close of +the last, and the beginning of the present century, nothing was more +obvious than the fact he had just stated, namely, that there had been +a gradual giving up of sound views and principles, for others +accommodated to the prejudices and interests and fears of the +different portions of the community. For instance, nothing was more +common in the records of the Colonization Society than the recognition +of a right of property in man; to find the advocates of the Society, +when speaking of the slaveholder and his slaves, saying, "we hold +their <i>slaves</i>, as we hold their other <i>property</i>, <i>sacred</i>." Mr. +Breckinridge might say "these are not my opinions;"—but he must know +they were the published opinions of the managers and chief advocates +of the Society, and it was for him to explain how he could lend a +Society his countenance and aid, which promulgated and upheld so +impious a doctrine as the right of property in God's rational, +accountable, and immortal creatures. He (Mr. T.) knew, however, that +the Society could assume all colors, and preach all kinds of +doctrines. At one time it was promoting emancipation, and at another, +increasing the value of slaves, and securing the master in the +possession of them. It had one face for the north, and another for the +south—a very Proteus enacting every sort of character; having no +fixed principles—never consistent with itself in anything but its +determination by all means to get rid, if possible, of the colored +man. If there was any one thing which, more than another, was +calculated to demonstrate the true character and tendency of the +Society, it was the opinions everywhere entertained respecting it by +the colored population. It was a fact that they loathed and abhorred +the Society. No man advocating it could be popular amongst them. Even +Mr. Breckinridge, with all his virtues and benevolence, was considered +by the colored people as practically their enemy, by helping to +sustain a Society which they regarded as the most effective engine of +oppression ever invented. Surely they were qualified to form a +judgment upon the subject. They had looked into its workings—they had +narrowly watched its movements, and had satisfied themselves that it +was full of all unrighteousness. If, on the other hand, the +abolitionists were, by their measures, doing vast injury to the cause +of the free colored people, how came it to pass, that they had the +love and confidence of that entire class of the population? How was it +that even the arch fiend of abolition, George Thompson, was by them +caressed and beloved, and that they would hang for hours upon the +accents of his lips—and that the tear of gratitude would start<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> into +their eyes wherever he met them? The secret was soon told. He (Mr. T.) +spoke <i>to</i> them and <i>of</i> them, as <i>men</i>. He compromised none of their +rights—he exhibited no prejudice against their complexion. He did not +recommend exile as their only way of escape from their present and +dreaded ills. He preached justice, and kindness, and repentance to +their persecutors, and maintained the right of the bleeding captive to +full and unconditional liberty, with all the privileges and honors of +humanity. Therefore they loved him—therefore they would lay down +their lives for him. He would read a list of places, in all of which +the colored people had held meetings, and denounced the plans of the +Colonization Society, viz,—</p> + +<p>Philadelphia, New-York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington; Brooklyn and +Rochester, in the State of New-York; Hartford, Middletown, New-Haven, +and Lime in the State of Connecticut; Columbia, Pittsburg, Lewistown, +and Harrisburg, in the State of Pennsylvania; Providence, in the State +of Rhode-Island; Trenton, in the State of New-Jersey; Wilmington, in +the State of Delaware; New-Bedford, in the State of Massachusetts; +Nantucket; in the National Convention of free colored persons, held in +Philadelphia, in 1831—by the same Convention in 1832, and, he +believed, in very subsequent Conventions.</p> + +<p>To return to the Anti-Slavery Societies of the United States. He (Mr. +T.) knew them to be composed of the finest and purest elements in the +country. They were numerous and powerful. It would soon be proved +that, with the blessing of God, they were omnipotent. Knowing the +piety, intelligence, wealth, and energy of the abolitionists of +America, it required some effort to be calm when Mr. Breckinridge +stood before a British audience and compared them to Falstaff's ragged +regiment. The Society of Kentucky might be small in regard to numbers. +He believed, however, they were highly respectable. He referred to Mr. +J. G. Birney on this point. Mr. Breckinridge might represent on the +present occasion, if it pleased him, the abolitionists of his (Mr. +B's) country as beggarly, odious, and despicable: but if he lived to +revisit England (and he hoped he might) he believed he would then have +to find some other illustration of their character, numbers and +appearance, than the ragged regiment of Shakspeare's Falstaff.</p> + +<p>Having stated the principles of the Anti-Slavery Societies in America, +he would exhibit, in the words of the Philadelphia declaration of +sentiments, their mode of operations. The National Society, formed +during the convention, thus made known to the world its intended +course of action:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We shall organize Anti-Slavery Societies, if possible, in every city, +town and village in our land.</p> + +<p>We shall send forth Agents to lift up the voice of remonstrance, of +warning, of entreaty and rebuke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>We shall circulate, unsparingly, and extensively, anti-slavery tracts +and periodicals.</p> + +<p>We shall enlist the "Pulpit" and the "Press" in the cause of the +suffering and the dumb.</p> + +<p>We shall aim at a purification of the churches from all participation +in the guilt of slavery.</p> + +<p>We shall encourage the labor of freemen rather than that of the +slaves, by giving a preference to their productions: and</p> + +<p>We shall spare no exertions nor means to bring the whole nation to +speedy repentance.</p> + +<p>Our trust for victory is solely in GOD. We may be personally defeated, +but our principles never. Truth, Justice, Reason, Humanity, must and +will gloriously triumph. Already a host is coming up to the help of +the Lord against the mighty, and the prospect before us is full of +encouragement.</p> + +<p>Submitting this declaration to the candid examination of the people of +this country, and of the friends of liberty throughout the world, we +hereby affix our signatures to it; pledging ourselves that, under the +guidance and by the help of Almighty God, we will do all that in us +lies, consistently with this Declaration of our principles, to +overthrow the most execrable system of slavery that has ever been +witnessed upon earth; to deliver our land from its deadliest curse; to +wipe out the foulest stain which rests upon our national escutcheon; +and to secure to the colored population of the United States all the +rights and privileges which belong to them as men and as +Americans—come what may to our persons, our interests, or our +reputations—whether we live to witness the triumph of Liberty, +Justice, and Humanity, or perish untimely as martyrs in this great, +benevolent and holy cause.</p> + +<p><i>Signed in the Adelphi Hall, in the City of Philadelphia,</i><br /> +<i>on the 6th day of December, A. D. 1833.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>True to the pledges given in this declaration, the abolitionists had +printed, preached, and prayed without ceasing. As a proof of what they +were doing in one department of their work, he would exhibit a number +of newspapers, tracts, pamphlets, and other periodicals, which were in +circulation throughout the country. Mr. Thompson then produced copies +of the "Slaves Friend," "Anti-Slavery Records," "Anti-Slavery +Anecdotes," "Human Rights," "Emancipator," "Liberator," "New-York +Evangelist," "Zion's Herald," "Zion's Watchman," "Philadelphia +Independent Weekly Press," "Herald of Freedom," "Lynn Record," "New +England Spectator," &c., and an "Anti-Slavery Quarterly," edited by +Professor Wright, the Secretary of the National Society, and +distinguished by considerable literary talent. These were amongst the +means pursued by the Abolitionists. They were peaceful and honorable +means, and under God, would prove effectual to bring the +blood-cemented fabric of Slavery to the ground. Other than moral and +constitutional means, the abolitionists sought not to employ. Their's +would not be the glory reaped upon the crimson field amidst the +carnage and the din of war. Their victory would not be a victory +achieved by the use of carnal weapons, effecting the freedom of one +man by the destruction of another. Their victory would be a victory +won by the potency of principles drawn from the Gospel of the Prince +of Peace—their glory the glory of those who had obtained a bloodless +conquest over the consciences and hearts of men. In the full +conviction that the principles he (Mr. Thompson) had that night +maintained, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> the principles of the word of God, he would still +prosecute the work to which he had for some years devoted himself. He +called upon those around him to be true to those principles, and to +continue zealously to advocate them, and leave the consequences in the +hands of God. Let the friends of human rights again rally under the +banner which had aforetime led them to battle—under which they had +together fought and together triumphed—and to remember that the motto +inscribed upon its ample folds—a motto which, though oft abused, had +oft sustained them in the hour of conflict—was, Fiat Justicia ruat +Cœlum.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p>Mr. <span class="smcap">Breckinridge</span> rose. Having taken a good many notes of what Mr. +Thompson had said in the speech now delivered, he was prepared for +replying, if an opportunity were presented after he should have +finished saying what seemed to him more pertinent to the subject in +hand. In the meantime, he would introduce what he had now to say by +reading another version of the events which had been represented as +one of Mr. Thompson's triumphs at Boston.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. May introduced a resolution denouncing the Colonization Society as +unworthy of patronage, because it disseminates opinions unfavorable to +the interest of the colored people.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gurley replied. He finished the consideration of Mr. May's +objections, went into an exposition of the advantages of the +Colonization Society, and contrasted its claims with those of the +Anti-Slavery Society. In doing this, he exhibited a handbill, having a +large cut of a negro in chains, with some inflammatory sentences under +it. Here he was interrupted by hisses, which were answered by +clapping. Mr. George Thompson rose and attempted to address the +meeting. This increased the confusion, Cries of "sit down—shame—be +silent—let Mr. May answer if he can—no foreign interference," &c., +from all parts of the hall. Mr. Thompson persevered as few men would +have done, but at last yielded to the evident determination of the +audience, and took his seat. The hall then became still, and Mr. +Gurley proceeded.</p> + +<p>We do not know that any Anti-Colonizationist was convinced by these +discussions; except men who are committed against the Society, we +believe the very general opinion is, that their overthrow on the field +of argument was as complete as any could desire. It is evident that +the cause of the Colonization Society is gaining a hold on the +convictions and affections of the people of New-England stronger than +it ever had before. We say this in view of facts which are coming to +our knowledge from various parts. The storm of abuse and +misrepresentation with which it has been assailed, is beginning +already to contribute to its strength.</p></div> + +<p>Now he begged to remark that the paper from which he had read the +foregoing extract, the New-York Observer, together with the one from +which it was originally taken, the Boston Recorder, printed more +matter weekly than all the avowed abolition newspapers, in America, +put together, did in half a year. He would notice farther, in relation +to the great display of abolition publications which had been made by +Mr. Thompson on the platform, that one of the papers lying there on +the table, had advocated his principles and cause when he was in +Boston, and likely to be mobbed at the instigation, as he believed, of +Mr. Garrison. Some of the remainder of the publica<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>tions were, he +believed, long ago dead; some could hardly be said ever to have lived; +some were purely occasional; the greater part as limited in +circulation as they were contemptible in point of merit. Not above two +or three of the dozen or fifteen that had been produced before +them—and the names of which he (Mr. B.) required to be recorded—were +in fact, worthy to be called respectable and avowed abolition +newspapers. But to come to the point immediately in hand. He would on +the present occasion attempt to show that abolition was not worthy to +supplant the colonization scheme in the affections of Americans or +Britons, or of any other thinking people. He acknowledged that there +were many respectable men in the ranks of the abolitionists; +but these, almost without exception, had been at one time +colonizationists; and had he time he might show that many of them had +deserted the colonization society on some peculiar or personal +grounds, not involving the principles of the cause. He was prepared to +show, however, that by whomsoever supported, the principles of the +abolitionists were essentially wrong, and that their practice was +still worse. He had not access to the voluminous documents brought +forward by Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson had, indeed, that evening, on +this platform, publicly offered him access to them. Had that offer +been made at the beginning of the discussion, instead of the end of +it, or during the four or five days we spent in Glasgow before it +commenced, it might have been turned to some advantage. But as it was, +the audience would know how to appreciate it; and he must rely solely +upon memory, when he stated the principles promulgated by +abolitionists; though at the same time he pledged himself that his +statements not only were intended to be, but were, substantially +correct and entirely candid. The abolitionists held, then, in the +first place, as a fundamental truth, that every human being had an +instant right to be free, irrespective of consequences to himself and +others; consequently that it was the duty of masters to set free their +slaves instantly, and irrespective of all consequences; and of course, +sinful to exercise the powers of a master for one moment, or for any +purpose. This was, in substance, the great principle on which the +abolitionists acted—a principle which he was now prepared to +question. He had, on a former occasion, shown that there were only two +parties responsible for the existence of slavery, namely, individual +slave-holders, and slave-holding communities. He would now attempt to +prove, that, as applied to either of these, this principle was not +only false, but that it was a mere figment, and calculated to produce +tremendous evil. Let them first attend to what the abolitionists say +to the individual slave-holder. Perhaps the person addressed was an +inhabitant of Louisiana; where, if it is not directly con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>trary to +law, to manumit a slave—the law refuses to recognize the act. Was he +to be told then that he should turn off his slaves, the young and +helpless along with the old and the infirm, with the certain knowledge +that so soon as they left his plantation, they would commence a career +of trouble and sorrow most likely to end in their being seized, +imprisoned, fined, and again enslaved. Mr. Thompson had mentioned, in +nearly all his printed speeches, the case of a certain colored man, +who had been thrown into prison at Washington city, and sold into +eternal slavery to discharge the fees which had accrued by reason of +his oppression. Now he (Mr. B.) took leave to say that this story was +false, in toto. It was customary in some parts of America to sell +vagabonds, in order to make up their jail fees; but they were bound +for no longer a period than was necessary to do this. The system was +this—they were taken up as vagrants. If they were able and willing to +show that they had some regular and honest means of livelihood, they +were of course acquitted and discharged; but when they were unable to +do this, they were sold for as much as would pay the fees of +detention, trial, &c. That any person, black or white, once recognized +by the law as free, was ever sold into everlasting slavery, he +positively denied, and demanded proof. In Louisiana, however, it being +illegal to manumit a slave, those whom the abolitionists would set +free, would not be considered free in the eye of the law. They might +be harrassed, imprisoned as vagabonds, sold to pay expenses, as +vagabonds, and so soon as set free again imprisoned. He admitted that +such proceedings would be inexcusable; but what was a benevolent man, +who had the welfare of his slave really at heart, to do with an eye to +them? To act upon the abolitionist principle, would be to consign the +slave to incalculable misery, for they had but one lesson to +teach—turn loose the slaves, and leave consequences to God! The +colonizationists, however, are provided with a better remedy. If +Louisiana would not countenance manumission, nor suffer manumitted +slaves to remain within her bounds, with the usual privileges of +freemen, let them be taken to some other State, where such laws did +not exist; or if this should not on the whole be desirable, let them +be taken to Liberia. No, repeats Mr. Thompson; discharge your slaves +at once, and leave the consequences to God. If, by the wicked laws of +Louisiana, they are left to starve, or driven to desperation, or sold +again into slavery, the responsibility is theirs; do you your duty in +setting them immediately at liberty. It would require, however, that a +humane individual should be very strongly impressed with the truth of +this principle before he could persuade himself to do that which was +evidently so cruel in its immediate effects, and so likely to be +ruinous in those that are more remote. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>Yet that principle was, to +say the least, extremely doubtful, and ought not at every hazard to be +crammed down the throats of an entire nation. If the laws of the +community were bad, as he admitted it to be the case, he supposed it +was the duty of enlightened citizens to seek a change of that law by +proper means, but not in the meantime to do that which would be +totally insubordinate to the State—and injurious to all parties. +Whether, moreover, it was either fair or candid to denounce, as had +been done, the free States as being participators in slavery, because, +though they did not themselves hold a property in slaves, they did not +choose to swallow such nostrums even without chewing, could not be a +question. If it was so doubtful whether duty to the slaves themselves +rendered the immediate breaking up of all relations between them and +their masters a proper or even a permitted thing, it was still more +questionable whether our duties to the State may not imperiously +forbid what our duties to the slave have already warned us against. I +have omitted all considerations of a personal or selfish kind—all +rules of conduct drawn from what is due to one's self, one's family, +or one's condition, or engagements. Common benevolence forbids, as we +have seen, and common loyalty prohibits, as we shall see—what a man +must do, or lie under the curse of abolitionism. For though it be our +duty to seek the amendment of bad laws, because they are bad, it is +equally our duty to obey laws because they are laws, unless it is +clear that greater ill will follow from obedience than from +disobedience. Now all our slave States are perfectly willing that +their citizens should emancipate their slaves; only many of them +insist on their doing it elsewhere, than within their borders. As long +as other lands exist, ready to receive the manumitted slave, and +certain to be benefitted by his reception, it is to preach treason, as +well as cruelty, and folly as well as either, to assert the bounden +duty of the individual slave-holder, at all hazards, to attempt an +impossibility on the instant, rather than accomplish a better result +by foresight, preparation, and suitable delay. It may therefore be +boldly said that instant surrender of the authority of the master, +irrespective of all other considerations, must, in many cases, be a +great crime in the individual slave-holder. He would now speak of this +abolition principle to which he had adverted as a rule of conduct for +slave-holding communities. In this respect, also, he considered that +it was at best extremely questionable. Let us illustrate the principle +by the oft-repeated case of the District of Columbia. Abolitionism +asserts that it is the clear duty of Congress to abolish slavery +instantly in that District, without regard to what may occur +afterwards in consequence of that act. Let us admit that the +dissolution of the Federal Union is a consequence not worthy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> of +regard—even when distinctly foreseen; and that all the evils +attendant on such a result, to human society, and to all the great +interests of man throughout the earth, are as nothing, compared with +the establishment of a doubtful definition, having an antiquity of at +least four years, and a paternity disputed between Mr. Garrison and +Mr. Thompson. As a principle concerning no other creature but the +slaves of the District, and no interest but theirs, it can be shown to +be false. If Congress were instantly to abolish slavery there, with a +tolerable certainty that every slave in the District would be removed +and continued with their issue in perpetual slavery; when by an +arrangement with the owners, they might so prospectively abolish it as +to secure the freedom of every slave in five or ten years, and of +their issue as they successively arrived at twenty or twenty-five +years of age; if Congress could do the latter, and were in preference +to do the former, they would deserve the execrations of the world. The +first plea is Mr. Thompson and abolitionism; the second express my +principles and those of the despised gradualists. At all events, the +truth of the principle involved in the former supposition was not so +manifest as to justify Mr. Thompson in denouncing, as he had done, +those who did not see proper to follow it. A wise man would +hesitate—he would weigh well the resulting circumstances as one of +the best tests of the truth and utility of his principles before he +propagated, as indisputably and exclusively true, and that in despite +of all results, such principles, with the violence which had been +manifested—principles which, he repeated, were but four years old, +and which he was still convinced, were but arrant quackery. There was +another aspect of the subject. Reference had been made to the +representation of the black population in the National Government. He +would remark on this subject that it was the duty of every State to +see that power was committed only to the hands of those qualified to +exercise it properly, wisely, and beneficially. What would be said in +this country, were Mr. Thompson to propose that the elective franchise +should be made universal, and that the age at which it might be +exercised should be fixed at fifteen years? He would venture to say +that the ministry who would introduce such a scheme to Parliament, +would not exist for three days. The proposal, as Mr. T. no doubt knew, +would be considered altogether revolutionary and shocking. Yet it must +be admitted that the average of the boys of Britain who are fifteen +years old, are fully as well qualified for the exercise of the elected +franchise, as the average of the slaves in the various parts of the +United States are at the age of twenty-one years. But with us, as with +you, twenty-one years is the age at which electors vote. As I have +shown, in most of our States the elective franchise is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> extended to +every white man, who has attained that age; while the qualifications +of a property kind, anywhere required, are so extremely moderate, that +in all our communities nine-tenths at least of the adult white males +are entitled to vote. Now let it be borne in mind, that abolitionism +requires not only instant freedom for the slave, but also instant +treatment of him, in every civil and political, as well as every +social and religious respect, as if he were white, that is, in plain +terms—if we should follow the dogmas you sent Mr. T. to teach us, and +in which we have been held up to the scorn of all good men, for +declining to receive, a revolution far more terrible and revolting +would immediately follow throughout all our slave States, than would +follow in Britain by enfranchising in a day, every boy in it fifteen +years old—even if your house of lords were substituted by an elective +senate, and your parliaments made annual! And it is in the light of +such results, that America has received with horror the enunciation of +principles which lead directly to them, while their advocates declare +"all consequences" indifferent as it regards their conduct! And can it +be the duty of any commonwealth to bring upon itself "instantly,"—or +at all—such a condition as this? The abolitionists themselves had +evidently felt that their scheme was absurd; for they had never +ventured to propose it to a slave State. Their papers were published +and their efforts all made, and their organized agitation carried on, +and a tremendous uproar raised in States where there existed no power +whatever to put an end to slavery; but hardly a syllable had been +uttered where, if anywhere, some effect might have been produced +beneficial to the slaves, had abolition principles been practicable +anywhere. The conduct of the abolitionists had been of a piece with +what would have taken place in this country, had an agitation been got +up for the direct abolition of idolatry in China, or of popery in +Spain. Their principles had never yet been advocated in the South, but +by means of the post-office, the effects of which, in the tearing up +of mail bags, &c., Mr. Thompson well knew, and had declared. But the +fact was, that such metaphysical propositions as those propounded by +the abolitionists—even admitting them to be true—were altogether +uncalled for. Thousands of slaves had been emancipated before the +abolition principles were heard of, and all that was needed, was, that +those who were engaged in the good work should have been let alone or +aided on their own principles. What was the use of blazoning forth a +doctrine which was in all likelihood false and ruinous, but which, +were it true, could do no good? For if you could persuade a man that +his duty required him to give freedom to his slaves, and he became +suitably impressed with a sense thereof—he would do it just as +certainly and effectually as though you had begun by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> saying to +him—now as soon as I convince you, you must set them free +immediately! He could indeed characterize such a mode of proceeding by +no other term than that of gratuitous folly.</p> + +<p>Again he might say that this principle of abolitionism was contrary to +all the experience which America had acquired as a nation on this +subject. Principles favorable to emancipation first took root where +there were few slaves, and when the products of their labor were of +little value. They had spread gradually towards the South, the border +States being always first inoculated, till no fewer than eight States +which tolerated slavery, adopted this principle, and successively +abolished it. To these eight States were to be added four others, +created since the formation of the Federal Constitution, which never +tolerated slavery, thus making twelve States in which slavery was not +permitted. By the influence of gradualism alone, had the cause of +freedom advanced steadily to this point, and every day rendered its +ultimate triumph throughout the whole empire more and more probable. +At this time it might have been carried South by at least 5 degrees of +latitude; and Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri, +added to the free States; and the shackles of 1,000,000 slaves been in +a process of gradual melting off. If fifty years had seen the rise of +12 free States, was it too much to hope that the next fifty years +should enfranchise twelve more. For all the ruin brought on this +glorious cause during the last four years by principles and practices +of Mr. Thompson's friends, what have they to compensate suffering +humanity? Have they or theirs released from his bonds a single slave? +The abolition plan had in fact, been a signal, a total, absolute +failure. Mr. Thompson himself did not pretend to say that a twentieth +part of the population of America had embraced his views. The whole +theory was as false as the whole practice was fatal; and just and +pious men would hereafter hesitate before they sent out new missions +to advocate them, or lent the influence of their just weight to +denunciations levelled against all who did not think them worthy of +their applause. The <i>second</i> great <i>principle</i> of the abolitionists, +to which he would invite attention, was this—that it was the inherent +and indestructible right of every man to abide in perfect freedom in +whatever spot he was born; and that while it is a crime to deny him +there all the rights of a man, a citizen and a Christian, it was not +less so to persuade, to win, or to coerce him into what they called +exile—this principle was levelled at the Colonization Society; and +while instant abolition formed the first, and denunciation of what +they call prejudice against color formed the last; hatred to +colonization formed the middle and active principle of the band. Of +this, it might be said, first,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> that it had the advantage of +contradicting all the wisdom and practice of mankind. Whether it was +meant to embrace women and minors—or at what age to establish the +beginning of rights so extraordinary and unprecedented, whether at +twenty-one, as here, or twenty-five, as in some countries, or +twenty-eight, as in others, had not yet been defined. Thus much at +least might be said—that if these rights resided in black men, they +resided in no others, of whatever hue or race; and the philosophers +who discovered their existence had found out something to compensate +these unhappy men for their unparalleled sufferings. It certainly need +not create surprise that we should listen with suspicion to such +dogmas taught by an Englishman, when we remember that, from time +immemorial, all the institutions of his own country were built upon +dogmas precisely opposite; and all her practice the reverse of the +preaching of the semi-national representative. Mr. Thompson says, a +man is a citizen by inherent right, wherever he is born; the British +monarchy, which Mr. Thompson says he prefers to all things else, says +on the contrary, that let a man be born where he may he is a Briton, +if born of British parents; and it both claims his allegiance, and +will extend to him every right of a subject born at home! Then why is +not a man an African if born of African parents in America, as well as +a Briton, if born of British parents there? Or why are we to be +attacked first with cannon on one side, and then with Billingsgate on +the other side of this vexed question? Nor did our own notions, +adverse as they were to those of Britain, conflict less with Mr. T. +and abolitionism on another part of the principle. All our notions +permit men to expatriate themselves, many of our constitutions +guarantee it as a natural right, and America had actually gone to war +with Britain in defence of that right in her unnaturalized citizens. +Britain had insisted on searching American vessels for British +sailors—America had refused to submit to the search; because, among +other things the man sought was, by naturalization, an American. +America did not oppose any of her citizens becoming Britons, if they +thought fit, and was resolved to maintain the right of those who chose +to become American citizens, from whatever country they might have +emigrated, and therefore could hear only with contempt this dictum of +abolitionism. Again he would say that, this principle is contrary to +common sense. Rights of citizenship were not to be considered natural +rights. They were given by the community—they might be withheld by +the community; and, therefore, to talk of their being indestructible, +was sheer nonsense. No man had a natural right to say, I will be a +citizen of this or that State; and in point of fact, the great bulk of +mankind were not citizens at all, but merely subjects. There were laws +establishing the present form of government, giving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> a certain power +to the king and to the Parliament, and regulating the mode in which +Parliament was to be elected. These laws were altogether conventional; +and as well might a man claim a natural right to be a king or a judge +as to be a citizen. It might be as truly said that one is inherently a +shark because he was born at sea, or a horse because he happened to +have been born in a stable. So far is the theory of abolition from the +truth; and so widely remote is their hatred to colonization, from +being based in justice, or reason, that circumstances may occur in +which it shall become imperative duty for men to emigrate. America +presented a striking example of the truth of this. In this country it +was customary to talk of America as a daughter of England. He had +heard people talk as if America were about as large as one English +shire, and settled principally from their own villages. But the fact +was that America was an epitome of the whole world, peopled by +colonies from almost all parts of it. It was an eclectic nation; and +to talk to Americans, of the inherent right of a man to stay and be +oppressed, where he happened to be born—or the guilt of seducing him +to emigrate, is only to expose one's self to pity or scorn. To realize +this, it is only necessary to take a map of our wide empire, washed by +both oceans, and embracing all the climates of the earth, and get some +American boy to tell you the migrations of his ancestors. To omit all +mention of the red man, from Asia, and the poor black man, from +Africa; there, he will say in New-England, are the children of the +pilgrims, who were the fathers of your own Roundheads, driven out by +the mean and vexatious tyranny of James I.; and there, in lower +Virginia, three hundred leagues off, are the descendants of the +Cavaliers and Malignants. There, in the back parts of the same ancient +commonwealth, and in all western Pennsylvania, are the sturdy Scotch, +whose fathers were hanged in the streets of your cities, by that +perjured Charles II., who thus rewarded the loyalty that gave him back +his crown. In the same key State, of the Union is a nation of +industrious Germans; while in the empire state of New-York, are the +children of those glorious United Provinces, that disputed with +yourselves for ages, the empire of the seas; and between them both in +New-Jersey the descendants of those ancient Danes who often ravaged +your own coasts. The descendants of the Hugonauts, whose ancestors +Louis XIV. expelled from France, and placed cordons on his frontiers +to butcher as they went out, simply because they were Protestants, +peopling parts of the south; in other parts of which, are colonies of +Swiss, of Spaniards, and of Catholic French. The Irishmen is +everywhere; and everywhere better treated than at home. Amongst such a +people, it must needs be an instinctive sentiment, that he who loves +country more than liberty, is unworthy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> to have either; that he who +inculcates or affects the love of place above the possession of +precious privileges, must have a sinister object. But he might proceed +much farther; and having shown that it might be the duty of men to +emigrate under various circumstances, prove that such a duty never was +more imperative than on the free colored population of America. +Possessing few motives to remain in America that were not base or +insignificant compared with those that ought to urge their return, +every attempt to explain and defend their conduct revealed a +selfishness on their part a thousand times greater than that they +charge upon the whites; and a cruelty on the part of their advisers +towards the dying millions of heathen in Africa, more atrocious than +that charged, even by them, on the master against his slave. The love +of country, of kindred, of liberty, of the souls of men, and of God +himself, impels them to depart, and do a work which none but they can +do; and which they forego through the love of ease, the lack of +energy, vanity gratified by the caresses of abolitionists, and +deadness to the great motives detailed above. But there was another, +and most obvious truth, which shows the utter futility of the +principle of abolition now contested. So far was the fact from being +so, that anybody, black or white, held an inherent right of +citizenship in the place of his birth; that it is most certain, no man +had even a right of bare residence, which the state might not justly +and properly deprive him of—upon sufficient reason. The state has the +indisputable right to coerce emigration, whenever the public good +required it; and when that public good coincided with the interest of +the emigrating party—and that also of the land to which they went—to +coerce such emigration might become a most sacred duty. It was indeed +true, that the friends of colonization had not contemplated nor +proposed any other than a purely voluntary emigration; for even the +traduced State of Maryland not only made the fact of removal +voluntary, but, going a step further than any other, gave a choice of +place to the emigrant. I recommend Africa, says she, but I will aid +you to go wherever you prefer to go. It should, however, be borne in +mind that this power is inherent in all communities, and has been +exercised in all time. And it were well for the advocates of abolition +principles to remember that the final, and, if necessary, forcible +separation of the parties is surely preferable to the annihilation, or +the eternal slavery of either; while it is infinitely more probable +than the instant emancipation—the universal levelling—or the general +mixture for which they contend. He had still left a <i>third principle</i> +advanced by the abolitionists on which to comment, but as only two or +three minutes of his allotted time remained, he would not enter on the +subject; but would read, for the infor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>mation of the audience a speech +delivered by Mr. Thompson at Andover, in Massachusetts, the seat of +one of our largest theological seminaries, as reported by a student +who was present. He wished this speech to be put on record for the +information of the British public.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Students—I shall first speak of the natural and inalienable rights to +discuss slavery. It is not a question; you ought to do it; you sin +against God and conscience, and are traitors to human nature and +truth, if you neglect it. Whoever attempts to stop you from the +exercise of this right, snatches the trident from the Almighty, and +whoever dares to put manacles upon mind must answer for it to the bar +of God. It belongs to God, and to God exclusively. You are not at +liberty to give respect to any entreaty or suggestion or to take into +consideration the feelings of any man or body of men on the subject. +The wicked spirit of expediency is the spirit of hell, the infamous +doctrines of the demons of hell; and whoever attempts to preach it to +the rising youth of the land, preaches the doctrine of the damned +spirits. It is the spirit of the flame and faggot, revealing itself as +it dares, and corrupting the atmosphere so as to prevent the free +breathing of a free soul. Where are the students of the Lane seminary? +Where they ought to be;—from Georgia to Maine, and from the Atlantic +to the Rocky Mountains—far from a prison-house where fetters are +forged and rivetted. They could not stay in a place where a +thermometer was hung up to graduate the state of their feelings. It +was not till Dr. Beecher consulted the faculty at New-Haven and +Andover, to see if they would sustain him, that he ventured to put the +screws on. But, perhaps you may say, we must bid farewell to promotion +if we do as you desire. The faculty have the power, in a degree, to +fix our future settlements by the recommendation, and, therefore, we +must desist. What if you do have to leave the seminary? Far better to +be away than to breathe the tainted air of tyranny. I proclaim it +here, that the only reason why abolition is not countenanced at +Andover is, because it is unpopular; when it is popular it will be +received. In 1823, the Colonization Society was the pet child of the +churches, the seminaries, and the colleges of the land; but now, +forsooth, because it is unpopular, it is cast off. Aye, once the +eloquent tongues voiced its praise, and the gold and silver were its +tributaries—where is it now? Cast off because it is not popular. This +is rather hard; in its old age, too. But I forbear, it is a touching +theme. I return to the Lane seminary. Never were nobler spirits and +finer minds congregated together; never in all time and place a more +heroic and generous band. Dr. Beecher himself has pronounced the +eulogy. In what condition is the seminary now. Lying in ruins, +irretrievably gone! Dr. Beecher then sacrificed honor and reputation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thompson read extracts from an article in the Liberator, which +went to show that the faculty at Andover advised the students to be +uncommitted on the dividing topic of slavery. Yes, added Mr. Thompson, +go out uncommitted; wait till you get into a pulpit and have it +cushioned and a settee in it, and then you may commit yourself. The +speaker observed that very ill effects had resulted from the failure +of the students at Andover to form themselves into an Anti-Slavery +Society—the evil example had extended to Philip's Academy, Amherst +College, &c. He had been twitted about it wherever he had been, but +you may recover yourselves, he added, condescendingly; there is some +apology for you, only let a Society be formed instantly. Those who +attempted to show from the Bible that slavery was justifiable, were +paving the slave-holders' paths to hell with texts of Scripture. Mr. +Thompson enlarged upon the merits of the refractory students at Lane +Seminary, with a most abundant supply of adjectives; and the +mean-spirited students of Andover, although not expressly designated +as such, were understood by the manner of expression to be placed in +contrast. Mr. Thompson remarked that such conduct would not be +tolerated by the students of any college in England, Scotland, or +Ireland. This abuse, of the faculty at Andover was more personal and +pointed than I have described; one of the faculty was called by name, +but the severe expressions I have forgotten. He would probably have +outrun himself, and exhausted the vocabulary of opprobrious epithets, +had he not been interrupted. At the conclusion of the lecture, with +the strange inconsistency which belongs to the man, he remarked that +he had a high respect for the members of the faculty, and that he +would willingly sit at their feet as a learner.</p></div> + +<p>He had only one remark before he sat down. It had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> publicly +stated by a student of this seminary, that Mr. Thompson, in a +conversation with him, had said, that <i>every slave-holder deserved to +have his throat cut</i>, and that his slaves ought to do it. He could +not, of course, vouch for the truth of this; but Mr. Thompson was +there to explain. One thing, however, he could state as an +indisputable fact, namely, that the professors of the seminaries had +signed a document in which it was asserted that the young man had been +in the college for three years, and that his veracity was unimpeached +and unimpeachable. If the story were true—it was well that it was +timely made public. If the young man misunderstood Mr. Thompson, he +(Mr. B.) believed he formed one of a very large class in America, who +had fallen into similar mistakes, and drawn similar conclusions from +the general drift of his doings and sayings in that country.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p>Mr. THOMPSON, on rising, observed that no one could be more ready than +himself to commend the gentleman who had just resumed his seat for the +courage which he had shewn in dealing so frankly and faithfully with +him, (Mr. T.) in the presence of those to whom he (Mr. B.) was +comparatively a stranger, and whose favorable opinion he (Mr. T.) had +had many opportunities of conciliating. He rejoiced that his opponent +had, towards the end of his speech, attempted to state facts and +specify charges, and had thus afforded him an opportunity of showing +how completely and triumphantly he could meet the charges brought +against himself personally, and support the statements he had made in +reference to America. He would commence with the Andover story about +cutting throats. The truth of the matter was this. A student in the +Theological Seminary of the name of A. F. Kaufman, Jr., charged him, +George Thompson, with having said, in a private conversation, that +every slave-holder ought to have his throat cut, and that if the +abolitionists preached what they ought to preach, they would tell +every slave to cut his master's throat. Mr. Kaufman was from Virginia, +the son of a slave-holder, and heir to slave property. The story was +first circulated in Andover, and was afterwards published in the +New-York Commercial Advertiser, in a communication dated from the +Saratoga Springs. In reply to the printed version, I (said Mr. T.) +printed a letter denying the charge in the most solemn manner, and +referring to my numerous public addresses, and innumerable private +conversations, in proof of the perfectly pacific character of my +views. Then came forth a long statement from Mr. Kaufman, with a +certificate to his veracity and general good character, signed by +professors Woods, Stuart, and Emerson, of Andover. Here the matter +must have rested—Mr. Kaufman's charge on one side, and my denial on +the other—had the conversation been strictly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> private; but, +fortunately for me, there were witnesses of every word; and this +brings me to notice other circumstances connected with the affair, +constituting a most complete contradiction of the charge. I was +staying at the time under the roof of the Rev. Shipley W. Willson, the +minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Andover, and when I had +the conversation with Mr. Kaufman, in which the language imputed to me +is alleged to have been uttered, there were present, besides +ourselves, my host the Rev. S. W. Willson; the Rev. Amos A. Phelps, +congregational clergyman, and one of the agents of the American +Anti-Slavery Society; the Rev. La Roy Sunderland Methodist Episcopal +clergyman, and at present the editor of Zion's Watchman, New-York; and +the Rev. Jarvis Gregg, now a Professor in Western Reserve College, +Ohio. In consequence of the use made of the statement put forth by Mr. +Kaufman, I wrote to Professor Gregg, and Mr. Phelps, requesting them +to give their version of the conversation in writing; and their +letters in reply, which, together with one written without +solicitation by Mr. Sunderland, have been published. They not only +flatly contradict the account given by Mr. Kaufman, but prove that I +advocated in the strongest language the doctrine of non-resistance on +the part of the slaves. These letters, however, never appeared in the +columns of the papers which brought the charge and defied me to the +proof of my innocence.</p> + +<p>It may be well to give some idea of the conversation out of which the +charge grew. Mr. Kaufman complained of the harsh language of the +abolitionists, and challenged me to quote a passage of scripture +justifying our conduct in that respect. I quoted the passage "Whoso +stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he +shall surely be put to death;" and observed, that in this text we had +a proof of the awful demerit of the slaveholder; that he was +considered worthy of death; and that the modern slaveholder, under the +Christian dispensation, was not less guilty than the slaveholder under +the Jewish law. I then reminded him of the political principles of the +Americans, and cited the words of the declaration of Independence, +"<small>RESISTANCE</small> <i>to tyrants is obedience to God</i>." I then contrasted the +injuries inflicted on the slave with the grievances complained of in +the Declaration of Independence, and argued, that, if the Americans +deemed themselves justified in resisting to blood the payment of a +threepenny tea tax and a stamp duty, how much more, upon the same +principles, would the slave be justified in cutting his masters' +throat, to obtain deliverance from personal thraldom. Nay more, that +every American, true to the principles of the revolution, ought to +teach the slaves to cut their master's throats—but that while these +were fair deductions from their own revolutionary princi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>ples, I held +the doctrine that it was invariably wrong to do evil that good might +come, and that I dared not purchase the freedom of the slaves by +consenting to the death of one master.</p> + +<p>He (Mr. T.) had thus disposed of one of the most tangible portions of +his opponent's speech. He regretted there had not been more of +matter-of-fact statement in the speech of one hour in length, to which +they had just listened; a speech, which, however creditable to the +intellect of his opponent on account of its ingenuity, was by no means +creditable to his heart. Instead of dealing fairly with the documents +he (Mr. T.) had produced, and which contained a true and ample +statement of the views, feelings, principles, purposes and plans of +the abolitionists, Mr. Breckinridge had manufactured a series of +dextrous sophisms, calculated to keep out of sight the real merits of +the question. Was it not strange, that, covered as that platform was +with the documents of the abolitionists, his opponent had not quoted +one word from their writings, but had based all he had said upon a +statement of their principles made out by himself; and had then given +to that statement an interpretation of his own, utterly at variance +with all the views and doctrines entertained by the abolitionists. The +gentleman had most ably played the part of Tom Thumb, who made the +giants he so valiantly demolished. He would not attempt to grapple +with that which rested altogether upon a gross misstatement of the +principles and views of the Abolitionists. He had a right to expect +that Mr. B. would go to the many sources of official information +touching the principles he professed to denounce; but instead, he had +put forth a creed, as the creed of the Abolitionists of America, which +was nowhere to be found in their writings, and he (Mr. T.) should +therefore wait until an objection had been taken to something they +(the abolitionists) had really said or done.</p> + +<p>Mr. Breckinridge had amused them with another Andover story. He had +read an extract from a speech said to have been delivered by him (Mr. +T.) during the protracted meeting he had held there. He would just +take the liberty of assuring the audience that he had never uttered +the speech which had that night been put into his mouth. It had been +said that the speech was reported by a student. Had Mr. B. given the +name of the student?—No. He (Mr. B.) knew that it was an anonymous +communication, written by a vile enemy of a righteous cause, who was +too much ashamed of his own productions to sign his name, but put the +initial C. at the end of his libellous productions, which were +greedily copied into the pro-slavery papers of the United States. The +reports furnished by that scribbler were known in Andover to be false, +and laughed at by the students as monstrous and ludicrous perversions +of the truth. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>Upon this point also, he (Mr. T.) had ample +documentary evidence. He did not wonder that Mr. Breckinridge had so +frequently twitted him respecting the multitude of documents which he +(Mr. T.) was in the habit of producing. It must be peculiarly +unpleasant to find that he (Mr. T.) had always the document at hand +necessary to annihilate the pretended proof of his opponent. He would +now read from a report of the proceedings at Andover—but a very +different report compared with that they had just heard—not an +anonymous one, but signed by a respectable and pious student in the +Theological Seminary, R. Reed, Corresponding Secretary of the Andover +Anti-Slavery Society. As reference was made, in the extract he was +going to read, to a former visit, he would just state, that about +three months after his arrival in the United States, he visited +Andover, and delivered three lectures, besides undergoing a long +examination into his principles in the College Chapel; and that on his +return to Boston, where he was then residing, he received from the +Institution a series of resolutions signed by upwards of fifty of the +students, expressive of their entire concurrence in the sentiments he +had advanced, and their high approbation of the temper in which he had +advocated those sentiments, and commending him to the blessing and +protection of Heaven. He (Mr. T.) need not say that such a testimonial +from theological students, unasked and unexpected, was peculiarly +gratifying.</p> + +<p>The account of his second visit in July, 1835, was thus given in a +letter addressed to the editor of the Liberator.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It had been previously announced that Mr. Thompson would address us +on Tuesday evening. The hour arrived, and a large and respectable +audience were convened in the expectation of again listening to +the—(Mr. Thompson here omitted some complimentary expressions.) After +the introductory prayer, Mr. Phelps arose, and said he regretted that +he was obliged to state that Mr. Thompson had not yet arrived in town, +but he thought it probable he would soon be with us. He then resumed +the subject of American Slavery. He had, however, uttered but a few +sentences before Mr. T. came in. His arrival was immediately announced +from the desk, and the expression of satisfaction, manifested by the +audience, told, more eloquently than words, the estimation in which +they held this beloved brother, and the pleasure they felt on again +enjoying the opportunity of listening to his appeals. Mr. Thompson +took his seat in the desk, and Mr. Phelps then proceeded at some +length. When he closed his remarks, Mr. Thompson arose, and after some +introductory remarks, answered, in a powerful and eloquent manner, the +inquiry, 'Why don't you go to the South.'</p> + +<p>"The first part of the three succeeding evenings was occupied by Mr. +Phelps, in exposing the janus-faced monster, the American Colonization +Society, which he did in so masterly a manner, that we are quite sure +none of his auditors, save those who are willfully blinded, will +hereafter doubt of its being 'a fraud upon the ignorance, and an +outrage upon the intelligence of the community.'"</p> + +<p>"Thursday evening Mr. Thompson vindicated himself against the +aspersions heaped upon him for denouncing Dr. Cox. I would that all +Mr. Thompson's friends had been present, and his enemies too, for I am +sure that unless encased in a shield of prejudice more impenetrable +than steel, they would have been compelled to acknowledge that his +denunciation of Dr. Cox was just, and not such an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>instance of +tiger-like malice as some have represented it to be." "Friday evening +(the evening to which the extract read by Mr. Breckinridge referred) +he spoke of the 'armed neutrality' of the seminary and the course +which had been taken in the Academical Institutions of Andover. He is +accused of wantonly abusing our Professors and Teachers—of making +personal attacks upon them. No personal attacks however were made; no +man's motives were impeached. He attacked PRINCIPLES and not MEN for +while he would render to the guardians of the seminary and academies +all that respect which their station and learning and piety demands, +he would at the same time condemn the course that had been pursued, as +having a tendency to retard the progress of emancipation. Let the +public judge as to the propriety of his remarks.</p></div> + +<p>It would be recollected that the same question had been put to him +here in Glasgow, as that which he had answered at Andover. "Why don't +you go to the South?" He would tell his opponent on the present +occasion, that even he could not advocate abolition sentiments in the +South, purely and openly, without endangering his life. The reason he +was able to express his views on slavery and remain unmolested, was +because it was known that he denounced the abolitionists, and +advocated colonization. The experience of Mr. Birney was in point. +That gentleman hated slavery before he joined the abolitionists, and +was in the habit of speaking against it, in connection with the +colonization cause, and was permitted to do so without hindrance; but +when he emancipated his slaves, and called upon others to do likewise, +upon true anti-slavery principles, he was forced to fly from his +residence and family, and was now in the city of Cincinnati.</p> + +<p>It had been tauntingly Said, "show us the fruits of your principles." +"Where are the slaves you have liberated?" He would reply, that in +Kentucky, very recently, nineteen slaves had been liberated upon +anti-slavery principles:—enough to answer Mr. B's demand, "point us +to <i>one</i> slave your Society has been the means of liberating." But +the question was not to be so tested. The abolitionists of Britain +were often called upon in the same way; and their answer was, our +principles are extending, and when they are sufficiently impressed +upon the public mind, there will be a <i>general</i> emancipation of the +slaves. On the 31st of July, 1834, they could not point to any +actually free in consequence of their efforts; but the night came and +passed away, and the morrow dawned upon 800,000 human beings, lifted +by the power of anti-slavery principles, out of the legal condition of +chattels, into the position of free British subjects. So in the United +States. The principles of abolition would necessarily be some time +extending, but ultimately they would effect a change in public +opinion, and a corresponding change in the treatment of the black man.</p> + +<p>Mr. Breckinridge had disputed the truth of the fact he (Mr. T.) had +stated relative to the imprisonment and sale into bondage for life, in +the city of Washington, of a black man, justly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> entitled to his +freedom. He (Mr. T.) trusted that in this matter also he should be +able most satisfactorily to establish his own veracity. The evidence +he would produce to support the statement he had made, was, "A +memorial of the inhabitants of the District of Columbia, U. S., signed +by one thousand of the most respectable citizens of the District, and +presented to Congress, March 24, 1828, then referred to the Committee +on the District, and on the motion of Mr. Hubbard, of New-Hampshire, +Feb. 9, 1835, ordered to be printed." He (Mr. T.) held in his hand the +genuine document printed by Congress, "22d Congress, 2d Session, House +of Representatives, Doc. No. 140." The following was the part +containing the fact he had mentioned.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A colored man, who stated that he was entitled to freedom was taken +up as a runaway slave, and lodged in the jail of Washington City. He +was advertised, but no one appearing to claim him, he was according to +law, put up at public auction for the payment of his jail fees, and +SOLD as a SLAVE for LIFE. He was purchased by a slave trader, who was +not required to give security for his remaining in the District and he +was soon shipped at Alexandria for one of the southern States. An +attempt was made by some benevolent individual to have the sale +postponed until his claim to freedom could be investigated; but their +efforts were unavailing; and thus was a human being SOLD into +PERPETUAL BONDAGE at the capital of the freest government on earth, +without even a pretence of trial, or an allegation of crime."</p></div> + +<p>He should be glad to find that Mr. B. had a satisfactory explanation +of this most revolting case. Such things were enough to make any man +speak hardly of America. If he (Mr. T.) said severe things of that +country, it was not, Heaven knew, because he did not love that +country, for his heart's desire and prayer was, that she might soon be +free from every drawback upon her prosperity and usefulness. He told +these things because they ought to be known and branded as they +deserved, that the nation guilty of them might repent and abandon +them. <i>He</i> was not the enemy of America that faithfully pointed out +her follies and crimes. No. He was the man that loved America, that +seeing her, like some lofty tree, spreading abroad her branches, and +furnishing at once shelter and sustenance to all who sought refuge +under her shade, observed with sorrow and dismay, a canker-worm at the +root, threatening to consume her beauty and her strength, and could +not rest day or night in his efforts to bring so great and glorious a +nation to a sense of her danger, and an apprehension of her duty. Let +others do the pleasant work of flattery and panegyric, and be it his +more ungracious, but not less salutary work, of proclaiming her +errors, and denouncing her sins, until she learns to do justice and +love mercy.</p> + +<p>(He (Mr. T.) thought he might with some justice complain of the manner +in which he had been treated by his opponent. He (Mr. T.) had made +every concession which truth and justice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> would warrant to Mr. B.; had +honored his motives, and studiously separated him from those upon whom +his heaviest censures had fallen—the lovers and abettors of the slave +system. But a similar course had not been pursued towards him. In many +ways his motives had been impeached and his statements so denied as to +throw discredit upon his intentions in making them. In a word, Mr. +B's. whole course had been wanting in that courtesy which he had a +right to expect would be exhibited by one disputant towards another. +At the same time, he earnestly desired Mr. B. to state freely all he +thought of his motives and conduct.</p> + +<p>A few moments yet remaining, he would say a word or two in reference +to the designs attributed to the abolitionists, in respect of the +privileges to which the colored people were entitled. He denied that +the abolitionists had ever asked for the blacks, either in regard to +political rights or social privileges, anything unreasonable. They +asked for their immediate release from personal bondage, and a +subsequent participation of civil rights; according to the amount in +which they possessed the qualifications demanded of others. Where, in +the documents of abolitionists, was the doctrine of instant and +universal enfranchisement, of which so much had been heard? He knew +not the abolitionist who had contended for such a thing. He asked +nothing for him over and above what would be freely bestowed on him if +he were white. Oh! it was an awful crime to have a black skin! There +lay all the disqualification.</p> + +<p>The great fault which Mr. B. seemed to find with the principles of the +abolitionists was that they were too lofty; too grand; too little +accommodated to the spirit of the age; that, in the adoption of their +views and principles, they had not consulted the manners and habits +and prejudices of their country; and the whole of his (Mr. +Breckinridge's) argument had been in favor of expediency. He hated +that word "expediency," as ordinarily used. It contained, as he had +often said, the doctrine of devils. It was so congenial with our +depraved nature to make ourselves a little wiser than God—to believe +that we understood better than God's servants of old the best way of +reforming mankind. Oh! that men would take the Almighty at his word, +and simply doing their duty, leaving him to take care of consequences. +Doubtless, the dauntless Hebrew, Daniel, was deemed, in his day, a +rash man. He might so very easily have escaped the snare laid for him. +Why did he not go to the back of the house? Why not shut the window? +Why could he not pray silently to the searcher of hearts? Daniel +scorned compromise. He prayed as he had ever prayed—aloud—with his +window open, and his face to Jerusalem. He boldly met the +consequences. He walked to the lion's den—he entered,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> he remained: +but lo! on the third day he came forth unhurt, to tell mankind to the +end of time that, if they will do their duty and trust in Daniel's +God, no weapon formed against them shall prosper, but they shall in +His strength stop the mouths of lions, and put to flight the armies of +the aliens.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p>Mr. BRECKINRIDGE said that, so far as the present respectable audience +was concerned, he would make but a single remark. Mr. Thompson and he +had already trespassed on their patience, but they would probably do +so no longer than to-morrow night; at least so far as he was +concerned, he thought it unnecessary, if not improper. The chief +reason of his (Mr. B's.) coming here was to defend the churches, +ministers and Christians of America, from the false and dreadful +charges which had been proclaimed over Britain against them by Mr. +Thompson, and which he had challenged all the world to give him an +opportunity to prove. Upon this topic that gentleman had, as yet, +fought shy. He could wait on him no longer. They might expect, +therefore, that next evening he would take up that subject, whether +Mr. Thompson should follow him or not. If the audience considered that +the general subject had been sufficiently discussed already—as from +some manifestations he was inclined to suppose—he would at once +retire. (Slight hissing.) Was he to consider that as an answer in the +affirmative? (Renewed hissing.) Why, then, he had erred in laying any +of the blame of trying their patience on Mr. Thompson, and it was his +duty to take it all to himself; and, when he returned home, to tell +his countrymen that no charges were too gross or caluminous to be +entertained against them—nor any length of time, a weariness in +hearing them—but that the hearing of defence and proof of innocence +was an insupportable weariness. (Increased hissing, with cries of +'no'.) The only remaining supposition was, that Mr. T's. partizans had +become convinced he needed succor, and therefore gave it most +naturally in the form of organized violence. (The hissing was again +attempted, but was put down by the general voice of the meeting.) Mr. +T., he said, had at length brought accusations against him, and had +complained that although he (Mr. T.) had repeatedly and cordially +expressed good feelings towards him, (Mr. B.) he had in no instance +returned this kindness or justice; nor said a word favorable to him +throughout the debate. He would appeal to the Chairman, to know +distinctly, if Mr. Thompson had any right to demand, or if he (Mr. B.) +were bound to express his opinion of that individual. Because, +continued Mr. B., as I have in the beginning said that Mr. T. as an +individual could be nothing to me or my countrymen, I have preferred +to be silent as to him individually. If he is right, however, in +bring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>ing such things as charges against me, and continues to demand +my opinion, I will give it fearlessly. But let him beware—for I will +call no man friend who gains his bread by calumniating my country. Nor +can he who traduces my bretheren—my kindred—my home—all that I most +venerate and revere—honor me so much as by traducing me. They had +been told that Mr. J. G. Birney had fled from Kentucky, and left his +wife and children behind him in great danger, he being obliged to flee +for his life. It was true, he believed, that Mr. Birney, excellent and +beloved as he was, had found it best to emigrate from that State. But +that he had <i>fled</i>, rested, he believed, on Mr. T's. naked assertion. +That he had left his wife and children behind, believing them to be in +personal danger, was a thing which it would require amazingly clear +proof to establish against the gentleman in question. But he would +show to the meeting that there was one individual who could do such an +act. (Mr. B. then read the following extract from a speech, delivered +at a meeting in Edinburgh, on the 28th of January, 1836:)</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"He stood there not to defame America. It was true they had persecuted +him; but that was a small matter. It was true they had hunted him like +a partridge on the mountains; that he had to lecture with the +assassin's knife glancing before his eyes; AND HIS WIFE AND HIS LITTLE +ONES WERE IN DANGER OF FALLING BY THE RUTHLESS HANDS OF MURDERERS."</p></div> + +<p>And again, from the preface to the same pamphlet in which the above +cited speech is found, a pamphlet intended perhaps for America, and +called, "A Voice to her from the Metropolis of Scotland," the +following paragraph occurs:——</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. Thompson having proceeded by way of St. John's, New Brunswick, +embarked on board of a British vessel for Liverpool, where he arrived +on the 4th of January, and on the 12th was happily joined by his +family who had left New-York on the 16th December.</p></div> + +<p>So that it appeared from these statements that Mr. Thompson, believing +that the Americans meant to take away the lives of his wife and +children, left them to their fate while he prudently consulted his own +safety by flight. In regard to the alleged case of the sale of a free +man of color, at Washington city, the proof stood thus: Mr. T. broadly +asserted, again and again, that a free man had been sold, without +trial, into eternal slavery. He, (Mr. B.) without knowing the especial +facts relied on, but knowing America, and knowing abolitionism, had +flatly and emphatically denied that such a thing ever did or could +happen in the District of Columbia. Mr. Thompson re-asserts, and +triumphantly proves it, as he says. His first step in the proof is, a +printed scrap, which, he says, is the identical memorial laid on the +table of the Senate of the United States, who, as they received and +printed it, he insinuates, thereby avouched its truth. Upon which +principle I also avouch all Mr. T.'s charges,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> as I hear them and +consent to their publication. But, he adds, there were once one +thousand signatures to this document, all witnesses of the truth of +its contents. To which I reply—I see no name to it at all now; and +secondly, if there were a million, the paper does not assert, much +less prove, what Mr. T. produces it to sustain. It merely declares +<i>that the man said he was free</i>; without even expressing the opinion +of the writer or any signer of the paper. Now, upon this case, and +this proof, it is nearly certain that the man was not free, and +extremely probable that the whole case is fictitious. For the glorious +writ of habeas corpus, one of the main pillars of your liberty—a +privileged writ which no English judge, for his right hand, would dare +illegally refuse; that writ is one of the great heirlooms we got with +our Anglo-Saxon blood, and is dearer to us than that blood itself. +Here, by act of Parliament, you do sometimes suspend this writ; with +us the tyrant does not breathe who would dare to whisper a wish for +its suspension. Now, if this man was, or believed himself to be free, +what hindered him, from the moment of his arrest to that of his sale, +from demanding and receiving a fair trial? Will it be said he did not +know his rights? But will it be pretended that the one thousand +signers of the memorial, the many abolitionists at Washington of whom +Mr. T. boasts, did not know his rights—in a land where every man +knows and is ready to defend his rights? If they did not, they were +thrice sodden asses, fit only to be tools in gulling mankind into the +belief of a tale that had not feasibility enough to gull a child. Upon +the face of his own proof Mr. Thompson had shown that he had not the +slightest authority for the assertions he had so often made in arguing +this case; by all of which he intended to make men believe that in +America it was not uncommon to sell free men into slavery! Mr. +Breckinridge then resumed the consideration of abolition principles; +the <i>third of which</i> was, that all prejudice against color is sinful, +and that everything which induces us to refuse any social, personal, +religious, civil, or political right to a black man, which is allowed +to a white one, not superior to him in moral or intellectual +qualifications, is a prejudice, and therefore sinful. He believed this +to be a fair statement of their principles on that head. And he would, +in the first place, remark concerning them, that even if they were +true, which he denied, the discussion of them was worse than useless. +It could not advance the cause of emancipation, nor improve the +condition of the free blacks. And whatever the abolitionists might +say, the slaves when freed would follow their own course and +inclinations; nor could the declaration of an abstract principle alter +either their conduct or that of the whites, in any material degree. +If, as Mr. Thompson asserted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> prejudice against color was the +national sin of America, the plague-spot of the nation, it had just as +often been asserted by others that the prejudice itself originated at +first out of the relation of slavery. The latter was the disease, the +former a mere symptom. If there were no black slaves on earth there +would no longer be any aversion against that color, which went beyond +the invariable and mutual restraints of nature, or was tolerated by a +proper Christian liberty. They know little of human prejudices who do +not know that they are more invincible in the bulk of mankind than the +dictates of reason, or the impulses of virtue itself. The case of the +abolitionists must therefore be pronounced foolish on their own +showing. For they undertook to break down the strongest of all +prejudices, as they themselves say, as a condition precedent to the +doing of acts which, to do at all, required great pecuniary sacrifices +and a high tone of moral feeling. But if, as I shall try to show, +their doctrines are contrary to all the course of nature and all the +teachings of Providence—their behavior is to be considered little +else than sheer madness. Again: even if it did not prejudice the case +of the slave—as none can deny it did—to agitate this question of +color, and mix it up inseparably with the question of freedom, of what +use was it to him? If the whites treat him with scorn, give him his +liberty—and he may pity, forgive, or return the scorn. What advantage +was he to gain as a slave, by the discussion, even if no harm came +from it? What advantage was he to obtain as a freeman even if its +agitation did not forever prevent him from being free? It is, in all +its aspects, the most remarkable illustration of a weak, heady, and +ignorant fanaticism which this age has produced, and has been, of them +all, the most fruitful of evil. The truth was, that many of the rights +and privileges of free persons of color were better secured to them in +America than corresponding rights and privileges were to the white +peasantry of any other country on the globe. With regard to the +religious rights of colored persons, he could only say that he had sat +in Presbyteries with them, that he had dispensed the Sacrament to them +together with white persons; and that he and multitudes of others had +sat in the same class with them at our Theological Seminaries. As for +all the stories which Mr. T. was accustomed to tell about Dr. Sprague +having part of his church curtained round for persons of color, he +knew personally nothing, and noticed it only because it was told as a +<i>specimen</i> story. He merely knew that Dr. Sprague was accounted a +benevolent man, and common charity required him not readily to believe +anything of him in a bad sense which could be justified in a good one. +But if there was anything so very exclusive and revolting in these +marks of superiority or inferiority in a church,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> let them not look to +America alone; nor limit their sympathies exclusively to the blacks. +In almost every church in England in which he had been, from the +cathedral of St. Paul's at London, to the curate's village church, he +had seen seats railed off, or curtained, or cushioned, or elevated, +and some how distinguished from the rest. And when he inquired why +these things were so, and for whose accommodation, the answer was +ready. "O, that is for My Lord this; or Sir Harry that; or Mr. Prebend +so and so; or the Lord Bishop of what not." And very often, even in +dissenting chapels, he had seen part of the seats of an inferior +description in particular parts of the house, which he had as often +been told were free seats for the poor; an arrangement which has +struck him as favorably as the similar one in Dr. Sprague's church did +Mr. T. the reverse. This preparation of free and separate seats for +the poor is, if he is rightly informed, nearly universal, in both the +Scotch and English establishments, whenever the poor have seats in +their churches. Now, if Mr. Thompson wished to begin a system of +levelling—if he meant to preach universal equality, why did he not +begin here? Why did he not try to convert Earl Grey and Lord +Melbourne, instead of going across the Atlantic in order to try his +experiments on the despised Americans? As to the civil rights of the +free blacks in America, the most erroneous notions were entertained in +both countries, but especially here. The truth was, they enjoyed +greater <i>civil</i> rights than the peasantry of Britain herself; and +those rights were fully as well protected in their exercise. Their +right to acquire property of any kind, anywhere, without being hedged +about with exclusive privileges and ancient corporations; their right +to enjoy that property, unencumbered with poor rates, and church +rates, and tithes and tiends, and untold taxes and vexations; their +right to pursue trades, callings, or business, without regard to +monopolies, and innumerable vexatious and worrying preliminaries; +their right to be free in person—subject neither to forcible +impressment, nor to the serveilance of an innumerable police: their +right to be cared for in sickness and destitution, without questions +of domicile previously settled; their right to the speedy and cheap +administration of justice without "sale, denial or delay"—and +unattended with ruinous expenses; these, with whatever may truly be +considered civil rights, are enjoyed by the free colored people in +nearly every part of America, to a degree utterly unknown by millions +of British subjects, not only in the East and West-Indies, but in +Ireland, and even in England itself. If any rights had been denied +them, as the following of certain professions, as that of a minister +of the gospel, for example, as Virginia had lately done, he could +point their attention to the time when these laws were passed, and +show that it was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> till after the era of abolition; and that would +never have been, but for its fury. It was not till after they had +learned with bell book and candle to curse the white man, and teach +sedition and murder to the slaves. The nature of <i>political</i> rights +claimed by Mr. Thompson for the blacks, in his sweeping claim to have +them put on a footing of perfect equality with the whites, seemed to +be utterly unknown to him, both as to their origin and character. +Whilst he advocated a scheme in America which demanded the most +extensive political changes, and claimed political rights as the +birthright of certain parties, he still persisted in assuring the +British nation that he had never touched the subject in a political +aspect! Now what political rights does he claim for the free +blacks—and denounce all America for refusing, on account of this +prejudice against color? Is it right of suffrage? is it right of +office? is it perfect, personal, and political equality? If not, what +does he mean? But if he means that it already exists in all the free +States and in several of the slave States, in behalf of the free +blacks, to a far greater extent than the same exists in England, as +between the privileged classes and the bulk of the nation, though all +are white,—I boldly assert, that a greater part of the free men of +color in America did enjoy perfect political privileges at the rise of +abolitionism, than of the white men of Britain at this day. There were +more free black voters in North America, in proportion to the free +black race, than there are white voters in all Britain, in proportion +to the white inhabitants of the British empire. And this, even leaving +out the red millions of the East, and the black thousands of the +West-Indies; and making the Reform Bill the basis of calculation! If +some have been deprived of these privileges, let abolitionists blame +themselves. If in most places these privileges have been dormant, it +only proves that their exercise was a very secondary advantage—that +the present outcry is but the more wicked and absurd. As to the social +rights which were demanded for the slaves and free blacks both, there +seemed to be a complete confusion of ideas in the minds of the +abolitionists. Did they mean to say that all distinctions and +gradations of rank were iniquitous, or did they mean that men ought to +enjoy rights because they were black, which were justly denied to the +whites? Who had ever heard of a nobleman marrying a gipsy? or, of a +king of England marrying a laborer's daughter? But the fact was, +everything tended to prove that in preaching against the alleged +prejudice against color, the abolitionists were really advocating +general amalgamation. There were three opinions on the the subject: +1st. That in a State situated like most of those in America, public +policy required the mixture of the races to be prohibited; so that, in +nearly all the States, intermarriages were prohibited, and in many +States<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> they were punishable as a felony with fine or imprisonment. +2d. That the practice was inexpedient, but so far innocent as to be +left to the discretion of the parties, which he believed was the +opinion of sober-minded people generally in this country. 3d. That, as +the chief practical objection to it is a sinful prejudice against +color, that prejudice is to be broken down, and the contrary right +upheld, as neither improper nor inexpedient, when voluntarily +exercised. This last, or even a much stronger advocacy of +amalgamation, is the doctrine of abolitionism; facts deducible from +their declaration of independence, and found in the whole scope of +their writings and speeches. Mr. Breckinridge then went on to show the +utter folly, and, as he believed, wickedness of advocating +amalgamation; or so acting or talking as to create the universal +impression that was what was meant. In the first place, the result +after which the abolitionists seemed to strive, was impossible; in the +most strict sense of the terms, naturally or physically impossible. He +by no means meant to contend with some freethinkers, who, to upset the +Mosaic cosmogony, asserted that the different races of men were not +fruitful if intermixed beyond a given and very near point. But what he +meant was this: all who believe the Mosaic account of the origin of +the human race, must, of course, believe that they were once all of +one complexion. Now, if they could all be amalgamated and made of one +complexion again, those causes, whatever they are, which have produced +so great diversities, would, after a time, reproduce them. And having +gratified Mr. Thompson and his friends, by universal levelling and +mixing the world, would soon find that they had done a work which +nature did not permit to stand; and would again behold, in one belt +upon the earth's surface, the black, in another the red, and in a +third the white man. And to whatever degree they carried their +principles into practice, they would find proportionately great +counteracting causes—continually fighting against them, and +continually requiring the reproduction of their amalgamated breed, +from the original stocks. This, then, is a fatal objection to their +scheme; the course of nature is against it. But again, he would say, +as a second fundamental objection against all such schemes, that +wherever, in the past history of the world, the various races of men +had been allowed freely to amalgamate, one of two concomitants had +universally attended the process, namely, polygamy or prostitution. If +either of these be permitted, as innocent, amalgamation can easily be +pushed through its first stage; without one at least of these two +engines, no progress has ever yet been made in this work of fighting +against the overwhelming course of events. He regretted he had not +time to go over these branches of the argument with that pains which +he could wish. If he had, he believed, notwithstanding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> all that Mr. +Thompson had said, or might say, about sophistry, they could each of +them be demonstrated as clearly as that gentleman could demonstrate +any proposition in geometry. Again, in the third place, he believed, +from what was contained in the Bible, that in preserving distinct from +each other the three families of mankind, as descended from the three +sons of Noah, God had great and yet undeveloped purposes to +accomplish. How far the whole history of his providence led to the +same conclusion, he must leave to their own reflections to determine. +But on the admission of such a truth as even possible—it was surely +natural to look for something in the structure of nature that would +effectually prevent the obliteration of either race. One may find this +in those general considerations which make intermarriages, in his +view, inexpedient; or another in the innate and absolute instincts of +the creature. But both will receive with suspicion, as an undoubted +and fundamental rule of Christian morals, a dogma which requires us to +contend against the clear leadings of providence, and the good and +merciful intentions of our Creator. We tax our faith but slightly when +we believe that as soon as these purposes of mercy and glory are +accomplished, and the signal revolution in the social condition of man +now contended for shall be required by the Almighty, we may look for a +channel of communication between him and the world more in accordance +with the Spirit of his Son than any which has yet brought us messages +on the subject. The <i>fourth</i> objection which struck him against this +whole procedure was, that in point of fact the world has need of +every race that now exists on its surface. It has taken forty +centuries to adjust the nicely-balanced and adapted relations and +proportions of a vast and complicated structure,—which the finger of +all-pervading wisdom has itself guided in all the steps of its +development. And now, a stroke of the pen is to subvert it all, and +one dictum, of the world knows not whom, accomplish the most +stupendous revolution which all these forty centuries have witnessed. +Suppose the end gained. If any one race now existing was obliterated, +or very materially altered in its physical condition, how large a +proportion of the world's surface would become speedily depopulated, +and so remain until the present condition of things were restored! If +this could happen as to every race <i>but one</i>, what a wreck would the +earth exhibit! He who will look with a Christian's eye abroad upon the +families of men, must feel that to accomplish the great hopes that his +heart has conceived for this ruined world, he needs every race that +now peoples it; and must see the hand of God in arresting so speedily +and so signally this pernicious heresy. In the fifth place, he +suggested an argument against amalgamation, which at once showed +the injustice of the outcry against America, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> the total +inconsiderateness of Mr. Thompson and his party. The fact was that +this prejudice of color, as it was called, was in all respects mutual; +and so far from being the peculiar sin of America, was the common +instinct of the human race, and existed as really, if not as strongly +on the side of the colored population as on that of the whites. In +proof of this, Mr. Breckinridge cited the case of Hayti, where no man +is allowed the rights of citizenship, unless a certain portion of +black blood runs in his veins; and that of Richard Lander, who, while +travelling in the interior of Africa, as the servant of Park, was +looked upon with comparative favor by the natives on account of his +dark complexion, while his master, who was of a very fair complexion, +was far less a favorite on that account. The North American Indians +and the blacks more readily intermixed than the Indians and the +whites, while the latter connexion, which is not indeed uncommon, is +formed by the marriage of a white man with a squaw; never, or most +rarely, of an Indian and a white woman, the slight, and most +exaggerated number of mulattoes, are nearly without exception, the +offspring of white men and colored women. These facts seemed to show +the reality and nature or the mutual aversion of which I have spoken; +an aversion never overcome but in gross minds. And the whole current +of remark proves that those who attempted to promote amalgamation are +fighting equally against the purposes of providence, the convictions +of reason, and the best impulses of nature. He had much to say, which +time failed him to say, on the spirit in which the abolition had been +advocated in America. He would therefore merely remark whether it +might be taken as a compliment, or the reverse, that the spirit of all +Mr. Thomson's speeches, which he had heard or read—might give them a +tolerable idea of the spirit of abolitionism everywhere: a spirit +which many seemed to consider as from above, but for himself he prayed +to be preserved from any such spirit. He had much also to say upon the +malignant feeling and spirit of insubordination which had been +produced by the discussion of these questions in the breasts of +multitudes of free colored people. The riots, of which so much had +been said in this country, were as often produced by the imprudence +and insolence of these deluded people, as by the wanton violence and +prejudices of the lowest classes of the whites. In consequence of the +influence of the Jacobinical principles of the abolitionists, many +free colored servants left employments they had held for years; +because the claim then first set up, of perfect domestic equality with +their masters, was refused; while many cases of insult to females, in +the streets of our cities, signalized the same season and spirit. He +had also much to say of the wide-spread feeling, looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> towards +immediate deliverance, from a distance, and by force, which suddenly, +and, if the abolitionists are innocent as they pretend, miraculously +got possession of the minds of the slaves over all the southern +country; and which led to such stern, and but the more unhappy, if +necessary, consequences. It had been said, in justification of his +conduct by Mr. Thompson, that persuasion had never yet induced any one +to relax his hold on slaves—and that as for America, in particular, +she would never be made to feel ought on the subject, till her pride +and fears were awakened. To that he would reply that, as regarded +pride, perhaps America had her share of it; but if abolition was not +to be looked for till her fears granted it, he apprehended they would +have sufficient time yet left to send Mr. Thompson on several new +voyages before the whole country was frightened into his terms.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> +<h2>FIFTH NIGHT—FRIDAY, JUNE 17.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> said that the order of the exercises +of this evening had, without the fault of any one, placed him in a +position which was not the most natural. Considering that it was his +duty to support the negative of the point for this evening's +discussion, it would have been most natural had the affirmation been +first brought out. He said this arrangement was not the fault of any +one, because it was not known that the point would fall to be +discussed on this particular evening; for had it fallen on last night +or to-morrow night, the order would have been as it ought to be. His +position was, however, made somewhat better by the fact, that nothing +that Mr. Thompson could say this evening, in an hour or two, could +alter the assertions which he had already repeatedly made and +published in Britain. Since the notice of this discussion had been +published, he had, through the providence of God, been put in +possession of six or seven papers and pamphlets containing the +substance of what had been said by Mr. Thompson throughout the +country, and reiterated by associated bodies of his friends under his +eye. After reading these carefully, he found himself pretty fully +possessed of that individual's charges and testimony against the +ministers, private Christians, and churches of America; he would, +therefore, take them as he found them in those publications, while Mr. +Thompson's presence would enable him to explain, correct, or deny +anything that might be erroneously stated. The first thing he should +attempt to do, was to impeach the competency of Mr. Thompson as a +witness in this or any similar case. Mr. Thompson had shown that he +was utterly incompetent, wisely to gather and faithfully to report +testimony on any subject involving great and complicated principles. +He did not wish to say anything personally offensive to Mr. Thompson; +but he must be plain, and he would first produce proof of what he +said, which was as it regarded this whole nation perfectly <i>ad +hominem</i>. He would show the audience what Mr. Thompson had said of +them, and then they would better judge what was his competency to be a +witness against the Americans. At a meeting in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> the Hopeton Rooms at +Edinburgh, since his return from the United States, Mr. Thompson said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We were really under a worse bondage than the slaves of the United +States. We kissed our chains and hugged our fetters. We were governed +by our drunken appetite.</p> + +<p>The lecturer, in the concluding portion of his address, depicted in a +tone of high moral feeling, the degraded condition of Great Britain as +a nation, in consequence of her extreme drunkenness. He shewed that +habits of intemperance, or feelings and prejudices generated by +intemperance, pervaded every class, from the highest to the lowest, +the richest to the poorest. Statesmen bowed upon the altar of +expediency; and, above all, the sanctuary was not clean. As a +Christian nation, we were paralized in our efforts to evangelize the +world—partly by the millions upon millions actually expended upon +ardent spirits—partly by the selfish and demoralizing feelings which +this sensual indulgence in particular was known to produce. How could +we, as a nation, upbraid America with her system of slavery when we +ourselves were but glorying in a voluntary slavery of a thousand times +more defiling and abominable description? In our own country, it might +be said that there was, as it were, a conspiracy against the bodies +and souls of her people.</p></div> + +<p>Now in any Court of Justice, he would take his stand upon the fact +that the man who made that speech must be a <i>monomaniac</i>, and he +believed no competent tribunal, after hearing it, would receive his +testimony as to the character or conduct of any nation on the face of +the earth. Or if there lingered a doubt on the subject, he should show +from the burden of his charges against America, that he spoke in the +same general spirit, and nearly in the very same terms of her as of +Britain, although the fault found with each country was totally +different. He spoke of each as the very worst nation on the earth, +because of the special crime charged. Any man who could allow himself +to say that the two most enlightened nations on earth were in +substance the two most degraded nations on earth; who could permit +himself to bring such <i>railing accusations</i> successively against two +great people, on account of the sins of a small portion of each, which +he had looked at till he could see nothing else, and with the +perseverance of a goldleaf-beater, exercised his ingenuity in +stretching out to the utmost limits over each community; a man who not +only can see little to love anywhere that does not derive its +complexion from himself, and who, the moment he finds a blot on his +brethren, or his country, instead of walking backwards and hiding it +with the filial piety of the elder sons of Noah, mocks over it with +the rude and unfeeling bitterness of Canaan; such a man is worthily +impeached, as incompetent to testify. Nay, I put the issue where Mr. +Thompson has put it. If this nation be such as he has described it to +be, I demand, with unanswerable emphasis, how can it dare to call us, +or any other people, to account on any subject whatever? If, on the +other hand, what he has said of this nation be false, I equally demand +how can he be credited in what he says of us—of any other nation +under the sun? After this caveat against all that such a witness could +say, he would in the first place ob<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>serve, that all the accusations +brought by Mr. Thompson against Americans, were imbued with such +bitterness and intemperance as ought to awaken suspicion in the minds +of all who hear them. There was visible not only a violent national +antipathy against that whole country, but also a strong prejudice in +favor of the one side and against the other in the local parties +there, which, before any impartial tribunal, ought greatly to weaken +any credit that might otherwise be attached to his testimony. Besides +an open hostility to the nation as such, and a most envomed hatred to +certain men, parties, and principles in America, the witness has +exhibited such a wounded feeling of vanity from his want of success in +America; such a glorying of his friends, and that just in proportion +to their subserviency to him, and such a contemptuous and unmerited +depreciation of his opponents, as should put every man who reads or +hears his proofs at once on his guard. As to the opinions and +conclusions of such a person, even from admitted facts, they are of +course worthless; and his inferences from hearsay and idle reports, +worse than trash. But what I mean to say is, that such a witness, +considered strictly as testifying to what he asserts of his own +knowledge, is to be heard by a just man with very great caution. For +my own part, at the risk of being called again a pettifogger, by this +informer, I am bound to say that his conduct impeaches his credibility +fully as much as it has before been shown to affect his competency; +and while I have peculiar knowledge of the facts, sufficient to assert +that his main accusations are false, I fully believe that the case he +had himself made, did of itself justify all good men to draw the same +conclusion, merely from general principles. I will venture to go a +step farther, and express the opinion that they who are acquainted +with Mr. Thompson, as he exhibits himself in the public eye, and who +have knowledge of the past success, which really did, or which he +allows himself to believe did attend his efforts in West-India +emancipation, (a success, however, which I do not comprehend, as the +case was settled against him and his party, on the two chief points on +which they staked themselves, namely, <i>immediate abolition</i> and <i>no +compensation</i>,) they who can call to mind the preparation and +pretension with which he set out for America, the gigantic work he had +carved for himself there, the signal defeat he met with, and the +terror in which he fled the country; may find enough to justify the +fear that the fate of George Thompson has fully as large a share in +his recollections of America as the fate of the poor slave. In the +<i>second place</i>, I charge upon Mr. Thompson that those parts of his +statements which might possibly be in part true, are so put as to +create false impressions, and have nearly the same effect as if they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +were wholly false on the minds of those who read or hear them. This +results from the constant manner of stating what might possibly be +true; and it is not only calculated to produce a false impression, and +make the casual reader believe in a result different from what would +be presented if Mr. Thompson were on oath and forced to tell the whole +truth, but the uniformity and dexterity with which this is done, +leaves us astonished how it could be accidental. He (Mr. B.) assumed +that all of them had read or would read Mr. Thompson's charges. After +doing so they would the better apprehend what was now meant; but, in +the mean time, he would illustrate it by a case or two. Thus, when Mr. +T. spoke of the ministers in the United States being slave-holders, he +did it in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that this was a +general thing; that the most of them, if not the whole of them, were +slave-owners. He did not tell them that none of the ministers in +twelve whole States were or could easily be slave-holders, seeing they +were not inhabitants of a slave State; he did not tell them that the +cases of ministers owning slaves were rare even in some of the slave +States; and a fair sample of the majority in not a single State of the +Union; he left the charge indefinite, and did not condescend to tell +whether the number of ministers so accused was one half, or one third, +or one fourth, or one hundredth part of the whole number in the United +States. He left it wholly indefinite, on the broad charge that +American ministers were slave-holding ministers; knowing, perhaps +intending, that the impression taken up should be of the aggregate +mass of American ministers; when he knew himself all the while that +the overwhelming mass of American ministers had never owned a slave; +and that those who had, were exceptions from the general rule rather +than samples of the whole. It may well be asked how much less sinful +it was to rob men of their good name, than of their freedom? Not +content with even this injustice, Mr. Thompson had gone so far as to +charge the ministers of America with dealing in slaves; <i>slave-driving +ministers</i> and <i>slave-dealing ministers</i>, were amongst his common +accusations. Now, said Mr. B., he would lay a strong constraint upon +himself, and reply to these statements as if they were not at once +atrocious and insupportable. The terms used by Mr. Thompson were +universally understood in the United States, to mean the carrying on +of a regular traffic in slaves as a business. The meaning was the same +here, and every one who had heard or read one of his printed speeches, +was ex vi termini obliged to understand this charge like the +preceding, as expressing his testimony as to the conduct of American +ministers generally, if not universally.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now I will admit that there may be in America, one minister in one +thousand, or perhaps five hundred, who may at some period of his +ministry, when he had no sufficient light on the subject, have bought +or sold slaves a single time, or perhaps twice, or possibly thrice. +But I solemnly declare I never knew, nor heard of, nor do I believe +there exists in all America, one such minister, as is above described; +nor any sect that would hold fellowship with him. He would throw under +the <i>third general head</i> charges of a different kind from the +preceding. Mr. Thompson, when generalities fail, takes up some extreme +case, which might probably be founded on truth, and gives it as a +specimen of the general practice; thereby creating by false instances, +as well as by indefinite accusations, an impression which he knows to +be entirely foreign from the truth. If he, (Mr. B.) were to tell in +America that on his way to this meeting to-night, he saw two blind men +begging in the streets, with their arms locked to support their +tottering steps, while the crowd passed them idly by; and if he gave +this as a specimen of the manner in which the unfortunate poor were +treated in Scotland, he would not give a worse impression, nor make a +more unfair statement of the fact, than Mr. Thompson had done, nearly +without exception, in his statements of America. Such a spirit and +practice as this, pervaded the whole of Mr. Thompson's speeches. He +would select a few instances to enforce his meaning. There was a +single Presbyterian Church at Nashville, Tennessee. Now he, (Mr. B.) +happened, in the providence of God, to be somewhat acquainted with the +past history of that church; and was happy to call its present +benevolent minister his friend. He could consequently speak of it from +his own knowledge. Mr. Thompson said that a young man went to +Nashville, who, either through his own imprudence, or the violence of +the disjointed times, was arrested, tried by a popular committee, +found guilty of spreading seditious papers, and sentenced to be +whipped; that he had received twenty lashes, and was then discharged. +This he believed to be substantially true, and well remembered hearing +of the occurrence; and taking the young man's account of it as true, +he had been greatly shocked at it, and had now no idea of defending +it. But in Mr. Thompson's statement of the case, there was a minute +misrepresentation, which showed singular indifference to facts. Mr. T. +said the young man went to Tennessee to sell cottage bibles, in which +business he succeeded well, for the reason, adds the narrator, that +Bibles were scarce in the South; although he could not fail to know, +that before the period in question, every family in all those States +that would receive a Bible, had been furnished with one by the various +Bible Societies. This, however, was not the main reason for a +reference to this case; but was mentioned incidentally, to show the +nature of the feelings and accusations indulged in by this gentleman. +His account went on to say, sometimes that there were seven, sometimes +eleven elders of this Presbyterian Church. It was not intended to lay +any stress on the discrepancy; as the fault might be the reporter's. +But seven, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> eleven; it was again and again charged, that all of +them, every one, was present, trying, and consenting to the punishment +of the unhappy young man, "plowing up his back," and mingling, perhaps +in the mob who cursed him, even for his prayers. To make the case +inexpressibly horrible, it is added, that these seven or eleven +elders, had as to part of them, distributed the sacramental elements, +to the abolitionist, the very Sabbath before, the day on which the +seven elders participated in this outrage. Now I say first, that if +this story were literally true, no man knows better than Mr. Thompson, +that no falsehood could be more glaring than to say or insinuate, that +the case would be a fair average specimen of what the leading men in +the American churches generally might be expected to do, in like +circumstances. Yet for this purpose, he has repeatedly used it! No man +could know better than he, that if the case were true in all its +parts, it would every where be accounted a violent and unprecedented +thing, which could happen at all only in most extraordinary +circumstances. Yet he has so stated it, over and over, as to force the +impression that it is a fair sample of American Christianity. But, +said Mr. B. I call in question all parts of the story, that implicate +any Christian. I do not believe the statements. Let me have proof. I +do not believe there were either seven or eleven elders in the church +in question. Record their names. If there were so many, it is next to +impossible, that every one of them, was on the comparatively small +committee that tried the abolitionist. Produce the proofs; and I +believe it will turn out, that if either of them was present, it was +to mitigate popular violence; and that his influence perhaps, saved +the life of him he is traduced for having oppressed. He did not mean +to stake his assertion against proof; but from his experience and +general knowledge of the parties, he had no hesitation in giving it as +his opinion, that the facts, when known, would not justify the +assertions of Mr. Thompson, even as to the particular case; and +believing this, I again challenge the production of his authority. +But, if it be true in all its parts, I repeat, it is every thing but +truth, to say that it affords a just specimen of the elders of the +Presbyterian Churches of America. Another case resembling the +preceding in its principle, is found in what Mr. Thompson has said of +the Baptists of the Southern States. There are, says he, above 157,000 +members in upwards of 3000 Baptist Churches, in those States, "almost +all both ministers and members being slave holders." Allowing this +statement to be true, and that each slave holder has ten slaves on an +average, which is too small for the truth, there would be an amount of +slaves equal to 1,570,000 owned by the Baptist of the Southern States. +If this be true, and the census of 1830 true also, there were only +left about 500,000 slaves to divide among all the other churches; +leaving for the remainder of the people, none at all! So that after +all this, though churches be bad, the nation is clean enough.</p> + +<p>Let us now make some allowance for this gentleman's extravagance, +especially as he did think he was speaking under correction, and +di<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>vide his 157,000 Baptists into 52,000 families, of three professors +of religion in each. This is more than the average for each family; +especially in a church admitting only adults; and the true number of +families, for that number of professors, would be nearer one hundred +than fifty thousand. Twenty slaves to the family is below the average +of the slave owning families of the South; so that at the lowest rate, +the Baptists in a few States, according to this person, own 1,040,000 +slaves at the least, or above half the number that our last census +gives to the whole union. The extraordinary folly of such statements, +would appear more clearly to the audience when they understood, that +as large a proportion of all the blacks, as of all the whites in +America are professors of religion; that above half of all slaves who +profess religion, are Baptists; and that, therefore, if there are +157,000 Baptists in the Southern States, instead of being "almost all +slave holders," at least a third of them are themselves slaves. He +gave these instances to show that Mr. Thompson had taken extreme cases +containing some show of truth as specimens of the whole of America, +and had thereby produced totally false impressions. What truth there +was in them, was so terrifically exaggerated, that no dependence +whatever could be placed upon any of his testimony. And this would be +still more manifest after examining the charge brought by Mr. +Thompson, that the very churches in America own slaves; and several of +his speeches contain a pretty little dialogue with some slaves in the +fields, the whole interest of which turns on their calling themselves +"<i>the Church's Slaves</i>." This was spoken of as it were in accordance +with the usual course of things in the United States. Indeed, Mr. +Thompson had not only spoken with his usual violence and generality of +the "slave holding churches of America," and declared his conviction +that "all the guilt of the system" should be laid "on the church of +America;" but at the very latest joint exhibition of himself and his +friend <i>Moses Roper</i>, in London, it was stated by the latter in one of +his usual interludes to Mr. Thompson, perhaps in his presence, +certainly uncontradicted, that, slave holding was universally +practised by "all Christian <i>societies</i>" in America; the societies of +Friends only excepted. It may excite a blush in America, to know that +the poor negro's silly falsehood was received with cheers by the +London audience.</p> + +<p>What then should the similar declarations of Mr. Thompson, made +deliberately and repeatedly, and with infinite pretence of candour and +affection, what feelings <i>can</i> they excite; and how will that insulted +people regard the easy credulity which has led the Christians of +Britain to believe and reiterate charges in which it is not easy to +tell whether there is less truth or more malignity? For how stood the +facts? What church owns slaves? What Christian corporation is a +proprietor of men? Out of our ten thousand churches perhaps half are +involved in this sin? Perhaps a tenth part? Surely one Presbytery at +least? No,—this mountain of fiction has but a grain of truth to +support its vast and hateful proportions. If there be above five +congregations in all America<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> that own slaves, I never heard of them. +The actual number, of whose existence I ever heard, is, I believe, +precisely <i>three</i>! They are all Presbyterian congregations, and +churches situated in the southern part of Virginia, and got into their +unhappy condition in the following manner:—Many years ago, during +those times of ignorance at which God winked—when such a man as John +Newton could go a slaving voyage to Africa, and write back +that he never had enjoyed sweeter communion with God than on that +voyage; during such a period as that, a few well meaning individuals +had bequeathed a small number of slaves for the support of the gospel +in three or four churches. These unfortunate legacies had increased +and multiplied themselves to a great extent, and under present +circumstances to a most inconvenient degree. A fact which puts the +clearest contradiction on that assertion of this "accuser of the +brethren"—representing their condition as being one of unusual +privation and suffering. Of late years these cases had attracted +attention, and given great uneasiness to some of the persons connected +with these churches. I have on this platform, kindly furnished me, +like most of the other documents I have, since this debate was +publicly known—a volume of letters written to one of these churches +on the whole case, by the Rev. Mr. Paxton, at that time its pastor. +That gentleman is now on this side of the Atlantic, and may perhaps +explain what Mr. Thompson has so sedulously concealed; how he was a +colonizationist; how he manumitted and sent his own servants to +Liberia; how he labored in this particular matter with his church, +long before the existence of abolitionism; and how, finding the +difficulties insuperable, he had written this kind and modest volume, +worth all the abolition froth ever spued forth,—and left the charge +in which he found it so difficult to preserve at once an honest +conscience and a healthful influence. It will not, however, be +understood that even these few churches are worthy of the +indiscriminate abuse lavished on us, all for their sakes; nor that +their present path of duty is either an easy or a plain one. Whether +it is that there are express stipulations in the original instruments +conveying the slaves in trust for certain purposes; or whether the +general principle of law, which would transfer to the State, or to the +heir of the first owner, the slaves with their increase,—upon a +failure of the intention of the donor, either by act of God, or of the +parties themselves, embarrass the subject; it is very certain that +wiser and better men than either Mr. Thompson or myself, are convinced +that these vilified churches have no power whatever to set their +slaves free. If the churches were to give up the slaves, it could only +have the effect, it is believed, to send them into everlasting bondage +to the heirs of the original proprietors. They have therefore justly +considered it better for the slaves themselves that they should remain +as they were in a state of nominal servitude, rather than be remitted +into real slavery. Such is the real state of the few cases which have +first been exhibited as the sin, if not the actual condition of the +American churches; and then exaggerated into the utmost turpitude by +hiding every mitigating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> circumstance, adding some purely new, and +distorting all things. Whether right or wrong, the same state of +things exists amongst the Society of Friends in North Carolina, to a +partial extent, and in another form. They did not consider themselves +liable to just censure, although they held title in and authority over +slaves, as individuals, while they gave them their whole earnings, and +had collected large sums from their brethren in England, which were +applied to the benefit of these slaves. It is not now for the first +time that charges have been made against the Church of God—that Judah +is like all the heathen. But all who embark in such courses—have met +with the common fate of the revilers of God's people; and they, with +such as select to stand in their lot—may find in the word of life a +worse end apportioned for them, than even for those they denounce, in +case every word they utter had been true. We bless God that no weapon +formed against Zion can prosper. There was one other instance which he +had noted under this head as requiring some comment, which could not +bear omission, regarding the private members of the Christian churches +in the United States, of whom a casual hearer or reader of Mr. +Thompson's speeches would believe that the far greater part actually +owned slaves; that very few, and they almost exclusively +abolitionists, considered slavery at all wrong; that with one accord +they deprived the slaves of all religious privileges, and used them, +not only as a chattel, but as nothing else than a chattel. According +to our last census, there were about 11,000,000 of whites, 2,000,000 +of slaves, and 400,000 free blacks in America, making a total of +nearly thirteen and a half millions. All the slaves were gathered into +the 12 most southerly states, free blacks were not far from half in +the free and half in the slave states, and of the whites over +7,000,000 were in the free, and less than 3,000,000 in the slave +states. The best information I possess on this subject, authorizes me +to say—about 1 person in 9, throughout the nation, black and white, +is a member of a Christian church, the proportion being somewhat +larger to the north, and comparatively smaller at the south. There +are, therefore, above 1,100,000 white Christians in the United States, +of which about 800,000 live in the 12 free States, and neither own +slaves nor think slavery right; leaving rather over 330,000 for the 12 +slave States. Now, if these white Christians in the slave States own +all the slaves, and the other 8-9ths of the whites owned none at all, +there will be only about 6 slaves to each Christian there, a number +far below the average of the slave holders; and all the North, and all +the South, except Christians, free of charge and guilt, in the +specific thing. But if we divide these Christians into families, and +suppose there may be as many, as one in three or four of them, who is +a head of a family, say 100,000; and that they own all the slaves: in +that case, there would be an average of twenty slaves to every white +head of a Christian family in the slave States. But here again all the +slaves would be absorbed: all the North innocent, above two-thirds of +the Christians at the South proved to be not slave holders at all;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +and all the followers of the devil wholly innocent of that crime. +These calculations demonstrate that these accusations are as +groundless and absurd as any of the preceding. And while it is +painfully true that in the slaveholding States far too many Christians +do still own slaves; it is equally true, that they bear a small +proportion to those who own none, even in those States. If we suppose +the Christians in America to be about on an equal footing as to wealth +with other people; and to have no more conscience about slavery, than +those around them in the slave States; and that twenty slaves may be +taken as the average, to each master; and a ninth of the people pious, +as stated before, it follows that only about 11,000 professors of +religion can be slaveholders; or about one in every hundred of the +whole number in the nation. Yet every one of the above suppositions is +against the churches, and yet upon this basis rests the charges of a +candid, affectionate Christian brother against them all! The only +remaining illustration of Mr. Thompson's proneness to represent a +little truth, in such a way as to have all the effects of an immense +misrepresentation, regards his own posture, doings and sufferings in +America. "Fourteen months of toil, of peril, and persecution, almost +unparalleled;" "there were paid myrmidons seeking my blood;" "there +were thousands waiting to rejoice over my destruction;" "when any +individual tells George Thompson who has put his life into his hands, +and gone where slavery is rife; when I, George Thompson, am told I am +to be spared," &c. Similar statements, ad infinitum, fill up all his +speeches; and are noticed now, not for the purpose of commenting on, +or even contradicting them, but of affording my countrymen, who may +chance to see the report of this discussion, specimens, as our +certificates often run "of the modesty, probity, and good demeanor," +of the individual.</p> + +<p>He would pass next to a fourth general objection against Mr. +Thompson's testimony, as regards America, which was, that much of it +was in the strictest sense, positively untrue. For instance, Mr. +Thompson had twice put a runaway slave forward upon the platform at +London; or at least connived at the doing of it; who stated of his own +knowledge, that a Mr. Garrison, of South Carolina, had paid 500 +dollars for a slave, that he might burn him, and that he had done so +without hindrance or challenge, afterwards. This statement Mr. T. has +never yet contradicted in any one of his numerous speeches, although +he must have known it to be untrue. I have myself several times +directed his attention to the subject, and yet the only answer is, +"expressive silence." Then I distinctly challenge his notice of the +case; and while I solemnly declare, that according to my belief, +whoever should do such an act in any part of America, would be hung: I +as distinctly charge Mr. Thompson, with giving countenance to, and +deriving countenance from this wilful misstatement.</p> + +<p>As an other instance of the same kind, you are told that a free man +was sold from the jail at Washington city, as a slave, without even +the form of a trial; which is farther aggravated by the assertion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +that this is vouched as a fact, on the testimony of 1000 signatures. +This matter, when Mr. Thompson's own proof is produced, resolves +itself into this: that Mr. Thompson said, there had been a thousand +signatures to a certain paper, which said, that a certain man taken up +as a runaway slave, said he was free! If he was a slave, the whole +case falls; whether he was a slave or not, was a fact that could have +been judicially investigated and decided, if the person most +interested, or any other, had chosen to demand it. So that in point of +fact, Mr. Thompson's whole statements, touching this oft repeated +case, are all purely gratuitous. And with what horror, must every good +man hear that Mr. Thompson, within the last two or three weeks, told a +crowd of people in Mr. Price's Chapel, Devonshire Square, London, in +allusion to this very case, that the poor black had "<small>DEMONSTRATED HIS +FREEDOM</small>," and afterwards been "sold into everlasting bondage!" And yet +upon this fiction he bases one of his most effective "illustrations of +American slavery," and some of his fiercest denunciations of the +American people. Oh! shame, where is thy blush! He could if time +permitted exhibit other cases,—in principle perhaps worse than these; +in which neither the false assertions of Moses Roper—nor the +pretended evidence of misrepresented petitions existed to make a show +of evidence; and which nothing but the most extraordinary ignorance, +or recklessness could explain. Such are the assertions made by himself +or his coadjutors in his presence, that slaves are brought to the +district of Columbia from all the slave states for sale; that five +years is the average number, that slaves carried to the Southern +States live; that slaves without trial, or even examination, were +often executed, by tens, twenties, and even thirties; that the banner +of the United States, which floated over a slave dealing congress, in +the midst of the slave market of the entire nation, had the word +"<i>Liberty</i>" upon it (which single sentence contained three +misstatements;) that religious men weighed children in scales, and +sold them by the pound like meat;—that there were 2,000,000 of slaves +in America who never heard the name of Christ; that no white man would +ever be respected after he had been seen to shake hands with a man of +colour; all which <i>unnameable</i> assertions are contained, along with +double as many others like them, in one single newspaper (the London +<i>Patriot</i> of June 1, 1835;) and in a portion of the report of only two +of Mr. Thompson's meetings! Alas! for poor human nature! Having now +gone through all that his time permitted him to say, of the proof +against America, he would lay before them some counter testimony upon +several parts of this great subject. He had at one time greatly feared +that he might be obliged to ask them to believe his mere word, perhaps +in the face of other proof; but through the providence of God, he had +been put in possession of a very limited file of American newspapers, +from the contents of which he thought he should be able to make out as +strong a case for the truth, as he had proved the case against it to +be weak and rotten. There were so many denominations of Christians in +America, that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> would only tire the meeting by enumerating them. +They were of every variety of name and opinion. As to many of them he +knew but little, and the present audience perhaps less. The Societies +of Friends generally did not tolerate slaveholding among their +members; neither did the Covenanters. The Congregationalists, or +Independents, had not, he believed, a dozen churches in all the Slave +States, and, of course, they should be considered as exempt from the +charge. It was, however, the less necessary to occupy ourselves in +general remarks, inasmuch as Mr. Thompson had laid the stress of his +accusations on the three great denominations of America. "He took all +the guilt of this system, and he laid it where? On the Church of +America. When he said the Church, he did not allude to any particular +denomination. He spoke of Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists, the +three great props—the all-sustaining pillars of that blood-cemented +fabric." Such were the words of Mr. T., and it would therefore be +needless to trouble ourselves about the minor, if we could settle the +major to our satisfaction. As to two of these denominations, he should +say but little; his chief and natural business being to defend that +one of which he knew most. In regard to the Baptists, he was sorry to +be obliged to say, that he believed they were the least defensible of +the three denominations, now principally implicated; indeed that some +of their Associations had taken ground on the whole case, from which +he entirely dissented,—and which, he was sure, had given great pain +to the majority of their own brethren. He begged leave to refer them +to the work of Drs. Cox and Hoby, just through the press, in which he +presumed, for he had not seen it, they would find an authentic and +ample information on this and every other point relating to that +denomination in America. In relation to the Methodists, his knowledge +was both more full and more accurate. Their discipline denounced +Slavery, and prohibited their Members from owning slaves, and though +their discipline itself was not carried into effect with rigid +exactness, he did not believe that there was a Methodist Church in the +United States, or upon the Earth, which owned slaves, as a Church. He +believed that very few Methodist preachers—indeed, almost none, owned +any slaves, and nothing but the most direct proof could for a moment +make him believe, that one of them was a slave-dealer. The whole sect, +or at least the great majority of it, might be considered as fairly +represented, in the following Resolutions passed in the Conference, +held at Baltimore; and which could be a set off to those read by Mr. +Thompson, from one of the northern Conferences.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<h4>METHODIST'S RESOLUTIONS ON ABOLITION.</h4> + +<p>At a late meeting of the Baltimore Annual Conference of the Methodist +Episcopal Church held at Baltimore, the following preamble and +Resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the names of all the members +and probationers present, in number, one hundred and fifty-seven, were +subscribed, and ordered to be published. The secretary was also +directed to furnish Rev. John A. Collins, with a copy for insertion in +the Globe and Intelligencer, of Washington City.</p> + +<p>Whereas great excitement has pervaded this country for some time past +on the subject of abolition; and whereas such excitement is believed +to be destructive to the best interests of the country and of +religion; therefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>1. <i>Resolved</i>, That "we are as much as ever convinced of the great +evil of slavery."</p> + +<p>2. That we are opposed in every part and particular to the proceedings +of the abolitionists, which look to the immediate indiscriminate, and +general emancipation of slaves.</p> + +<p>3. That we have no connexion with any press, by whomsoever conducted, +in the interest of the abolition cause.</p></div> + +<p>As to his own Connection, the Presbyterian, he would go as fully as +his materials permitted, into the proof of their past principles, and +present posture. And in the first place he was most happy to be able +to present them with an abstract of the decisions of the General +Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. +He found it printed in the New York Observer, of May 23, 1835, +embodied in the proceedings of the Presbytery of Montrose, and +transcribed by it no doubt from the Assembly's digest.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As early as A. D. 1787, the Synod of N. York and Philadelphia issued +an opinion adverse to slavery, and recommended measures for its final +extinction; and in the year 1796 the General Assembly assured "all the +churches under their care, that they viewed with the deepest concern +any vestiges of slavery which then existed in our country;" and in the +year 1815 the same judicatory decided, "that the buying and selling of +slaves by way of traffic, (meaning, doubtless, the domestic traffic,) +is inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel." But in the year 1818, +a more full and explicit avowal of the sentiments of the church was +unanimously agreed on in the General Assembly. "We consider, (say the +Assembly,) the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human race by +another, as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred rights +of human nature; as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, which +requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves; and as totally +irreconcilable with the spirit and principles of the gospel of Christ, +which enjoin, that "whatever ye would that men should do to you, do ye +even so to them." They add, "It is manifestly the duty of all +Christians who enjoy the light of the present day, when the +inconsistency of slavery, both with the dictates of humanity and +religion, has been demonstrated, and is generally seen and +acknowledged, to use their honest, earnest and unwearied endeavors to +correct the errors of former times, and as speedily as possible, to +efface this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the complete +abolition of slavery throughout Christendom and if possible, +throughout the world."</p></div> + +<p>If, said Mr. B., he had expressed sentiments different from these, or +if he had inculcated as the principles of his brethren any thing +different from these just and noble sentiments, let the blame be +heaped upon his bare head. These sentiments they had held from a +period to which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Here +tonight, 3000 miles off, God enabled him to produce a record proving +an antiquity of half a century, in full maturity! How grand, how far +sighted, how illustrious is truth—compared with the wretched and new +born, and blear eyed fanaticism that carps at her! These are the +principles of the Presbyterian church of the United States. She has +risen with them, she will stand, or, if it be God's will, she will +fall with them. But she will not change them less or more. The General +Assembly is but now adjourned. They have had this question before +them—perhaps have been deeply agitated by its discussion. But so +tranquilly does my heart rest on the truth of these principles, and on +the fixed adherence to them, by my brethren, that nothing but a +feeling that it would be impertinent, in one like me, to vouch for a +body like that, could deter me from any lawful gage, that all its +decisions will stand with its ancient and unaltered principles. In +accordance with these principles the great body of the members of that +church had been all along acting.—There were about 24 synods under +the care of the General Assembly, of which about one third were in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +the slave country. The number was constantly increasing, on which +account, and in the absence of all records, he could not be more +exact. The synods in the free states stood, he believed, without +exception, just where the Assembly stood, on this subject. In the +slave states, much had been done—much was still doing—and in proof +of this as regarded this particular denomination—in addition to what +he had all along declared, with reference to the great emancipation +party, in all of those states, he asked attention to the several +documents he was about to lay before them. The first was a series of +resolutions appended to a lucid and extended report, drawn up by a +large committee of Ministers and Elders of the synod of Kentucky—in +obedience to its orders after the subject had been several years +before that body. That Synod embraces the whole state of <i>Kentucky</i>, +which is one of the largest slave states in the Union. The resolutions +are quoted from the New York Observer, of April 23, 1836.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. We would recommend that all slaves now under 20 years of age, and +all those yet to be born in our possession be emancipated, as they +severally reach their 25th year.</p> + +<p>2. We recommend that deeds of emancipation be now drawn up, and +recorded in our respective County Courts, specifying the slaves we are +about to emancipate, and the age at which each is to become free.</p> + +<p>This measure is highly necessary, as it will furnish to our own minds, +to the world, and to our slaves, satisfactory proof of our sincerity +in this work; and it will also secure the liberty of the slaves +against contingencies.</p> + +<p>3. We recommend that our slaves be instructed in the common elementary +branches of education.</p> + +<p>4. We recommend that strenuous and persevering efforts be made, to +induce them to attend regularly upon the ordinary services of +religion, both domestic and public.</p> + +<p>5. We recommend that great pains be token to teach them the Holy +Scriptures; and that to effect this, the instrumentality of Sabbath +Schools, wherever they can be enjoyed, be united with that of domestic +instruction.</p></div> + +<p>The plan revealed in these resolution, was the one of all others, +which most commended itself to his (Mr. B.'s) judgment. And he +most particularly asked their attention to it, on an account somewhat +personal. He had several times been publicly referred to in this +country, as having shown the sincerity of his principles in the manumission +of his own slaves. He was most anxious that no error should +exist on this subject, which he had not at any time, had any part in +bringing before the public, and which, as often only as he was forced +to do so, had he explained. The introductory remarks of the Chairman, +had laid him under the necessity of such an explanation, which +had not so naturally occurred, as in this connexion. He took leave, +therefore, to say, that this Kentucky plan, was in substance the one +he had been acting on for some years before its existence; and which +he should probably be among the earliest, if his life was spared, fully +to complete. He considered it substantially the same as their system +for West India Emancipation; only more rapid as to adults, more +tardy, cautious, and beneficent as to minors; and more generous, as +being wholly without compensation. In plans that affect whole nations, +and successive generations, questions of <i>time</i> are of all others, +least important; of all others the most proper to make bend to the +necessities of the case. He went only to say further, that his brother, +the Rev. Dr. Breckinridge, of whom Mr. Thompson speaks with such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +affectation of scorn, had entered this good field before him, and taken +one course with his manumitted slaves. That a younger brother, whose +name, along with nine other beloved and revered names, is attached +to this Kentucky report, had also entered it before him; and taken a +second course, a different course still, in liberating his. When he came, +last of all, he had taken still a third, different from each; while other +friends had pursued others still. What wisdom their combined, and +yet varied experience could have afforded, was of course useless; +now that all the deepest questions of abstract truth, and the most +difficult of personal practice, were solved by instinct, and carried +by storm.</p> + +<p>The next extract related to the great slave holding State of North +Carolina, and revealed a plan for the religious instruction and care of +the souls of the slaves, intended to cover the States of Virginia, +Georgia, and South Carolina, all slave States of the first class, as well +as the one in which it originated. Its origin is due to the Presbyterian +Synod, covering the whole of that State. The extract is from +the New York Observer of June 20, 1835.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<h4>RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES.</h4> + +<p>"The Southern Evangelical Society," is the title of a proposed +association among the Presbyterians at the South, for the propagation +of the gospel among the people of color. The constitution originated +in the Synod of North Carolina, and is to go into effect as soon as +adopted by the Synod of Virginia, or that of South Carolina and +Georgia. The voting members of the Society are to be elected by the +Synods. Honorary members are created by the payment of thirty dollars. +All members of Synods united with the Society, are corresponding +members; other corresponding members maybe chosen by the voting +members. Article 4th of the Constitution, provides that "there shall +not exist between this Society and any other Society, any connexion +whatever, except with a similar Society in the slave holding States." +Several resolutions follow the Constitution; one of these provides +that a presbytery in a slave holding district of the country, not +united with a Synod in connexion with the Society, may become a member +by its own act. The fifth and sixth resolutions are as follows:</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, 5, That it be very respectfully and earnestly recommended +to all the heads of families in connexion with our congregations, to +take up and vigorously prosecute the business of seeking the salvation +of the slaves in the way of maintaining and promoting family religion.</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, 6, That it be enjoined upon all the presbyteries composing +this Synod, to take order at their earliest meeting, to obtain full +and correct statistical information as to the number of people of +color, in the bounds of our several congregations, the number in +actual attendance at our several places of worship, and the number of +colored members in our several churches, and make a full report to the +Synod at its next meeting, and for this purpose, that the Clerk of +this Synod furnish a copy of this resolution to the stated Clerk of +each Presbytery.</p></div> + +<p>The next document carried them one State farther South, and related +to South Carolina, in which that horrible Governor M'Duffie, +who seems to haunt Mr. Thompson's imagination with his threats of +"death without benefit of clergy," lives, and perhaps still rules. It +is taken from the same paper as the next preceding extract;</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<h4>RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES.</h4> + +<p>We cheerfully insert the following letter from an intelligent New +Englander at the South.</p> + +<p class="salute"><i>To the Editor of the New York Observer.</i></p> + +<p>I am apprehensive that many of your readers, who feel a lively +interest in the welfare of the slaves, are not correctly and fully +informed as to their amount of religious instruction. From the +speeches of Mr. Thompson and others, they might be led to believe that +slaves in our Southern States never read a Bible, hear a gospel +sermon, or partake of a gospel ordinance. It is to be hoped, however, +that little credit will be given to such misrepresentations, +notwithstanding the zeal and industry with which they are +disseminated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>What has been done on a single plantation.</p> + +<p>I will now inform your readers what has been done, and is now doing, +for the moral and religious improvement of the slaves on a single +plantation, with which I am well acquainted, and these few facts may +serve as a commentary on the unsupported assertions of Mr. Thompson +and others. And here I could wish that all who are so ready to +denounce every man that is so unfortunate as to be born to a heritage +of slaves, could go to that plantation, and see with their own eyes, +and hear with their own ears, the things which I despair of adequately +describing. Truly, I think they would be more inclined, and better +qualified to use those weapons of light and love which have been so +ably and justly commended to their hands.</p> + +<p>On this plantation there are from 150 to 200 slaves, the finest +looking body that I have seen on any estate. Their master and mistress +have felt for years how solemn are the responsibilities connected with +such a charge; and they have not shrunk from meeting them. The means +used for their spiritual good, are abundant. They enjoy the constant +preaching of the gospel. A young minister of the Presbyterian church, +who has received a regular collegiate and theological education, is +laboring among them, and derives his entire support from the master, +with the exception of a trifling sum which he receives for preaching +one Sabbath in each month for a neighboring church. On the Sabbath, +and during the week, you may see them filling the place of worship, +from the man of grey hairs to the small child, all neatly and +comfortably clothed, listening with respectful, and in many cases, +eager attention to the truth as it is in Jesus, delivered in terms +adapted to their capacities, and in a manner suited to their peculiar +habits, feelings and circumstances; engaging with solemnity and +propriety in the solemn exercise of prayer, and mingling their +melodious voices in the hymn of praise. Sitting among them are the +white members of the family encouraging them by their attendance, +manifesting their interest in the exercises, and their anxiety for the +eternal well-being of their people. Of the whole number, forty-five or +fifty have made a profession of religion, and others are evidently +deeply concerned.</p> + +<p>Let me now conduct you to a Bible class of ten or twelve adults who +can read, met with their Bibles to study and have explained to them +the word of God. They give unequivocal demonstrations of much interest +in their employment, and of an earnest desire to understand and +remember what they read. From hence we will go to another room, where +are assembled eighteen to twenty lads, attending upon catechetical +instruction, conducted by their young master. Here you will notice +many intelligent countenances, and will be struck with the promptitude +and correctness of their answers.</p> + +<p>But the most interesting spectacle is yet before you. It is to be +witnessed in the Infant School Room, nicely fitted up and supplied +with the customary cards and other appurtenances. Here every day in +the week, you may find twenty-five or thirty children, neatly clad and +wearing bright and happy faces. And as you notice their correct +deportment, hear their unhesitating replies to the questions proposed, +and above all when they unite their sweet voices in their touching +songs, if your heart is not affected and your eyes do not fill, you +are the hardest-hearted and driest-eyed visitor that has ever been +there. But who is their teacher? Their mistress, a lady whose amiable +Christian character and most gifted and accomplished mind and manners +are surpassed by none. From day to day, month to month, and year to +year, she has cheerfully left her splendid halls and circle of +friends, to visit her school room, where, standing up before those +young immortals, she trains them in the way in which they should go, +and leads them to Him who said, "suffer little children to come unto +me."</p> + +<p>From the Infant School room, we will walk through a beautiful lawn +half a mile, to a pleasant grove commanding a view of miles in extent. +Here is a brick chapel, rising for the accommodation of this +interesting family; sufficiently large to receive two or three hundred +hearers. When completed, in beauty and convenience it will be +surpassed by few churches in the Southern country.</p> + +<p>On the plantation you might also see other things of great interest. +Here a negro is the overseer. Marriages are regularly contracted. No +negro is sold, except as a punishment for bad behavior, and a dreaded +one it is. None is bought, save for the purpose of uniting families. +Here you will near no clanking of chains, no cracking of whips; (I +have never seen a blow struck on the estate,) and here last, but not +least, you will find a flourishing Temperance Society, embracing +almost every individual on the premises. And yet the "Christianity of +the South is a chain-forging, a whip-plaiting, marriage discouraging, +Bible-withholding Christianity!"</p> + +<p>I have confined myself to a single plantation. But I might add many +most interesting facts in regard to others, and the state of feeling +in general, but I forbear.</p> + +<p class="regards">Yours, &c</p> +<p class="author">A NEW ENGLAND MAN.</p> +</div> + +<p>He would now connect the peculiar and local facts of the preceding +statement, with the whole community of slave holders, in the +same State, and show by competent and disinterested testimony, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +real and common state of things. The following extracts were from +a letter printed in the New York Observer, of July 25, 1835:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have resided eight years in South Carolina, and have an extensive +acquaintance with the planters of the middle and low country. I have +seen much of slavery, and feel competent to speak in regard to many +facts connected with it.</p> + +<p>What your correspondent has stated of the condition of one plantation, +is in its essential points a common case throughout the whole circle +of my acquaintance.</p> + +<p>The negroes generally, in this State, are well fed, well clothed, and +have the means of religious instruction. According to my best +judgment, the work which a slave here is required to do, amounts to +about one third the ordinary labor commonly performed by a New England +farmer. A similar comparison would hold true in regard to the labor of +domestics. In the family where I reside, consisting of nine white +persons, seven slaves are employed to do the work. This is a common +case.</p> + +<p>In the village where I live, there are about four hundred slaves, and +they generally attend church. More than one hundred of them are +members of the church. Perhaps two hundred are assembled every Sabbath +in the Sunday Schools. In my own Sunday School are about sixty, and +most of them professors of religion. They are perfectly accessible and +teachable. In the town of my former residence, in New England, there +were three hundred free blacks. No more than eight or ten of these +were professors of religion, and not more than twice that number could +generally be induced to attend church. They could not be induced to +send their children to the district schools, which were always open to +them, nor could they generally be hired to work. They are thievish, +wretched and troublesome. I have no hesitation in saying, and I say it +deliberately, it would be a great blessing to them to exchange +conditions with the slaves of the village in which I now live. Their +intellectual and moral characters, and real means of improvement, +would be promoted by the exchange.</p> + +<p>There are doubtless some masters who treat their slaves cruelly in +this State, but they are exceptions to the general fact. Public +opinion is in a wholesome state and the man who does not treat his +slaves kindly, is disgraced.</p> + +<p>Great and increasing efforts are made to instruct the slaves in +religion, and elevate their characters. Missionaries are employed +solely for their benefit. It is very common for ministers to preach in +the forenoon to the whites, and in the afternoon of every Sabbath to +the blacks. The slaves of my acquaintance are generally contented and +happy. The master is reprobated who will divide families. Many +thousands of slaves of this State give evidence of piety. In many +churches they form the majority. Thousands of them give daily thanks +to God that they or their fathers were brought to this land of +slavery.</p> + +<p>And now, perhaps, I ought to add, that I am not a slave-holder, and do +not intend to continue in a slave country; but wherever I may be, I +intend to speak the TRUTH.</p></div> + +<p>The next document related particularly to <i>Virginia</i>,—the largest and +most powerful of the Slave States; but had also a general reference to +the whole south, and the whole question at issue. The sentiments it +contained were entitled to extraordinary consideration, on account of +the source of them. Mr. Van Renselear, was the son of one of the most +wealthy and distinguished citizens of the great free state of New +York. He had gone to Virginia, to preach to the slaves. He had every +where succeeded; was every where beloved by the slaves, and honored by +their masters. He had access to perhaps forty plantations,—on which +he from time to time preached,—and which might have been doubled, had +his strength been equal to the work. In the midst of his +usefulness—the storm of abolition arose. Mr. Thompson, like some +baleful star landed on our shores; organized a reckless agitation, +made many at the north frantic with folly—and as many at the south +furious with passion. Mr. Van Renselear, like many others, saw a storm +raging which they had no power to control; and like them withdrew from +his benevolent labors. The following brief statements made by him at a +great meeting of the colonization society of New York, exhibit his own +view of the conduct and duty of the parties.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Rev. Cortlandt Van Renselear, formerly of Albany, but who has +lately resided in Virginia, addressed the meeting, and after alluding +to the difference of opinion which prevailed among the friends of +Colonization, touching the present condition and treatment of the +colored population in this country, proceeded to offer reasons why the +people of the North should approach their brethren in the South, who +held the control of the colored population, with defference, and in a +spirit of kindness and conciliation.</p> + +<p>These reasons were briefly as follows: 1. Because the people of the +South had not consented to the original introduction of slaves into +the country, but had solemnly, earnestly, and repeatedly remonstrated +against it. 2. Because having been born in the presence of slavery, +and accustomed to it from their infancy, they could not be expected to +view it in the same light as we view it at the North. 3. Slavery being +there established by law, it was not in the power of individuals to +act in regard to it as their personal feelings might dictate. The evil +had not been eradicated from the state of New York all at once: It had +been a gradual process, commencing with the law 1799 and not +consumated until 1827. Ought we to denounce our Southern neighbors if +they refuse to do the work at a blow? 4. The constitution of the +United States tolerated slavery, in its articles apportioning +representation with reference to the slave population, and requiring +the surrender of runaway slaves. 5. Slavery had been much mitigated of +late years, and the condition of the slave population much +ameliorated. Its former rigor was almost unknown, at least in +Virginia, and it was lessening continually. It was not consistent with +truth to represent the slaves as groaning day and night under the lash +of tyranical task-masters. And as to being kept in perfect ignorance, +Mr. V. had seldom seen a plantation where some of the slaves could not +read, and where they were not encouraged to learn. In South Carolina, +where it was said the gospel was systematically denied to the slaves, +there were twenty thousand of them church members in the Methodist +denomination alone. He knew a small church where out of 70 +communicants, 50 were in slavery. 6. There were very great +difficulties connected with the work of Abolition. The relations of +slavery had ramified themselves through all the relations of society. +The slaves were comparatively very ignorant; their character degraded; +and they were unqualified for immediate freedom. A blunder in such a +concern as universal abolition, would be no light matter. Mr. V. here +referred to the result of experience and personal observation on the +mind of the well-known Mr. Parker, late a minister of this city, but +now of New-Orleans. He had left this city for the South with the +feeling of an immediate abolitionist; but he had returned with his +views wholly changed. After seeing slavery and slave-holders, and that +at the far South, he now declared the idea of immediate and universal +abolition to be a gross absurdity. To liberate the two and a half +millions of slaves in the midst of us, would be just as wise and as +humane, as it would be for the father of a numerous family of young +children to take them to the front door, and there bidding them good +bye, tell them they were free, and send them out into the world to +provide for and govern themselves. 7. Foreign interference was, of +necessity, a delicate thing, and ought ever to be attempted with the +utmost caution. 8. There was a large amount of unfeigned Christian +anxiety at the South to obey God and do good to man. There were many +tears and prayers continually poured out over the condition of their +colored people, and the most earnest desire to mitigate their sorrows. +Were such persons to be approached with vituperation and anathemas? 9. +There was no reason why all our sympathies should be confined to the +colored race and utterly withheld from our white southern brethren. +The apostle Paul exhibited no such spirit. 10. A regard to the +interest of the slaves themselves dictated a cautious and prudent and +forbearing course. It called for conciliation: for the fate of the +slaves depended on the will of their masters, nor could the north +prevent it. The late laws against teaching the slaves to read had not +been passed until the Southern people found inflamatory publications +circulating among the colored people. 11. The spirit of the gospel +forbade all violence, abuse and threatening. The apostles had wished +to call fire from heaven on those they considered as Christ's enemies; +but the Saviour, instead of approving this fiery zeal, had rebuked it. +12. These Southern people, who were represented as so grossly +violating all Christian duty, had been the subjects of gracious +blessings from God in the outpourings of his Spirit. 13. When God +convinced men of error, he did it in the spirit of mercy; we ought to +endeavor to do the same thing in the same spirit.</p></div> + +<p>The only remaining testimony relates to the states of Louisiana +and Mississippi, in the south west. The letter from which it is taken +is written by a son of that Mr. Finley, who perhaps more than any +one else, set on foot the original scheme of African colonization; and +whose name, as a man of pure and enlarged benevolence and wisdom, +the enemies of his plans quote with respect. The son well deserves +to have had such a father.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="author"><i>New-Orleans, March 12, 1835.</i></p> + +<p>In my former letter I gave you some account of the leading characters +amongst the free people of color who recently sailed from this port in +the Brig "Rover." for Liberia. I then promised you in my next to +give you some account of the emancipated slaves who <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>sailed in the +same expedition. This promise I will now endeavor to fulfil, and I +will begin with the case of an individual emancipation, and then state +the case of an emancipated family, and conclude with an account of the +emancipation of several families by the same individual.</p> + +<p>The first case alluded to is that of a young woman emancipated by the +last will and testament of the late Judge James Workman, of this city, +the same who left a legacy of ten thousand dollars to the American +Colonization Society. Judge Workman's will contains the following +clause in relation to her, viz:—"I request my statu liber, Kitty, a +quarteroon girl, to be set free as soon as convenient. And I request +my executors may send her, as she shall prefer, and they think best, +either to the Colonization Society at Norfolk, to be sent to Liberia +or to Hayti; and if she prefer remaining in Louisiana, that they may +endeavor to have an act passed for her emancipation; if the same +cannot be attained otherwise; and it is my will that the sum of three +hundred dollars be paid to her after she shall be capable of receiving +the same. I request my executors to hold in their hands money for this +purpose. I particularly request my friend John G. Greene to take +charge of this girl, and do the best for her that he can." Mr. Greene +provided her with a handsome outfit, carefully attended to her +embarkation, and the shipment of her freight, and placed her under the +care of the Rev. Gloster Simpson.</p> + +<p>The next case, alluded to above, is that of a family of eleven slaves +emancipated for faithful and meritorious services, by the will of of +the late Mrs. Bullock, of Claiborne county, Miss. Mrs. Moore, the +sister and executrix of Mrs. Bullock's estate, gave them 700 dollars +to furnish an outfit and give them a start in the colony.</p> + +<p>The third and last case alluded to above, consisted of several +families, amounting in the whole to 26 individual slaves belonging to +the estate of the late James Green, of Adams county, Mississipi. The +following interesting circumstances concerning their liberation, were +communicated to me by James Railey, Esq., the brother-in-law and +acting executor of Mr. Green's Estate. Mr. Green died on the 15th of +May, 1832, the proprietor of about 130 slaves, and left Mr. Railey, +his brother-in-law, and his sisters, Mrs. Railey and Mrs. Wood, +executors of his last will and testament. Mr. Green's will provides +for the unconditional emancipation of but one of his slaves—a +faithful and intelligent man named Granger, whom Mr. Green had raised +and taught to read, write, and keep accounts. He acted as foreman for +his master for about five years previous to his death. Mr. Green, by +his will, left him 3000 dollars, on condition that he went to Liberia, +otherwise, 2000 dollars. Provision was also made in the will for +securing to him his wife. Granger has been employed since the death of +Mr. Green, until recently, as overseer for Mr. Railey, at a salary of +600 dollars per annum. Granger declines going to Liberia at present on +account of the unwillingness of his mother to go there. She is very +aged and infirm, and he is very much attached to her. She was a +favorite slave of Mr. Green's mother, who emancipated her and left her +a legacy of 1000 dollars. Granger came to this city with Mr. Railey to +see his friends and former fellow-servants embark: and when he bade +them farewell, he said, with a very emphatic tone and manner, "I will +follow you in about 18 months."</p> + +<p>The executors of Mr. Green's estate were by no means slack in meeting +the testator's wishes concerning these people. Mr. Railey accompanied +them to New-Orleans, and both he and Mrs. Wood, who also was in +New-Orleans while they were preparing to embark, took a lively and +active interest in providing them with everything necessary for their +comfort on the voyage, and their welfare after their arrival in the +Colony, and placed in my hand 7000 dollars for their benefit, one +thousand dollars of which were appropriated towards the charter of a +vessel to convey them to the Colony, with the privilege of 140 barrels +freight—sixteen hundred dollars towards the purchase of an outfit, +consisting of mechanics' tools, implements of agriculture, household +furniture, medicines, clothing, &c., and the remaining four thousand +four hundred dollars, partly invested in trade, goods, and partly in +specia, were shipped and consigned to the Governor of Liberia, for +their benefit, with an accompanying memorandum made out by Mr. Railey, +showing how much was each one's portion.</p> + +<p>I will close this communication by relating one additional +circumstance communicated to me by Mr. Railey, to show the interest +felt by Mr. Green in the success of the scheme of African +Colonization. The day previous to his death, he requested +Mr. Railey to write a memorandum of several things +which he wished done after his death, which memorandum contains the +following clause, viz:—"After executing all my wishes as expressed by +Will, by this memorandum, and by verbal communications, I sincerely +hope there will be a handsome sum left for benefitting the emancipated +negroes emigrating from this State to Liberia; and to that end I have +more concern than you are aware of."</p> + +<p>I am authorized by the Executors to state that there will be a +residuum to Mr. Green's estate of twenty or thirty-five thousand +dollars, which they intend to appropriate in conformity with the views +of Mr. Green expressed above. Yours, &c.,</p> + +<p class="author">ROBERT S. FINLEY.</p></div> + +<p>And now I rest the case, and commit the result to an enlightened +public. Here are my proofs and arguments showing as I believe +conclusively, that the slanderous accusations against my country and +my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> brethren which I have come to this city to repel,—are not only +false, but incredible. Here are my testimonials, few and casually +gathered up, but yet, as it seems to me, irresistibly convincing, that +the people and churches of America—in the very thing charged,—have +been and are acting, a wise, self-denying and humane part. That they +should move onward in it as rapidly as the happiness of all the +parties will allow, must be the wish of all good men. That obstacles +should be interposed through the error, the imprudence, or the +violence of well meaning but ill-judging persons, is truly deplorable. +But that we should be traduced before the whole world, when we are +innocent; that we should first be forced into most difficult +circumstances, and then forced to manage those circumstances in such a +way as to cause our certain ruin, by the very same people; or in +default of submitting to both requirments, be forced first into war, +and afterwards into a state of bitter mutual contention, only less +dreadful than war itself, is outrageous and intolerable. While we +justly complain of these things, we discharge ourselves of the guilt +attributed to us, and acquit ourselves to God and our consciences, of +all the fatal consequences likely to follow such conduct.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> rose, and spoke in nearly the following words:</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Chairman</i>,</p> + +<p>If I were to say that I rose on the present occasion without a +feeling of anxiety regarding the issue of the discussion now drawing +to a close, I should say what is not the truth. I cannot remember +that I ever stood before an auditory in a more interesting or responsible +position. The question before us is one of momentous magnitude; +and that branch of it which to-night claims our special attention, +is of all others, the most solemn and delicate. I am, therefore, +anxious, deeply anxious, respecting the impression which shall rest +upon the minds of this assembly, when I have occupied the attention +of yourself and of it, for a portion of time equal to that which has +been expended by my opponent. If, however, I were to say that I +rose with any feeling of alarm in the contemplation of the result of +that ordeal through which I am about to pass, I should speak that +which would be equally at variance with the truth. So far from indulging +any fear, or wishing to propitiate this audience, I pray that +for the sake of truth, humanity, and the country represented by my +opponent; for the sake of our character in the sight of God at the +audit of the great day; there may be a severe, jealous and impartial +judgment formed, according to the evidence which shall be submitted. +Or, if it be impossible to hold the balance strictly even, I ask that the +bias for the present, may be in favor of my opponent. It is true, I +am not an American. It is true, I was in the United States but fourteen +months. It is true, I never crossed the Potomac; never saw a +slave, unless that slave had been brought to the North by some temporary +resident. Receive, therefore, with caution and suspicion my +statements. Let there be every discount upon my assertions which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +my youth and rashness, my want of observation and experience demand. +At the same time I ask that every proper degree of respect +shall be paid to the witnesses I shall bring before you; and that however +my testimony may be doubted, theirs at least may have the +weight which their character, and station, and opportunities shall appear +to entitle them to.</p> + +<p>I am accused of monstrous injustice towards America, when I say +that in that country slavery wears its most horrid forms. In saying +this, I must not be understood as speaking according to the actual +physical condition of the slave, or even of his legal and political condition, +apart from the religion and institutions of the land in which he +lives. I judge not by the number of links in his chain; the number +of lashes inflicted on his back; the nature of his toil, or the quality +or quantity of his food. It is, when irrespective of the treatment of +the body, I find two millions of human beings regarded as merchandise; +ranked with the beasts of the field, and reduced by the neglect +of their immortal minds to the condition of heathens; it is when I +find this awful system in full operation, surrounded by the barriers +and safeguards of the Law and the Constitution, in the United States +of North America; the land of Republicanism, and Christianity, and +Revivals, that I say, Slavery in America wears a form more horrid +than in any other part of the world. Yes, Sir; when I am told that +in that land, liberty is enjoyed to a greater extent than in any other +country; that the principles on which this liberty and independence +rest are these: "God created all men free and equal." "Resistance +to Tyrants is obedience to God;" and see also two millions of captives; +their dungeon barred and watched by proud Republicans, and +boasting Christians; I turn with horror and indignation away, exclaiming +as I quit the sickening scene, Slavery wears its most loathsome +form in the United States of America!</p> + +<p>Before I come to that portion of my Address which I shall present +as a reply to Mr. Breckinridge, I beg to say one word in vindication +of the character and temper of American Abolitionists; and I +am glad on this occasion to be able to cite the testimony of a gentleman, +whom Mr. Breckinridge has not declined to call his friend; I +mean James G. Birney, Esq., formerly residing in the same State +with Mr. B., and now in Cincinnati. Mr. Birney made a visit to the +North last year, for the purpose of ascertaining for himself, by actual +observation and intercourse, the real character of the Abolitionists, +and the manner in which they prosecuted their work. Having done +this, he thus writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Last spring I attended the Ohio Anti-Slavery Convention; was present +at the several meetings of the American Anti-Slavery Society in New +York, and at the Anti-Slavery Convention held in Boston. On these +several occasions, I became acquainted, and deliberated with, it may +be, not less than one thousand persons, who may be fairly set down as +among the most intelligent of the abolitionists. Subjects on which the +most diverse opinions were entertained, and which to ambitious and +untrained minds would be agitating and dissensious in the extreme, +were discussed with the most calm and unruffled composure. And while +some of the leading journals were teeming with the foulest and the +falsest charges of moral and political turpitude; while there were +produced in their assemblies placards, calling on the mob for +appropriate deeds, and designating the time and place of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>holding +their meetings, that its violence might know at what point it might +most effectually spend itself; yet, never elsewhere have I seen so +much of sedate deliberation of sober conclusion, of dignified +moderation, sanctified by earnest prayer to God, not only for the +oppressed, but for the oppressor of his fellow; not only for such as +they loved, but for their slanderers, and persecutors, and enemies.</p> + +<p>The above is a fair account, so far as my knowledge enables me to +speak, of the character of those whom you are pleased to describe "a +band of fanatical abolitionists." Light and rash minds, unaccustomed +to penetrate to the real causes of great revolutions in public +sentiment, will, of course, think and speak contemptuously of them, +while the philosophic observer clearly sees, that such antagonists of +error, armed with so powerful a weapon as the Truth, must, at all +times, be invincible; and that in the end they will be triumphant.</p></div> + +<p>A word, too, before I come to the state of the churches, with regard +to Mr. Breckinridge's concluding topic last evening; to which I had +not, of course, any opportunity to reply; and, as the time allotted +for this discussion is now determined, I shall be permitted to dwell a +few moments on the subject. Mr. Breckinridge did, I am ready to +acknowledge, with tolerable fairness, state the views of the +abolitionists with regard to prejudice against color; that it was +sinful, that it ought to be abandoned, and that the colored man should +be raised to the enjoyment of equal civil and religious privileges +with the whites. But after he had laid down, generally speaking +correctly, the views of the abolitionists, he proceeded to put the +most <i>unfair</i> interpretation upon those views, and strangely contended +that they were directly aiming to accomplish the amalgamation of the +races in the fullest sense of that word. Once again, I <i>deny</i> this. +Once again I appeal to all that the abolitionists have ever written or +spoken: to their published, official, solemn, authoritative +disclaimers; and I say on my behalf and on theirs, that with the +intermixture of "the races," as they are called, (a phrase I do not +like,) the abolitionists have nothing to do. What they have ever +contended for is this, that the colored man should now be delivered +from the condition of a beast; that he should cease to be regarded as +the property of his fellow man; and that according to the laws of the +state regulating the qualifications of citizens, he should be admitted +to a participation of the privileges that are enjoyed by other classes +of the community. We have never asked for more. We have left the +doctrine of amalgamation to be settled by our opponents. The slave +holders are the amalgamationists whose licentiousness has gone far to +put an end to the existence of a black race in the South, and who are +still carrying on, to use their own expression, "a bleaching system," +whitening the population of the South, so that you may now discover +all shades of colored persons; from those who are so fair that they +are scarcely distinguishable from the whites, to the pure black of the +unmixed negro. But my opponent defeated himself. While attempting to +expose the folly and wickedness of amalgamation, he at the same time +contended that the thing was physically impossible; that even a +partial amalgamation could only be brought about by polygamy or +prostitution, but that general amalgamation was hopeless, because +physically impossible. If the thing be utterly beyond the reach of the +abolitionists, why dread it as an evil? Why not let the abolitionists +pursue their foolish and impracticable schemes? Why so much wrath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +against them for aiming at that which nature has rendered +unattainable. I leave Mr. Breckinridge to find his way out of this +difficulty in the best manner he is able.</p> + +<p>Again, we are told, that in attempting to bring about amalgamation, +and in preventing Colonization, we are interfering with the <i>purposes</i> +of God; fighting against His ordinances, and exposing Africa to the +horrors of extermination, should the descendants of Shem or Japhet +colonize her shores, and not the black man who has sprung from her +tribes. I confess I am somewhat surprised, when told by a Presbyterian +clergyman of Calvinistic sentiments, that I am to regulate my conduct +towards my fellow-men by the <i>purposes</i> of God, rather than by the +<i>law</i> of God. This is surely a new doctrine! What, I ask, have I to do +with the decrees of the Almighty? Has he not given me a law by which +to walk? Has he not told me to love my neighbor as myself? to "honor +all men?" Am I not told that God hath made of <i>one</i> blood all nations +of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth? Where is the +prohibition to marry with Shem or Ham. I know of no directions in the +Old Testament respecting marriages, save such as were founded on +religious differences, and I have yet to learn that there are any in +the New Testament. That blessed Book declares, that in Christ Jesus +there is neither Jew nor Greek, circumcision nor uncircumcision, +Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but all are <i>one</i>. The only +injunction I am aware of is this, "be not unequally yoked together +with unbelievers."</p> + +<p>Mr. Breckinridge made a considerable parade of his knowledge of +Universal History, and pretended to build his theory upon the most +correct historical data. While upon this subject of <i>amalgamation</i> and +<i>extermination</i>, I will take the liberty of submitting one or two +inquiries to Mr. Breckinridge.</p> + +<p>Is there any law in America forbidding ministers to celebrate +marriages between Japhethite American Christians and Jewesses, (by +birth, even if Christians by faith,) and Jews, (even if Christians.) +to marry Japhethite, American females? If there be not, then, why may +Shem and Japhet intermarry, but Ham with neither? Again: If there be +no such law, then the doctrine about Noah's three sons, is not a +principle on which the American people act, but Mr. B.'s individual +dogma, got up to defend a line of conduct really proceeding without +reference to any such principle. If it be said that Jewish and +Japhethite Americans are very nearly, if not altogether, of the same +color; and that there are no political evils to be dreaded from the +intermixture of Jews with Japhethites; I reply, that, admitting the +truth of both these representations, is not the sin of mixing Noah's +sons, and counter-working the designs of God, the same in the case of +Shem and Japhet as it would be in the case of Japhet or Shem with the +tribes of Ham? Again,</p> + +<p>Did the Romans, (Japhethites,) exterminate the Jews, (Shemites?)</p> + +<p>Did the Arab Shemite conquerors of Egypt exterminate the ancient +inhabitants (Hamites,) who still exist, and are known by the name of +Copts or Cophti?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>Did not the Tartars, now Turks, a (Japhethite tribe,) when they +conquered the Caliphs, embrace the religion of the conquered, who were +Mohamedans and Shemites?</p> + +<p>Did not the Shemite Mohamedans conquer the Persians, (Japhethites,) a +part of whom, who would not embrace the Mohamedan religion, and could +not be tolerated by the Mohamedans in theirs, (viz. fire worship,) +flee to India, where they still exist, known by the name of Guebers, +while the rest of the people, embracing Mohamedanism, amalgamated with +their conquerors; and is not the modern Persian language a proof of +this, in which all the terms of religion and science are Arabic, +(Shemite,) the rest of the language being a colluvies of the Deri, +Zend, and Pehlavi dialects, which the most eminent phylologists +consider as all resolvable into Sanscrit, the most ancient Japhethite +speech existing?</p> + +<p>The cases of the Romans and Jews, and of the Arab conquerors of Egypt +and the Copts, are instances of conquest <i>without extermination</i>; the +parties remaining dissevered by religious differences. The cases of +the Tartar-Turks, and the Arabs, and of the Arabs and the Persians, +are cases of conquest without extermination, and <i>with amalgamation</i>; +the conquerors in the first case having adopted the religion of the +conquered, and the conquered in the second case, that of the +conquerors.</p> + +<p>Instead of the Americans proceeding in their conduct towards the +colored people with any reference either to the divine laws or the +divine decrees, they act solely under the influence of their pride and +prejudice. How their prejudice was in the first place produced, it is +not necessary at this time to inquire. I may just remark that color +has long been the badge of slavery. Long have the negroes been an +enslaved and degraded class. The child is tutored to look upon a +colored man as an inferior, and this feeling of superiority, implanted +early in the mind of the child, growing with his growth, and +strengthening with his strength, becomes at last a confirmed and +almost invincible principle, disposing him with eagerness to adopt any +views of revelation which will permit him to cherish and gratify his +pride and hatred towards the colored man. Hence has arisen the +aristocracy of the skin. Hence the many lamentable departures from the +spirit and precepts of the gospel, every day witnessed in the United +Slates. Two illustrations of the force of prejudice are now before me. +The first is a short article from the New York Evangelist, copied into +the Scottish Guardian of this city. I will read it entire. It is as +follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">A Hard Case.</span> A native born American applied to our authorities this +morning for a license to drive a cart. He has been for years employed +as a porter in Pearl Street, principally among the booksellers, who +were his petitioners to the number of forty firms. He is an honest, +temperate, and in every respect a worthy man; of an amiable +disposition, muscular frame, and of good address, and every way +calculated for the situation he seeks; besides being a member of the +Society of Friends, a sufficient recommendation of itself; for the +office is now filled in part by swearing, drunken, quarrelling +foreigners, who are daily disturbing the quiet of our streets by their +broils; and endangering the lives of our citizens by their infuriate +conduct.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wm. S. Hewlett was refused by our Mayor, on the ground of public +opinion! because</p> + +<div class="poem"><p> +"——guilty of a skin<br /> +Not colored like his own."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>Hewlett owns property in William Street, to the amount of 20,000 +dollars; but prefers, unlike many of no more income, a life of +industry and economy, to seeking "otium cum dignitate."</p> + +<div class="poem"><p> + "What man seeing this,<br /> +And having human feelings, does not blush,<br /> +And hang his head to own himself a man."<br /> +</p></div> +</div> + +<p>The next is found in a letter written by a Professor Smith, of the +Wesleyan University, Connecticut, who, while vindicating the University +from the charge of having expelled a young man "for the crime +of color," makes the following admission:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That it would be difficult, in the present state of public feeling, +to preserve a colored individual from inquietude in any of our +collegiate schools, and to render his connection with them tolerable, +is not denied."</p></div> + +<p>I come now, (continued Mr. T.) to the state of the American Churches, +in regard to Slavery; and to attempt a justification of the heavy +charges I have brought against them. If at the close of this address +it shall appear that I have misrepresented the Christians of America; +that I have stated as facts, things which are untrue, I solemnly call +upon those who have hitherto vindicated my reputation, and sustained +me as the truthful advocate of the cause of human rights, to discard +me as utterly disqualified to be their representative in so sacred a +work, because, capable of pleading for JUSTICE at the expense of +TRUTH.</p> + +<p>Of slaveholding ministers in America, Mr. Breckinridge has asserted, +that they are as ONE IN A THOUSAND, or at most, as ONE IN FIVE +HUNDRED. The first document I shall quote to disprove this assertion, +will be a letter in the "Southern Religious Telegraph," of October 31, +1835, addressed to the Presbyterian Clergy of Virginia; written to +warn those ministers against pursuits calculated to injure their +spirituality, destroy their usefulness, and prevent those revivals of +religion with which other portions of the Church of Christ had been +favored; also to account for an apparent declension in piety in the +State generally. It is proper to remark, that the letter from which I +make the present extract, was not written to promote the cause of +abolition; that the writer never imagined it would be used on such an +occasion; and that the newspaper in which it appears is <i>pro</i>-slavery +to the very core.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In one region of country, where I am acquainted, of rather more than +THIRTY Presbyterian ministers, including missionaries, TWENTY are +farmers, viz. (planters and SLAVEHOLDERS,) ON A PRETTY EXTENSIVE +SCALE; three are school teachers; one is a farmer and a teacher; one, +a farmer and a merchant, and joint proprietor of iron works, which +must be in operation on the Sabbath; and one is a farmer and editor of +a political newspaper. These farmers generally superintend their own +business. THEY OVERSEE THEIR NEGROES, attend to their stock, make +purchases, and visit the markets to make sale of their crops. They +necessarily have much intercourse with their neighbors on worldly +business, and not unfrequently come into unpleasant collision with the +merchants."</p></div> + +<p>O, Sir, what a revelation of things is here! These are not the +calumnies of George Thompson, but the confessions of one, striving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +earnestly to awaken the attention of the Virginia clergy to a sense of +the degradation and barrenness of the church, and to direct their +attention to the main causes of such lamentable effects.</p> + +<p>Next, permit me to request your attention to an extract from "An +Address to the Presbyterians of Kentucky, proposing a plan for the +instruction and emancipation of their slaves; by a Committee of the +SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. Cincinnati: published by Eli Taylor, 1835." We +shall, in this document, get at the opinion of men, sensitively +jealous for the honor, purity, and usefulness of the Presbyterian +churches, from which Mr. Breckinridge is A DELEGATE. What say they of +slavery in general, and the practice of THEIR CHURCH in particular:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Brutal stripes, and all the various kinds of personal indignities, +are not the only species of cruelty, which slavery licenses. The law +does not recognize the family relations of a slave; and extends to him +no protection in the enjoyment of domestic endearments. The members of +a slave family may be forcibly separated, so that they shall never +more meet until the final judgment. And cupidity often induces the +masters to practise what the law allows. Brothers and sisters, parents +and children, husbands and wives, are torn asunder, and permitted to +see each other no more. These acts are daily occurring in the midst of +us. The shrieks and the agony, often witnessed on such occasions, +proclaim with a trumpet-tongue, the iniquity and cruelty of our +system. The cry of these sufferers goes up to the ears of the Lord of +Sabaoth. There is not a neighborhood, where these heart-rending scenes +are not displayed. There is not a village or road that does not behold +the sad procession of manacled outcasts, whose chains and mournful +countenances tell that they are exiled by force from all that their +hearts held dear. Our church, years ago, raised its voice by solemn +warning against this flagrant violation of every principle of mercy, +justice, and humanity. Yet WE BLUSH TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU AND TO THE +WORLD, THAT, THIS WARNING HAS BEEN OFTEN DISREGARDED, EVEN BY THOSE +WHO HOLD TO OUR COMMUNION. CASES HAVE OCCURRED, IN OUR OWN +DENOMINATION, WHERE PROFESSORS OF THE RELIGION OF MERCY HAVE TORN THE +MOTHER FROM HER CHILDREN, AND SENT HER INTO A MERCILESS AND RETURNLESS +EXILE. YET ACTS OF DISCIPLINE HAVE RARELY FOLLOWED SUCH CONDUCT."</p></div> + +<p>Follow me now into the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Presbyterian Church of +the United States, convened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May, 1835, +and let the individual who addresses you be forgotten, while you +listen to the things uttered in the midst of that solemn convocation. +At the time when the passages I am about to read, were spoken, there +were sitting in that Assembly, men from all parts of the country. The +Southern Churches fully represented by row upon row of ministers and +elders from every region of the slaveholding States. In that Assembly, +one year from this time, did the Rev. J. H. Dickey, of the Chilicothe +Presbytery, Ohio, (a clergyman who had passed thirty years of his life +in a slave State.) and Mr. Stewart, a ruling elder from the Presbytery +of Schuyler, Illinois, make the following statements, which have +remained, I believe, uncontradicted to this hour:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"He (Mr. Dickey,) believed there were many, and great evils in the +Presbyterian Church; but the doctrine of slaveholding, he was fully +persuaded, was the worst heresy now found in the Church."</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Mr.</span> STEWART—I hope this Assembly are prepared to come out fully, and +declare their sentiments, that slaveholding is a most flagrant and +heinous SIN. Let us not pass it by in this indirect way, while so many +thousands and thousands of our fellow-creatures are writhing under the +lash, often inflicted too by MINISTERS AND ELDERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN +CHURCH."</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"IN THIS CHURCH, a man may take a free born child, force it away from +its parents, to whom God gave it in charge, saying, 'Bring it up for +me,' and sell it as a beast, or hold it in perpetual bondage, and not +only escape corporal punishment, but really be esteemed an excellent +Christian. NAY, EVEN MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND DOCTORS OF DIVINITY, +may engage in this unholy traffic, and yet sustain their high and holy +calling."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"ELDERS, MINISTERS, AND DOCTORS OF DIVINITY, ARE WITH BOTH HANDS +ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE. * * * * * * A Slave-holder who is making +gains by the trade, may have as good a character for honesty as any +other man."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"No language can paint the injustice and abominations of slavery, +But in these United States, this vast amount of moral turpitude is (as +I believe) justly chargeable to the Church. I do not mean to say those +church members who actually engage in this diabolical practice, but I +mean to say THE CHURCH. Yes, Sir, all the infidelity that is the +result of this unjust conduct of the professed followers of CHRIST; +all the unholy amalgamation; all the tears and groans; all the eyes +that have been literally plucked from their sockets; all the pains and +violent deaths from the lash, and the various engines of torture, and +all the souls that are, or will be eternally damned, as a consequence +of slavery in these United States, ARE ALL JUSTLY CHARGEABLE TO THE +CHURCH; AND HOW MUCH FALLS TO THE SHARE OF THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH YOU +CAN ESTIMATE AS WELL AS I."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The judgments of God are staring this Church full in the face, and +threatening her dissolution. She is all life and nerve in matters of +doctrine, and on some points where men may honestly differ; while sins +of a crimson dye are committed in open day, BY MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH +WITH PERFECT IMPUNITY."</p></div> + +<p>I appeal to you, Sir, and this audience; did George Thompson +ever utter charges against the American churches more awful than +those contained in the extracts I have read—extracts from speeches +made in the General Assembly of the body from which Mr. Breckinridge +is a delegate? I leave for the present the Presbyterians, and +proceed to notice the state of the</p> + + +<h4>METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.</h4> + +<p>Mr. Breckinridge displayed great regard for the reputation of this +body. He believed they were almost free from the sin of slaveholding—their +discipline was most emphatic in its condemnation of it, and +he defied me to show that any Methodist was engaged in the infernal +practice of slave trading. First, as to the probable extent of slavery +in the church. On this point I shall quote from a solemn and authenticated +document issued by a number of ministers in the Methodist +Episcopal body in New England, entitled:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"An appeal on the subject of Slavery, addressed to the members of the +New England and New Hampshire conferences of the Methodist Episcopal +Church;" and signed by</p> + +<p class="author"> +SHIPLEY W. WILSON.<br /> +ABRAM D. MERRILL.<br /> +LA ROY SUNDERLAND.<br /> +GEORGE STORRS.<br /> +JARED PERKINS.<br /> +</p> +<p class="salute">Boston, Dec. 19th, 1834.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>In answer to the question—</p> + +<p>"When will slavery cease from our church, if we continue to alter +our rules against it as we have done for some years past?" they +observe—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"But we will not dwell on this part of our subject; it is painful +enough to think of; and as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, +and as Methodist preachers, we readily confess we are exceedingly +afflicted with a view of it, and still more with a knowledge of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>the +fact, that the "great evil" of slavery has been <i>increasing</i>, both +among the membership and ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, +at a <i>fearful rate</i>, for thirty or forty years past. The general +minutes of our Annual Conferences, announce about 80,000 colored +members in our church; and it is highly probable, from various reasons +which might be named, that <i>as many as sixty thousand, or upwards of +these, are slaves</i>; but what proportion of these and <i>others</i>, are +enslaved by the <i>Methodist members</i> and <i>Methodist preachers</i>, we have +no means of determining precisely; but the <i>alterations</i> which have +been made in the discipline, show at once that <i>the number is neither +few nor small</i>; and if this evil was a "great" one fifty years ago, +what must it be now? What will it be fifty or a hundred years hence, +<i>should the discipline be</i> ALTERED <i>as it has been during half a +century past</i>? Who can tell where this "great" and growing "evil," +will end? We frequently hear Christians and Christian ministers +expressing the greatest fears for the safety of the "political" union +of these United States, whenever the subject of slavery is mentioned; +but no fears as to the prosperity and peace of the Christian church, +though this "evil" be ever so "great," and though it be increased +every day a thousand fold. But can it be supposed that any branch of +the Christian church is in a healthy and prosperous state, while it +slumbers and nurses in its bosom so great an evil."</p></div> + +<p>In reply to the challenge to produce one instance of a slave trading +Methodist, I give the following from "Zion's Watchman," a Methodist +newspaper, published in New York. It is from a letter of a +correspondent of that paper:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A man came among us where I was preaching, a class-leader, from +Georgia, having a regular certificate, who appeared to be very +zealous, exhorting and praying in our meetings, &c. I thought I had +got an excellent helper; but, on inquiring his business, I found he +was a SLAVE TRADER: come on purpose to buy up men, women, and +children, to drive to the South!!! I expostulated with him; but he +said it was not thought wrong where he came from. I told him we could +not countenance such a thing here, and that we could hold no +fellowship with him." He farther told me that on inquiring of a slave +he had with him, what sort of a master he was, he replied, "I have had +four masters, but this is the most cruel of them all;" and told him, +as a proof of it, to look at his back, which, said the minister, "was +cut with a whip, from his head to his heels!!" The Rev. S. W. Wilson, +of Andover, United States, gives also an extract of a letter he had +seen from a gentleman of high standing, who was at the South at the +time of writing, which says, "The South is too much interested in the +continuance of slavery, to hear any thing upon the subject. The +preachers of the gospel are in the same condemnation, and METHODIST +PREACHERS ESPECIALLY. The principal reason why the Methodists in these +regions are more numerous and popular than other denominations is, +THEY STICK SO CLOSELY TO SLAVERY!! THEY DENOUNCE BOTH THE +ABOLITIONISTS AND THE COLONIZATIONISTS."</p></div> + +<p>To show the extent to which THE BAPTIST CHURCHES SHARE THE GUILT OF +THE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA, it will be sufficient to read an +extract from a letter addressed to the Board of Baptist ministers in +and near London, by the Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D., the Corresponding +Secretary of the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. The +testimony is the stronger, because the whole letter is a carefully +written apology for Southern religious slaveholders, and an attempt to +silence the remonstrances of the English churches.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"There is a pleasing degree of union among the multiplying thousands +of Baptists throughout the land. Brethren from all parts of the +country meet in one General Convention and co-operate in sending the +gospel to the heathen. Our Southern brethren are liberal and zealous +in the promotion of every holy enterprize for the extension of the +gospel. THEY ARE, GENERALLY, BOTH MINISTERS AND PEOPLE, +SLAVE-HOLDERS."</p></div> + +<p>In this connection, I may notice the recommendation of the work of +Drs. Cox and Hoby. We are assured by Mr. Breckinridge, (though he +confesses he has not read the book,) that every representation it +contains relative to slavery among "the Baptists in America," may be +relied on. That book, thus endorsed by Mr. B., informs us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> that the +deputation were permitted to sit in the convention at Richmond, +Virginia, only on condition of <i>profound silence</i>, touching the wrongs +of more than two millions of heathenized slaves. We are gravely told +that the introduction of abolition would have been "an INTRUSION, as +RUDE as it would have been UNWELCOME." It would, says the Delegates, +have "FRUSTRATED every object of our mission;" "awakened HOSTILITY, +and kindled DISLIKE;" "roused into EMBITTERED ACTIVITY feelings +between Christian brethren, which must have SEVERED the Baptist +churches." It would have occasioned the "UTTER CONFUSION OF ALL ORDER, +the RUIN of all Christian feeling," and "THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL LOVE +AND FELLOWSHIP;" and the Convention would either have been "DISSOLVED" +by "MAGISTERIAL INFLUENCE," or "THE DELEGATES WOULD HAVE DISSOLVED +THEMSELVES." Yet this was "a sacred and heavenly meeting," in which +"the kindliest emotions, the warmest affections, the loveliest spirit +towards ourselves, (the Baptist Delegates,) towards England and +mankind" existed! Oh, Sir, is it possible to draw a more affecting +picture of the withering and corrupting influences of slavery, than is +here presented to our view in this description of the triennial +convention of Baptist ministers, assembled in the city of Richmond, +Virginia, in the year 1835.</p> + + +<h4>AMOS DRESSER'S CASE.</h4> + +<p>I proceed to notice the case of Amos Dresser; the young man who +was so inhumanly tortured by the citizens and professing Christians of +the city of Nashville, Tennessee. I can assure my opponent, that +the discrepancy in my statements which he has noticed, is an error in +reporting. I am not aware of having ever stated the number of elders +in the committee to be <i>eleven</i>. My statement of the case has +always been simply this—that Mr. Dresser, a pious and respectable +young man, was apprehended in Nashville, on suspicion of being an +abolitionist; brought before a Vigilance Committee, and, according +to "Lynch Law," was sentenced to receive twenty lashes with a +cowskin, on his bare back. That he was so punished; and that upon +the Committee were seven elders of the Presbyterian church, and +one Campbellite minister. The whole case as narrated by Mr. Dresser, +and published in the Cincinnati Gazette, is now before me. The +Committee, by which Mr. Dresser was tried and sentenced, is called a +"Committee of Vigilance and Safety."</p> + +<p>The following are the names of the seven elders in the Presbyterian +Church:</p> + +<p class="author"> +JOHN NICHOL,<br /> +ALPHA KINGSLEY,<br /> +A. A. CASSEDAY,<br /> +WM. ARMSTRONG,<br /> +SAMUEL SEAY,<br /> +S. V. D. STOUT.<br /> +S. C. ROBINSON.<br /> +The name of the Campbellite Minister, THOMAS CLAIBORNE.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +The Committee, after examining his books, papers, and private +memoranda, and hearing his defence, found him guilty—1st. "Of being a +member of an Anti-Slavery Society in Ohio." 2d. "Of having in his +possession periodicals published by the American Anti-Slavery +Society." And 3d. "They BELIEVED he had circulated these periodicals, +and advocated in the community the principles they inculcated." The +Chairman, (says Mr. Dresser,) then pronounced that I was condemned to +receive twenty lashes on my bare back, and ordered to leave the place +in twenty-four hours. This was not an hour previous to the +commencement of the Sabbath. Mr. Dresser gives the following account +of the infliction of the sentence:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I knelt to receive the punishment, which was inflicted by Mr. +Braughton, the city officer, with a HEAVY COWSKIN. When the infliction +ceased, an involuntary feeling of thanksgiving to God, for the +fortitude with which I had been enabled to endure it, arose in my +soul, to which I began aloud to give utterance. The death-like silence +that prevailed for a moment, was suddenly broken, with loud +exclamations, "G—d d—m him, stop his praying." I was raised to my +feet by Mr. Braughton, and conducted by him to my lodging, where it +was thought safe for me to remain but for a few moments.</p> + +<p>"Among my triers, there was a great portion of the respectability of +Nashville. Nearly half the whole number, professors of Christianity, +the reputed stay of the church, supporters of the cause of benevolence +in the form of tract and missionary societies and Sabbath schools, +several members and most of the elders of the Presbyterian church, +from whose hands, but a few days before, I had received the emblems of +the broken body, and shed blood of our blessed Saviour." (!!!!)</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Breckinridge has twice referred to the appearance of a runaway +slave at my lectures in London, and has accused me of carrying him +about with me, to enact interludes during my meeting. I can assure Mr. +Breckinridge that I never had any thing to do with the attendance of +Moses Roper at my meetings, or with the speeches he delivered. On +neither of the occasions mentioned had I any knowledge of his being in +the chapel until I found him among the rest of my auditors. As for +denying the facts stated by him, knowing as I do the brutalizing +effects of slavery, and the state of society in the slave States of +America, it is out of the question. I see nothing in the facts stated +by Moses Roper at all improbable. Since I last came to this city, I +have read in an American newspaper, an account of an affair in +Tennessee, at which the blood runs cold. A black man having committed +some crime, was lodged in prison by the authorities, but being +demanded by the citizens, was given up to them, tied to a tree, and +BURNT ALIVE! During my residence in the United States, a negro was +burnt alive, according to a sentence given by one of the constituted +tribunals of the State! It was called an exemplary punishment, and +many of the papers throughout the country were filled with long and +learned articles, justifying the horrid outrage. Mr. Breckinridge may +point to the laws and the constitution of the country, but I tell him +they and the authorities appointed to enforce them are alike +powerless. I point him to the atrocities of Lynch law all over the +land; to the brutal massacre of the gamblers in Mississippi, where men +in the broad daylight were dragged forth, and tied by the neck to +branches of trees, their eyes starting from their sockets,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> and their +wives driven across the river, in open boats; their lives threatened, +for daring to ask for the dead bodies of their husbands. I ask if any +law reached the fiends in human shape, who perpetrated these deeds. I +ask Mr. Breckinridge if any law punished the felons of Charleston, +who, seizing the public conveyances, violated the constitution, and +the law of the State, by robbing the mail bags of their contents, and +burning them? Did not the Post Master General encouragingly say, "I +cannot sanction, but I will not condemn what you have done. In your +circumstances I would have acted in a similar manner." Need I remind +Mr. Breckinridge of the mobs at the North; the riots of New York; the +sacking of Mr. Tappan's house, and the demolition of colored schools? +Laws there may be, but while slavery exists, and is defended by public +sentiment, and while the ferocious prejudice against color remains, +they will want the "executory principle," without which they are but +cruel mockery.</p> + +<p>A glance at the moral and religious state of the slave population will +show the amount of care and attention exercised by the Christian +churches at the South.</p> + +<p>What says the Rev. C. C. Jones, in a sermon preached before two +associations of planters in Georgia, in 1831?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Generally speaking, they (the slaves,) appear to us to be without +God, and without hope in the world, a NATION OF HEATHEN in our very +midst. We cannot cry out against the Papists for withholding the +Scriptures from the common people, and keeping them in ignorance of +the way of life, for we WITHHOLD the Bible from our servants, and keep +them in ignorance of it, while we will not use the means to have it +read and explained to them. The cry of our perishing servants comes up +to us from the sultry plains as they bend at their toil; it comes up +from their humble cottages when they return at evening to rest their +weary limbs; it comes up to us from the midst of their ignorance, and +superstition, and adultery, and lewdness. We have manifested no +emotions of horror at abandoning the souls of our servants to the +adversary, the roaring lion that walketh about seeking whom he may +devour."</p></div> + +<p>Again: what said the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, in a report +on the state of the colored population, in respect of religious +instruction?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Who would credit it, that in these years of revivals and benevolent +effort, in this Christian Republic, there are over TWO MILLIONS of +human beings in the condition of HEATHEN, and in some respects in a +worse condition. From long continued and close observation, we believe +that their moral and religious condition is such, that they may justly +be considered the HEATHEN of this Christian country, and will bear +comparison with heathen in any country of the world. The negroes are +destitute of the gospel, and EVER WILL BE UNDER THE PRESENT STATE OF +THINGS. In the vast field extending from an entire State beyond the +Potomac, to the Sabine River, and from the Atlantic to the Ohio, there +are to the best of our knowledge, not TWELVE men exclusively devoted +to the religious instruction of the negroes. In the present state of +feeling in the South, a ministry of their own color could neither be +obtained NOR TOLERATED."</p></div> + +<p>Again: what says a writer in a recent number of the Charleston, +South Carolina, Observer?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Let us establish missionaries among our negroes, who, in view of +religious knowledge, are as debasingly ignorant as any one on the +coast of Africa; for I hazard the assertion, that throughout the +bounds of our Synod, there are at least one hundred thousand slaves, +speaking the same language as ourselves, who never HEARD of the plan +of salvation by a Redeemer."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>A writer in the Western Luminary, a respectable religious paper in +Lexington, Kentucky, says,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I proclaim it abroad to the Christian world, that heathenism is as +real in the slave States as it is in the South Sea Islands, and that +our negroes are as justly objects of attention to the American and +other Boards of Foreign Missions, as the Indians of the Western wilds. +What is it constitutes heathenism? Is it to be destitute of a +knowledge of God; of his holy word; never to have heard scarcely a +sentence of it read through life; to know little or nothing of the +history, character, instruction and mission of Jesus Christ; to be +almost totally devoid of moral knowledge and feeling, of sentiments of +probity, truth and chastity? If this constitutes heathenism, then are +there thousands, millions, of heathen in our beloved land. There is +one topic to which I will allude, which will serve to establish the +heathenism of this population. I allude to the universal +licentiousness which prevails. It may be said emphatically, that +chastity is no virtue among them; that its violation neither injures +female character in their own estimation, or that of their master or +mistress. No instruction is ever given; no censure pronounced. I speak +not of the world; I speak of Christian families generally."</p></div> + +<p>Again: I give the words of the son of a Kentucky slaveholder, who +became an abolitionist at Lane Seminary, and has since induced his +father to emancipate his slaves. Hear James A. Thome.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Licentiousness. I shall not speak of the far South, whose sons are +fast melting away under the UNBLUSHING PROFLIGACY which prevails. I +allude to the slaveholding West. It is well known that the slave +lodgings, I refer now to village slaves, are exposed to the entrance +of strangers every hour of the night, and that the SLEEPING APARTMENTS +OF BOTH SEXES ARE COMMON.</p> + +<p>"It is also a fact, that there is no allowed intercourse between the +families and servants, after the work of the day is over. The family, +assembled for the evening, enjoy a conversation elevating and +instructive. But the poor slaves are thrust out. No ties of sacred +home thrown around them; no moral instruction to compensate for the +toils of the day; no intercourse as of man with man; and should one of +the younger members of the family, led by curiosity, steal out into +the filthy kitchen, the child is speedily called back, thinking itself +happy if it escape an angry rebuke. Why is this? The dread of moral +contamination. Most excellent reason; but it reveals a horrid picture. +THE SLAVE CUT OFF FROM ALL COMMUNITY OF FEELING WITH THEIR +MASTER, ROAM OVER THE VILLAGE STREETS, SHOCKING THE EAR WITH THEIR +VULGAR JESTINGS, AND VOLUPTUOUS SONGS, OR OPENING THEIR KITCHENS TO +THE RECEPTION OF THE NEIGHBORING BLACKS, THEY PASS THE EVENING IN +GAMBLING, DANCING, DRINKING, AND THE MOST OBSCENE CONVERSATION, KEPT +UP UNTIL THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT, THEN CROWN THE SCENE WITH +INDISCRIMINATE DEBAUCHERY. WHERE DO THESE THINGS OCCUR? IN THE +KITCHENS OF CHURCH MEMBERS AND ELDERS!</p></div> + +<p>I shall now take the liberty of reading two letters from highly +respectable gentlemen in the South, to friends in New England. The +first is from a clergyman in North Carolina, to one of the Professors +in Bowdoin College, Maine.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You remember that when I was with you last summer, I was much opposed +to the Anti-Slavery Society, and contended that the colonization +scheme was a full, and the only remedy, for the evils of slavery, and +that I made a sort of talk before the students on the subject of +slavery. It was a poor talk, for it was a miserable theme. I do not +think what I said had any effect against the Anti-Slavery people, or +at all strengthened the cause of the Colonization Society. Be this as +it may, I feel it a duty I owe both to myself and to the friends I +have with you, to say, that my views and feelings, which were then +wavering, have since, after mature deliberation and much prayer, been +entirely changed, and that I am now a strong Anti-Slavery man. Yes, +after mature reflection, I am the sworn enemy of slavery in all its +forms, with all its evils. Henceforth it is a part of my religion to +oppose slavery. I am greatly surprised, that I should in any form have +been the apologist of a system, so full of deadly poison to all +holiness and benevolence as slavery, the concocted essence of fraud, +selfishness, and cold-hearted tyranny, and the fruitful parent of +unnumbered evils, both to the oppressor and the oppressed, the one +thousandth part of which has never been brought to light.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you ask, why this change, after residing in a slave country for +twenty years. You recollect the lines of Pope, beginning,</p> + +<div class="poem"><p> +'Vice is a monster of such frightful mein,<br /> +That to be hated, needs but to be seen.'<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>I had become so familiar with the loathsome features of slavery, that +they ceased to offend; besides, I had become a Southern man in all my +feelings, and it is a part of our creed to defend slavery. I had also +considered it was impossible to free the slaves in this country. But +it is unnecessary to investigate the ground of my former opinions. As +to the Colonization Society, I have this among many objections that it +has two faces, one for the North, and a very different one for the +South. If the agents of the Colonization Society will come here and +say what I heard them say in New York, I will insure them a good coat +of tar and feathers for their labor. That Society has few friends +here, a few large slaveholders who by it hope to send off the free +people in their neighborhood, and a few others, whose consciences are +not quite easy, get a salvo by advocating the Colonization Society. +These last are many of them ministers. The mass of the people regard +it as a Yankee plan, and hate it of course. I remember, among other +things, I told the students in my address, that the only way to do +away slavery was to give us more religion. This argument then seemed +to be good. Send us preachers said I, and as religion spreads, slavery +will melt away, it cannot stand the gospel. I did not reflect that the +religion we have here, justifies and upholds slavery. Our religion +does not permit the preacher to touch the subject. It is not the whole +gospel. I have not yet seen the man who would venture to take for his +text, 'Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal.' +If every man in the country was a professor of religion, the religion +we have, it would not much help the cause. I think that I can safely +say that as a general thing, the Presbyterians are by far the best +masters, and give more attention to the religious instruction of their +slaves than others, but I know one of these, an elder, who contends +that slavery is no violation of the law, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor +as thyself,' and whose slaves are driven in the field with the long +whip! But it is just to add, that they are not over-worked, and they +are well fed and clothed. You are at liberty to inform the students, +and others who heard me on that occasion, that I am now an +anti-slavery man; but I do not wish the letter published with my name +to it, as it would be copied by other papers, and find its way back, +and do me injury, for no man is free, fully to express his thoughts in +this country."</p></div> + +<p>The next is from a merchant in St. Louis, Missouri, to a Clergyman in +New Hampshire.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">Saint Louis</span>, Jan. 18, 1835.</p> + +<p>Very Dear Brother.</p> + +<p>I want to say a good deal to you, Brother, on the subject, which seems +to interest you much at this time. I am now, and was before I left +Hartford, an abolitionist; and that too, from deep and thorough +conviction that the eternal rule of right requires the immediate +freedom of every bond-man in this and every other country. Since my +residence in this slaveholding State, I have seen nothing which should +tend to alter my previous sentiments on this subject, on the contrary +much to confirm me in them. You, who reside in happy New England, can +have but very faint conceptions of the blighting and corrupting +influence of Slavery on a community. Although in Missouri we witness +Slavery in its mildest form, yet it is enough to sicken the heart of +benevolence to witness its effects on society generally, and its +awfully demoralizing influence on the slaves themselves: being counted +as property among the cattle and flocks of their possessors, (forgive +the word,) their standard of morality and virtue is on a level +(generally) with the beasts with which they are classed: and I am +credibly informed that many emigrants from the slave states, who own +plantations on the Missouri River, finding themselves disqualified by +their former habits of indolence to compete with emigrants of another +character in enterprize, turn their attention to the raising of slaves +as they would cattle, to be sold to the Negro dealers to go down the +river. What sort of standard of virtue, think you, will have place on +such a plantation; and at what period in the history of our country +will these degraded sons of Africa be christianized under existing +circumstances.</p> + +<p>The ungodly man who is a slaveholder, is well enough pleased with the +efforts and views of the Colonization Society, because he can manage +to throw off responsibility, and date far a-head the time when he +shall be called upon to do right; but state to him the sentiments and +principles of the abolitionists, and he at once begins to froth and +rage—all the malignity of his nature is called into action—and why? +He feels the pressure of responsibility, he acts very like an +impenitent sinner, pricked with the truth, and like him, too, he +either comes on the side of right, or is hardened into a stern +opposer. It is gratifying to notice the gradual influence the +abolition principles are obtaining over the hearts and consciences of +every slaveholding community, especially over the hearts of Christian +slaveholders. Many of them who have allowed the subject to have a +place in their thoughts, are greatly agitated, and dare not sell or +buy again for their peace-sake. But more of this another time."</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +I shall now lay before the meeting the sentiments of General +George M'Duffie, Governor of the State of South Carolina; as contained +in a message delivered by him to the two branches of the Legislature, +towards the close of the last year. I charge these sentiments +upon the State, 1st, because the representatives of its citizens, in a +series of resolutions presented to the Governor, unanimously expressed +their special approbation of them; and 2dly, because I am not +aware that any protest has been entered against them by any part of +the Christian community. Sentiments more atrocious were, perhaps, +never penned.</p> + +<p>The first extract, recommending legislation, has reference to the +diffusion of Anti-Slavery publications.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"IT IS MY DELIBERATE OPINION THAT THE LAWS OF EVERY COMMUNITY SHOULD +PUNISH THIS SPECIES OF INTERFERENCE BY DEATH WITHOUT BENEFIT OF +CLERGY, REGARDING THE AUTHORS OF IT AS ENEMIES TO THE HUMAN RACE. +Nothing could be more appropriate than for South Carolina to set the +example in the present crisis, and I trust the Legislature will not +adjourn till it discharges this high duty of patriotism."</p></div> + +<p>Let us look at the theological views of this profound Statesman on the +subject of Slavery.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>NO HUMAN INSTITUTION, IN MY OPINION, IS MORE MANIFESTLY CONSISTENT +WITH THE WILL OF GOD, THAN DOMESTIC SLAVERY, and no one of his +ordinances is written in more legible characters than that which +consigns the African Race to this condition AS MORE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR +OWN HAPPINESS, THAN ANY OTHER OF WHICH THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE. Whether +we consult the sacred Scriptures or the lights of nature and reason, +we shall find these truths as abundantly apparent as if written with a +sun-beam in the heavens. Under both the Jewish and Christian +dispensations of our religion, DOMESTIC SLAVERY existed with the +unequivocal sanction of its prophets, its apostles, and finally its +great Author. The patriarchs themselves, those chosen instruments of +God, were slaveholders. In fact the divine sanction of this +institution is so plainly written that "he who runs may read" it, and +those over-righteous pretenders and pharisees, who affect to be +scandalized by its existence among us, would do well to inquire how +much more nearly they walk in the way of godliness, than did Abraham, +Isaac and Jacob. That the African negro is DESTINED BY PROVIDENCE TO +OCCUPY THIS CONDITION OF SERVILE DEPENDENCE, is not less manifest. It +is marked on the face, stamped on the skin, and evinced by the +intellectual inferiority, and natural improvidence of his race. THEY +HAVE ALL THE QUALITIES THAT FIT THEM FOR SLAVES, AND NOT ONE OF THOSE +THAT WOULD FIT THEM TO BE FREEMEN, they are utterly unqualified not +only for rational freedom, but for self-government of any kind. They +are in all respects physical, moral and political, inferior to +millions of the human race, who have for consecutive ages dragged out +a wretched existence under a grinding political despotism, and who are +doomed to this hopeless condition by the very qualities which unfit +them for a better. It is utterly astonishing that any enlighted +American, after contemplating all the manifold forms in which even the +white race of mankind are doomed to slavery and oppression, should +suppose it possible to reclaim the Africans from their destiny. THE +CAPACITY TO ENJOY FREEDOM IS AN ATTRIBUTE NOT TO BE COMMUNICATED BY +HUMAN POWER. IT IS AN ENDOWMENT OF GOD, AND ONE OF THE RAREST WHICH IT +HAS PLEASED HIS INSCRUTABLE WISDOM TO BESTOW UPON THE NATIONS OF THE +EARTH. IT IS CONFERRED AS THE REWARD OF MERIT, and only upon those who +are qualified to enjoy it. Until the "Ethiopian can change his skin," +it will he vain to attempt, by any human power, to make freemen of +those whom God has doomed to be slaves, by all their attributes.</p> + +<p>Let not, therefore, the misguided and designing intermeddlers who seek +to destroy our peace, imagining that they are serving the cause of God +by practically arraigning the decrees of his Providence. Indeed it +would scarcely excite surprise, if with the impious audacity of those +who projected the tower of Babel, they should attempt to scale the +battlements of Heaven, and remonstrate with the God of wisdom for +having put THE MARK OF CAIN AND THE CURSE OF HAM upon the African race +instead of the European.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Governor then proceeds to give his views on the political bearings +of the question, and thus sums them up:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"DOMESTIC SLAVERY, THEREFORE, INSTEAD OF BEING A POLITICAL EVIL, IS +THE CORNER STONE OF OUR REPUBLICAN EDIFICE. No patriot who justly +estimates our privileges, will tolerate the idea of emancipation, at +any period however remote, or on any conditions of pecuniary +advantage, however favorable. I would as soon think of opening a +negotiation for selling the liberty of the State at once, as for +making any stipulations for the ultimate emancipation of our slaves. +So deep is my conviction on this subject, that if I were doomed to die +immediately after recording these sentiments, I could say in all +sincerity, and under all the sanctions of Christianity and patriotism, +<span class="smcap">God forbid that my descendants, in the remotest generations, should +live in any other than a community having the institution of DOMESTIC +SLAVERY</span>."</p></div> + +<p>The conduct of the clergy of South Carolina, may be inferred from the +following account of a great <i>pro</i>-slavery meeting, held in the city +of Charleston, to denounce in the most malignant spirit, the +abolitionists of the North:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<h4>(<i>From the Charleston Courier.</i>)<br /> +GREAT AND IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING.</h4> + +<p>One of the most imposing assemblages of citizens in respect of +numbers, intelligence and respectability that we have ever witnessed, +met yesterday morning at the City Hall, to receive the report of the +Committee of twenty-one, appointed by the meeting on the 4th inst. on +the incendiary machinations now in progress against the peace and +welfare of the Southern States. THE CLERGY OF ALL DENOMINATIONS +ATTENDED IN A BODY, LENDING THEIR SANCTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS, AND +AIDING BY THEIR PRESENCE, TO THE IMPRESSIVE CHARACTER OF THE SCENE!</p></div> + +<p>After thundering forth the most violent threats against the discussion +of the subject of slavery, the meeting closed with the following +resolution:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="salute">On the motion of Captain <span class="smcap">Lynch</span>,</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>, That the thanks of this meeting are due to the Reverend +gentlemen of the <span class="smcap">Clergy</span> in this city, who have so promptly, and so +effectually, responded to public sentiment, <span class="smcap">by suspending their +SCHOOLS in which the free colored population were taught</span>; and that +this meeting deem it a patriotic action worthy of all praise, and +proper to be imitated by other teachers of similar schools throughout +the State."</p></div> + +<p>The following document will speak for itself. I commend it to the +consideration of ministers of Christ throughout the world.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<h4>CHARLESTON PRESBYTERY ON SLAVERY.</h4> + +<p>Extract from the minutes of Charleston Union Presbytery, at their +meeting on the 7th of April, 1836.</p> + +<p>With reference to the relation which the church sustains to the +institution of slavery, and the possibility of attempts to agitate the +question in the next General Assembly, this presbytery deem it +expedient to state explicitly the principles which they maintain, and +the course which will be pursued by their commissioners in the +Assembly. It is a principle which meets the views of this body, that +slavery as it exists among us, is a political institution, with which +ecclesiastical judicatories have not the smallest right to interfere; +and in relation to which any such interference, especially at the +present momentous crisis, would be morally wrong and fraught with the +most dangerous and pernicious consequences. Should any attempt be made +to discuss this subject, our Commissioners are expected to meet it at +the very threshold, and of any report, memorial or document, which may +be the occasion of agitating this question in any form. And it is +further expected, that our Commissioners, should the case require it, +will distinctly avow our full conviction of the truth of the +principles which we hold in relation to this subject, and our resolute +determination to abide by them, whatever may be the issue; that it may +appear that the sentiments which we maintain, in common with +Christians at the South, of every denomination, are sentiments which +so fully approve themselves to our consciences, are so identified with +our solemn convictions of duty, that we should maintain them under any +circum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>stances; and at the same time, the peculiar circumstances in +which we are placed, constitute an imperious necessity that we should +act in accordance with these principles, and make it impossible for us +to yield any thing in a matter which concerns not merely our personal +interests, but the cause of Christ, and the peace, if not the very +existence of the Southern community.</p> + +<p>Should our Commissioners fail of accomplishing this object, it is +expected that they will withdraw from the Assembly, with becoming +dignity; not willing to be associated with a body of men who denounce +the ministers and members of Southern churches as pirates and +men-stealers, or who co-operate with those who thus denounce them.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, this Presbytery would suggest to their Commissioners +the expediency of conferring with the Commissioners from other +Southern presbyteries, that there may be a common understanding +between them as to the course most suitable to be pursued at this +crisis, and on this absorbing question. And may that wisdom which is +from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to +be entreated, be their guide in managing the important trust committed +to their hands.</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, That this expression of our views be signed by the +Moderator and Clerk; that a copy be given to each of our Commissioners +to the General Assembly, and that it be published in the Charleston +Observer.</p> + +<p class="author">E. T. BUIST, <i>Moderator</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">B. Gildersleeve</span>, <i>Temporary Clerk</i>.</p></div> + +<p>Resolutions of the Presbyterian Synods of South Carolina and +Georgia, December, 1834.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>Resolved unanimously</i>, That in the opinion of this Synod, Abolition +Societies, and the principles on which they are founded, in the United +States, are inconsistent with the best interests of the slaves, the +rights of the holders, and the great principles of our political +institutions."</p></div> + +<p>The following declaration of sentiments has been published in +Charleston, South Carolina, by the Board of Managers of the Missionary +Society, of the South Carolina Conference of the Methodist +Episcopal Church:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We denounce the principles and opinions of the abolitionists in toto; +and do solemnly declare our conviction and belief, that, whether they +were originated, as some business men have thought, as a money +speculation, or, as some politicians think, for party electioneering +purposes, or, as we are inclined to believe, in a false philosophy, +over-reaching or setting aside the Scriptures through a vain conceit +of higher moral refinement, they are utterly erroneous, and altogether +hurtful. We consider and believe that the Holy Scriptures, so far from +giving any countenance to this delusion, do unequivocally authorize +the relation of master and slave. We hold that a Christian slave must +be submissive, faithful and obedient, for reasons of the same +authority with those which oblige husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, +sisters, to fulfil the duties of these relations. We would employ no +one in the work who might hesitate to teach thus; nor can such an one +be found in the whole number of the preachers in this Conference."</p></div> + +<p>One other document in reference to South Carolina, viz., the +resolutions recently passed by the "Hopewell Presbytery." On the +subject of domestic slavery, this Presbytery believe the following +facts have been most incontrovertibly established, viz:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I. Slavery has existed in the church of God from the time of Abraham +to this day. Members of the church of God have held slaves bought with +their money, and born in their houses; and this relation is not only +recognized, but its duties are defined clearly, both in the Old and +New Testaments.</p> + +<p>II. Emancipation is not mentioned among the duties of the master to +his slave. While obedience "even to the froward" master is enjoined +upon the slave.</p> + +<p>III. No instance can be produced of an otherwise orderly Christian, +being <small>REPROVED</small>, much less <small>EXCOMMUNICATED</small> from the church, for the +single act of holding domestic slaves, from the days of Abraham down +to the date of the modern Abolitionists.</p> + +<p>IV. <span class="smcap">Slavery existed in the United States before our ecclesiastical +body was organized. It is not condemned in our Confession of Faith, +and has always existed in our Church without reproof or condemnation.</span></p> + +<p>V. Slavery is a political institution, with which the Church has +nothing to do, except to inculcate the duties of master and slave, and +to use lawful spiritual means to have all, both bond and free, to +become one in Christ by faith.</p> + +<p>Regarding these positions as undoubtedly true, our views of duty +constrain us to adopt the following resolutions:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, That the political institution of domestic slavery, as it +exists in the South, is not a lawful or constitutional subject of +discussion, much less, of action by the General Assembly.</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, That so soon as the General Assembly passes any +ecclesiastical laws, or recommends any action, which shall interfere +with this institution, this Presbytery will regard such laws and acts +as tyranical and odious; and from that moment will regard itself +independent of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, That our delegates to the approaching Assembly are hereby +enjoined to use all Christian means to prevent the discussion of +domestic slavery in the Assembly; to protest in our name, against all +acts that involve or approve abolition; and to withdraw from the +Assembly and return home, if, in spite of their efforts, acts of this +character shall be passed."</p></div> + +<p>From the official account of the proceedings of the Synod of +Virginia, I take the following</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><h4>REPORT ON ABOLITION.</h4> + +<p>"The Committee to whom were referred the resolutions, &c., have, +according to order, had the same under consideration: and respectfully +report that in their judgment, the following resolutions are necessary +and proper to be adopted by the Synod at the present time.</p> + +<p>"<i>Whereas</i>, The publications and proceedings of certain organized +associations commonly called Anti-slavery, or Abolition Societies, +which have arisen in some parts of our land, have greatly disturbed, +and are still greatly disturbing the peace of the church, and of the +country; and the Synod of Virginia deem it a solemn duty which they +owe to themselves and to the community, to declare their sentiments +upon the subject; therefore,</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved unanimously</i>, That we consider the dogma fiercely +promulgated by said associations; that slavery as it actually exists +in our slaveholding States, is necessarily sinful, and ought to be +immediately abolished, and the conclusions which naturally follow from +that dogma, as directly and palpably contrary to the plainest +principles of common sense and common humanity, and to the clearest +authority of the word of God.</p> + +<p>"2. <i>Resolved unanimously</i>, That in the deliberate judgment of the +Synod, it is the duty of all ministers of the gospel to follow the +example of our Lord and Saviour, and of his apostles in similar +circumstances, in abstaining from all interference with the state of +slavery, as established among us by the Commonwealth, and confining +themselves strictly to their proper province of inculcating upon +masters and slaves the duties enjoined upon them respectively in the +sacred Scriptures, which must tend immediately to promote the welfare +of both, and ultimately to restore the whole world to that state of +holy happiness which is the earnest desire of every Christian heart.</p> + +<p>"The above preamble and resolutions having been severally read, and +adopted by paragraphs, the Moderator asked and obtained leave to vote +with the Synod, on the adoption of the entire report. The question +being put, it was unanimously adopted, every member it is believed, +giving it a hearty response."</p></div> + +<p>The last document I shall quote on this part of the subject, is one +which will fill this meeting with horror; but it is right that it should +be placed on record, to show the opinion entertained by a minister of +the Presbyterian church of his brethren and fellow Christians, and to +show also, what kind of communications pass current among the professed +disciples of Christ in a slaveholding community.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><h5>"To the Sessions of the Presbyterian Congregations within the bounds +of West Hanover Presbytery:</h5> + +<p>"At the approaching stated meeting of our Presbytery, I design to +offer a preamble and string of resolutions on the subject of the use +of wine in the Lord's Supper; and also a preamble and a string of +resolutions on the subject of the treasonable and abominably wicked +interference of the Northern and Eastern fanatics, with our political +and civil rights, our property and our domestic concerns. You are +aware that our clergy, whether with or without reason, are more +suspected by the public than are the clergy of other denominations. +Now, dear Christian brethren, I humbly express it as my earnest wish, +that you quit yourselves like men. <i>If there be any stray goat of a +minister among us, tainted with the blood-hound principles of +abolitionism, let him be ferreted out, silenced, excommunicated, and +left to the public to dispose of him in other respects.</i></p> + +<p class="regards">"Your affectionate brother in the Lord,</p> +<p class="author">"ROBERT N. ANDERSON."!!!</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +I trust I have adduced sufficient evidence upon this heart-rending +topic, and abundantly proved the allegations I have deemed it my duty +to bring against the American churches. No one can accuse me of +wishing that any thing should be believed upon my bare assertion. I +have furnished documentary proof of the truth of all my statements. +Presbyterians, and Conferences, and Ministers, and Elders, and Synods, +and Assemblies have spoken for themselves through their solemn +and accredited Speeches, and Letters, and Reports, and Resolutions. +Judge, therefore, whether I have libelled America; whether I am the +foul traducer that some would have you believe, but for believing +which they supply you no ground, save their own ill-natured vituperations. +Let the facts I have brought before you be deliberately +considered, and let such a verdict be given as will approve itself to +the world and to God. Before sitting down, however, I must observe, +that it has always given me the sincerest pleasure to notice any +Anti-slavery movements among the clergy of America. With delight +I have stated the fact, that in the General Assembly of 1835, +there were FORTY EIGHT immediate Abolitionists. I refer again, +on the present occasion, with unfeigned satisfaction, to the indications +of a better state of things in many portions of the Presbyterian Church. +Mr. Breckinridge has quoted the Assembly's views on the subject of +Slavery; so have I. In the recent meeting of the United Secession +Synod, held a short time since in Edinburgh, I stated fully the sentiments +of the Presbyterian body in America. At the same time, I +could not omit naming one striking fact, viz. that in 1816, the Assembly +struck out of the Confession of the Church, the following note, +adopted in 1794, and which contained the doctrine of the church at +that period on the subject of slaveholding. The note was appended +to the one hundred and forty-second question of the larger catechism.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"1 Tim. 1:10. The law is made for MAN STEALERS. This crime among the +Jews exposed the perpetrators of it to capital punishment; Exodus +21:16; and the apostle here classes them with sinners of the first +rank. The word he uses, in its original import, comprehends all who +are concerned in bringing any of the human race into slavery, OR IN +RETAINING THEM IN IT. Hominum fures, qui servos vel liberos abducunt, +retinent vendunt, vel emunt. Stealers of men are all those who bring +off slaves or freemen AND KEEP, SELL, OR BUY THEM. To steal a free +man, says Grotius, is the highest kind of theft. In other instances, +we only steal human property, but when we steal or retain men in +slavery, we seize those who, in common with ourselves, are constituted +by the original grant, lords of the earth. Genesis 1:28, Vide Poli +synopsin in loc."</p></div> + +<p>Why this note has been cancelled, I shall not attempt to say. +Neither Mr. Breckinridge nor this Assembly need be at any loss to +imagine for what reasons so strong and unequivocal a passage was +omitted by a body in which so large a proportion were slaveholders. +I have recently read, and publicly commended, an address put forth +by the Synod of Kentucky, containing a very faithful, though appalling +disclosure of the state of Slavery in Kentucky; and expressing +an earnest hope that the members of the Presbyterian body will, +without delay, take steps to promote the education and emancipation +of the slaves. Let me also state, that the following ecclesiastical +meetings have passed resolutions, and many of them adopted rules of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +church membership, in accordance with the views of the American +Anti-Slavery Society. Some of them have specially approved the +principles and measures of that body. I beg, while I read this list, to +remind Mr. Breckinridge that these form a part of that ragged regiment, +respecting which he was so merry in one of his by-gone speeches,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>SYNODS of Utica and Cincinnati.<br /> +Eastern Sub-Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.<br /> +PRESBYTERIES of Delaware, Champlain, Erie, Chillicothe, Detroit, and Genesee.<br /> +General Association of New York.<br /> +Central Evangelical Association.<br /> +Cumberland Baptist Association.—Equally divided.<br /> +One Hundred and Eighty-Five Baptist Clergymen.<br /> +The vast majority of the New England and New Hampshire Conferences of Episcopal +Methodists, and a large number of individual Churches.</p></div> + +<p>Thus is the cause advancing! The purifying leaven is extending +through all the country. The elements which are ordained to redeem +America from the pollution and infamy of slavery, are working +mightily. When I went to the United Slates, I took the principles +I found lying comparatively forgotten, and proclaimed them abroad. +I planted myself upon the American Bible, and the American Declaration +of Independence, and preached from these that the varied +tribes of men are of <i>one blood</i>, and that all men should be "free and +equal." I have not labored in vain. There is now a mighty and indomitable +host of pure and ardent friends to the freedom and elevation +of the long degraded colored man. Let us thank God and take +courage, and expect with confidence the speedy arrival of the happy +day, when the soil of America shall be untrodden by the foot of a slave.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. BRECKINRIDGE</span> said he regretted to be obliged to say anything more +on this subject, which he had wished to consider concluded, so far as +he was concerned, at the close of his preceding speech. He felt +obliged, however, by the importance of the whole case, to consume a +portion of this, his last address—and which he had desired to occupy +in a different way—in making a few explanations which seemed +indispensable. It would be observed, first, that the great bulk of the +testimonies produced throughout, and especially in his last speech, by +Mr. Thompson, were individual opinions and assertions, often of +obscure persons, and therefore, for ought the world could tell, +fictitious persons; or if known persons they were often men of the +world, and avowedly acting on worldly principles, and therefore, no +more affording a criterion of the state of the American churches, than +the immoralities of any public functionary here, could be justly made +a rule of judgment of the faith and morals of British Christians. A +considerable portion also were taken from the transient and heated +declamations of violent party newspapers, which wrested from their +original purpose and connection, might mean what never was meant, or +even, if fairly collated, expressed what their authors, perhaps, would +now gladly recall. How far would it be proof of the assertions of Mr. +T. of America—if in some other land, some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> bigot should quote as +indisputable, Mr. Thompson's story of the colored man in Washington +City, whose assertion, at third hand, that he was free, authorised the +declaration that "<i>he had demonstrated his freedom</i>," and yet after +all had been sold into everlasting slavery without a trial! And yet +many of his proofs are of no more value to him, than his assertions +ought to be to any who come after him. It is next most worthy of note, +that so far as all his proofs establish any thing against either any +portion of the American nation or the American church, they all run +upon the assumed truth of all my explanations of their real state and +operations. It is the slaveholding portion, it is the comparatively +small body of slaveholding professors of religion, it is the minority +of the nation, the very small minority of the Christians of it, +implicated continually; and therefore, if every word produced were +true, the sweeping conclusions from them would be gross fraud on the +prevailing ignorance of all American affairs. But what is most +important to observe, and what must be palpable to the capacity of +every child who has attended to this discussion, the weightiest of Mr. +Thompson's proofs ceased to be proofs at all, the moment the facts, +cant words and circumstances connected are explained. He used words in +one sense which he knows you will understand in another—sporting at +once with your good feelings and your want of minute information while +all the result is false as to us, and unhappy as to every thing +concerned, except "Othello's occupation" which meanwhile is +<i>not</i> gone. When decided and perhaps violent terms are used +against "abolition" or "abolitionists" or "anti-slavery" or "the +anti-slavery society," they are adduced to convince you that those who +use them are pro-slavery men: that they understand the terms as you +do; and that it is an expression of rank hostility to all emancipation +on the part of the American tyrants, in whose nostrils according to +this gentleman the slave and freedom equally stink! A metaphor nearly +as full of truth as decency. The fact however is, that although many +would decline the use of the harsh and vindictive language which, +caught from abolitionists, has been turned against them; yet the bulk +of the real sentiments, as brought forward by Mr. Thompson as proofs +of American slavery, on account of American hatred to his peculiar +plans, principles and spirit in attempting its removal, are true, just +and defensible.—And I am ready to advocate and to defend much that he +by a disingenuous citation has made at first odious, and then +characteristic of America. They prove only that he and his coadjutors +are most odious to the country, which is a fact never denied except by +himself or them. And to what has the whole current of his testimony +tended if not to show that they might reasonably have expected and did +a great deal to deserve such a conclusion.—But it is now impossible +to enter again upon these matters and upon the case as presented, he +was willing for the world to pass its verdict. While he would +therefore take no farther notice of any new matter contained in the +last speech, there were several remarks necessary to be made, to +elucidate subjects that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> had already been several times before them. +The first case was that of Amos Dresser the abolitionist whipped at +Nashville. He would pass over what Mr. T. had said relating to his +(Mr. B.'s) notice of the discrepancy in the number of Elders in the +Nashville Church. He had treated that gentleman with great candor in +the matter, which he had returned with incivility and injustice, and +there he was content to let it rest. But how stood the facts of the +case itself? Amos Dresser is reported to have said that there were +seven elders of the church; that all of them were on the committee of +vigilance of Nashville; that <i>most</i> of them were among his triers, and +that <i>some</i> of them had administered the communion to him the +preceding sabbath. Now let us admit that this is literally +true—(which I believe however is not the case, in at least three +particulars)—how does it justify Mr. Thompson in asserting as he did +at London and elsewhere "that on that Lynch Committee <i>there sat seven +Elders and one Minister, some of whom</i> had sat with the young man at +the table of the Lord on the preceding Sunday"? Mr. Thompson +positively contradicts his own and only witness when he says that all +the seven elders sat as triers;—he enlarges his testimony when he +insinuates that they not only concurred in his punishment, but were +present and active in its infliction; and he infers without the least +authority, and adds it to the words of the witness, that those very +elders who administered the Lord's Supper to Dresser, on Sunday +"ploughed up his back"—as Lynch Committee men on a subsequent day of +the same week. How in the name of common honesty is such deceitful +handling of the truth to be tolerated in a Christian community? Oh! +what a spectacle would we behold—if I had but the privilege before +some competent tribunal—to take the published accusations of this man +in my hands and force him to reveal on oath the whole grounds on which +he makes them!—Mr. B. then stated that after he entered the house +to-night two packages had been put into his hands, which he could not +examine then, as he was just about to open the discussion. He had +snatched a moment during the interval to glance his eyes over their +contents, and considered it his duty to say a few words in reference +to each. One of them was a little volume from the pen of Dr. Channing, +of Boston, on the subject of slavery, just passing through the press +of an enterprising bookseller of Glasgow, who had done him the favor +of presenting to him, in very kind terms, the first copy of the +edition. They who would take the trouble of looking over the printed +report of Mr. Thompson's second address to the Glasgow Emancipation +Society, would find that in speaking of the Unitarians of America, he +had used the following language:—"One of their greatest men, a giant +in intellect, had already taken the right view of the subject, and +there could not exist a doubt that ere long, he would bring over the +body to the good cause." In this sentence, as it stands in the speech, +at the end of the words "giant in intellect,"—stands a star,—at the +bottom of the page another, before the words "Dr. Channing." Now it so +happens that in this little book, there is a chapter headed +"Aboli<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>tionism." I have looked through it casually, within the last +hour; and I beseech you all to read it carefully, and judge for +yourselves, of the utter recklessness with which Mr. Thompson makes +assertions. The other parcel, contained a letter from an American +gentleman residing in Britain, and one half of the New York Spectator, +of October 1, 1835. Under the head of editorial correspondence, is an +article above a column and a half in length devoted in great part to +Mr. Thompson. Amongst other passages, it adverts to his doings at +Andover, and the charges made against him there, on such weighty +authority; and in that connexion has the following explicit paragraph:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Thompson in conversation with some of the students repeatedly +averred that every slaveholder in the United States OUGHT TO HAVE HIS +THROAT CUT; or DESERVED TO HAVE HIS THROAT CUT; although he afterwards +publicly denied that he had said so. But the proof is direct and +positive. In conversation with one of the theological students in +regard to the moral instruction which ought to be enjoyed by the +slaves, he distinctly declared THAT EVERY SLAVE SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO +CUT HIS MASTER'S THROAT! I state the fact—knowing the responsibility +I am assuming, and challenge a legal investigation.</p></div> + +<p>On this tremendous document, I make but two remarks—The first is +that Francis Hall & Co. the publishers of the Spectator, were in +character and fortune, perfectly responsible to Mr. Thompson. The +second is, that if Mr. Thompson's rule of judgment was just, in that +branch of this same case—in the exercise of which he declared that +another paper in New York could never be got to publish his exculpatory +certificates in regard to this very transaction, <i>because</i> the publisher +knew them to be true; then we are irresistibly bound on his +own showing to conjecture, that for the same reason he declined +taking up the challenge of the Spectator. There was only one more +topic on which he seemed called on to remark; and that he had several +times passed over, out of consideration of delicacy. It had all +along been his aim to use as little freedom as possible with the names +of individuals—and he could declare, that he had implicated by name, +no one except out of absolute necessity—that he had forborne to say +true but severe things of several who had been most unjustly commended +during this discussion—and had omitted of the very few he +had censured by name, decidedly worse things, than those he had +uttered of them—and which he might have uttered both truly and +pertinently. Amongst the cases of rather peculiar forebearance, was +the oft cited one, of a misguided young man, by the name of Thome, +who went from Kentucky to New York to repeat a most audacious +speech which was no doubt prepared for him, before an assembly +literally the most <i>mixed</i> that was ever convened in that city: having +delivered which, he departed with the pity or contempt of 9 10ths of +all the decent people in it, and went I know not whither, and dwells +I know not where. The victory as there trumpeted, and now celebrated, +of which he was part gainer, consisted of two portions—the +destruction of the colonization cause—and the degradation of Kentucky, +his native state. The death of the Society was signalised by +a subscription of six thousand dollars on the part of its friends; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +the infamy of Kentucky was illustrated by the ready stepping forward +of four of her sons to confront and confound the ingrate who commenced +his career of manhood by smiting his parent in the face. +Who made the defence, may be surmised from Mr. Thompson's bitterness—I +will not trust myself to repeat his name. But this thousands +can testify—that never was a great cause more signally successful—never +were folly and wickedness more thoroughly beaten into the +dust—never did any community heap more cordial and unanimous +applause upon an effort of great and successful eloquence.</p> + +<p>And now, Sir, (said Mr. B., addressing Dr. Wardlaw, the Chairman +of the meeting)—I repeat the expressions of my regret, that +these last moments allowed to me should have been required for any +other purpose than that which so sacredly belonged to them. Exhausted +by a series of most exciting, and to me perfectly new contentions, +I am altogether unequal to the task, which I should yet esteem +myself degraded if I did not attempt in some way to perform.</p> + +<p>To this large committee which has so kindly taken up this subject—so +considerately provided for every contingency—so delicately considered +all my wishes, and even all my weaknesses—to these respected +gentlemen surrounding us upon this platform, whose conduct amid +very peculiar circumstances has been towards me, full of candor, +honor, courtesy and Christian kindness, it would have been most +gross ingratitude, to have forborne this public expression of my regard +and cordial thanks.</p> + +<p>For yourself, Sir, what can I say more, or how could I say less, than +that in that distant country, which I love but too fondly, there are +scores, there are hundreds, who would esteem all the trials through +which this strife has led me, and all the weight of responsibility which +my posture has forced me to assume, more than counter-balanced by +the privilege of looking upon your venerated face. It is good to live +for the whole world; and it is but just to receive in recompense the +world's thanks.</p> + +<p>And you, my respected auditors, whose patience I must needs have +so severely taxed, and who have borne with much that possibly has +tried you deeply, you who have given me so many reasons to thank +you, and not one to regret the errand that brought me here; if in the +course of providence, you or yours, should be thrown on whatever +spot my resting place may be, you need but say, "I come from Glasgow, +and I need a friend," and it shall go hard with me, but I will +find a way to prove, that kindness is never thrown away.</p> + +<p>But even as we part, let us not forget that cause which has chained us +here so long. We are free. Alas! how few can utter these words with +truth! We are Christian men. Alas! what multitudes have never heard +our Master's name. Oh! how horrible must slavery be, when God himself +illustrates the power of sin by calling it bondage! Oh! how sweet +should union with Christ be thought, when he proclaims it glorious +liberty! Freedom and redemption are in our hands; the heritage in +trust for a lost world. It is not then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> our own souls only, but our +divine Lord, and our dying brethren, that we sin against and rob, when +we mismanage or pervert this great inheritance. We needs must labor; +but let us do it wisely. And though we may differ in many things, in +this at least we can agree, to importune our heavenly Father to +prosper by his constant blessing what we do aright, and overrule by +his continued care all that we do amiss. (Cheers.)</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> then rose amidst much cheering, and said, +Sir, after the valedictory address to which we have just listened, it +would ill become me to touch upon any topic calculated to disturb +feelings which I trust and believe that address has awakened in the +breasts of this assembly. Sir, it is my conviction, that I and those +with whom it is my joy and honor to act, in the advancement of the +cause of Universal Emancipation, are much misunderstood. We +are represented as the violent, acrimonious, ferocious and sanguinary +foes of the slaveholder; when, if he could look into our inmost hearts, +he would discover no enmity to him abiding there, but on the contrary, +an earnest desire to promote his safety, his honor, and his happiness. +If we act as we do, it is not that we love him less, but that we +love truth and freedom more. It is not with us a matter of choice +that we pursue our present course, but one of stern imperative duty; +because we believe that God will vouchsafe his blessing only to those +who preach the doctrine of an immediate, entire, and uncompromising +discharge of duty, leaving to Him the consequences flowing from +obedience to His law. To discover truth wherever it is hidden, +should be the aim and effort of every rational mind. It has been my +desire to arrive at truth upon the great question of Slavery; and after +much investigation, and many conflicts, I have reached the conclusion, +that slaveholding is sinful; that man cannot hold property in +man; that to do right, and to do it <i>now</i>, fearless of results, is the +doctrine of the Bible; and that a simple and strict compliance with +the Divine Law, is man's noblest and safest course. These being my +settled views, I say to the slaveholder, give immediate freedom to +your slaves. To the non-slaveholder, I say, preach a pure doctrine; +grapple with the prejudices and fears of the community around you; +strive to raise the tone of public morals, and create a public sentiment +unfavorable to the continuance of slavery. To the private Christian, +I say, betake yourself to prayer, and the study of the Scriptures; and +invoke a blessing upon every righteous instrumentality for the overthrow +of the abomination. To the minister of the gospel, I say, be +bold for God; cry aloud, and spare not, till the merchants of the +earth cease to make merchandise of slaves, and the souls of men.</p> + +<p>Much fault is found with our measures. What, Sir, are our measures, +but the simplest means of making known our principles? Having +deliberately and prayerfully adopted certain views, we take the +ordinary, common sense, every day methods of making those views known, +and of recommending them to the adoption of others. Be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>lieving slavery +to be sin, is it strange that we hate it, and speak strongly +respecting it? Believing immediate emancipation <i>a duty</i>, is it +strange that we pray, and preach, and print about it? That we take all +peaceful means of making known the great truth; of warning men against +the danger of delay; and exhorting them to repentance? The +abolitionists have done no more. To have done less, would have been to +prove themselves unfaithful to the high and heaven-born principles +they profess. They court investigation. They scatter their +publications on the winds to be read by all. They have not an office +nor a book that is not open to the inspection of all. Their language +to all who suspect their motives or their designs is, "search us, and +know our hearts; try us, and know our thoughts; and see if there be +any wicked way in us." If in the ardor of their zeal, and inherited +infirmities, and surrounded by influences, from which none of us are +exempt; they sometimes apply epithets and bring charges with too +little discrimination, "something should be pardoned to the spirit of +liberty;" something granted to the advocates of outraged humanity; to +those, who, remembering them that are in bonds as bound with them, +plead as for mothers, children, sisters, and brothers; at present lost +to all the joys and purposes of life. Sir, I think it hard that on all +occasions like these, the heaviest artillery should be levelled +against the abolitionists, and the small arms only directed against +the slaveholder. I call upon those who act with such gentleness +towards the latter individual; who are so fearful of doing him +injustice and so readily to discover in him any thing that is amiable +in character, or extenuating in conduct, to exercise some small +portion of the same candor and kindness, and consideration towards the +former. Let not <i>that</i> man be most hateful in their eyes, who of all +others is most earnestly engaged for the deliverance of the slave.</p> + +<p>A word before we part, for my honored co-adjutors on the other +side of the Atlantic. Should this be the last address of mine ever delivered +and recorded for perusal when I am gone to give account of +my sayings upon earth, I can with every feeling of sincerity aver, that +to the best of my knowledge and belief, there is not to be found on +the face of the earth at the present time, engaged in any religious or +benevolent enterprise, a body of men more pure in their motives, +more simple and elevated in their aim, more dependent upon divine +aid in their efforts, or, generally speaking, more unexceptionable in +their measures, than the <i>immediate</i> abolitionists of the United States +of America. It has been my high privilege to mingle much with devoted +Christians of all denominations in my native land, and to enjoy +the friendship of some of the noblest and most laborious of living +philanthropists; but I have not yet seen the wisdom, the ardor, the +humanity or the faith of the abolitionists of America exceeded.</p> + +<p>Another word and I have done. It is for one whom I love as a +brother, and to whom my soul is united by a bond which death cannot +dissolve; of one, who, though still young, has for ten years toiled +with unremitting ardor, and unimpeached disinterestedness in the cause<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +of the bleeding slave; of one, who, though accused of scattering +around him fire-brands, arrows and death; though branded as a madman, +an incendiary, and a fanatic; though denounced by the State, +and reviled by a portion of the church, possesses a soul as peaceful +and as pure as ever tenanted our fallen nature. I speak not to exalt +him or gratify his love of praise. I know he seeks not the honor that +cometh from man, nor the riches that perish in the using. He looks +not for his reward on earth. With the approbation of his conscience, +he is content; with the blessing of the perishing, he is rich; with the +favor of God, he is blessed forever. He seeks no monumental marble, +no funeral oration, no proud escutcheon, no partial page of history +to perpetuate his name. He knows that when resting from his +labors, the tears of an enfranchised race</p> + +<div class="poem"><p> +Shall sprinkle the cold dust in which he sleeps,<br /> +Pompless, and from a scornful world withdrawn:<br /> +The laurel, which its malice rent, shall shoot,<br /> +So watered, into life, and mantling throw<br /> +Its verdant honors o'er his grassy tomb.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>That man is <span class="smcap">William Lloyd Garrison</span>. Sir, I thank God for having given +him to the age and country in which he lives. He is a man +pre-eminently qualified for the mighty work in which he has engaged. +May the God of the oppressed bless him, and keep him humble, and cheer +him onwards in his rugged path! May his lion heart never be subdued! +May his eloquent pen never cease to move while a slave breathes to +require its advocacy! Heaven grant, and I can ask no more, that the +wish of his heart may be fulfilled; and that the time may soon come, +when, looking abroad over his beloved country with the soul of a +Patriot, and the eye of a Philanthropist and a Christian, he shall not +be able to discover in State, or city, or town, or hamlet, a lingering +trace of a tyrant or a Slave!</p> + +<p>I shall not, Sir, attempt (turning to the Chairman,) to express the +feelings of my heart towards <i>you</i>, or my opinion of the manner in +which you have discharged the duties of the Chair, through four of the +evenings of this discussion. I cordially unite with the gentleman +opposite, in thanking you for the dignity and strict impartiality with +which you have borne yourself. I know you look for the reward of your +labors of love in another and a better world. In that world may we all +meet! There our jars and discords will be at an end. There we shall +see, eye to eye; and know, even as we are known. There, in the +presence of one Saviour, our joys, our voices, our occupations will be +<i>one</i>; and there I trust that we, who have been antagonists on earth, +will together meet and celebrate the glories of a common redemption +from the sorrows and the sins of earth. (Mr. Thompson resumed his seat +amidst loud and long continued cheers.)</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. THOMPSON</span> moved that the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to +the Rev. Dr. <span class="smcap">Wardlaw</span>, for his able, dignified, and impartial conduct +in the chair, and also to Dr. <span class="smcap">Kidston</span>, who presided on Thursday +evening, which was carried with acclamation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> +<h2>APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<p>In reading the foregoing discussion, we have been utterly astonished +at the grossness and magnitude of the falsehoods—not to mention the +numerous miscolorings and misrepresentations—which the reverend +apologist for slavery has, with brazen effrontery, unblushingly +uttered even though aware of the fact that they were to be published +to the world. It would seem as if feeling the necessity of defending a +desperate cause by desperate means, he had resolved to pour out his +misstatements and inaccuracies with such lavish liberality, that his +opponent would be absolutely unable, in the time allotted to him, to +correct them all, and thus contrive to make some of his falsehoods, +because uncontradicted, pass for truth, and some of his distortions +and perversions for fair representations. The event, we cannot help +thinking, will show that he has presumed with far too much rashness on +the supposed ignorance of the British people. Some of his falsehoods, +mistakes, and misrepresentations, which were either wholly unnoticed, +or not fully answered by Mr. Thompson, for want, as he has informed +us, of time to do it, we shall briefly notice here,</p> + +<p>First, however, we would call attention to the remark, that 'he is not +a slaveholder,' with which Dr. Wardlaw introduced Mr. Breckinridge to +the audience, and in reference to it quote part of a letter from Dr. +A. L. Cox of New York, to the editor of the emancipator. 'The only +knowledge I have on this subject,' says Dr. C., 'is what I derived +from the confession of R. J. Breckinridge, extorted at an anniversary +meeting of the Colonization Society in this city, in the spring of +1834.' After mentioning some of the circumstances which led him to +speak,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> the letter goes on to say, 'Just as Robert J. Breckinridge was +on the point of speaking, one of the assembly inquired, 'Is he a +slaveholder?' The orator seemed somewhat disconcerted, but answered +'<i>I have</i> that honor.'</p> + +<p>In the first evening's discussion, page 6, Mr. Breckinridge +says that the British people 'had sent out agents to America, +who had returned defeated. They have failed—they admit they +have failed in their object.' To say nothing of the accuracy +which speaks in the plural number of a single individual, and +which can easily be excused to one who in encountering him, +probably felt that that individual was himself a host,—when or +where has the alleged admission been made? Never. Nowhere. +The assertion is untrue.</p> + +<p>During the same evening, page 7, Mr. B. tells his audience that 'of +the twelve [free] states, at least four, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and +Maine never had a slave.' What says the United States' census? In +1830, there were 2 slaves in Maine, 6 in Ohio, 3 in Indiana, and +747<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> in Illinois. In 1820, there were 190 in Indiana, and 917 in +Illinois. In 1810, Indiana contained 237, Illinois 168. In 1800, there +were 135 in Indiana. But Mr. B. says, that 'since 1785, till this +hour, there never had been one slave in any of these states.'</p> + +<p>'America,' he tells us, 'was the first nation upon earth, which +abolished the slave trade and made it piracy.' See page 8. This will +be unwelcome news to Messrs. Franklin and Armfield of Alexandira, D. +C., whose standing advertisements in the Washington papers, offer cash +for negroes of both sexes, from 12 to 25 years of age, and announce +the 'regular trips' twice a month, of their vessels engaged in the +slave trade between the District and New Orleans. It will be +unpleasant intelligence in the city of Washington, where for $400 a +year, the 'trade or traffic in slaves' is licensed for the benefit of +the canal fund. It will be news to the keepers of the prisons in the +District, who, in their official capacity, carry on the slave trade by +selling men 'for their prison and other expenses, <i>as the law +directs</i>.'</p> + +<p>But Mr. B. means the <i>foreign</i> slave trade, not the domestic. +The latter, indeed, may be licensed, and protected, and deemed honorable +as it is lucrative. Those who engage in it, may be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +like Armfield and Woolfolk, gentlemen 'of engaging and graceful manners,' reported to be +'mild, indulgent, upright, and scrupulously honest,' but the <i>foreign</i> +trade is <i>piracy</i> by the law of the land. Very meritorious truly! and +worthy of abundant eulogy! to prohibit piracy on the high seas, or the +African coast, while selling permission to do along her own coast, and +on her own territories, the same acts which, when done abroad, +constitute piracy. But to what does her abolition of even the foreign +slave trade amount? Do her cruizers ever capture a slave ship? Seldom, +if ever. Does she consent to such arrangements, in her treaties with +other nations which are in earnest in their endeavors to suppress the +slave trade, as will prevent her flag from being made a protection to +the detestable traffic? No. The N. Y. Journal of Commerce, in a recent +article very truly asserts, that 'We neither do any thing ourselves to +put down the accursed traffic, nor afford any facilities to enable +others to put it down. Nay, rather, we stand between the slave and his +deliverer. We are a drawback—a dead weight on the cause of bleeding +humanity.' And a late number of the Edinburgh Review, speaking of the +application of the British Government to this, for its co-operation, +says, 'The final answer, however, is, that <i>under no condition, in no +form, and with no restrictions, will the United States enter into any +convention or treaty, or make combined efforts of any sort or kind, +with other nations for the suppression of the trade</i>.' With what face, +then, can she claim praise for having merely made a law, which she +almost never executes, and to the execution of which, by others, she +permits her flag to be used as a hindrance.</p> + +<p>The next assertion of Mr. B's that we notice, is the astounding one, +that America, 'as a nation, has done every thing in her power' for the +abolition of slavery. See page 8. This, while the national domain is +the home of slavery and the seat of the slave trade! While the +domestic slave trade, so far from being abolished by the National +Legislature, as it may constitutionally be, is shielded and licensed! +This, while the moral power of the nation is slumbering, or if awake, +arrayed to a great extent, in the defence of slavery! That a man who +values his reputation—that a minister of the gospel of Mr. B's +intelligence and knowledge of the country's condition and history in +regard to this matter, should make such a declaration, is truly most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +wonderful. Could he have expected it to be believed? Could he have +believed it himself?</p> + +<p>Mr. B., page 15, by way of explaining why Mr. Thompson was so +differently received in Glasgow and Boston, applauded in the one +place, and abused in the other, says that he took up the question of +slavery as one of political organization. We give to this assertion, +the answer of the editor of the Emancipator. 'This we pronounce +<i>utterly and unequivocally false</i>. We were with Mr. Thompson, while he +was in this country, as much probably as any other one individual. We +were with him in private and in public, in the house and by the way, +in the public convention and the public lecture, and we most solemnly +declare, that we never heard George Thompson, on any occasion, take up +or discuss the question of American Slavery, 'as one of civil +organization.' He always discussed it primarily and essentially as a +moral and religious question, and never went into its political +relations and bearings, except to answer the objections of cavillers +and opponents. And we are astonished that R. J. Breckinridge should +dare to make such an assertion, when, we venture to say, he never +heard George Thompson in America.'</p> + +<p>The same editor has furnished a better solution than Mr. B's, of +the—not very difficult—problem of Mr. Thompson's different reception +in Boston and Glasgow. 'For the same reason that Knibb, and Taylor, +and Burchell did not meet with the same reception in Glasgow and +Jamaica—because, and simply because the slave spirit was diffused +through the land, infecting and corrupting alike the leading +influences of Church and State, so that Mr. T. could not condemn +slavery and prejudice 'in Boston as in Glasgow,' without constraining +the conviction and the outcry from the implicated and the prejudiced, +"so saying thou condemnest us also."'</p> + +<p>'There is not a sane man in the free states, who does not wish the +world rid of slavery.' This Mr. B. states as his conviction, page 15. +Perhaps it is correct, but if so, there are a great many <i>insane</i> men +in the free states, or a great many who have a very strange way of +manifesting their wishes. The fact is notorious, that Northern men who +remove to the South, almost uniformly become slaveholders the moment +their convenience or pecuniary interest can thereby be promoted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>On page 20, Mr. B. accuses Garrison of having written placards to stir +up a mob against him, when he lectured in Boston, in behalf of +colonization. A charge more utterly false was never made, and it +requires a great exercise of charity to believe that Mr. B. did not +know its falsehood. It will have been seen that Mr. Thompson +challenged proof of the accusation, but none was produced except the +word of the accuser—evidence on which, any reader who compares his +assertions in several other instances, with facts, will place very +little reliance.</p> + +<p>Another of Mr. B's accusations against 'some of the friends of the +Anti-Slavery Society,' is, that they procured a writ to take the two +'African princes,' who had been sent to the Maryland Colonization +Society to be educated, and that Elizur Wright was the instigator of +the measure, on pretence that the boys had been kidnapped. See page +20. The truth of this matter as given in the Emancipator, on Mr. +Wright's authority, is that, on learning that two native African boys, +supposed to be slaves, were on board a schooner in New York harbor, +bound for Baltimore, Mr. Wright made inquiries on board, and could +only learn that they were brought from Africa by a passenger, and +consigned to some one in Baltimore. To make sure of the means of +prosecuting a legal inquiry, a writ was obtained, but as soon as Mr. +W. discovered that the lads were sent to this country to be educated, +he ordered the officer <i>not to serve it</i>.</p> + +<p>The next slanderous charge uttered by the reverend delegate is, that +Elizur Wright tried to stir up a mob to liberate a fugitive slave +confined in New York prison. The story of course is wholly false.</p> + +<p>In the second evening's discussion, Mr. B. says, page 34, the +admission of a clause into the Constitution prohibiting the abolition +of the slave trade for twenty years, 'was one of the brightest virtues +in the escutcheon of America,' A dark escutcheon, then, must be hers, +if the protection of the slave trade for twenty years is the +'brightest' spot on it. The 'importation of such persons,' &c. +(meaning slaves,) 'shall <i>not</i> be prohibited prior to 1808,' says the +Constitution, 'The brightest virtue in her escutcheon!' exclaims Mr. +Breckinridge.</p> + +<p>'It was well known that the slavery existing in the United States was +the mildest to be seen in any country under heaven.' Page 34. Of this +assertion of Mr. B., we have only to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> say in the words of the +Emancipator, 'It is "well known that the slavery existing in the +United States," is <i>not</i> "the mildest to be seen in any country under +heaven," and to say so is demonstration absolute of the most +"unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose to mislead." Witness the fact, +that the man who teaches the slave to read, or gives him the religious +tract, or the Bible even, does it at his peril. Witness the fact, on +the testimony of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, that the +large majority of the slave population are "heathen, and will bear +comparison with the heathen in any country in the world." Witness the +slave-code every where—particularly the following, which is the law +of North Carolina, and in Georgia nearly the same, "that if any person +hereafter shall be guilty of killing a slave, he shall, upon the first +conviction, suffer the same punishment as if he had killed a free +man"—(i. e. if any white man is witness, and will come forward to +testify in the case, for the testimony of a million of colored men +would go for nothing,) and "<i>Provided always, that this act shall not +extend to the person killing a slave outlawed</i>, (and running away, +concealment, and the stealing of a hog, or some animal of the cattle +kind, to sustain life, outlaws him,) <i>or to any slave in the act of +resistance to his lawful owner or master or to any slave</i> DYING UNDER +MODERATE CORRECTION"—thus by the very law which prohibits, giving the +master express license to kill as many, and as often as he pleases, +provided he will only take care to do it, first, when no white men are +present who will inform or testify against him, or secondly, when the +slave is an outlaw; or, thirdly, when he lifts his hand in opposition +to his master, no matter how cruel the punishment or how base the +design upon his or her person; or, fourthly, by "moderate correction." +Let him only see to it, that it is done in one or all of these ways, +and under one or all these circumstances, and if reckless enough to do +so, he may kill ad libitum, and nobody to say why do ye so. Witness +the fact, trumpeted through all the papers within five years, that a +Southern man seeing another passing across his grounds in the evening, +and supposing that he was a runaway slave, <i>shot him dead</i>, because, +although he hailed him, he did not stop—when lo! it appeared that he +had shot a white neighbor, and that, the wind being high, he did not +hear, and therefore did not stop at the summons!—a striking +illustration of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> the carelessness and perfect impunity with which, as +a matter of fact, black men are and may be shot when attempting an +escape from their thraldom. And, once more, witness the fact, that the +way to emancipation is hedged up in this country so as it is in no +other "country under heaven," and then say what but "ignorance, or a +purpose to mislead," could lead to such statements?'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps the great reason against the exercise of that power' [to +abolish slavery in the District of Columbia,] was, that it would +<i>inevitably</i> produce a dissolution of the Union. Put 'this and that +together.' 'There is not a sane man in the free states, but wishes the +world rid of slavery;' the free states contain 'seven millions out of +the eleven millions of the white population of the Union;' (see page +7,) 'a large minority in the slaveholding states, in some nearly one +half of the population,' (see page 13,) 'are <i>zealously</i> engaged in +furthering the abolition of slavery,' and yet the exercise by Congress +of its constitutional power to abolish slavery in the national +district would '<i>inevitably</i> dissolve the Union.' Verily, the old +proverb hath well said that a certain class of persons should have a +good memory.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. sneers at 'Mr. Thompson's argument about the standing army +employed in keeping down the slaves,' and declares that it was +'complete humbug, founded upon just nothing at all.' Will the citizens +of Southampton county, Virginia, who called in the aid of the U. S. +dragoons to quell an insurrection a few years ago, corroborate his +testimony? 'An officer of the United States' army, who was in the +expedition from fortress Monroe, against the Southampton slaves in +1831, speaks with constant horror of the scenes which he was compelled +to witness. Those troops, agreeably to their orders, which were to +exterminate the negroes, killed all that they met with, although they +encountered neither resistance, nor show of resistance: and the first +check given to this wide, barbarous slaughter grew out of the fact, +that the law of Virginia, which provides for the payment to the master +of the full value of an executed slave, was considered as not applying +to the cases of slaves put to death without trial. In consequence of +numerous representations to this effect, sent to the officer of the +United States' army, commanding the expedition, the massacre was +suspended.'—<i>Child's Oration.</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>And what says Mr. B. to this assertion of John Q. Adams, that were it +not for the protection of the western frontier against the Indians, +and of the Southern slaveholder against his human 'machinery,' this +country would scarcely have any need of a standing army. Is that +'complete humbug' too?</p> + +<p>Mr. B. ventures to say that 'there are not ten persons in the whole +state of Kentucky, holding anti-slavery principles, in the Garrison +sense of the word.' Page 40. We know not how many there may be now, +but in 1835, a constitution of a state society, framed on anti-slavery +principles, 'in the Garrison sense of the word,' was signed by more +than forty persons.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. tells about a minister who was driven, he says, from Groton, +Mass., by the storm of abolitionism, and who seems to have fled to +Baltimore, doubtless, seeking a congenial climate. See page 40. But +Mr. B. forgot to mention the many cases in which the <i>slave</i> spirit, +'like a storm of fire and brimstone from hell,' has driven faithful +pastors from their charges, just for the crime of praying and +preaching now and then for the enslaved.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. says of a document from which his opponent quoted certain +Maryland laws that placed the 'benevolent colonization scheme' in any +thing but a favorable light, that it was said in America, and he +believed truly, to contain not the laws, but only schemes of laws +which never passed the Assembly. See page 47. On this the Emancipator +remarks, 'This was never alleged against the pamphlet. The pamphlet +contains the laws precisely as they stand in the statute book of +Maryland, as Mr. B. would have seen had he ever taken the trouble to +compare them. And for him to make such assertions, without having done +so, is only another instance of "unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose +to mislead."'</p> + +<p>In the third evening's discussion, Mr. B. asserted, page 50, that Mr. +Garrison was among the first who opposed the Colonization Society, 'on +the ground that its operations were injurious to the colored race in +America.' To this the Emancipator says, 'This is partly true and +partly not. The Society was decidedly opposed, at the outset, both by +the colored people and by those who, up to that time, had been most +active in promoting the cause of emancipation. As early as August, +1817, the subject came before the "American Convention for Promoting +the Abolition of Slavery," &c., at its session in Philadelphia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> This +body, representing for the most part Friends, and made up of delegates +from abolition and manumission societies in different parts of the +country, after a full discussion, appointed a committee on the +subject. That committee reported, that "they must express their +unqualified wish, that no plan of colonization shall be permitted to +go into effect without an <i>immutable pledge</i> from the slaveholding +states of a just and wise system of gradual emancipation;" and they +conclude their report, which was approved and adopted by the +Convention with the following resolution:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved, As a sense of this Convention, that the gradual +and total emancipation of all persons of color, and their literary +and moral education, should precede their colonization."</p></div> + +<p>When the Convention met again in 1819, the Pennsylvania society, in +sending up a statement of its views and proceedings, warned the +"abolitionists of our country to retain in view the lessons of +experience, and avoid substituting for them, schemes however splendid, +yet of questionable result;" and added, "for ourselves there is but +one principle on which we can act. It is the principle of immutable +justice! We can make no compromise with the prejudices of slavery, or +with the slavery of prejudice. The same arguments that are now urged +against emancipation, unless the subjects of it be removed from our +territory, were used with more plausibility when abolition was an +experiment, yet they were combatted with success."</p> + +<p>Mr. B. says, page 52, it 'would-be difficult, if not utterly +impossible, for evidences of friendship to the Colonization Society +from an avowed friend of slavery to be culled out, as occurring within +the last three or four years.' Says the Emancipator, "So far is this +from being true, that the most decisive evidences of this sort are +found, <i>within</i> the last three or four years. Scarce a pro-slavery +mob, or speech, or meeting, during this whole time, but has contained, +in one and the same breath, a condemmnation of abolition and a +commendation of colonization."</p> + +<p>After quoting the resolution against the Colonization Society, in +Boston last year, Mr. B. remarks, 'that the verbiage of this +resolution, showed its parentage. No one who had ever heard one of Mr. +Thompson's speeches could, for a moment, doubt the authorship of the +resolution!' This is a small mistake indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> and among so many great +ones, scarce merits a notice, but to show that Mr. B's sagacity in +conjecture, exceeds not much his veracity in assertion, we just +mention in passing, that the 'authorship of the resolution' belongs +<i>not</i> to Mr. Thompson.</p> + +<p>'The abolitionists,' says Mr. B. page 54, 'have been going about, from +Dan to Beersheba, not only attacking and vilifying the whites, for +proposing to colonize the blacks, with their own free consent; but +equally attacking the blacks for availing themselves of the offer.' An +assertion utterly false, and wickedly slanderous.</p> + +<p>On page 55, Mr. B. introduces an extract from an address of some of +the Cape Palmas Colonists to their friends in America, for the purpose +of showing the prosperity of the Colony. In connection with this, let +the following letter from a colonist be read:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">'Cape Palmas, May 5th, 1834.</span></p> + +<p><i>Dear Mother</i>,—I write you with regret. It is true, I wrote +to you of my passage, how I enjoyed it. I spent a very agreeable +time, and also on my first arrival; but now I am distressed, +and all Mr. C's family also. * * * O! I am sorry! yes, sorry +that I ever came to this country. It is true, mother, had I +taken your advice, I would not have been here. I have suffered +and all my family, and Mr. C's family too, and we still continue +to suffer. Not a cent of money have any of us got. Now, +mother, if you can get any gentleman to advance the amount of +three hundred dollars, or two hundred and fifty dollars I will +work for them for it four years. I will serve as a waiter in +a house, or any thing at all, to pay for it. My wife says she +would maintain herself and sister, if that could get her home +once more, for here they can do nothing, for we are not able, +the country is so sickly—we have been sick ever since we have +been here—* * * I will serve any way or at any thing. <i>I will +sell myself as a slave</i>, for the sake of getting HOME once more. +Try for me, if you please, for my <i>family's</i> sake. If I was by +myself, I might scuffle for myself.'</p></div> + +<p>In a subsequent letter, dated August 3, 1834, this same writer +communicates the additional intelligence, that Mrs. C 'died of grief.'</p> + +<p>'Every benevolent and right thinking person must see, that the scheme +of colonizing Africa by black men, is necessary to enlighten Africa, +and prevent the extirpation of the black man there.' So says Mr. +Breckinridge. Doubtless it was to <i>enlighten</i> the poor natives, and +<i>prevent their</i> extirpation, that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> brisk traffic in rum, tobacco, +gunpowder, and spear-pointed knives, has been carried on with them by +black men colonized in Africa—that nine pound balls from 'a gun of +great power' were discharged into a body of eight hundred men, +standing within sixty yards, pressed shoulder to shoulder, in so +compact a form that a child might easily walk upon their heads from +one end of the mass to the other' and 'every shot literally spent its +force in a solid mass of living human flesh<a name="FNanchor_A_2" id="FNanchor_A_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a>—that by fraud and +injustice the colonists excited the hostility of the Africans, and +stirred up a war with King Joe Harris, which resulted in the slaughter +of numbers of the ignorant barbarians, who were unable to cope with +the superior arms, and discipline, and military prowess of the +American blacks—the 'missionaries in the holy cause of civilization, +religion, and free institutions.'<a name="FNanchor_B_3" id="FNanchor_B_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a></p> + +<p>'America,' says Mr. B., 'was christianized by colonization.' Yea, +verily! and in this case we have another precious example of the +enlightening, civilizing, and christianizing influence of colonies. +The poor Indian has felt, and faded away before it, along the +Atlantic-shores, and still the 'missionary' work is going on at the +far southwest. Ask the Seminoles and the Creeks if colonization has +not Christianized America. Ask the shades of Metacom, and Canonicus, +and Sarsacus; ask the feeble remnants of the mighty tribes which once +dwelt from the lakes to the Gulf, and from the ocean to the Alleghany, +and learn of them the process of christianization which colonies have +introduced into America. Is it by a similar process that 'colonizing +Africa by black men,' is to 'prevent the extirpation' of the natives +of that continent?</p> + +<p>'The climate' of Africa Mr. B. says, page 58 'suits the black man, +while hundreds of white men have fallen victims to it.' And how many +'hundreds of black men' have fallen victims to it? Those especially +who have gone from the Northern states, have found it as fatal as have +the whites themselves, nor has it been very remarkably healthy to any +portion of the colonists.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. is very certain that colonizing Africa will destroy the +slave trade. He says the colonists 'would put an end to the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +trade the moment they were able to chastise the pirates, or make reprisals +on the nations to which they belonged. Nothing is plainer, than that any +nation that will make reprisals, will have none of the inhabitants +stolen. If reprisals were made effective, the slave trade would be +immediately stopped.' A Christian mode of reforming vices and removing +evils, truly! '<i>Any nation that will make reprisals!</i>' So, if Peter +steals John's child, John must steal Peter's by way of reprisal, and +that will put a stop to the mischief at once! And why not reprisals +prevent all other kinds of violence, as well as man-stealing? If an +Englishman shoots a Frenchman, let a Frenchman shoot an Englishman in +return, and the quarrel is settled, and peace restored! For 'nothing +is plainer, than that any nation that will make reprisals, will have +none of the inhabitants' shot. Does past history sustain this +doctrine? Do present facts sustain it? No longer let our clergy +preach, that 'all they who take the sword, shall perish by the sword.' +'Nothing is plainer,' than that those nations 'which take the sword' +to 'make reprisals,' 'will have none of the inhabitants' injured by +the sword. But where is the need of colonies? If the 'Foulahs' will +only steal as many men, women, and children, from the 'Ialoffs,' as +the latter from the former, 'nothing is plainer than that these two +tribes will have none of the inhabitants stolen.' Do the various +African tribes never make reprisals? How happens it then, that the +slave trade, and the whole business of man-stealing has not been long +since suppressed?</p> + +<p>'On one hundred leagues of the African coast,' says Mr. B., 'it is +already to a great degree suppressed' by the operation of the +colonization societies and their colonies. To this the Emancipator +says, 'These statements are far, very far from true, and we can +account for them only on the ground of "unpardonable ignorance, or a +purpose to mislead." Again and again have we been assured, and on +colonial colonization authority too, that the trade still goes on in +the vicinity of the colony as briskly as ever, nay, that it is even +prosecuted within the limits of the colony, and in sight of Monrovia +itself. Indeed, at this very moment the colony, instead of being able +to suppress or destroy the trade, is in danger of being itself +destroyed by it, and is sending out its appeal to this country for +help, praying that some "American vessels" may be sent upon the coast +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> seize the traders, and to protect the colony. Let our friends in +this country and in England peruse the following extracts from the +Liberia Herald just received in this country, and then say what shall +be thought of the man or the men who, in the face of such and similar +testimony repeatedly received, can unblushingly pretend "that on one +hundred leagues of the African coast, the trade is already to a great +degree suppressed?"</p> + +<p>Extracts from late Liberia papers, received at the office of the N. Y. +Commercial Advertiser:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>Slave Trade.</i>—This nefarious traffic is again lifting its horrid +head in our vicinity, and increasing in a fearful ratio. Within +one hundred miles of the settlement, there are at this very +time, at least <i>four</i> factories for the purchase of slaves, and one +of them not more than eighteen miles off! The consequences +are most severely felt by the colony. It is now impossible to +purchase rice, at any rate that would not starve the most fortunate +man. In our immediate vicinity, it is reported, slavers +have lately given the natives a musket for four cross! the retail +price of which, in the colony, is six dollars! To the Spaniards, +in view of a successful voyage, the profits of which are so enormous, +goods are of no value; but it is far otherwise with us. +The natives, like other men, disposed to get the most for their +articles, will of course sell to those who will give the highest. +This being the case, we ask, <i>how are the people of this colony +to live</i>? We have sometimes thought if the people of the +United States once knew the <i>inconvenience</i> to which the slave +trade subjects us, and what an <i>effectual check</i> it is upon the +advancement and prosperity of the colony, and how little of +those surplus and useless millions, whose proper place of deposite +has created so much contention, that without an exception, +saints and sinners, politicians, philosophers, colonizationists, and +abolitionists, anti-colonizationists, anti-abolitionists, and anti-all, +would rise up, and with one general voice decree, that a small +armed vessel shall ply between Sherbro Islands and Kroo country, +and thus <i>effectually protect</i> a few poor OUTCASTS, while +millions of their brethren are faithfully slaving to enrich us at +home."</p></div> + +<p>And so, notwithstanding the Paradise to which they have +gone, and their "free consent" to go, they are "poor outcasts" +when they get there after all; and the very trade which they +were sent to abolish, is in a fair way of abolishing them, unless +government vessels go out to their aid!'</p> + +<p>Of the remark said to have been made by him at the colonization +meeting, in 1834, that certain emigrants to Liberia 'were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +coerced away, as truly as if it had been done with a cart-whip,' +Mr. B. says 'it was an unfair report, got up by Mr. Leavitt, the +editor of the N. Y. Evangelist, to serve a special purpose.' +The Emancipator answers the assertion thus, 'This passage has +been quoted and requoted in this country, in times and ways well +nigh innumerable, but, to the best of our knowledge, it was +never before pronounced an unfair report, either by Mr. B. or +any other individual. And now, while we leave Mr. Leavitt to +answer for himself on the question of its fairness, we take the +liberty to say, that if unfair, it will not relieve Mr. B. of difficulty. +For if the report be fair, and Mr. B. did say the things +attributed to him, why then, as every body knows, he said what +was true. If, however, it be unfair, and he did not say those +things, then as every body knows, he did <i>not</i> say what was true, +and what, if he had spoken the truth, he would have said. For +that they were "coerced away as truly as if it had been done +with a cart-whip," every body knows to be fact.'</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="salute"><i>Mr. Leavitt's Note to the Editor of the Emancipator.</i></p> + +<p>'In reply to Mr. Breckinridge's allegation, that I "got up" a report +of his speech, "to serve a special purpose," I will only say, that Mr. +Breckinridge did prudently to go across the Atlantic before he made +that charge. My character as a <i>fair</i> reporter, will not be affected +<i>here</i> by such insinuations. I have no doubt that the report in +question gives the ideas Mr. B. uttered, mostly in the very language +he used. My recollection, in this case, is very distinct, and the +words taken down at the time.</p> + +<p class="author">JOSHUA LEAVITT.</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. B. says, that 'in many instances the bad laws had become worse, +and good laws had become bad, solely through the imprudent conduct of +Mr. Thompson's associates.' Some of the most unrighteous, barbarous, +and abominable laws ever enacted in this land, whose rulers have so +long occupied the 'throne of iniquity,' and been so often and so +deeply guilty of 'framing mischief by a law,' are cited in Stroud's +Sketch, a work published several years before 'Mr. Thompson and his +associates' had commenced their 'imprudent' measures. Those laws +certainly were not occasioned by their imprudence. It is nearly a +hundred years at least, since these statutes of pandemonium began to +disgrace American legislation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the fourth evening's discussion, Mr. B. asserts, page 88, that the +N. Y. Observer and Boston Recorder, 'print more matter weekly than all +the abolition newspapers in America, put together, do in half a year.' +It is really matter of astonishment, that he should venture the +utterance of such a glaring falsehood. He ought to have learned to +keep at least within the bounds of probability in his fictions. There +were at the time when his assertion was made—to say nothing of the +monthlies—not less than eight or nine <i>weekly</i> anti-slavery papers, +some of which circulated more widely than the Recorder, and not much +less widely than the Observer. If we do not mistake, Mr. B. told a +story at least forty or fifty times as large as the truth, and we are +by no means sure that the proportion is not much larger.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thompson, for the purpose of showing what the abolitionists are +doing in one department of their work, produced copies of the Slaves +Friend, Anti-Slavery Record, Anti-Slavery Anecdotes, Human Rights, +Emancipator, Liberator, New York Evangelist, Zion's Herald, Zion's +Watchman, Philadelphia Independent Weekly Press, Herald of Freedom, +Lynn Record, New England Spectator, &c., and an Anti-Slavery +Quarterly. Of these, Mr. B. said 'some of them were, he believed, long +ago dead; some could hardly be said ever to have lived; some were +purely occasional; the greater part as limited in circulation, as they +were contemptible in point of merit. Not above two or three of the +dozen or fifteen that had been produced before them were, in fact, +worthy to be called respectable and avowed abolition newspapers.' Now +for the truth. <i>Not one</i> of them was 'long ago,' or is now 'dead.' +Only one of them is 'purely occasional'—the Anti-Slavery +Anecdotes—but, with that exception, all are now alive, and nearly +every one has a circulation as extensive as that of the +Recorder—some, as already stated, still more extensive. And beside +these which Mr. Thompson exhibited, there are several other weekly and +monthly anti-slavery publications, which are neither dead, nor likely +soon to be. The Philanthropist, (its publication suspended indeed, for +a short time by the destruction of its press, but soon to be resumed,) +the Friend of Man, the American Citizen, the Vermont Telegraph, the +Middlebury Free Press, the Vermont State Journal, and a number more, +weekly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> and some monthly periodicals are 'avowed abolition +newspapers,' some of them devoted almost exclusively to this cause, +and all 'respectable' both in character and extent of circulation. +Some of them are of the very highest order in point of ability and +merit, of the weekly periodicals of the country. Mr. T., therefore, +instead of exaggerating in regard to the number of the abolition +papers, fell considerably short of the truth.</p> + +<p>'Was he [the inhabitant of Louisiana] to be told then, that he should +turn off his slaves?' &c., asks Mr. B., page 90, Certainly not—at +least, not by abolitionists. They propose that the slaves should be +permitted to remain on the plantations and work as free laborers, +where their services will be needed, and will be mutually advantageous +to themselves and their employers.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. denies, page 90, that any person legally free, 'was ever sold +into everlasting slavery,' but his denial is only another evidence of +the facility with which he can utter, not only gross falsehoods, but +falsehoods which contradict <i>notorious</i> facts, and which of course +cannot escape detection. Mr. T. has fully exposed this falsehood, by +presenting documentary evidence of the fact denied.</p> + +<p>Of Mr. B's declarations, on page 91, to which we refer the reader, the +Emancipator says, 'All this, if not "gratuitous folly," is at least, +unfounded and reckless assertion, which we have scarcely ever seen +equalled.'</p> + +<p>We ask our readers to turn back, and read again the paragraph on page +97, ending '<i>to</i> COERCE <i>such emigration, might be a</i> MOST SACRED +DUTY,' This has frankness at least, if it has no other good quality to +recommend it. But it is the frankness of the tyrant, who, confident of +his power to effect his purposes, fears not to avow them, however +iniquitous or abominable. And if there be frankness in letting out the +design, there is most unblushing impudence in calling its execution +'<i>a sacred duty</i>.' What utter heartlessness too, and what obliquity of +moral vision does it exhibit. And this man dares to rank himself with +the friends of the colored people! Such a friend as the Holy +Inquisitors of Spain, to the heretical Protestants, whom they deem it +their 'sacred duty to coerce' with rack and fire, to a renunciation of +their heresies. Such a friend as Louis XIV., to the Huguenots,—James +I., to the Puritans, and Charles II., to the Scottish Covenanters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>On page 98, Mr. B. introduces what he calls a speech of Mr. T. at +Andover, as reported by a student in the Theological Seminary. Mr. T. +has met this anonymous report with counter testimony, not anonymous, +but we will add that of the editor of the Emancipator, who says, 'Mr. +B. although so often pretending that he had no documents, &c., here +read the false and distorted account of Mr. Thompson's speech on this +occasion, published at the time in the Boston Courier, and signed C. +Having been there at the time, we here record our testimony to the +fact of its being false and distorted in its representations.'</p> + +<p>Mr. B. on page 109, alludes to what Mr. Thompson has said 'about Dr. +Sprague having part of his church curtained round for persons of +color,' and says he notices it 'only because it was told as a +<i>specimen</i> story.' In the same connection he evidently endeavors to +create the impression that the religious privileges of the free +colored people are equal to those of the whites. On this, the +Emancipator remarks, 'We can testify to the truth of the story in +regard to Dr. Sprague's church; and although every church does not +separate the blacks from the whites with so much care, or in precisely +the same way, yet it is strictly true, that almost, without exception, +the separation is made and carefully kept up, and this not only in the +ordinary worship of the Sabbath, but even when the church gather about +the table of their crucified and common Lord, to partake of the +emblems of his dying love.' And after admitting that colored men have, +in a few instances, been admitted to theological seminaries, and to a +seat in ecclesiastical bodies, the editor adds, and truly, as all +familiar with the facts can testify, 'Such instances, however, are few +and far between, and whenever they do occur, the individuals concerned +are, in many ways, made to feel their inferiority and to <i>know their +place</i>. The impression made by Mr. B's representation would be, as a +whole, incorrect.'</p> + +<p>Mr. B. asserts, page 110, that the free blacks 'in nearly every part +of America,' enjoy all civil rights 'to a degree utterly unknown to +millions of British subjects,' in various parts of the empire, and +'even in England itself.' 'It would be easy,' says the Emancipator, +'to show that he is wrong in several particulars.' And then, as one, +refers to the fact, that the colored man is not secure in his rights +or person, but may be dragged into slavery, even from free states, +without a jury trial. This one fact is certainly sufficient to +disprove Mr. B's assertion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>'But,' says Mr. B. 'If any rights have been denied them,' as for +instance, that of preaching the gospel, 'which Virginia had lately +done,' it was all owing to the fury of abolition. See page 110. Yet +Stroud cites a law of Virginia, dating back as far as 1819, and being +then but the re-enactment of a law before in force, which rendered all +assemblies of slaves and free negroes in a meeting house or other +place by night, or at any school for teaching reading and writing, by +day or night, <i>unlawful</i> assemblies, and subjects any person, slave or +free black, found in them, to the punishment of twenty lashes, by +order of a justice of the peace. Stroud, page 89.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. in the true colonization spirit, takes occasion to slander the +colored people, accusing them of 'insolence and imprudence,' and of +'insulting females in the streets of our cities,' and 'setting up +claim of perfect domestic equality with their masters,' &c. See page +114. We give the Emancipator's note on this wicked accusation, which +is as cruel as it is false. 'This whole representation is false. +Nothing can be more so. The modest deportment and the spirit of +forbearance manifested by the colored people, from the outset, has +been of the most marked as well as praiseworthy character, and in +instances not a few, has secured to them the approbation of avowed +enemies of the anti-slavery cause.' We add our own testimony, so far +as our observation has extended, to the truth of this statement.</p> + +<p>In the fifth evening's debate, Mr. B. complains, page 120, that Mr. +Thompson 'did not tell them that none of the ministers in twelve whole +states were or could easily be slaveholders, seeing they were not +inhabitants of a slave state.' And why should he. Would not the mere +knowledge of the fact, that 'they were not inhabitants of slave +states' render it unnecessary that his hearers should be particularly +informed that they were not slaveholders? Does Mr. B. believe that the +people of Glasgow supposed Northern ministers to be generally +slaveholders? We say <i>generally</i>, for we should not dare to assert +that '<i>none</i>' of them 'were,' whether they '<i>easily</i> could be' or not. +If we have not been misinformed, and we believe we have not, it has +been our fortune, good or ill, to hear a northern slaveholding +minister preach, a minister too, whose pastoral charge was in the very +cradle of this <i>free</i> nation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The overwhelming mass of American ministers,' says Mr. B., 'never +owned a slave, and those who had, were exceptions from the general +rule.' Mr. T. has demolished this position with a most tremendous +broadside of evidence. We add the following quotation, which we find +in the Emancipator, from a document published a few months ago, by the +Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. 'The number of our ministers is +but little more than half the number of our churches, and of those +ministers <i>not one fifth sustain any pastoral relation</i>.' The number +of ministers is about 100, 'and many of them are obliged to devote a +part or the whole of their time to teaching, <i>farming</i>, or some other +secular employment, to procure a support for their families.' Farming +we all know, means in the slave states, 'slaveholding and +slave-driving.'</p> + +<p>Mr. B. seems very indignant at the declarations of his opponent, and +Moses Roper, (a colored man who had been present at some of the +meetings which Mr. T. addressed,) that slaves in America were owned, +not only by ministers and church members, but even by churches +themselves. He calls Roper's statement, 'the poor negro's silly +falsehood,' and says, page 123, 'If there be above five congregations +in all America, that own slaves, I never heard of them.' He then +mentions three of which he has heard, all in the Southern part of +Virginia. The Emancipator, in a note on this part of Mr. B's speech, +remarks, 'True, it is not the <i>general</i> practice for churches or +ecclesiastical societies at the South, to own slaves as church +property, yet we suppose that the practice is by no means uncommon; +and the proof is threefold: <i>first</i>, that a number of instances of the +kind are actually known; <i>second</i>, that when such instances do occur, +they never produce any special sensation in the public mind—are never +spoken of as special and extraordinary cases, and never subjects such +church to reproof or the loss of ecclesiastical fellowship with other +churches; and <i>third</i>, that ministers very generally at the South hold +slaves, and that oftentimes when they are unable to buy for +themselves, some kind friend makes them a present of one or two for +house servants; and if to the ministry, why not the church?' It then +goes on to enumerate two instances, beside those admitted by Mr. B., +of churches holding slaves, and one of a bequest of slaves to the +Missionary Society, [A. B. C. F. M.] and gives also an adver<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>tisement +of the sale of certain property 'belonging to the estate of the late +Rev. Dr. Truman,' including land, 'a library <i>chiefly theological</i>,' +and '<i>twenty-seven negroes</i>, two mules, one horse, and an old wagon.' +The note thus continues, 'And when these notices appeared in the +Southern prints, no body was struck with amazement; no protestation +was given to the public that they were extraordinary cases; no +Christian minister or Christian newspaper, as we are aware, ever +lifted their voice against them as rare cases, or bore their testimony +against them as being as monstrous as they were rare. What then is the +inference? Why, that such things, if not <i>general</i>, are yet never +regarded as singular or uncommon. Now add to these; and others that +might be named, the cases admitted by Mr. B., and to this, add the +fact that Mr. Paxton at least felt that his church in Virginia <i>could</i> +emancipate the <i>fifty</i> slaves they owned, but <i>would</i> not, and then +say whose statements have most of the "silly falsehoods" about them, +those of Mr. B., or the despised but honest-hearted negro?'</p> + +<p>Mr. B. seems to regard it as a mighty grievance, that when there are +so few slaveholding ministers, church members, and churches in +America, his opponent should charge the guilt of slavery upon the +whole American church. But why is not the whole church guilty, if any +of its members persist in committing the sin, and yet are regarded as +worthy members, in regular standing?—if any of its ministers with +hands polluted by the abominable thing, are still allowed, without any +ecclesiastical censure, not only to dispense the bread of life from +the store-house of God's word, but to distribute the emblems of +Christ's body and blood, to those who come around the table to +commemorate a Saviour's dying love?—if any of its branches, claiming +to hold God's image as property, and treating as 'chattels personal,' +their Saviour, in the person of 'one of the least of these' his +'brethren,' are fellow-shipped as sister churches, and unreproved for +their iniquity? 'Who dare pretend,' asks the Emancipator, 'That the +American church does not uphold and countenance Christian slaveholders +in their conduct? True, there are individuals, and individual churches +not a few, who do not, but who bear a faithful testimony against them. +But how is it with the <i>governing influences</i> of the church? Their +character and their acts, and not those of a minority, however<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> large +or respectable are the character and the acts of the church. What then +is the position of the governing influences of the American church in +regard to American slavery? It is that of protection and countenance. +The proceedings of the last General Convention of the Baptists, and +the last General Conference of the Methodists, and the last General +Assembly of the Presbyterians are our confirmation—and they are +"confirmation strong as holy writ." At this very moment, these three +bodies stand before the world as the three great Patrons and +Protectors of American slavery. Deny it as they will, the gains of the +oppressor, the hire kept back by fraud is in their coffers, the blood +of the oppressed stains their garments, and they refuse to confess or +forsake their sin.'</p> + +<p>Mr. B. would doubtless have thought it very uncharitable to cause a +large army of Israelites to turn their backs before their enemies, and +suffer a shameful and disastrous defeat, just because there was <i>one</i> +Achan in the camp.</p> + +<p>We cannot but think that the reverend disputant rather unfortunate in +his reference to the book of Drs. Cox and Hoby, (see page 128,) for +information about the connection of the Baptists with slavery. In +looking there for light on that particular point, the reader might +chance to stumble on some things about the wicked prejudice against +the black man, as well as some sentiments in regard to the treatment +of slaves and free blacks generally, that would ill accord with the +expressed notions of the Presbyterian delegate.</p> + +<p>On page 133, Mr. B. introduces a letter, published in the N. Y. +Observer, and signed Truth, which represents the negroes of South +Carolina as '<i>generally</i> well fed, well clothed,' and enjoying '<i>the +means of religious instruction</i>,' and declares that '<i>great and +increasing efforts are made to instruct them in religion, and elevate +their characters</i>.' We request our readers to turn back and read the +whole letter, and then to compare it with the following extracts from +a report on the subject of the religious instruction of the colored +people, published in 1834, by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. +'We believe that their (the colored population's) moral and religious +condition is such, as that they may justly be considered the <i>heathen</i> +of this christian country, and will bear comparison with heathen in +any country in the world.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The negroes are destitute of the privileges of the gospel, and ever +will be, under the present state of things. There were some exceptions +to this, the Synod say, and they "rejoice" in it; but although our +assertion is broad, we believe that, in general, it will be found to +be correct.'</p> + +<p>'They can have no access to the the scriptures. They are dependent for +their knowledge of Christianity, upon <i>oral instruction</i>. Have they +then that amount of oral instruction, which, in their circumstances, +is necessary to their enjoyment of the gospel? <i>They have not.</i> From +an entire state beyond the Potomac to the Sabine, and from the +Atlantic to the Ohio, there are, to the best of our knowledge, not +<i>twelve</i> men exclusively devoted to the religious instruction of the +negroes.'</p> + +<p>The report then goes on to say that 'the negroes do not have access to +the gospel through the stated ministry of the whites,' that 'a <i>very +small proportion</i> of the ministers in the slaveholding states, <i>pay +any attention to them</i>,' that 'they have no churches, neither is there +sufficient room for their accommodation in white churches,' and that, +in some cases, for want of a place within, 'the negroes who attend, +must catch the gospel as it escapes by the doors and windows.' 'We +venture to say,' the report continues, 'that <i>not a twentieth part</i> of +the negroes attend divine worship on the Sabbath. Thousands and +thousands hear not the sound of the gospel, or <i>ever</i> enter a church +<i>from one year to another</i>.'</p> + +<p>The report says too, that they 'do not enjoy the privileges of the +gospel in private, at their houses, or on their plantations. If the +master is pious, the house servants <i>alone</i>, and frequently few or +none of these attend family worship. In general it does not enter into +the arrangement of the plantations, to make provision for their +religious instruction. We feel warranted, therefore, in the +conclusion, that the negroes are <i>destitute of the privileges of the +gospel, and must continue to be so</i>, if nothing more is done for +them.'</p> + +<p>'We are astonished,' say the Synod, 'thus to find Christianity in +absolute conjunction with <i>Heathenism</i>, and yet conferring few or no +benefits.'</p> + +<p>Our readers, after comparing the above with the letter read by Mr. B., +can decide how much right the author of that letter had to sign it +'Truth.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. B., page 155, endeavors to escape the force of the immense weight +of evidence with which his antagonist presses him to the earth, by +sneering at the witnesses as 'obscure,' and for aught that could be +known, 'fictitious persons,' although the names are generally given, +and yet he quotes evidence to sustain himself, which is absolutely +anonymous. See page 132. The Emancipator pertinently asks, 'Can Mr. B. +tell us who "Truth" and "A New England man" are? Or are the persons as +"fictitious" as their stories?'</p> + +<p>Upon Mr. B.'s assertion that Mr. Thompson's testimonies were of this +worthless character, the Emancipator has the following note. 'We beg +our readers to stop here, and go back and count the documents, and +they will find that the very reverse of what Mr. B. has stated is the +fact; and that while Mr. B.'s <i>main</i> proofs are, first, his <i>own</i> +assertions, and, second, the assertion of individuals, or of anonymous +writers in partisan newspapers, Mr. Thompson's <i>main</i> proofs are the +formal resolutions and declarations of ecclesiastical bodies, and of +those who represent the <i>governing</i> influence in church and state, and +that the testimony of individuals, so far as it is used, is brought in +only as confirmatory of the other.'</p> + +<p>On page 158, Mr. B. attacks Mr. J. A. Thome of Kentucky, with +characteristic virulence, because, in a speech at an Anti-Slavery +meeting, that young man had boldly exposed the abominations of slavery +in his native state. For this act his slanderer calls him 'the ingrate +who commenced his career of manhood, by smiting his parent in the +face.' But he cautiously avoids attempting—what he was doubtless +sensible would be a somewhat difficult task—to disprove the +statements of Mr. Thome. It is a little remarkable that the facts +stated by Thome, and denied by Mr. B. and his brother at the time, +were confirmed abundantly by an article published in the Western +Luminary, a Kentucky paper, on the very day on which Mr. Thome made +his statement in New York. Thus without any concert or arrangement, +two witnesses at a long distance from each other, testified to the +same facts, and unfortunately for the credibility of Mr. Breckinridge, +those were the facts which he was almost at the same time stoutly +denying. Other witnesses of unimpeachable veracity, have since +attested the same facts,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> and now Mr. B.'s impotent efforts to +discredit Mr. Thome, only serve to show his own vexation, malignity +and falsehood.</p> + +<p>We do not pretend to have noticed all the slips of Mr. B.'s 'unruly +member' in this discussion, or to have pointed out every instance in +which he has labored with all that ability and ingenuity which we +readily admit he possesses, to create false impressions on the minds +of his audience; but enough have been pointed out to show in some +measure, the degree of confidence which ought to be reposed in his +veracity as a witness and his candor and fairness as a reasoner.</p> + +<p>A few trifling errors into which Mr. Thompson has fallen, we feel +bound to correct; in proceeding to which, however, we cannot but +remark that considering the shortness of the time which Mr. T. spent +among us, the amount of labor which he performed in lecturing, +addressing conventions, debating, &c. &c. and the large portion of his +time necessarily consumed in social intercourse with his extensive +circle of acquaintance—nay, the very considerable share of it which +was required for the mere answering of applications to lecture, which +came from every quarter; we are actually astonished at the extent and +minuteness of his information, the mass of facts and documents which +he has contrived to collect, and what is more, at the general—the +almost uniform accuracy of his knowledge of American affairs. The +reader has seen how completely furnished he was, how armed at all +points, and ever ready to lay his hand on the very weapon which was +needed at any stage of the conflict, whether to parry the blow aimed +at himself, or to send home to his antagonist's bosom, a vigorous +thrust which neither the dexterity of sophistry could elude, nor the +buckler of brazen falsehood ward off. Indeed the mass of his +documents, and the readiness and aptness to the purpose with which he +used them, seems to have been one of the chief causes of the bitter +vexation which his opponent continually betrays. That he should have +fallen into a few mistakes is nothing surprising—that he should have +fallen into <i>so</i> few, is indeed wonderful, and proves the industry and +diligence with which he labored at times when from the fatiguing +nature, and great amount of his public efforts, one would have +supposed he must have been obliged to indulge in perfect repose. But +to the errors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>He stated the first evening, page 12, that there were now, exclusive +of the publications of the Anti-Slavery Society, one hundred +newspapers boldly advocating the principles of abolition. 'There are,' +says the Emancipator, 'about that number friendly to our cause, and +that occasionally speak in our behalf, but not that <i>boldly advocate</i> +our principles,' or, as perhaps would be the more accurate mode of +expression, that do not boldly advocate our principles, <i>in their +application</i> to the subject to which we apply them.</p> + +<p>On the second evening, Mr. Thompson in speaking of the New York State +Anti-Slavery Convention, page 30, said there were 600 delegates at +Utica the first day, and that when driven away by a mob, these went to +Peterboro', and were there joined by 400 more, making 1000 in all. In +reality, it was estimated that nearly or quite 1000 went to Utica, and +of these only about 400 went to Peterboro'. The error is indeed +immaterial.</p> + +<p>In the fourth evening's debate, Mr. T. alluding to Kaufman's +slanderous story about him, calls Kaufman 'the son of a slaveholder, +and heir to slave property.' Such was supposed to be the case, and we +were not aware that this supposition was erroneous, till we met, in +the Emancipator's note to this remark of Mr. T., an intimation that +this report had been contradicted. 'Mr. K. is from Virginia,' says the +note, 'but we believe not a slaveholder or heir to slave property.'</p> + +<p>These are all the errors we have observed in the statements of Mr. +Thompson, and these are of so little moment that we should not have +considered them worthy of notice in his opponent.</p> + +<p>It is perhaps unnecessary in concluding, formally to acknowledge, what +the reader cannot fail to have perceived, our large indebtedness to +the editor of the Emancipator for aid in the preparation of this +appendix. The truth is, our hands are at this time so plentifully +filled with business, that we have had but little time, to spare for +this work, and were glad to avail ourselves of the labors of one who +had, to such good purpose, just gone over the ground before us.</p> + +<p class="author"> +C. C. BURLEIGH.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="salute">Boston, Sept. 22, 1836.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h4>FOOTNOTES</h4> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> +Called indented apprentices, but from the connection in which it +stands in the census, we infer that they are virtually slaves.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_2" id="Footnote_A_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> +See Gurley's Life of Ashmun, page 139.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_3" id="Footnote_B_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> +Speech of Henry Clay. Tenth Annual Report of the American +Colonization Society.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h2>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +Other than a few punctuation errors and the misprints corrected in the list below, printer's +inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and hyphenation have been retained:<br /><br /> + "solictied" corrected to "solicited" (page 4)<br /> + "conclusinos" corrected to "conclusions" (page 4)<br /> + "belived" corrected to "believed" (page 5)<br /> + "anamoly" corrected to "anomaly" (page 7)<br /> + "wasnot" corrected to "was not" (page 7)<br /> + "Birtish" corrected to "British" (page 8)<br /> + "him self" corrected to "himself" (page 10)<br /> + "alloted" corrected to "allotted" (pages 16, 163)<br /> + "immeditate" corrected to "immediate" (page 18)<br /> + "decison" corrected to "decision" (page 18)<br /> + "spirtual" corrected to "spiritual" (page 18)<br /> + "kidknapped" corrected to "kidnapped" (page 20)<br /> + "aleady" corrected to "already" (page 21)<br /> + "colonziation" corrected to "colonization" (page 23)<br /> + "however. Mr. Thomppson" corrected to "however, Mr. Thompson" (page 33)<br /> + "actualy" corrected to "actually" (page 34)<br /> + "abosolute" corrected to "absolute" (page 35)<br /> + "opionion" corrected to "opinion" (page 36)<br /> + "capacties" corrected to "capacities" (page 37)<br /> + "excercise" corrected to "exercise" (page 38)<br /> + "elighten" corrected to "enlighten" (page 44)<br /> + "commited" corrected to "committed" (page 44)<br /> + "thoughout" corrected to "throughout" (page 87)<br /> + "alledged" corrected to "alleged" (page 111)<br /> + "ojection" corrected to "objection" (page 112)<br /> + "proceedure" corrected to "procedure" (page 113)<br /> + "equesterd" corrected to "requested" (page 135)<br /> + "occuring" corrected to "occurring" (page 171)<br /> + "comendation" corrected to "commendation" (page 171)<br /> + "Engl shman" corrected to "Englishman" (page 174)<br /> + "succesful" corrected to "successful" (page 175)<br /> +</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Discussion on American Slavery, by +George Thompson and Rev. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Discussion on American Slavery + +Author: George Thompson + Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge + +Release Date: May 23, 2010 [EBook #32500] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISCUSSION ON AMERICAN SLAVERY *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + DISCUSSION + ON + AMERICAN SLAVERY, + + BETWEEN + + GEORGE THOMPSON, ESQ., + + AGENT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SOCIETY FOR THE ABOLITION OF + SLAVERY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND + + REV. ROBERT J. BRECKINRIDGE, + + DELEGATE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH + IN THE UNITED STATES, TO THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND + AND WALES: + + HOLDEN IN THE + + REV. DR. WARDLAW'S CHAPEL, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, + + On the Evenings of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th of June, 1836, + + WITH AN APPENDIX. + + + NEGRO UNIVERSITIES PRESS + NEW YORK + + + + + Originally published in 1836 + by Isaac Knapp, Boston + + Reprinted from a copy in the collections + of the Brooklyn Public Library + + Reprinted 1969 by + Negro Universities Press + A DIVISION OF GREENWOOD PRESS, INC. + NEW YORK + + SBN 8371-2766-1 + + PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The following were the preliminary steps connected with the Discussion +reported in the succeeding pages:-- + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE'S Letter, expressing his willingness to meet Mr. +THOMPSON at Glasgow, was occasioned by the following passage in Mr. +THOMPSON'S Letter, which appeared in the _London Patriot_, in reply to +the extracts inserted in that Journal, from the work published by the +Rev. Drs. COX and HOBY, entitled, "The Baptists in America":-- + +"In the mean time, I am ready to meet Dr. COX in Exeter Hall, in his +own chapel, or in any other building, to justify my charges against +America and American Ministers; my general policy in the Anti-Slavery +cause, and any particular act of which Dr. COX complains. I am ready, +also, and anxious to meet any American Clergyman, or other gentleman, +in any part of Great Britain, to discuss the general question, or the +propriety of that interference, of which so much has been said by +persons who are otherwise engaged, and most praiseworthily so, in +interfering with the institutions, social, political, and religious, +of every _other_ quarter of the Globe." + + * * * * * + + +MR. THOMPSON'S CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. + +_To the Editor of the London Patriot._ + +SIR, + +A friend in this city, with whom I have stopped for a day or two, on +my way to Scotland, has put into my hands your paper of the 23d inst., +which contains Mr. George Thompson's letter of the 13th, attacking Dr. +Cox. + +As to the difficulties which exist between those two gentlemen, I, of +course, have no right to speak. + +Mr. Thompson, however, has not contented himself with urging a +particular controversy with Dr. Cox;--nor even a general controversy, +free for all who desire to engage him, or call in question his +'charges against America, and American Ministers'--as slave-holding +Ministers and Christians on the other side of the water. 'But,' says +he, 'I am ready, also, and anxious to meet any American clergyman, or +other gentleman, in any part of Great Britain, to discuss the general +question, &c.:' that is, the general question of his 'charges against +America and American ministers, touching the whole subject of African +slavery in that country.' + +AFTER mature and prayerful consideration, and full consultation with a +few friends, I am not able to see how I can avoid taking notice of +this direct, and almost personal challenge; which, I have some reason +to suspect, was probably intended for me. + +AND yet I feel myself encompassed by many difficulties. For some may +consider me defending the institution of slavery; whereas I myself +believe it to be contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and the natural +rights of men. Others might naturally look for more full proofs, and +more exact information than I can give, when relying almost entirely +upon mere memory. While by far the greater part, I much fear, are as +impatient of all investigation on the subject, as, I am sorry to say, +they seem to me, totally unacquainted with its real condition in +America. + +I have concluded, however, to accept the somewhat boastful challenge +of Mr. Thompson. And I trust the following suggestions and conditions +will be considered most reasonable, when the peculiar circumstances of +the case are considered:-- + +1. I will meet Mr. Thompson at Glasgow, any time during the three +first weeks of June; and spend three or four hours a day, for as many +days consecutively as may be necessary--in discussing the 'general +question,' as involved in his 'charges against America, and American +Ministers,' in reference to the whole subject of slavery there. + +2. BUT as my whole object is to get before the British churches +certain views and suggestions on this subject, which I firmly believe +are indispensable, to prevent the total alienation of British and +American christians from each other; I shall not consider it necessary +to commence the discussion at all, unless such arrangements are +previously made, as will secure the publication, in a cheap and +permanent form, of all that is said and done on the occasion. + +3. I must insist on a patient and fair hearing, by responsible +persons. Therefore I will agree that the audience shall consist of a +select number of gentlemen, say from fifty to five hundred; to be +admitted by ticket only,--and a committee previously agreed on to +distribute the tickets--only to respectable persons. + +I take it for granted that Mr. Thompson would himself prefer Glasgow +to any other city, for the scene of this meeting: as it is the home of +his most active supporters. And while the selection of the particular +time of it cannot be important to him, my own previous arrangements +are such, as to leave me no wider range than that proposed to his +choice above. + +MORE minute arrangements are left to the future; and they can, no +doubt, be easily made. + +I must ask the favour of an early insertion of this note, in the +_Patriot_; and beg to say, through you, to the Editor of the _Glasgow +Chronicle_, that I shall feel obliged by its republication in his +paper. + + R. J. BRECKINRIDGE, + + A Delegate from the General Assembly of the + Presbyterian Church of the U. S. America, + to the Congregational Union of England and + Wales. + + Durham, May 28,1836. + + * * * * * + + +TO THE EDITOR OF THE GLASGOW CHRONICLE. + + London, June 1, 1836. + +SIR, + +I forward you, without a moment's delay, a copy of this evening's +_Patriot_, containing a letter from the Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, +of Baltimore, United States. The following is my reply, which you will +oblige me by immediately inserting, in company with the communication +to which it refers. + +I feel thankful that my overture has been accepted; and, +notwithstanding the arrangements I had made to remain in London during +the whole of the present month, and the announcement of my name in the +public advertisements to lecture during the forthcoming week, I shall, +D. V. be in Glasgow on Tuesday next; and shall be ready to meet Mr. +Breckinridge, in the Religious Institution House, South Frederick +Street, at noon of that day, to settle the preliminaries of the +discussion, which, I trust, will commence the following morning. + +It is my earnest hope, that every thing said and done, will be in +accordance with gentlemanly feeling and christian courtesy. + + Your's respectfully, + + GEORGE THOMPSON. + + * * * * * + + +NOTE. + +The Speeches and Documents in this Pamphlet having been submitted to +the correction of the Speakers, the Report may be relied on as an +accurate and full account of the important proceedings. + + + + +DISCUSSION. + + + + +FIRST NIGHT--MONDAY JUNE 13. + + +Agreeably to public advertisement, the discussion betwixt Mr. GEORGE +THOMPSON and the REV. R. J. BRECKINRIDGE, was opened Monday evening, +June 13. By half-past six, the hour fixed on by the Committee, Dr. +Wardlaw's Chapel contained 1,200 individuals, the number agreed +upon by both parties. A great number could not gain admittance, in +consequence of the tickets allotted, being bought up on Saturday. On +the entrance of the two antagonists, accompanied by the Committee, the +audience warmly cheered them. By appointment of the Committee-- + + * * * * * + +REV. DR. WARDLAW took the Chair. Having thanked the Committee for the +honor they had conferred on him, and which, he trusted, would meet +with the concurrence of the meeting, he said he had accepted the +honorable post with the utmost confidence in the forbearance and +propriety of conduct of the two gentlemen--or antagonists, should he +call them? who were to address the meeting; and also, with the most +perfect confidence in the good conduct and sense of propriety +possessed by the meeting. Had he not possessed such confidence, he +would never have thought of undertaking the present task. Had he +imagined that the present meeting would give way to similar +expressions of feeling as had taken place within these walls on some +former occasions, he would at once have declined the task, as one for +which he was totally unfit,--he was not fit to manage storms. The +parties on the present occasion were different from those to whom they +had listened at the time to which he referred. One of them, it was +true, was the same, and his character all of them knew. They knew his +sentiments, his zeal, his eloquence, his devotedness to the great +cause of which he was the fearless advocate. In reference to his +opponent, on the present occasion, he would not dishonor that +gentleman by naming him along with an individual who had stood before +them formerly in opposition to their eloquent friend. He felt it to be +his duty to introduce to them his friend--for he was allowed to call +him so--the Rev. Mr. Breckinridge. That gentleman had come to this +country, the accredited agent from the Presbyterian church--a large +and influential body of Christians in America, to the congregational +union of England and Wales. It was proper that he should state to the +meeting that Mr. Breckinridge was no advocate of slavery--that he +believed it to be opposed to the letter and spirit of the gospel, and +as a proof how far he was in earnest in his professions in this +matter, he had freely parted with a patrimonial estate so far as it +consisted of slaves. (Cheers.) Having stated this, it might be further +necessary that he should mention what gave rise to the present +meeting. They were all aware, then, he said, that since his return +from America, Mr. George Thompson had been lecturing in various parts +of the kingdom. In the course of his labors he was accused of having +brought extravagant and unfounded charges against the American nation, +and especially against the ministers of religion in that country. In +consequence of this, Mr. Thompson published a challenge in the Patriot +newspaper, in which he called upon any American minister to come +forward and defend his brethren, if he were able, from the charges +which he brought against them. This challenge, through the columns of +the same newspaper, had been accepted by Mr. Breckinridge, and now +they were here met to enter upon the discussion. The Chairman then +read the regulations with regard to the conducting of the discussion +which had been agreed upon by the Committee. In addition to what they +contained, he might add that the chairman was not to be considered +judge of what was relevant or irrelevant, nor was the speaker to be +interrupted on any account. He would especially beg their serious +attention to the rule requiring the entire suppression of every +symptom of approbation or disapprobation. He trusted that his +interference would not be required, but if it were he would feel +himself called upon by imperative duty to enforce this regulation with +the utmost strictness. Mr. Breckinridge had heard from some quarter or +other very unfavorable accounts of the decorum of a Glasgow audience. +He hoped that their conduct on the present occasion would disabuse +that gentleman's mind of any unfavorable opinion he might entertain of +them on that score. In conclusion, he might repeat, that he placed the +most perfect reliance on the good sense and gentlemanly feeling of +both speakers. Let them both, then, be heard fairly. He solicited +favor for neither--he demanded justice for both. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, it was not easy to conceive of circumstances +that were more embarrassing than those in which he was placed this +evening. They had already taken for granted all that had been said and +done on one side of the question; their minds had been already made up +to oppose those conclusions to which it was his purpose to bring them. +Their affections and feelings had long been engaged to his opponent in +this cause; and all that he could say would necessarily have little +effect in changing what he would not hesitate to call those unhappy +opinions, which were long ago formed against him. Another cause of +his embarrassment was, that he would be rejudged of all he might say +here. What he said would be approved by one party in America, but +would be disapproved of by another. In the United States they were +differently situated from what the people were in this country. Here +the people seemed now united on this subject, but in America they were +split up into a great number of different parties, whose opinions and +feelings were arrayed against each other in as great a measure as it +was possible to conceive. Whatever, therefore, he might say in this +country, would be disapproved of by many in the United States, while +nothing was more certain than that, what was said by his opponent, +would the more commend him to his friends on the other side of the +Atlantic; and nothing he could say would probably lower him in the +good opinion of his friends here. Hence arose the difficulty of the +situation in which he (Mr. B.) found himself placed, and his unusual +claim upon their patience in the course of the discussion. Still he +should be unworthy of his country, he should be forgetful of the power +of truth, he would have little trust in God, if he was not ready to +espouse the cause which he believed to be right; and more especially +if he was not ready, before a Scotish and a Christian audience, to +defend the principles he adopted and avowed. He had no desire to +attempt a mitigation of their hatred to slavery; and if, at a future +time, he should meet in America with any one now present, he would +prove to them by the friendship of those who loved and respected him, +and the opposition of those who did not, that he hated slavery as much +as any one of those present could do. It was said by one of the +ancients, 'I am a man: I consider nothing that relates to man, foreign +to me.' It was a true and noble sentiment. The fate of the most +hopeless might be theirs if power could make it so; and their +condition might have been that of the poorest wretch on earth if God +had not smiled upon them and their ancestors as he had done. He did +not wish them to interfere with slavery in America. They might +interfere, but the question was, how were they to do so? He wished in +the course of the discussion to bring before them facts to show, that +if they did at all interfere with slavery in America, it must be done +as between individuals, not as a national question. That, whatever +they did, they do as Christians, not as communities. That they must +not, for a moment, look upon it as a question of rival power and +glory, as a question between Great Britain and America. If they did so +in the slightest degree, their chance of success was gone for ever. In +the prosecution of the question, they should not allow themselves to +be identified in their efforts with any party in America, in politics, +in religion, or metaphysics; more especially, with a small and odious +party as they had done to a deplorable extent. They should not +identify themselves with a party so small as not to be able to obtain +their object, and so erroneous as not to deserve success. Whatever +they did should be done meekly, and in the spirit of the gospel; they +should not press the principles of the gospel with the spirit of a +demon, but with all the sweetness and gentleness of the gospel of +peace. These were the principles which he intended to endeavor to +impress upon their minds by details which he would adduce in the +course of the discussion. It was nothing more than just to the +audience that they should know, that they should understand it +distinctly, that as far as regarded his opponent, he neither was nor +could be any thing more to him or his countrymen than as an individual +who had identified himself with certain parties and principles in +America. Neither he nor the Americans could have any object in +underrating or overrating him. America could have no desire to raise +him up or to pull him down. It is not, it cannot be any thing to +America what any individual is, or may be, in the eyes of his own +countrymen. The King of England is known to America only as the King +of Great Britain; if he ceased to be the King of that kingdom, he was +to them no more than a common individual. Let it not be supposed that +either he or America had any wish, even the most remote, to break down +or injure the well earned or ill earned reputation of his opponent. +They looked upon him only with reference to his principles, and had no +personal motive on earth in reference to that gentleman. Let them not, +therefore, think that in any remarks he might make, or charges he +might bring forward, he had any intention of implicating his opponent +as being solely responsible for these results. He called in question, +not the principles of a particular individual only, but those also of +a party in America, to whom he would have to answer when he returned +to that country. Having said thus much, he would now proceed to the +question before them, but would previously make a few preliminary +remarks, which he thought necessary to enable them to come to a proper +understanding of the subject. He did not think it necessary to trace +the progress of the great cause to the present moment. For forty years +they had suffered defeat after defeat--yet these defeats only +strengthened their cause, even in this country, till they had arrived +at a given point. He would not wish to hurt the feelings of a single +individual now present, but he was sure he spoke the feelings of all +in America, when he said that the great day of their power to do good, +as a nation, was to be dated from the passing of the Reform Bill. From +that period, they started in a new career of action, both at home and +abroad. The sending out of agents was one of the great lines of +operation attempted upon the Americans. This the Americans complained +of as having been done in an imprudent and impossible way, and sure to +meet with defeat. They have sent out agents to America who have +returned defeated. They admit they were not successful, though they +say they retreated only, that they were not defeated. They have +failed--they admit they have failed in their object. One of these +agents on his return made certain statements as to the condition of +the slaves in America; and as to the state of the churches in the +United States, which implicated not only the great body of Christian +ministers of the country, but the government, and the people of +America, except a small handful of individuals. If, as was admitted, +the number of pastors in America was twelve to fifteen thousand, and +only one thousand had embraced these views, were they anything but a +small party? While yet the whole nation was denounced as wicked--and +the wrath of Heaven invoked against the country. It was only a very +small handful that came in for a share of the praise of his opponent; +and the sympathies here were invoked, on the assumption of principles +which it was his object to prove false and unfounded. What could be +the cause of such an anomaly? that those principles which are said to +be loved and admired here, are repudiated there to the extremity of +pertinacious obstinacy? This cause it would be his duty to point out; +first, he would say what perhaps no one would believe, that the +question of American slavery, is in its name not only unjust, but +absurd. There was, properly speaking, no such thing as American +slavery. It was absurd to talk of American slavery, except in so far +as it applied to the sentiments of what was the minority, although he +would say a large minority, which tolerated slavery. It was not an +American question. In America there were twenty-four separate +republics; of these, twelve had no slaves, and twelve of them +tolerated slavery. Two new states had recently been added to the +Union, and God speed the day when others would be added, till the +whole continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific was included in +union, carrying with the union, Liberty and Independence. Of the two +states which were lately added, one was a slave state and the other +free. Of the twelve free, independent, sovereign states of America to +which he had alluded--one, Massachusetts, had, for a longer time than +his opponent had lived, not tolerated slavery. There were no slaves in +Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, +Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois, +and in four of them there never had been a slave. Eight of them, of +their own free will and choice, abolished slavery without money and +without price. By the influence of the Spirit of God, and the +influence of divine truth, they had totally abolished slavery. Of the +twelve states, at least four, Ohio, with a million of inhabitants, +Indiana, Illinois, and Maine, never had a slave. Since 1785 till this +hour, there had not been one slave in any of these states. These +twelve either never had slaves or had abolished slavery without any +remuneration. These states contain seven million out of the eleven +million of the white population of the Union, and nearly two-thirds of +the territorial extent of the republic as now peopled. And when we +remember that they have stood as they now do for the last twenty +years, as it was now more than twenty years since slavery was +abolished, how could they be charged with the responsibility of the +existence of slavery in other states, or be charged with fostering +slavery which they were the first people upon earth to abolish, and +the first to unite with other nations in putting down the slave trade +as piracy. This he was aware would be denied; but though Wilberforce +had labored in the cause for twenty years, the American constitution +had fixed a limited time for the abolition of the slave trade, and the +moment the twenty years had elapsed, the Congress did abolish it; and +this was in the same month, and some days before the Abolition Bill +had passed through Parliament. Thus, America was the first nation on +earth which had abolished the slave trade, and made it piracy. If we +judge by the number of republics which tolerate no slavery--if we +judge by the number of American citizens who abhor slavery, it will be +found not to be an American question, but one applicable only to a +small portion of the nation. If he wished to prove that the British +were idolaters, he could point to millions of idolaters in India, +under the British Government, for every one in America who approved of +slavery. If he wished to prove the British to be Catholics, and +worshippers of the Virgin Mary, he could point to the west of Ireland, +where were one thousand worshippers of the Virgin Mary for every one +in America who did not wish slavery abolished. If he were to return to +America, and get up public meetings, and address them about British +idolatry, because the Indians were Idolaters, or on British +Catholicism, because many of the Irish worshipped the Virgin Mary, +would not the world at once see the absurdity and maliciousness of the +charge; and if he heaped upon Britain every libellous epithet he could +invent--if he got the wise, the good, and the fair, to applaud him, +would not the world see at once the grossness of the absurdity. And +where, then, lay the difference? The United States Government have no +power to abolish slavery in South Carolina--Britain can abolish +idolatry throughout its dominions. It was absurd to say it was an +American question. America, as a nation, was not responsible, either +in the sight of God or man, for the existence of slavery within +certain portions of the Union. As a nation, it had done every thing +within its power. The half hour having now expired, Mr. B. sat down; +and + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON rose. He said he did not stand on the platform this +evening to explain to them his views in reference to slavery. He would +occupy no portion of their time by an exposition of any of the +principles or views entertained by himself on the subject of slavery +as it has existed in our own dependencies, or as it exists in America +at the present moment, or in other portions of the globe. He stood +there to justify that policy which in a distant land he had deemed it +right to pursue; he stood there to justify the policy which had been +adopted and pursued, and was still pursued by certain individuals in +the United States, whether many or few, whether a handful or a +multitude, who were known by the name of the abolitionists of the +United States of America. He stood there to justify himself and them +in the act of fearlessly, constantly, unceasingly, and universally, to +every class and color on the face of the habitable globe, enunciating +the great principles of equal justice and equal rights--of enunciating +this great truth that slaveholding is a crime in the sight of God, and +should be immediately and totally abolished. That God had in no +instance given to man a discretionary power to hold property in his +fellow-man; that instant emancipation was the right of the slave; that +instant manumission was the duty of the master. That no government had +a right to keep a single soul in slavery; that no nation had authority +to permit slavery, let that nation exist where it may; if professing +to be a Christian nation, so much the more atrocious was their +wickedness. The nation which permitted the keeping in slavery of God's +creatures, which allowed the traffic in human beings for 400 pieces of +silver, even in the capital itself, was not entitled to be called a +christian nation, and if professing to be a christian nation, so much +the more pre-eminently wicked and infamous was the nation. By that act +that infamous, wicked nation violated every christian feeling, and was +worthy of being exposed to the scorn and derision of every nation +under heaven, christian or pagan. This was a most momentous question, +and he spoke strongly upon it, but he spoke advisedly. He did not +speak angrily, but he did and must speak warmly on the subject of +Slavery. He could not talk of millions of men and women, each of whom +was endowed with a soul which was precious in the sight of God--each +of whom was endowed with that principle which out-valued worlds--he +could not speak of such, registered with the brutes, with calm +unconcern, or classed with chattels, and be calm--if he could do so, +he should be ready with these nails to open his breast, and tear +therefrom a heart which would be unworthy of a man. He could and would +speak calmly on other topics, but this was a subject which required +energy, unceasing energy, till the evil was removed from the face of +the earth, till all the kingdoms of the world had become the kingdoms +of our God, and of his Christ. He was thankful for the present +opportunity which had been afforded him of entering into this +discussion; he was thankful that his opponent, for so it seemed he +must be called, was an American, that he was a christian minister, +that he was an opponent of slavery, that he brought to the question +before them, talent, learning, patriotism, and christian feeling. Such +an opponent he respected and wished the audience to respect. He would +ask them to cherish his person, to respect his opinions, to weigh his +arguments, to test his facts, and if they were just and righteous, to +adopt his principles. If he (Mr. T.) knew the strongest expression he +had ever used regarding America, he would use it to-night; if he knew +in what recess of his heart his worst wish towards America was +deposited he would drag it forth to the light, that his opponent might +grapple with it in their presence. He would not soften down any of +his language; he would not sugar over his words, he would not abate +one iota of what he had ever said in reference to the wickedness of +America on former occasions. Let his opponent weigh every syllable he +(Mr. T.) had uttered, every statement he had ever made, every charge +he had ever brought against his country or against his cloth, and if +he found that he had exaggerated facts or stated what was not true, he +would be glad to be shown it. He was there before them and his +opponent to search after the truth, truth which would outlive Mr. +Breckinridge--truth which would outlive Geo. Thompson--truth which was +far more valuable than the proudest victory--truth which was +invaluable to both--and let the truth stand out during the discussion +which might follow; and when they had found out the truth, if they saw +anything which had to be taken back--anything to be given up--anything +for which to be sorry, he would try to outstrip his opponent in his +readiness to retract what was wrong, to yield what was untenable, and +to express his sorrow before God and the audience for what he had +undeservedly said of America. With regard to the feelings he +entertained towards the Americans, he need only refer to the last +letter he had published to the American people, from which he would +read a passage to show the feelings he entertained towards that +country, as well as to those of her citizens who might reach these +shores from America. Mr. Thompson then read the following passages:-- + + I love America, because her sons, though my persecutors, are + immortal--because 'they know not what they do,' or if + enlightened and wilful, are so much the more to be pitied and + cared for. I love America, because of the many affectionate + friends I have found upon her shores, by whom I have been + cherished, refreshed and strengthened; and upon whose regard + I place an incalculable value. I love America, for there + dwells the fettered slave--fettered and darkened, and + degraded now, but soon to spring into light and liberty, and + rank on earth, as he is ranked in heaven, 'but a little lower + than the angels.' I love America, because of the many mighty + and magnificent enterprises in which she has embarked for the + salvation of the world. I love her rising spires, her + peaceful villages, and her multiplied means of moral, + literary, and religious improvement. I love her hardy sons, + the tenants of her vallies and her mountains green. I love + her native children of the forest, still roaming, untutored + and untamed, in the unsubdued wildernesses of the 'far west.' + I love your country, because it is the theatre of the + sublimest contest now waging with darkness and despotism, and + misery on the face of the globe; and because your country is + ordained to be the scene of a triumph, as holy in its + character and as glorious in its results, as any ever + achieved through the instrumentality of men. + + But though my soul yearns over America, and I desire nothing + more eagerly than to see her stand forth among the nations of + the world, unsullied in reputation, and omnipotent in energy, + yet shall I, if spared, deem it my duty to publish aloud her + wide and fearful departures from rectitude and mercy. I shall + unceasingly proclaim the wrongs of her enslaved children; + and, while she continues to 'traffic in the souls of men,' + brand her as recreant to the great principles of her + revolutionary struggle, and hypocritical in all her + professions of attachment to the cause of human rights. + + I thank God, I cherish no feelings of bitterness or revenge, + towards any individual in America, my most inveterate enemy + not excepted. Should the sea on which I am about to embark + receive me ere I gain my native shore--should this be the + last letter I ever address to the people of America, Heaven + bears me witness, I with truth and sincerity affirm that, as + I look to be freely forgiven, so freely do I forgive my + persecutors and slanderers and pray--'Lord lay not this sin + to their charge.' + +In another part of the same letter he had thus expressed himself:-- + + Should a kind providence place me again upon the soil of my + birth, and when there, should any American (and I hope many + will) visit that soil to plead the cause of virtue and + philanthropy, and strive in love to provoke us to good works, + let him know that there will be one man who will uphold his + right to liberty of speech, one man who will publicly and + privately assert and maintain the divinity of his commission + to attack sin and alleviate suffering, in every form, in + every latitude, and under whatever sanction and authorities + it may be cloaked and guarded. And coming on such an errand, + I think I may pledge myself in behalf of my country, that he + shall not be driven with a wife and little ones, from the + door of a hotel in less than 36 hours after he first breathes + our air--that he shall not be denounced as an incendiary, a + fanatic, an emissary, an enemy, and a traitor--that he shall + not be assailed with oaths and missiles, while proclaiming + from the pulpit in the house of God, on the evening of a + Christian Sabbath, the doctrines of 'judgment, justice, and + mercy,'--that he shall not be threatened, wherever he goes, + with 'tar and feathers'--that he shall not be repudiated and + abused in newspapers denominated religious, and by men + calling themselves Christian Ministers--that he shall not + have a price set upon his head, and his house surrounded with + ruffians, hired to effect his abduction--that his wife and + children shall not be forced to flee from the hearth of a + friend, lest they should be 'smoked out' by men in civic + authority, and their paid myrmidons--that the mother and her + little ones shall not find at midnight, the house surrounded + by an infuriated multitude, calling with horrible execrations + for the husband and the father--that his lady shall not be + doomed, while in a strange land, to see her babes clinging to + her with affright, exclaiming, 'the mob shan't get papa,' + 'papa is good is he not? the naughty mob shan't get him, + shall they?'--that he shall not, finally, be forced to quit + the most enlightened and christian city of our nation, to + escape the assassin's knife, and return to tell his country, + that in Britain the friend of virtue, humanity, and freedom, + was put beyond the protection of the laws, and the pale of + civilized sympathy, and given over by professor and profane, + to the tender mercies of a blood-thirsty rabble. + +These extracts were from the last letter that he had written to the +people of America, and which had been widely published there; and +he was glad of an opportunity of now laying them before a Glasgow +audience, and of having them incorporated in the proceedings of the +evening, in order to show that he then forgave America, that he now +forgave America. He would stand there to defend the right of Mr. +Breckinridge to a fair hearing from his (Mr. Thompson's) countrymen; +and stand forward as his protector, to save him from the missile that +might be aimed at him, and to receive into his own bosom the dagger +which might be aimed at his heart. His opponent might be anxious to +know what report he (Mr. T.) made on his return to Britain of his +proceedings in America. He would therefore read an extract from the +minutes of the LONDON SOCIETY for UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION:-- + + George Thompson was then introduced to the Committee, and + communicated at length the result of his Mission in the + United States, and the present cheering aspect of the + Anti-Slavery cause in that country. The following is a brief + outline of his statement: + + He desired to be devoutly thankful to Divine Providence for + the signal preservation and help vouchsafed to him in all his + labors, perils, and persecutions. He considered it a high + honor to have been permitted to proclaim in the ears of a + distant people the great principles held by the Society. + + He sailed from this country on the 17th August, 1834, landed + at New York on the 20th September, and commenced his public + labors on the 1st of October. His public Lectures were + continued down to the 20th October, 1835, during which period + he delivered between 2 and 300 public Lectures, besides + innumerable shorter addresses before Committees, Conventions, + Associations, &c. &c. His audiences had invariably been + overflowing, and composed from time to time of members of + State Legislatures, the Heads of Colleges, Professors, + Clergymen of all denominations, members of the legal + profession, and the students of nearly all the Theological + and Academical Institutions in New England. The result of his + labors had been the multiplication of Anti-Slavery + Associations to an unprecedented extent. Up to the month of + May, 1835, he met with no serious or formidable opposition. + At that time the National Society reported the existence of + 250 auxiliaries, and its determination to appropriate during + the ensuing year the sum of 30,000 dollars in the printing of + papers and pamphlets to be gratuitously circulated amongst + the entire white population of the country. The Southern + States, previously almost silent and inoperative, soon after + commenced a system of terrorism, intercepting the public + conveyances, rifling the Mail Bags, scourging, mutilating or + murdering all suspected of holding Anti-Slavery views, and + calling with one consent upon the Free States to pass laws, + abridging the freedom of speech and of the press, upon the + subject of slavery. The North promptly responded to the call + of the South, and in every direction through the Free States + the Abolitionists became the victims of persecution, + proscription and outrage. The friends of Negro freedom every + where endured with a patience and spirit of christian + charity, almost unexampled, the multiplied wrongs and + injuries accumulated upon them. They ceased not to labor for + the Holy cause they had espoused, but perseveringly pursued + their course in the use of all means sanctioned by Justice, + Religion, and the Constitution of their country. The result + had been the rapid extension of their principles, and a vast + accession of moral strength. G. T. gave an appalling account + of the condition of the Southern Churches. The Presbyterians, + Baptists, and Episcopal Methodist Churches were the main + pillars of the system of Slavery. Were they to withdraw their + countenance, and cease to participate in its administration + and profit, it would not exist one year. Bishops, presiding + Elders, Travelling Preachers, Local Preachers, Trustees, + Stewards, Class Leaders, private Members, and other + attendants in the Churches of the Episcopal Methodists, with + the preachers and subordinate members of the other + denominations, are, with few exceptions, Slaveholders. Many + of the preachers, not merely possessing domestic Slaves, but + being planters 'on a pretty extensive scale,' and dividing + their time between the duties of the Pastoral Office and the + driving of a gang of Negroes upon a cotton, tobacco, or rice + plantation. + + In the great pro-Slavery Meetings at Charleston and Richmond, + the clergy of all denominations attended in a body, and at + the bidding of vigilance Committees suspended their Schools + for the instruction of the colored population, receiving as + their reward a vote of thanks from their lay Slaveholding + Brethren 'for their prudent and patriotic conduct.' + + G. T. gave a most encouraging account of the present state of + the Anti-Slavery cause, as nearly as it could be ascertained + by letters recently received. He stated that there were now, + exclusive of the Journals published by the Anti-Slavery + Societies, 100 newspapers boldly advocating the principles of + Abolition. Between 4 and 500 auxiliary associations, + comprising 15 or 1700 Ministers of the Gospel of various + denominations. G. T. stated also a number of particulars, + shewing the rapid progress of correct opinions amongst the + Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists, + producing a Document just received from the last named body, + signed by 185 Clergymen, being a reply to a letter addressed + by the Baptist ministers in and near London to the Baptist + Churches of America, and fully reciprocating all their + sentiments on the subject of immediate and entire + emancipation. The cause was proceeding with accelerated + rapidity. Ten or twelve Agents of the National Society were + incessantly laboring with many others employed by the State + Societies, of which there were seven, viz. Kentucky, (a slave + State,) Ohio, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New + Hampshire, and Vermont. Gerrit Smith, Esq. a competent + authority, had stated that every week witnessed an accession + to the ranks of the Abolitionists of not less than 500, in + the State of New York alone, and he did not know that in all + the Societies there was one intemperate or profane person. G. + T. in describing the character of the persons comprising the + Anti-Slavery Societies in America, stated, that they were + universally men and women of religious principles, and, in + most instances, of unquestioned piety. He had never known any + benevolent enterprise carried forward more in dependence upon + Divine Direction and Divine Aid, than the abolition cause in + the United States. In all their meetings, public or social, + they committed themselves to God in Prayer, and he had found + that those who had been most vehemently denounced as + 'Fanatics and Incendiaries' were men sound in judgment, calm + in temper, deliberate in council, and prudent, though + resolute, in action. The great principle on which all their + Societies were founded was the essential sinfulness of + slaveholding, and the consequent necessity of its immediate + and entire abolition. The great means by which they had + sought to accomplish their object, was the fearless + publication of the truth in love, addressed to the + understandings and hearts of their fellow citizens. + Expediency was a doctrine they abjured. Free from a + time-serving or timid spirit, they boldly relied upon the + righteousness of their cause, the potency of truth, and the + blessing of God. They were entitled to receive from the + Abolitionists of Great Britain the warmest commendation, the + fullest confidence, and most cordial co-operation. + + He was happy in being able to state, that wherever the + principles of immediate abolition had been fully adopted, + prejudice against color had been thrown aside, and that the + members of the Anti-Slavery Societies throughout the country + were endeavoring by every proper means to accomplish the + moral, intellectual, and spiritual elevation of the colored + population. + +He hoped he would yet have ample opportunities of replying to the +positions assumed by his opponent. He thought he would be able to +show that slavery in America was American slavery; that the Congress +of America--that the Constitution of America made it an institution of +the country, and therefore a national sin of America. In reference to +any question as to the Constitution and laws of the United States of +America, he was glad he had to do with a gentleman who knew these +well, who held a high character for his Constitutional and legal +attainments; and he hoped he would be able to show that Slavery in +America was American Slavery--that the people in the North did not +hate slavery--that they did not oppose slavery--that they were the +greatest supporters of slavery in the United States--that slavery in +America was a national question. But he would keep his proofs till he +had time to say something along with them. Our interference was not a +political interference with America, it was only a moral interference, +to put an end to slavery--and he hoped the people of this country, +would continue to denounce slavery in America; and at the same time he +was quite willing that his opponent should denounce the idolatry of +our eastern possessions. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would take up the line of argument in which +he had been proceeding; but before doing so he wished to make one +observation. How did it happen--admitting all that had been said by +his opponent to be true and fair, how did it happen, that the same +arguments and the same principles were so differently received in +different countries? How did it happen that the individual who +advocated the same cause, with the same temper, and almost in the same +words, in Glasgow and in Boston, should in the one place be supported +by general applause, and in the other be ill-treated and despised, and +even made to flee for his life? This was a question which was yet to +be solved. Mr. Thompson had spoken of the Northern states as the +greatest friends of slavery, forgetting that he had formerly +represented the clergy as such. This was one of the principal reasons +of his want of success--of what might justly be called his signal +failure. He had brought unjust charges against an entire people, and +had in consequence been ill-treated. Mr. Thompson had shown the better +part of valor, discretion, in taking care never to visit any of the +slave states. He had never seen a slaveholder, except, perhaps, he had +met such an individual in a free state. At least if he had done so, it +was a circumstance which was not generally known, one of those hidden +things of which it was not permitted to read. Having made this +observation, he (Mr. B.) would proceed to state that in the +slaveholding states there was a large minority--in some, nearly one +half of the population--zealously engaged in furthering the abolition +of slavery. In Kentucky, slaveholding had been introduced only by a +small majority. When some time after, a convention canvassed the +subject, that majority was diminished, and, still at this hour in that +State, in which he had been born, one of the greatest political +questions agitated was whether slaveholding should be abolished or +retained as an element of the constitution. A law had long ago been +passed imposing a fine of six hundred dollars on whoever brought a +slave into the State for sale, and three hundred dollars on whoever +bought him. A fine of nine hundred dollars was thus made the penalty +of introducing a slave into Kentucky as merchandise. He was sorry to +have to speak of buying and selling human beings; but, to be +understood, it was absolutely necessary that he should do so. In +Virginia also, from which Kentucky had been in great measure peopled, +not many years ago a frightful insurrection had taken place, and many +cruelties had been practised--it was needless to say whether most on +the side of the blacks or the whites. The succeeding legislature of +that State took up the question of slavery in its length and +breadth--passed a law for giving $20,000 to the Colonization +Society,--and rejected only by a small majority a proposal to +appropriate that fund equally to the benefit of slaves to be set +free--as of those already free. He mentioned these things merely to +show that there was a great and an increasing party in the south +favorable to the abolition of negro slavery. In fact, in some of the +Southern states the free people of color had increased faster than the +whites; in Maryland alone there were 52,000 of a free colored +population, all of whom, or their immediate progenitors, had been +voluntarily manumitted. It was needless to say, therefore, that in the +Southern states there was no anti-slavery party. There certainly was +not such a party in Mr. Thompson's sense of the word; but Mr. +Thompson's definition was not the correct one, as he (Mr. B.) would +explain directly. Was it fair then, he would ask, to hold up to the +British public, not only the people of the free states, but also this +great minority in the Southern states as pro-slavery men. Let slavery +be denounced, but let not the denunciation fall upon the whole +American people, many of whom were doing all they could for its +abolition. If Louisiana resolved on perpetuating slavery, let this be +told of Louisiana. If South Carolina adhered to the system, say so of +South Carolina; but do not implicate the mass of the American people, +so many of whom are as much opposed to slavery as is Mr. Thompson +himself. He had heard it said that the sun never sat on the British +dominions. As well, then, might the British people be identified with +the idolatry which prevailed in Hindostan as the Americans be +identified with negro slavery. The question was not American; it +existed solely between the slaveholder and the world. It was unfair, +therefore, to blame the Americans as a nation: the slaveholder, and +the slaveholder alone, should be blamed, let him reside where he +might. Having thus disposed of the first branch of his argument, he +was naturally led to explain the wonderful phenomenon of Mr. +Thompson's reception in America--to give a reason why that reception +was so different from what the same gentleman met with in Glasgow. +Mr. Thompson had taken up the question as one of civil organization. +Now the fact was, that the American nation was divided into two +parties on the subject, namely, the pro-slavery, and the anti-slavery +parties. One party said, let it alone; the other, and by far the most +numerous party, said, something ought to be done in relation to it. In +the last named class, was to be included the population of all the +non-slaveholding states. He declared, in the presence of God, his +conviction, that there was not a sane man in the free states who did +not wish the world rid of slavery. He believed the same of a large +minority in the states in which slavery existed. The pro-slavery party +themselves were also divided. One section, and he rejoiced to add, a +small one, called into exertion in fact only by that effervesence +which had been produced by the violence of Mr. T's friends--spoke of +slavery as an exceedingly good thing--as not only consistent with the +law of God, but as absolutely necessary for the advancement of +civilization. This party was organised within the last few years, and +met the violence of Mr. Thompson's party by a corresponding violence, +as a beam naturally seeks its balance. Another section of the +pro-slavery party, considered slavery a great evil, and wished that it +were abolished, but they did not see how this could be effected. They +had been born in a state of society where it had an existence, and +they could see no course to adopt but to let it cure itself. These +were the two sections into which the supporters of slavery were +divided. The anti-slavery party was also composed of individuals who +had different views of the subject. The one class had been called +Gradualists, Emancipationists, and Colonizationists.--The other were +called Abolitionists. With the latter class, Mr. Thompson had +identified himself. And now, as while in America, by his praises of +Mr. Garrison, and all their leaders, his abuse of their opponents, and +his efforts to chain the British public, hand and foot, to them and +their projects, shows his continued devotion to them. He would refer +to this party again, but, in the mean time, he would only say, that +its members manifested far more honesty than wisdom. In 1833, the +abolitionists held a Convention in Philadelphia, at which they drew up +a Declaration of Independence--a declaration which he dared to say Mr. +Thompson cherished as the apple of his eye; but which had been more +effectual in raising mobs than ever witch was in raising the wind. The +document of which he spoke announced three principles, to the +promulgation of which, the members of the Convention pledged their +lives and their fortunes. A number of the particulars specified, in +support of which they said they would live and die, went to change +materially the laws and Constitution of the United States, and yet +it was pretended that this was not a political question! Their first +principle was, that every human being has an instant right to be free, +irrespective of all consequences; and incapable of restriction or +modification. The second was like unto it, that the right of +citizenship, inherent in every man, in the spot where he is born, +is so perfect, that to deprive him of its exercise in any way +whatever--even by emigration, under strong moral constraint, is a +sin. Their third principle was, that all prejudice against color was +sinful; and that all our judgments and all our feelings towards others +should be regulated exclusively by their moral and intellectual worth. +Mr. B. said he stated these principles from memory only--as he did +most of the facts on which he relied. But he was willing to stand or +fall, in both countries, upon the substantial accuracy of his +statements. Mr. Breckinridge here closed his address, the period +allotted to him having expired. + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON was anxious to lay before the meeting documentary +testimony, in preference to any thing he could say himself. Rather +than set forth his own views, as he had done on many former occasions, +he wished to bring forward such documents as even his opponent would +admit to be really American. He pledged himself to show that this was +an American question. He was not prepared for this branch of the +subject, because he had not expected that Mr. Breckinridge would +exonerate America from the charge of being a slaveholding nation; +nevertheless, he was perfectly ready to take it up. He would undertake +to prove that the existence of slavery in the United States was the +result of a compromise--that the Constitution of the United States +was, in fact, based upon a compromise, in relation to this subject. At +the time when the Constitution was agreed to, the then slaveholding +states refused to come into what was called the confederacy of +republics, unless slaveholding was permitted. At that time there were +only three hundred thousand slaves in the Union; now there were two +millions and a half. So much, said Mr. Thompson, for what the good and +influential men of the South, spoken of by Mr. Breckinridge, had done +for the abolition of slavery. Then there were three hundred thousand; +now there were two million four hundred thousand. The method by which +these good and influential people had gone about extirpating slavery, +had been an Irish method; it had shown distinctly the extent of their +zeal and usefulness. Why, setting aside their influence altogether, +they might, had they been as numerous as represented by his respected +opponent, have manumitted as many of their own slaves. It was said, no +doubt, that the laws prevented this; but who made the laws? The child +could not do what her mamma had commanded her to do, because she was +tied to the mahogany table, she could only answer, when asked who tied +her, that it was herself. In like manner, he could turn round on those +whom his respected opponent represented, as haters of slavery. +Emancipationists they wished to be called; colonizationists they ought +to be called. He would ask them, what had they done? Had they not +compromised every principle of justice and truth, by permitting +slaveholding in their Union? Had they not even bestowed exclusive +privileges on the slaveholders? Had they not bestowed on them such +privileges as that, even now, they sent twenty-four or twenty-five +representatives to Congress more than their proportion? His respected +opponent had said this was not a national question. Why, then, send +six thousand bayonets to the South for the protection of the +slaveholder? Why were the American people taxed in order to maintain +bayonets, blunderbusses, and artillery in the South? Not a national +question! Why, then, was Missouri admitted a member of the +Union--Missouri a slaveholding State, admitted by the votes of the +Northern republics. Mr. Breckinridge had fought very shy of the state +of the Capital, and the power of Congress to suppress the internal +traffic in slaves. He (Mr. Thompson) trusted, however, that this +branch of the subject would be taken up. His opponent himself, in a +letter addressed to the New York Evangelist, had stated, that Congress +possessed full power to suppress the internal traffic in slaves; and +yet they did it not. There was in fact no question at all respecting +the power of the Congress, in this matter; yet it was said the +question of slavery was not national. The people of the Northern +states,--the slavery-hating, liberty-loving people of the Northern +states had said they would fight shoulder to shoulder with the +Slaveholders of the South, should the slaves dare to rise and say they +were men, and after all this, it was asserted that this was not a +national question. Mr. Breckinridge had said, that he (Mr. Thompson) +got all his information at second hand. He might have told the reason +why; he knew, however, that such a revelation would have been awful. +He knew that pious men, advocates of the cause of abolition had been +hanged, butchered, their backs ploughed up by Presbyterian elders; and +if such had been done towards natives of New England, what could a +stranger such as he have expected? He (Mr. T.) had, it seems, got all +at second hand. He would tell the meeting where he had obtained some +of his information. From Mr. Breckinridge himself; and he must say, +that sounder or juster views respecting slavery--or a more complete +justification of the mission in which he (Mr. T.) had been so lately +engaged, could scarcely be met with. This was evidence which he had no +fear could be ruled out of court. It was that of the friend and +defender of America. Mr. T. then read the following passage from a +speech delivered by Mr. Breckinridge:-- + + What, then, is slavery? for the question relates to the + action of certain principles on it, and to its probable and + proper results; what is slavery as it exists among us? We + reply, it is that condition enforced by the laws of one half + of the states of this confederacy, in which one portion of + the community, called masters, is allowed such power over + another portion called slaves; as + + 1. To deprive them of the entire earnings of their own labor, + except only so much as is necessary to continue labor itself, + by continuing healthful existence, thus committing clear + robbery. + + 2. To reduce them to the necessity of universal concubinage, + by denying to them the civil rights of marriage; thus + breaking up the dearest relations of life, and encouraging + universal prostitution. + + 3. To deprive them of the means and opportunities of moral + and intellectual culture, in many states making it a high + penal offence to teach them to read; thus perpetuating + whatever of evil there is that proceeds from ignorance. + + 4. To set up between parents and their children an authority + higher than the impulse of nature and the laws of God; which + breaks up the authority of the father over his own + offspring, and, at pleasure, separates the mother at a + returnless distance from her child; thus abrogating the + clearest laws of nature; thus outraging all decency and + justice, and degrading and oppressing thousands upon + thousands of beings, created like themselves, in the image of + the most high God! This is slavery as it is daily exhibited + in every slave state. + +Here, continued Mr. T., is slavery acknowledged to be clear robbery, +and yet it is not to be instantly abolished! Universal concubinage and +prostitution, which must not immediately be put an end to! Oh, these +wicked abolitionists, who seek to put an immediate close to such a +state of things. What an immensity of good have the emancipationists +of the South, as they wish to be called, of the colonizationists as +they ought to be called, done during their fifty years labor, when +this is yet left for the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge to say. Dear, +delightful, energetic men! Truly, if this is all they have been able +to effect it is time that the work were committed to abler hands. Mr. +Thompson then read an extract from the Philadelphia declaration. Mr. +Breckinridge had called it a declaration of independence, but it was +only a declaration of sentiments;-- + + We have met together for the achievement of an enterprise, + without which, that of our fathers is incomplete, and which, + for its magnitude, solemnity, and probable results upon the + destiny of the world, as far as transcends theirs, as moral + truth does physical force. + + In purity of motive, in earnestness of zeal, in decision of + purpose, in intrepidity of action, in steadfastness of faith, + in sincerity of spirit, we would not be inferior to them. + + Their principles led them to wage war against their + oppressors, and to spill human blood like water, in order to + be free. Ours forbid the doing of evil that good may come, + and lead us to reject, and entreat the oppressed to reject + the use of all carnal weapons, for deliverance from + bondage--relying solely upon those which are spiritual, and + mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. + + Their measures were physical resistance--the marshalling in + arms--the hostile array--the mortal encounter. Ours shall + be such only as the opposition of moral purity to moral + corruption--the destruction of error by the potency of + truth--the overthrow of prejudice by the power of love--and + the abolition of slavery by the spirit of repentance. + + Their grievances, great as they were, were trifling in + comparison with the wrongs and sufferings of those for whom + we plead. Our fathers were never slaves--never bought and + sold like cattle--never shut out from the light of knowledge + and religion--never subjected to the lash of brutal task + masters. + + But those, for whose emancipation we are striving, + constituting at the present, at least one-sixth part of our + countrymen,--are recognised by the laws, and treated by their + fellow-beings as marketable commodities--as goods and + chattels--as brute beasts; are plundered daily of the fruits + of their toil, without redress;--really enjoy no + constitutional or legal protection from licentious and + murderous outrages upon their persons--are ruthlessly torn + asunder--the tender babe from the arms of its frantic + mother--the heart-broken wife from her weeping husband--at + the caprice or pleasure of irresponsible tyrants;--for the + crime of having a dark complexion--they suffer the pangs of + hunger, the infliction of stripes, and the ignominy of brutal + servitude. They are kept in heathenish darkness by laws + expressly enacted to make their instruction a criminal + offence. + + These are the prominent circumstances in the condition of + more than two millions of our people, the proof of which may + be found in thousands of indisputable facts, and in the laws + of the slaveholding states. + + Hence we maintain:-- + + That in the view of the civil and religious privileges of + this nation, the guilt of its oppression is unequalled by + any other on the face of the earth--and, therefore, + + That it is bound to repent instantly, to undo the heavy + burden, to break every yoke and let the oppressed go free. + + We further maintain:-- + + That no man has a right to enslave or imbrute his brother--to + hold or acknowledge him, for one moment, as a piece of + merchandise--to keep back his hire by fraud--or to brutalize + his mind by denying him the means of intellectual, social, + and moral improvement. + + The right to enjoy liberty is inalienable. To invade it is to + usurp the prerogative of Jehovah. Every man has a right to + his own body--to the products of his own labor--to the + protection of law--and to the common advantages of society. + It is piracy to buy or steal a native African, and subject + him to servitude. Surely the sin is as great to enslave an + American as an African. + + Therefore, we believe and affirm:-- + + That there is no difference _in principle_, between the + African slave-trade and American slavery. + + That every American citizen who retains a human being in + involuntary bondage, as his property is (according to + Scripture) a man-stealer. + + That the slaves ought instantly to be set free, and brought + under the protection of law. + + That if they had lived from the time of Pharaoh down to the + present period, and had been entailed through successive + generations, their right to be free could never have been + alienated, but their claims would have constantly risen in + solemnity. + + That all those laws which are now in force, admitting the + right of slavery, are therefore, before God, utterly null and + void; being an audacious usurpation of the Divine + prerogative, a daring infringement on the law of nature, a + base overthrow of the very foundations of the social compact, + a complete extinction of all the relations, endearments, and + obligations of mankind, and a presumptuous transgression of + all the holy commandments--and that, therefore, they ought to + be instantly abrogated. + +He would ask if there was any thing here different from what he had +read from his respected opponent? The sentiments were the same, though +not given in Mr. Breckinridge's strong and glowing language. Mr. +Breckinridge's description of slavery was even more methodical, +clearer, and better arranged; he was therefore inclined to prefer it +to the other. He would, however, ask Mr. Breckinridge not to persevere +in speaking of the violence, as he called it, of the abolitionists, +only in general terms. He hoped he would point out the instances to +which he alluded, and not take advantage of them, because they were a +handful and _odious_. They were not singular in being called odious. +Noah was called odious by the men of his day, because he pointed out +to them the wickedness of which they were guilty. Every reformer had +been called odious, and he trusted to be always among those who were +deemed odious by slaveholders and their apologists. He repeated, that +he wished Mr. Breckinridge to forsake general allegations, and to +specify time and place when he brought forward his charges. The time +was passed, when, in Glasgow, vague assertions could produce any +effect. The time was not, indeed, distant when even here the friends +of negro freedom had been deemed odious--when they were a mere +handful, met in a room in the Black Bull Inn. But from being odious +they had become respectable, and from respectable triumphant, in +consequence of their having renounced expediency, and taken their +stand on the broad principles of truth and justice. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, he had on so many occasions and in so many +different forms uttered the sentiments contained in the passages which +had just been read as his, that he was unable to say from what +particular speech or writing they were taken. But he had no doubt that +if the whole passage to which they belonged were read, it would be +seen that they contained, in addition to what they had heard, the most +unqualified condemnation of the irrational course pursued by the +abolitionists. He believed also, that, whatever it was, that writing +had been uttered by him in a slave state. For he could say for +himself, that he had never said that of a brother behind his back, +which he would be afraid or unwilling to repeat before his face. He +had never gone to Boston, to cry back to Baltimore, how great a sin +they were guilty of in upholding slavery. The worst things which he +had said against slavery had been said in the slave states, and had +Mr. Thompson gone there and seen with his two eyes, what he describes +wholly upon hearsay, he would, perhaps, have understood the subject +better than he seems to do. As he felt himself divinely commissioned, +he should have felt no fear, he should have gone at whatever hazard, +he should have seen slavery in its true colors, though he had read it +in his own blood. If Saul of Tarsus had gone to America to see +slavery--I dare to say, with the help of God, he would have been right +sure to see it. He did not say that Mr. T. should have gone to the +Southern states if his life was likely to be endangered by his going +there; but he would say this, that Mr. Thompson ought not to pretend, +that he had been, in the least degree, a martyr in the cause, when, in +reality, he had exercised the most masterly discretion. With regard to +the acts of the abolitionists, as he had been called on to mention +particulars, he could not say that he had ever heard of their having +killed any person, nor had he ever heard of any of them being killed. +He might mention, however, that he himself had once almost been mobbed +in Boston, and, that too, by a mob stirred up against him, by +placards, written, as he believed, by William Lloyd Garrison. He had +never obtained direct proof of this, but he might state, as a reason +for his belief, that the inflammatory placards were of the precise +breadth and appearance of the columns of Garrison's paper--the +Liberator, and the breadth of the columns of no other newspaper in +that city. Mr. B. stated a second case, in which, on the arrival at +the city of New York of the Rev. J. L. Wilson, a missionary to Western +Africa, in charge of two lads, the sons of two African kings, +committed by their fathers to the Maryland Colonization Society for +education; some friends of the Anti-Slavery Society of that city, with +the concurrence, if not by the procurement, as was universally +believed, of Elizur Wright, Jr., a leading person, and Secretary of +the principal society of abolitionists--got out a writ to take the +bodies of the boys, under the pretence of believing, that they had +been kidnapped in Africa. These two cases he considered, would +perhaps satisfy Mr. T's appetite for facts in the meantime; he would +have plenty more of them when they came to the main question of +debate. One other instance, and he would have done. There was a law in +the United States, that if a slave run away from one of the +slaveholding states, to any of the non-slaveholding states, the +authorities of the latter were bound to give him up to his master. A +runaway slave had been confined in New York prison, previous to being +sent home, an attempt was made to stir up a mob, for the purpose of +liberating him. A bill instigating the people to take the laws into +their own hands, was traced to an abolitionist--the same Elizur +Wright, Jr. He brought to the office of one of the principal city +papers, a denial of the charge--in a note signed by him in his +official capacity. He was told that was insufficient, as it was in his +individual, not in his official capacity, that he was supposed to have +done the act in question. He replied, it would be time to make the +denial in that form, when the charge was so specifically made; +meantime he considered the actual denial sufficient. Then, sir, said +one present, I charge you with writing the placard--for I saw it in +your hand writing. These instances were sufficient to prove the charge +of violence which he had made was not unfounded. In reference to the +statement made by Mr. Thompson regarding the number of slaves in the +United States, at the commencement of the Revolution, Mr. B. said, it +was impossible to know precisely what number there was at that time, +as there had been no statistical returns before 1790, at which time +there were six hundred and sixty-five thousand slaves in the five +original slave states. The exertions of the American nation to put an +end to slavery were treated with ridicule, but he would have them to +bear in mind, that there were in the United States four hundred +thousand free people of color, all of whom, or their progenitors, had +been set free by the people of America, and not one of these, so far +as he knew, had been liberated by an abolitionist. In addition to +these, there were not less than four thousand more in Africa, many of +whom had been freed from fetters and sent to that country. He would +ask if all this was to be counted as nothing. If they were to consider +for a moment the enormous sum which it would take to ransom so many +slaves, they would perceive the value of the sacrifice. They might say +that they had given $150,000,000 towards the abolition of slavery. It +might seem selfish to talk of it thus; but if the conduct of Great +Britain, rich and powerful as she was, was not reckoned worthy of +praise for having done an act of justice, in granting emancipation to +the West India slaves, at the cost of $100,000,000, or L20,000,000, +how much more might be said of L30,000,000, being paid by a few +comparatively poor and scattered communities, and individual men. They +had been told some fine stories of a mahogany table, to which the +people of America had tied themselves, and they were left to infer +that it was quite easy, that it merely required the exertion of will, +for them to set their slaves free. Now, on this head, he would only +ask, had he the power of fixing the place of his birth? No. Nor had he +any hand in making the laws of the place where he was born, nor the +power of altering them. They might, indeed, be altered and he ought to +add, they would have been altered already, but for the passionate and +intemperate zeal of the abolitionists; but for the conduct of those +who tell the slaveholders of the Southern states, that they must at +once give freedom to the slaves, at whatever cost or whatever hazard, +and unless they do so, they will be denounced on the house-tops, by +all the vilest names which language can furnish, or the imagination of +man can conceive. And what was the answer the planters gave to these +disturbers of the public peace? First, coolly, 'there's the door;' +and next, 'if you try to tell these things to those, who, when they +learn them, will at once turn round and cut our throats, we must take +measures to prevent your succeeding.' Such conduct was just what was +to be expected on the part of the slaveholders. They saw these men +coming among their slaves, and where they could not appeal to their +judgments, endeavoring to speak to the eyes of the black population by +prints, representing their masters, harsh and cruel. It was not +surprising that such unwise conduct should beget a bitter feeling of +opposition among the inhabitants of the Southern states. They +themselves knew too well the critical nature of their position, and +the dangers of tampering with the passions of the black population. +Let him who doubted go to the Southern states, and he would learn that +those harsh laws, in regard to slavery, which had been so much +condemned, were passed immediately after some of those insurrections, +those spasmodic efforts of the slaves to free themselves by violence, +which could never end in good, and which the conduct of the +abolitionists was calculated continually to renew. They ought to take +these things into account when they heard statements made about the +strong excitement against the abolitionists. He would repeat what he +had before stated, that the cause of emancipation had been ruined by +that small party with which Mr. Thompson had identified himself: but +to whose chariot wheels he trusted the people of this country would +never suffer themselves to be bound. + + * * * * * + +MR. GEORGE THOMPSON said, the work he had to do in reference to the +last speech was by no means great or difficult. They had heard a great +many things stated by Mr. Breckinridge on the great question in +debate, but every one of these had been stated a thousand times +before, and answered again and again within the last sixty years. +Within these very walls they had heard many of them brought forward +and refuted within the last four years. But there was one part of his +opponent's speech to which he would reply with emphasis. And he could +not but confess that he had listened to that one part of it with +surprise. He knew Mr. Breckinridge to be the advocate of gradual +emancipation; he (Mr. Thompson) had therefore come prepared to hear +all the arguments employed by the gradualists, urged in the ablest +manner, but he had not been prepared to hear from that gentleman's +lips the things he had heard--he did not expect that the foul charge +of stirring up a mob against Mr. Breckinridge for advocating the +principles of colonization, would be brought against William Lloyd +Garrison. But they would here see the propriety and utility of his +calling upon his opponent to leave generalities and come to something +specific--to lay his finger on a fact which could be examined and +tested circumstantially. And what did they suppose was the truth in +the present case? Simply this, that when Mr. Breckinridge came +forward to explain the principles of the Maryland colonization scheme, +the noisy rabble who sought to mob, did so only so long as they were +under the impression that he was an abolitionist. Mr. B. and his +brother, who was along with him on that occasion, did their best to +let the meeting know that they were not abolitionists but +colonizationists, and whenever the mob learned that, they became +quiet. This was the fact in regard to that case--he would willingly +stake the merits of the whole question on the truth of what he had +just stated, and he would call on Mr. B. to say whether it was not +true; he would call on him to exhibit the placard which had been +written by Mr. Garrison, or tell what it contained. He had a copy of +the Liberator of the day referred to, and he would ask him to point +out a single word in it which could be found fault with. He would dare +Mr. B. to find a single sentence in that paper calculated to stir up a +mob, or to induce any one to hurt a single hair of his head. With +regard to the Maryland colonization scheme, he was not going to enter +upon its discussion at that hour of the evening, but the next evening, +if they were spared, he would endeavor to show the gross iniquity of +that scheme, recommended as it was by Mr. Breckinridge. In the mean +time, to return to the next charge, they were told of an active +abolitionist--Elizur Wright. And here he would at once say, that it +was too bad to bring such a charge against an individual like Elizur +Wright, than whom he knew no man, either on this or the the other side +of the Atlantic, whose nature was more imbued with the milk of human +kindness, or whose heart was more alive to the dictates of Christian +charity--it was too bad, he repeated, to bring such a charge against +that man, unless it could be substantiated beyond the possibility of +doubt. They were told that Elizur Wright had stirred up the people of +New York to insurrection, by inflammatory placards. Here indeed was a +serious charge, but they ought to know what these placards were. +Again, he would call upon Mr. B. to show a copy of the placard, or to +say what were its contents. In explanation of the matter he might +state to the meeting that there was a little truth in what had been +said about this matter; and in order to make them understand the case +properly, they must first know, that in New York there were at all +times a number of runaway slaves, and also, that there was in the same +city a class of men, who, at least wore the human form, and who were +even allowed to appear as gentlemen, whose sole profession was that of +kidnappers; their only means of subsistence was derived from laying +hold of these unfortunates, and returning them to their masters in the +South. Nothing was more common than advertisements from these +gentlemen kidnappers in the newspapers, in which they offered their +services to any slave master whose slaves had run off. All that was +necessary was merely that twenty dollars should be transmitted to them +under cover, with the marks of the runaway who was soon found out if +in the city, and with the clutch of a demon, seized and dragged to +prison. These were the kidnappers. And who was Elizur Wright? He was +the man who at all times was found ready to sympathise with those poor +unfortunate outcasts, to pour the balm of consolation into their +wounds--to come into the Recorder's Court, and stand there to plead +the cause of the injured African at the risk of his life--undeterred +by the execrations of the slave-masters, or the knife of his +myrmidons. And was it a high crime that on some occasions he had been +mistaken. But Elizur Wright would be able to reply to the charge +himself. The account of this meeting would soon find its way to +America, and he would then have an opportunity of justifying himself. +As to the charge of error in his statistics, on the subject of +American Slavery, it was very easily set at rest. He had said that the +slave population amounted to but three hundred thousand, at the date +of the Union, and that it was now two millions. The latter statement +was not questioned, but it was said that there were no authentic +returns at the date of the Union, and consequently, that it was +impossible to say precisely. But although they could not say exactly, +they could come pretty near the truth, even from the statement of Mr. +Breckinridge. That gentleman admitted, that in 1790, there were only +six hundred and sixty-five thousand slaves in the states. He (Mr. T.) +had said, that in 1776, there were only three hundred thousand; but as +the population in America doubled itself in twenty-four years, he was +warranted in saying that there was no great discrepancy. But the +question with him did not depend upon any particular number or any +particular date. It would have been quite the same for his argument, +he contended, whether he had taken six hundred and sixty-five thousand +in 1790, or three hundred thousand in 1776. All that he had wished to +show, was the rapid increase of the slave population, and +consequently, of the vice and misery inherent in that system, even +while the American people professed themselves to be so anxious to put +an end to it altogether. Had he wished to dwell on this part of the +argument, he could also have shown, that the increase of the slave +population during the first twenty years of the Union, had gone on +more rapidly even during that time, the trade in slaves having been +formally recognised by the Constitution during that period, and a duty +of $10 imposed on every slave imported into the United States. The +following was the clause from the Constitution: + + Sec. IX. The migration or importation of such persons as any + of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall + not be prohibited prior to the year 1808, but a tax or duty + may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding $10 for + each person. + +To sum up Mr. Breckinridge's last address, what, he would ask, +had been its whole aim? Clearly, that they should consider the +abolitionists as the chief promoters of all the riots that had taken +place in America on this question, by making inflammatory appeals to +the passions of the people. He would call upon Mr. Breckinridge +again, to lay his hand on a single proof of this. He would call upon +him to point out a single instance where language had been used which +was in any degree calculated to call up the blood-thirsty passions of +the mob as had been represented. If the planters of the South were +roused into fury by the declaration of anti-slavery sentiments--if +they were unable to hear the everlasting truths which it promulgated, +was that a sufficient reason for those to keep silent who felt it to +be their duty, at all hazards, to make known these truths. Or were +they to be charged with raising mobs, because the people were enraged +to hear these truths. As well might Paul of Tarsus have been charged +with the mobs which rose against his life, and that of his +fellow-apostles. As well might Galileo be charged with those +persecutions which immured him in a dungeon. As well might the +apostles of truth in every age be charged with the terrible results +which ensued from the struggle of light and darkness. In conclusion, +Mr. Thompson said, that on the following evening, he would take up the +question of the Maryland colonization scheme. + + * * * * * + +DR. WARDLAW announced to the meeting that the discussion closed for +the evening. In doing so he complimented the audience on the very +correct manner in which they had observed the rule regarding all +manifestation of applause. The attention and interest of the audience +were much excited throughout the whole proceedings, indeed, at few +meetings have we observed so lively an interest taken in the entire +business of an evening, and yet there was not a single instance in +which the interference of the chairman was required. On several +occasions the rising expression of applause was at once checked by +the general good sense of the meeting. + + + + +SECOND NIGHT--TUESDAY, JUNE 14. + + +MR. THOMPSON, before proceeding with the discusssion, would make one +or two preliminary observations. Last evening he had been led into an +error, as regarded both number and time, in speaking of the amount of +slaves in America at the adoption of the Constitution; and he was +anxious that every statement made by him should be without a flaw; and +if there should be an error committed he would be the first person to +admit and correct it when discovered. He stated that at the adoption +of the American Constitution, there were only about three hundred +thousand slaves in the United States. There were not many more in +1776, when the states declared themselves independent: in 1788 when +the Constitution was settled there were more; and in 1790, there were +between six and seven hundred thousand slaves in the United States of +America. His error consisted in his subtracting 1776 from 1790, and +saying twenty-four years instead of fourteen. He mentioned this error +to show that he held a regard to truth to be the ultimate end of their +discussion. There was one other preliminary remark. His antagonist had +repeatedly said that George Thompson had published himself a martyr. +George Thompson never did publish himself a martyr. Mr. Breckinridge, +in the course of his speeches last night, had said more of himself +than he (Mr. T.) had ever done during all the speeches he had ever +made on the question. He had only referred to himself when urgently +requested to give an account of his personal experience. He never had +a wish to be considered a martyr. If, when he had finished his course +here; if, when this probationary scene was over, he was found to have +done his duty, he would be fully satisfied. He was not pharasaical +enough to imagine that he had performed any works of supererogation. +Mr. Breckinridge had said this was not a national question; that +slavery in America was not American Slavery; that it was not a +national evil; that it was not a national sin; that is was merely a +question between the State Legislatures and the slave owners. He (Mr. +T.) had said last night, that slavery in America was a national sin, +and he would now adduce the reasons for his statement:--First--The +American people had admitted the slave states into the Union; and by +consenting to admit these states into the confederacy, although there +were in them hundreds of thousands in a state of slavery, they took +the slaves under the government of the United States, and made the sin +national. Second--For twenty years after the adoption of their +Constitution, and by virtue of that very instrument, the United States +permitted the horrid, unchristian, diabolical African slave-trade. +Third--Than the Capital of the United States of America there was not +one spot in the whole world which was more defiled by slavery; and +considering the professions and privileges of the people, there was +not a more anti-christian traffic on the face of the earth. +Fourth--each of the states is bound by the Constitution to give up all +run-away slaves; so that the poor, wretched, tortured slave might be +pursued from Baltimore to Pennsylvania, from thence to New Jersey and +New York, and dragged even from the confines of Canada, a fugitive and +a felon, back into the slavery from which he had fled. He might be +taken from the Capitol: from the very horns of the altar, to be +subjected by a cruel kidnapper to the most horrid of human sufferings. +It is not a national question! When the North violates the law of +God--when it tramples on the Decalogue--when it defies Jehovah! what +was a stronger injunction in the law of Moses than that the Israelites +should protect the run-away slave? But in America every state was +bound by law to give up the slave to his slave-master, to his ruthless +pursuer; and yet it must not be called a national question! Fifth--The +citizens of the free states were bound to go South to put down any +insurrection among the slaves. They were bound and pledged to do this +when required. The youth of Pennsylvania had pledged themselves to go +to the Southern states to annihilate the blacks in case they asserted +their rights--the rights of every human being--to be free. So also was +it in New York, and in the other free states, and yet we are to be +told that slavery is not a national question. The whole Union was +bound to crush the slave, who, standing on the ashes of Washington +said, he ought to be, and would be free. Yes, Northern bayonets would +give that slave a speedy manumission from his galling yoke, by sending +him in his gore, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary +are at rest. Yet it is not a national question! Sixth--The North is +taxed to keep up troops in the South to overawe and terrify the slave; +and yet it is not a national question! Seventh--Mr. Breckinridge has +shown in a letter published by him, that the Congress has the power to +put an end to the international slave trade, and yet this trade goes +on in America. Mr. B. well knows that at least one hundred thousand +human beings--slaves--change hands annually; he must have seen the +slaves driven in coffles through his own beloved state, to be sold +like cattle at Washington and Alexandria; he knows that thousands of +Virginia and Maryland slaves are sold at New Orleans yearly, and yet +he tells us that slavery is not a national question! Eighth--How did +they admit Missouri into the Union with slaves? Were they Southern +votes which admitted it? No! But they were the votes of recreant New +Englanders--false to the principles of freedom, who sold the honor of +their country, and with it the liberty of thousands of human beings in +Missouri--or at least consented to their bondage. And yet it is not a +national question! He (Mr. T.) would last refer to the remarks of a +constitutional lawyer, who was able, eloquent, sincere, and high +minded. Mr. T. then read the following extract:-- + + Such thoughts (referring to the judgments to be expected) + habitually crowd upon me when I contemplate those great + personal and NATIONAL evils, from which the system of + operations (vis., the movements of the Colonization Society) + which I stand here to advocate, seems to offer us some + prospect of deliverance. + + From that day (1698) till the present, there have flourished + in our country, men of large and just views, who have not + ceased to pour over this subject a stream of clear and noble + truth, and to importune their country, by every motive of + duty and advantage, to wipe from her escutcheon, the stain of + human tears. + + It is generally known, that the original members of the + American Colonization Society anticipated, that, at some + future period, the General Government, and some, if not all + the State Governments, would co-operate in their exertions + for the removal of an evil which was obviously NATIONAL in + all its aspects. + +Now who was the writer from whom he had quoted?--His friend Mr. +Breckinridge. This was his final reason. If Mr. Breckinridge's +argument survived these reasons, it would have a life like that of a +cat, which is said to have nine lives; for they were nine fatal +thrusts at his position, that slavery in America was not American +slavery. Mr. B. admits the existence of slavery, but lays no blame +either in this quarter or in that; he does not lay it on the states, +nor on the General Government. Slavery does exist in America, +but--interminably; but, but--coming as these buts did from a +temperance country, he wondered much that they had escaped being +staved. Slavery exists in America, but it is not a national question! +There are upwards of two millions and a half of slaves in the United +States of America, and of these, at least one hundred thousand changed +hands annually, thus sundering, without remorse, the tenderest ties of +human nature; at whose door, then, lay the guilt of this sin? To whom +were the people of this country to address their warnings--over whose +transgressions were they to mourn--whose hearts were they to endeavor +to humanize and mollify--where were the responsible and guilty parties +to be found--how are we to get access to their consciences on behalf +of the slave? Mr. Breckinridge says the system is one of 'clear +robbery,' 'universal concubinage,'--'unmitigated wickedness'--and yet +it is not to be immediately abolished! If it be clear robbery--if it +be universal concubinage--if it be unmitigated wickedness--let the +horrid system immediately, and totally, and eternally cease--a worse +system it was impossible to have if these were the evils it entailed. +Mr. B. triumphantly makes out my case for immediate and complete +emancipation. The duty is plain and indispensable. Mr. Breckinridge +says the abolitionists are the most despicable and odious men on the +face of the earth. Those who love liberty are always odious in the +eyes of tyrants. The lovers of things as they are, of corruption of +despotism--men who look at every thing from beneath the aprons of +their grandmothers, invariably regard as insufferably odious all who +are lovers of reformation and liberty. This always has been, and +always will be the case. As it was said in the service of the church +of England, it might be said on this subject, 'As it was in the +beginning, is now, and ever shall be' if not 'world without end,' at +least to the end of this world. On the 6th day of January, 1831, Mr. +Breckinridge delivered in Frankfort, Kentucky, an able address in +favor of the Colonization Society. In that address, Mr. B. stated that +the Society was established on the 21st day of Dec. 1816, and was of +course, at the time of his speech, fourteen years and sixteen days +old. Mr. Breckinridge said the legislatures of eleven states of the +Union had recommended this Society to Congress; that the +ecclesiastical tribunals of all the leading sects of Christians in +America had testified their approbation of its principles; and yet +there were, after fourteen years and sixteen days, with all this +support and high patronage in church and state only one hundred and +sixty auxiliary societies existing throughout the Union. Now, as to +the contemptible and odious abolitionists! as they were called by the +gentleman who differed from him. The National Society for the +immediate abolition of American slavery, was formed on the 6th of Dec. +1833; and on the 12th of May, 1835, when the anniversary was +held--without being recommended to Congress by any of the state +legislatures--without a testimony of approbation from any of the +ecclesiastical tribunals--being only one year and six months old--how +many auxiliary societies were connected with this abolition +organization? Two hundred and twenty-four. That was the number then on +the books of the Society; and the Secretary said the whole of them +were not inserted from the want of proper returns. In a letter +addressed to him (Mr. T.) by the Secretary of the American +Anti-Slavery Society, dated New York, 31st March, 1836, were the +following words:-- + + Never were societies forming in all parts of our country with + greater rapidity. At this moment we have four hundred and + fifty on our list, and doubtless, there are five hundred in + existence. We have at this time eleven agents in the field, + all good men and true, and all fast gaining converts. + +And yet the abolitionists are a handful! The one society in fourteen +years and sixteen days, having one hundred and sixty auxiliaries; the +other in two years and three months, having, without the support of +state legislatures, or of ecclesiastical tribunals, not fewer than +five hundred; and yet the abolitionists are a handful. He (Mr. T.) +held in his hand a list of delegates to the New England Convention +which was held in the city of Boston, on the 25th of May, 1835. In +that list he found two hundred and eighty-one gentlemen, who, at their +own expense, had come from all parts of New England, to attend that +Convention. On the 27th May, it was stated that the Massachusetts +Society were in want of funds, and a committee was appointed to +collect subscriptions. That committee in less than an hour obtained +$1,800, and on the following day, $4,000, for the American Society. In +New York, at the anniversary, there had been collected $14,500--and +yet the abolitionists were a handful. The American Society at its +anniversary, had collected a larger sum than was collected by all the +other societies together, during the week set apart for the purpose; +and in Boston, $6,000 had been collected in two days; whilst in two +months, a friend of Mr. B's, viz. Mr. Gurley, had only been able to +collect, in the same city, about $600 for the Colonization Society. By +their fruits shall ye know them; do men gather grapes of thorns, or +figs of thistles? You may send to New England any foreigner you +please--but he must show his cause to be sound and practicable before +he can draw a dollar or a cent from a New Englander, who gets his +bread by early rising, and laborious attention to business--yet $6,000 +were collected in two days. But the abolitionists are a mere handful! +Yes--they may be a handful, but they are most precious and multyplying +seed. Mr. B. said that many of the slave-owners were doing all they +could for the emancipation of the slaves; whether they were doing any +thing or nothing, we find New Englanders had endeavored to retrieve +the honor of their country, by a subscription for emancipation of +$6,000 in two days--and yet it was said, they were an odious handful! +When he saw the Colonization Society like a Juggernaut, endeavoring to +crush the bodies and spirits of colored men and colored women, he +would league himself with the despised and 'odious handful,' and labor +with them, and for them, till, by the blessing of God, on their +exertions, the slaves were elevated to the condition and dignity of +intelligent and intellectual beings. Mr. T. would give another proof +that the abolitionists were a handful of most odious creatures. He +would refer to the New York Convention. Mr. B. knows well that the +pro-slavery prints pointed forward to the New York Convention in +October last, as likely to be a scene of blood. Not rendered so by the +abolitionists, for they were men of peace, but by the fury of their +opponents. Notwithstanding, there were six hundred delegates assembled +in Utica, at 9 o'clock, on the first day; and when they were driven +from that city by a mob, headed by the Hon. Mr. Beardsley, member of +Congress, and by the Hon. Mr. Hayden, Judge of the county--and the +greater part of them went to Peterborough, these six hundred were +joined by other four hundred, making one thousand delegates, for one +state--and yet they were a mere handful. He would next refer to the +Rhode Island Convention, at which, though held in the smallest State +in the Union--in the depth of winter--and at a time when many of the +roads were impassible through a heavy fall of snow, four hundred +delegates attended, and $2,000 were collected--but yet the +abolitionists were a mere handful! Gerrit Smith had said that there +was an accession to the anti-slavery societies, in the State of New +York alone, of five hundred weekly, among whom he says, there is not +known one intemperate or profane person;--five hundred weekly added to +one state society--yet they are a mere handful! If they go on +increasing at this rate in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and +throughout New England, they will not long be a small handful! +Besides, many of those who were formerly on the side of colonization, +have now come over to the ranks of the abolitionists. Where are now +the Smiths, and Birneys, and Jays, and Coxs, that once were the +eloquent and munificent advocates and patrons of the Colonization +Society? They are now, with all their souls and energies, on the side +of immediate abolition. Nor these alone. He might--he ought to name +such men as President Green, and Professors Wright, Bush, Follen, +Smyth, and Gregg. He ought to speak of a Leavitt in New York, a Kirk +in Albany, a Beman in Troy, a Weld in Ohio, a Garrison in New England; +and of a Mrs. Child, a Mrs. Chapman, a John G. Whittier, a May, a +Dickinson, a Phelps, a Goodell, a Bourne, a Lundy, a Loring, a Sewall, +and a host of others. All these men esteemed it their joy and honor to +be amongst the most odious of the contemptible handful referred to. +These were men of mind, of piety, of influence, of energy; men not to +be deterred from doing their duty by the harsh music of the birds of +ill omen, from the Upas Tree of Slavery, who sent forth their +croakings, by night and by day, to scare the nation from its +indispensable work of Justice and Truth--and yet these men are odious +and contemptible! Your agent, too, is contemptible--he was the agent +of the 'goodies' of Glasgow--and--his fair auditors could scarcely +believe what epithets were lavishly bestowed on him and them--yet +their agent, as contemptible as he was, was, perhaps, the only +Englishman, who had ever been honored as he had been by the President +of the United States of America. He who was so contemptible in the +eyes of the Americans--who was a most impetuous, and untameable, and +worthless animal--who was the representative of the 'goodies' and +superannuated maids and matrons of Glasgow--was honored by a notice +and a rebuke in the message to Congress of the President of the United +States! This looked much like being insignificant and contemptible! He +did not seek the honor which had been thus conferred upon him--it came +upon him unaware--but he had not therefore refused it. It was an honor +to be persecuted in the United States with the abolitionists of 1830. +And when their children, and their children's children looked back +upon these persecutions, they would exult and be proud to say they +were the sons, the grandsons, or the great grandsons of the Coxs, the +Jays, the Garrisons, the Tappans, and the Thompsons of England and +America. After alluding to the treatment he had experienced from the +New York Courier and Enquirer, Mr. T. said--let us bear these honors +meekly--when calumniated for truth's sake, let us be humble, while we +are joyful. One word more as to the odious handful. Seven-eights of +the Methodist Episcopal ministers in the New Hampshire Conference, +and seven-eights of the New England Conference were abolitionists. The +students of the colleges and institutions, academical and theological +of the country, known by the names of Lane Seminary, Oberlin +Institute, Western Reserve College, Oneida Institute, Waterville +College, Brunswick College, Amherst College, and the Seminaries of +Andover, were many of them in some, and all of them in others, +abolitionists; and yet, when all these societies, and ministers, and +men of learning, and students were put together, they were, in their +aggregate capacity, but an odious and most contemptible handful! He +would now proceed to speak of the Maryland scheme--a scheme of obvious +wickedness. When Mr. B. came to Boston to advocate that scheme, he +says a placard was published, calling on the rabble to mob him. This +placard he attributes to Mr. Garrison and the abolitionists, as he +says it was of the same size and appearance as the type and columns of +the Liberator newspaper, and that therefore Mr. Garrison was the +publisher. This he (Mr. T.) most pointedly, and distinctly, and +solemnly denied, and challenged Mr. B. to the proof. Did Mr. B. show +the placard? No. Did he demonstrate its identity with Mr. Garrison's +paper? No. He had not done so. To make Mr. Garrison the author or +publisher of such a placard, was to publish him a coward and a +villain; for he who could point out any man, still more a Christian +minister, to the fury of a mob, was a moral monster, a coward, and a +villain. He called on Mr. B. by his regard for truth and justice, and +his reputation as a minister of Christ, to adduce the proofs necessary +to sustain so grave an accusation, and he (Mr. T.) pledged himself to +cast off the dearest friend he had, if a crime so base could be fixed +on him. To return to the Maryland scheme. In the month of July or +August, 1834, Boston was visited by his respected opponent, his +brother, Dr. J. Breckinridge, and an agent of the Maryland +Colonization Society, and a meeting was convened to enable those +gentlemen to set forth and recommend the scheme of that Society, in +aid of which the legislature of Maryland had made an appropriation of +$200,000. He (Mr. T.) was fully prepared to show, that the object of +the Society was to get rid of the free colored population, and that +according to their design the state legislature had, in immediate +connection with the grant of money, passed most rigorous and cruel +laws. The Colonization Society was the net cast for the colored +people--the laws of the state were the means devised to drive the +devoted victims into its meshes. This was called helping them out of +the country with their free consent. He (Mr. T.) would bring forward +abundant proofs when he next addressed them--he would then read the +laws which he could not now produce for want of time. Mr. Breckinridge +might or might not notice these general charges against the Maryland +scheme; but he (Mr. T.) would hereafter fully support them, and show, +too, that the National Colonization Society was equally culpable, +having at its ensuing annual meeting fully approved of the plan, and +recommended it as a bright example for the imitation of other states. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE then rose. He had last night understood Mr. Thompson +to say, that this evening he would take up and expose the colonization +scheme. It was possible that he had been wrong in this; but such was +certainly the impression made upon his mind. Instead of adopting such +a course, however, Mr. Thompson had treated them to a second edition +of his last night's speech the only difference being that the one they +had just heard was more elaborate. If they were to be called on to +hear all Mr. Thompson's speeches twice, it would be a considerable +time before they finished the discussion. He congratulated Mr. +Thompson on his second edition, being in some respects an improvement, +on his first. It was certainly better arranged. In the observations he +was about to make, he would follow the course of the argument +exhibited in Mr. Thompson's two speeches; but he, at the same time, +wished it to be understood that he would not be cast out of the line +of discussion every night in the same manner. As to what had been said +about the 'handful,' he did not think it necessary to say much. He +would simply remind Mr. T., that however great or however small the +'handful' might be, one pervading evil might pollute it all. A dead +fly could cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink. But to come +to the point. Mr. Thompson had said that the question was national as +it respected America, because slaveholding states had been admitted +into the confederacy. The simple fact of these states having been +admitted members of the Union, was, in Mr. Thompson's estimation, +proof sufficient, not only that slavery was chargeable on the whole +nation, but that there had been a positive predilection among the +American people in favor of slavery. In clearing up this point, a +little chronological knowledge would help us. He would therefore call +the attention of the audience to the real state of matters when the +confederacy was established. At that period, Massachusetts was the +only State in which slavery had been abolished; and even in +Massachusetts its formal abolition was not effected till some time +after. For in that State it came to an end in consequence of a clause +inserted in the Constitution itself--tantamount to the one in our +Declaration of Independence, that freedom is a natural and inalienable +right. Successive judicial decisions, upon this clause, without any +special legislation, had abolished slavery there; so that the exact +period of its actual termination is not easily definable. This recalls +another point on which Mr. Thompson would have been the better of +possessing a little chronological information. He had repeatedly +stated that the American Constitution was founded on the principle, +that all men are created free and equal. Now, this was not so. The +principle was no doubt, a just one; it was asserted most fully by the +Continental Congress of 1776, and might be said to form the basis of +our Declaration of Independence. But it was not contained in the +American Constitution, which was formed twelve years afterwards. That +Constitution was formed in accordance with the circumstances in which +the different states were placed. Its chief object was to guard +against external injury, and regulate external affairs; it interfered +as little as possible with the internal regulations of each state. The +American was a federative system of government; twenty-four distinct +republics were united for certain purposes, and for these alone. So +far was the national government from possessing unlimited powers, that +the Constitution itself was but a very partial grant of those, which, +in their omnipotence, resided, according to our theory, only in the +people themselves in their primary assemblies. It had been specially +agreed in the Constitution itself, that the powers not delegated +should be as expressly reserved, as if excepted by name; and, amongst +the chief subjects, exclusively interior, and not delegated, and so +reserved, is slavery. Had this not been the case, the confederacy +could not have been formed. It had been said that the American +Constitution had not only tolerated slavery, but that it had actually +guaranteed the slave-trade for twenty years. Nothing could be more +uncandid than this statement. Never had facts been more perverted. One +of the causes of the American Revolution had been the refusal of the +British King to sanction certain arrangements on which some of the +states wished to enter, for the abolition of the slave-trade. At the +formation of the Federal Constitution, while slavery was excluded from +the control of Congress, as a purely state affair, the slave trade was +deemed a fit subject, by the majority, for the executors of national +power, as being an exterior affair. And at a period prior to the very +commencement of that great plan of individual effort, guided by +Wilberforce and Clarkson, in Britain; and which required twenty years +to rouse the conscience of this nation--our distant, and now traduced +fathers, had already made up their minds, that this horrid traffic, +which they found not only existing, but encouraged by the whole power +of the King, should be abolished. It was granted, perhaps too readily +to the claims of those who thought, (as nearly the whole world +thought) that twenty years should be the limit of the trade; and at +the end of that period it was instantly prohibited, as a matter +course, and by unanimous consent. How unjust then was it to charge on +America, as a crime, what was one of the brightest virtues in her +escutcheon. Mr. Thompson had next asserted, that slavery of the most +horrid description existed in the Capital of America, and in the +surrounding District, subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of +Congress. He (Mr. Breckinridge) did not hesitate to deny this. It was +not true. Slavery did exist there; but it was not of the horrible +character which had been represented. It was well known that the +slavery existing in the United States was the mildest to be seen in +any country under Heaven. Nothing but the most profound ignorance +could lead any one to assert the contrary. Mr. Thompson had a +colleague in his recent exhibitions in London, who seemed to have +taken interludes in all Mr. T's speeches. In one of these, that +colleague had said, he knew of his own knowledge a case, in which a +man had given $500 for a slave, in order to burn him alive! Mr. +Thompson, no doubt knew, that even on the supposition that such a +monster was to be found, he was liable in every part of the United +States, to be hanged as any other murderer. Slavery was bad enough +anywhere; but to say that it was more unmitigated in America than in +the West Indies, where emigration had always been necessary to keep up +the numbers, while in America, the slave population increased faster +than any part of the human race, was a gross exaggeration, or a proof +of the profoundest ignorance. To say that the slavery of the District +of Columbia was the most horrid that ever existed, when it, along with +the whole of the slavery on that continent, was so hedged about by +human laws, that in every one of the states cruelty to the slave was +punished as an offence against the state; the killing of a slave was +punished every where with death; while in all ages, and nearly in all +countries where slavery has existed besides, the master was not only +the exclusive judge of the treatment of his slave, but the absolute +disposer of his life, which he could take away at will; these +statements can proceed only from unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose +to mislead. As to the abolition of slavery in the District of +Columbia, there might, at first sight, appear to be some grounds of +accusation; but yet, when the subject was considered in all its +bearings, so many pregnant, if not conclusive, reasons presented +themselves against interference, that though much attention had been +bestowed upon it for many years, the result had been that nothing was +done. It was to be recollected that the whole District of Columbia was +only ten miles square; and that it was surrounded by states in which +slavery was still legalized. It was thus clear, that though slavery +were abolished in Columbia, not an individual of the six thousand +slaves now within its bounds, would necessarily be relieved of his +fetters. Were an abolition bill to pass the House of Representatives +to-day, the whole six thousand could be removed to a neighboring slave +state before it could be taken up in the Senate to-morrow. It was, +therefore, worse than idle to say so much on what could never be a +practical question. Again; the District of Columbia had been ceded to +the General Government by Maryland and Virginia, both slaveholding +states, for national purposes; but this would never have been done had +it been contemplated that Congress would abolish slavery within its +bounds, and thus establish a nucleus of anti-slavery agitation in the +heart of their territory. The exercise of such a power, therefore, on +the part of Congress, could be viewed in no other light than as a +gross fraud on those two states. It should never be forgotten that +slavery can be abolished in any part of America only by the persuasive +power of truth voluntarily submitted to the slaveholders themselves. +And though much is said in that country, and still more here, about +the criminality of the Northern States in not declaring that they +would not aid in the suppression of a servile war--such declamation is +worse than idle. But there is a frightful meaning in this unmeasured +abuse heaped by Mr. Thompson on the people of the free states, for +their expressions of devotion to the Union and the Constitution, and +their determination to aid, if necessary, in suppressing by force--all +force used by, or on behalf of the slaves. Is it then true, that Mr. +Thompson and his American friends, did contemplate a servile war? If +not, why denounce the North for saying it should be suppressed? Were +the people of America right when they charged him and his co-workers +with stirring up insurrection? If not, why lavish every epithet of +contempt and abhorrence upon those who have declared their readiness +to put a stop to the indiscriminate slaughter and pillage of a region +as large as Western Europe? Such speeches as that I have this night +heard go far to warrant all that has ever been said against this +individual in America, and to excuse those who considered him a +general disturber of their peace, and were disposed to proceed against +him accordingly. It was, however, the opinion of many that Congress +had no power to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr. B. +said his opinion was different; yet it must be admitted that the +obstacles to the exercise of this power were of the most serious kind, +and such as, to a candid mind, would free those who hesitated, from +the charge of being pro-slavery men. Perhaps the great reason against +the exercise of that power, even if its existence in Congress were +clear, was, that it would inevitably produce a dissolution of the +Union. When he spoke of the free states bringing about the abolition +of slavery in the South, he was to be understood as meaning that these +states, in accordance with what had been so often hinted at, should +march to the South with arms in their hands, and declare the slaves +free. Now, even supposing that the people of the North had no regard +for the peace of their country--that they were perfectly indifferent +to the glory, the power, and the happiness resulting from the Federal +Union--was it certain, that by adopting such a course, they would +really advance the welfare of the slave? Every candid man would at +once see that the condition of the slave population would be made more +hopeless than ever by it. The fourth proof brought forward by Mr. +Thompson, in support of his proposition that America was chargeable, +in a national point of view, with the guilt of slavery, was the fact +that the different states were bound to restore all run-away slaves. +But this was a regulation which applied to the case of all servants +who leave their masters in an improper manner. Apprentices, children, +even wives, if it might be supposed that a wife would ever leave her +husband, were to be restored as well as the slaves. Were this not +provided, the different states would form to each other the most +horrible neighborhood that could be imagined. No state is expected to +say, that any man is of right or should be 'held to service' of any +kind, in another state; for such are the words of the Constitution. +But the purely internal arrangements of each state, must necessarily +be respected by all the others; or eternal border wars must be the +result. In the re-delivery of a run-away slave, or apprentice, +therefore, the court of the one state is only required to say what are +the law, and the fact of the other state from which the claimant +comes, and to decide accordingly. And when Mr. T. says that this +proceeding is not only contrary to the spirit of the gospel, but to +the express command of God under the Jewish dispensation, I need only +to defend the practice, by questioning his biblical capacities, and +referring for explanation to his second printed speech before the +Glasgow Emancipation Society. In that, he states a fictitious case as +regards Ireland--resembling remarkably the case recorded in holy writ, +of Egypt under the government of Joseph; and while all men have +thought that Joseph came from God, and was peculiarly approved of +him--Mr. T. has represented, that he who should do in Ireland, very +much what Joseph did in Egypt, could be considered as coming only +'from America, or from the bottomless pit!!!' As long as the Holy +Ghost gives men reason to consider certain principles right, they may +be well content to abide under the wrath of Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson +said, in the fifth place, that slavery was a national crime, because +the states were all bound to assist each other, in suppressing +internal insurrection. To this he would answer, that as it regarded +the duty of the nation to the several states, there were two, and but +two great guarantees--namely, the preservation of internal peace, and +the upholding of republican institutions, tranquillity, and +republicanism. Carolina was as much bound to assist Rhode Island as +Rhode Island was to assist Carolina. All were mutually bound to each; +and if things went on as of late, the South were as likely to be +called on to suppress mobs at the North, as the North to suppress +insurrection at the South. It was next advanced by Mr. T. that the +people of the North were taxed for the support of slavery. Now, the +fact was, that America presented the extraordinary spectacle of a +nation free of taxes altogether; free of debt, with an overflowing +Treasury, with so much money, indeed, that they did not well know what +to do with it. It was almost needless to explain that the American +revenue was at present and had been for many years past, derived +solely from the sale of public lands, and from the customs or duties +levied on imported articles of various kinds. The payment of these +duties was entirely a voluntary tax, as in order to avoid it, it was +only necessary to refrain from the use of articles on which they were +imposed. As for Mr. T's argument about the standing army, employed in +keeping down the slaves, its value might be judged from the fact, +that, though even according to Mr. T's own showing, the slave +population amounted to two and a half millions, the army was composed +of only six thousand men, scattered along three frontiers, extending +two thousand miles each. Throughout the whole slaveholding states +there were not probably fifteen hundred soldiers. The charge was, in +fact, complete humbug, founded upon just nothing at all. Mr. +Thompson's seventh charge was, that Congress refused to suppress the +internal slave-trade. This was easily answered. There was in America +not one individual among five hundred who believed that Congress had +the power to do so. And, although he (Mr. B.) believed that Congress +had power to prevent the migration of slaves from state to state, as +fully as they had to prevent the importation of them into the states +from foreign countries; and that the exercise of this power, would +prevent, in a great degree, the trade in slaves from state to state, +yet very few concurred with him even in this modified view of the +case. And it must be admitted that the exercise of such a power, if +it really exists, would be attended with such results of unmixed evil +at this time, that no one whatever would deem it proper to attempt, or +possible to enforce its exercise. It was next said, that as Missouri, +a slaveholding state, had been admitted into the Union after the full +consideration of the subject by Congress, therefore the nation had +become identified with slavery, and responsible for its existence, at +least in Missouri. But on the supposition that, before receiving +Missouri as a member of the confederacy, it had been demanded of her +that she should abolish slavery; and supposing Missouri had acceded to +the terms proposed, that she had really given her slaves freedom, and +been added to the Federal Union in consequence: suppose Missouri had +done all this; what was there to prevent her from re-establishing +slavery so soon as the end she sought was gained. No power was +possessed by the other states in the matter, and all that could have +been said was, that Missouri had acted with bad faith--that she had +broken a condition precedent--that she had given just cause of war. +According to the most latitudinarian notions, this was the extent of +the remedy in the hands of Congress. But Mr. Thompson, being a holder +of peace principles--if we may judge by his published speeches--must +admit it to be as really a sin to kill, as to enslave men; so that, in +his own showing, this argument amounts to nothing. But when it is +considered that every state in the American Union has the recognized +right to alter its Constitution, when, and how it may think fit, +saving only that it be republican; it is most manifest that Congress +and the other states have, and could have in no case, any more power +or right to prevent Missouri's continuing, or creating slavery, than +they had to prevent Massachusetts from abolishing it. But, if we were +to stand upon the mere rights of war, he (Mr. B.) did not know but +that America had just cause of war against Britain, according to the +received notions on that subject, in the speeches delivered by Mr. +Thompson under the connivance of the authorities here. But the causes +of war were very different in the opinions of men, and in the eye of +God. If Mr. Thompson was right in condemning America for the guilt of +Missouri, then they should go to war at once and settle the question. +But, if they were not ready for this conclusion, they could do +nothing. In the edition of Mr. Thompson's speech which had been +delivered on the preceding evening, an argument had been adduced which +was omitted in the present. The argument to which he referred, was +concerning the right of the slaves to be represented. A slight +consideration of the subject might have shown that the whole power +over the subject of citizenship in each state, was exclusive in the +state itself, and was differently regulated in different states. In +some, the elective franchise was given to all who had attained the age +of twenty-one. In some, it was made to depend on the possession of +personal property; and in others, of real property. That in the +Southern states, the power of voting should be given to the masters, +and not to the slaves, was not calculated to excite surprise in +Britain, where such a large proportion of the population, and that in +a number of instances composed of men of high intelligence, were not +entitled to the elective franchise. The origin of this arrangement, +like many others involved in our social system, was a compromise of +apparently conflicting interests in the states which were engaged in +forming the Federal Constitution. The identity of taxation and +representation, was the grand idea on which the nation went into the +war of independence. When it was agreed that all white citizens, and +three-fifths of all other persons, as the Constitution expresses it, +should be represented, it followed of course, that they should be +subject to taxation. Or, if it were first agreed that they should be +taxed, it followed as certainly they should be represented. Who should +actually cast the votes, was, of necessity, left to be determined by +the states themselves, and as has been said, was variously determined; +many permitting free negroes, Indians, and mulattos, who are all +embraced, as well as slaves, to vote. That three-fifths, instead of +any other part, or the whole should be agreed on, was, no doubt, the +result of reasons which appeared conclusive to the wise and benevolent +men who made the Constitution; but I am not able to tell what they +were. It must, however, be very clear, that to accuse my country, in +one breath, for treating the negroes, bond and free, as if they were +not human beings at all--and to accuse her in the next, of fostering +and encouraging slavery, for allowing so large a proportion of the +blacks to be a part of the basis of national representation in all the +states, and then, in the third, because the whole are not so treated, +to be more abusive than ever--is merely to show plainly, how earnestly +an occasion is sought to traduce America, and how hard it is to find +one. He came now to the last charge. He himself, it seems, had +admitted, on former occasions, that slavery was a national evil. He +certainly did believe that the people of America, whether anti-slavery +or pro-slavery, would be happier and better, in conscience and +feelings, were slavery abolished. He believed that every interest +would be benefited by such an event, whether political, moral, or +social. The existence of slavery was one of the greatest evils of the +world, but it was not the crime of all the world. Though, therefore, +he considered slavery a national evil, it was not to be inferred that +he viewed it as a national crime. The cogency of such an argument was +equal to the candor of the citation on which it was founded. He would +now come to matters rather more personal. In enumerating the great +numbers of anti-slavery societies in America, Mr. Thompson had paraded +one as formed in Kentucky, for the whole state. Now, he would venture +to say that there were not ten persons in that whole State, holding +anti-slavery principles, in the Garrison sense of the word. If this +was to be judged a fair specimen of the hundreds of societies boasted +of by Mr. Thompson, there would turn out but a beggarly account of +them. He found also the name of Groton, Massachusetts, as the location +of one of the societies in the boasted list. He had once preached, and +spoken on the subject of slavery, in that sweet little village, and +been struck with the scene of peace and happiness which it presented. +He afterwards met the clergyman of that village in the city of +Baltimore, and asked him what had caused him to leave the field of his +labors. The clergyman answered, that the anti-slavery people had +invaded his peaceful village, and transformed it into such a scene of +strife that he preferred to leave it. And so it was. The pestilence, +which, like a storm of fire and brimstone from hell, always followed +the track of abolitionism, had overtaken many a peaceful village, and +driven its pastor to seek elsewhere a field not yet blasted by it. He +would conclude by remarking, that Mr. Thompson and he (Mr. B.) were +now speaking, as it were, in the face of two worlds, for Western +Europe was the world to America. And it was for England to know--that +the opinion of America--that America which already contained a larger +reading population than the whole of Britain--was as important to her, +as hers could be to us. What he had said of Mr. Garrison and of Mr. +Wright, he had said; and he was ready to answer for it in the face of +God and man. But he had something else to do, he thanked God, than to +go about the country carrying placards, ready to be produced on all +occasions. Nor where he was known, was such a course needful, to +establish what he said. When those gentlemen should make their +appearance, in defence or explanation of what he had said, he would be +the better able to judge--whether it would be proper for him to take +any notice--and if any, what--of the defence for which Mr. Thompson +had so frankly pledged himself. In the mean time, he would say to that +gentleman himself, that his attempts at brow-beating were lost upon +him. + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON said he should commence with the end of his opponent's +speech, and notice what that gentleman had said in regard to the +charges brought by him against William Lloyd Garrison and Elizur +Wright. It appeared as if Mr. Breckinridge expected that, because in +his own country his character for veracity stood high, that therefore, +he was entitled, if he chose, to enter an assembly of twelve hundred +persons in Great Britain, and utter the gravest charges against +certain individuals 3,000 miles away, and when called upon as he had +been for proof, that he had nothing to do but turn round and say, +'Why, I am not bound to furnish proof; let the parties accused +demonstrate their innocence.' This was American justice with a +vengeance. This might be Kentucky law, or Lynch law, but could hardly +be called justice by any assembly of honest and impartial persons. +Such justice might suit the neighborhood of Vicksburg, but it would +not recommend itself to a Scotish audience. He (Mr. T.) would not +undertake at this time the task of justifying the men who had been +calumniated. He knew these gentlemen, and had no doubt when they heard +the charges preferred against them in this country, they would be able +and ready to clear themselves before the world. He would not say that +Mr. Breckinridge did not himself believe the allegations to be true, +but he would say that had that gentleman possessed a knowledge of the +true character of those he had spoken against--had he known them as he +(Mr. T.) knew them, he would have held them incapable of the dark +deeds alleged against them. With regard to Mr. B's remarks upon the +number of the slave population, the amount of the troops in the United +States, and the existence of slavery in the district of Columbia, he +must say that they were nothing but special pleadings; that the whole +was a complete specimen of what the lawyers termed pettifogging. He +(Mr. T.) was not prepared to hear a minister say that because only +1500 troops out of 6000 were found in the southern states, that, +therefore, the nation was not implicated--that because, if the slavery +of the district was abolished, there would be no fewer slaves in the +country--that, therefore, the seat of government should not be +cleansed from its abomination. He would remind his opponent that they +were discussing a question of principle, and that the scriptures had +declared that he who was unjust in the least, was unjust also in the +greatest. Mr. Breckinridge had still cautiously avoided naming the +parties in the United States who were responsible for the sin of +Slavery. They were told that neither New Hampshire nor Massachusetts, +nor any other of the Northern states were to blame; that the +government was not to blame, nor, had it even yet been said, that the +Southern states were to blame. Still the aggregate of the guilt +belonged somewhere; and if the parties to whom reference had been made +were to be exculpated, at whose door, he would ask, were the sin and +shame of the system to be laid. The gentleman with whom he was +debating had repeatedly told him (Mr. T.) that he did not understand +'the system.' He frankly confessed that he did not. It was a +mystery of iniquity which he could not pretend to fathom; but he +thought he might add that the Americans themselves, at least the +Colonizationists, did not seem to understand it very well neither, +for they had been operating for a very long time, without effecting +any favorable change in the system. A word with regard to the +representation of slaves in Congress. Mr. B. had spoken as if he had +intended to have it understood, that the slaves were themselves +benefited by that representation--that it was a partial representation +of the slave population by persons in their interest. How stood the +fact? The slaves were not at all represented as men, but as things. +They swelled, it was true, the number of members upon the floor of +Congress, but that extra number only helped to rivet their bonds +tightly upon them, being as they were, in the interest of the tyrant, +and themselves slaveholders, and not in the interest of the slaves. +What said John Quincy Adams in his celebrated report on the Tariff:-- + + 'The representation of the slave population in this House + has, from the establishment of the Constitution of the United + States, amounted to rather more than one-tenth of the whole + number. In the present Congress (1833,) it is equivalent to + twenty-two votes; in the next Congress it will amount to + twenty-five. This is a combined and concentrated power, + always operating to the support and exclusive favor of the + slave-holding interest.' + +Here was a mighty engine in the cause of oppression. It was a wicked +misrepresentation to say that the slaves were benefited by such an +arrangement. Instead of being a lever in their hands to aid them in +the overthrow of the system which was crushing them, it was a vast +addition of strength to the ranks of their tyrants, who went to +Congress to cry down discussion, to cry up Lynch law, and shout Hail +Columbia. Mr. Thompson then proceeded to give some account of the +Maryland Colonization scheme. + +The first movement on the subject was in March, 1831, when Mr. Brawner +submitted the following resolutions to the Maryland Legislature, which +were by that assembly adopted. He begged particular attention both to +the letter and spirit of this document, exhibiting as it did, the +feelings of 'the good people of the state' towards the colored +population:-- + + Resolved, That the increased proportion of the free people of + color in this state, to the white population, the evils + growing out of their connection and unrestrained association + with the slaves their habits and manner of obtaining a + subsistence, and their withdrawing a large portion of + employment from the laboring class of the white population, + are subjects of momentous and grave consideration to the good + people of this state. + + Resolved, That as philanthropists and lovers of freedom, we + deplore the existence of slavery amongst us, and would use + our utmost exertions to ameliorate its condition, yet we + consider the unrestrained power of manumission as fraught + with ultimate evils of a more dangerous tendency than the + circumstance of slavery alone, and that any act, having for + its object the mitigation of these joint evils, not + inconsistent with other paramount considerations, would be + worthy the attention and deliberation of the representatives + of a free, liberal-minded, and enlightened people. + + Resolved, That we consider the colonization of free people of + color in Africa as the commencement of a system, by which if + judicious encouragement be afforded, these evils may be + measurably diminished, so that in process of time, the + relative proportion of the black to the white population, + will hardly be matter for serious and unpleasant + consideration. + + Ordered, therefore, That a committee of five members be + appointed by the Chair, with instructions to report a bill, + based as nearly as may be, upon the principles contained in + the foregoing resolutions, and report the same to the + consideration of this house. + +Such was the first movement on the subject. At the next session of +the legislature Mr. Brawner presented the report of the committee, +some of the extracts from which he (Mr. T.) would read:-- + + The committee to whom was referred the several memorials from + numerous citizens in this state, upon the subject, of the + colored population, Report,-- + + That the views presented by the memorialists are various, and + the recommendations contained in some of the memorials are + entirely repugnant to those contained in others. The + subjects, however, upon which legislative action is required, + may be embraced under a few general heads: + + First, That a law be passed prohibiting the future + emancipation of the slaves, unless provision be made for + their removal from the state. + + Secondly, That a sum of money adequate for the attainment of + the object, be raised and appropriated for the further + removal of those already free. + + Thirdly, That a system of police be established, regulating + the future conduct and morals of this class of our + population. + + And, Fourthly, There are several memorials from different + parts of our state, signed by a numerous and highly + respectable portion of our citizens, recommending the entire + abolition of slavery in the state. + +On the 14th of March, 1832, the State Legislature of Maryland +appropriated for the use of the State Colonization Society the sum +of two hundred thousand dollars, payable in sums of twenty thousand +dollars per annum for ten years. Having made the grant, the +legislature next proceeded to pass acts to obtain the consent of the +colored population to quit the state and country, and emigrate to +Africa. He (Mr. T.) claimed special attention to some short extracts +from those laws. They would reveal more powerfully than any language +of his, the benevolent or rather atrociously cruel designs of the +'good people' of the state. He should quote first from 'An Act +relating to Free Negroes and Slaves,' passed within a few days of the +grant and part and parcel of the same benevolent scheme:-- + + Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, + That after the passage of this act, no free negro or mulatto + shall emigrate to, or settle in this State; and no free negro + or mulatto belonging to any other state, district or + territory, shall come into this State, and therein remain for + the space of ten successive days, whether such free negro or + mulatto intends settling in this State or not, under the + penalty of fifty dollars for each and every week such persons + coming into, shall thereafter remain in this State; the one + half to the informer and the other half to the sheriff for + the use of the county. * * * and any free negro or mulatto + refusing or neglecting to pay said fine or fines, shall be + committed to the jail of the county; and shall be sold by the + sheriff at public sale, for such time as may be necessary to + cover the aforesaid penalty, first giving ten days previous + notice of such sale. + + Sec. 2d. And be it enacted, That no person in this State, + shall hereafter hire, employ, or harbor any free negro or + mulatto who shall emigrate or settle in this state, after the + first day of June next, or any free negro or mulatto who + shall come into this state from any other state, district or + territory, and continue in this state for the space of ten + successive days as above, under the penalty of twenty dollars + for every day after the expiration of four days, any such + free negro or mulatto * * * shall be so employed, hired or + harbored, and all fines accruing under this act, * * * one + half thereof to be applied to the informer, and the other + half to the use of the county; and if any negro or mulatto + shall remove from this state and remain without the limits + thereof for a space longer than thirty consecutive days, + unless before leaving the state he deposits with the clerk of + the county in which he resides, a written statement of his + object in so doing, and his intention of returning again, or + unless he shall have been detained by sickness or coercion, + of which he shall bring a certificate, he shall be regarded + as a resident of another state, and be subject, if he return, + to the penalties imposed by the foregoing provisions upon + free negroes and mulattoes of another state, migrating to + this state: Provided that nothing contained in this act shall + prevent any free negro or mulatto from visiting Liberia, and + returning to the state whenever he may choose to do so. + + Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful from + and after the first of June next, to import or bring into + this state by land or water, any negro, mulatto or other + slave for sale, or to reside within this state: * * * and any + person or persons so offending, shall forfeit for every such + offence, any negro, mulatto or other slave brought into this + state contrary to this act, and such negro, mulatto or other + slave, shall be entitled to freedom upon condition that he + consent to be sent to Liberia, or to leave the state + forthwith, otherwise such negro or mulatto or other slave, + shall be seized and taken and confined in jail by the sheriff + of the county where the offence is committed, which sheriff + shall receive ten dollars for every negro, mulatto or other + slave so brought into this state and forfeited as aforesaid, + and seized and taken by him. * * * Moreover, said sheriff + shall receive five dollars for such negro, mulatto or other + slave actually confined by him in jail, and the usual prison + fee as now allowed by law, and any person or persons so + offending under this act, shall be punished by indictment in + the county court of the county where the offence shall be + committed, and upon conviction thereof, the said court shall, + by its order, direct said sheriff to sell any negro, mulatto + or other slaves so seized and taken by him, under this act, + to the Colonization Society for said five dollars, and the + prison fees * * * to be taken to Liberia: and if such + Colonization Society shall not receive such negroes, + mulattoes or other slaves for said five dollars each, and the + prison fees of each, upon refusing, said sheriff shall, after + three weeks' public notice given by advertisements, sell any + such negro, mulatto or other slave to some person or persons, + with a condition that any such negro, mulatto or other slave + shall be removed and taken forthwith beyond the limits of + this state to settle and reside. + +Such was the scheme which had been advocated in Boston and elsewhere +by his opponent. He now left the matter in his hands, recommending him +to exert all his eloquence and ingenuity in behalf of the honor of +Maryland, but warning him beforehand that his labors would be in vain. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would now proceed with what remained of the +argument on the general question. He had been asked to point out the +responsible parties in regard to slavery, and this was what he was +about to do. It was indeed much more easy to show who were the +responsible parties than to prove the innocence of those unjustly +accused--it was perhaps his duty to do both--the first he had been +attempting. It would be easy to do the other, and he trusted, that +after he had done so--if the good people of Glasgow on any future +occasion should meet to pass resolutions applauding Mr. Thompson, for +the vast sacrifices he had made, and the suffering he had endured in +the cause of emancipation, they would not again feel obliged to pass +resolutions condemning the whole American nation, as the vilest nation +that ever existed, for maintaining slavery. He would say, then, that +he considered the owners of the slaves, as in the first place, +responsible. The slave-owner had two important duties to perform in +reference to those of his fellow-beings, who were held in bondage. In +the first place, he was bound to inform himself of the whole question, +in its length and breadth, and having done so, he ought, in the +speediest manner possible, consistent with the happiness of the slaves +themselves, to set them free. This was the duty of a slave-owner, as +an individual. But, as his lot might be cast in a slaveholding state, +it was his duty, in addition to freeing his own slaves, that he should +use every lawful means to enlighten public opinion. Whatever faculties +he possessed, it was his duty to use them in the attempt to remove the +prejudices of those whose minds were not yet enlightened on this +important question. But, while it was his duty to do this, he was to +refrain from every thing which would naturally tend to exasperate the +minds of the masters. He was not to go and take hold of a man by the +throat, and say, 'You are a great thieving, man-dealing villain, and +unless you instantly give your slaves liberty, I will pitch you out of +this three story window.' That was not the mode in which a prudent man +would go to work. And he (Mr. Breckinridge) would like, above all +things, to make Mr. Thompson, and his fellow-laborers sensible of this +important truth; that in their efforts to give freedom to the slaves, +nothing could be done without the consent of the slave-owners. And +unless it was kept in view, Mr. Thompson might labor, to use an +American homely phrase, 'till the cows come home,' but he would not +move a single step nearer his object. While on this head there was +another saying which he had no doubt Mr. Thompson had frequently heard +in America, and which might be of some use for him to bear in mind, if +he revisited that horrible country; it was that one 'spoonful of +molasses would catch more flies than a hogshead of vinegar.' With +regard to the mode in which the question of slavery should be taken up +in those states where it existed, he would say that every thing had +been done--agitation, as it was called in this country--to enlighten +the public mind on the whole question, was the only thing that could +advance the cause. If there was any thing else that could be taken +advantage of for that end, he was willing to learn it, and to go home +and try to teach his countrymen who were laboring in the same cause. +In the second place, Mr. B. proceeded to say, that the parties +responsible for the existence of slavery were the states which +tolerated it. If slavery were wrong, as he was fully prepared to +assert it to be, then those states or communities which tolerate it +were justly responsible at the bar of God, at the tribunal of an +enlightened world. If slavery were wrong, those who have power were +bound to abolish it as soon as it could be done consistently with the +greatest amount of good to all concerned. Now, slavery could end in +any state only by violence, or by the consent of the masters. This +made it obviously the duty of all who had right views in such +communities, to extend and enforce them in such a way as shall appear +most likely to secure the object in view--namely, peaceful, voluntary, +and legal abolition. It demonstrates too, that whenever the majority +of such a community are ready to act in this behalf, they are bound to +act in such a manner as will constitutionally and speedily effect the +object, even though multitudes in that community should still oppose +it. But here again it is most clear that such a result can never be +brought about, till the majority of such slaveholding communities +shall not only consent to it, but require it. So that in every branch +of the matter, it constantly appears how indispensable, light, and +love, gentleness, wisdom, and truth are; and how perfectly mad it is +to expect to do any thing in America by harsh vituperation, hasty and +violent proceedings. But, say the anti-slavery people, you can abolish +slavery in the District of Columbia, and might purchase the freedom of +all the slaves throughout the whole of the states with the public +money. But it was not the price of the slaves that was the chief +difficulty in making an end of slavery. The inhabitants of the +Southern states reckoned this the least part of the case. To take away +our slaves, say they, is to take away not our property alone, but our +country also; for without them the country would not be cultivated. He +did not say that the Southern planters were right in thinking so, but +he knew that they did think so; and therefore, it was necessary to +take their opinion into account. This was only an instance of the many +difficulties by which the question was beset, and would let them see +that it was not a mere matter of pounds, shillings, and pence. In +reference to the efforts made by the American people to abolish +slavery, Mr. Breckinridge said they had done much in this cause before +Mr. Thompson was born, and possibly before his father was born. They +had labored for ages, he might almost say for half centuries. During +that time they had effected much, and they would have done more but +for the interference of the party with which Mr. Thompson was +identified. A party whose principles were based on false +metaphysics--on false morality, who came often with the fury of +demons, and yet said they were sent by God. He would say the cause of +emancipation had been much injured by the ill-designed efforts of that +party, they had thrown the cause a hundred years farther back, than it +was five years ago. In reference to the Maryland colonization scheme, +of which they had heard so much from Mr. Thompson, he would only be +able, as his time was nearly expired, to make a remark or two. That +Society had existed for about four years. In its fourth annual report +there is a statement from the managers of the Maryland State fund, +that within the preceding year, two hundred and ninety-nine +manumissions had been reported to them, which, with those previously +reported, make eleven hundred and one slaves manumitted, purely and +freely manumitted, within four years in that State: while the total +number of colored persons transported to Liberia since the Society +commenced its operations was then only one hundred and forty, as +exhibited by the same report. Nothing could show more clearly the +falsity of those statements which represent the scheme of Maryland +colonization, as being cruel, oppressive, and peculiarly opposed to +the progress of emancipation. The direct contrary is in all respects +true. With regard to the book from which Mr. Thompson had read some +extracts, purporting to be the laws of Maryland; if he were not +mistaken, that book was a violent and inflammatory pamphlet written by +some person, perhaps Mr. Thompson himself, shortly after his (Mr. B's) +visit to Boston. He would not enter upon the discussion of the merits +of that pamphlet, against which it had been alleged in America, at +the place where it originated, and he believed truly charged, that +instead of containing faithful extracts from the laws of Maryland, it +did in fact, contain only schemes of laws which had been proposed in +the Assembly of Maryland, but which had never received their sanction; +chiefly in consequence of the opposition of the friends of +colonization. In conclusion, he would say, that the Maryland scheme +was, as a whole, one of the most wise and humane projects that had +ever been devised. He had no objection on proper occasions, to go +fully into it, and he hoped to be able to show that it would do much +for the amelioration of the negro race. + + + + +THIRD NIGHT--WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15. + + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said, the subject for discussion this evening by two +appointments, was the great cause of colonization, as it presented +itself in America; and he was aware that of all the parts of the +subject of these discussions there were none on which their opinions +were more decidedly made up against what he believed to be the truth. +It was, therefore, peculiarly embarrassing for him to enter upon the +subject, but he did so with that frankness and candor with which he +had entered upon the other topics of discussion; and if he would not +show them sufficient reason to commend the principle of colonization +to their minds and feelings, he could only expect that they should +remain of their present opinions. The scheme of colonization was not a +new one in America. It had been spoken of 40 or 50 years ago, by him +who in his day ranked next to the father of his country in the +affections of the American people, Mr. Jefferson, before he filled the +president's chair, while he was president, and afterwards occupied his +thoughts with this great scheme. Being himself a decided enemy to +slavery, he tried to rouse the minds of his countrymen to the +advantages which would arise from the colonizing of the free blacks of +America on some part of the Western coast of Africa. With this view he +entered into negotiations with the Sierra Leone Company in this +country, to receive into their colony free people of color from +America; and he also had applied to the Portuguese government, at that +time a large African proprietor, for a place where the free blacks +might be allowed to colonize themselves. Whether these efforts, which +were applauded and aided by many wise and good men, deserved to be +praised or blamed, was not the topic to be taken up at present; but +they showed that the scheme was one which could not be called a new +scheme. This proposal of colonizing the free blacks of America on the +West coast of Africa had obtained the approbation of nine tenths of +all those throughout America who took any interest in the fate of the +black race: for even the great bulk of those who were now in favor of +"abolitionism," were at one time the friends of colonization. Whether +they had good or bad reasons for the change which had taken place in +their opinions, would be more apparent, perhaps, when they arrived at +the end of the discussion. It was in the course of the years 1822 or +1823 that the first colonists were sent out from America. He might not +be perfectly accurate in his dates, as he gave them from memory, but +the present argument did not depend on exact accuracy in that respect. +The society for promoting the colonization scheme was organized some +years before the date stated above, when an expedition was sent out to +explore the coast of Africa with a view to establishing the colony; +and afterwards another to purchase territory; and then the colonists +were sent out, which he believed took place for the first time after +1820. The society continued to pursue the scheme for a period of 9 or +10 years, and met with no opposition except from some parties in the +extreme South; but had the concurrence of almost all the wise, the +good, and the benevolent in America. It was not till about 1830 that +any very violent opposition was made to the society's operations; and +he believed Mr. Garrison was among the first who opposed it, on the +ground that its operations were injurious to the interests of the +colored race in America. Mr. Arthur Tappan also seceded from the +society about the same time, but upon different grounds from Garrison. +His opposition arose from the society's not taking up his ground in +reference to Temperance. He had no hesitation in saying that Mr. +Tappan was right, and that the society was wrong; as they did not go +far enough in regard to this point. He the more readily admitted that +in this particular Mr. Tappan's views were right, as he was wrong in +every other point which he assumed in reference to the society. But it +was not till about 1832, that an organized opposition to the society +began to manifest itself. In 1833 the American Anti-Slavery Society +was established, one of the fundamental principles of which, and +perhaps the one they most zealously propagated, was uncompromising +hostility to the colonization scheme. In the progress of events too, +it turned out that all the friends of colonization did not see alike +on all parts of the subject. Many of them thought that the interests +involved were too important and too great to be left to a single board +of management or staked on a single series of experiments. Some +considered that one general principle of operation could not be made +broad enough for the circumstances of all the states, and hence arose +several separate societies,--as that of Maryland, organized on +peculiar principles, which have direct reference to general +emancipation; and as those of New York and Philadelphia, which have +founded a colony on principles of peace,--the temperance principle +being held equally by them and the Maryland society. The general +society at Washington assumed the ground of colonizing, on the West +coast of Africa with their own consent, persons of color from America +who were of good character, and who were free at the time of their +being sent out. The Maryland Society went a step farther. They saw +that the colonization scheme would have a reflection favorable to +emancipation; and they carried on their operations with a direct and +avowed reference to the ultimate emancipation of the slaves in that +state. The New York and Philadelphia societies were founded, as I have +above said, on the principles of temperance and peace--the former +principle being common also to the Maryland scheme. The united +societies of New York and Philadelphia first took 120 slaves who had +been manumitted by the late Dr. Hawes, of Va., and formed them into a +colony. The Parent Society's territory in Africa was called Liberia. +It was about 100 leagues in length along the coast, about 10 or 15 +leagues deep, and there were 5 or 6 settlements, all under the general +control of that society. There were in them all about 4,000 colonists, +a great portion of whom were manumitted slaves. The colony of the +Maryland Society was farther South than that of the Parent Society. It +was situated on that point of the coast called Cape Palmas, and was +itself called Maryland in Africa. It was under the charge of a board +of management in Maryland, and consisted at this time of between two +and three hundred colonists, who were chiefly manumitted slaves. The +other colony, that belonging to the New York and Philadelphia Society, +was at Bassa Cove, and was under the charge of the directors of that +society. There were in all about 5000 colonists under the charge of +these societies. For the first few years of the existence of the +Parent Society, it was supported by a number of gentlemen for +different reasons. At the commencement it was not perhaps perfectly +clear how it might operate. Some advocated the cause and supported the +interests of the society, on the principles of direct humanity to the +free colored persons of America. Others again supported it as +calculated to produce collateral effects favorable to the slaves, and +the general cause of emancipation in the country. Others on the ground +that it would enable the country to get rid of the colored population, +without much reference to what might be the result to the colored +population themselves; just as if in England there were individuals +who would promote emigration, to get the country rid of those who were +as they supposed given to idleness and a burden upon the country. +There may have been some who supported the society from an actual love +for slavery, and as a means which they supposed might lessen some of +the evils by which it was accompanied. During the first years of the +society's operations, many thousands of speeches were delivered, and +many hundreds of pamphlets were published about the society, its +operations, and their effects; and it was quite possible that Mr. +Thompson might be able to bring forward some sentences and scraps from +the speeches of a slave-owner, who looked upon the society as a means +of perpetuating slavery in America; or he might produce some speech, +in which the society was supported as a means of ridding the country +of the free people of color, no matter what became of them afterward. +But it was uncandid and unjust to take this plan of opposing the +cause; because it was well known that whatever might be the case in +particular instances, the general fact was, that the great majority of +the supporters of the society had always supported it, because of the +good effects they anticipated from it in favor of ultimate +emancipation, as well as its present and immense benefits to the free +blacks. Now I challenge Mr. Thompson to the plain admission, or the +plain denial of these statements. If he denies them I am content; for +in that case, he will stand convicted in America, for the denial of +that which every man, woman and child there knows to be true. If he +admits my statements to be substantially true, then the entire point +of the charges brought by him and his friends against colonization, is +broken off; and all he or they can allege against it, can equally be +alleged against every thing, good or bad, that ever existed, namely, +that men supported it for various, or even opposite reasons. I go +farther--I assert, and call upon Mr. Thompson to admit or to deny it, +I care not which--that just in proportion as the cause has developed +itself, and its natural and legitimate influences been plainly +exhibited--those who favor slavery have cooled in its support, or +withdrawn entirely from it--while those who favor emancipation, and +desire the good of the free people of color, have, in the same degree, +and with increasing cordiality, rather avowed it, insomuch that it +will be difficult if not wholly impossible for our evidences of +friendship to it, from an avowed friend of slavery, to be culled out +of all his scraps, as occurring within the last three or four years. +Indeed no persons were more persecuted after what Mr. T. calls +persecution in some of the Southern states, than those who advocate +the cause of colonization, a fact which began to occur as soon as +those slave owners, who desired slavery to continue, clearly saw that +the natural result was the ultimate emancipation of the slaves. How +far the conduct of Mr. Thompson and his friends was calculated to +produce a reaction in the South, and incline moderate and humane +masters to the views of the emancipationists, cannot now be +determined. But that the increasing wisdom and benevolence of the +South will compensate for the folly and phrenzy at the North, there is +good reason to hope. He would now proceed to give a few reasons why +this scheme of colonization should be supported. But he would first +call their attention to a resolution proposed by Mr. George Thompson +at a meeting of the Young Mens' Anti Slavery Society of Boston:-- + + That as the American Colonization Society has been + demonstrated to be in its principles unrighteous, unnatural, + and proscriptive, the attempt now made to give permanency to + this institution is a fraud upon the ignorance and an outrage + upon the intelligence of the public, and as such deserves the + severest reprobation. + +The verbiage of this resolution showed its parentage. No one who had +ever heard one of Mr. Thompson's speeches could for a moment doubt the +authorship of the resolution. But what were they to think of an +individual who, being almost a perfect stranger in America, came +forward at a public meeting, and spoke in terms like these of a +society, supported and encouraged by the great majority of the +nation--embracing in that majority most of what is distinguished by +rank, by knowledge, or by virtue, in the country? What but universal +execration from the violent, and pity and contempt from all--could be +expected to follow such proceedings. And yet London, Edinburgh, and +Glasgow, celebrate the prudence of Mr. George Thompson in America, and +praise his conduct there on their behalf! It was not demonstrated that +the scheme was either unnatural, proscriptive, or foolish. He wished +much to hear Mr. Thompson attempt that demonstration. He (Mr. B.) +would attempt to prove, on the other hand, that in itself the scheme +was good, wise, and benevolent. His first reason was that it was good +for the free black population of America, for whose benefit it was +intended, whatever might be the opinions entertained regarding +slavery; whatever might be the opinion as to the duty of admitting the +free colored population to all the rights and privileges of white +people; taking it for granted that slavery should be abolished, taking +it for granted that the free colored population should have the same +rights and privileges as the white population; admitting, as so many +have declared, that these free people of color are generally very +little elevated above the condition of the slaves; granting the +existence of the absurd prejudice among the white population against +people of color; taking as true, all the assertions of all, or any +parties, on this subject, and then say, if it is not a good, a wise, a +humane reason for encouraging the society, that they are able to +snatch 1000 or 10,000 of these degraded, ruined, undone, and unhappy +people from the condition they are placed in, and plant them in +comfort, freedom, and peace in Africa? While Mr. Thompson and his +friends were trying their schemes to terminate slavery, and break down +prejudice against color--schemes which were likely to be long in +progress, if we were to judge by the past--it seemed most +extraordinary that they should object to our efforts to take a portion +of these people out of the grasp of their present sorrows, and do for +them in Africa all that has been done for ourselves in America. Above +all things, is it not inexplicable, that they should consider slavery +on one side of the Atlantic, better than freedom on the other,--a +thought, proving him who held it unworthy of freedom anywhere. If this +was not a scheme, full of wisdom, of goodness and benevolence, he know +not what wisdom, goodness, or benevolence meant. They proposed to do +nothing without the free consent of the colored people. And now, if a +similar offer were made to every poor and unfortunate inhabitant of +Glasgow, and all of them chose to remain here, except one, and that +one were captivated by the account of some distant El Dorado, and +chose to push his fortune there, could the rest assume over this one +the right of saying, you shall not go; we are determined not to go, +and equally determined not to let you go. Yet the abolitionists have +been going about, from Dan to Beersheba, not only attacking and +vilifying the whites, for proposing to colonize the blacks with their +own free consent; but equally attacking the blacks for availing +themselves of the offer. And though the colony had been stigmatized as +a grave, as a place of skulls, it was the very place fitted by nature +for the black population, the land granted by God to their fathers. It +is in one sense, then, a matter of no moment, what the causes are +which induce the society to make the offer, or the black population to +emigrate to Africa--even on the showing of the abolitionists +themselves, the colored population are kept in a state of degradation; +and it is certainly just and good that means should be afforded them +for getting rid of that degradation. In the second place, he +maintained that this colonization scheme naturally tended to promote +the cause of general emancipation. To illustrate this, Mr. +Breckinridge read the following extract from the Maryland report of +1835, p. 17:-- + + The number of manumissions in the state reported to the board + since the last annual report, is two hundred and ninety-nine, + making the whole number reported as manumitted, since the + passage of the act of 1831, eleven hundred and one. + +This extract showed that the scheme did not prevent manumission, but +had tended gradually to increase its amount. That this was the +intention and actual effect of the colonization scheme, he would now +prove to the meeting in so far as regarded Maryland; and if he did so +of that state, he supposed they would not find it difficult to believe +the same thing of other states, as it was against Maryland that Mr. +Thompson had expended his peculiar virulence. Mr. B. then read the +following:-- + + Resolved, That this society believe, and act upon the belief + that colonization has a tendency to promote emancipation, by + affording to the emancipated slave a home, where he can be + happier and better, in every point of view, than in this + country, and so inducing masters to manumit, for removal to + Africa, who would not manumit unconditionally.--3rd A. Rep. + page 5. + + Maryland, through her State Society, is about trying the + important experiment, whether, by means of colonies on the + coast of Africa, slave-holding states may become free states. + The Board of Managers cannot doubt of success, however; and + in exercising the high and responsible duties devolving upon + them, it is with the firm belief that the time is not very + remote, when, with the full and free consent of those + interested in this species of property, the state of Maryland + will be added to the list of the non-slave-holding states of + the Union.--3 A. R. page 6. + + It has been charged, again and again, against the general + scheme, that its tendencies were to perpetuate slavery; and, + at this moment, both in this country and in Europe, there are + those who stigmatize the labors of men like Finley, Caldwell, + Harper, Ayres, Ashmun, Key, Gurley, Anderson and Randall, as + leading to this end. Unfounded as is the charge, it has many + believers. The colonization law of Maryland is based upon a + far different principle; for the immigration of slaves is + expressly prohibited, and the transportation of those who are + emancipated is amply provided for. In accordance, therefore, + with the general sentiment of the public, and anxious that + colonization in the state should be relieved from the + imputation put upon the cause, resolutions were unanimously + adopted, avowing that the extirpation of slavery in Maryland + was the chief object of the society's existence.--3 A. R. + page 33. + +Throughout the report the same current of events was referred to; and +they were found to be everywhere the same as to the effects of the +colonial scheme on the manumission of slaves. To show the cause of the +objections to the scheme by free persons of color, Mr. B. read the +following extract:-- + + The Board would here remark, that in collecting emigrants + from among the free persons of color in the state, the + greatest difficulty they have experienced has grown out of + the incredulity of these with regard to the accounts given to + them of Africa. Even when their friends in Liberia have + written to them, inviting them to emigrate, and speaking + favorably of the country, they have believed that a restraint + was upon the writers, and that the society's agents prevented + any letter from reaching America, which did not speak in + terms of praise of Africa. The ingenuity of the colored + people in this state devised a simple test of the reliance + that was to be placed in letters, purporting to be written by + their friends; which they have, during the last year or + eighteen months, been putting into practice. When the + emigrant sailed from the United States, he took with him one + half of a strip of calico, the other half being retained by + the person to whom he was to write when he reached Africa. If + he was permitted to write without restraint, and if he spoke + his real sentiments in his letter, he enclosed his portion of + the calico, which, matching with that from which it had been + severed, gave authenticity and weight to the correspondence. + Many of these tokens, as they are called, have been received, + and their effect has been evident in the greater willingness + manifested by the free people of color to emigrate; + especially those of them who are at all well judging and well + informed.--4 A. R. page 6. + +Whatever difficulties now exist as to getting free people of color to +avail themselves of the society's scheme and emigrate to Africa, arise +in a great degree from the efforts of the abolition party to +misrepresent the intentions of the society, and the state and +prospects of the colony, to the free colored people of the United +States,--thus showing the double atrocity of preventing these people +from being benefited, and of traducing those persons who wish to +benefit them. In an address from Cape Palmas, by the Colonists to +their brethren in America, dated in October, 1834, there was a +distinct avowal of the fact that it was better for them that they had +gone there; and urging others to come also. Mr. B. then read the +following extract from the address:-- + + Dear Brethren--Agreeably to a resolution of our fellow + citizens herewith enclosed, we now endeavor to lay before you + a fair and impartial statement of the actual situation of + this colony; of our advantages and prospects, both temporal + and spiritual. + + We are aware of the great difference of opinion which exists + in America with respect to colonization. We are aware of the + fierce contentions between its advocates and opposers; and we + are of opinion that this contention, among the well meaning, + is based principally upon the various and contradictory + accounts concerning this country and its advantages; + receiving on the one hand from the enthusiastic and visionary + new comers, who write without having made themselves at all + acquainted with the true state of affairs in Africa; and on + the other, from the timorous, dissipated and disheartened, + who long to return to their former degraded situation, and + are willing to assign any reason, however false and + detrimental to their fellow citizens, rather than the true + one, viz:--that they are actually unfit, from want of virtue, + energy and capacity, to become freemen in any country. + + We judge that the time which has elapsed since our first + arrival, (eight months,) has enabled us to form a pretty + correct opinion of this our new colony, of the climate, and + of the fitness of our government. Therefore we may safely say + we write not ignorantly. And as to the truth of our + assertions we here solemnly declare, once for all, that we + write in the fear of God, and are fully sensible that we + stand pledged to maintain them both here and hereafter. + + Of our Government--We declare that we have enjoyed (and the + same is for ever guaranteed to us by our Constitution) all + and every civil and religious right and privilege, which we + have ever known enjoyed by the white citizens of the United + States, excepting the election of our chief magistrate, who + is appointed by the board of managers of the Maryland State + Colonization Society. Other officers are appointed or elected + from the colonists.--Freedom of speech and the press, + election by ballot, trial by jury, the right to bear arms, + and the liberty of worshipping God agreeably to the dictates + of our own consciences, are rendered for ever inviolate by + the Constitution. + + That we may not weary your patience or be suspected of a + desire to set forth matters in too favorable a light, we have + been thus brief in our statements. It will naturally be + supposed, brethren, that the object of this address is to + induce you to emigrate and join us. To deny this would be a + gross want of candor, and not in unison with our professions + at the outset. We do wish it, and we tender you both the + heart and hand of good fellowship. + + But here again, let us be equally candid with you. It is not + every man we could honestly advise or desire to come to this + colony. To those who are contented to live and educate their + children as house servants and lackeys, we would say, stay + where you are; here we have no masters to employ you. To the + indolent, heedless and slothful, we would say, tarry among + the flesh pots of Egypt; here we get our bread by the sweat + of the brow. To drunkards and rioters, we would say, come not + to us; you can never become naturalized in a land where there + are no grog shops, and where temperance and order is the + motto. To the timorous and suspicious, we would say, stay + where you have protectors; here we protect ourselves. But the + industrious, enterprising and patriotic of what occupation or + profession soever; the merchant, the mechanic, and farmer, + (but more particularly the latter,) we would counsel, advise + and entreat to come and be one with us, and assist in this + glorious enterprise, and enjoy with us that liberty to which + we ever were, and the man of color ever must be, a stranger + in America. To the ministers of the gospel, both white and + colored, we would say, come to this great harvest, and + diffuse amongst us and our benighted neighbors, that light of + the gospel, without which liberty itself is but slavery, and + freedom but perpetual bondage. + + Accept, brethren, our best wishes; and, praying that the + Great Disposer of events will direct you to that course, + which will tend to your happiness and the benefit of our race + throughout the world, + + We subscribe ourselves + + Yours, most affectionately, + + JACOB GROSS, + WILLIAM POLK, + CHARLES SCOTLAND, + ANTHONY WOOD, + THOMAS JACKSON. + + The report having been read, it was then moved by James M. + Thompson and seconded, that the report be approved and + accepted. The yeas and nays were presented as follows:-- + + Yeas--Jeremiah Stewart, James Martin, Samuel Wheeler, H. + Duncan, Daniel Banks, Joshua Stewart, John Bowen, James + Stewart, Henry Dennis, Eden Harding, Robert Whitefield, + Nathan Lee, Nathaniel Edmondson, Charles Scotland, Nathaniel + Harmon, Bur. Minor, Anthony Howard, James M. Thompson, + Anthony Wood, Jacob Gross, Wm. Polk, Thomas Jackson. + + Nays--Nicholas Thomson, William Reynolds, William Cassel. + + N. B. Those who voted in the negative, declared that the + statements contained in the report were true, both in spirit + and letter, but they preferred returning to + America--whereupon the meeting adjourned, sine die. + + A true copy of the record of the proceedings. + + WM. POLK. + +If any weight was due to human testimony, it was made probable, at +least, if not certain, that the intentions of the promoters of the +scheme were that it should be most kind to the black man, in all its +direct action, and by its indirect influences, the precursor of the +abolition of slavery; and if the society had fallen into a mistake, +the colonists themselves had also fallen into the same; as in this +address they say the scheme has proved successful. He would, +therefore, conclude this second reason, by maintaining that he had +sufficiently proved that the scheme had been productive of good, not +only to the colored population, but also to the cause of universal +freedom. + +The reasons he would now offer would be more general. And in bringing +forward the third head of argument, he observed, that the uniform +method which God had selected to civilize and enlighten mankind, and +to carry through the world a knowledge of the arts and laws, with all +the kindred blessings of civilization, was colonization. Amongst the +first commands given by God to man, was to replenish and subdue the +earth; and there was a striking fulness of meaning in the expression. +While there seemed to exist in the whole human family an instinctive +obedience to this command, God had so directed its manifestation, that +he believed he might safely challenge any one to show him any one +nation which had located the permanent seat of its empire in the +native land of its inhabitants. Every nation had been a conquered +nation; every people has been in turn enlightened from others, and in +turn colonists again. This nation, which has reputed itself the most +enlightened in the world, and far be it from him to controvert the +opinion in their presence, might trace its superior enlightenment in +part to the fact of its having been so much oftener conquered than any +other, and the consequent greater mixture of nations among the +inhabitants. Again, he observed, that God had kept several races of +men distinct, from the time of Noah down to the present day; and in +their mutual action upon each other, there was this extraordinary +fact, that wherever the descendants of Shem had colonized a country +occupied by the descendants of Japhet or Ham, they had extirpated +those who were before them. When the descendants of Japhet conquered +the descendants of Shem, they were extirpated before them; when the +descendants of Shem conquered those of Japhet, the case was the same; +and so of the descendants of Ham upon either. But when Japhet +conquered Japhet there was no extirpation, and when Shem conquered +Shem there was no extirpation, as also of Ham conquering Ham. Now as +to the continent of Africa, if history taught any truth, they must +roll back all its tide, or Africa was destined to be still farther +colonized. As yet, the pestilence, like the flaming sword before the +garden of the Lord, had kept the way hedged up, the white man and +yellow man away from the spot,--reserved till the fit hour and people +came. If we take the bodings of Providence all is well. But if we rely +on the lessons of the past, the only means in our power to prevent the +ultimate colonization of Africa by some strange race, and the +consequent extirpation of its race of blacks, is to colonize it with +blacks. If they let Shem colonize there, the blacks will be +extirpated; if they let Japhet colonize, the blacks will be +extirpated. Africa must be undone, or she must be colonized with +blacks; or all history is but one prodigious lie. To Britain seems +specially committed, by a good Providence, the destinies of Asia; and +we say to her, kindly and faithfully, Enter and occupy, till Messiah +come; enter at once, lest we enter before you. To America, in like +manner, is Africa committed. To do our Master's work there, we must +colonize it by blacks, we must enlighten it by blacks. And when Mr. T. +and his friends come to us with their quackery, scarcely four year's +old, and require us to forego for it our clearest convictions, our +most cherished plans, and our most enlightened views of truth and +duty, we can only say to them, "We are much obliged to you, but pray +excuse us, gentlemen; we have considered the matter before." Every +benevolent and right thinking person must see that the scheme of +colonizing Africa by black men, is necessary to enlighten Africa, and +prevent the extirpation of the black men there. He would, in the +fourth place, take up the question of christianizing Africa, separate +from the other question of mere civilization and preservation. There +were only three ways, as had been argued, in which the works of +missions could be possibly conducted. In an admirable little treatise +on the subject, published in this country, and he regretted he knew +not the author, or he would name him in pure honor, these methods were +ably defined and illustrated. One method was, to send out +missionaries, and do the work, as many are now attempting it, in so +many lands. Another was, by bringing the people to be converted, to +those whom God chose to make the means of their conversion. And when +Britain thinks harshly of America about slavery, let her remember, and +melt into kindness at the thought, of what we are doing to convert the +tens of thousands of Irish Catholics she sends to us yearly. The third +way was by colonization; and this, in past ages, has been the great +and glorious plan. By this, Europe became what she is; by this, +America was Christianized; and he would again refer them to the little +book of which he had spoken--which, not being written by a slave +owner, nor even an American, might possibly be true--to convince them, +that it was, in all cases, a most efficient means to save the world. +But in this peculiar case, it seemed to be the chief, if not the only +means. The climate suited the black man, while hundreds of whites had +fallen victims to it. So peculiar does this appear to me, that I have +never been able to comprehend how the pious and enlightened free +blacks of America could so long, or at all, resist the manifest call +of God, to go and labor for Him in their father land. There she is, +"sitting in darkness and drinking blood,"--with a full capacity, and a +perfect fitness on their parts, to enlighten, to comfort, and to save +her--their mother, doubly requiring their care, that she knows not +that she is blind and naked! And yet they linger on a distant shore; +and fill the air with empty murmurs, of time and earth, and its poor +vanities; and Christian men around them caress and applaud them for +their heathen hard-heartedness; and Christian communities, in their +strange infatuation, send missions to them, to prevent them from +becoming the truest missionaries that the earth could furnish! +Shadows that we are, shadows that we pursue! It was, in the fifth +place, the only effectual and practical mode of putting an end to the +slave trade. There was, indeed, another way--by stopping the demand. +But while they disputed the means of stopping the demand, there was +another way--the stopping of the supply. This had long been an object +dear to several nations. The government of Britain, the government of +America, and the governments of several other states, had sent several +cruisers to stop the supply; but would any slaves be taken from +Africa, if there was even a single city on the western coast, with ten +thousand inhabitants, and three vessels of war at their command? They +would put an end to the trade the moment they were able to chastise +the pirates, or make reprisals on the nations to which they belonged. +Why is it we never hear of the stealing of an Englishman, a German, or +a Turk? Because the thief knows that reprisals would be made, or that +he or some of his countrymen would be chastised or stolen in return. +So that all that was required, was to plant a city on the west coast +of Africa, and this would give protection to the population of that +country. Nothing is plainer, than that any nation which will make +reprisals, will have none of the inhabitants stolen. If reprisals were +made effective, the slave trade would be immediately stopped. It is +the course pursued by Mr. Thompson and his friends, not the course +pursued by us, which is likely to continue the slave trade. On one +hundred leagues of African coast, it is already to a great degree +suppressed; and if we had been aided as the importance of the cause +demanded, instead of being resisted with untiring activity, this +blessed object might now have been granted to the prayers of +Christendom. + + * * * * * + +Mr. THOMPSON earnestly hoped that every word which Mr. Breckinridge +had that night uttered respecting the principles of the Colonization +Society, and what had been effected by that institution, would be +carefully preserved; that on other occasions, and by other persons, on +both sides the Atlantic, Mr. Breckinridge's arguments might be +canvassed, his facts investigated, and his sentiments made known. I +shall offer no apology (continued Mr. T.) for referring to a point +discussed last evening, but not fairly disposed of. I am by no means +satisfied, nor do I think the enlightened, and least of all the +Christian world, will be satisfied with the doctrine which for two +evenings has been laid down and maintained by Mr. Breckinridge, that +America, as a nation, is not responsible before God for the sin of +slavery. I cannot, sir, receive that doctrine. I cannot lightly pass +it over. Much hinges upon this point, nor will I consent that America +shall lay the flattering unction to her soul that she is not her +brother's keeper; that any wretches within her precincts may commit +soul-murder, and she be innocent, by reason of her wilful, self +induced, and self continued impotency. I do not believe the doctrine +of "the irresponsibleness of America as a nation" to be politically +sound; still less do I believe it to be the doctrine of the Bible. + +Sir, I fearlessly charge America, as a nation--as the United States of +America--as a voluntary confederacy of free republics--as living under +one common constitution, and one common government--with being a +nation of slave-holders, and the vilest and most culpable on the face +of the earth. + +I charge America with having a slave-holding president; with holding +seven thousand slaves at the seat of government; with licensing the +slave trade for four hundred dollars; with permitting the domestic +slave trade to the awful extent of one hundred thousand souls per +annum; with allowing prisons, built with the public money, to be made +the receptacles of unoffending, home-born Americans, destined for the +southern market; with permitting her legislators and the highest +functionaries in the state to trample upon every dictate of humanity, +and every principle sacred in American independence, by trafficking +"in slaves and the souls of men." + +I charge America, "as a nation," with permitting within her boundaries +a wide spread system, which my opponent has himself described as one +of clear robbery, universal concubinage, horrid cruelty, and +unilluminated ignorance. + +I charge America, before the world and God, with the awful crime of +reducing more than two millions of her own children, born on her own +soil, and entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," +to the state of _beasts_; withholding from them every right, and +privilege, and social or political blessing, and leaving them the prey +of those who have legislated away the word of life, and the ordinances +of religion, lest their victims should at any time see with their +eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and +should assume the bearing, and the name, and the honors of humanity. + +I charge America, "as a nation," with being wickedly, cruelly, and, in +the highest sense, criminally indifferent to the happiness and +elevation of the free colored man; with crushing and persecuting him +in every part of the country; with regarding him as belonging to a +low, degraded, and irreclaimable _caste_, who ought not to call +America his country or his home, but seek in Africa, on the soil of +his ancestors, a refuge from persecution in the land which the +English, and the Dutch, and the French, and the Irish, have wrested +from the _red_ men, and which they now proudly and self complacently, +but most falsely style the _white_ man's country. + +I charge all this, and much more, upon the _government_ of America, +upon the _church_ of America, and upon the _people_ of America. + +It is idle, to say the least, to talk of rolling the guilt of the +system upon the individual slave-holder, and the individual state. +This cannot fairly be done while the citizens throughout the land are +banded, confederated, united. It is the sin of the entire church. The +Presbyterians throughout the country are one body; the Baptists are +one body; the Episcopalian Methodists are one body; they acknowledge +one another; they cordially fellowship one another. They make the sin, +if it be a sin, theirs, by owning as brethren in Christ Jesus, and +ministers of Him, who was anointed to preach deliverance to the +captives, men who shamelessly traffic in rational, blood-redeemed +souls; nay, even barter away for accursed gold, their own church +members. It is pre-eminently the sin of the church. It is the sin of +the people at large. It is said the laws recognize slavery. I reply, +the entire nation is answerable for those laws. We hear that the +"Constitution can do nothing," that "the Congress can do nothing," to +which I reply, Woe, and shame, and guilt, and execration must be, and +ought to be, the portion of that people calling themselves Christians +and republicans, who can tolerate, through half a century, a +Constitution and a Congress that cannot prevent nor cure the buying +and selling of sacred humanity; the sundering of every fibre that +binds heart to heart, and the dehumanization and butchery of peaceful +and patriotic citizens within the territories over which they extend. +In whatever aspect I view this question, the people, and the whole +people, appear to be, before God and man, responsible, politically and +morally, for the sin of slave-holding. They are responsible for the +Constitution, with any deficiencies and faults it may have, for they +have the power, and it is therefore their duty, to amend it. They are +responsible for the character and acts of Congress, for they make the +senators and representatives that go there. In a word, they are +properly and solemnly responsible for that "system" of which we have +heard so much, and for "the workings of that system;" and I declare it +little better than subterfuge to say, that the people of America, the +source of power, the sovereign, the omnipotent people, are not +responsible for the existence of slavery and all its kindred +abominations, within the territorial limits of the United States. + +The charges which he had here made were important, grave and awful. He +made them under the full and solemn impression of his accountableness +to mankind, and the God of nations. He believed them to be true; he +was prepared to substantiate them. That not one tittle of them might +be lost or misrepresented in Great Britain or America, he had penned +them with his own hand, out of his own heart, and he was prepared to +support them in England, or in Scotland, or in America itself: for he +hoped yet again to visit that country, and there resume his advocacy +of the cause of the slave. + +He would now come to the colonization question, on which he felt +completely at home. In adverting to this question, however, he +experienced a difficulty, which he had felt on many former occasions, +that of not being able to compress what he had to say within the +compass of one address. He would not only have to reply to what Mr. +Breckinridge had advanced, but he would have to touch on topics which +Mr. Breckinridge had overlooked--principles affecting the origin, +character, and very existence of that society, which Mr. Breckinridge +had taken under his special protection. He (Mr. T.) would show that +the improvement of the black man's condition was not the chief object +of the Colonization Society; that its operations sprung from that +loathing of color which might be denominated the peculiar sin of +America. Slavery might be found in many countries, but it was in +America alone that there existed an aristocracy founded on the color +of the skin. A race of pale-skinned patricians, resting their claims +to peculiar rank and privileges upon the hue of the skin, the texture +of the hair, the form of the nose, and the size of the calf! But for +this abhorrence of color, Mr. B. would not have been contented with +the means proposed by the Colonization Society for the amelioration of +slavery; he would not have spoken a word of colonization, or of that +Golgotha, Liberia. + +Acquainted as he (Mr. T.) was with America, he had been able to come +to no other conclusion, but that the prejudice of color was that on +which the colonization of the free negro was founded. There had been a +great deal said of the inferior intellect of the black race, and of a +marked deficiency in their moral qualities; but these were not the +grounds on which it was sought to expatriate them; the injustice +practised towards them rested solely on the prejudice which had been +excited against their external personal peculiarities. Every word +spoken by Mr. Breckinridge in defence of colonization, went directly +to prove this. The whole scheme rested on the dark color of those to +be expatriated. Had the sufferers been white in the skin, Mr. B. would +have advocated immediate, complete, and everlasting emancipation. + +He would now turn to a matter, regarding which he considered Mr. +Breckinridge had treated the abolitionists of America with +injustice--with unkindness--with something which he did not like even +to name. Mr. B. had charged the abolitionists with having published a +law as the law of the state of Maryland, which had never been adopted +by the legislature of that state; and when he (Mr. T.) had required of +Mr. B. evidence in support of his grave allegations, it was in this +case precisely as in the case of Mr. Garrison and Mr. Wright,--the +proofs were non est inventus. Now, he would ask, was this fair; was it +magnanimous; was it generous; was it Christianlike? + +The charge had been distinctly made, and then it had been asked of the +parties accused to prove a negative. Mr. Breckinridge was not likely +to be long in Glasgow, and it was therefore most easy, and most +convenient, to prefer charges which could not, even on the testimony +of the parties implicated, be answered until Mr. Breckinridge was far +away, and the poison had had full time to work its effect. He (Mr. T.) +would, however, give it as his opinion, that his fellow laborers on +the other side of the Atlantic, would triumphantly clear themselves of +this and every other imputation, and finally emerge from the ordeal, +however fierce, pure, untarnished, and unscathed. + +Such a charge, however, should not be brought against him (Mr. T.). +The laws of Maryland, he cited, were to be found in the pages of the +Colonization Society's accredited organ, the African Repository, an +entire set of which was on the platform, open to inspection. + +Mr. Breckinridge had taken great pains to make out a case for the +Maryland Colonization Society. This was not to be wondered at. That +society was a protege of his own. It had been patronized and fostered +by him. For it, it appeared, he had almost suffered martyrdom, when, +in advocating its cause in Boston, he had been mistaken for an +abolitionist,--in that same city of Boston, where a gentlemanly mob of +5000 individuals, fashionably attired, in black, and brown, and blue +cloth, had joyfully engaged in assaulting and dispersing a peaceful +meeting of forty ladies. + +He had not yet done with the Maryland Colonization Society. He was +prepared to prove that it was, taken as a whole, a most oppressive and +iniquitous scheme. The laws framed to support it prohibited +manumission, except on condition of the removal of the freed slaves; +thus submitting a choice of evils, both cruel to the last +extent,--perpetual bondage, or banishment from the soil of their +birth, and the scenes and associations of infancy and youth. He could +show, that free persons of color, coming into the state, were liable +to be seized and sold; and white persons inviting them, and harboring +them, liable to the infliction of heavy fines. + +These, and similar provisions, all disgraceful and cruel, were the +prominent features of the laws which had been framed to carry into +effect the benevolent and patriotic designs of the Maryland +Colonization Society! + +That expulsion from the state was the thing intended, he would show +from newspapers published in the state. What said the Baltimore +Chronicle, a pro-slavery and colonization paper, at the time when the +laws referred to were passed? Let his auditory hear with attention. + + "The intention of those laws was, and their effect must be, + to EXPEL the free people of color from this state. They will + find themselves so hemmed in by restrictions, that their + situation cannot be otherwise than uncomfortable should they + elect to remain in Maryland. These laws will no doubt be met + by prohibitory laws in other states, which will greatly + increase the embarrassments of the people of color, and leave + them no other alternative than to emigrate or remain in a + very unenviable condition." + +What said the Maryland Temperance Herald of May 3, 1835? + + "We are indebted to the committee of publication for the + first No. of the Maryland Colonization Journal, a new + quarterly periodical, devoted to the cause of colonization in + our state. Such a paper has long been necessary; we hope this + will be useful. + + "Every reflecting man must be convinced, that the time is not + far distant when the safety of the country will require the + EXPULSION of the blacks from its limits. It is perfect folly + to suppose, that a foreign population, whose physical + peculiarities must forever render them distinct from the + owners of the soil, can be permitted to grow and strengthen + among us with impunity. Let hair-brained enthusiasts + speculate as they may, no abstract considerations of the + natural rights of man, will ever elevate the negro population + to an equality with the whites. As long as they remain in the + land of their bondage, they will be morally, if not + physically enslaved, and, indeed, so long as their distinct + nationality is preserved, their enlightenment will be a + measure of doubtful policy. Under such circumstances every + philanthropist will wish to see them removed, but gradually, + and with as little violence as possible. For effecting this + purpose, no scheme is liable to so few objections, as that of + African Colonization. It has been said, that this plan has + effected but little--true, but no other has done any thing. + We do not expect that the exertions of benevolent individuals + will be able to rid us of the millions of blacks who oppress + and are oppressed by us. All they can accomplish, is to + satisfy the public of the practicability of the scheme--they + can make the experiment--they are making it and with success. + The state of Maryland has already adopted this plan, and + before long every Southern state will have its colony. The + whole African coast will be strewn with cities, and then, + should some fearful convulsion render it necessary to the + public safety TO BANISH THE MULTITUDE AT ONCE, a house of + refuge will have been provided for them in the land of their + fathers." + +Yet this was the plan of which the American Colonization Society, at +its annual meeting in 1833, had spoken in the following terms:-- + + Resolved, That the Society view, with the highest + gratification, the continued efforts of the State of Maryland + to accomplish her patriotic and benevolent system in regard + to her colored population; and that the last appropriation by + that state of two hundred thousand dollars, in aid of African + colonization, is hailed by the friends of the system, as a + BRIGHT EXAMPLE to other states. + +Mr. Breckinridge had lauded the Colonization Society as a scheme of +benevolence and patriotism. He (Mr. T.) did not mean to deny that +there had been many pious and excellent men found amongst its founders +and subsequent supporters, but he was prepared to demonstrate that it +had grown out of prejudice, was based upon prejudice, made its appeal +to prejudice, and could not exist were the prejudice against the +colored man conquered. It had, moreover, made an appeal to the fears +and cupidity of the slaveholder, by setting forth, that, in its +operations, it would remove from the southern states the most +dangerous portion of the free population, and also enhance the value +of the slaves left remaining in the country. The doctrines found +pervading the publications of the society were of the most absurd and +anti-christian character. He would mention three, viz., 1st, that +_Africa_, and not _America_, was the true and appropriate home of the +colored man; 2dly, that prejudice against color was _invincible_, and +the elevation of the colored man, therefore, while in America, beyond +the reach of humanity, legislation and religion; and, 3dly, that there +should be no emancipation except for the purposes of colonization. How +truly monstrous were these doctrines! How calculated to cripple +exertion, to retard freedom, and mark the colored man out as a +foreigner and alien, to be driven out of the country as soon as the +means for his removal were provided. Such had really been the effect +of the society's views upon the public mind in America. If the colored +man was to be expatriated because his ancestors were Africans, then +let General Jackson be sent to Ireland, because his parents were +Irish; and Mr. Van Buren be sent to Holland, because his ancestors +were Dutch; and let the same rule be applied to all the other white +inhabitants of the country. Then would Great Britain, and France, and +Germany, and Switzerland recover their children; America be delivered +of her conquerors, and the red man come forth from the wilds and the +wildernesses of the back country, to enjoy, in undisturbed security, +the soil from which his ancestors had been driven. Mr. Breckinridge +had said much respecting his (Mr. T.'s) presumption in bringing +forward a resolution in Boston, so strongly condemning the measures +and principles of the Colonization Society. He (Mr. T.) might be +permitted to say, that if he had acted presumptuously, he had also +acted boldly and honestly; and that the auditory should know, that the +resolution referred to had been debated for one entire evening, and +from half past nine till half past one, the next day, with the Rev. R. +R. Gurley, the secretary and agent of the Colonization Society, who, +for eight or nine years, had been the editor of the African +Repository, and was, perhaps, better qualified than any other man in +the United States, to discuss the subject--always, of course, +excepting his Rev. opponent, then on the platform. He admitted, the +resolution was strongly worded; that it repudiated the society as +unrighteous, unnatural, and proscriptive; and declared the efforts +then making to give strength and permanency to the institution, were a +fraud upon the ignorance, and an outrage upon the intelligence and +humanity of the community. But this country should know that he had +defended his propositions, face to face, with one of the ablest +champions of the cause, before two American audiences, in the city of +Boston. That the assembly then before him might judge of the character +of the debate, and know its result, he would read a few short +extracts, taken from a respectable daily paper, published in Boston, +and entirely unconnected with the Abolitionists. The editor himself, +B. F. Hallett, Esq., reported the proceedings, and thus remarked:-- + + "One of the most interesting, masterly, and honorable + discussions ever listened to in this community, took place on + Friday evening and Saturday morning. The hall was as full as + it could hold. * * * * * * The whole discussion was a model + for courtesy and christian temper in like cases, and did + great credit to all parties concerned. We question if a + public debate was ever conducted in this city, in a better + spirit, and with more ability. There was not a discourteous + word passed, through the whole, and no occurrence which for + an instant marred the entire cordiality with which the + dispute was conducted. It was not men but principles that + were contending, and we venture to say that no public + discussion was ever managed on higher grounds, or was more + deeply interesting to an audience. The resolution was put, + all present being invited to vote. It was carried in the + affirmative with FOUR voices in the negative." + +So said the Boston Daily Advocate. + +The following extracts from the published addresses of some of the +most eminent and gifted supporters of the Colonization Society, would +show, that the _compulsory_ removal of the colored population, had +from the first been contemplated. If it was replied, "You cannot find +compulsion in the Constitution," he (Mr. T.) would rejoin, No; but +herein consists the wickedness and hypocrisy of the scheme; that while +it puts forth a fair face in its constitution, it does, really and in +truth, contain the elements of all oppression. The written +constitution of the Society was but the robe of an angel, covering an +implacable and devouring demon. He would make another remark, also, +before submitting the extracts in his hand. Mr. Breckinridge had +strenuously endeavored to lay the guilt of the oppressive laws in the +south upon the Abolitionists, declaring that those laws had resulted +from the spread of Anti-slavery principles. From the passages about to +be cited, and, more especially, from the words of Mr. Clay, it would +be found, that long prior to the "quackery" of the Abolitionists, +there had existed harsh and cruel laws, calling forth the regrets and +censures of Slaveholders themselves. Even admitting the truth of what +Mr. B. had said, did it follow that the truth should not therefore be +published. By no means. The Israelites, in their bondage, murmured +against the measures of him whom God had raised up to deliver them, +and complained that their burdens had increased since Pharaoh had been +remonstrated with. He would quote, for the benefit of Mr. B. a very +laconic remark, by an old commentator, "When the bricks are doubled, +Moses is near." + + 1. Charles Carrol Harper, Son of General Harper, to the + voters of Baltimore, 1826. Af. Repy., vol. 2. page 188. For + several years the subject of Abolition of Slavery has been + brought before you. I am decidedly opposed to the project + recommended. No scheme of abolition will meet my support, + that leaves the emancipated blacks among us. Experience has + proved that they become a corrupt and degraded class, as + burthensome to themselves, as they are hurtful to the rest + of society. + + Again, page 189, "To permit the blacks to remain amongst us + after their emancipation, would be to aggravate, and not to + cure the evil." + + 2. Extracted with approbation from the Public Ledger, + Richmond, Indiana, Af. Repy., vol. 3. page 26. "We would say, + liberate them only on condition of their going to Africa or + Hayti." + + 3. Extracts from an address delivered at Springfield, before + the Hamden Col. Society, July 4th, 1828. By Wm. B. O. + Peabody, Esq. published by request of the Society. Af. Repy., + vol. 4. page 226. "I am not complaining of the owners of + Slaves; they cannot get rid of them; it would be as humane to + throw them from the decks in the middle passage, as to set + them free in our country." Upon which the following eulogy is + pronounced, page 230. "We need hardly say that Mr. Peabody's + address is an excellent one. May its spirit universally + pervade and animate the minds of our countrymen. + + 4. Extracts from an Address to the Col. Socy. of Kentucky, at + Frankfort, Dec. 17th., 1829, by the Hon. Henry Clay. Af. + Repy., vol. 6, page 5. "If the question were submitted, + whether there should be immediate or gradual emancipation of + all the slaves in the United States, without their removal or + colonization, painful as it is to express the opinion, I have + no doubt it would be unwise to emancipate them. For I believe + that the aggregate of the evils which would be engendered in + Society, upon the supposition of such general emancipation, + and of the liberated slaves remaining promiscuously among us, + would be greater than all the evils of Slavery, great as they + unquestionably are." + + Again, page 12. "Is there no remedy, I again ask, for the + evils of which I have sketched a faint and imperfect picture? + Is our posterity doomed to endure forever, not only all the + ills flowing from the state of Slavery, but all which arise + from incongruous elements of population, separated from each + other by invincible prejudices, and by natural causes? + Whatever may be the character of the remedy proposed, we may + confidently pronounce it inadequate, unless it provides + efficaciously for the total and absolute separation, by an + extensive space of water or of land, at least of the white + portion of our population, from that which is free of the + colored." + + 5. Extracts from the speech of Geo. Washington Park Curtis at + the 14th Annual meeting of the Amer. Col. Soc., Af. Repy., + vol. 6. page 371-2. "Some benevolent minds in the + overflowings of their philanthropy, advocate amalgamation of + the two classes, saying, let the colored classes be freed and + remain among us as denizens of the empire; surely all classes + of mankind are alike descended from the primitive parentage + of Eden, then why not intermingle in one common society as + friends and brothers. No, Sir; no. I hope to prove, at no + very distant day, that a Southron can make sacrifices for the + cause of Colonization beyond seas, but for a Home Department + in those matters, I repeat no, Sir; no. What right, I demand, + have the children of Africa to a homestead in the white man's + country? + + "If, as is most true, the crimes of the white man robbed + Africa of her sons, let atonement be made by returning the + descendants of the stolen to the clime of their ancestors, + and then all the claims of redeeming justice will have been + discharged. There let centuries of future rights, atone for + centuries of past wrongs. Let the regenerated African rise to + Empire; nay, let Genius flourish, and Philosophy shed its + mild beams to enlighten and instruct the posterity of Ham, + returning 'redeemed and disenthralled' from their long + captivity in the new world. But, Sir, be all these benefits + enjoyed by the African race under the shade of their native + palms. Let the Atlantic billow heave its high and everlasting + barrier between their country and ours. Let this fair land + which the white man won by his chivalry, which he has adorned + by the arts and elegancies of polished life, be kept sacred + for his descendants, untarnished by the footprint of him who + hath ever been a slave." + + 6. Mr. Henry Clay's speech, before the Society, January 1st, + 1818--2d Annual Report, page 110. "Further, several of the + slaveholding states had, and perhaps all of them would, + prohibit entirely, emancipation, without some such outlet was + created. A sense of their own safety required the painful + prohibition. Experience proved that persons turned loose who + were neither freemen nor slaves, constituted a great moral + evil, threatening to contaminate all parts of society. Let + the colony once be successfully planted, and legislative + bodies who have been grieved at the necessity of passing + those 'prohibitory laws,' which at a distance might appear to + 'stain our codes,' will hasten to remove the impediments to + the exercise of benevolence and humanity. They will annex the + condition that the emancipated shall leave the country, and + he has placed a false estimate upon liberty, who believes + there are many who would refuse the boon, when coupled even + with such a condition." + +Here there was compulsion, both in principle and precept. In the laws +of Maryland, and elsewhere, were found abundant evidences of +compulsion in practice, and where there were no direct acts forcing +them to depart, a public sentiment had been created, which, in its +manifold operations, brought the colored man, crushed and hopeless, to +the conclusion, that it would be better for him to say farewell to +home and country, than remain a proverb and a nuisance amongst a +prejudiced and persecuting people. No colored man could justly be said +to go to Liberia, or elsewhere, with his free and unconstrained +consent, until the laws were equal, the treatment kind, prejudice +founded on complexion destroyed, and he presented himself a voluntary +agent, and asked the means to transport him to a foreign shore. As one +proof that compulsion had been openly and unblushingly advocated, he +would quote the words of Mr. Broadnax in the Virginia House of +Delegates:---- + + "It is idle to talk about not resorting to force; every body + must look to the introduction of force of some kind or + other--and it is in truth a question of expediency, of moral + justice, of political good faith--whether we shall fairly + delineate our whole system on the face of the bill, or leave + the acquisition of extorted consent to other processes. The + real question, the only question of magnitude to be settled, + is the great preliminary question--Do you intend to send the + free persons of color out of Virginia, or not? + + "If the free negroes are willing to go, they will go--if not + willing they must be compelled to go. Some gentlemen think it + politic not now to insert this feature in the bill, though + they proclaim their readiness to resort to it when it becomes + necessary; they think that for a year or two a sufficient + number will consent to go, and then the rest can be + compelled. For my part, I deem it better to approach the + question and settle it at once, and avow it openly. + + "I have already expressed it as my opinion that few, very + few, will voluntarily consent to emigrate if no COMPULSORY + measure be adopted. + + "I will not express, in its full extent, the idea I entertain + of what has been done, or what enormities will be perpetrated + to induce this class of persons to leave the Slate. Who does + not know that when a free negro, by crime or otherwise, has + rendered himself obnoxious to a neighborhood, how easy it is + for a party to visit him one night, take him from his bed and + family, and apply to him the gentle admonition of a SEVERE + FLAGELLATION, to induce Kim to consent to go away I In a few + nights the dose can be repeated, perhaps increased, until, in + the language of the physician, quantum sufficit has been + administered to produce the desired operation; and the fellow + then becomes PERFECTLY WILLING to move away. + +Finally, on this part of the subject, he would cite the Rev. R. J. +Breckinridge, who, at the annual meeting of the American Colonization +Society, in 1834, had used the following language:-- + + "Two years ago I warned the Managers of this Virginia + business, and yet they sent out TWO SHIP-LOADS OF VAGABONDS, + not fit to go to such a place, and they were COERCED away as + truly as if it had been done with a CART-WHIP. + +His grand complaint against the Colonization Society was this--that +instead of grappling with the reigning prejudices of the community, it +falsely assumed the _insensibility_ of those prejudices, and proceeded +to legislate accordingly. They thus sanctioned and perpetuated the +greatest sources of suffering and wrong to the colored population. The +prejudice against the people of color had greatly increased since the +formation of the Society. The present supporters of the Society were +those who thoroughly loathed the free people of color, and the most +cruel and sanguinary opponents of the Abolitionists were the +boisterous defenders of the American Colonization Society. For +example, when a mob assailed the inhabitants in New York, broke up +their meetings, assaulted their persons, and sacked the house of Mr. +Lewis Tappan, that mob could, in the midst of their ruffian-like and +felonious exploits, most unanimously and heartily shout, "Three cheers +for the Colonization Society," and "away with the niggers." In +travelling in steamboats and stage coaches, he (Mr. T.) had invariably +found that his most furious and malignant opponents, and the most +determined haters of the black man, were loud in their profession of +attachment to the principles and plans of the society. Why had not the +wise and benevolent members of the society denounced that prejudice? +Because the best among them were themselves partakers of that +prejudice. It was evident, from all that Mr. Breckinridge had said, +that he was deeply imbued with that prejudice. It gave tone, and +color, and direction to all his remarks. Such men might profess to +love the black man; but they were likely to be suspected of +insincerity, when they uniformly manifested their love by driving the +object of it as far away as possible. Such a mode of expressing love +was contrary to all our ideas of the natural manifestations of that +feeling. If the Colonization Society was indeed so full of benevolence +and mercy, how was it that its character was so misunderstood by the +colored people, for whose special benefit it had been originated? +Surely they were likely to be the best judges of its effect upon their +welfare and happiness. What was the fact? The entire free colored +population of the United States were opposed to the expatriating +project. But his opponent would say it was owing to the abuse poured +upon the society by the foul-mouthed Abolitionists. He (Mr. T.) +should, however, deprive the gentleman of this refuge, by laying +before the meeting a very interesting fact, which would at once show +the feeling of the colored people when the plan was first submitted to +them. It would show, that in a meeting of three thousand, convened in +the city of Philadelphia, to decide whether the society should, or +should not, receive their countenance, they decided _against_ it +without a dissentient voice. He would lay before them a letter written +by a highly respectable, enlightened, and wealthy gentleman of color +in Philadelphia, Mr. James Forten. The letter was written to the +editor of the New England Spectator, in consequence of a remark made +by Mr. Gurley, during the debate in Boston. + + PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, 1835. + + REV. W. S. PORTER,--Dear Sir,--I cheerfully comply with the + request contained in your note of the 3d inst., to give you a + brief statement of a meeting held in 1817, by the people of + color in this city, to express their opinion on the Liberia + project. It was the largest meeting of colored persons ever + convened in Philadelphia,--I will say 3000, though I might + safely add 500 more. To show you the deep interest evinced, + this large assemblage remained in almost breathless and fixed + attention during the reading of the resolutions and the other + business of the meeting; and when the question was put in the + affirmative you might have heard a pin drop, so profound was + the silence. But when in the negative, one long, loud, ay, + tremendous NO, from this vast audience, seemed as if it would + bring down the walls of the building. Never did there appear + a more unanimous opinion. Every heart seemed to feel that it + was a life and death question. Yes, even then, at the very + onset, when the monster came in a guise to deceive some of + our firmest friends, who hailed it as the dawning of a + brighter day for our oppressed race,--even then we penetrated + through its thickly-laid covering, and beheld it + prospectively as the scourge which in after years was to + grind us to the earth, and, by a series of unrelenting + persecution, force us into involuntary exile. + + I was not a little surprised to learn that Mr. Gurley + professed to be ignorant of this fact; for in the African + Repository he reviewed Mr. Garrison's Thoughts on African + Colonization; and a whole chapter of the work, if I mistake + not, is taken up with the sentiments of the people of color + on colonization, commencing with the Philadelphia meeting. + Perhaps Mr. Gurley did not read that chapter. But if his + memory is not very treacherous, he ought to have known the + circumstance, for I related it to him myself in a + conversation which I had with him at my house one evening, in + company with the Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, and our beloved + friend, William Lloyd Garrison. The subject of colonization + was warmly discussed; and I well recollect bringing our + meeting of 1817 forward as a proof of our early and decided + opposition to the measure. No doubt Mr. Garrison also + remembers it. + + Three meetings were held by us in 1817. The two first you + will find in the "Thoughts on Colonization," part 2d, page 9. + Of the protest and remonstrance adopted at the third meeting, + I send you an exact copy. It is in answer to an address to + the citizens of New York and Philadelphia, calling upon them + to aid a number of persons of color, whom they said were + anxious to join the projected colony in Africa. Those persons + were mostly from the south, and it was to disabuse the public + mind on this subject, that our meeting was held. + + I remain, with great respect, + Yours, JAMES FORTEN. + +He (Mr. T.) could pledge himself that such were still the feelings +of the free colored people of America. Wherever they possessed a +glimmering of light upon the subject, they utterly abhorred the +society, and would as soon _consent_ to be cut to pieces, as sent to +any of the colonies prepared for their reception. Was it not then too +bad that Christians should be called upon to support a society so +utterly at variance with the wishes and feelings of the parties most +nearly concerned? As a few moments yet remained, he would occupy it +in quoting the opinions of two gentlemen, ministers of religion, and +standing high in their own country, who had furnished lamentable +evidence of the extent to which prejudice might possess otherwise +strong and enlarged minds. The first quotation was from a report of +a committee at the Theological Seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, +presented to the Colonization Society of that institution in 1823. +It was from the pen of the Rev. Leonard Bacon, now pastor of a +Congregational church at New Haven, Connecticut. + + "The Soodra is not farther separated from the Brahmin, in + regard to all his privileges, civil, intellectual, and moral, + than the negro is from the white man, by the prejudices which + result from the difference made between them by the God of + nature. A barrier more difficult to be surmounted than the + institution of the Caste, cuts off, and while the present + state of society continues, must always cut off, the negro + from all that is valuable in citizenship." + +The other was his opponent on that platform; who, in a letter to the +New York Evangelist, had said, that emancipation, to be followed by +amalgamation, at the option of the parties, would be reckless +wickedness. But lest he should misrepresent that gentleman, he would +turn to the paper, and quote the passage cited. + + "I know that any abolition without the consent of the States + holding the slaves, is impossible; that to obtain this + consent on any terms, is very difficult;--that to obtain it + without the prospect of extensive removal by colonization, is + impossible; that to obtain it instantly on any terms, is the + dream of ignorance; that to expect it instantly with + subsequent equality, is frantic nonsense; and that to demand + it, as an instant right, irrespective of consequences, and to + be followed by amalgamation at the option of the parties, is + RECKLESS WICKEDNESS!" + +All the alarm created on the subject of amalgamation was totally +unfounded. The views of the Abolitionists were simple and scriptural. +They held that there should be no distinctions on account of color. +That to treat a man with coldness, unkindness, or contempt, on +account of his complexion, was to quarrel with the Maker of us all. +They held that this prejudice should be given up, and the colored man +be treated as a white man, according to his intellect, morality, and +fitness for the duties of civil life. They did not interfere with +those tastes by which human beings were regulated in entering into the +nearest and most permanent relations of life. They confined themselves +to the exhibition of gospel truth upon the subject, and left it to an +overruling and watchful Providence to guard and control the +consequences springing from a faithful and fearless discharge of duty. +Mr. Thompson concluded, by observing, that he considered the readiest +way to make men curse their existence and their God, was to oppress +and enslave them on account of that complexion, and those +peculiarities, which the Creator of the world had stamped upon them. + + * * * * * + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE said, he would commence with a slight allusion to two +references which had been made to himself by Mr. Thompson. And in +regard to certain passages which had been read from speeches of his, +he would only say, that he had never written or uttered a single word +on this subject, which he would not rejoice to see laid before the +British public. But he had a right to complain of the manner in which +these passages had been quoted. It was not fair, he contended, to +break down a passage, and read only half a sentence, passing over the +other half because it would not answer the purpose of the reader; in +fact, because it would alter the sense of the passage altogether. He +charged Mr. T. with having been guilty of this in the last quotation +which he had made, and, in order to show the true meaning of the +garbled passage, he would read it as it stood: [See the passage as it +appears in Mr. T.'s speech.] He had read this the more particularly, +in order to show the consistency of his present opinions with those +which he had held and uttered two years ago. They would now perceive, +he said, that when the sentence was given entire, he said, that +setting the slaves free without reference to consequences, constituted +a material and an omitted part of that procedure, which he had +characterized as reckless wickedness, whereas by breaking it up in the +middle, he was made to say, that to permit voluntary amalgamation, +after instant abolition, was by itself to be so considered. He was now +ready to defend this statement as he had at first made it. + +The next thing he would refer to, was the report of a speech which he +[Mr. B.] had delivered at an annual meeting of the American +Colonization Society. And with regard to it, if he was in America, he +would say, decidedly, that it was not a fair report: that it was an +unfair report, got up by Mr. Leavitt, the editor of the New York +Evangelist, to serve a special purpose. He would not deny that he had +said something which might give a pretext for the report. He had +charged the parent society with having been guilty of a gross +dereliction of duty to the colony and the cause, in sending away two +ships' cargoes of negroes to Liberia, who were not fit for that place, +and he believed that those two expeditions had done much to injure +the colony itself, as well as to impair public confidence in the +firmness and judiciousness of the parent board. They were emigrants +unfit to be sent out--the refuse of the counties around South Hampton +in Virginia; who were hurried out by the violent state of public +sentiment in that region, after the insurrection and massacre there. +Like a man conscious of rectitude, he had gone to the very parties +concerned, and declared his grounds of complaint; a line of conduct he +could not too often commend to Mr. Thompson, and no proof could be +more conclusive than this anecdote afforded, that the active friends +of colonization in America, however they might differ about details, +meant kindly by the blacks, and by Africa. Mr. B. again expressed his +surprise that Mr. Thompson should occupy the time of the meeting by +repeating his own speeches. He had adverted to this matter before, he +said, and as he was in a poor state of health, and had work elsewhere, +and as there was much ground yet to go over, and Mr. T. declared his +materials to be most abundant, he thought those repetitions might have +been spared. They who took the trouble to read the published speeches +of this gentleman, would find, that however exhaustless might be the +boasted stores of his facts, proofs, and illustrations, about what he +called "American Slavery," he was exceedingly economical of them. +After reading six or seven of them, he found them so very like each +other, that the same stories, in the same order, and the same +illustrations, in the same sequence, and the same unfounded charges, +in the same terms of unmeasured bitterness, may be often expected, and +never in vain. Indeed, so meagre was his supply of wit, even, that it +also went on very few changes. The whole case exhibiting a most +striking illustration of the truth uttered in a personal sense by one +of their own statesmen and scholars, and now proved to be of general +application, namely, that when a man resorted to his memory for his +jokes, it was very probable that he would draw upon his imagination +for his facts. As he [Mr. B.] had been so often asked to produce +certain placards for the purpose of substantiating some of his +statements, there could be no better connexion in which to call upon +Mr. Thompson to bring forward proof of those charges which he brought +against certain persons, and classes of persons, unless he wished the +world to believe that he had brought those charges without having a +single iota of evidence on which to found them. He would call upon Mr. +Thompson to bring forward his proofs in support of all those charges, +those reckless and extravagant charges, which he brought against the +ministers of religion in America. Mr. Thompson had stood before +several London audiences with a runaway slave from America, who +charged certain individuals with unparalleled cruelty! Amongst other +things, with burning a slave alive; a matter to which Mr. T's +attention had in vain been called, and his proofs demanded. He would +take no further notice of the gross things he had uttered of the +president of the United States than to say, that if he (Mr. B.) could +condescend to imitate his conduct, and utter ribaldrous things of the +king of Great Britain, he should richly deserve to be turned with +contempt out of this sacred place. He would proceed, then, with his +remarks on the Maryland colonization scheme. They had been told by Mr. +T. that the object of the Maryland society was compulsory +expatriation, as a condition precedent to freedom. When proof of this +was required, he could bring none; and when he (Mr. B.) had showed +that it was not so, but that its object was of unmixed good to the +blacks, an object accomplished as to many, on their showing, in the +proof produced, Mr. Thompson turned round, and said, that it was +entirely contrary to his preconceived notions, and repeated +statements, and must be false! But facts were better than notions and +statements both. And what were the facts in the present case? Why, +that on the one hand Mr. Thompson asserts that no slave can be +manumitted in Maryland except he will instantly depart the country; +whereas Messrs. Harper, Howard and Hoffman assert, in an official +report, on the 31st of last December, that 299 manumissions within +that state had been officially reported to them within a year, and +1101 within four years. At the same moment I have produced a record of +the very names and periods of emigration, of 140, bond and free, all +told, who, within the same four years, under the action of the very +laws in question, had gone from the state; admitting half of whom to +be of those particular manumitted slaves, there would be left 1021 +more of them to prove that Mr. T. either totally misunderstood, or +mis-stated, that of which he affirms--either way, his assertions are +demonstrated to be untrue. As to the laws of Maryland, of which +mention had been made, he had not seen them since his visit to Boston +two years ago, and in adverting to them he had stated in general terms +what he understood them to be. The great object of these laws was said +to be the driving out of the free blacks from the state of Maryland. +Now that the means taken to promote this end were not of that grinding +and iniquitous character which Mr. Thompson had represented them as +being, would be sufficiently obvious to the meeting, when it was +considered that in that state there were three times the number of +free persons of color, than were to be found in the majority of the +free states, and considerably more than there were in any other state +in the Union. If the laws were found more oppressive in Maryland, how +did it come that the free blacks congregated there from all other +parts of America? Or if they were set free by the people so much +opposed to their increase, why did they not rather go to Pennsylvania, +which was separated from Maryland only by an imaginary line, and where +free blacks enjoyed almost the same rights as white men? But, again, +it was said, that that colonization scheme was an awfully wicked +scheme, because it sought to prevent the increase of free persons of +color in Maryland. But if this were a grievous sin, were the people of +Great Britain not equally guilty in sending away out of the country +ship loads of paupers, free whites, to other parts of the globe, in +order to prevent the increase of pauperism in this country? Why had +not this branch of the subject been adverted to by Mr. Thompson? Why +had he not, in the paroxysms of his enfuriated eloquence, while +abusing the American colonizationists, not included the king and +parliament of Britain for allowing the existence of laws, or if there +be no such law, for a practice rife in England, of expatriating +thousands of paupers not only by contributions, but at the public +expense. He would be told that the paupers were sent away to distant +parts of the globe, where they would be more comfortable in every +respect than they were at present. And had Mr. T. bowels of compassion +only for the black man? Is it lawful to export a white man against his +will, at the public charge, while it is unlawful to export a black +man, with his free consent, by private benevolence? Is America so +detestable a place, that England may lawfully make her the receptacle +of the refuse of the poor houses of the realm; while Africa is so +sacred a place, that no one that can even do her good is to be +permitted to go there from America, if his skin is dark? May Britain +say, she has more paupers than she can support, and so make it state +policy to force emigration from Ireland, by a system which makes a +quarter of the people there beg bread eight months out of twelve, and +produces inexpressible distress; and yet is Maryland to be precluded, +on any account, or upon any terms, from seeking the diminution, or +rather preventing the disproportionate increase, of a population, +anomalous, and difficult of proper regulation? He should be most happy +to receive an explanation of these strange contradictions! There was +another feature of the Maryland laws, which he might mention, which +forbade the emigration of slaves into Maryland, even along with their +owners. Mr. Thompson had prudently omitted all notice of that +enactment, while he had said a great deal about the registration of +free persons of color, as if it were a most intolerable hardship. He +(Mr. B.) was unable to see in what respect the great hardship +consisted. Was not every freeholder in this country registered? But +the free black was not allowed to leave the state of Maryland without +giving notice, it was said. There was nothing very oppressive in all +that. It was no worse interference on the part of the government, than +for the king of Great Britain to say to his subjects, You must return +home under certain contingencies; you shall not dwell in particular +places, nor fight for certain nations. Were the governments of +America, because they were republicans, not to have the power which +other nations had, of controlling the actions of that portion of their +population, whose movements must be regarded by all who regarded the +peace of society or the public good. He admitted, that some of the +laws in several of the states were hard and severe in reference to the +free colored population, but while he said so, it was but fair to add +that he considered the conduct of the abolitionists, in spreading +their new fangled notions, had done much to alter these laws for the +worse. In many instances the bad laws had become worse, and good laws +had become bad, solely through the imprudent conduct of Mr. Thompson's +associates. And this specific law of registration, and loss of right +of residence, by removal for any considerable time out of the state, +was obviously intended to prevent free persons of color from going out +and becoming imbued with false and bloody theories, and then returning +to disturb the public peace. The law says to them, Abide at home, or, +if you prefer it, depart, and find a home more to your mind; but if +you go, prudence requests us to prohibit your return. Mr. T.'s +complaints of this enactment, showed how necessary it was to have made +it. + +In conclusion, he would recommend to Mr. Thompson, should he ever +return to America, he need not be so tremendously prudent in regard to +his personal safety, if he would just not be so tremendously imprudent +in the principles and proceedings he advocated, and the statements he +made with regard to the conduct of the American people. He had now +gone over the assertions of Mr. Thompson, regarding the Maryland +colonization scheme, and he trusted that he had shown the unfounded +nature of those assertions. All that had been said by Mr. T. as to the +principles and objects of the colonizationists, and the scope and +influence of their course, had no other proof than the writings of +those persons, who for some years, had formed a very small portion of +the supporters of this great interest; and who, without exception, +belonged to those classes, who at first, as had already been admitted, +supported it, for reasons, some of which were entirely political, +others perhaps severe to the slaves, and others unjust or +inconsiderate towards the free blacks. But that directly opposite +views, statements and arguments, could be more amply procured from the +still greater, and still proportionately increasing party, who support +this cause, as a great benevolent and religious operation, must be +perfectly known to the individual himself. If he admit this, said Mr. +B., it will show his present course to be of the same uncandid kind +with all the rest of his conduct towards America, in selecting what +answered his purpose; that always being the worst thing he could find, +and representing it as a fair sample of all. It will do more, it will +show that what he calls proof is no proof at all. But if he denies my +repeated representations as to the various classes of the original +supporters of the parent society, and the present state of them, I am +equally content; as, in that case, all America would have a fair +criterion by which to test his statements. As to the Maryland plan, +and that pursued by the united societies of Philadelphia and New York, +if they have any supporters except such as love the cause of the black +man, of temperance, and of peace, the world has yet to find it out. + +The time being expired, Mr. B. sat down. + + + + +FOURTH NIGHT--THURSDAY, JUNE 16. + + +MR. THOMPSON said that before proceeding to the subject decided upon +for that evening's discussion, he must, in justice to himself and his +cause, offer a remark or two. He had on the previous evening been +struck with surprise at the extraordinary injustice of charging him +(Mr. T.) with quoting unfairly from the letter of Mr. Breckinridge in +the New-York Evangelist. It must have been obvious to all, that in the +first instance, he quoted from memory, but all would recollect with +the avowed wish of avoiding misrepresentation, he had gone to his +table--produced the letter, and read the passage entire without the +omission or interpolation of a letter or a comma. He, therefore, +emphatically denied the charge of garbling. Mr. Breckinridge did +himself, immediately afterwards, read the passage, and read it +precisely as he (Mr. Thompson) had read it. The imputation, therefore, +was equally unfounded and unfair. He (Mr. T.) was thankful that his +argument needed not such help. It would be as absurd as it would be +wicked for him to attempt to support his cause by any garbled +statement. + +He begged also that it might be distinctly understood that he had by +no means exhausted the evidence in his possession on the subject of +Colonization. He could adduce a thousand times as much as that which +had been already brought forward. He had much to say of the colony at +Liberia; the means taken to establish it, the nature of the climate, +the character of the emigrants, the mortality amongst the settlers, +how much it had done towards the suppression of the slave trade, &c. +In fact, he was prepared with overwhelming evidence upon every branch +of the subject, and was willing to return to it at any moment, +confident that the arguments he could produce, and the facts by which +he could support them, would, in the estimation of the public, destroy +forever the claim of the Colonization Society to be considered a pure, +peaceful, or benevolent institution. I now, (said Mr. T.) come to the +topic immediately before us. + +It is my solemn and responsible duty to bring before you to-night the +_principles_ and _measures_ of a large, respectable, and powerful body +in the United States, known by the name of IMMEDIATE ABOLITIONISTS. A +body of individuals embracing not fewer than fifteen hundred ministers +of the gospel, and men of the highest station and largest attainments. +A body of persons that have been charged upon this platform with being +a handful, "so small that they could not obtain their object, and so +erroneous (_despicable_ was, I believe, the word used) as not to +deserve success,"--charged with being the enemies of the +slave-holder--taking him by the throat, and saying "you great +thieving, man-stealing villain, unless you instantly give your slaves +liberty, I will pitch you out of this third-story window,"--charged +with carrying in their track a pestilence like a storm of fire and +brimstone from hell; forcing ministers of religion to seek peaceful +villages not yet blasted by it,--charged with saying that they were +sent from God, when they possessed the fury of demons,--charged, +finally, with having "thrown the cause" of emancipation "a _hundred +years_ farther back than it was five years ago." These are fearful +indictments, and Mr. Breckinridge has a weighty duty to fulfil +to-night, for he is bound to sustain them. They have been brought by +himself, a Christian minister, the professed friend of the slave; and +he must, therefore, abundantly support them by incontrovertible +evidence, or stand branded before the world as the worst foe of human +freedom--the foul calumniator of the friends and advocates of the +oppressed, the suffering, and the dumb. + +He would lay the principles of the American abolitionists before the +audience in the words of their solemn and official documents. He would +go back to the commencement of the five years mentioned by his +opponent, and read from the "CONSTITUTION of the NEW-ENGLAND +ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY," a lucid exposition of the principles and +objects of the first Anti-Slavery Society (technically so called) in +the United States. + + "We, the undersigned, hold that every person of full age and + sane mind, has a right to immediate freedom from personal + bondage of whatsoever kind, unless imposed by the sentence of + the law for the commission of some crime. + + We hold that man cannot, consistently with reason, religion, + and the eternal and immutable principles of justice, be the + property of man. + + We hold that whoever retains his fellow man in bondage, is + guilty of a grevious wrong. + + We hold that a mere difference of complexion is no reason why + any man should be deprived of any of his natural rights, or + subjected to any political disability. + + While we advance these opinions as the principles on which we + intend to act, we declare that we will not operate on the + existing relations of society by other than peaceful and + lawful means, and that we will give no countenance to + violence or insurrection. + + With these views, we agree to form ourselves into a society, + and to be governed by the rules specified in the following + constitution, viz: + + ARTICLE 1. This Society shall be called the New-England + Anti-Slavery Society. + + ARTICLE 2. The object of the society will be to endeavor, by + all means sanctioned by law, humanity, and religion, to + effect the Abolition of Slavery in the United States, to + improve the character and condition of the free people of + color, to inform and correct public opinion in relation to + their situation and rights, and obtain for them equal civil + and political rights and privileges with the whites." + +He would now pass on to the formation of the National Anti-Slavery +Society, in December, 1833, and submit all that was material in the +"CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY." + + + ARTICLE 2. The object of this Society is the entire abolition + of slavery in the United States. While it admits that each + State in which Slavery exists has, by the Constitution of the + United States, the exclusive right to legislate in regard to + its abolition in that State, it shall aim to convince all our + fellow-citizens, by arguments addressed to their + understandings and consciences, that slave-holding is a + heinous crime in the sight of God; and that the duty, safety, + and best interest of all concerned, require its immediate + abandonment, without expatriation. The Society will also + endeavor, in a constitutional way, to influence Congress, to + put an end to the domestic slave trade; and to abolish + slavery in all those portions of our common country which + come under its control, especially in the district of + Columbia, and likewise to prevent the extension of it to any + State that may hereafter be admitted to the Union. + + ARTICLE 3. This Society shall aim to elevate the character + and condition of the people of color, by encouraging their + intellectual, moral, and religious improvement, and by + removing public prejudice; that thus they may, according to + their intellectual and moral worth, share an equality with + the whites of civil and religious privileges; but the Society + will never in any way countenance the oppressed in + vindicating their rights by resorting to physical force. + + ARTICLE 4. Any person who consents to the principles of this + Constitution, who contributes to the funds of this Society, + and is not a slave-holder, may be a member of this Society, + and shall be entitled to a vote at its meetings." + +He would next read the "Preamble" to the Constitution of the +New-Hampshire State Anti-Slavery Society: + + "The most high God hath made of one blood all the families of + man to dwell on the face of all the earth, and hath endowed + all alike with the same inalienable rights, of which are + life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; yet there are + now in this land, more than two millions of human beings, + possessed of the same deathless spirits, and heirs to the + same immortal hopes and destinies with ourselves, who are + nevertheless deprived of these sacred rights, and kept in the + most cruel and abject bondage; a bondage under which human + beings are bred and fattened for the market, and then bought, + sold, mortgaged, leased, bartered, fettered, tasked, + scourged, beaten, killed, hunted even like the veriest + brutes,--nay, made often the unwilling victims of ungodly + lust; while, at the same time, their minds are, by law and + custom, generally shut out from all access to letters, and in + various other ways all their upward tendencies are repressed + and crushed, so as to make their "moral and religious + condition such that they may justly be considered the heathen + of this country;" and since we regard such oppression as one + of the greatest wrongs that man can commit against his + fellow; and existing as it does, and tolerated as it is, + under this free and Christian government, sapping its + foundation, bringing its institutions into contempt among + other nations, thus retarding the march of freedom and + religion, and strengthening the hands of despotism and + irreligion throughout the world; and since we deem it a + duty to ourselves, to our government, to the world, to + the oppressed, and to God, to do all we can to end this + oppression, and to secure an immediate and entire + emancipation of the oppressed; and believe we can act most + efficiently in the case, in the way of combined and organized + action:--Therefore, we, the undersigned, do form ourselves + into a Society for the purpose." + +If there was anything for which the abolitionists as a body were +peculiarly distinguished, it was for the perfect uniformity of +sentiment upon all great points connected with the general question of +slavery. This was attributable to the clearness and fullness with +which the principles of the Society had been enunciated. Not so with +the Colonization Society. You quoted the language of the most eminent +of its supporters, but were immediately told that the Society was not +answerable for the views or designs of its advocates. How very +different a course did the Colonizationists pursue towards the +Anti-Slavery Society. That Society was not only made answerable for +all which the abolitionists _really_ said, and _really_ designed, but +for things they never said, and never designed. No Society was more +conspicuous for the simplicity of its principles, or the harmony of +views subsisting among its members. All regarded slave-holding as +sinful. All considered immediate emancipation to be the duty of the +master and the right of the slave. All deprecated the thought of a +servile insurrection to effect the extinction of slavery. All abhorred +the doctrine that "the end sanctifies the means." But all deemed it a +solemn duty to pursue, with energy and boldness, the overthrow of +slavery; all were one in believing and teaching, that the means +adopted should be honest, holy, peaceful, and moral. It had been said +that the only weapon should be "persuasion." He (Mr. T.) believed that +if no other weapon than "persuasion" was resorted to, slavery would be +perpetual. He believed that the gathered, concentrated, withering +scorn of the whole world, Pagan and Christian, must be brought down +upon slave-holding America, ere much effect could be produced. If this +was insufficient, it would be the duty of Britain to consider well +whether it was right to hold the destinies of the slaves of America in +her hand and not act accordingly. It would be the duty of the friends +of the slave to point to slave-grown produce, and cry, "touch not, +taste not, handle not" the accursed thing! Great Britain had the +power, by adopting a system of prohibitory duties or bounties, to +affect very materially the question at issue, and he (Mr. T.) doubted +not, that, if some such course was adopted, certain of the slave +States would immediately abolish slavery that they might find a +readier market and a higher price for their produce. + +Notwithstanding, however, the precision with which the abolitionists +had stated their principles, and the wide publicity they had given +them, designs the most black, and measures the most monstrous and +wicked, had been charged upon them. They had been represented as +"firebrands," "incendiaries," "disorganizers," "amalgamatists"--as +promoting "disunion," "rebellion," and the "intermixture of the +races." Again and again, had they solemnly disclaimed the views +imputed to them, and pointed to their published "constitutions" and +"declarations;" but as often had their enemies returned to their work +of calumny and misrepresentation. How totally absurd was it to charge +upon the abolitionists the design of promoting amalgamation, while, +under the system of slavery, an unholy amalgamation was going on to +the most awful extent; demonstrated by the endless shades of +complexion at the south; and when nothing was more obvious than this, +that when a female was rescued from her present condition--inspired +with self-respect, and became the protector of her own virtue,--and +when fathers, and brothers, and husbands, were free to defend the +honor of their wives and daughters, the great causes, and incentives, +and facilities would cease, and cease forever, and to prove to the +world how solemnly the abolitionists had denied the imputations cast +upon them by their enemies, he would read from two documents put forth +during the great excitement which prevailed through the United States +in August last. The American Anti-Slavery Society, in "_An Address to +the public_," thus anew declared their principles and objects. + + "We hold that Congress has no more right to abolish slavery + in the southern States, than in the French West-India + Islands. Of course we desire no national legislation on the + subject." + + "We hold that slavery can only be lawfully abolished by the + Legislatures of the several States in which it prevails, and + that the exercise of any other than moral influence to induce + such abolition is unconstitutional." + + "We believe that Congress has the same right to abolish + slavery in the District of Columbia, that the State + Governments have within their respective jurisdictions, and + that it is their duty to efface so foul a blot from the + national escutcheon." + + "We believe that American citizens have the right to express + and publish their opinions of the constitutions, laws, and + institutions, of any and every state and nation under Heaven; + and we mean never to surrender the liberty of speech, of the + press, or of conscience--blessings we have inherited from our + fathers, and which we intend, as far as we are able, to + transmit unimpaired to our children." + + "We are charged with sending incendiary publications to the + south. If by the term _incendiary_ is meant publications + containing arguments and facts to prove slavery to be a moral + and political evil, and that duty and policy require its + immediate abolition, the charge is true. But if the term is + used to imply publications _encouraging insurrection_, and + designed to excite the slaves to break their fetters, the + charge is utterly and unequivocally false. We beg our + fellow-citizens to notice that this charge is made without + proof, and by many who confess that they have never read our + publications, and that those who make it, offer to the public + no evidence from our writings in support of it." + + "We have been charged with a design to encourage + intermarriages between the whites and blacks. The charge has + been repeatedly, and is now again denied, while we repeat + that the tendency of our sentiments is to _put an end_ to the + criminal amalgamation that prevails wherever slavery exists." + +These were only extracts from the address, which was of considerable +length, and thus concluded: + + "Such, fellow-citizens, are our principles. Are they unworthy + of republicans and of Christians? Or are they in truth so + atrocious, that in order to prevent their diffusion you are + yourselves willing to surrender, at the dictation of others, + the invaluable privilege of free discussion, the very + birth-right of Americans? Will you, in order that the + abomination of slavery may be concealed from public view, and + that the capital of your republic may continue to be, as it + now is, under the sanction of Congress, the great slave mart + of the American Continent, consent that the general + government, in acknowledged defiance of the constitution and + laws, shall appoint, throughout the length and breadth of + your land, ten thousand censors of the press, each of whom + shall have the right to inspect every document you may commit + to the Post-Office, and to suppress every pamphlet and + newspaper, whether religious or political, which, in its + sovereign pleasure, he may adjudge to contain an incendiary + article? Surely we need not remind you, that if you submit to + such an encroachment on your liberties, the days of our + Republic are numbered, and that, although abolitionists may + be the first, they will not be the last victims offered at + the shrine of arbitrary power. + + ARTHUR TAPPAN, _President_. + JOHN RANKIN, _Treasurer_. + WILLIAM JAY, _Sec. For. Cor._ + ELIZUR WRIGHT, Jr.,_ Sec. Dom. Cor._ + ABRAHAM L. COX, M. D., _Rec. Sec._ + LEWIS TAPPAN, } + JOSHUA LEAVITT, } Members + SAMUEL E. CORNISH, } of the + SIMEON S. JOCELYN, } Executive + THEODORE S. WRIGHT, } Committee. + + New-York, September 3, 1835." + +The other document to which he had referred, was an "Address" adopted +at "A meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, duly held in +Boston, on Monday, August 17, A. D., 1835," signed by W. L. Garrison, +and twenty-seven highly respectable citizens of Boston, on behalf of +the Massachusetts Society, and others concurring generally in its +principles. He (Mr. T.) would only quote a few brief passages. + + "We are charged with violating, or wishing to violate, the + Constitution of the United States. What have we done, what + have we said to warrant this charge? We have held public + meetings, and taken other usual means of convincing our + countrymen that slave-holding is sin, and, like all sin, + ought to be, and can be, immediately abandoned. We have said, + in the words of the Declaration of Independence, that "ALL + MEN are created equal," and that liberty is an inalienable + gift of God to every man. We know of no clause in the + Constitution which forbids our saying this. We appeal to the + calm judgment of the community, to decide, in view of recent + events, whether the measures of the friends, or those of the + opposers of abolition, are more justly chargeable with the + violation of the Constitution and laws." + + * * * * * + + "The foolish tale, that we would encourage amalgamation by + intermarriage between the whites and blacks, though often + refuted, as often re-appears. We shall content ourselves with + a simple denial of this charge. We challenge our opponents to + point to one of our publications in which such intermarriages + are recommended. One of our objects is to prevent the + amalgamation now going on, so far as can be done, by placing + one million of the females of this country under the + protection of law." + + "We are accused of interfering in the domestic concerns of + the southern States. We would ask those, who charge this, to + explain precisely what they mean by "interference." If, by + interference be meant any attempt to legislate for the + southern States, or to compel them, by force or intimidation, + to emancipate their slaves, we at once deny any such + pretension. We are utterly opposed to any force on the + subject, but that of conscience and reason, which are + "mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." We + fully acknowledge that no change in the slave-laws of the + southern States can be made, unless by the southern + Legislatures. Neither Congress nor the Legislatures of the + free States have authority to change the condition of a + single slave in the slave States. But, if by "interference" + be intended the exercise of the right of freely discussing + this subject, and, by speech, and through the press, creating + a public sentiment, which will reach the conscience, and + blend with the convictions of the slave-holder, and thus + ultimately work the complete extinction of slavery, this is a + species of interference which we can never consent to + relinquish." + + * * * * * + + "We respectfully ask our fellow-citizens, whether we are to + be deprived of these sacred privileges,--and, if so, whether + the sacrifice of our rights will not involve consequences + dangerous to all mental and even personal freedom. We have + violated, we mean to violate, no law. We have acted, we + shall continue to act, under the sanction of the Constitution + of the United States. Nothing that we propose to do can be + prevented by our opposers, without violating the Charter of + our rights. To the Law and to the Constitution we appeal." + +Such were the sentiments of the abolitionists of the United States of +America. + +He (Mr. T.) would embrace the present opportunity of saying a few +words respecting his own mission to the United States. It had been +much denounced as an impertinent foreign interference; but he thought +the charge had neither grace nor honesty when it came from those who +were engaged, and, as he believed, most conscientiously and +praiseworthily, in seeking, by their missionaries and agents, to +overturn the institutions, social, political, and religious, of every +other quarter of the globe. Mr. Breckinridge had said that it would be +as just on his part to inveigh against England on account of Roman +Catholicism in the west of Ireland, or Idolatry in India, as it was on +his (Mr. T's.) to condemn America for the slavery existing in that +country. The cases were not quite parallel. Before they could be +compared, Mr. B. must prove that the population of Ireland were +_constrained_ to worship the Virgin Mary--that in India, men were +_forced_ by British Law to worship idols. No British subject was +compelled by any law of this country, or any other country to which +British sway extended, to be either a _Papist_ or an _Idolator_. But +in America, men were converted into _beasts_, "according to law," and +their souls and bodies crushed and degraded by a system most +vigorously enforced by the strong arm of the _State_. His opponent had +said, however, that slavery was not a national sin. He (Mr. T.) had to +thank a friend for suggesting an illustration of the knotty problem. +Suppose a number of _Agriculturists_ and _Merchants_ and _Highway +Robbers_ were to meet together to form a Union, and the Highway +Robbers were to say--come, let us unite for the purpose of common +security, and common prosperity: we will defend each other, and trade +with each other, but we will not "interfere" in each other's +_internal_ affairs. You, gentlemen, Agriculturists and Merchants, +shall promise that you will take no notice of my felonious and +cut-throat proceedings, and I, on my part, will pledge my honor not to +intermeddle in the affairs of your farms or counting-houses: and +suppose they were to shake hands, complete the bargain, and ratify an +indissoluble union of Agriculturists, Merchants, and Highway Robbers! +would the world hold the farmer or the merchant guiltless? Mr. B. had +said much of the purity and emancipation principles of Massachusetts, +and New-Hampshire and Maine. How came it to pass, then, that they were +in terms of such close and cordial fellowship with South Carolina, +and Georgia, and Louisiana, and so ready to mob, stone, and outlaw +those who deemed it their duty to cry aloud on behalf of the +oppressed? To return to his own mission. He would never condescend to +apologize for speaking the truth. He had a commission direct from the +skies, to rebuke sin and compassionate suffering wherever on the face +of the earth they existed. This world belonged to God; and all men +were His subjects and his (Mr. Thompson's) brethren. Men might be +naturally divided by rivers, and oceans, and mountains; they might be +politically divided by different forms of government, and specified +lines of demarkation; but he (Mr. T.) took the Bible in his hand and +deemed himself at liberty to address every human being on the face of +the earth in reference to those eternal principles of justice and +truth, which are alike in all countries and in all ages, and which the +subjects of God's moral government are everywhere bound to respect. He +would say to America and to England, silence your cry of foreign +interference, or call home your Missionaries from India, and China, +and Constantinople. To shew that the object of his mission was in +accordance with the spirit of the gospel, he would read an extract +from an article in the first number of the "_Abolitionist_," the organ +of "The British and Foreign Society for the Universal Abolition of +Slavery and the Slave Trade"--a Society with which he was connected +when he went to America, and whose Agent he still was. The objects of +his mission were thus set forth: + + "1. To lecture in the principal cities and towns of the free + States, upon the character, guilt, and tendency of slavery, + and the duty, necessity, and advantages of immediate and + entire abolition. These addresses will be founded upon those + great principles of humanity and religion, which have been so + fully enunciated in this country, and will consequently be + wholly unconnected with particular and local politics. This + work will be carried on under the advice and with the + co-operation of the Anti-Slavery Societies at present in + existence in the United States. + + 2. To aim, by every Christian means, at the overthrow of that + prejudice against the colored classes, which now so + lamentably prevails through all the States of America; and to + regard as a principal mean to obtain this desirable object, + their elevation in intellect and moral worth. + + 3. To suggest to the friends of negro freedom in the United + States the adoption and prosecution of such measures as were + found conducive to the cause of abolition in this country, + and may be found applicable to existing circumstances in + that. + + 4. To seek access to influential persons of various religious + denominations, and especially to ministers of the gospel, for + the purpose of explanatory conversation on the subjects of + slavery and prejudice. + + 5. To endeavor to effect a junction between the abolitionists + of the United States of America and great Britain, with a + view to the abolition of slavery and the slave trade + throughout the world." + +The principles of the American Societies, his own principles, and the +objects proposed by his mission to America, were now before his +opponent. He called upon him to throw aside his quibbles on legal +technicalities, and point out, if he were able, anything in the +documents he had read, or the sentiments he had advanced, +inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, or the genius of +rational freedom. It had been said that abolitionism was "quackery," +only four years old. He would give them a little of the quackery of +Benjamin Franklin, in the year 1790. He held in his hand a petition +drawn up by that celebrated man, and adopted by the "_Pennsylvania +Society for the Abolition of Slavery_," the preamble of which +recognizes the doctrines which are maintained by American +Abolitionists at the present day, and expresses the (_now incendiary_) +desire of diffusing them "_wherever the evils of Slavery exist_." Of +this Society, Dr. Franklin was elected President, and Dr. Rush the +Secretary. In 1790, this Society presented to the first Congress a +petition, from which the following is an extract:-- + + "From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the + portion, and is still the birth-right of all men, and + influenced by the strong ties of humanity, and the principles + of their institutions, your memorialists conceive themselves + bound to use all justifiable endeavors to loosen the bands of + slavery, and promote a general enjoyment of the blessings of + freedom. Under these impressions, they earnestly entreat your + serious attention to the subject of slavery; that you may be + pleased to countenance the restoration to liberty of those + unhappy men, who, alone in a land of freedom, are degraded + into perpetual bondage, and who, amidst the general joy of + surrounding freemen, are groaning in servile subjection; that + you will devise means for removing this inconsistency from + the character of the American people; that you will promote + mercy and justice towards this oppressed race, and that you + will step to the very verge of the power vested in you, for + discouraging every species of traffic in the persons of our + fellow-men." + (Signed) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, + President. + _Philadelphia, February 2, 1790._" + +Besides the venerable Franklin in 1790, he might refer to the truly +able speech of the Rev. David Rice, in the Convention held at +Danville, Kentucky, before, or soon after the petition just read--to +the sermon of Jonathan Edwards, the younger, in the year 1791--and to +a most excellent sermon by Alexander M'Leod, through whose zeal and +labors chiefly, the Reformed Presbyterians were brought to the +determination to rid their church of slavery, an object they +accomplished in the year 1802. It was a painful fact that the American +community had retrograded in feeling and sentiment upon the subject of +slavery. The anti-slavery feeling of 1820 was neither so pure nor so +strong as in 1800, or 1790; and in 1830 the feeling had become still +weaker, and the views of the community still more corrupted. This was +owing to the formation of the colonization society, which, like a +great sponge, gathered up and absorbed the anti-slavery feeling of the +country, and by proposing the removal of the colored population, and +constantly preaching such doctrines as were calculated to advance that +object, drew public attention away from the duty of immediate +emancipation on the soil, and caused the Christian community to rest +in a scheme based upon expediency, and fully in unison with their +prejudice against color. To those who compared the various sentiments +contained in the writings and speeches of the colonizationists, with +the pure and uncompromising principles advocated towards the close of +the last, and the beginning of the present century, nothing was more +obvious than the fact he had just stated, namely, that there had been +a gradual giving up of sound views and principles, for others +accommodated to the prejudices and interests and fears of the +different portions of the community. For instance, nothing was more +common in the records of the Colonization Society than the recognition +of a right of property in man; to find the advocates of the Society, +when speaking of the slaveholder and his slaves, saying, "we hold +their _slaves_, as we hold their other _property_, _sacred_." Mr. +Breckinridge might say "these are not my opinions;"--but he must know +they were the published opinions of the managers and chief advocates +of the Society, and it was for him to explain how he could lend a +Society his countenance and aid, which promulgated and upheld so +impious a doctrine as the right of property in God's rational, +accountable, and immortal creatures. He (Mr. T.) knew, however, that +the Society could assume all colors, and preach all kinds of +doctrines. At one time it was promoting emancipation, and at another, +increasing the value of slaves, and securing the master in the +possession of them. It had one face for the north, and another for the +south--a very Proteus enacting every sort of character; having no +fixed principles--never consistent with itself in anything but its +determination by all means to get rid, if possible, of the colored +man. If there was any one thing which, more than another, was +calculated to demonstrate the true character and tendency of the +Society, it was the opinions everywhere entertained respecting it by +the colored population. It was a fact that they loathed and abhorred +the Society. No man advocating it could be popular amongst them. Even +Mr. Breckinridge, with all his virtues and benevolence, was considered +by the colored people as practically their enemy, by helping to +sustain a Society which they regarded as the most effective engine of +oppression ever invented. Surely they were qualified to form a +judgment upon the subject. They had looked into its workings--they had +narrowly watched its movements, and had satisfied themselves that it +was full of all unrighteousness. If, on the other hand, the +abolitionists were, by their measures, doing vast injury to the cause +of the free colored people, how came it to pass, that they had the +love and confidence of that entire class of the population? How was it +that even the arch fiend of abolition, George Thompson, was by them +caressed and beloved, and that they would hang for hours upon the +accents of his lips--and that the tear of gratitude would start into +their eyes wherever he met them? The secret was soon told. He (Mr. T.) +spoke _to_ them and _of_ them, as _men_. He compromised none of their +rights--he exhibited no prejudice against their complexion. He did not +recommend exile as their only way of escape from their present and +dreaded ills. He preached justice, and kindness, and repentance to +their persecutors, and maintained the right of the bleeding captive to +full and unconditional liberty, with all the privileges and honors of +humanity. Therefore they loved him--therefore they would lay down +their lives for him. He would read a list of places, in all of which +the colored people had held meetings, and denounced the plans of the +Colonization Society, viz,-- + +Philadelphia, New-York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington; Brooklyn and +Rochester, in the State of New-York; Hartford, Middletown, New-Haven, +and Lime in the State of Connecticut; Columbia, Pittsburg, Lewistown, +and Harrisburg, in the State of Pennsylvania; Providence, in the State +of Rhode-Island; Trenton, in the State of New-Jersey; Wilmington, in +the State of Delaware; New-Bedford, in the State of Massachusetts; +Nantucket; in the National Convention of free colored persons, held in +Philadelphia, in 1831--by the same Convention in 1832, and, he +believed, in very subsequent Conventions. + +To return to the Anti-Slavery Societies of the United States. He (Mr. +T.) knew them to be composed of the finest and purest elements in the +country. They were numerous and powerful. It would soon be proved +that, with the blessing of God, they were omnipotent. Knowing the +piety, intelligence, wealth, and energy of the abolitionists of +America, it required some effort to be calm when Mr. Breckinridge +stood before a British audience and compared them to Falstaff's ragged +regiment. The Society of Kentucky might be small in regard to numbers. +He believed, however, they were highly respectable. He referred to Mr. +J. G. Birney on this point. Mr. Breckinridge might represent on the +present occasion, if it pleased him, the abolitionists of his (Mr. +B's) country as beggarly, odious, and despicable: but if he lived to +revisit England (and he hoped he might) he believed he would then have +to find some other illustration of their character, numbers and +appearance, than the ragged regiment of Shakspeare's Falstaff. + +Having stated the principles of the Anti-Slavery Societies in America, +he would exhibit, in the words of the Philadelphia declaration of +sentiments, their mode of operations. The National Society, formed +during the convention, thus made known to the world its intended +course of action:-- + + We shall organize Anti-Slavery Societies, if possible, in + every city, town and village in our land. + + We shall send forth Agents to lift up the voice of + remonstrance, of warning, of entreaty and rebuke. + + We shall circulate, unsparingly, and extensively, + anti-slavery tracts and periodicals. + + We shall enlist the "Pulpit" and the "Press" in the cause of + the suffering and the dumb. + + We shall aim at a purification of the churches from all + participation in the guilt of slavery. + + We shall encourage the labor of freemen rather than that of + the slaves, by giving a preference to their productions: and + + We shall spare no exertions nor means to bring the whole + nation to speedy repentance. + + Our trust for victory is solely in GOD. We may be personally + defeated, but our principles never. Truth, Justice, Reason, + Humanity, must and will gloriously triumph. Already a host is + coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and the + prospect before us is full of encouragement. + + Submitting this declaration to the candid examination of the + people of this country, and of the friends of liberty + throughout the world, we hereby affix our signatures to it; + pledging ourselves that, under the guidance and by the help + of Almighty God, we will do all that in us lies, consistently + with this Declaration of our principles, to overthrow the + most execrable system of slavery that has ever been witnessed + upon earth; to deliver our land from its deadliest curse; to + wipe out the foulest stain which rests upon our national + escutcheon; and to secure to the colored population of the + United States all the rights and privileges which belong to + them as men and as Americans--come what may to our persons, + our interests, or our reputations--whether we live to witness + the triumph of Liberty, Justice, and Humanity, or perish + untimely as martyrs in this great, benevolent and holy cause. + + _Signed in the Adelphi Hall, in the City of Philadelphia, + on the 6th day of December, A. D. 1833._ + +True to the pledges given in this declaration, the abolitionists had +printed, preached, and prayed without ceasing. As a proof of what they +were doing in one department of their work, he would exhibit a number +of newspapers, tracts, pamphlets, and other periodicals, which were in +circulation throughout the country. Mr. Thompson then produced copies +of the "Slaves Friend," "Anti-Slavery Records," "Anti-Slavery +Anecdotes," "Human Rights," "Emancipator," "Liberator," "New-York +Evangelist," "Zion's Herald," "Zion's Watchman," "Philadelphia +Independent Weekly Press," "Herald of Freedom," "Lynn Record," "New +England Spectator," &c., and an "Anti-Slavery Quarterly," edited by +Professor Wright, the Secretary of the National Society, and +distinguished by considerable literary talent. These were amongst the +means pursued by the Abolitionists. They were peaceful and honorable +means, and under God, would prove effectual to bring the +blood-cemented fabric of Slavery to the ground. Other than moral and +constitutional means, the abolitionists sought not to employ. Their's +would not be the glory reaped upon the crimson field amidst the +carnage and the din of war. Their victory would not be a victory +achieved by the use of carnal weapons, effecting the freedom of one +man by the destruction of another. Their victory would be a victory +won by the potency of principles drawn from the Gospel of the Prince +of Peace--their glory the glory of those who had obtained a bloodless +conquest over the consciences and hearts of men. In the full +conviction that the principles he (Mr. Thompson) had that night +maintained, were the principles of the word of God, he would still +prosecute the work to which he had for some years devoted himself. He +called upon those around him to be true to those principles, and to +continue zealously to advocate them, and leave the consequences in the +hands of God. Let the friends of human rights again rally under the +banner which had aforetime led them to battle--under which they had +together fought and together triumphed--and to remember that the motto +inscribed upon its ample folds--a motto which, though oft abused, had +oft sustained them in the hour of conflict--was, Fiat Justicia ruat +Coelum. + + * * * * * + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE rose. Having taken a good many notes of what Mr. +Thompson had said in the speech now delivered, he was prepared for +replying, if an opportunity were presented after he should have +finished saying what seemed to him more pertinent to the subject in +hand. In the meantime, he would introduce what he had now to say by +reading another version of the events which had been represented as +one of Mr. Thompson's triumphs at Boston. + + Mr. May introduced a resolution denouncing the Colonization + Society as unworthy of patronage, because it disseminates + opinions unfavorable to the interest of the colored people. + + Mr. Gurley replied. He finished the consideration of Mr. + May's objections, went into an exposition of the advantages + of the Colonization Society, and contrasted its claims with + those of the Anti-Slavery Society. In doing this, he + exhibited a handbill, having a large cut of a negro in + chains, with some inflammatory sentences under it. Here he + was interrupted by hisses, which were answered by clapping. + Mr. George Thompson rose and attempted to address the + meeting. This increased the confusion, Cries of "sit + down--shame--be silent--let Mr. May answer if he can--no + foreign interference," &c., from all parts of the hall. Mr. + Thompson persevered as few men would have done, but at last + yielded to the evident determination of the audience, and + took his seat. The hall then became still, and Mr. Gurley + proceeded. + + We do not know that any Anti-Colonizationist was convinced by + these discussions; except men who are committed against the + Society, we believe the very general opinion is, that their + overthrow on the field of argument was as complete as any + could desire. It is evident that the cause of the + Colonization Society is gaining a hold on the convictions and + affections of the people of New-England stronger than it ever + had before. We say this in view of facts which are coming to + our knowledge from various parts. The storm of abuse and + misrepresentation with which it has been assailed, is + beginning already to contribute to its strength. + +Now he begged to remark that the paper from which he had read the +foregoing extract, the New-York Observer, together with the one from +which it was originally taken, the Boston Recorder, printed more +matter weekly than all the avowed abolition newspapers, in America, +put together, did in half a year. He would notice farther, in relation +to the great display of abolition publications which had been made by +Mr. Thompson on the platform, that one of the papers lying there on +the table, had advocated his principles and cause when he was in +Boston, and likely to be mobbed at the instigation, as he believed, +of Mr. Garrison. Some of the remainder of the publications were, he +believed, long ago dead; some could hardly be said ever to have +lived; some were purely occasional; the greater part as limited in +circulation as they were contemptible in point of merit. Not above +two or three of the dozen or fifteen that had been produced before +them--and the names of which he (Mr. B.) required to be recorded--were +in fact, worthy to be called respectable and avowed abolition +newspapers. But to come to the point immediately in hand. He would +on the present occasion attempt to show that abolition was not worthy +to supplant the colonization scheme in the affections of Americans +or Britons, or of any other thinking people. He acknowledged that +there were many respectable men in the ranks of the abolitionists; +but these, almost without exception, had been at one time +colonizationists; and had he time he might show that many of them +had deserted the colonization society on some peculiar or personal +grounds, not involving the principles of the cause. He was prepared +to show, however, that by whomsoever supported, the principles of the +abolitionists were essentially wrong, and that their practice was +still worse. He had not access to the voluminous documents brought +forward by Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson had, indeed, that evening, on +this platform, publicly offered him access to them. Had that offer +been made at the beginning of the discussion, instead of the end of +it, or during the four or five days we spent in Glasgow before it +commenced, it might have been turned to some advantage. But as it +was, the audience would know how to appreciate it; and he must rely +solely upon memory, when he stated the principles promulgated by +abolitionists; though at the same time he pledged himself that his +statements not only were intended to be, but were, substantially +correct and entirely candid. The abolitionists held, then, in the +first place, as a fundamental truth, that every human being had an +instant right to be free, irrespective of consequences to himself and +others; consequently that it was the duty of masters to set free their +slaves instantly, and irrespective of all consequences; and of course, +sinful to exercise the powers of a master for one moment, or for any +purpose. This was, in substance, the great principle on which the +abolitionists acted--a principle which he was now prepared to +question. He had, on a former occasion, shown that there were only two +parties responsible for the existence of slavery, namely, individual +slave-holders, and slave-holding communities. He would now attempt to +prove, that, as applied to either of these, this principle was not +only false, but that it was a mere figment, and calculated to produce +tremendous evil. Let them first attend to what the abolitionists say +to the individual slave-holder. Perhaps the person addressed was an +inhabitant of Louisiana; where, if it is not directly contrary to +law, to manumit a slave--the law refuses to recognize the act. Was he +to be told then that he should turn off his slaves, the young and +helpless along with the old and the infirm, with the certain knowledge +that so soon as they left his plantation, they would commence a career +of trouble and sorrow most likely to end in their being seized, +imprisoned, fined, and again enslaved. Mr. Thompson had mentioned, in +nearly all his printed speeches, the case of a certain colored man, +who had been thrown into prison at Washington city, and sold into +eternal slavery to discharge the fees which had accrued by reason of +his oppression. Now he (Mr. B.) took leave to say that this story was +false, in toto. It was customary in some parts of America to sell +vagabonds, in order to make up their jail fees; but they were bound +for no longer a period than was necessary to do this. The system was +this--they were taken up as vagrants. If they were able and willing to +show that they had some regular and honest means of livelihood, they +were of course acquitted and discharged; but when they were unable to +do this, they were sold for as much as would pay the fees of +detention, trial, &c. That any person, black or white, once recognized +by the law as free, was ever sold into everlasting slavery, he +positively denied, and demanded proof. In Louisiana, however, it being +illegal to manumit a slave, those whom the abolitionists would set +free, would not be considered free in the eye of the law. They might +be harrassed, imprisoned as vagabonds, sold to pay expenses, as +vagabonds, and so soon as set free again imprisoned. He admitted that +such proceedings would be inexcusable; but what was a benevolent man, +who had the welfare of his slave really at heart, to do with an eye to +them? To act upon the abolitionist principle, would be to consign the +slave to incalculable misery, for they had but one lesson to +teach--turn loose the slaves, and leave consequences to God! The +colonizationists, however, are provided with a better remedy. If +Louisiana would not countenance manumission, nor suffer manumitted +slaves to remain within her bounds, with the usual privileges of +freemen, let them be taken to some other State, where such laws did +not exist; or if this should not on the whole be desirable, let them +be taken to Liberia. No, repeats Mr. Thompson; discharge your slaves +at once, and leave the consequences to God. If, by the wicked laws of +Louisiana, they are left to starve, or driven to desperation, or sold +again into slavery, the responsibility is theirs; do you your duty in +setting them immediately at liberty. It would require, however, that a +humane individual should be very strongly impressed with the truth of +this principle before he could persuade himself to do that which was +evidently so cruel in its immediate effects, and so likely to be +ruinous in those that are more remote. Yet that principle was, to say +the least, extremely doubtful, and ought not at every hazard to be +crammed down the throats of an entire nation. If the laws of the +community were bad, as he admitted it to be the case, he supposed it +was the duty of enlightened citizens to seek a change of that law by +proper means, but not in the meantime to do that which would be +totally insubordinate to the State--and injurious to all parties. +Whether, moreover, it was either fair or candid to denounce, as had +been done, the free States as being participators in slavery, because, +though they did not themselves hold a property in slaves, they did not +choose to swallow such nostrums even without chewing, could not be a +question. If it was so doubtful whether duty to the slaves themselves +rendered the immediate breaking up of all relations between them and +their masters a proper or even a permitted thing, it was still more +questionable whether our duties to the State may not imperiously +forbid what our duties to the slave have already warned us against. I +have omitted all considerations of a personal or selfish kind--all +rules of conduct drawn from what is due to one's self, one's family, +or one's condition, or engagements. Common benevolence forbids, as we +have seen, and common loyalty prohibits, as we shall see--what a man +must do, or lie under the curse of abolitionism. For though it be our +duty to seek the amendment of bad laws, because they are bad, it is +equally our duty to obey laws because they are laws, unless it is +clear that greater ill will follow from obedience than from +disobedience. Now all our slave States are perfectly willing that +their citizens should emancipate their slaves; only many of them +insist on their doing it elsewhere, than within their borders. As long +as other lands exist, ready to receive the manumitted slave, and +certain to be benefitted by his reception, it is to preach treason, as +well as cruelty, and folly as well as either, to assert the bounden +duty of the individual slave-holder, at all hazards, to attempt an +impossibility on the instant, rather than accomplish a better result +by foresight, preparation, and suitable delay. It may therefore be +boldly said that instant surrender of the authority of the master, +irrespective of all other considerations, must, in many cases, be a +great crime in the individual slave-holder. He would now speak of this +abolition principle to which he had adverted as a rule of conduct for +slave-holding communities. In this respect, also, he considered that +it was at best extremely questionable. Let us illustrate the principle +by the oft-repeated case of the District of Columbia. Abolitionism +asserts that it is the clear duty of Congress to abolish slavery +instantly in that District, without regard to what may occur +afterwards in consequence of that act. Let us admit that the +dissolution of the Federal Union is a consequence not worthy of +regard--even when distinctly foreseen; and that all the evils +attendant on such a result, to human society, and to all the great +interests of man throughout the earth, are as nothing, compared with +the establishment of a doubtful definition, having an antiquity of at +least four years, and a paternity disputed between Mr. Garrison and +Mr. Thompson. As a principle concerning no other creature but the +slaves of the District, and no interest but theirs, it can be shown to +be false. If Congress were instantly to abolish slavery there, with a +tolerable certainty that every slave in the District would be removed +and continued with their issue in perpetual slavery; when by an +arrangement with the owners, they might so prospectively abolish it as +to secure the freedom of every slave in five or ten years, and of +their issue as they successively arrived at twenty or twenty-five +years of age; if Congress could do the latter, and were in preference +to do the former, they would deserve the execrations of the world. The +first plea is Mr. Thompson and abolitionism; the second express my +principles and those of the despised gradualists. At all events, the +truth of the principle involved in the former supposition was not so +manifest as to justify Mr. Thompson in denouncing, as he had done, +those who did not see proper to follow it. A wise man would +hesitate--he would weigh well the resulting circumstances as one of +the best tests of the truth and utility of his principles before he +propagated, as indisputably and exclusively true, and that in despite +of all results, such principles, with the violence which had been +manifested--principles which, he repeated, were but four years old, +and which he was still convinced, were but arrant quackery. There was +another aspect of the subject. Reference had been made to the +representation of the black population in the National Government. He +would remark on this subject that it was the duty of every State to +see that power was committed only to the hands of those qualified to +exercise it properly, wisely, and beneficially. What would be said in +this country, were Mr. Thompson to propose that the elective franchise +should be made universal, and that the age at which it might be +exercised should be fixed at fifteen years? He would venture to say +that the ministry who would introduce such a scheme to Parliament, +would not exist for three days. The proposal, as Mr. T. no doubt knew, +would be considered altogether revolutionary and shocking. Yet it must +be admitted that the average of the boys of Britain who are fifteen +years old, are fully as well qualified for the exercise of the elected +franchise, as the average of the slaves in the various parts of the +United States are at the age of twenty-one years. But with us, as with +you, twenty-one years is the age at which electors vote. As I have +shown, in most of our States the elective franchise is extended to +every white man, who has attained that age; while the qualifications +of a property kind, anywhere required, are so extremely moderate, that +in all our communities nine-tenths at least of the adult white males +are entitled to vote. Now let it be borne in mind, that abolitionism +requires not only instant freedom for the slave, but also instant +treatment of him, in every civil and political, as well as every +social and religious respect, as if he were white, that is, in plain +terms--if we should follow the dogmas you sent Mr. T. to teach us, and +in which we have been held up to the scorn of all good men, for +declining to receive, a revolution far more terrible and revolting +would immediately follow throughout all our slave States, than would +follow in Britain by enfranchising in a day, every boy in it fifteen +years old--even if your house of lords were substituted by an elective +senate, and your parliaments made annual! And it is in the light of +such results, that America has received with horror the enunciation of +principles which lead directly to them, while their advocates declare +"all consequences" indifferent as it regards their conduct! And can it +be the duty of any commonwealth to bring upon itself "instantly,"--or +at all--such a condition as this? The abolitionists themselves had +evidently felt that their scheme was absurd; for they had never +ventured to propose it to a slave State. Their papers were published +and their efforts all made, and their organized agitation carried on, +and a tremendous uproar raised in States where there existed no power +whatever to put an end to slavery; but hardly a syllable had been +uttered where, if anywhere, some effect might have been produced +beneficial to the slaves, had abolition principles been practicable +anywhere. The conduct of the abolitionists had been of a piece with +what would have taken place in this country, had an agitation been got +up for the direct abolition of idolatry in China, or of popery in +Spain. Their principles had never yet been advocated in the South, but +by means of the post-office, the effects of which, in the tearing up +of mail bags, &c., Mr. Thompson well knew, and had declared. But the +fact was, that such metaphysical propositions as those propounded by +the abolitionists--even admitting them to be true--were altogether +uncalled for. Thousands of slaves had been emancipated before the +abolition principles were heard of, and all that was needed, was, that +those who were engaged in the good work should have been let alone or +aided on their own principles. What was the use of blazoning forth a +doctrine which was in all likelihood false and ruinous, but which, +were it true, could do no good? For if you could persuade a man that +his duty required him to give freedom to his slaves, and he became +suitably impressed with a sense thereof--he would do it just as +certainly and effectually as though you had begun by saying to +him--now as soon as I convince you, you must set them free +immediately! He could indeed characterize such a mode of proceeding by +no other term than that of gratuitous folly. + +Again he might say that this principle of abolitionism was contrary to +all the experience which America had acquired as a nation on this +subject. Principles favorable to emancipation first took root where +there were few slaves, and when the products of their labor were of +little value. They had spread gradually towards the South, the border +States being always first inoculated, till no fewer than eight States +which tolerated slavery, adopted this principle, and successively +abolished it. To these eight States were to be added four others, +created since the formation of the Federal Constitution, which never +tolerated slavery, thus making twelve States in which slavery was not +permitted. By the influence of gradualism alone, had the cause of +freedom advanced steadily to this point, and every day rendered its +ultimate triumph throughout the whole empire more and more probable. +At this time it might have been carried South by at least 5 degrees of +latitude; and Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri, +added to the free States; and the shackles of 1,000,000 slaves been in +a process of gradual melting off. If fifty years had seen the rise of +12 free States, was it too much to hope that the next fifty years +should enfranchise twelve more. For all the ruin brought on this +glorious cause during the last four years by principles and practices +of Mr. Thompson's friends, what have they to compensate suffering +humanity? Have they or theirs released from his bonds a single slave? +The abolition plan had in fact, been a signal, a total, absolute +failure. Mr. Thompson himself did not pretend to say that a twentieth +part of the population of America had embraced his views. The whole +theory was as false as the whole practice was fatal; and just and +pious men would hereafter hesitate before they sent out new missions +to advocate them, or lent the influence of their just weight to +denunciations levelled against all who did not think them worthy of +their applause. The _second_ great _principle_ of the abolitionists, +to which he would invite attention, was this--that it was the inherent +and indestructible right of every man to abide in perfect freedom in +whatever spot he was born; and that while it is a crime to deny him +there all the rights of a man, a citizen and a Christian, it was not +less so to persuade, to win, or to coerce him into what they called +exile--this principle was levelled at the Colonization Society; and +while instant abolition formed the first, and denunciation of what +they call prejudice against color formed the last; hatred to +colonization formed the middle and active principle of the band. Of +this, it might be said, first, that it had the advantage of +contradicting all the wisdom and practice of mankind. Whether it was +meant to embrace women and minors--or at what age to establish the +beginning of rights so extraordinary and unprecedented, whether at +twenty-one, as here, or twenty-five, as in some countries, or +twenty-eight, as in others, had not yet been defined. Thus much at +least might be said--that if these rights resided in black men, they +resided in no others, of whatever hue or race; and the philosophers +who discovered their existence had found out something to compensate +these unhappy men for their unparalleled sufferings. It certainly need +not create surprise that we should listen with suspicion to such +dogmas taught by an Englishman, when we remember that, from time +immemorial, all the institutions of his own country were built upon +dogmas precisely opposite; and all her practice the reverse of the +preaching of the semi-national representative. Mr. Thompson says, a +man is a citizen by inherent right, wherever he is born; the British +monarchy, which Mr. Thompson says he prefers to all things else, says +on the contrary, that let a man be born where he may he is a Briton, +if born of British parents; and it both claims his allegiance, and +will extend to him every right of a subject born at home! Then why is +not a man an African if born of African parents in America, as well as +a Briton, if born of British parents there? Or why are we to be +attacked first with cannon on one side, and then with Billingsgate on +the other side of this vexed question? Nor did our own notions, +adverse as they were to those of Britain, conflict less with Mr. T. +and abolitionism on another part of the principle. All our notions +permit men to expatriate themselves, many of our constitutions +guarantee it as a natural right, and America had actually gone to war +with Britain in defence of that right in her unnaturalized citizens. +Britain had insisted on searching American vessels for British +sailors--America had refused to submit to the search; because, among +other things the man sought was, by naturalization, an American. +America did not oppose any of her citizens becoming Britons, if they +thought fit, and was resolved to maintain the right of those who chose +to become American citizens, from whatever country they might have +emigrated, and therefore could hear only with contempt this dictum of +abolitionism. Again he would say that, this principle is contrary to +common sense. Rights of citizenship were not to be considered natural +rights. They were given by the community--they might be withheld by +the community; and, therefore, to talk of their being indestructible, +was sheer nonsense. No man had a natural right to say, I will be a +citizen of this or that State; and in point of fact, the great bulk of +mankind were not citizens at all, but merely subjects. There were laws +establishing the present form of government, giving a certain power +to the king and to the Parliament, and regulating the mode in which +Parliament was to be elected. These laws were altogether conventional; +and as well might a man claim a natural right to be a king or a judge +as to be a citizen. It might be as truly said that one is inherently a +shark because he was born at sea, or a horse because he happened to +have been born in a stable. So far is the theory of abolition from the +truth; and so widely remote is their hatred to colonization, from +being based in justice, or reason, that circumstances may occur in +which it shall become imperative duty for men to emigrate. America +presented a striking example of the truth of this. In this country it +was customary to talk of America as a daughter of England. He had +heard people talk as if America were about as large as one English +shire, and settled principally from their own villages. But the fact +was that America was an epitome of the whole world, peopled by +colonies from almost all parts of it. It was an eclectic nation; and +to talk to Americans, of the inherent right of a man to stay and be +oppressed, where he happened to be born--or the guilt of seducing him +to emigrate, is only to expose one's self to pity or scorn. To realize +this, it is only necessary to take a map of our wide empire, washed by +both oceans, and embracing all the climates of the earth, and get some +American boy to tell you the migrations of his ancestors. To omit all +mention of the red man, from Asia, and the poor black man, from +Africa; there, he will say in New-England, are the children of the +pilgrims, who were the fathers of your own Roundheads, driven out by +the mean and vexatious tyranny of James I.; and there, in lower +Virginia, three hundred leagues off, are the descendants of the +Cavaliers and Malignants. There, in the back parts of the same ancient +commonwealth, and in all western Pennsylvania, are the sturdy Scotch, +whose fathers were hanged in the streets of your cities, by that +perjured Charles II., who thus rewarded the loyalty that gave him back +his crown. In the same key State, of the Union is a nation of +industrious Germans; while in the empire state of New-York, are the +children of those glorious United Provinces, that disputed with +yourselves for ages, the empire of the seas; and between them both in +New-Jersey the descendants of those ancient Danes who often ravaged +your own coasts. The descendants of the Hugonauts, whose ancestors +Louis XIV. expelled from France, and placed cordons on his frontiers +to butcher as they went out, simply because they were Protestants, +peopling parts of the south; in other parts of which, are colonies of +Swiss, of Spaniards, and of Catholic French. The Irishmen is +everywhere; and everywhere better treated than at home. Amongst such a +people, it must needs be an instinctive sentiment, that he who loves +country more than liberty, is unworthy to have either; that he who +inculcates or affects the love of place above the possession of +precious privileges, must have a sinister object. But he might proceed +much farther; and having shown that it might be the duty of men to +emigrate under various circumstances, prove that such a duty never was +more imperative than on the free colored population of America. +Possessing few motives to remain in America that were not base or +insignificant compared with those that ought to urge their return, +every attempt to explain and defend their conduct revealed a +selfishness on their part a thousand times greater than that they +charge upon the whites; and a cruelty on the part of their advisers +towards the dying millions of heathen in Africa, more atrocious than +that charged, even by them, on the master against his slave. The love +of country, of kindred, of liberty, of the souls of men, and of God +himself, impels them to depart, and do a work which none but they can +do; and which they forego through the love of ease, the lack of +energy, vanity gratified by the caresses of abolitionists, and +deadness to the great motives detailed above. But there was another, +and most obvious truth, which shows the utter futility of the +principle of abolition now contested. So far was the fact from being +so, that anybody, black or white, held an inherent right of +citizenship in the place of his birth; that it is most certain, no man +had even a right of bare residence, which the state might not justly +and properly deprive him of--upon sufficient reason. The state has the +indisputable right to coerce emigration, whenever the public good +required it; and when that public good coincided with the interest of +the emigrating party--and that also of the land to which they went--to +coerce such emigration might become a most sacred duty. It was indeed +true, that the friends of colonization had not contemplated nor +proposed any other than a purely voluntary emigration; for even the +traduced State of Maryland not only made the fact of removal +voluntary, but, going a step further than any other, gave a choice of +place to the emigrant. I recommend Africa, says she, but I will aid +you to go wherever you prefer to go. It should, however, be borne in +mind that this power is inherent in all communities, and has been +exercised in all time. And it were well for the advocates of abolition +principles to remember that the final, and, if necessary, forcible +separation of the parties is surely preferable to the annihilation, or +the eternal slavery of either; while it is infinitely more probable +than the instant emancipation--the universal levelling--or the general +mixture for which they contend. He had still left a _third principle_ +advanced by the abolitionists on which to comment, but as only two or +three minutes of his allotted time remained, he would not enter on the +subject; but would read, for the information of the audience a speech +delivered by Mr. Thompson at Andover, in Massachusetts, the seat of +one of our largest theological seminaries, as reported by a student +who was present. He wished this speech to be put on record for the +information of the British public. + + Students--I shall first speak of the natural and inalienable + rights to discuss slavery. It is not a question; you ought to + do it; you sin against God and conscience, and are traitors + to human nature and truth, if you neglect it. Whoever + attempts to stop you from the exercise of this right, + snatches the trident from the Almighty, and whoever dares to + put manacles upon mind must answer for it to the bar of God. + It belongs to God, and to God exclusively. You are not at + liberty to give respect to any entreaty or suggestion or to + take into consideration the feelings of any man or body of + men on the subject. The wicked spirit of expediency is the + spirit of hell, the infamous doctrines of the demons of hell; + and whoever attempts to preach it to the rising youth of the + land, preaches the doctrine of the damned spirits. It is the + spirit of the flame and faggot, revealing itself as it dares, + and corrupting the atmosphere so as to prevent the free + breathing of a free soul. Where are the students of the Lane + seminary? Where they ought to be;--from Georgia to Maine, and + from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains--far from a + prison-house where fetters are forged and rivetted. They + could not stay in a place where a thermometer was hung up to + graduate the state of their feelings. It was not till Dr. + Beecher consulted the faculty at New-Haven and Andover, to + see if they would sustain him, that he ventured to put the + screws on. But, perhaps you may say, we must bid farewell to + promotion if we do as you desire. The faculty have the power, + in a degree, to fix our future settlements by the + recommendation, and, therefore, we must desist. What if you + do have to leave the seminary? Far better to be away than to + breathe the tainted air of tyranny. I proclaim it here, that + the only reason why abolition is not countenanced at Andover + is, because it is unpopular; when it is popular it will be + received. In 1823, the Colonization Society was the pet child + of the churches, the seminaries, and the colleges of the + land; but now, forsooth, because it is unpopular, it is cast + off. Aye, once the eloquent tongues voiced its praise, and + the gold and silver were its tributaries--where is it now? + Cast off because it is not popular. This is rather hard; in + its old age, too. But I forbear, it is a touching theme. I + return to the Lane seminary. Never were nobler spirits and + finer minds congregated together; never in all time and place + a more heroic and generous band. Dr. Beecher himself has + pronounced the eulogy. In what condition is the seminary now. + Lying in ruins, irretrievably gone! Dr. Beecher then + sacrificed honor and reputation. + + Mr. Thompson read extracts from an article in the Liberator, + which went to show that the faculty at Andover advised the + students to be uncommitted on the dividing topic of slavery. + Yes, added Mr. Thompson, go out uncommitted; wait till you + get into a pulpit and have it cushioned and a settee in it, + and then you may commit yourself. The speaker observed that + very ill effects had resulted from the failure of the + students at Andover to form themselves into an Anti-Slavery + Society--the evil example had extended to Philip's Academy, + Amherst College, &c. He had been twitted about it wherever he + had been, but you may recover yourselves, he added, + condescendingly; there is some apology for you, only let a + Society be formed instantly. Those who attempted to show from + the Bible that slavery was justifiable, were paving the + slave-holders' paths to hell with texts of Scripture. Mr. + Thompson enlarged upon the merits of the refractory students + at Lane Seminary, with a most abundant supply of adjectives; + and the mean-spirited students of Andover, although not + expressly designated as such, were understood by the manner + of expression to be placed in contrast. Mr. Thompson remarked + that such conduct would not be tolerated by the students of + any college in England, Scotland, or Ireland. This abuse, of + the faculty at Andover was more personal and pointed than I + have described; one of the faculty was called by name, but + the severe expressions I have forgotten. He would probably + have outrun himself, and exhausted the vocabulary of + opprobrious epithets, had he not been interrupted. At the + conclusion of the lecture, with the strange inconsistency + which belongs to the man, he remarked that he had a high + respect for the members of the faculty, and that he would + willingly sit at their feet as a learner. + +He had only one remark before he sat down. It had been publicly +stated by a student of this seminary, that Mr. Thompson, in a +conversation with him, had said, that _every slave-holder deserved to +have his throat cut_, and that his slaves ought to do it. He could +not, of course, vouch for the truth of this; but Mr. Thompson was +there to explain. One thing, however, he could state as an +indisputable fact, namely, that the professors of the seminaries had +signed a document in which it was asserted that the young man had been +in the college for three years, and that his veracity was unimpeached +and unimpeachable. If the story were true--it was well that it was +timely made public. If the young man misunderstood Mr. Thompson, he +(Mr. B.) believed he formed one of a very large class in America, who +had fallen into similar mistakes, and drawn similar conclusions from +the general drift of his doings and sayings in that country. + + * * * * * + +Mr. THOMPSON, on rising, observed that no one could be more ready than +himself to commend the gentleman who had just resumed his seat for the +courage which he had shewn in dealing so frankly and faithfully with +him, (Mr. T.) in the presence of those to whom he (Mr. B.) was +comparatively a stranger, and whose favorable opinion he (Mr. T.) had +had many opportunities of conciliating. He rejoiced that his opponent +had, towards the end of his speech, attempted to state facts and +specify charges, and had thus afforded him an opportunity of showing +how completely and triumphantly he could meet the charges brought +against himself personally, and support the statements he had made in +reference to America. He would commence with the Andover story about +cutting throats. The truth of the matter was this. A student in the +Theological Seminary of the name of A. F. Kaufman, Jr., charged him, +George Thompson, with having said, in a private conversation, that +every slave-holder ought to have his throat cut, and that if the +abolitionists preached what they ought to preach, they would tell +every slave to cut his master's throat. Mr. Kaufman was from Virginia, +the son of a slave-holder, and heir to slave property. The story was +first circulated in Andover, and was afterwards published in the +New-York Commercial Advertiser, in a communication dated from the +Saratoga Springs. In reply to the printed version, I (said Mr. T.) +printed a letter denying the charge in the most solemn manner, and +referring to my numerous public addresses, and innumerable private +conversations, in proof of the perfectly pacific character of my +views. Then came forth a long statement from Mr. Kaufman, with a +certificate to his veracity and general good character, signed by +professors Woods, Stuart, and Emerson, of Andover. Here the matter +must have rested--Mr. Kaufman's charge on one side, and my denial on +the other--had the conversation been strictly private; but, +fortunately for me, there were witnesses of every word; and this +brings me to notice other circumstances connected with the affair, +constituting a most complete contradiction of the charge. I was +staying at the time under the roof of the Rev. Shipley W. Willson, the +minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Andover, and when I had +the conversation with Mr. Kaufman, in which the language imputed to me +is alleged to have been uttered, there were present, besides +ourselves, my host the Rev. S. W. Willson; the Rev. Amos A. Phelps, +congregational clergyman, and one of the agents of the American +Anti-Slavery Society; the Rev. La Roy Sunderland Methodist Episcopal +clergyman, and at present the editor of Zion's Watchman, New-York; and +the Rev. Jarvis Gregg, now a Professor in Western Reserve College, +Ohio. In consequence of the use made of the statement put forth by Mr. +Kaufman, I wrote to Professor Gregg, and Mr. Phelps, requesting them +to give their version of the conversation in writing; and their +letters in reply, which, together with one written without +solicitation by Mr. Sunderland, have been published. They not only +flatly contradict the account given by Mr. Kaufman, but prove that I +advocated in the strongest language the doctrine of non-resistance on +the part of the slaves. These letters, however, never appeared in the +columns of the papers which brought the charge and defied me to the +proof of my innocence. + +It may be well to give some idea of the conversation out of which the +charge grew. Mr. Kaufman complained of the harsh language of the +abolitionists, and challenged me to quote a passage of scripture +justifying our conduct in that respect. I quoted the passage "Whoso +stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he +shall surely be put to death;" and observed, that in this text we had +a proof of the awful demerit of the slaveholder; that he was +considered worthy of death; and that the modern slaveholder, under the +Christian dispensation, was not less guilty than the slaveholder under +the Jewish law. I then reminded him of the political principles of the +Americans, and cited the words of the declaration of Independence, +"RESISTANCE _to tyrants is obedience to God_." I then contrasted the +injuries inflicted on the slave with the grievances complained of in +the Declaration of Independence, and argued, that, if the Americans +deemed themselves justified in resisting to blood the payment of a +threepenny tea tax and a stamp duty, how much more, upon the same +principles, would the slave be justified in cutting his masters' +throat, to obtain deliverance from personal thraldom. Nay more, that +every American, true to the principles of the revolution, ought to +teach the slaves to cut their master's throats--but that while these +were fair deductions from their own revolutionary principles, I held +the doctrine that it was invariably wrong to do evil that good might +come, and that I dared not purchase the freedom of the slaves by +consenting to the death of one master. + +He (Mr. T.) had thus disposed of one of the most tangible portions of +his opponent's speech. He regretted there had not been more of +matter-of-fact statement in the speech of one hour in length, to which +they had just listened; a speech, which, however creditable to the +intellect of his opponent on account of its ingenuity, was by no means +creditable to his heart. Instead of dealing fairly with the documents +he (Mr. T.) had produced, and which contained a true and ample +statement of the views, feelings, principles, purposes and plans of +the abolitionists, Mr. Breckinridge had manufactured a series of +dextrous sophisms, calculated to keep out of sight the real merits of +the question. Was it not strange, that, covered as that platform was +with the documents of the abolitionists, his opponent had not quoted +one word from their writings, but had based all he had said upon a +statement of their principles made out by himself; and had then given +to that statement an interpretation of his own, utterly at variance +with all the views and doctrines entertained by the abolitionists. The +gentleman had most ably played the part of Tom Thumb, who made the +giants he so valiantly demolished. He would not attempt to grapple +with that which rested altogether upon a gross misstatement of the +principles and views of the Abolitionists. He had a right to expect +that Mr. B. would go to the many sources of official information +touching the principles he professed to denounce; but instead, he had +put forth a creed, as the creed of the Abolitionists of America, which +was nowhere to be found in their writings, and he (Mr. T.) should +therefore wait until an objection had been taken to something they +(the abolitionists) had really said or done. + +Mr. Breckinridge had amused them with another Andover story. He had +read an extract from a speech said to have been delivered by him (Mr. +T.) during the protracted meeting he had held there. He would just +take the liberty of assuring the audience that he had never uttered +the speech which had that night been put into his mouth. It had been +said that the speech was reported by a student. Had Mr. B. given the +name of the student?--No. He (Mr. B.) knew that it was an anonymous +communication, written by a vile enemy of a righteous cause, who was +too much ashamed of his own productions to sign his name, but put the +initial C. at the end of his libellous productions, which were +greedily copied into the pro-slavery papers of the United States. The +reports furnished by that scribbler were known in Andover to be false, +and laughed at by the students as monstrous and ludicrous perversions +of the truth. Upon this point also, he (Mr. T.) had ample documentary +evidence. He did not wonder that Mr. Breckinridge had so frequently +twitted him respecting the multitude of documents which he (Mr. T.) +was in the habit of producing. It must be peculiarly unpleasant to +find that he (Mr. T.) had always the document at hand necessary to +annihilate the pretended proof of his opponent. He would now read from +a report of the proceedings at Andover--but a very different report +compared with that they had just heard--not an anonymous one, but +signed by a respectable and pious student in the Theological Seminary, +R. Reed, Corresponding Secretary of the Andover Anti-Slavery Society. +As reference was made, in the extract he was going to read, to a +former visit, he would just state, that about three months after his +arrival in the United States, he visited Andover, and delivered three +lectures, besides undergoing a long examination into his principles in +the College Chapel; and that on his return to Boston, where he was +then residing, he received from the Institution a series of +resolutions signed by upwards of fifty of the students, expressive of +their entire concurrence in the sentiments he had advanced, and their +high approbation of the temper in which he had advocated those +sentiments, and commending him to the blessing and protection of +Heaven. He (Mr. T.) need not say that such a testimonial from +theological students, unasked and unexpected, was peculiarly +gratifying. + +The account of his second visit in July, 1835, was thus given in a +letter addressed to the editor of the Liberator. + + "It had been previously announced that Mr. Thompson would + address us on Tuesday evening. The hour arrived, and a large + and respectable audience were convened in the expectation of + again listening to the--(Mr. Thompson here omitted some + complimentary expressions.) After the introductory prayer, + Mr. Phelps arose, and said he regretted that he was obliged + to state that Mr. Thompson had not yet arrived in town, but + he thought it probable he would soon be with us. He then + resumed the subject of American Slavery. He had, however, + uttered but a few sentences before Mr. T. came in. His + arrival was immediately announced from the desk, and the + expression of satisfaction, manifested by the audience, told, + more eloquently than words, the estimation in which they held + this beloved brother, and the pleasure they felt on again + enjoying the opportunity of listening to his appeals. Mr. + Thompson took his seat in the desk, and Mr. Phelps then + proceeded at some length. When he closed his remarks, Mr. + Thompson arose, and after some introductory remarks, + answered, in a powerful and eloquent manner, the inquiry, + 'Why don't you go to the South.' + + "The first part of the three succeeding evenings was occupied + by Mr. Phelps, in exposing the janus-faced monster, the + American Colonization Society, which he did in so masterly a + manner, that we are quite sure none of his auditors, save + those who are willfully blinded, will hereafter doubt of its + being 'a fraud upon the ignorance, and an outrage upon the + intelligence of the community.'" + + "Thursday evening Mr. Thompson vindicated himself against the + aspersions heaped upon him for denouncing Dr. Cox. I would + that all Mr. Thompson's friends had been present, and his + enemies too, for I am sure that unless encased in a shield of + prejudice more impenetrable than steel, they would have been + compelled to acknowledge that his denunciation of Dr. Cox was + just, and not such an instance of tiger-like malice as some + have represented it to be." "Friday evening (the evening to + which the extract read by Mr. Breckinridge referred) he spoke + of the 'armed neutrality' of the seminary and the course + which had been taken in the Academical Institutions of + Andover. He is accused of wantonly abusing our Professors and + Teachers--of making personal attacks upon them. No personal + attacks however were made; no man's motives were impeached. + He attacked PRINCIPLES and not MEN for while he would render + to the guardians of the seminary and academies all that + respect which their station and learning and piety demands, + he would at the same time condemn the course that had been + pursued, as having a tendency to retard the progress of + emancipation. Let the public judge as to the propriety of his + remarks. + +It would be recollected that the same question had been put to him +here in Glasgow, as that which he had answered at Andover. "Why don't +you go to the South?" He would tell his opponent on the present +occasion, that even he could not advocate abolition sentiments in the +South, purely and openly, without endangering his life. The reason he +was able to express his views on slavery and remain unmolested, was +because it was known that he denounced the abolitionists, and +advocated colonization. The experience of Mr. Birney was in point. +That gentleman hated slavery before he joined the abolitionists, and +was in the habit of speaking against it, in connection with the +colonization cause, and was permitted to do so without hindrance; but +when he emancipated his slaves, and called upon others to do likewise, +upon true anti-slavery principles, he was forced to fly from his +residence and family, and was now in the city of Cincinnati. + +It had been tauntingly Said, "show us the fruits of your principles." +"Where are the slaves you have liberated?" He would reply, that in +Kentucky, very recently, nineteen slaves had been liberated upon +anti-slavery principles:--enough to answer Mr. B's demand, "point us +to _one_ slave your Society has been the means of liberating." But the +question was not to be so tested. The abolitionists of Britain were +often called upon in the same way; and their answer was, our +principles are extending, and when they are sufficiently impressed +upon the public mind, there will be a _general_ emancipation of the +slaves. On the 31st of July, 1834, they could not point to any +actually free in consequence of their efforts; but the night came and +passed away, and the morrow dawned upon 800,000 human beings, lifted +by the power of anti-slavery principles, out of the legal condition of +chattels, into the position of free British subjects. So in the United +States. The principles of abolition would necessarily be some time +extending, but ultimately they would effect a change in public +opinion, and a corresponding change in the treatment of the black man. + +Mr. Breckinridge had disputed the truth of the fact he (Mr. T.) had +stated relative to the imprisonment and sale into bondage for life, in +the city of Washington, of a black man, justly entitled to his +freedom. He (Mr. T.) trusted that in this matter also he should be +able most satisfactorily to establish his own veracity. The evidence +he would produce to support the statement he had made, was, "A +memorial of the inhabitants of the District of Columbia, U. S., signed +by one thousand of the most respectable citizens of the District, and +presented to Congress, March 24, 1828, then referred to the Committee +on the District, and on the motion of Mr. Hubbard, of New-Hampshire, +Feb. 9, 1835, ordered to be printed." He (Mr. T.) held in his hand the +genuine document printed by Congress, "22d Congress, 2d Session, House +of Representatives, Doc. No. 140." The following was the part +containing the fact he had mentioned. + + "A colored man, who stated that he was entitled to freedom + was taken up as a runaway slave, and lodged in the jail of + Washington City. He was advertised, but no one appearing to + claim him, he was according to law, put up at public auction + for the payment of his jail fees, and SOLD as a SLAVE for + LIFE. He was purchased by a slave trader, who was not + required to give security for his remaining in the District + and he was soon shipped at Alexandria for one of the southern + States. An attempt was made by some benevolent individual to + have the sale postponed until his claim to freedom could be + investigated; but their efforts were unavailing; and thus was + a human being SOLD into PERPETUAL BONDAGE at the capital of + the freest government on earth, without even a pretence of + trial, or an allegation of crime." + +He should be glad to find that Mr. B. had a satisfactory explanation +of this most revolting case. Such things were enough to make any man +speak hardly of America. If he (Mr. T.) said severe things of that +country, it was not, Heaven knew, because he did not love that +country, for his heart's desire and prayer was, that she might soon be +free from every drawback upon her prosperity and usefulness. He told +these things because they ought to be known and branded as they +deserved, that the nation guilty of them might repent and abandon +them. _He_ was not the enemy of America that faithfully pointed out +her follies and crimes. No. He was the man that loved America, that +seeing her, like some lofty tree, spreading abroad her branches, and +furnishing at once shelter and sustenance to all who sought refuge +under her shade, observed with sorrow and dismay, a canker-worm at the +root, threatening to consume her beauty and her strength, and could +not rest day or night in his efforts to bring so great and glorious a +nation to a sense of her danger, and an apprehension of her duty. Let +others do the pleasant work of flattery and panegyric, and be it his +more ungracious, but not less salutary work, of proclaiming her +errors, and denouncing her sins, until she learns to do justice and +love mercy. + +(He (Mr. T.) thought he might with some justice complain of the manner +in which he had been treated by his opponent. He (Mr. T.) had made +every concession which truth and justice would warrant to Mr. B.; had +honored his motives, and studiously separated him from those upon whom +his heaviest censures had fallen--the lovers and abettors of the slave +system. But a similar course had not been pursued towards him. In many +ways his motives had been impeached and his statements so denied as to +throw discredit upon his intentions in making them. In a word, Mr. +B's. whole course had been wanting in that courtesy which he had a +right to expect would be exhibited by one disputant towards another. +At the same time, he earnestly desired Mr. B. to state freely all he +thought of his motives and conduct. + +A few moments yet remaining, he would say a word or two in reference +to the designs attributed to the abolitionists, in respect of the +privileges to which the colored people were entitled. He denied that +the abolitionists had ever asked for the blacks, either in regard to +political rights or social privileges, anything unreasonable. They +asked for their immediate release from personal bondage, and a +subsequent participation of civil rights; according to the amount in +which they possessed the qualifications demanded of others. Where, in +the documents of abolitionists, was the doctrine of instant and +universal enfranchisement, of which so much had been heard? He knew +not the abolitionist who had contended for such a thing. He asked +nothing for him over and above what would be freely bestowed on him if +he were white. Oh! it was an awful crime to have a black skin! There +lay all the disqualification. + +The great fault which Mr. B. seemed to find with the principles of the +abolitionists was that they were too lofty; too grand; too little +accommodated to the spirit of the age; that, in the adoption of their +views and principles, they had not consulted the manners and habits +and prejudices of their country; and the whole of his (Mr. +Breckinridge's) argument had been in favor of expediency. He hated +that word "expediency," as ordinarily used. It contained, as he had +often said, the doctrine of devils. It was so congenial with our +depraved nature to make ourselves a little wiser than God--to believe +that we understood better than God's servants of old the best way of +reforming mankind. Oh! that men would take the Almighty at his word, +and simply doing their duty, leaving him to take care of consequences. +Doubtless, the dauntless Hebrew, Daniel, was deemed, in his day, a +rash man. He might so very easily have escaped the snare laid for him. +Why did he not go to the back of the house? Why not shut the window? +Why could he not pray silently to the searcher of hearts? Daniel +scorned compromise. He prayed as he had ever prayed--aloud--with his +window open, and his face to Jerusalem. He boldly met the +consequences. He walked to the lion's den--he entered, he remained: +but lo! on the third day he came forth unhurt, to tell mankind to the +end of time that, if they will do their duty and trust in Daniel's +God, no weapon formed against them shall prosper, but they shall in +His strength stop the mouths of lions, and put to flight the armies of +the aliens. + + * * * * * + +Mr. BRECKINRIDGE said that, so far as the present respectable audience +was concerned, he would make but a single remark. Mr. Thompson and he +had already trespassed on their patience, but they would probably do +so no longer than to-morrow night; at least so far as he was +concerned, he thought it unnecessary, if not improper. The chief +reason of his (Mr. B's.) coming here was to defend the churches, +ministers and Christians of America, from the false and dreadful +charges which had been proclaimed over Britain against them by Mr. +Thompson, and which he had challenged all the world to give him an +opportunity to prove. Upon this topic that gentleman had, as yet, +fought shy. He could wait on him no longer. They might expect, +therefore, that next evening he would take up that subject, whether +Mr. Thompson should follow him or not. If the audience considered that +the general subject had been sufficiently discussed already--as from +some manifestations he was inclined to suppose--he would at once +retire. (Slight hissing.) Was he to consider that as an answer in the +affirmative? (Renewed hissing.) Why, then, he had erred in laying any +of the blame of trying their patience on Mr. Thompson, and it was his +duty to take it all to himself; and, when he returned home, to tell +his countrymen that no charges were too gross or caluminous to be +entertained against them--nor any length of time, a weariness in +hearing them--but that the hearing of defence and proof of innocence +was an insupportable weariness. (Increased hissing, with cries of +'no'.) The only remaining supposition was, that Mr. T's. partizans had +become convinced he needed succor, and therefore gave it most +naturally in the form of organized violence. (The hissing was again +attempted, but was put down by the general voice of the meeting.) Mr. +T., he said, had at length brought accusations against him, and had +complained that although he (Mr. T.) had repeatedly and cordially +expressed good feelings towards him, (Mr. B.) he had in no instance +returned this kindness or justice; nor said a word favorable to him +throughout the debate. He would appeal to the Chairman, to know +distinctly, if Mr. Thompson had any right to demand, or if he (Mr. B.) +were bound to express his opinion of that individual. Because, +continued Mr. B., as I have in the beginning said that Mr. T. as an +individual could be nothing to me or my countrymen, I have preferred +to be silent as to him individually. If he is right, however, in +bringing such things as charges against me, and continues to demand +my opinion, I will give it fearlessly. But let him beware--for I will +call no man friend who gains his bread by calumniating my country. Nor +can he who traduces my bretheren--my kindred--my home--all that I most +venerate and revere--honor me so much as by traducing me. They had +been told that Mr. J. G. Birney had fled from Kentucky, and left his +wife and children behind him in great danger, he being obliged to flee +for his life. It was true, he believed, that Mr. Birney, excellent and +beloved as he was, had found it best to emigrate from that State. But +that he had _fled_, rested, he believed, on Mr. T's. naked assertion. +That he had left his wife and children behind, believing them to be in +personal danger, was a thing which it would require amazingly clear +proof to establish against the gentleman in question. But he would +show to the meeting that there was one individual who could do such an +act. (Mr. B. then read the following extract from a speech, delivered +at a meeting in Edinburgh, on the 28th of January, 1836:) + + "He stood there not to defame America. It was true they had + persecuted him; but that was a small matter. It was true they + had hunted him like a partridge on the mountains; that he had + to lecture with the assassin's knife glancing before his + eyes; AND HIS WIFE AND HIS LITTLE ONES WERE IN DANGER OF + FALLING BY THE RUTHLESS HANDS OF MURDERERS." + +And again, from the preface to the same pamphlet in which the above +cited speech is found, a pamphlet intended perhaps for America, and +called, "A Voice to her from the Metropolis of Scotland," the +following paragraph occurs:---- + + "Mr. Thompson having proceeded by way of St. John's, New + Brunswick, embarked on board of a British vessel for + Liverpool, where he arrived on the 4th of January, and on the + 12th was happily joined by his family who had left New-York + on the 16th December. + +So that it appeared from these statements that Mr. Thompson, believing +that the Americans meant to take away the lives of his wife and +children, left them to their fate while he prudently consulted his own +safety by flight. In regard to the alleged case of the sale of a free +man of color, at Washington city, the proof stood thus: Mr. T. broadly +asserted, again and again, that a free man had been sold, without +trial, into eternal slavery. He, (Mr. B.) without knowing the especial +facts relied on, but knowing America, and knowing abolitionism, had +flatly and emphatically denied that such a thing ever did or could +happen in the District of Columbia. Mr. Thompson re-asserts, and +triumphantly proves it, as he says. His first step in the proof is, a +printed scrap, which, he says, is the identical memorial laid on the +table of the Senate of the United States, who, as they received and +printed it, he insinuates, thereby avouched its truth. Upon which +principle I also avouch all Mr. T.'s charges, as I hear them and +consent to their publication. But, he adds, there were once one +thousand signatures to this document, all witnesses of the truth of +its contents. To which I reply--I see no name to it at all now; and +secondly, if there were a million, the paper does not assert, much +less prove, what Mr. T. produces it to sustain. It merely declares +_that the man said he was free_; without even expressing the opinion +of the writer or any signer of the paper. Now, upon this case, and +this proof, it is nearly certain that the man was not free, and +extremely probable that the whole case is fictitious. For the glorious +writ of habeas corpus, one of the main pillars of your liberty--a +privileged writ which no English judge, for his right hand, would dare +illegally refuse; that writ is one of the great heirlooms we got with +our Anglo-Saxon blood, and is dearer to us than that blood itself. +Here, by act of Parliament, you do sometimes suspend this writ; with +us the tyrant does not breathe who would dare to whisper a wish for +its suspension. Now, if this man was, or believed himself to be free, +what hindered him, from the moment of his arrest to that of his sale, +from demanding and receiving a fair trial? Will it be said he did not +know his rights? But will it be pretended that the one thousand +signers of the memorial, the many abolitionists at Washington of whom +Mr. T. boasts, did not know his rights--in a land where every man +knows and is ready to defend his rights? If they did not, they were +thrice sodden asses, fit only to be tools in gulling mankind into the +belief of a tale that had not feasibility enough to gull a child. Upon +the face of his own proof Mr. Thompson had shown that he had not the +slightest authority for the assertions he had so often made in arguing +this case; by all of which he intended to make men believe that in +America it was not uncommon to sell free men into slavery! Mr. +Breckinridge then resumed the consideration of abolition principles; +the _third of which_ was, that all prejudice against color is sinful, +and that everything which induces us to refuse any social, personal, +religious, civil, or political right to a black man, which is allowed +to a white one, not superior to him in moral or intellectual +qualifications, is a prejudice, and therefore sinful. He believed this +to be a fair statement of their principles on that head. And he would, +in the first place, remark concerning them, that even if they were +true, which he denied, the discussion of them was worse than useless. +It could not advance the cause of emancipation, nor improve the +condition of the free blacks. And whatever the abolitionists might +say, the slaves when freed would follow their own course and +inclinations; nor could the declaration of an abstract principle alter +either their conduct or that of the whites, in any material degree. +If, as Mr. Thompson asserted, prejudice against color was the +national sin of America, the plague-spot of the nation, it had just as +often been asserted by others that the prejudice itself originated at +first out of the relation of slavery. The latter was the disease, the +former a mere symptom. If there were no black slaves on earth there +would no longer be any aversion against that color, which went beyond +the invariable and mutual restraints of nature, or was tolerated by a +proper Christian liberty. They know little of human prejudices who do +not know that they are more invincible in the bulk of mankind than the +dictates of reason, or the impulses of virtue itself. The case of the +abolitionists must therefore be pronounced foolish on their own +showing. For they undertook to break down the strongest of all +prejudices, as they themselves say, as a condition precedent to the +doing of acts which, to do at all, required great pecuniary sacrifices +and a high tone of moral feeling. But if, as I shall try to show, +their doctrines are contrary to all the course of nature and all the +teachings of Providence--their behavior is to be considered little +else than sheer madness. Again: even if it did not prejudice the case +of the slave--as none can deny it did--to agitate this question of +color, and mix it up inseparably with the question of freedom, of what +use was it to him? If the whites treat him with scorn, give him his +liberty--and he may pity, forgive, or return the scorn. What advantage +was he to gain as a slave, by the discussion, even if no harm came +from it? What advantage was he to obtain as a freeman even if its +agitation did not forever prevent him from being free? It is, in all +its aspects, the most remarkable illustration of a weak, heady, and +ignorant fanaticism which this age has produced, and has been, of them +all, the most fruitful of evil. The truth was, that many of the rights +and privileges of free persons of color were better secured to them in +America than corresponding rights and privileges were to the white +peasantry of any other country on the globe. With regard to the +religious rights of colored persons, he could only say that he had sat +in Presbyteries with them, that he had dispensed the Sacrament to them +together with white persons; and that he and multitudes of others had +sat in the same class with them at our Theological Seminaries. As for +all the stories which Mr. T. was accustomed to tell about Dr. Sprague +having part of his church curtained round for persons of color, he +knew personally nothing, and noticed it only because it was told as a +_specimen_ story. He merely knew that Dr. Sprague was accounted a +benevolent man, and common charity required him not readily to believe +anything of him in a bad sense which could be justified in a good one. +But if there was anything so very exclusive and revolting in these +marks of superiority or inferiority in a church, let them not look to +America alone; nor limit their sympathies exclusively to the blacks. +In almost every church in England in which he had been, from the +cathedral of St. Paul's at London, to the curate's village church, he +had seen seats railed off, or curtained, or cushioned, or elevated, +and some how distinguished from the rest. And when he inquired why +these things were so, and for whose accommodation, the answer was +ready. "O, that is for My Lord this; or Sir Harry that; or Mr. Prebend +so and so; or the Lord Bishop of what not." And very often, even in +dissenting chapels, he had seen part of the seats of an inferior +description in particular parts of the house, which he had as often +been told were free seats for the poor; an arrangement which has +struck him as favorably as the similar one in Dr. Sprague's church did +Mr. T. the reverse. This preparation of free and separate seats for +the poor is, if he is rightly informed, nearly universal, in both the +Scotch and English establishments, whenever the poor have seats in +their churches. Now, if Mr. Thompson wished to begin a system of +levelling--if he meant to preach universal equality, why did he not +begin here? Why did he not try to convert Earl Grey and Lord +Melbourne, instead of going across the Atlantic in order to try his +experiments on the despised Americans? As to the civil rights of the +free blacks in America, the most erroneous notions were entertained in +both countries, but especially here. The truth was, they enjoyed +greater _civil_ rights than the peasantry of Britain herself; and +those rights were fully as well protected in their exercise. Their +right to acquire property of any kind, anywhere, without being hedged +about with exclusive privileges and ancient corporations; their right +to enjoy that property, unencumbered with poor rates, and church +rates, and tithes and tiends, and untold taxes and vexations; their +right to pursue trades, callings, or business, without regard to +monopolies, and innumerable vexatious and worrying preliminaries; +their right to be free in person--subject neither to forcible +impressment, nor to the serveilance of an innumerable police: their +right to be cared for in sickness and destitution, without questions +of domicile previously settled; their right to the speedy and cheap +administration of justice without "sale, denial or delay"--and +unattended with ruinous expenses; these, with whatever may truly be +considered civil rights, are enjoyed by the free colored people in +nearly every part of America, to a degree utterly unknown by millions +of British subjects, not only in the East and West-Indies, but in +Ireland, and even in England itself. If any rights had been denied +them, as the following of certain professions, as that of a minister +of the gospel, for example, as Virginia had lately done, he could +point their attention to the time when these laws were passed, and +show that it was not till after the era of abolition; and that would +never have been, but for its fury. It was not till after they had +learned with bell book and candle to curse the white man, and teach +sedition and murder to the slaves. The nature of _political_ rights +claimed by Mr. Thompson for the blacks, in his sweeping claim to have +them put on a footing of perfect equality with the whites, seemed to +be utterly unknown to him, both as to their origin and character. +Whilst he advocated a scheme in America which demanded the most +extensive political changes, and claimed political rights as the +birthright of certain parties, he still persisted in assuring the +British nation that he had never touched the subject in a political +aspect! Now what political rights does he claim for the free +blacks--and denounce all America for refusing, on account of this +prejudice against color? Is it right of suffrage? is it right of +office? is it perfect, personal, and political equality? If not, what +does he mean? But if he means that it already exists in all the free +States and in several of the slave States, in behalf of the free +blacks, to a far greater extent than the same exists in England, as +between the privileged classes and the bulk of the nation, though all +are white,--I boldly assert, that a greater part of the free men of +color in America did enjoy perfect political privileges at the rise of +abolitionism, than of the white men of Britain at this day. There were +more free black voters in North America, in proportion to the free +black race, than there are white voters in all Britain, in proportion +to the white inhabitants of the British empire. And this, even leaving +out the red millions of the East, and the black thousands of the +West-Indies; and making the Reform Bill the basis of calculation! If +some have been deprived of these privileges, let abolitionists blame +themselves. If in most places these privileges have been dormant, it +only proves that their exercise was a very secondary advantage--that +the present outcry is but the more wicked and absurd. As to the social +rights which were demanded for the slaves and free blacks both, there +seemed to be a complete confusion of ideas in the minds of the +abolitionists. Did they mean to say that all distinctions and +gradations of rank were iniquitous, or did they mean that men ought to +enjoy rights because they were black, which were justly denied to the +whites? Who had ever heard of a nobleman marrying a gipsy? or, of a +king of England marrying a laborer's daughter? But the fact was, +everything tended to prove that in preaching against the alleged +prejudice against color, the abolitionists were really advocating +general amalgamation. There were three opinions on the the subject: +1st. That in a State situated like most of those in America, public +policy required the mixture of the races to be prohibited; so that, in +nearly all the States, intermarriages were prohibited, and in many +States they were punishable as a felony with fine or imprisonment. +2d. That the practice was inexpedient, but so far innocent as to be +left to the discretion of the parties, which he believed was the +opinion of sober-minded people generally in this country. 3d. That, as +the chief practical objection to it is a sinful prejudice against +color, that prejudice is to be broken down, and the contrary right +upheld, as neither improper nor inexpedient, when voluntarily +exercised. This last, or even a much stronger advocacy of +amalgamation, is the doctrine of abolitionism; facts deducible from +their declaration of independence, and found in the whole scope of +their writings and speeches. Mr. Breckinridge then went on to show the +utter folly, and, as he believed, wickedness of advocating +amalgamation; or so acting or talking as to create the universal +impression that was what was meant. In the first place, the result +after which the abolitionists seemed to strive, was impossible; in the +most strict sense of the terms, naturally or physically impossible. He +by no means meant to contend with some freethinkers, who, to upset the +Mosaic cosmogony, asserted that the different races of men were not +fruitful if intermixed beyond a given and very near point. But what he +meant was this: all who believe the Mosaic account of the origin of +the human race, must, of course, believe that they were once all of +one complexion. Now, if they could all be amalgamated and made of one +complexion again, those causes, whatever they are, which have produced +so great diversities, would, after a time, reproduce them. And having +gratified Mr. Thompson and his friends, by universal levelling and +mixing the world, would soon find that they had done a work which +nature did not permit to stand; and would again behold, in one belt +upon the earth's surface, the black, in another the red, and in a +third the white man. And to whatever degree they carried their +principles into practice, they would find proportionately great +counteracting causes--continually fighting against them, and +continually requiring the reproduction of their amalgamated breed, +from the original stocks. This, then, is a fatal objection to their +scheme; the course of nature is against it. But again, he would say, +as a second fundamental objection against all such schemes, that +wherever, in the past history of the world, the various races of men +had been allowed freely to amalgamate, one of two concomitants had +universally attended the process, namely, polygamy or prostitution. If +either of these be permitted, as innocent, amalgamation can easily be +pushed through its first stage; without one at least of these two +engines, no progress has ever yet been made in this work of fighting +against the overwhelming course of events. He regretted he had not +time to go over these branches of the argument with that pains which +he could wish. If he had, he believed, notwithstanding all that Mr. +Thompson had said, or might say, about sophistry, they could each of +them be demonstrated as clearly as that gentleman could demonstrate +any proposition in geometry. Again, in the third place, he believed, +from what was contained in the Bible, that in preserving distinct from +each other the three families of mankind, as descended from the three +sons of Noah, God had great and yet undeveloped purposes to +accomplish. How far the whole history of his providence led to the +same conclusion, he must leave to their own reflections to determine. +But on the admission of such a truth as even possible--it was surely +natural to look for something in the structure of nature that would +effectually prevent the obliteration of either race. One may find this +in those general considerations which make intermarriages, in his +view, inexpedient; or another in the innate and absolute instincts of +the creature. But both will receive with suspicion, as an undoubted +and fundamental rule of Christian morals, a dogma which requires us to +contend against the clear leadings of providence, and the good and +merciful intentions of our Creator. We tax our faith but slightly when +we believe that as soon as these purposes of mercy and glory are +accomplished, and the signal revolution in the social condition of man +now contended for shall be required by the Almighty, we may look for a +channel of communication between him and the world more in accordance +with the Spirit of his Son than any which has yet brought us messages +on the subject. The _fourth_ objection which struck him against this +whole procedure was, that in point of fact the world has need of +every race that now exists on its surface. It has taken forty +centuries to adjust the nicely-balanced and adapted relations and +proportions of a vast and complicated structure,--which the finger of +all-pervading wisdom has itself guided in all the steps of its +development. And now, a stroke of the pen is to subvert it all, and +one dictum, of the world knows not whom, accomplish the most +stupendous revolution which all these forty centuries have witnessed. +Suppose the end gained. If any one race now existing was obliterated, +or very materially altered in its physical condition, how large a +proportion of the world's surface would become speedily depopulated, +and so remain until the present condition of things were restored! If +this could happen as to every race _but one_, what a wreck would the +earth exhibit! He who will look with a Christian's eye abroad upon the +families of men, must feel that to accomplish the great hopes that his +heart has conceived for this ruined world, he needs every race that +now peoples it; and must see the hand of God in arresting so speedily +and so signally this pernicious heresy. In the fifth place, he +suggested an argument against amalgamation, which at once showed +the injustice of the outcry against America, and the total +inconsiderateness of Mr. Thompson and his party. The fact was that +this prejudice of color, as it was called, was in all respects mutual; +and so far from being the peculiar sin of America, was the common +instinct of the human race, and existed as really, if not as strongly +on the side of the colored population as on that of the whites. In +proof of this, Mr. Breckinridge cited the case of Hayti, where no man +is allowed the rights of citizenship, unless a certain portion of +black blood runs in his veins; and that of Richard Lander, who, while +travelling in the interior of Africa, as the servant of Park, was +looked upon with comparative favor by the natives on account of his +dark complexion, while his master, who was of a very fair complexion, +was far less a favorite on that account. The North American Indians +and the blacks more readily intermixed than the Indians and the +whites, while the latter connexion, which is not indeed uncommon, is +formed by the marriage of a white man with a squaw; never, or most +rarely, of an Indian and a white woman, the slight, and most +exaggerated number of mulattoes, are nearly without exception, the +offspring of white men and colored women. These facts seemed to show +the reality and nature or the mutual aversion of which I have spoken; +an aversion never overcome but in gross minds. And the whole current +of remark proves that those who attempted to promote amalgamation are +fighting equally against the purposes of providence, the convictions +of reason, and the best impulses of nature. He had much to say, which +time failed him to say, on the spirit in which the abolition had been +advocated in America. He would therefore merely remark whether it +might be taken as a compliment, or the reverse, that the spirit of all +Mr. Thomson's speeches, which he had heard or read--might give them a +tolerable idea of the spirit of abolitionism everywhere: a spirit +which many seemed to consider as from above, but for himself he prayed +to be preserved from any such spirit. He had much also to say upon the +malignant feeling and spirit of insubordination which had been +produced by the discussion of these questions in the breasts of +multitudes of free colored people. The riots, of which so much had +been said in this country, were as often produced by the imprudence +and insolence of these deluded people, as by the wanton violence and +prejudices of the lowest classes of the whites. In consequence of the +influence of the Jacobinical principles of the abolitionists, many +free colored servants left employments they had held for years; +because the claim then first set up, of perfect domestic equality with +their masters, was refused; while many cases of insult to females, in +the streets of our cities, signalized the same season and spirit. He +had also much to say of the wide-spread feeling, looking towards +immediate deliverance, from a distance, and by force, which suddenly, +and, if the abolitionists are innocent as they pretend, miraculously +got possession of the minds of the slaves over all the southern +country; and which led to such stern, and but the more unhappy, if +necessary, consequences. It had been said, in justification of his +conduct by Mr. Thompson, that persuasion had never yet induced any one +to relax his hold on slaves--and that as for America, in particular, +she would never be made to feel ought on the subject, till her pride +and fears were awakened. To that he would reply that, as regarded +pride, perhaps America had her share of it; but if abolition was not +to be looked for till her fears granted it, he apprehended they would +have sufficient time yet left to send Mr. Thompson on several new +voyages before the whole country was frightened into his terms. + + + + +FIFTH NIGHT--FRIDAY, JUNE 17. + + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said that the order of the exercises of this evening +had, without the fault of any one, placed him in a position which was +not the most natural. Considering that it was his duty to support the +negative of the point for this evening's discussion, it would have +been most natural had the affirmation been first brought out. He said +this arrangement was not the fault of any one, because it was not +known that the point would fall to be discussed on this particular +evening; for had it fallen on last night or to-morrow night, the order +would have been as it ought to be. His position was, however, made +somewhat better by the fact, that nothing that Mr. Thompson could say +this evening, in an hour or two, could alter the assertions which he +had already repeatedly made and published in Britain. Since the notice +of this discussion had been published, he had, through the providence +of God, been put in possession of six or seven papers and pamphlets +containing the substance of what had been said by Mr. Thompson +throughout the country, and reiterated by associated bodies of his +friends under his eye. After reading these carefully, he found himself +pretty fully possessed of that individual's charges and testimony +against the ministers, private Christians, and churches of America; he +would, therefore, take them as he found them in those publications, +while Mr. Thompson's presence would enable him to explain, correct, or +deny anything that might be erroneously stated. The first thing he +should attempt to do, was to impeach the competency of Mr. Thompson as +a witness in this or any similar case. Mr. Thompson had shown that he +was utterly incompetent, wisely to gather and faithfully to report +testimony on any subject involving great and complicated principles. +He did not wish to say anything personally offensive to Mr. Thompson; +but he must be plain, and he would first produce proof of what he +said, which was as it regarded this whole nation perfectly _ad +hominem_. He would show the audience what Mr. Thompson had said of +them, and then they would better judge what was his competency to be a +witness against the Americans. At a meeting in the Hopeton Rooms at +Edinburgh, since his return from the United States, Mr. Thompson said: + + We were really under a worse bondage than the slaves of the + United States. We kissed our chains and hugged our fetters. + We were governed by our drunken appetite. + + The lecturer, in the concluding portion of his address, + depicted in a tone of high moral feeling, the degraded + condition of Great Britain as a nation, in consequence of her + extreme drunkenness. He shewed that habits of intemperance, + or feelings and prejudices generated by intemperance, + pervaded every class, from the highest to the lowest, the + richest to the poorest. Statesmen bowed upon the altar of + expediency; and, above all, the sanctuary was not clean. As a + Christian nation, we were paralized in our efforts to + evangelize the world--partly by the millions upon millions + actually expended upon ardent spirits--partly by the selfish + and demoralizing feelings which this sensual indulgence in + particular was known to produce. How could we, as a nation, + upbraid America with her system of slavery when we ourselves + were but glorying in a voluntary slavery of a thousand times + more defiling and abominable description? In our own country, + it might be said that there was, as it were, a conspiracy + against the bodies and souls of her people. + +Now in any Court of Justice, he would take his stand upon the fact +that the man who made that speech must be a _monomaniac_, and he +believed no competent tribunal, after hearing it, would receive his +testimony as to the character or conduct of any nation on the face of +the earth. Or if there lingered a doubt on the subject, he should show +from the burden of his charges against America, that he spoke in the +same general spirit, and nearly in the very same terms of her as of +Britain, although the fault found with each country was totally +different. He spoke of each as the very worst nation on the earth, +because of the special crime charged. Any man who could allow himself +to say that the two most enlightened nations on earth were in +substance the two most degraded nations on earth; who could permit +himself to bring such _railing accusations_ successively against two +great people, on account of the sins of a small portion of each, which +he had looked at till he could see nothing else, and with the +perseverance of a goldleaf-beater, exercised his ingenuity in +stretching out to the utmost limits over each community; a man who not +only can see little to love anywhere that does not derive its +complexion from himself, and who, the moment he finds a blot on his +brethren, or his country, instead of walking backwards and hiding it +with the filial piety of the elder sons of Noah, mocks over it with +the rude and unfeeling bitterness of Canaan; such a man is worthily +impeached, as incompetent to testify. Nay, I put the issue where Mr. +Thompson has put it. If this nation be such as he has described it to +be, I demand, with unanswerable emphasis, how can it dare to call us, +or any other people, to account on any subject whatever? If, on the +other hand, what he has said of this nation be false, I equally demand +how can he be credited in what he says of us--of any other nation +under the sun? After this caveat against all that such a witness could +say, he would in the first place observe, that all the accusations +brought by Mr. Thompson against Americans, were imbued with such +bitterness and intemperance as ought to awaken suspicion in the minds +of all who hear them. There was visible not only a violent national +antipathy against that whole country, but also a strong prejudice in +favor of the one side and against the other in the local parties +there, which, before any impartial tribunal, ought greatly to weaken +any credit that might otherwise be attached to his testimony. Besides +an open hostility to the nation as such, and a most envomed hatred to +certain men, parties, and principles in America, the witness has +exhibited such a wounded feeling of vanity from his want of success in +America; such a glorying of his friends, and that just in proportion +to their subserviency to him, and such a contemptuous and unmerited +depreciation of his opponents, as should put every man who reads or +hears his proofs at once on his guard. As to the opinions and +conclusions of such a person, even from admitted facts, they are of +course worthless; and his inferences from hearsay and idle reports, +worse than trash. But what I mean to say is, that such a witness, +considered strictly as testifying to what he asserts of his own +knowledge, is to be heard by a just man with very great caution. For +my own part, at the risk of being called again a pettifogger, by this +informer, I am bound to say that his conduct impeaches his credibility +fully as much as it has before been shown to affect his competency; +and while I have peculiar knowledge of the facts, sufficient to assert +that his main accusations are false, I fully believe that the case he +had himself made, did of itself justify all good men to draw the same +conclusion, merely from general principles. I will venture to go a +step farther, and express the opinion that they who are acquainted +with Mr. Thompson, as he exhibits himself in the public eye, and who +have knowledge of the past success, which really did, or which he +allows himself to believe did attend his efforts in West-India +emancipation, (a success, however, which I do not comprehend, as the +case was settled against him and his party, on the two chief points on +which they staked themselves, namely, _immediate abolition_ and _no +compensation_,) they who can call to mind the preparation and +pretension with which he set out for America, the gigantic work he had +carved for himself there, the signal defeat he met with, and the +terror in which he fled the country; may find enough to justify the +fear that the fate of George Thompson has fully as large a share in +his recollections of America as the fate of the poor slave. In the +_second place_, I charge upon Mr. Thompson that those parts of his +statements which might possibly be in part true, are so put as to +create false impressions, and have nearly the same effect as if they +were wholly false on the minds of those who read or hear them. This +results from the constant manner of stating what might possibly be +true; and it is not only calculated to produce a false impression, and +make the casual reader believe in a result different from what would +be presented if Mr. Thompson were on oath and forced to tell the whole +truth, but the uniformity and dexterity with which this is done, +leaves us astonished how it could be accidental. He (Mr. B.) assumed +that all of them had read or would read Mr. Thompson's charges. After +doing so they would the better apprehend what was now meant; but, in +the mean time, he would illustrate it by a case or two. Thus, when Mr. +T. spoke of the ministers in the United States being slave-holders, he +did it in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that this was a +general thing; that the most of them, if not the whole of them, were +slave-owners. He did not tell them that none of the ministers in +twelve whole States were or could easily be slave-holders, seeing they +were not inhabitants of a slave State; he did not tell them that the +cases of ministers owning slaves were rare even in some of the slave +States; and a fair sample of the majority in not a single State of the +Union; he left the charge indefinite, and did not condescend to tell +whether the number of ministers so accused was one half, or one third, +or one fourth, or one hundredth part of the whole number in the United +States. He left it wholly indefinite, on the broad charge that +American ministers were slave-holding ministers; knowing, perhaps +intending, that the impression taken up should be of the aggregate +mass of American ministers; when he knew himself all the while that +the overwhelming mass of American ministers had never owned a slave; +and that those who had, were exceptions from the general rule rather +than samples of the whole. It may well be asked how much less sinful +it was to rob men of their good name, than of their freedom? Not +content with even this injustice, Mr. Thompson had gone so far as to +charge the ministers of America with dealing in slaves; _slave-driving +ministers_ and _slave-dealing ministers_, were amongst his common +accusations. Now, said Mr. B., he would lay a strong constraint upon +himself, and reply to these statements as if they were not at once +atrocious and insupportable. The terms used by Mr. Thompson were +universally understood in the United States, to mean the carrying on +of a regular traffic in slaves as a business. The meaning was the same +here, and every one who had heard or read one of his printed speeches, +was ex vi termini obliged to understand this charge like the +preceding, as expressing his testimony as to the conduct of American +ministers generally, if not universally. + +Now I will admit that there may be in America, one minister in one +thousand, or perhaps five hundred, who may at some period of his +ministry, when he had no sufficient light on the subject, have bought +or sold slaves a single time, or perhaps twice, or possibly thrice. +But I solemnly declare I never knew, nor heard of, nor do I believe +there exists in all America, one such minister, as is above described; +nor any sect that would hold fellowship with him. He would throw under +the _third general head_ charges of a different kind from the +preceding. Mr. Thompson, when generalities fail, takes up some extreme +case, which might probably be founded on truth, and gives it as a +specimen of the general practice; thereby creating by false instances, +as well as by indefinite accusations, an impression which he knows to +be entirely foreign from the truth. If he, (Mr. B.) were to tell in +America that on his way to this meeting to-night, he saw two blind men +begging in the streets, with their arms locked to support their +tottering steps, while the crowd passed them idly by; and if he gave +this as a specimen of the manner in which the unfortunate poor were +treated in Scotland, he would not give a worse impression, nor make a +more unfair statement of the fact, than Mr. Thompson had done, nearly +without exception, in his statements of America. Such a spirit and +practice as this, pervaded the whole of Mr. Thompson's speeches. He +would select a few instances to enforce his meaning. There was a +single Presbyterian Church at Nashville, Tennessee. Now he, (Mr. B.) +happened, in the providence of God, to be somewhat acquainted with the +past history of that church; and was happy to call its present +benevolent minister his friend. He could consequently speak of it from +his own knowledge. Mr. Thompson said that a young man went to +Nashville, who, either through his own imprudence, or the violence of +the disjointed times, was arrested, tried by a popular committee, +found guilty of spreading seditious papers, and sentenced to be +whipped; that he had received twenty lashes, and was then discharged. +This he believed to be substantially true, and well remembered hearing +of the occurrence; and taking the young man's account of it as true, +he had been greatly shocked at it, and had now no idea of defending +it. But in Mr. Thompson's statement of the case, there was a minute +misrepresentation, which showed singular indifference to facts. Mr. T. +said the young man went to Tennessee to sell cottage bibles, in which +business he succeeded well, for the reason, adds the narrator, that +Bibles were scarce in the South; although he could not fail to know, +that before the period in question, every family in all those States +that would receive a Bible, had been furnished with one by the various +Bible Societies. This, however, was not the main reason for a +reference to this case; but was mentioned incidentally, to show the +nature of the feelings and accusations indulged in by this gentleman. +His account went on to say, sometimes that there were seven, sometimes +eleven elders of this Presbyterian Church. It was not intended to lay +any stress on the discrepancy; as the fault might be the reporter's. +But seven, or eleven; it was again and again charged, that all of +them, every one, was present, trying, and consenting to the punishment +of the unhappy young man, "plowing up his back," and mingling, perhaps +in the mob who cursed him, even for his prayers. To make the case +inexpressibly horrible, it is added, that these seven or eleven +elders, had as to part of them, distributed the sacramental elements, +to the abolitionist, the very Sabbath before, the day on which the +seven elders participated in this outrage. Now I say first, that if +this story were literally true, no man knows better than Mr. Thompson, +that no falsehood could be more glaring than to say or insinuate, that +the case would be a fair average specimen of what the leading men in +the American churches generally might be expected to do, in like +circumstances. Yet for this purpose, he has repeatedly used it! No man +could know better than he, that if the case were true in all its +parts, it would every where be accounted a violent and unprecedented +thing, which could happen at all only in most extraordinary +circumstances. Yet he has so stated it, over and over, as to force the +impression that it is a fair sample of American Christianity. But, +said Mr. B. I call in question all parts of the story, that implicate +any Christian. I do not believe the statements. Let me have proof. I +do not believe there were either seven or eleven elders in the church +in question. Record their names. If there were so many, it is next to +impossible, that every one of them, was on the comparatively small +committee that tried the abolitionist. Produce the proofs; and I +believe it will turn out, that if either of them was present, it was +to mitigate popular violence; and that his influence perhaps, saved +the life of him he is traduced for having oppressed. He did not mean +to stake his assertion against proof; but from his experience and +general knowledge of the parties, he had no hesitation in giving it as +his opinion, that the facts, when known, would not justify the +assertions of Mr. Thompson, even as to the particular case; and +believing this, I again challenge the production of his authority. +But, if it be true in all its parts, I repeat, it is every thing but +truth, to say that it affords a just specimen of the elders of the +Presbyterian Churches of America. Another case resembling the +preceding in its principle, is found in what Mr. Thompson has said of +the Baptists of the Southern States. There are, says he, above 157,000 +members in upwards of 3000 Baptist Churches, in those States, "almost +all both ministers and members being slave holders." Allowing this +statement to be true, and that each slave holder has ten slaves on an +average, which is too small for the truth, there would be an amount of +slaves equal to 1,570,000 owned by the Baptist of the Southern States. +If this be true, and the census of 1830 true also, there were only +left about 500,000 slaves to divide among all the other churches; +leaving for the remainder of the people, none at all! So that after +all this, though churches be bad, the nation is clean enough. + +Let us now make some allowance for this gentleman's extravagance, +especially as he did think he was speaking under correction, and +divide his 157,000 Baptists into 52,000 families, of three professors +of religion in each. This is more than the average for each family; +especially in a church admitting only adults; and the true number of +families, for that number of professors, would be nearer one hundred +than fifty thousand. Twenty slaves to the family is below the average +of the slave owning families of the South; so that at the lowest rate, +the Baptists in a few States, according to this person, own 1,040,000 +slaves at the least, or above half the number that our last census +gives to the whole union. The extraordinary folly of such statements, +would appear more clearly to the audience when they understood, that +as large a proportion of all the blacks, as of all the whites in +America are professors of religion; that above half of all slaves who +profess religion, are Baptists; and that, therefore, if there are +157,000 Baptists in the Southern States, instead of being "almost all +slave holders," at least a third of them are themselves slaves. He +gave these instances to show that Mr. Thompson had taken extreme cases +containing some show of truth as specimens of the whole of America, +and had thereby produced totally false impressions. What truth there +was in them, was so terrifically exaggerated, that no dependence +whatever could be placed upon any of his testimony. And this would be +still more manifest after examining the charge brought by Mr. +Thompson, that the very churches in America own slaves; and several of +his speeches contain a pretty little dialogue with some slaves in the +fields, the whole interest of which turns on their calling themselves +"_the Church's Slaves_." This was spoken of as it were in accordance +with the usual course of things in the United States. Indeed, Mr. +Thompson had not only spoken with his usual violence and generality of +the "slave holding churches of America," and declared his conviction +that "all the guilt of the system" should be laid "on the church of +America;" but at the very latest joint exhibition of himself and his +friend _Moses Roper_, in London, it was stated by the latter in one of +his usual interludes to Mr. Thompson, perhaps in his presence, +certainly uncontradicted, that, slave holding was universally +practised by "all Christian _societies_" in America; the societies of +Friends only excepted. It may excite a blush in America, to know that +the poor negro's silly falsehood was received with cheers by the +London audience. + +What then should the similar declarations of Mr. Thompson, made +deliberately and repeatedly, and with infinite pretence of candour and +affection, what feelings _can_ they excite; and how will that insulted +people regard the easy credulity which has led the Christians of +Britain to believe and reiterate charges in which it is not easy to +tell whether there is less truth or more malignity? For how stood the +facts? What church owns slaves? What Christian corporation is a +proprietor of men? Out of our ten thousand churches perhaps half are +involved in this sin? Perhaps a tenth part? Surely one Presbytery at +least? No,--this mountain of fiction has but a grain of truth to +support its vast and hateful proportions. If there be above five +congregations in all America that own slaves, I never heard of them. +The actual number, of whose existence I ever heard, is, I believe, +precisely _three_! They are all Presbyterian congregations, and +churches situated in the southern part of Virginia, and got into their +unhappy condition in the following manner:--Many years ago, during +those times of ignorance at which God winked--when such a man as John +Newton could go a slaving voyage to Africa, and write back that he +never had enjoyed sweeter communion with God than on that voyage; +during such a period as that, a few well meaning individuals had +bequeathed a small number of slaves for the support of the gospel in +three or four churches. These unfortunate legacies had increased and +multiplied themselves to a great extent, and under present +circumstances to a most inconvenient degree. A fact which puts the +clearest contradiction on that assertion of this "accuser of the +brethren"--representing their condition as being one of unusual +privation and suffering. Of late years these cases had attracted +attention, and given great uneasiness to some of the persons connected +with these churches. I have on this platform, kindly furnished me, +like most of the other documents I have, since this debate was +publicly known--a volume of letters written to one of these churches +on the whole case, by the Rev. Mr. Paxton, at that time its pastor. +That gentleman is now on this side of the Atlantic, and may perhaps +explain what Mr. Thompson has so sedulously concealed; how he was a +colonizationist; how he manumitted and sent his own servants to +Liberia; how he labored in this particular matter with his church, +long before the existence of abolitionism; and how, finding the +difficulties insuperable, he had written this kind and modest volume, +worth all the abolition froth ever spued forth,--and left the charge +in which he found it so difficult to preserve at once an honest +conscience and a healthful influence. It will not, however, be +understood that even these few churches are worthy of the +indiscriminate abuse lavished on us, all for their sakes; nor that +their present path of duty is either an easy or a plain one. Whether +it is that there are express stipulations in the original instruments +conveying the slaves in trust for certain purposes; or whether the +general principle of law, which would transfer to the State, or to the +heir of the first owner, the slaves with their increase,--upon a +failure of the intention of the donor, either by act of God, or of the +parties themselves, embarrass the subject; it is very certain that +wiser and better men than either Mr. Thompson or myself, are convinced +that these vilified churches have no power whatever to set their +slaves free. If the churches were to give up the slaves, it could only +have the effect, it is believed, to send them into everlasting bondage +to the heirs of the original proprietors. They have therefore justly +considered it better for the slaves themselves that they should remain +as they were in a state of nominal servitude, rather than be remitted +into real slavery. Such is the real state of the few cases which have +first been exhibited as the sin, if not the actual condition of the +American churches; and then exaggerated into the utmost turpitude by +hiding every mitigating circumstance, adding some purely new, and +distorting all things. Whether right or wrong, the same state of +things exists amongst the Society of Friends in North Carolina, to a +partial extent, and in another form. They did not consider themselves +liable to just censure, although they held title in and authority over +slaves, as individuals, while they gave them their whole earnings, and +had collected large sums from their brethren in England, which were +applied to the benefit of these slaves. It is not now for the first +time that charges have been made against the Church of God--that Judah +is like all the heathen. But all who embark in such courses--have met +with the common fate of the revilers of God's people; and they, with +such as select to stand in their lot--may find in the word of life a +worse end apportioned for them, than even for those they denounce, in +case every word they utter had been true. We bless God that no weapon +formed against Zion can prosper. There was one other instance which he +had noted under this head as requiring some comment, which could not +bear omission, regarding the private members of the Christian churches +in the United States, of whom a casual hearer or reader of Mr. +Thompson's speeches would believe that the far greater part actually +owned slaves; that very few, and they almost exclusively +abolitionists, considered slavery at all wrong; that with one accord +they deprived the slaves of all religious privileges, and used them, +not only as a chattel, but as nothing else than a chattel. According +to our last census, there were about 11,000,000 of whites, 2,000,000 +of slaves, and 400,000 free blacks in America, making a total of +nearly thirteen and a half millions. All the slaves were gathered into +the 12 most southerly states, free blacks were not far from half in +the free and half in the slave states, and of the whites over +7,000,000 were in the free, and less than 3,000,000 in the slave +states. The best information I possess on this subject, authorizes me +to say--about 1 person in 9, throughout the nation, black and white, +is a member of a Christian church, the proportion being somewhat +larger to the north, and comparatively smaller at the south. There +are, therefore, above 1,100,000 white Christians in the United States, +of which about 800,000 live in the 12 free States, and neither own +slaves nor think slavery right; leaving rather over 330,000 for the 12 +slave States. Now, if these white Christians in the slave States own +all the slaves, and the other 8-9ths of the whites owned none at all, +there will be only about 6 slaves to each Christian there, a number +far below the average of the slave holders; and all the North, and all +the South, except Christians, free of charge and guilt, in the +specific thing. But if we divide these Christians into families, and +suppose there may be as many, as one in three or four of them, who is +a head of a family, say 100,000; and that they own all the slaves: in +that case, there would be an average of twenty slaves to every white +head of a Christian family in the slave States. But here again all the +slaves would be absorbed: all the North innocent, above two-thirds of +the Christians at the South proved to be not slave holders at all; +and all the followers of the devil wholly innocent of that crime. +These calculations demonstrate that these accusations are as +groundless and absurd as any of the preceding. And while it is +painfully true that in the slaveholding States far too many Christians +do still own slaves; it is equally true, that they bear a small +proportion to those who own none, even in those States. If we suppose +the Christians in America to be about on an equal footing as to wealth +with other people; and to have no more conscience about slavery, than +those around them in the slave States; and that twenty slaves may be +taken as the average, to each master; and a ninth of the people pious, +as stated before, it follows that only about 11,000 professors of +religion can be slaveholders; or about one in every hundred of the +whole number in the nation. Yet every one of the above suppositions is +against the churches, and yet upon this basis rests the charges of a +candid, affectionate Christian brother against them all! The only +remaining illustration of Mr. Thompson's proneness to represent a +little truth, in such a way as to have all the effects of an immense +misrepresentation, regards his own posture, doings and sufferings in +America. "Fourteen months of toil, of peril, and persecution, almost +unparalleled;" "there were paid myrmidons seeking my blood;" "there +were thousands waiting to rejoice over my destruction;" "when any +individual tells George Thompson who has put his life into his hands, +and gone where slavery is rife; when I, George Thompson, am told I am +to be spared," &c. Similar statements, ad infinitum, fill up all his +speeches; and are noticed now, not for the purpose of commenting on, +or even contradicting them, but of affording my countrymen, who may +chance to see the report of this discussion, specimens, as our +certificates often run "of the modesty, probity, and good demeanor," +of the individual. + +He would pass next to a fourth general objection against Mr. +Thompson's testimony, as regards America, which was, that much of it +was in the strictest sense, positively untrue. For instance, Mr. +Thompson had twice put a runaway slave forward upon the platform at +London; or at least connived at the doing of it; who stated of his own +knowledge, that a Mr. Garrison, of South Carolina, had paid 500 +dollars for a slave, that he might burn him, and that he had done so +without hindrance or challenge, afterwards. This statement Mr. T. has +never yet contradicted in any one of his numerous speeches, although +he must have known it to be untrue. I have myself several times +directed his attention to the subject, and yet the only answer is, +"expressive silence." Then I distinctly challenge his notice of the +case; and while I solemnly declare, that according to my belief, +whoever should do such an act in any part of America, would be hung: I +as distinctly charge Mr. Thompson, with giving countenance to, and +deriving countenance from this wilful misstatement. + +As an other instance of the same kind, you are told that a free man +was sold from the jail at Washington city, as a slave, without even +the form of a trial; which is farther aggravated by the assertion +that this is vouched as a fact, on the testimony of 1000 signatures. +This matter, when Mr. Thompson's own proof is produced, resolves +itself into this: that Mr. Thompson said, there had been a thousand +signatures to a certain paper, which said, that a certain man taken up +as a runaway slave, said he was free! If he was a slave, the whole +case falls; whether he was a slave or not, was a fact that could have +been judicially investigated and decided, if the person most +interested, or any other, had chosen to demand it. So that in point of +fact, Mr. Thompson's whole statements, touching this oft repeated +case, are all purely gratuitous. And with what horror, must every good +man hear that Mr. Thompson, within the last two or three weeks, told a +crowd of people in Mr. Price's Chapel, Devonshire Square, London, in +allusion to this very case, that the poor black had "DEMONSTRATED HIS +FREEDOM," and afterwards been "sold into everlasting bondage!" And yet +upon this fiction he bases one of his most effective "illustrations of +American slavery," and some of his fiercest denunciations of the +American people. Oh! shame, where is thy blush! He could if time +permitted exhibit other cases,--in principle perhaps worse than these; +in which neither the false assertions of Moses Roper--nor the +pretended evidence of misrepresented petitions existed to make a show +of evidence; and which nothing but the most extraordinary ignorance, +or recklessness could explain. Such are the assertions made by himself +or his coadjutors in his presence, that slaves are brought to the +district of Columbia from all the slave states for sale; that five +years is the average number, that slaves carried to the Southern +States live; that slaves without trial, or even examination, were +often executed, by tens, twenties, and even thirties; that the banner +of the United States, which floated over a slave dealing congress, in +the midst of the slave market of the entire nation, had the word +"_Liberty_" upon it (which single sentence contained three +misstatements;) that religious men weighed children in scales, and +sold them by the pound like meat;--that there were 2,000,000 of slaves +in America who never heard the name of Christ; that no white man would +ever be respected after he had been seen to shake hands with a man of +colour; all which _unnameable_ assertions are contained, along with +double as many others like them, in one single newspaper (the London +_Patriot_ of June 1, 1835;) and in a portion of the report of only two +of Mr. Thompson's meetings! Alas! for poor human nature! Having now +gone through all that his time permitted him to say, of the proof +against America, he would lay before them some counter testimony upon +several parts of this great subject. He had at one time greatly feared +that he might be obliged to ask them to believe his mere word, perhaps +in the face of other proof; but through the providence of God, he had +been put in possession of a very limited file of American newspapers, +from the contents of which he thought he should be able to make out as +strong a case for the truth, as he had proved the case against it to +be weak and rotten. There were so many denominations of Christians in +America, that he would only tire the meeting by enumerating them. +They were of every variety of name and opinion. As to many of them he +knew but little, and the present audience perhaps less. The Societies +of Friends generally did not tolerate slaveholding among their +members; neither did the Covenanters. The Congregationalists, or +Independents, had not, he believed, a dozen churches in all the Slave +States, and, of course, they should be considered as exempt from the +charge. It was, however, the less necessary to occupy ourselves in +general remarks, inasmuch as Mr. Thompson had laid the stress of his +accusations on the three great denominations of America. "He took all +the guilt of this system, and he laid it where? On the Church of +America. When he said the Church, he did not allude to any particular +denomination. He spoke of Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists, the +three great props--the all-sustaining pillars of that blood-cemented +fabric." Such were the words of Mr. T., and it would therefore be +needless to trouble ourselves about the minor, if we could settle the +major to our satisfaction. As to two of these denominations, he should +say but little; his chief and natural business being to defend that +one of which he knew most. In regard to the Baptists, he was sorry to +be obliged to say, that he believed they were the least defensible of +the three denominations, now principally implicated; indeed that some +of their Associations had taken ground on the whole case, from which +he entirely dissented,--and which, he was sure, had given great pain +to the majority of their own brethren. He begged leave to refer them +to the work of Drs. Cox and Hoby, just through the press, in which he +presumed, for he had not seen it, they would find an authentic and +ample information on this and every other point relating to that +denomination in America. In relation to the Methodists, his knowledge +was both more full and more accurate. Their discipline denounced +Slavery, and prohibited their Members from owning slaves, and though +their discipline itself was not carried into effect with rigid +exactness, he did not believe that there was a Methodist Church in the +United States, or upon the Earth, which owned slaves, as a Church. He +believed that very few Methodist preachers--indeed, almost none, owned +any slaves, and nothing but the most direct proof could for a moment +make him believe, that one of them was a slave-dealer. The whole sect, +or at least the great majority of it, might be considered as fairly +represented, in the following Resolutions passed in the Conference, +held at Baltimore; and which could be a set off to those read by Mr. +Thompson, from one of the northern Conferences. + + METHODIST'S RESOLUTIONS ON ABOLITION. + + At a late meeting of the Baltimore Annual Conference of the + Methodist Episcopal Church held at Baltimore, the following + preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the + names of all the members and probationers present, in number, + one hundred and fifty-seven, were subscribed, and ordered to + be published. The secretary was also directed to furnish Rev. + John A. Collins, with a copy for insertion in the Globe and + Intelligencer, of Washington City. + + Whereas great excitement has pervaded this country for some + time past on the subject of abolition; and whereas such + excitement is believed to be destructive to the best + interests of the country and of religion; therefore + + 1. _Resolved_, That "we are as much as ever convinced of the + great evil of slavery." + + 2. That we are opposed in every part and particular to the + proceedings of the abolitionists, which look to the immediate + indiscriminate, and general emancipation of slaves. + + 3. That we have no connexion with any press, by whomsoever + conducted, in the interest of the abolition cause. + +As to his own Connection, the Presbyterian, he would go as fully as +his materials permitted, into the proof of their past principles, and +present posture. And in the first place he was most happy to be able +to present them with an abstract of the decisions of the General +Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. +He found it printed in the New York Observer, of May 23, 1835, +embodied in the proceedings of the Presbytery of Montrose, and +transcribed by it no doubt from the Assembly's digest. + + As early as A. D. 1787, the Synod of N. York and Philadelphia + issued an opinion adverse to slavery, and recommended + measures for its final extinction; and in the year 1796 the + General Assembly assured "all the churches under their care, + that they viewed with the deepest concern any vestiges of + slavery which then existed in our country;" and in the year + 1815 the same judicatory decided, "that the buying and + selling of slaves by way of traffic, (meaning, doubtless, the + domestic traffic,) is inconsistent with the spirit of the + gospel." But in the year 1818, a more full and explicit + avowal of the sentiments of the church was unanimously agreed + on in the General Assembly. "We consider, (say the Assembly,) + the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human race by + another, as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred + rights of human nature; as utterly inconsistent with the law + of God, which requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves; + and as totally irreconcilable with the spirit and principles + of the gospel of Christ, which enjoin, that "whatever ye + would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." They + add, "It is manifestly the duty of all Christians who enjoy + the light of the present day, when the inconsistency of + slavery, both with the dictates of humanity and religion, has + been demonstrated, and is generally seen and acknowledged, to + use their honest, earnest and unwearied endeavors to correct + the errors of former times, and as speedily as possible, to + efface this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the + complete abolition of slavery throughout Christendom and if + possible, throughout the world." + +If, said Mr. B., he had expressed sentiments different from these, or +if he had inculcated as the principles of his brethren any thing +different from these just and noble sentiments, let the blame be +heaped upon his bare head. These sentiments they had held from a +period to which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Here +tonight, 3000 miles off, God enabled him to produce a record proving +an antiquity of half a century, in full maturity! How grand, how far +sighted, how illustrious is truth--compared with the wretched and new +born, and blear eyed fanaticism that carps at her! These are the +principles of the Presbyterian church of the United States. She has +risen with them, she will stand, or, if it be God's will, she will +fall with them. But she will not change them less or more. The General +Assembly is but now adjourned. They have had this question before +them--perhaps have been deeply agitated by its discussion. But so +tranquilly does my heart rest on the truth of these principles, and on +the fixed adherence to them, by my brethren, that nothing but a +feeling that it would be impertinent, in one like me, to vouch for a +body like that, could deter me from any lawful gage, that all its +decisions will stand with its ancient and unaltered principles. In +accordance with these principles the great body of the members of that +church had been all along acting.--There were about 24 synods under +the care of the General Assembly, of which about one third were in +the slave country. The number was constantly increasing, on which +account, and in the absence of all records, he could not be more +exact. The synods in the free states stood, he believed, without +exception, just where the Assembly stood, on this subject. In the +slave states, much had been done--much was still doing--and in proof +of this as regarded this particular denomination--in addition to what +he had all along declared, with reference to the great emancipation +party, in all of those states, he asked attention to the several +documents he was about to lay before them. The first was a series of +resolutions appended to a lucid and extended report, drawn up by a +large committee of Ministers and Elders of the synod of Kentucky--in +obedience to its orders after the subject had been several years +before that body. That Synod embraces the whole state of _Kentucky_, +which is one of the largest slave states in the Union. The resolutions +are quoted from the New York Observer, of April 23, 1836. + + 1. We would recommend that all slaves now under 20 years of + age, and all those yet to be born in our possession be + emancipated, as they severally reach their 25th year. + + 2. We recommend that deeds of emancipation be now drawn up, + and recorded in our respective County Courts, specifying the + slaves we are about to emancipate, and the age at which each + is to become free. + + This measure is highly necessary, as it will furnish to our + own minds, to the world, and to our slaves, satisfactory + proof of our sincerity in this work; and it will also secure + the liberty of the slaves against contingencies. + + 3. We recommend that our slaves be instructed in the common + elementary branches of education. + + 4. We recommend that strenuous and persevering efforts be + made, to induce them to attend regularly upon the ordinary + services of religion, both domestic and public. + + 5. We recommend that great pains be token to teach them the + Holy Scriptures; and that to effect this, the instrumentality + of Sabbath Schools, wherever they can be enjoyed, be united + with that of domestic instruction. + +The plan revealed in these resolution, was the one of all others, +which most commended itself to his (Mr. B.'s) judgment. And he most +particularly asked their attention to it, on an account somewhat +personal. He had several times been publicly referred to in this +country, as having shown the sincerity of his principles in the +manumission of his own slaves. He was most anxious that no error +should exist on this subject, which he had not at any time, had any +part in bringing before the public, and which, as often only as he was +forced to do so, had he explained. The introductory remarks of the +Chairman, had laid him under the necessity of such an explanation, +which had not so naturally occurred, as in this connexion. He took +leave, therefore, to say, that this Kentucky plan, was in substance +the one he had been acting on for some years before its existence; and +which he should probably be among the earliest, if his life was +spared, fully to complete. He considered it substantially the same as +their system for West India Emancipation; only more rapid as to +adults, more tardy, cautious, and beneficent as to minors; and more +generous, as being wholly without compensation. In plans that affect +whole nations, and successive generations, questions of _time_ are of +all others, least important; of all others the most proper to make +bend to the necessities of the case. He went only to say further, that +his brother, the Rev. Dr. Breckinridge, of whom Mr. Thompson speaks +with such affectation of scorn, had entered this good field before +him, and taken one course with his manumitted slaves. That a younger +brother, whose name, along with nine other beloved and revered names, +is attached to this Kentucky report, had also entered it before him; +and taken a second course, a different course still, in liberating +his. When he came, last of all, he had taken still a third, different +from each; while other friends had pursued others still. What wisdom +their combined, and yet varied experience could have afforded, was of +course useless; now that all the deepest questions of abstract truth, +and the most difficult of personal practice, were solved by instinct, +and carried by storm. + +The next extract related to the great slave holding State of North +Carolina, and revealed a plan for the religious instruction and care +of the souls of the slaves, intended to cover the States of Virginia, +Georgia, and South Carolina, all slave States of the first class, as +well as the one in which it originated. Its origin is due to the +Presbyterian Synod, covering the whole of that State. The extract is +from the New York Observer of June 20, 1835. + + RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES. + + "The Southern Evangelical Society," is the title of a + proposed association among the Presbyterians at the South, + for the propagation of the gospel among the people of color. + The constitution originated in the Synod of North Carolina, + and is to go into effect as soon as adopted by the Synod of + Virginia, or that of South Carolina and Georgia. The voting + members of the Society are to be elected by the Synods. + Honorary members are created by the payment of thirty + dollars. All members of Synods united with the Society, are + corresponding members; other corresponding members maybe + chosen by the voting members. Article 4th of the + Constitution, provides that "there shall not exist between + this Society and any other Society, any connexion whatever, + except with a similar Society in the slave holding States." + Several resolutions follow the Constitution; one of these + provides that a presbytery in a slave holding district of the + country, not united with a Synod in connexion with the + Society, may become a member by its own act. The fifth and + sixth resolutions are as follows: + + _Resolved_, 5, That it be very respectfully and earnestly + recommended to all the heads of families in connexion with + our congregations, to take up and vigorously prosecute the + business of seeking the salvation of the slaves in the way of + maintaining and promoting family religion. + + _Resolved_, 6, That it be enjoined upon all the presbyteries + composing this Synod, to take order at their earliest + meeting, to obtain full and correct statistical information + as to the number of people of color, in the bounds of our + several congregations, the number in actual attendance at our + several places of worship, and the number of colored members + in our several churches, and make a full report to the Synod + at its next meeting, and for this purpose, that the Clerk of + this Synod furnish a copy of this resolution to the stated + Clerk of each Presbytery. + +The next document carried them one State farther South, and related to +South Carolina, in which that horrible Governor M'Duffie, who seems to +haunt Mr. Thompson's imagination with his threats of "death without +benefit of clergy," lives, and perhaps still rules. It is taken from +the same paper as the next preceding extract; + + RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES. + + We cheerfully insert the following letter from an intelligent + New Englander at the South. + + _To the Editor of the New York Observer._ + + I am apprehensive that many of your readers, who feel a + lively interest in the welfare of the slaves, are not + correctly and fully informed as to their amount of religious + instruction. From the speeches of Mr. Thompson and others, + they might be led to believe that slaves in our Southern + States never read a Bible, hear a gospel sermon, or partake + of a gospel ordinance. It is to be hoped, however, that + little credit will be given to such misrepresentations, + notwithstanding the zeal and industry with which they are + disseminated. + + What has been done on a single plantation. + + I will now inform your readers what has been done, and is now + doing, for the moral and religious improvement of the slaves + on a single plantation, with which I am well acquainted, and + these few facts may serve as a commentary on the unsupported + assertions of Mr. Thompson and others. And here I could wish + that all who are so ready to denounce every man that is so + unfortunate as to be born to a heritage of slaves, could go + to that plantation, and see with their own eyes, and hear + with their own ears, the things which I despair of adequately + describing. Truly, I think they would be more inclined, and + better qualified to use those weapons of light and love which + have been so ably and justly commended to their hands. + + On this plantation there are from 150 to 200 slaves, the + finest looking body that I have seen on any estate. Their + master and mistress have felt for years how solemn are the + responsibilities connected with such a charge; and they have + not shrunk from meeting them. The means used for their + spiritual good, are abundant. They enjoy the constant + preaching of the gospel. A young minister of the Presbyterian + church, who has received a regular collegiate and theological + education, is laboring among them, and derives his entire + support from the master, with the exception of a trifling sum + which he receives for preaching one Sabbath in each month for + a neighboring church. On the Sabbath, and during the week, + you may see them filling the place of worship, from the man + of grey hairs to the small child, all neatly and comfortably + clothed, listening with respectful, and in many cases, eager + attention to the truth as it is in Jesus, delivered in terms + adapted to their capacities, and in a manner suited to their + peculiar habits, feelings and circumstances; engaging with + solemnity and propriety in the solemn exercise of prayer, and + mingling their melodious voices in the hymn of praise. + Sitting among them are the white members of the family + encouraging them by their attendance, manifesting their + interest in the exercises, and their anxiety for the eternal + well-being of their people. Of the whole number, forty-five + or fifty have made a profession of religion, and others are + evidently deeply concerned. + + Let me now conduct you to a Bible class of ten or twelve + adults who can read, met with their Bibles to study and have + explained to them the word of God. They give unequivocal + demonstrations of much interest in their employment, and of + an earnest desire to understand and remember what they read. + From hence we will go to another room, where are assembled + eighteen to twenty lads, attending upon catechetical + instruction, conducted by their young master. Here you will + notice many intelligent countenances, and will be struck with + the promptitude and correctness of their answers. + + But the most interesting spectacle is yet before you. It is + to be witnessed in the Infant School Room, nicely fitted up + and supplied with the customary cards and other + appurtenances. Here every day in the week, you may find + twenty-five or thirty children, neatly clad and wearing + bright and happy faces. And as you notice their correct + deportment, hear their unhesitating replies to the questions + proposed, and above all when they unite their sweet voices in + their touching songs, if your heart is not affected and your + eyes do not fill, you are the hardest-hearted and driest-eyed + visitor that has ever been there. But who is their teacher? + Their mistress, a lady whose amiable Christian character and + most gifted and accomplished mind and manners are surpassed + by none. From day to day, month to month, and year to year, + she has cheerfully left her splendid halls and circle of + friends, to visit her school room, where, standing up before + those young immortals, she trains them in the way in which + they should go, and leads them to Him who said, "suffer + little children to come unto me." + + From the Infant School room, we will walk through a beautiful + lawn half a mile, to a pleasant grove commanding a view of + miles in extent. Here is a brick chapel, rising for the + accommodation of this interesting family; sufficiently large + to receive two or three hundred hearers. When completed, in + beauty and convenience it will be surpassed by few churches + in the Southern country. + + On the plantation you might also see other things of great + interest. Here a negro is the overseer. Marriages are + regularly contracted. No negro is sold, except as a + punishment for bad behavior, and a dreaded one it is. None is + bought, save for the purpose of uniting families. Here you + will near no clanking of chains, no cracking of whips; (I + have never seen a blow struck on the estate,) and here last, + but not least, you will find a flourishing Temperance + Society, embracing almost every individual on the premises. + And yet the "Christianity of the South is a chain-forging, a + whip-plaiting, marriage discouraging, Bible-withholding + Christianity!" + + I have confined myself to a single plantation. But I might + add many most interesting facts in regard to others, and the + state of feeling in general, but I forbear. + + Yours, &c + A NEW ENGLAND MAN. + +He would now connect the peculiar and local facts of the preceding +statement, with the whole community of slave holders, in the same +State, and show by competent and disinterested testimony, the real +and common state of things. The following extracts were from a letter +printed in the New York Observer, of July 25, 1835: + + I have resided eight years in South Carolina, and have an + extensive acquaintance with the planters of the middle and + low country. I have seen much of slavery, and feel competent + to speak in regard to many facts connected with it. + + What your correspondent has stated of the condition of one + plantation, is in its essential points a common case + throughout the whole circle of my acquaintance. + + The negroes generally, in this State, are well fed, well + clothed, and have the means of religious instruction. + According to my best judgment, the work which a slave here is + required to do, amounts to about one third the ordinary labor + commonly performed by a New England farmer. A similar + comparison would hold true in regard to the labor of + domestics. In the family where I reside, consisting of nine + white persons, seven slaves are employed to do the work. This + is a common case. + + In the village where I live, there are about four hundred + slaves, and they generally attend church. More than one + hundred of them are members of the church. Perhaps two + hundred are assembled every Sabbath in the Sunday Schools. In + my own Sunday School are about sixty, and most of them + professors of religion. They are perfectly accessible and + teachable. In the town of my former residence, in New + England, there were three hundred free blacks. No more than + eight or ten of these were professors of religion, and not + more than twice that number could generally be induced to + attend church. They could not be induced to send their + children to the district schools, which were always open to + them, nor could they generally be hired to work. They are + thievish, wretched and troublesome. I have no hesitation in + saying, and I say it deliberately, it would be a great + blessing to them to exchange conditions with the slaves of + the village in which I now live. Their intellectual and moral + characters, and real means of improvement, would be promoted + by the exchange. + + There are doubtless some masters who treat their slaves + cruelly in this State, but they are exceptions to the general + fact. Public opinion is in a wholesome state and the man who + does not treat his slaves kindly, is disgraced. + + Great and increasing efforts are made to instruct the slaves + in religion, and elevate their characters. Missionaries are + employed solely for their benefit. It is very common for + ministers to preach in the forenoon to the whites, and in the + afternoon of every Sabbath to the blacks. The slaves of my + acquaintance are generally contented and happy. The master is + reprobated who will divide families. Many thousands of slaves + of this State give evidence of piety. In many churches they + form the majority. Thousands of them give daily thanks to God + that they or their fathers were brought to this land of + slavery. + + And now, perhaps, I ought to add, that I am not a + slave-holder, and do not intend to continue in a slave + country; but wherever I may be, I intend to speak the TRUTH. + +The next document related particularly to _Virginia_,--the largest and +most powerful of the Slave States; but had also a general reference to +the whole south, and the whole question at issue. The sentiments it +contained were entitled to extraordinary consideration, on account of +the source of them. Mr. Van Renselear, was the son of one of the most +wealthy and distinguished citizens of the great free state of New +York. He had gone to Virginia, to preach to the slaves. He had every +where succeeded; was every where beloved by the slaves, and honored by +their masters. He had access to perhaps forty plantations,--on which +he from time to time preached,--and which might have been doubled, +had his strength been equal to the work. In the midst of his +usefulness--the storm of abolition arose. Mr. Thompson, like some +baleful star landed on our shores; organized a reckless agitation, +made many at the north frantic with folly--and as many at the south +furious with passion. Mr. Van Renselear, like many others, saw a storm +raging which they had no power to control; and like them withdrew from +his benevolent labors. The following brief statements made by him at a +great meeting of the colonization society of New York, exhibit his own +view of the conduct and duty of the parties. + + The Rev. Cortlandt Van Renselear, formerly of Albany, but who + has lately resided in Virginia, addressed the meeting, and + after alluding to the difference of opinion which prevailed + among the friends of Colonization, touching the present + condition and treatment of the colored population in this + country, proceeded to offer reasons why the people of the + North should approach their brethren in the South, who held + the control of the colored population, with defference, and + in a spirit of kindness and conciliation. + + These reasons were briefly as follows: 1. Because the people + of the South had not consented to the original introduction + of slaves into the country, but had solemnly, earnestly, and + repeatedly remonstrated against it. 2. Because having been + born in the presence of slavery, and accustomed to it from + their infancy, they could not be expected to view it in the + same light as we view it at the North. 3. Slavery being there + established by law, it was not in the power of individuals to + act in regard to it as their personal feelings might dictate. + The evil had not been eradicated from the state of New York + all at once: It had been a gradual process, commencing with + the law 1799 and not consumated until 1827. Ought we to + denounce our Southern neighbors if they refuse to do the work + at a blow? 4. The constitution of the United States tolerated + slavery, in its articles apportioning representation with + reference to the slave population, and requiring the + surrender of runaway slaves. 5. Slavery had been much + mitigated of late years, and the condition of the slave + population much ameliorated. Its former rigor was almost + unknown, at least in Virginia, and it was lessening + continually. It was not consistent with truth to represent + the slaves as groaning day and night under the lash of + tyranical task-masters. And as to being kept in perfect + ignorance, Mr. V. had seldom seen a plantation where some of + the slaves could not read, and where they were not encouraged + to learn. In South Carolina, where it was said the gospel was + systematically denied to the slaves, there were twenty + thousand of them church members in the Methodist denomination + alone. He knew a small church where out of 70 communicants, + 50 were in slavery. 6. There were very great difficulties + connected with the work of Abolition. The relations of + slavery had ramified themselves through all the relations of + society. The slaves were comparatively very ignorant; their + character degraded; and they were unqualified for immediate + freedom. A blunder in such a concern as universal abolition, + would be no light matter. Mr. V. here referred to the result + of experience and personal observation on the mind of the + well-known Mr. Parker, late a minister of this city, but now + of New-Orleans. He had left this city for the South with the + feeling of an immediate abolitionist; but he had returned + with his views wholly changed. After seeing slavery and + slave-holders, and that at the far South, he now declared the + idea of immediate and universal abolition to be a gross + absurdity. To liberate the two and a half millions of slaves + in the midst of us, would be just as wise and as humane, as + it would be for the father of a numerous family of young + children to take them to the front door, and there bidding + them good bye, tell them they were free, and send them out + into the world to provide for and govern themselves. 7. + Foreign interference was, of necessity, a delicate thing, and + ought ever to be attempted with the utmost caution. 8. There + was a large amount of unfeigned Christian anxiety at the + South to obey God and do good to man. There were many tears + and prayers continually poured out over the condition of + their colored people, and the most earnest desire to mitigate + their sorrows. Were such persons to be approached with + vituperation and anathemas? 9. There was no reason why all + our sympathies should be confined to the colored race and + utterly withheld from our white southern brethren. The + apostle Paul exhibited no such spirit. 10. A regard to the + interest of the slaves themselves dictated a cautious and + prudent and forbearing course. It called for conciliation: + for the fate of the slaves depended on the will of their + masters, nor could the north prevent it. The late laws + against teaching the slaves to read had not been passed until + the Southern people found inflamatory publications + circulating among the colored people. 11. The spirit of the + gospel forbade all violence, abuse and threatening. The + apostles had wished to call fire from heaven on those they + considered as Christ's enemies; but the Saviour, instead of + approving this fiery zeal, had rebuked it. 12. These Southern + people, who were represented as so grossly violating all + Christian duty, had been the subjects of gracious blessings + from God in the outpourings of his Spirit. 13. When God + convinced men of error, he did it in the spirit of mercy; we + ought to endeavor to do the same thing in the same spirit. + +The only remaining testimony relates to the states of Louisiana and +Mississippi, in the south west. The letter from which it is taken is +written by a son of that Mr. Finley, who perhaps more than any one +else, set on foot the original scheme of African colonization; and +whose name, as a man of pure and enlarged benevolence and wisdom, the +enemies of his plans quote with respect. The son well deserves to have +had such a father. + + _New-Orleans, March 12, 1835._ + + In my former letter I gave you some account of the leading + characters amongst the free people of color who recently + sailed from this port in the Brig "Rover." for Liberia. I + then promised you in my next to give you some account of the + emancipated slaves who sailed in the same expedition. This + promise I will now endeavor to fulfil, and I will begin with + the case of an individual emancipation, and then state the + case of an emancipated family, and conclude with an account + of the emancipation of several families by the same + individual. + + The first case alluded to is that of a young woman + emancipated by the last will and testament of the late Judge + James Workman, of this city, the same who left a legacy of + ten thousand dollars to the American Colonization Society. + Judge Workman's will contains the following clause in + relation to her, viz:--"I request my statu liber, Kitty, a + quarteroon girl, to be set free as soon as convenient. And I + request my executors may send her, as she shall prefer, and + they think best, either to the Colonization Society at + Norfolk, to be sent to Liberia or to Hayti; and if she prefer + remaining in Louisiana, that they may endeavor to have an act + passed for her emancipation; if the same cannot be attained + otherwise; and it is my will that the sum of three hundred + dollars be paid to her after she shall be capable of + receiving the same. I request my executors to hold in their + hands money for this purpose. I particularly request my + friend John G. Greene to take charge of this girl, and do the + best for her that he can." Mr. Greene provided her with a + handsome outfit, carefully attended to her embarkation, and + the shipment of her freight, and placed her under the care of + the Rev. Gloster Simpson. + + The next case, alluded to above, is that of a family of + eleven slaves emancipated for faithful and meritorious + services, by the will of of the late Mrs. Bullock, of + Claiborne county, Miss. Mrs. Moore, the sister and executrix + of Mrs. Bullock's estate, gave them 700 dollars to furnish an + outfit and give them a start in the colony. + + The third and last case alluded to above, consisted of + several families, amounting in the whole to 26 individual + slaves belonging to the estate of the late James Green, of + Adams county, Mississipi. The following interesting + circumstances concerning their liberation, were communicated + to me by James Railey, Esq., the brother-in-law and acting + executor of Mr. Green's Estate. Mr. Green died on the 15th of + May, 1832, the proprietor of about 130 slaves, and left Mr. + Railey, his brother-in-law, and his sisters, Mrs. Railey and + Mrs. Wood, executors of his last will and testament. Mr. + Green's will provides for the unconditional emancipation of + but one of his slaves--a faithful and intelligent man named + Granger, whom Mr. Green had raised and taught to read, write, + and keep accounts. He acted as foreman for his master for + about five years previous to his death. Mr. Green, by his + will, left him 3000 dollars, on condition that he went to + Liberia, otherwise, 2000 dollars. Provision was also made in + the will for securing to him his wife. Granger has been + employed since the death of Mr. Green, until recently, as + overseer for Mr. Railey, at a salary of 600 dollars per + annum. Granger declines going to Liberia at present on + account of the unwillingness of his mother to go there. She + is very aged and infirm, and he is very much attached to her. + She was a favorite slave of Mr. Green's mother, who + emancipated her and left her a legacy of 1000 dollars. + Granger came to this city with Mr. Railey to see his friends + and former fellow-servants embark: and when he bade them + farewell, he said, with a very emphatic tone and manner, "I + will follow you in about 18 months." + + The executors of Mr. Green's estate were by no means slack in + meeting the testator's wishes concerning these people. Mr. + Railey accompanied them to New-Orleans, and both he and Mrs. + Wood, who also was in New-Orleans while they were preparing + to embark, took a lively and active interest in providing + them with everything necessary for their comfort on the + voyage, and their welfare after their arrival in the Colony, + and placed in my hand 7000 dollars for their benefit, one + thousand dollars of which were appropriated towards the + charter of a vessel to convey them to the Colony, with the + privilege of 140 barrels freight--sixteen hundred dollars + towards the purchase of an outfit, consisting of mechanics' + tools, implements of agriculture, household furniture, + medicines, clothing, &c., and the remaining four thousand + four hundred dollars, partly invested in trade, goods, and + partly in specia, were shipped and consigned to the Governor + of Liberia, for their benefit, with an accompanying + memorandum made out by Mr. Railey, showing how much was each + one's portion. + + I will close this communication by relating one additional + circumstance communicated to me by Mr. Railey, to show the + interest felt by Mr. Green in the success of the scheme of + African Colonization. The day previous to his death, he + requested Mr. Railey to write a memorandum of several things + which he wished done after his death, which memorandum + contains the following clause, viz:--"After executing all my + wishes as expressed by Will, by this memorandum, and by + verbal communications, I sincerely hope there will be a + handsome sum left for benefitting the emancipated negroes + emigrating from this State to Liberia; and to that end I have + more concern than you are aware of." + + I am authorized by the Executors to state that there will be + a residuum to Mr. Green's estate of twenty or thirty-five + thousand dollars, which they intend to appropriate in + conformity with the views of Mr. Green expressed above. + + Yours, &c., + ROBERT S. FINLEY. + +And now I rest the case, and commit the result to an enlightened +public. Here are my proofs and arguments showing as I believe +conclusively, that the slanderous accusations against my country and +my brethren which I have come to this city to repel,--are not only +false, but incredible. Here are my testimonials, few and casually +gathered up, but yet, as it seems to me, irresistibly convincing, that +the people and churches of America--in the very thing charged,--have +been and are acting, a wise, self-denying and humane part. That they +should move onward in it as rapidly as the happiness of all the +parties will allow, must be the wish of all good men. That obstacles +should be interposed through the error, the imprudence, or the +violence of well meaning but ill-judging persons, is truly deplorable. +But that we should be traduced before the whole world, when we are +innocent; that we should first be forced into most difficult +circumstances, and then forced to manage those circumstances in such a +way as to cause our certain ruin, by the very same people; or in +default of submitting to both requirments, be forced first into war, +and afterwards into a state of bitter mutual contention, only less +dreadful than war itself, is outrageous and intolerable. While we +justly complain of these things, we discharge ourselves of the guilt +attributed to us, and acquit ourselves to God and our consciences, of +all the fatal consequences likely to follow such conduct. + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON rose, and spoke in nearly the following words: + +_Mr. Chairman_, + +If I were to say that I rose on the present occasion without a feeling +of anxiety regarding the issue of the discussion now drawing to a +close, I should say what is not the truth. I cannot remember that I +ever stood before an auditory in a more interesting or responsible +position. The question before us is one of momentous magnitude; and +that branch of it which to-night claims our special attention, is of +all others, the most solemn and delicate. I am, therefore, anxious, +deeply anxious, respecting the impression which shall rest upon the +minds of this assembly, when I have occupied the attention of yourself +and of it, for a portion of time equal to that which has been expended +by my opponent. If, however, I were to say that I rose with any +feeling of alarm in the contemplation of the result of that ordeal +through which I am about to pass, I should speak that which would be +equally at variance with the truth. So far from indulging any fear, or +wishing to propitiate this audience, I pray that for the sake of +truth, humanity, and the country represented by my opponent; for the +sake of our character in the sight of God at the audit of the great +day; there may be a severe, jealous and impartial judgment formed, +according to the evidence which shall be submitted. Or, if it be +impossible to hold the balance strictly even, I ask that the bias for +the present, may be in favor of my opponent. It is true, I am not an +American. It is true, I was in the United States but fourteen months. +It is true, I never crossed the Potomac; never saw a slave, unless +that slave had been brought to the North by some temporary resident. +Receive, therefore, with caution and suspicion my statements. Let +there be every discount upon my assertions which my youth and +rashness, my want of observation and experience demand. At the same +time I ask that every proper degree of respect shall be paid to the +witnesses I shall bring before you; and that however my testimony may +be doubted, theirs at least may have the weight which their character, +and station, and opportunities shall appear to entitle them to. + +I am accused of monstrous injustice towards America, when I say that +in that country slavery wears its most horrid forms. In saying this, I +must not be understood as speaking according to the actual physical +condition of the slave, or even of his legal and political condition, +apart from the religion and institutions of the land in which he +lives. I judge not by the number of links in his chain; the number of +lashes inflicted on his back; the nature of his toil, or the quality +or quantity of his food. It is, when irrespective of the treatment of +the body, I find two millions of human beings regarded as merchandise; +ranked with the beasts of the field, and reduced by the neglect of +their immortal minds to the condition of heathens; it is when I find +this awful system in full operation, surrounded by the barriers and +safeguards of the Law and the Constitution, in the United States of +North America; the land of Republicanism, and Christianity, and +Revivals, that I say, Slavery in America wears a form more horrid than +in any other part of the world. Yes, Sir; when I am told that in that +land, liberty is enjoyed to a greater extent than in any other +country; that the principles on which this liberty and independence +rest are these: "God created all men free and equal." "Resistance to +Tyrants is obedience to God;" and see also two millions of captives; +their dungeon barred and watched by proud Republicans, and boasting +Christians; I turn with horror and indignation away, exclaiming as I +quit the sickening scene, Slavery wears its most loathsome form in the +United States of America! + +Before I come to that portion of my Address which I shall present as a +reply to Mr. Breckinridge, I beg to say one word in vindication of the +character and temper of American Abolitionists; and I am glad on this +occasion to be able to cite the testimony of a gentleman, whom Mr. +Breckinridge has not declined to call his friend; I mean James G. +Birney, Esq., formerly residing in the same State with Mr. B., and now +in Cincinnati. Mr. Birney made a visit to the North last year, for the +purpose of ascertaining for himself, by actual observation and +intercourse, the real character of the Abolitionists, and the manner +in which they prosecuted their work. Having done this, he thus writes: + + Last spring I attended the Ohio Anti-Slavery Convention; was + present at the several meetings of the American Anti-Slavery + Society in New York, and at the Anti-Slavery Convention held + in Boston. On these several occasions, I became acquainted, + and deliberated with, it may be, not less than one thousand + persons, who may be fairly set down as among the most + intelligent of the abolitionists. Subjects on which the most + diverse opinions were entertained, and which to ambitious and + untrained minds would be agitating and dissensious in the + extreme, were discussed with the most calm and unruffled + composure. And while some of the leading journals were + teeming with the foulest and the falsest charges of moral and + political turpitude; while there were produced in their + assemblies placards, calling on the mob for appropriate + deeds, and designating the time and place of holding their + meetings, that its violence might know at what point it might + most effectually spend itself; yet, never elsewhere have I + seen so much of sedate deliberation of sober conclusion, of + dignified moderation, sanctified by earnest prayer to God, + not only for the oppressed, but for the oppressor of his + fellow; not only for such as they loved, but for their + slanderers, and persecutors, and enemies. + + The above is a fair account, so far as my knowledge enables + me to speak, of the character of those whom you are pleased + to describe "a band of fanatical abolitionists." Light and + rash minds, unaccustomed to penetrate to the real causes of + great revolutions in public sentiment, will, of course, think + and speak contemptuously of them, while the philosophic + observer clearly sees, that such antagonists of error, armed + with so powerful a weapon as the Truth, must, at all times, + be invincible; and that in the end they will be triumphant. + +A word, too, before I come to the state of the churches, with regard +to Mr. Breckinridge's concluding topic last evening; to which I had +not, of course, any opportunity to reply; and, as the time allotted +for this discussion is now determined, I shall be permitted to dwell a +few moments on the subject. Mr. Breckinridge did, I am ready to +acknowledge, with tolerable fairness, state the views of the +abolitionists with regard to prejudice against color; that it was +sinful, that it ought to be abandoned, and that the colored man should +be raised to the enjoyment of equal civil and religious privileges +with the whites. But after he had laid down, generally speaking +correctly, the views of the abolitionists, he proceeded to put the +most _unfair_ interpretation upon those views, and strangely contended +that they were directly aiming to accomplish the amalgamation of the +races in the fullest sense of that word. Once again, I _deny_ this. +Once again I appeal to all that the abolitionists have ever written or +spoken: to their published, official, solemn, authoritative +disclaimers; and I say on my behalf and on theirs, that with the +intermixture of "the races," as they are called, (a phrase I do not +like,) the abolitionists have nothing to do. What they have ever +contended for is this, that the colored man should now be delivered +from the condition of a beast; that he should cease to be regarded as +the property of his fellow man; and that according to the laws of the +state regulating the qualifications of citizens, he should be admitted +to a participation of the privileges that are enjoyed by other classes +of the community. We have never asked for more. We have left the +doctrine of amalgamation to be settled by our opponents. The slave +holders are the amalgamationists whose licentiousness has gone far to +put an end to the existence of a black race in the South, and who are +still carrying on, to use their own expression, "a bleaching system," +whitening the population of the South, so that you may now discover +all shades of colored persons; from those who are so fair that they +are scarcely distinguishable from the whites, to the pure black of the +unmixed negro. But my opponent defeated himself. While attempting to +expose the folly and wickedness of amalgamation, he at the same time +contended that the thing was physically impossible; that even a +partial amalgamation could only be brought about by polygamy or +prostitution, but that general amalgamation was hopeless, because +physically impossible. If the thing be utterly beyond the reach of the +abolitionists, why dread it as an evil? Why not let the abolitionists +pursue their foolish and impracticable schemes? Why so much wrath +against them for aiming at that which nature has rendered +unattainable. I leave Mr. Breckinridge to find his way out of this +difficulty in the best manner he is able. + +Again, we are told, that in attempting to bring about amalgamation, +and in preventing Colonization, we are interfering with the _purposes_ +of God; fighting against His ordinances, and exposing Africa to the +horrors of extermination, should the descendants of Shem or Japhet +colonize her shores, and not the black man who has sprung from her +tribes. I confess I am somewhat surprised, when told by a Presbyterian +clergyman of Calvinistic sentiments, that I am to regulate my conduct +towards my fellow-men by the _purposes_ of God, rather than by the +_law_ of God. This is surely a new doctrine! What, I ask, have I to do +with the decrees of the Almighty? Has he not given me a law by which +to walk? Has he not told me to love my neighbor as myself? to "honor +all men?" Am I not told that God hath made of _one_ blood all nations +of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth? Where is the +prohibition to marry with Shem or Ham. I know of no directions in the +Old Testament respecting marriages, save such as were founded on +religious differences, and I have yet to learn that there are any in +the New Testament. That blessed Book declares, that in Christ Jesus +there is neither Jew nor Greek, circumcision nor uncircumcision, +Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but all are _one_. The only +injunction I am aware of is this, "be not unequally yoked together +with unbelievers." + +Mr. Breckinridge made a considerable parade of his knowledge of +Universal History, and pretended to build his theory upon the most +correct historical data. While upon this subject of _amalgamation_ and +_extermination_, I will take the liberty of submitting one or two +inquiries to Mr. Breckinridge. + +Is there any law in America forbidding ministers to celebrate +marriages between Japhethite American Christians and Jewesses, (by +birth, even if Christians by faith,) and Jews, (even if Christians.) +to marry Japhethite, American females? If there be not, then, why may +Shem and Japhet intermarry, but Ham with neither? Again: If there be +no such law, then the doctrine about Noah's three sons, is not a +principle on which the American people act, but Mr. B.'s individual +dogma, got up to defend a line of conduct really proceeding without +reference to any such principle. If it be said that Jewish and +Japhethite Americans are very nearly, if not altogether, of the same +color; and that there are no political evils to be dreaded from the +intermixture of Jews with Japhethites; I reply, that, admitting the +truth of both these representations, is not the sin of mixing Noah's +sons, and counter-working the designs of God, the same in the case of +Shem and Japhet as it would be in the case of Japhet or Shem with the +tribes of Ham? Again, + +Did the Romans, (Japhethites,) exterminate the Jews, (Shemites?) + +Did the Arab Shemite conquerors of Egypt exterminate the ancient +inhabitants (Hamites,) who still exist, and are known by the name of +Copts or Cophti? + +Did not the Tartars, now Turks, a (Japhethite tribe,) when they +conquered the Caliphs, embrace the religion of the conquered, who were +Mohamedans and Shemites? + +Did not the Shemite Mohamedans conquer the Persians, (Japhethites,) a +part of whom, who would not embrace the Mohamedan religion, and could +not be tolerated by the Mohamedans in theirs, (viz. fire worship,) +flee to India, where they still exist, known by the name of Guebers, +while the rest of the people, embracing Mohamedanism, amalgamated with +their conquerors; and is not the modern Persian language a proof of +this, in which all the terms of religion and science are Arabic, +(Shemite,) the rest of the language being a colluvies of the Deri, +Zend, and Pehlavi dialects, which the most eminent phylologists +consider as all resolvable into Sanscrit, the most ancient Japhethite +speech existing? + +The cases of the Romans and Jews, and of the Arab conquerors of Egypt +and the Copts, are instances of conquest _without extermination_; the +parties remaining dissevered by religious differences. The cases of +the Tartar-Turks, and the Arabs, and of the Arabs and the Persians, +are cases of conquest without extermination, and _with amalgamation_; +the conquerors in the first case having adopted the religion of the +conquered, and the conquered in the second case, that of the +conquerors. + +Instead of the Americans proceeding in their conduct towards the +colored people with any reference either to the divine laws or the +divine decrees, they act solely under the influence of their pride and +prejudice. How their prejudice was in the first place produced, it is +not necessary at this time to inquire. I may just remark that color +has long been the badge of slavery. Long have the negroes been an +enslaved and degraded class. The child is tutored to look upon a +colored man as an inferior, and this feeling of superiority, implanted +early in the mind of the child, growing with his growth, and +strengthening with his strength, becomes at last a confirmed and +almost invincible principle, disposing him with eagerness to adopt any +views of revelation which will permit him to cherish and gratify his +pride and hatred towards the colored man. Hence has arisen the +aristocracy of the skin. Hence the many lamentable departures from the +spirit and precepts of the gospel, every day witnessed in the United +Slates. Two illustrations of the force of prejudice are now before me. +The first is a short article from the New York Evangelist, copied into +the Scottish Guardian of this city. I will read it entire. It is as +follows: + + A HARD CASE. A native born American applied to our + authorities this morning for a license to drive a cart. He + has been for years employed as a porter in Pearl Street, + principally among the booksellers, who were his petitioners + to the number of forty firms. He is an honest, temperate, and + in every respect a worthy man; of an amiable disposition, + muscular frame, and of good address, and every way calculated + for the situation he seeks; besides being a member of the + Society of Friends, a sufficient recommendation of itself; + for the office is now filled in part by swearing, drunken, + quarrelling foreigners, who are daily disturbing the quiet of + our streets by their broils; and endangering the lives of our + citizens by their infuriate conduct. + + Wm. S. Hewlett was refused by our Mayor, on the ground of + public opinion! because + + "----guilty of a skin + Not colored like his own." + + Hewlett owns property in William Street, to the amount of + 20,000 dollars; but prefers, unlike many of no more income, a + life of industry and economy, to seeking "otium cum + dignitate." + + "What man seeing this, + And having human feelings, does not blush, + And hang his head to own himself a man." + +The next is found in a letter written by a Professor Smith, of the +Wesleyan University, Connecticut, who, while vindicating the +University from the charge of having expelled a young man "for the +crime of color," makes the following admission: + + "That it would be difficult, in the present state of public + feeling, to preserve a colored individual from inquietude in + any of our collegiate schools, and to render his connection + with them tolerable, is not denied." + +I come now, (continued Mr. T.) to the state of the American Churches, +in regard to Slavery; and to attempt a justification of the heavy +charges I have brought against them. If at the close of this address +it shall appear that I have misrepresented the Christians of America; +that I have stated as facts, things which are untrue, I solemnly call +upon those who have hitherto vindicated my reputation, and sustained +me as the truthful advocate of the cause of human rights, to discard +me as utterly disqualified to be their representative in so sacred a +work, because, capable of pleading for JUSTICE at the expense of +TRUTH. + +Of slaveholding ministers in America, Mr. Breckinridge has asserted, +that they are as ONE IN A THOUSAND, or at most, as ONE IN FIVE +HUNDRED. The first document I shall quote to disprove this assertion, +will be a letter in the "Southern Religious Telegraph," of October 31, +1835, addressed to the Presbyterian Clergy of Virginia; written to +warn those ministers against pursuits calculated to injure their +spirituality, destroy their usefulness, and prevent those revivals of +religion with which other portions of the Church of Christ had been +favored; also to account for an apparent declension in piety in the +State generally. It is proper to remark, that the letter from which I +make the present extract, was not written to promote the cause of +abolition; that the writer never imagined it would be used on such an +occasion; and that the newspaper in which it appears is _pro_-slavery +to the very core. + + "In one region of country, where I am acquainted, of rather + more than THIRTY Presbyterian ministers, including + missionaries, TWENTY are farmers, viz. (planters and + SLAVEHOLDERS,) ON A PRETTY EXTENSIVE SCALE; three are school + teachers; one is a farmer and a teacher; one, a farmer and a + merchant, and joint proprietor of iron works, which must be + in operation on the Sabbath; and one is a farmer and editor + of a political newspaper. These farmers generally superintend + their own business. THEY OVERSEE THEIR NEGROES, attend to + their stock, make purchases, and visit the markets to make + sale of their crops. They necessarily have much intercourse + with their neighbors on worldly business, and not + unfrequently come into unpleasant collision with the + merchants." + +O, Sir, what a revelation of things is here! These are not the +calumnies of George Thompson, but the confessions of one, striving +earnestly to awaken the attention of the Virginia clergy to a sense of +the degradation and barrenness of the church, and to direct their +attention to the main causes of such lamentable effects. + +Next, permit me to request your attention to an extract from "An +Address to the Presbyterians of Kentucky, proposing a plan for the +instruction and emancipation of their slaves; by a Committee of the +SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. Cincinnati: published by Eli Taylor, 1835." We +shall, in this document, get at the opinion of men, sensitively +jealous for the honor, purity, and usefulness of the Presbyterian +churches, from which Mr. Breckinridge is A DELEGATE. What say they of +slavery in general, and the practice of THEIR CHURCH in particular: + + "Brutal stripes, and all the various kinds of personal + indignities, are not the only species of cruelty, which + slavery licenses. The law does not recognize the family + relations of a slave; and extends to him no protection in the + enjoyment of domestic endearments. The members of a slave + family may be forcibly separated, so that they shall never + more meet until the final judgment. And cupidity often + induces the masters to practise what the law allows. Brothers + and sisters, parents and children, husbands and wives, are + torn asunder, and permitted to see each other no more. These + acts are daily occurring in the midst of us. The shrieks and + the agony, often witnessed on such occasions, proclaim with a + trumpet-tongue, the iniquity and cruelty of our system. The + cry of these sufferers goes up to the ears of the Lord of + Sabaoth. There is not a neighborhood, where these + heart-rending scenes are not displayed. There is not a + village or road that does not behold the sad procession of + manacled outcasts, whose chains and mournful countenances + tell that they are exiled by force from all that their hearts + held dear. Our church, years ago, raised its voice by solemn + warning against this flagrant violation of every principle of + mercy, justice, and humanity. Yet WE BLUSH TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU + AND TO THE WORLD, THAT, THIS WARNING HAS BEEN OFTEN + DISREGARDED, EVEN BY THOSE WHO HOLD TO OUR COMMUNION. CASES + HAVE OCCURRED, IN OUR OWN DENOMINATION, WHERE PROFESSORS OF + THE RELIGION OF MERCY HAVE TORN THE MOTHER FROM HER CHILDREN, + AND SENT HER INTO A MERCILESS AND RETURNLESS EXILE. YET ACTS + OF DISCIPLINE HAVE RARELY FOLLOWED SUCH CONDUCT." + +Follow me now into the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Presbyterian Church of +the United States, convened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May, 1835, +and let the individual who addresses you be forgotten, while you +listen to the things uttered in the midst of that solemn convocation. +At the time when the passages I am about to read, were spoken, there +were sitting in that Assembly, men from all parts of the country. The +Southern Churches fully represented by row upon row of ministers and +elders from every region of the slaveholding States. In that Assembly, +one year from this time, did the Rev. J. H. Dickey, of the Chilicothe +Presbytery, Ohio, (a clergyman who had passed thirty years of his life +in a slave State.) and Mr. Stewart, a ruling elder from the Presbytery +of Schuyler, Illinois, make the following statements, which have +remained, I believe, uncontradicted to this hour: + + "He (Mr. Dickey,) believed there were many, and great evils + in the Presbyterian Church; but the doctrine of slaveholding, + he was fully persuaded, was the worst heresy now found in the + Church." + + "MR. STEWART--I hope this Assembly are prepared to come out + fully, and declare their sentiments, that slaveholding is a + most flagrant and heinous SIN. Let us not pass it by in this + indirect way, while so many thousands and thousands of our + fellow-creatures are writhing under the lash, often inflicted + too by MINISTERS AND ELDERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH." + + * * * * * + + "IN THIS CHURCH, a man may take a free born child, force it + away from its parents, to whom God gave it in charge, saying, + 'Bring it up for me,' and sell it as a beast, or hold it in + perpetual bondage, and not only escape corporal punishment, + but really be esteemed an excellent Christian. NAY, EVEN + MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND DOCTORS OF DIVINITY, may engage + in this unholy traffic, and yet sustain their high and holy + calling." + + * * * * * + + "ELDERS, MINISTERS, AND DOCTORS OF DIVINITY, ARE WITH BOTH + HANDS ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE. * * * * * * A Slave-holder who + is making gains by the trade, may have as good a character + for honesty as any other man." + + * * * * * + + "No language can paint the injustice and abominations of + slavery, But in these United States, this vast amount of + moral turpitude is (as I believe) justly chargeable to the + Church. I do not mean to say those church members who + actually engage in this diabolical practice, but I mean to + say THE CHURCH. Yes, Sir, all the infidelity that is the + result of this unjust conduct of the professed followers of + CHRIST; all the unholy amalgamation; all the tears and + groans; all the eyes that have been literally plucked from + their sockets; all the pains and violent deaths from the + lash, and the various engines of torture, and all the souls + that are, or will be eternally damned, as a consequence of + slavery in these United States, ARE ALL JUSTLY CHARGEABLE TO + THE CHURCH; AND HOW MUCH FALLS TO THE SHARE OF THIS + PARTICULAR CHURCH YOU CAN ESTIMATE AS WELL AS I." + + * * * * * + + "The judgments of God are staring this Church full in the + face, and threatening her dissolution. She is all life and + nerve in matters of doctrine, and on some points where men + may honestly differ; while sins of a crimson dye are + committed in open day, BY MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH WITH PERFECT + IMPUNITY." + +I appeal to you, Sir, and this audience; did George Thompson ever +utter charges against the American churches more awful than those +contained in the extracts I have read--extracts from speeches made in +the General Assembly of the body from which Mr. Breckinridge is a +delegate? I leave for the present the Presbyterians, and proceed to +notice the state of the + + +METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. + +Mr. Breckinridge displayed great regard for the reputation of +this body. He believed they were almost free from the sin of +slaveholding--their discipline was most emphatic in its condemnation +of it, and he defied me to show that any Methodist was engaged in the +infernal practice of slave trading. First, as to the probable extent +of slavery in the church. On this point I shall quote from a solemn +and authenticated document issued by a number of ministers in the +Methodist Episcopal body in New England, entitled:-- + + "An appeal on the subject of Slavery, addressed to the + members of the New England and New Hampshire conferences of + the Methodist Episcopal Church;" and signed by + + SHIPLEY W. WILSON. + ABRAM D. MERRILL. + LA ROY SUNDERLAND. + GEORGE STORRS. + JARED PERKINS. + + Boston, Dec. 19th, 1834. + +In answer to the question-- + +"When will slavery cease from our church, if we continue to alter our +rules against it as we have done for some years past?" they observe-- + + "But we will not dwell on this part of our subject; it is + painful enough to think of; and as members of the Methodist + Episcopal Church, and as Methodist preachers, we readily + confess we are exceedingly afflicted with a view of it, and + still more with a knowledge of the fact, that the "great + evil" of slavery has been _increasing_, both among the + membership and ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at + a _fearful rate_, for thirty or forty years past. The general + minutes of our Annual Conferences, announce about 80,000 + colored members in our church; and it is highly probable, + from various reasons which might be named, that _as many as + sixty thousand, or upwards of these, are slaves_; but what + proportion of these and _others_, are enslaved by the + _Methodist members_ and _Methodist preachers_, we have no + means of determining precisely; but the _alterations_ which + have been made in the discipline, show at once that _the + number is neither few nor small_; and if this evil was a + "great" one fifty years ago, what must it be now? What will + it be fifty or a hundred years hence, _should the discipline + be_ ALTERED _as it has been during half a century past_? Who + can tell where this "great" and growing "evil," will end? We + frequently hear Christians and Christian ministers expressing + the greatest fears for the safety of the "political" union of + these United States, whenever the subject of slavery is + mentioned; but no fears as to the prosperity and peace of the + Christian church, though this "evil" be ever so "great," and + though it be increased every day a thousand fold. But can it + be supposed that any branch of the Christian church is in a + healthy and prosperous state, while it slumbers and nurses in + its bosom so great an evil." + +In reply to the challenge to produce one instance of a slave trading +Methodist, I give the following from "Zion's Watchman," a Methodist +newspaper, published in New York. It is from a letter of a +correspondent of that paper: + + "A man came among us where I was preaching, a class-leader, + from Georgia, having a regular certificate, who appeared to + be very zealous, exhorting and praying in our meetings, &c. I + thought I had got an excellent helper; but, on inquiring his + business, I found he was a SLAVE TRADER: come on purpose to + buy up men, women, and children, to drive to the South!!! I + expostulated with him; but he said it was not thought wrong + where he came from. I told him we could not countenance such + a thing here, and that we could hold no fellowship with him." + He farther told me that on inquiring of a slave he had with + him, what sort of a master he was, he replied, "I have had + four masters, but this is the most cruel of them all;" and + told him, as a proof of it, to look at his back, which, said + the minister, "was cut with a whip, from his head to his + heels!!" The Rev. S. W. Wilson, of Andover, United States, + gives also an extract of a letter he had seen from a + gentleman of high standing, who was at the South at the time + of writing, which says, "The South is too much interested in + the continuance of slavery, to hear any thing upon the + subject. The preachers of the gospel are in the same + condemnation, and METHODIST PREACHERS ESPECIALLY. The + principal reason why the Methodists in these regions are more + numerous and popular than other denominations is, THEY STICK + SO CLOSELY TO SLAVERY!! THEY DENOUNCE BOTH THE ABOLITIONISTS + AND THE COLONIZATIONISTS." + +To show the extent to which THE BAPTIST CHURCHES SHARE THE GUILT OF +THE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA, it will be sufficient to read an +extract from a letter addressed to the Board of Baptist ministers in +and near London, by the Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D., the Corresponding +Secretary of the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. The +testimony is the stronger, because the whole letter is a carefully +written apology for Southern religious slaveholders, and an attempt to +silence the remonstrances of the English churches. + + "There is a pleasing degree of union among the multiplying + thousands of Baptists throughout the land. Brethren from all + parts of the country meet in one General Convention and + co-operate in sending the gospel to the heathen. Our Southern + brethren are liberal and zealous in the promotion of every + holy enterprize for the extension of the gospel. THEY ARE, + GENERALLY, BOTH MINISTERS AND PEOPLE, SLAVE-HOLDERS." + +In this connection, I may notice the recommendation of the work of +Drs. Cox and Hoby. We are assured by Mr. Breckinridge, (though he +confesses he has not read the book,) that every representation it +contains relative to slavery among "the Baptists in America," may be +relied on. That book, thus endorsed by Mr. B., informs us that the +deputation were permitted to sit in the convention at Richmond, +Virginia, only on condition of _profound silence_, touching the wrongs +of more than two millions of heathenized slaves. We are gravely told +that the introduction of abolition would have been "an INTRUSION, as +RUDE as it would have been UNWELCOME." It would, says the Delegates, +have "FRUSTRATED every object of our mission;" "awakened HOSTILITY, +and kindled DISLIKE;" "roused into EMBITTERED ACTIVITY feelings +between Christian brethren, which must have SEVERED the Baptist +churches." It would have occasioned the "UTTER CONFUSION OF ALL ORDER, +the RUIN of all Christian feeling," and "THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL LOVE +AND FELLOWSHIP;" and the Convention would either have been "DISSOLVED" +by "MAGISTERIAL INFLUENCE," or "THE DELEGATES WOULD HAVE DISSOLVED +THEMSELVES." Yet this was "a sacred and heavenly meeting," in which +"the kindliest emotions, the warmest affections, the loveliest spirit +towards ourselves, (the Baptist Delegates,) towards England and +mankind" existed! Oh, Sir, is it possible to draw a more affecting +picture of the withering and corrupting influences of slavery, than is +here presented to our view in this description of the triennial +convention of Baptist ministers, assembled in the city of Richmond, +Virginia, in the year 1835. + + +AMOS DRESSER'S CASE. + +I proceed to notice the case of Amos Dresser; the young man who was so +inhumanly tortured by the citizens and professing Christians of the +city of Nashville, Tennessee. I can assure my opponent, that the +discrepancy in my statements which he has noticed, is an error in +reporting. I am not aware of having ever stated the number of elders +in the committee to be _eleven_. My statement of the case has always +been simply this--that Mr. Dresser, a pious and respectable young man, +was apprehended in Nashville, on suspicion of being an abolitionist; +brought before a Vigilance Committee, and, according to "Lynch Law," +was sentenced to receive twenty lashes with a cowskin, on his bare +back. That he was so punished; and that upon the Committee were seven +elders of the Presbyterian church, and one Campbellite minister. The +whole case as narrated by Mr. Dresser, and published in the Cincinnati +Gazette, is now before me. The Committee, by which Mr. Dresser was +tried and sentenced, is called a "Committee of Vigilance and Safety." + +The following are the names of the seven elders in the Presbyterian +Church: + + JOHN NICHOL, + ALPHA KINGSLEY, + A. A. CASSEDAY, + WM. ARMSTRONG, + SAMUEL SEAY, + S. V. D. STOUT. + S. C. ROBINSON. + The name of the Campbellite Minister, THOMAS CLAIBORNE. + +The Committee, after examining his books, papers, and private +memoranda, and hearing his defence, found him guilty--1st. "Of being a +member of an Anti-Slavery Society in Ohio." 2d. "Of having in his +possession periodicals published by the American Anti-Slavery +Society." And 3d. "They BELIEVED he had circulated these periodicals, +and advocated in the community the principles they inculcated." The +Chairman, (says Mr. Dresser,) then pronounced that I was condemned to +receive twenty lashes on my bare back, and ordered to leave the place +in twenty-four hours. This was not an hour previous to the +commencement of the Sabbath. Mr. Dresser gives the following account +of the infliction of the sentence: + + "I knelt to receive the punishment, which was inflicted by + Mr. Braughton, the city officer, with a HEAVY COWSKIN. When + the infliction ceased, an involuntary feeling of thanksgiving + to God, for the fortitude with which I had been enabled to + endure it, arose in my soul, to which I began aloud to give + utterance. The death-like silence that prevailed for a + moment, was suddenly broken, with loud exclamations, "G--d + d--m him, stop his praying." I was raised to my feet by Mr. + Braughton, and conducted by him to my lodging, where it was + thought safe for me to remain but for a few moments. + + "Among my triers, there was a great portion of the + respectability of Nashville. Nearly half the whole number, + professors of Christianity, the reputed stay of the church, + supporters of the cause of benevolence in the form of tract + and missionary societies and Sabbath schools, several members + and most of the elders of the Presbyterian church, from whose + hands, but a few days before, I had received the emblems of + the broken body, and shed blood of our blessed Saviour." + (!!!!) + +Mr. Breckinridge has twice referred to the appearance of a runaway +slave at my lectures in London, and has accused me of carrying him +about with me, to enact interludes during my meeting. I can assure Mr. +Breckinridge that I never had any thing to do with the attendance of +Moses Roper at my meetings, or with the speeches he delivered. On +neither of the occasions mentioned had I any knowledge of his being in +the chapel until I found him among the rest of my auditors. As for +denying the facts stated by him, knowing as I do the brutalizing +effects of slavery, and the state of society in the slave States of +America, it is out of the question. I see nothing in the facts stated +by Moses Roper at all improbable. Since I last came to this city, I +have read in an American newspaper, an account of an affair in +Tennessee, at which the blood runs cold. A black man having committed +some crime, was lodged in prison by the authorities, but being +demanded by the citizens, was given up to them, tied to a tree, and +BURNT ALIVE! During my residence in the United States, a negro was +burnt alive, according to a sentence given by one of the constituted +tribunals of the State! It was called an exemplary punishment, and +many of the papers throughout the country were filled with long and +learned articles, justifying the horrid outrage. Mr. Breckinridge may +point to the laws and the constitution of the country, but I tell him +they and the authorities appointed to enforce them are alike +powerless. I point him to the atrocities of Lynch law all over the +land; to the brutal massacre of the gamblers in Mississippi, where men +in the broad daylight were dragged forth, and tied by the neck to +branches of trees, their eyes starting from their sockets, and their +wives driven across the river, in open boats; their lives threatened, +for daring to ask for the dead bodies of their husbands. I ask if any +law reached the fiends in human shape, who perpetrated these deeds. I +ask Mr. Breckinridge if any law punished the felons of Charleston, +who, seizing the public conveyances, violated the constitution, and +the law of the State, by robbing the mail bags of their contents, and +burning them? Did not the Post Master General encouragingly say, "I +cannot sanction, but I will not condemn what you have done. In your +circumstances I would have acted in a similar manner." Need I remind +Mr. Breckinridge of the mobs at the North; the riots of New York; the +sacking of Mr. Tappan's house, and the demolition of colored schools? +Laws there may be, but while slavery exists, and is defended by public +sentiment, and while the ferocious prejudice against color remains, +they will want the "executory principle," without which they are but +cruel mockery. + +A glance at the moral and religious state of the slave population will +show the amount of care and attention exercised by the Christian +churches at the South. + +What says the Rev. C. C. Jones, in a sermon preached before two +associations of planters in Georgia, in 1831? + + "Generally speaking, they (the slaves,) appear to us to be + without God, and without hope in the world, a NATION OF + HEATHEN in our very midst. We cannot cry out against the + Papists for withholding the Scriptures from the common + people, and keeping them in ignorance of the way of life, for + we WITHHOLD the Bible from our servants, and keep them in + ignorance of it, while we will not use the means to have it + read and explained to them. The cry of our perishing servants + comes up to us from the sultry plains as they bend at their + toil; it comes up from their humble cottages when they return + at evening to rest their weary limbs; it comes up to us from + the midst of their ignorance, and superstition, and adultery, + and lewdness. We have manifested no emotions of horror at + abandoning the souls of our servants to the adversary, the + roaring lion that walketh about seeking whom he may devour." + +Again: what said the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, in a report +on the state of the colored population, in respect of religious +instruction? + + "Who would credit it, that in these years of revivals and + benevolent effort, in this Christian Republic, there are over + TWO MILLIONS of human beings in the condition of HEATHEN, and + in some respects in a worse condition. From long continued + and close observation, we believe that their moral and + religious condition is such, that they may justly be + considered the HEATHEN of this Christian country, and will + bear comparison with heathen in any country of the world. The + negroes are destitute of the gospel, and EVER WILL BE UNDER + THE PRESENT STATE OF THINGS. In the vast field extending from + an entire State beyond the Potomac, to the Sabine River, and + from the Atlantic to the Ohio, there are to the best of our + knowledge, not TWELVE men exclusively devoted to the + religious instruction of the negroes. In the present state of + feeling in the South, a ministry of their own color could + neither be obtained NOR TOLERATED." + +Again: what says a writer in a recent number of the Charleston, South +Carolina, Observer? + + "Let us establish missionaries among our negroes, who, in + view of religious knowledge, are as debasingly ignorant as + any one on the coast of Africa; for I hazard the assertion, + that throughout the bounds of our Synod, there are at least + one hundred thousand slaves, speaking the same language as + ourselves, who never HEARD of the plan of salvation by a + Redeemer." + +A writer in the Western Luminary, a respectable religious paper in +Lexington, Kentucky, says, + + "I proclaim it abroad to the Christian world, that heathenism + is as real in the slave States as it is in the South Sea + Islands, and that our negroes are as justly objects of + attention to the American and other Boards of Foreign + Missions, as the Indians of the Western wilds. What is it + constitutes heathenism? Is it to be destitute of a knowledge + of God; of his holy word; never to have heard scarcely a + sentence of it read through life; to know little or nothing + of the history, character, instruction and mission of Jesus + Christ; to be almost totally devoid of moral knowledge and + feeling, of sentiments of probity, truth and chastity? If + this constitutes heathenism, then are there thousands, + millions, of heathen in our beloved land. There is one topic + to which I will allude, which will serve to establish the + heathenism of this population. I allude to the universal + licentiousness which prevails. It may be said emphatically, + that chastity is no virtue among them; that its violation + neither injures female character in their own estimation, or + that of their master or mistress. No instruction is ever + given; no censure pronounced. I speak not of the world; I + speak of Christian families generally." + +Again: I give the words of the son of a Kentucky slaveholder, who +became an abolitionist at Lane Seminary, and has since induced his +father to emancipate his slaves. Hear James A. Thome. + + "Licentiousness. I shall not speak of the far South, whose + sons are fast melting away under the UNBLUSHING PROFLIGACY + which prevails. I allude to the slaveholding West. It is well + known that the slave lodgings, I refer now to village slaves, + are exposed to the entrance of strangers every hour of the + night, and that the SLEEPING APARTMENTS OF BOTH SEXES ARE + COMMON. + + "It is also a fact, that there is no allowed intercourse + between the families and servants, after the work of the day + is over. The family, assembled for the evening, enjoy a + conversation elevating and instructive. But the poor slaves + are thrust out. No ties of sacred home thrown around them; no + moral instruction to compensate for the toils of the day; no + intercourse as of man with man; and should one of the younger + members of the family, led by curiosity, steal out into the + filthy kitchen, the child is speedily called back, thinking + itself happy if it escape an angry rebuke. Why is this? The + dread of moral contamination. Most excellent reason; but it + reveals a horrid picture. THE SLAVE CUT OFF FROM ALL + COMMUNITY OF FEELING WITH THEIR MASTER, ROAM OVER THE VILLAGE + STREETS, SHOCKING THE EAR WITH THEIR VULGAR JESTINGS, AND + VOLUPTUOUS SONGS, OR OPENING THEIR KITCHENS TO THE RECEPTION + OF THE NEIGHBORING BLACKS, THEY PASS THE EVENING IN GAMBLING, + DANCING, DRINKING, AND THE MOST OBSCENE CONVERSATION, KEPT UP + UNTIL THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT, THEN CROWN THE SCENE WITH + INDISCRIMINATE DEBAUCHERY. WHERE DO THESE THINGS OCCUR? IN + THE KITCHENS OF CHURCH MEMBERS AND ELDERS! + +I shall now take the liberty of reading two letters from highly +respectable gentlemen in the South, to friends in New England. The +first is from a clergyman in North Carolina, to one of the Professors +in Bowdoin College, Maine. + + "You remember that when I was with you last summer, I was + much opposed to the Anti-Slavery Society, and contended that + the colonization scheme was a full, and the only remedy, for + the evils of slavery, and that I made a sort of talk before + the students on the subject of slavery. It was a poor talk, + for it was a miserable theme. I do not think what I said had + any effect against the Anti-Slavery people, or at all + strengthened the cause of the Colonization Society. Be this + as it may, I feel it a duty I owe both to myself and to the + friends I have with you, to say, that my views and feelings, + which were then wavering, have since, after mature + deliberation and much prayer, been entirely changed, and that + I am now a strong Anti-Slavery man. Yes, after mature + reflection, I am the sworn enemy of slavery in all its forms, + with all its evils. Henceforth it is a part of my religion to + oppose slavery. I am greatly surprised, that I should in any + form have been the apologist of a system, so full of deadly + poison to all holiness and benevolence as slavery, the + concocted essence of fraud, selfishness, and cold-hearted + tyranny, and the fruitful parent of unnumbered evils, both to + the oppressor and the oppressed, the one thousandth part of + which has never been brought to light. + + "Do you ask, why this change, after residing in a slave + country for twenty years. You recollect the lines of Pope, + beginning, + + 'Vice is a monster of such frightful mein, + That to be hated, needs but to be seen.' + + I had become so familiar with the loathsome features of + slavery, that they ceased to offend; besides, I had become a + Southern man in all my feelings, and it is a part of our + creed to defend slavery. I had also considered it was + impossible to free the slaves in this country. But it is + unnecessary to investigate the ground of my former opinions. + As to the Colonization Society, I have this among many + objections that it has two faces, one for the North, and a + very different one for the South. If the agents of the + Colonization Society will come here and say what I heard them + say in New York, I will insure them a good coat of tar and + feathers for their labor. That Society has few friends here, + a few large slaveholders who by it hope to send off the free + people in their neighborhood, and a few others, whose + consciences are not quite easy, get a salvo by advocating the + Colonization Society. These last are many of them ministers. + The mass of the people regard it as a Yankee plan, and hate + it of course. I remember, among other things, I told the + students in my address, that the only way to do away slavery + was to give us more religion. This argument then seemed to be + good. Send us preachers said I, and as religion spreads, + slavery will melt away, it cannot stand the gospel. I did not + reflect that the religion we have here, justifies and upholds + slavery. Our religion does not permit the preacher to touch + the subject. It is not the whole gospel. I have not yet seen + the man who would venture to take for his text, 'Masters, + give to your servants that which is just and equal.' If every + man in the country was a professor of religion, the religion + we have, it would not much help the cause. I think that I can + safely say that as a general thing, the Presbyterians are by + far the best masters, and give more attention to the + religious instruction of their slaves than others, but I know + one of these, an elder, who contends that slavery is no + violation of the law, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as + thyself,' and whose slaves are driven in the field with the + long whip! But it is just to add, that they are not + over-worked, and they are well fed and clothed. You are at + liberty to inform the students, and others who heard me on + that occasion, that I am now an anti-slavery man; but I do + not wish the letter published with my name to it, as it would + be copied by other papers, and find its way back, and do me + injury, for no man is free, fully to express his thoughts in + this country." + +The next is from a merchant in St. Louis, Missouri, to a Clergyman in +New Hampshire. + + SAINT LOUIS, Jan. 18, 1835. + + Very Dear Brother. + + I want to say a good deal to you, Brother, on the subject, + which seems to interest you much at this time. I am now, and + was before I left Hartford, an abolitionist; and that too, + from deep and thorough conviction that the eternal rule of + right requires the immediate freedom of every bond-man in + this and every other country. Since my residence in this + slaveholding State, I have seen nothing which should tend to + alter my previous sentiments on this subject, on the contrary + much to confirm me in them. You, who reside in happy New + England, can have but very faint conceptions of the blighting + and corrupting influence of Slavery on a community. Although + in Missouri we witness Slavery in its mildest form, yet it is + enough to sicken the heart of benevolence to witness its + effects on society generally, and its awfully demoralizing + influence on the slaves themselves: being counted as property + among the cattle and flocks of their possessors, (forgive the + word,) their standard of morality and virtue is on a level + (generally) with the beasts with which they are classed: and + I am credibly informed that many emigrants from the slave + states, who own plantations on the Missouri River, finding + themselves disqualified by their former habits of indolence + to compete with emigrants of another character in enterprize, + turn their attention to the raising of slaves as they would + cattle, to be sold to the Negro dealers to go down the river. + What sort of standard of virtue, think you, will have place + on such a plantation; and at what period in the history of + our country will these degraded sons of Africa be + christianized under existing circumstances. + + The ungodly man who is a slaveholder, is well enough pleased + with the efforts and views of the Colonization Society, + because he can manage to throw off responsibility, and date + far a-head the time when he shall be called upon to do right; + but state to him the sentiments and principles of the + abolitionists, and he at once begins to froth and rage--all + the malignity of his nature is called into action--and why? + He feels the pressure of responsibility, he acts very like an + impenitent sinner, pricked with the truth, and like him, too, + he either comes on the side of right, or is hardened into a + stern opposer. It is gratifying to notice the gradual + influence the abolition principles are obtaining over the + hearts and consciences of every slaveholding community, + especially over the hearts of Christian slaveholders. Many of + them who have allowed the subject to have a place in their + thoughts, are greatly agitated, and dare not sell or buy + again for their peace-sake. But more of this another time." + + +I shall now lay before the meeting the sentiments of General George +M'Duffie, Governor of the State of South Carolina; as contained in a +message delivered by him to the two branches of the Legislature, +towards the close of the last year. I charge these sentiments upon the +State, 1st, because the representatives of its citizens, in a series +of resolutions presented to the Governor, unanimously expressed their +special approbation of them; and 2dly, because I am not aware that any +protest has been entered against them by any part of the Christian +community. Sentiments more atrocious were, perhaps, never penned. + +The first extract, recommending legislation, has reference to the +diffusion of Anti-Slavery publications. + + "IT IS MY DELIBERATE OPINION THAT THE LAWS OF EVERY COMMUNITY + SHOULD PUNISH THIS SPECIES OF INTERFERENCE BY DEATH WITHOUT + BENEFIT OF CLERGY, REGARDING THE AUTHORS OF IT AS ENEMIES TO + THE HUMAN RACE. Nothing could be more appropriate than for + South Carolina to set the example in the present crisis, and + I trust the Legislature will not adjourn till it discharges + this high duty of patriotism." + +Let us look at the theological views of this profound Statesman on the +subject of Slavery. + + NO HUMAN INSTITUTION, IN MY OPINION, IS MORE MANIFESTLY + CONSISTENT WITH THE WILL OF GOD, THAN DOMESTIC SLAVERY, and + no one of his ordinances is written in more legible + characters than that which consigns the African Race to this + condition AS MORE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR OWN HAPPINESS, THAN ANY + OTHER OF WHICH THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE. Whether we consult the + sacred Scriptures or the lights of nature and reason, we + shall find these truths as abundantly apparent as if written + with a sun-beam in the heavens. Under both the Jewish and + Christian dispensations of our religion, DOMESTIC SLAVERY + existed with the unequivocal sanction of its prophets, its + apostles, and finally its great Author. The patriarchs + themselves, those chosen instruments of God, were + slaveholders. In fact the divine sanction of this institution + is so plainly written that "he who runs may read" it, and + those over-righteous pretenders and pharisees, who affect to + be scandalized by its existence among us, would do well to + inquire how much more nearly they walk in the way of + godliness, than did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That the + African negro is DESTINED BY PROVIDENCE TO OCCUPY THIS + CONDITION OF SERVILE DEPENDENCE, is not less manifest. It is + marked on the face, stamped on the skin, and evinced by the + intellectual inferiority, and natural improvidence of his + race. THEY HAVE ALL THE QUALITIES THAT FIT THEM FOR SLAVES, + AND NOT ONE OF THOSE THAT WOULD FIT THEM TO BE FREEMEN, they + are utterly unqualified not only for rational freedom, but + for self-government of any kind. They are in all respects + physical, moral and political, inferior to millions of the + human race, who have for consecutive ages dragged out a + wretched existence under a grinding political despotism, and + who are doomed to this hopeless condition by the very + qualities which unfit them for a better. It is utterly + astonishing that any enlighted American, after contemplating + all the manifold forms in which even the white race of + mankind are doomed to slavery and oppression, should suppose + it possible to reclaim the Africans from their destiny. THE + CAPACITY TO ENJOY FREEDOM IS AN ATTRIBUTE NOT TO BE + COMMUNICATED BY HUMAN POWER. IT IS AN ENDOWMENT OF GOD, AND + ONE OF THE RAREST WHICH IT HAS PLEASED HIS INSCRUTABLE WISDOM + TO BESTOW UPON THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. IT IS CONFERRED AS + THE REWARD OF MERIT, and only upon those who are qualified to + enjoy it. Until the "Ethiopian can change his skin," it will + he vain to attempt, by any human power, to make freemen of + those whom God has doomed to be slaves, by all their + attributes. + + Let not, therefore, the misguided and designing intermeddlers + who seek to destroy our peace, imagining that they are + serving the cause of God by practically arraigning the + decrees of his Providence. Indeed it would scarcely excite + surprise, if with the impious audacity of those who projected + the tower of Babel, they should attempt to scale the + battlements of Heaven, and remonstrate with the God of wisdom + for having put THE MARK OF CAIN AND THE CURSE OF HAM upon the + African race instead of the European. + +The Governor then proceeds to give his views on the political bearings +of the question, and thus sums them up:-- + + "DOMESTIC SLAVERY, THEREFORE, INSTEAD OF BEING A POLITICAL + EVIL, IS THE CORNER STONE OF OUR REPUBLICAN EDIFICE. No + patriot who justly estimates our privileges, will tolerate + the idea of emancipation, at any period however remote, or on + any conditions of pecuniary advantage, however favorable. I + would as soon think of opening a negotiation for selling the + liberty of the State at once, as for making any stipulations + for the ultimate emancipation of our slaves. So deep is my + conviction on this subject, that if I were doomed to die + immediately after recording these sentiments, I could say in + all sincerity, and under all the sanctions of Christianity + and patriotism, GOD FORBID THAT MY DESCENDANTS, IN THE + REMOTEST GENERATIONS, SHOULD LIVE IN ANY OTHER THAN A + COMMUNITY HAVING THE INSTITUTION OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY." + +The conduct of the clergy of South Carolina, may be inferred from the +following account of a great _pro_-slavery meeting, held in the city +of Charleston, to denounce in the most malignant spirit, the +abolitionists of the North: + + (_From the Charleston Courier._) + + GREAT AND IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING. + + One of the most imposing assemblages of citizens in respect + of numbers, intelligence and respectability that we have ever + witnessed, met yesterday morning at the City Hall, to receive + the report of the Committee of twenty-one, appointed by the + meeting on the 4th inst. on the incendiary machinations now + in progress against the peace and welfare of the Southern + States. THE CLERGY OF ALL DENOMINATIONS ATTENDED IN A BODY, + LENDING THEIR SANCTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS, AND AIDING BY + THEIR PRESENCE, TO THE IMPRESSIVE CHARACTER OF THE SCENE! + +After thundering forth the most violent threats against the discussion +of the subject of slavery, the meeting closed with the following +resolution: + + On the motion of Captain LYNCH, + + "_Resolved_, That the thanks of this meeting are due to the + Reverend gentlemen of the CLERGY in this city, who have so + promptly, and so effectually, responded to public sentiment, + BY SUSPENDING THEIR SCHOOLS IN WHICH THE FREE COLORED + POPULATION WERE TAUGHT; and that this meeting deem it a + patriotic action worthy of all praise, and proper to be + imitated by other teachers of similar schools throughout the + State." + +The following document will speak for itself. I commend it to the +consideration of ministers of Christ throughout the world. + + CHARLESTON PRESBYTERY ON SLAVERY. + + Extract from the minutes of Charleston Union Presbytery, at + their meeting on the 7th of April, 1836. + + With reference to the relation which the church sustains to + the institution of slavery, and the possibility of attempts + to agitate the question in the next General Assembly, this + presbytery deem it expedient to state explicitly the + principles which they maintain, and the course which will be + pursued by their commissioners in the Assembly. It is a + principle which meets the views of this body, that slavery as + it exists among us, is a political institution, with which + ecclesiastical judicatories have not the smallest right to + interfere; and in relation to which any such interference, + especially at the present momentous crisis, would be morally + wrong and fraught with the most dangerous and pernicious + consequences. Should any attempt be made to discuss this + subject, our Commissioners are expected to meet it at the + very threshold, and of any report, memorial or document, + which may be the occasion of agitating this question in any + form. And it is further expected, that our Commissioners, + should the case require it, will distinctly avow our full + conviction of the truth of the principles which we hold in + relation to this subject, and our resolute determination to + abide by them, whatever may be the issue; that it may appear + that the sentiments which we maintain, in common with + Christians at the South, of every denomination, are + sentiments which so fully approve themselves to our + consciences, are so identified with our solemn convictions of + duty, that we should maintain them under any circumstances; + and at the same time, the peculiar circumstances in which we + are placed, constitute an imperious necessity that we should + act in accordance with these principles, and make it + impossible for us to yield any thing in a matter which + concerns not merely our personal interests, but the cause of + Christ, and the peace, if not the very existence of the + Southern community. + + Should our Commissioners fail of accomplishing this object, + it is expected that they will withdraw from the Assembly, + with becoming dignity; not willing to be associated with a + body of men who denounce the ministers and members of + Southern churches as pirates and men-stealers, or who + co-operate with those who thus denounce them. + + In conclusion, this Presbytery would suggest to their + Commissioners the expediency of conferring with the + Commissioners from other Southern presbyteries, that there + may be a common understanding between them as to the course + most suitable to be pursued at this crisis, and on this + absorbing question. And may that wisdom which is from above, + which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be + entreated, be their guide in managing the important trust + committed to their hands. + + _Resolved_, That this expression of our views be signed by + the Moderator and Clerk; that a copy be given to each of our + Commissioners to the General Assembly, and that it be + published in the Charleston Observer. + + E. T. BUIST, _Moderator_. + + B. GILDERSLEEVE, _Temporary Clerk_. + +Resolutions of the Presbyterian Synods of South Carolina and Georgia, +December, 1834. + + "_Resolved unanimously_, That in the opinion of this Synod, + Abolition Societies, and the principles on which they are + founded, in the United States, are inconsistent with the best + interests of the slaves, the rights of the holders, and the + great principles of our political institutions." + +The following declaration of sentiments has been published in +Charleston, South Carolina, by the Board of Managers of the Missionary +Society, of the South Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal +Church: + + "We denounce the principles and opinions of the abolitionists + in toto; and do solemnly declare our conviction and belief, + that, whether they were originated, as some business men have + thought, as a money speculation, or, as some politicians + think, for party electioneering purposes, or, as we are + inclined to believe, in a false philosophy, over-reaching or + setting aside the Scriptures through a vain conceit of higher + moral refinement, they are utterly erroneous, and altogether + hurtful. We consider and believe that the Holy Scriptures, so + far from giving any countenance to this delusion, do + unequivocally authorize the relation of master and slave. We + hold that a Christian slave must be submissive, faithful and + obedient, for reasons of the same authority with those which + oblige husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, to fulfil + the duties of these relations. We would employ no one in the + work who might hesitate to teach thus; nor can such an one be + found in the whole number of the preachers in this + Conference." + +One other document in reference to South Carolina, viz., the +resolutions recently passed by the "Hopewell Presbytery." On the +subject of domestic slavery, this Presbytery believe the following +facts have been most incontrovertibly established, viz: + + I. Slavery has existed in the church of God from the time of + Abraham to this day. Members of the church of God have held + slaves bought with their money, and born in their houses; and + this relation is not only recognized, but its duties are + defined clearly, both in the Old and New Testaments. + + II. Emancipation is not mentioned among the duties of the + master to his slave. While obedience "even to the froward" + master is enjoined upon the slave. + + III. No instance can be produced of an otherwise orderly + Christian, being REPROVED, much less EXCOMMUNICATED from the + church, for the single act of holding domestic slaves, from + the days of Abraham down to the date of the modern + Abolitionists. + + IV. SLAVERY EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE OUR + ECCLESIASTICAL BODY WAS ORGANIZED. IT IS NOT CONDEMNED IN OUR + CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND HAS ALWAYS EXISTED IN OUR CHURCH + WITHOUT REPROOF OR CONDEMNATION. + + V. Slavery is a political institution, with which the Church + has nothing to do, except to inculcate the duties of master + and slave, and to use lawful spiritual means to have all, + both bond and free, to become one in Christ by faith. + + Regarding these positions as undoubtedly true, our views of + duty constrain us to adopt the following resolutions: + + _Resolved_, That the political institution of domestic + slavery, as it exists in the South, is not a lawful or + constitutional subject of discussion, much less, of action by + the General Assembly. + + _Resolved_, That so soon as the General Assembly passes any + ecclesiastical laws, or recommends any action, which shall + interfere with this institution, this Presbytery will regard + such laws and acts as tyranical and odious; and from that + moment will regard itself independent of the General Assembly + of the Presbyterian Church. + + _Resolved_, That our delegates to the approaching Assembly + are hereby enjoined to use all Christian means to prevent the + discussion of domestic slavery in the Assembly; to protest in + our name, against all acts that involve or approve abolition; + and to withdraw from the Assembly and return home, if, in + spite of their efforts, acts of this character shall be + passed." + +From the official account of the proceedings of the Synod of Virginia, +I take the following + + REPORT ON ABOLITION. + + "The Committee to whom were referred the resolutions, &c., + have, according to order, had the same under consideration: + and respectfully report that in their judgment, the following + resolutions are necessary and proper to be adopted by the + Synod at the present time. + + "_Whereas_, The publications and proceedings of certain + organized associations commonly called Anti-slavery, or + Abolition Societies, which have arisen in some parts of our + land, have greatly disturbed, and are still greatly + disturbing the peace of the church, and of the country; and + the Synod of Virginia deem it a solemn duty which they owe to + themselves and to the community, to declare their sentiments + upon the subject; therefore, + + "_Resolved unanimously_, That we consider the dogma fiercely + promulgated by said associations; that slavery as it actually + exists in our slaveholding States, is necessarily sinful, and + ought to be immediately abolished, and the conclusions which + naturally follow from that dogma, as directly and palpably + contrary to the plainest principles of common sense and + common humanity, and to the clearest authority of the word of + God. + + "2. _Resolved unanimously_, That in the deliberate judgment + of the Synod, it is the duty of all ministers of the gospel + to follow the example of our Lord and Saviour, and of his + apostles in similar circumstances, in abstaining from all + interference with the state of slavery, as established among + us by the Commonwealth, and confining themselves strictly to + their proper province of inculcating upon masters and slaves + the duties enjoined upon them respectively in the sacred + Scriptures, which must tend immediately to promote the + welfare of both, and ultimately to restore the whole world to + that state of holy happiness which is the earnest desire of + every Christian heart. + + "The above preamble and resolutions having been severally + read, and adopted by paragraphs, the Moderator asked and + obtained leave to vote with the Synod, on the adoption of the + entire report. The question being put, it was unanimously + adopted, every member it is believed, giving it a hearty + response." + +The last document I shall quote on this part of the subject, is one +which will fill this meeting with horror; but it is right that it +should be placed on record, to show the opinion entertained by a +minister of the Presbyterian church of his brethren and fellow +Christians, and to show also, what kind of communications pass current +among the professed disciples of Christ in a slaveholding community. + + "To the Sessions of the Presbyterian Congregations within the + bounds of West Hanover Presbytery: + + "At the approaching stated meeting of our Presbytery, I + design to offer a preamble and string of resolutions on the + subject of the use of wine in the Lord's Supper; and also a + preamble and a string of resolutions on the subject of the + treasonable and abominably wicked interference of the + Northern and Eastern fanatics, with our political and civil + rights, our property and our domestic concerns. You are aware + that our clergy, whether with or without reason, are more + suspected by the public than are the clergy of other + denominations. Now, dear Christian brethren, I humbly express + it as my earnest wish, that you quit yourselves like men. _If + there be any stray goat of a minister among us, tainted with + the blood-hound principles of abolitionism, let him be + ferreted out, silenced, excommunicated, and left to the + public to dispose of him in other respects._ + + "Your affectionate brother in the Lord, + + "ROBERT N. ANDERSON."!!! + +I trust I have adduced sufficient evidence upon this heart-rending +topic, and abundantly proved the allegations I have deemed it my duty +to bring against the American churches. No one can accuse me of +wishing that any thing should be believed upon my bare assertion. I +have furnished documentary proof of the truth of all my statements. +Presbyterians, and Conferences, and Ministers, and Elders, and Synods, +and Assemblies have spoken for themselves through their solemn and +accredited Speeches, and Letters, and Reports, and Resolutions. Judge, +therefore, whether I have libelled America; whether I am the foul +traducer that some would have you believe, but for believing which +they supply you no ground, save their own ill-natured vituperations. +Let the facts I have brought before you be deliberately considered, +and let such a verdict be given as will approve itself to the world +and to God. Before sitting down, however, I must observe, that it has +always given me the sincerest pleasure to notice any Anti-slavery +movements among the clergy of America. With delight I have stated the +fact, that in the General Assembly of 1835, there were FORTY EIGHT +immediate Abolitionists. I refer again, on the present occasion, with +unfeigned satisfaction, to the indications of a better state of things +in many portions of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Breckinridge has +quoted the Assembly's views on the subject of Slavery; so have I. In +the recent meeting of the United Secession Synod, held a short time +since in Edinburgh, I stated fully the sentiments of the Presbyterian +body in America. At the same time, I could not omit naming one +striking fact, viz. that in 1816, the Assembly struck out of the +Confession of the Church, the following note, adopted in 1794, and +which contained the doctrine of the church at that period on the +subject of slaveholding. The note was appended to the one hundred and +forty-second question of the larger catechism. + + "1 Tim. 1:10. The law is made for MAN STEALERS. This crime + among the Jews exposed the perpetrators of it to capital + punishment; Exodus 21:16; and the apostle here classes them + with sinners of the first rank. The word he uses, in its + original import, comprehends all who are concerned in + bringing any of the human race into slavery, OR IN RETAINING + THEM IN IT. Hominum fures, qui servos vel liberos abducunt, + retinent vendunt, vel emunt. Stealers of men are all those + who bring off slaves or freemen AND KEEP, SELL, OR BUY THEM. + To steal a free man, says Grotius, is the highest kind of + theft. In other instances, we only steal human property, but + when we steal or retain men in slavery, we seize those who, + in common with ourselves, are constituted by the original + grant, lords of the earth. Genesis 1:28, Vide Poli synopsin + in loc." + +Why this note has been cancelled, I shall not attempt to say. Neither +Mr. Breckinridge nor this Assembly need be at any loss to imagine for +what reasons so strong and unequivocal a passage was omitted by a body +in which so large a proportion were slaveholders. I have recently +read, and publicly commended, an address put forth by the Synod of +Kentucky, containing a very faithful, though appalling disclosure of +the state of Slavery in Kentucky; and expressing an earnest hope that +the members of the Presbyterian body will, without delay, take steps +to promote the education and emancipation of the slaves. Let me also +state, that the following ecclesiastical meetings have passed +resolutions, and many of them adopted rules of church membership, in +accordance with the views of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Some +of them have specially approved the principles and measures of that +body. I beg, while I read this list, to remind Mr. Breckinridge that +these form a part of that ragged regiment, respecting which he was so +merry in one of his by-gone speeches, + + SYNODS of Utica and Cincinnati. + Eastern Sub-Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. + PRESBYTERIES of Delaware, Champlain, Erie, Chillicothe, Detroit, + and Genesee. + General Association of New York. + Central Evangelical Association. + Cumberland Baptist Association.--Equally divided. + One Hundred and Eighty-Five Baptist Clergymen. + The vast majority of the New England and New Hampshire Conferences + of Episcopal Methodists, and a large number of individual + Churches. + +Thus is the cause advancing! The purifying leaven is extending through +all the country. The elements which are ordained to redeem America +from the pollution and infamy of slavery, are working mightily. When I +went to the United Slates, I took the principles I found lying +comparatively forgotten, and proclaimed them abroad. I planted myself +upon the American Bible, and the American Declaration of Independence, +and preached from these that the varied tribes of men are of _one +blood_, and that all men should be "free and equal." I have not +labored in vain. There is now a mighty and indomitable host of pure +and ardent friends to the freedom and elevation of the long degraded +colored man. Let us thank God and take courage, and expect with +confidence the speedy arrival of the happy day, when the soil of +America shall be untrodden by the foot of a slave. + + * * * * * + +MR. BRECKINRIDGE said he regretted to be obliged to say anything more +on this subject, which he had wished to consider concluded, so far as +he was concerned, at the close of his preceding speech. He felt +obliged, however, by the importance of the whole case, to consume a +portion of this, his last address--and which he had desired to occupy +in a different way--in making a few explanations which seemed +indispensable. It would be observed, first, that the great bulk of the +testimonies produced throughout, and especially in his last speech, by +Mr. Thompson, were individual opinions and assertions, often of +obscure persons, and therefore, for ought the world could tell, +fictitious persons; or if known persons they were often men of the +world, and avowedly acting on worldly principles, and therefore, no +more affording a criterion of the state of the American churches, than +the immoralities of any public functionary here, could be justly made +a rule of judgment of the faith and morals of British Christians. A +considerable portion also were taken from the transient and heated +declamations of violent party newspapers, which wrested from their +original purpose and connection, might mean what never was meant, or +even, if fairly collated, expressed what their authors, perhaps, would +now gladly recall. How far would it be proof of the assertions of Mr. +T. of America--if in some other land, some bigot should quote as +indisputable, Mr. Thompson's story of the colored man in Washington +City, whose assertion, at third hand, that he was free, authorised the +declaration that "_he had demonstrated his freedom_," and yet after +all had been sold into everlasting slavery without a trial! And yet +many of his proofs are of no more value to him, than his assertions +ought to be to any who come after him. It is next most worthy of note, +that so far as all his proofs establish any thing against either any +portion of the American nation or the American church, they all run +upon the assumed truth of all my explanations of their real state and +operations. It is the slaveholding portion, it is the comparatively +small body of slaveholding professors of religion, it is the minority +of the nation, the very small minority of the Christians of it, +implicated continually; and therefore, if every word produced were +true, the sweeping conclusions from them would be gross fraud on the +prevailing ignorance of all American affairs. But what is most +important to observe, and what must be palpable to the capacity of +every child who has attended to this discussion, the weightiest of Mr. +Thompson's proofs ceased to be proofs at all, the moment the facts, +cant words and circumstances connected are explained. He used words in +one sense which he knows you will understand in another--sporting at +once with your good feelings and your want of minute information while +all the result is false as to us, and unhappy as to every thing +concerned, except "Othello's occupation" which meanwhile is _not_ +gone. When decided and perhaps violent terms are used against +"abolition" or "abolitionists" or "anti-slavery" or "the anti-slavery +society," they are adduced to convince you that those who use them are +pro-slavery men: that they understand the terms as you do; and that it +is an expression of rank hostility to all emancipation on the part of +the American tyrants, in whose nostrils according to this gentleman +the slave and freedom equally stink! A metaphor nearly as full of +truth as decency. The fact however is, that although many would +decline the use of the harsh and vindictive language which, caught +from abolitionists, has been turned against them; yet the bulk of the +real sentiments, as brought forward by Mr. Thompson as proofs of +American slavery, on account of American hatred to his peculiar plans, +principles and spirit in attempting its removal, are true, just and +defensible.--And I am ready to advocate and to defend much that he by +a disingenuous citation has made at first odious, and then +characteristic of America. They prove only that he and his coadjutors +are most odious to the country, which is a fact never denied except by +himself or them. And to what has the whole current of his testimony +tended if not to show that they might reasonably have expected and did +a great deal to deserve such a conclusion.--But it is now impossible +to enter again upon these matters and upon the case as presented, he +was willing for the world to pass its verdict. While he would +therefore take no farther notice of any new matter contained in the +last speech, there were several remarks necessary to be made, to +elucidate subjects that had already been several times before them. +The first case was that of Amos Dresser the abolitionist whipped at +Nashville. He would pass over what Mr. T. had said relating to his +(Mr. B.'s) notice of the discrepancy in the number of Elders in the +Nashville Church. He had treated that gentleman with great candor in +the matter, which he had returned with incivility and injustice, and +there he was content to let it rest. But how stood the facts of the +case itself? Amos Dresser is reported to have said that there were +seven elders of the church; that all of them were on the committee of +vigilance of Nashville; that _most_ of them were among his triers, and +that _some_ of them had administered the communion to him the +preceding sabbath. Now let us admit that this is literally +true--(which I believe however is not the case, in at least three +particulars)--how does it justify Mr. Thompson in asserting as he did +at London and elsewhere "that on that Lynch Committee _there sat seven +Elders and one Minister, some of whom_ had sat with the young man at +the table of the Lord on the preceding Sunday"? Mr. Thompson +positively contradicts his own and only witness when he says that all +the seven elders sat as triers;--he enlarges his testimony when he +insinuates that they not only concurred in his punishment, but were +present and active in its infliction; and he infers without the least +authority, and adds it to the words of the witness, that those very +elders who administered the Lord's Supper to Dresser, on Sunday +"ploughed up his back"--as Lynch Committee men on a subsequent day of +the same week. How in the name of common honesty is such deceitful +handling of the truth to be tolerated in a Christian community? Oh! +what a spectacle would we behold--if I had but the privilege before +some competent tribunal--to take the published accusations of this man +in my hands and force him to reveal on oath the whole grounds on which +he makes them!--Mr. B. then stated that after he entered the house +to-night two packages had been put into his hands, which he could not +examine then, as he was just about to open the discussion. He had +snatched a moment during the interval to glance his eyes over their +contents, and considered it his duty to say a few words in reference +to each. One of them was a little volume from the pen of Dr. Channing, +of Boston, on the subject of slavery, just passing through the press +of an enterprising bookseller of Glasgow, who had done him the favor +of presenting to him, in very kind terms, the first copy of the +edition. They who would take the trouble of looking over the printed +report of Mr. Thompson's second address to the Glasgow Emancipation +Society, would find that in speaking of the Unitarians of America, he +had used the following language:--"One of their greatest men, a giant +in intellect, had already taken the right view of the subject, and +there could not exist a doubt that ere long, he would bring over the +body to the good cause." In this sentence, as it stands in the speech, +at the end of the words "giant in intellect,"--stands a star,--at the +bottom of the page another, before the words "Dr. Channing." Now it so +happens that in this little book, there is a chapter headed +"Abolitionism." I have looked through it casually, within the last +hour; and I beseech you all to read it carefully, and judge for +yourselves, of the utter recklessness with which Mr. Thompson makes +assertions. The other parcel, contained a letter from an American +gentleman residing in Britain, and one half of the New York Spectator, +of October 1, 1835. Under the head of editorial correspondence, is an +article above a column and a half in length devoted in great part to +Mr. Thompson. Amongst other passages, it adverts to his doings at +Andover, and the charges made against him there, on such weighty +authority; and in that connexion has the following explicit paragraph: + + Mr. Thompson in conversation with some of the students + repeatedly averred that every slaveholder in the United + States OUGHT TO HAVE HIS THROAT CUT; or DESERVED TO HAVE HIS + THROAT CUT; although he afterwards publicly denied that he + had said so. But the proof is direct and positive. In + conversation with one of the theological students in regard + to the moral instruction which ought to be enjoyed by the + slaves, he distinctly declared THAT EVERY SLAVE SHOULD BE + TAUGHT TO CUT HIS MASTER'S THROAT! I state the fact--knowing + the responsibility I am assuming, and challenge a legal + investigation. + +On this tremendous document, I make but two remarks--The first is that +Francis Hall & Co. the publishers of the Spectator, were in character +and fortune, perfectly responsible to Mr. Thompson. The second is, +that if Mr. Thompson's rule of judgment was just, in that branch of +this same case--in the exercise of which he declared that another +paper in New York could never be got to publish his exculpatory +certificates in regard to this very transaction, _because_ the +publisher knew them to be true; then we are irresistibly bound on his +own showing to conjecture, that for the same reason he declined taking +up the challenge of the Spectator. There was only one more topic on +which he seemed called on to remark; and that he had several times +passed over, out of consideration of delicacy. It had all along been +his aim to use as little freedom as possible with the names of +individuals--and he could declare, that he had implicated by name, no +one except out of absolute necessity--that he had forborne to say true +but severe things of several who had been most unjustly commended +during this discussion--and had omitted of the very few he had +censured by name, decidedly worse things, than those he had uttered of +them--and which he might have uttered both truly and pertinently. +Amongst the cases of rather peculiar forebearance, was the oft cited +one, of a misguided young man, by the name of Thome, who went from +Kentucky to New York to repeat a most audacious speech which was no +doubt prepared for him, before an assembly literally the most _mixed_ +that was ever convened in that city: having delivered which, he +departed with the pity or contempt of 9 10ths of all the decent people +in it, and went I know not whither, and dwells I know not where. The +victory as there trumpeted, and now celebrated, of which he was part +gainer, consisted of two portions--the destruction of the colonization +cause--and the degradation of Kentucky, his native state. The death of +the Society was signalised by a subscription of six thousand dollars +on the part of its friends; and the infamy of Kentucky was +illustrated by the ready stepping forward of four of her sons to +confront and confound the ingrate who commenced his career of manhood +by smiting his parent in the face. Who made the defence, may be +surmised from Mr. Thompson's bitterness--I will not trust myself to +repeat his name. But this thousands can testify--that never was a +great cause more signally successful--never were folly and wickedness +more thoroughly beaten into the dust--never did any community heap +more cordial and unanimous applause upon an effort of great and +successful eloquence. + +And now, Sir, (said Mr. B., addressing Dr. Wardlaw, the Chairman of +the meeting)--I repeat the expressions of my regret, that these last +moments allowed to me should have been required for any other purpose +than that which so sacredly belonged to them. Exhausted by a series of +most exciting, and to me perfectly new contentions, I am altogether +unequal to the task, which I should yet esteem myself degraded if I +did not attempt in some way to perform. + +To this large committee which has so kindly taken up this subject--so +considerately provided for every contingency--so delicately considered +all my wishes, and even all my weaknesses--to these respected +gentlemen surrounding us upon this platform, whose conduct amid very +peculiar circumstances has been towards me, full of candor, honor, +courtesy and Christian kindness, it would have been most gross +ingratitude, to have forborne this public expression of my regard and +cordial thanks. + +For yourself, Sir, what can I say more, or how could I say less, than +that in that distant country, which I love but too fondly, there are +scores, there are hundreds, who would esteem all the trials through +which this strife has led me, and all the weight of responsibility +which my posture has forced me to assume, more than counter-balanced +by the privilege of looking upon your venerated face. It is good to +live for the whole world; and it is but just to receive in recompense +the world's thanks. + +And you, my respected auditors, whose patience I must needs have so +severely taxed, and who have borne with much that possibly has tried +you deeply, you who have given me so many reasons to thank you, and +not one to regret the errand that brought me here; if in the course of +providence, you or yours, should be thrown on whatever spot my resting +place may be, you need but say, "I come from Glasgow, and I need a +friend," and it shall go hard with me, but I will find a way to prove, +that kindness is never thrown away. + +But even as we part, let us not forget that cause which has chained us +here so long. We are free. Alas! how few can utter these words with +truth! We are Christian men. Alas! what multitudes have never heard +our Master's name. Oh! how horrible must slavery be, when God himself +illustrates the power of sin by calling it bondage! Oh! how sweet +should union with Christ be thought, when he proclaims it glorious +liberty! Freedom and redemption are in our hands; the heritage in +trust for a lost world. It is not then our own souls only, but our +divine Lord, and our dying brethren, that we sin against and rob, when +we mismanage or pervert this great inheritance. We needs must labor; +but let us do it wisely. And though we may differ in many things, in +this at least we can agree, to importune our heavenly Father to +prosper by his constant blessing what we do aright, and overrule by +his continued care all that we do amiss. (Cheers.) + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON then rose amidst much cheering, and said, Sir, after the +valedictory address to which we have just listened, it would ill +become me to touch upon any topic calculated to disturb feelings which +I trust and believe that address has awakened in the breasts of this +assembly. Sir, it is my conviction, that I and those with whom it is +my joy and honor to act, in the advancement of the cause of Universal +Emancipation, are much misunderstood. We are represented as the +violent, acrimonious, ferocious and sanguinary foes of the +slaveholder; when, if he could look into our inmost hearts, he would +discover no enmity to him abiding there, but on the contrary, an +earnest desire to promote his safety, his honor, and his happiness. If +we act as we do, it is not that we love him less, but that we love +truth and freedom more. It is not with us a matter of choice that we +pursue our present course, but one of stern imperative duty; because +we believe that God will vouchsafe his blessing only to those who +preach the doctrine of an immediate, entire, and uncompromising +discharge of duty, leaving to Him the consequences flowing from +obedience to His law. To discover truth wherever it is hidden, should +be the aim and effort of every rational mind. It has been my desire to +arrive at truth upon the great question of Slavery; and after much +investigation, and many conflicts, I have reached the conclusion, that +slaveholding is sinful; that man cannot hold property in man; that to +do right, and to do it _now_, fearless of results, is the doctrine of +the Bible; and that a simple and strict compliance with the Divine +Law, is man's noblest and safest course. These being my settled views, +I say to the slaveholder, give immediate freedom to your slaves. To +the non-slaveholder, I say, preach a pure doctrine; grapple with the +prejudices and fears of the community around you; strive to raise the +tone of public morals, and create a public sentiment unfavorable to +the continuance of slavery. To the private Christian, I say, betake +yourself to prayer, and the study of the Scriptures; and invoke a +blessing upon every righteous instrumentality for the overthrow of the +abomination. To the minister of the gospel, I say, be bold for God; +cry aloud, and spare not, till the merchants of the earth cease to +make merchandise of slaves, and the souls of men. + +Much fault is found with our measures. What, Sir, are our measures, +but the simplest means of making known our principles? Having +deliberately and prayerfully adopted certain views, we take the +ordinary, common sense, every day methods of making those views known, +and of recommending them to the adoption of others. Believing slavery +to be sin, is it strange that we hate it, and speak strongly +respecting it? Believing immediate emancipation _a duty_, is it +strange that we pray, and preach, and print about it? That we take all +peaceful means of making known the great truth; of warning men against +the danger of delay; and exhorting them to repentance? The +abolitionists have done no more. To have done less, would have been to +prove themselves unfaithful to the high and heaven-born principles +they profess. They court investigation. They scatter their +publications on the winds to be read by all. They have not an office +nor a book that is not open to the inspection of all. Their language +to all who suspect their motives or their designs is, "search us, and +know our hearts; try us, and know our thoughts; and see if there be +any wicked way in us." If in the ardor of their zeal, and inherited +infirmities, and surrounded by influences, from which none of us are +exempt; they sometimes apply epithets and bring charges with too +little discrimination, "something should be pardoned to the spirit of +liberty;" something granted to the advocates of outraged humanity; to +those, who, remembering them that are in bonds as bound with them, +plead as for mothers, children, sisters, and brothers; at present lost +to all the joys and purposes of life. Sir, I think it hard that on all +occasions like these, the heaviest artillery should be levelled +against the abolitionists, and the small arms only directed against +the slaveholder. I call upon those who act with such gentleness +towards the latter individual; who are so fearful of doing him +injustice and so readily to discover in him any thing that is amiable +in character, or extenuating in conduct, to exercise some small +portion of the same candor and kindness, and consideration towards the +former. Let not _that_ man be most hateful in their eyes, who of all +others is most earnestly engaged for the deliverance of the slave. + +A word before we part, for my honored co-adjutors on the other side of +the Atlantic. Should this be the last address of mine ever delivered +and recorded for perusal when I am gone to give account of my sayings +upon earth, I can with every feeling of sincerity aver, that to the +best of my knowledge and belief, there is not to be found on the face +of the earth at the present time, engaged in any religious or +benevolent enterprise, a body of men more pure in their motives, more +simple and elevated in their aim, more dependent upon divine aid in +their efforts, or, generally speaking, more unexceptionable in their +measures, than the _immediate_ abolitionists of the United States of +America. It has been my high privilege to mingle much with devoted +Christians of all denominations in my native land, and to enjoy the +friendship of some of the noblest and most laborious of living +philanthropists; but I have not yet seen the wisdom, the ardor, the +humanity or the faith of the abolitionists of America exceeded. + +Another word and I have done. It is for one whom I love as a brother, +and to whom my soul is united by a bond which death cannot dissolve; +of one, who, though still young, has for ten years toiled with +unremitting ardor, and unimpeached disinterestedness in the cause of +the bleeding slave; of one, who, though accused of scattering around +him fire-brands, arrows and death; though branded as a madman, an +incendiary, and a fanatic; though denounced by the State, and reviled +by a portion of the church, possesses a soul as peaceful and as pure +as ever tenanted our fallen nature. I speak not to exalt him or +gratify his love of praise. I know he seeks not the honor that cometh +from man, nor the riches that perish in the using. He looks not for +his reward on earth. With the approbation of his conscience, he is +content; with the blessing of the perishing, he is rich; with the +favor of God, he is blessed forever. He seeks no monumental marble, no +funeral oration, no proud escutcheon, no partial page of history to +perpetuate his name. He knows that when resting from his labors, the +tears of an enfranchised race + + Shall sprinkle the cold dust in which he sleeps, + Pompless, and from a scornful world withdrawn: + The laurel, which its malice rent, shall shoot, + So watered, into life, and mantling throw + Its verdant honors o'er his grassy tomb. + +That man is WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. Sir, I thank God for having given +him to the age and country in which he lives. He is a man +pre-eminently qualified for the mighty work in which he has engaged. +May the God of the oppressed bless him, and keep him humble, and cheer +him onwards in his rugged path! May his lion heart never be subdued! +May his eloquent pen never cease to move while a slave breathes to +require its advocacy! Heaven grant, and I can ask no more, that the +wish of his heart may be fulfilled; and that the time may soon come, +when, looking abroad over his beloved country with the soul of a +Patriot, and the eye of a Philanthropist and a Christian, he shall not +be able to discover in State, or city, or town, or hamlet, a lingering +trace of a tyrant or a Slave! + +I shall not, Sir, attempt (turning to the Chairman,) to express the +feelings of my heart towards _you_, or my opinion of the manner in +which you have discharged the duties of the Chair, through four of the +evenings of this discussion. I cordially unite with the gentleman +opposite, in thanking you for the dignity and strict impartiality with +which you have borne yourself. I know you look for the reward of your +labors of love in another and a better world. In that world may we all +meet! There our jars and discords will be at an end. There we shall +see, eye to eye; and know, even as we are known. There, in the +presence of one Saviour, our joys, our voices, our occupations will be +_one_; and there I trust that we, who have been antagonists on earth, +will together meet and celebrate the glories of a common redemption +from the sorrows and the sins of earth. (Mr. Thompson resumed his seat +amidst loud and long continued cheers.) + + * * * * * + +MR. THOMPSON moved that the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to +the Rev. Dr. WARDLAW, for his able, dignified, and impartial conduct +in the chair, and also to Dr. KIDSTON, who presided on Thursday +evening, which was carried with acclamation. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +In reading the foregoing discussion, we have been utterly astonished +at the grossness and magnitude of the falsehoods--not to mention the +numerous miscolorings and misrepresentations--which the reverend +apologist for slavery has, with brazen effrontery, unblushingly +uttered even though aware of the fact that they were to be published +to the world. It would seem as if feeling the necessity of defending a +desperate cause by desperate means, he had resolved to pour out his +misstatements and inaccuracies with such lavish liberality, that his +opponent would be absolutely unable, in the time allotted to him, to +correct them all, and thus contrive to make some of his falsehoods, +because uncontradicted, pass for truth, and some of his distortions +and perversions for fair representations. The event, we cannot help +thinking, will show that he has presumed with far too much rashness on +the supposed ignorance of the British people. Some of his falsehoods, +mistakes, and misrepresentations, which were either wholly unnoticed, +or not fully answered by Mr. Thompson, for want, as he has informed +us, of time to do it, we shall briefly notice here, + +First, however, we would call attention to the remark, that 'he is not +a slaveholder,' with which Dr. Wardlaw introduced Mr. Breckinridge to +the audience, and in reference to it quote part of a letter from Dr. +A. L. Cox of New York, to the editor of the emancipator. 'The only +knowledge I have on this subject,' says Dr. C., 'is what I derived +from the confession of R. J. Breckinridge, extorted at an anniversary +meeting of the Colonization Society in this city, in the spring of +1834.' After mentioning some of the circumstances which led him to +speak, the letter goes on to say, 'Just as Robert J. Breckinridge was +on the point of speaking, one of the assembly inquired, 'Is he a +slaveholder?' The orator seemed somewhat disconcerted, but answered +'_I have_ that honor.' + +In the first evening's discussion, page 6, Mr. Breckinridge says that +the British people 'had sent out agents to America, who had returned +defeated. They have failed--they admit they have failed in their +object.' To say nothing of the accuracy which speaks in the plural +number of a single individual, and which can easily be excused to one +who in encountering him, probably felt that that individual was +himself a host,--when or where has the alleged admission been made? +Never. Nowhere. The assertion is untrue. + +During the same evening, page 7, Mr. B. tells his audience that 'of +the twelve [free] states, at least four, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and +Maine never had a slave.' What says the United States' census? In +1830, there were 2 slaves in Maine, 6 in Ohio, 3 in Indiana, and +747[A] in Illinois. In 1820, there were 190 in Indiana, and 917 in +Illinois. In 1810, Indiana contained 237, Illinois 168. In 1800, there +were 135 in Indiana. But Mr. B. says, that 'since 1785, till this +hour, there never had been one slave in any of these states.' + + [A] Called indented apprentices, but from the connection + in which it stands in the census, we infer that they are + virtually slaves. + +'America,' he tells us, 'was the first nation upon earth, which +abolished the slave trade and made it piracy.' See page 8. This will +be unwelcome news to Messrs. Franklin and Armfield of Alexandira, D. +C., whose standing advertisements in the Washington papers, offer cash +for negroes of both sexes, from 12 to 25 years of age, and announce +the 'regular trips' twice a month, of their vessels engaged in the +slave trade between the District and New Orleans. It will be +unpleasant intelligence in the city of Washington, where for $400 a +year, the 'trade or traffic in slaves' is licensed for the benefit of +the canal fund. It will be news to the keepers of the prisons in the +District, who, in their official capacity, carry on the slave trade by +selling men 'for their prison and other expenses, _as the law +directs_.' + +But Mr. B. means the _foreign_ slave trade, not the domestic. The +latter, indeed, may be licensed, and protected, and deemed honorable +as it is lucrative. Those who engage in it, may be like Armfield and +Woolfolk, gentlemen 'of engaging and graceful manners,' reported to be +'mild, indulgent, upright, and scrupulously honest,' but the _foreign_ +trade is _piracy_ by the law of the land. Very meritorious truly! and +worthy of abundant eulogy! to prohibit piracy on the high seas, or the +African coast, while selling permission to do along her own coast, and +on her own territories, the same acts which, when done abroad, +constitute piracy. But to what does her abolition of even the foreign +slave trade amount? Do her cruizers ever capture a slave ship? Seldom, +if ever. Does she consent to such arrangements, in her treaties with +other nations which are in earnest in their endeavors to suppress the +slave trade, as will prevent her flag from being made a protection to +the detestable traffic? No. The N. Y. Journal of Commerce, in a recent +article very truly asserts, that 'We neither do any thing ourselves to +put down the accursed traffic, nor afford any facilities to enable +others to put it down. Nay, rather, we stand between the slave and his +deliverer. We are a drawback--a dead weight on the cause of bleeding +humanity.' And a late number of the Edinburgh Review, speaking of the +application of the British Government to this, for its co-operation, +says, 'The final answer, however, is, that _under no condition, in no +form, and with no restrictions, will the United States enter into any +convention or treaty, or make combined efforts of any sort or kind, +with other nations for the suppression of the trade_.' With what face, +then, can she claim praise for having merely made a law, which she +almost never executes, and to the execution of which, by others, she +permits her flag to be used as a hindrance. + +The next assertion of Mr. B's that we notice, is the astounding one, +that America, 'as a nation, has done every thing in her power' for the +abolition of slavery. See page 8. This, while the national domain is +the home of slavery and the seat of the slave trade! While the +domestic slave trade, so far from being abolished by the National +Legislature, as it may constitutionally be, is shielded and licensed! +This, while the moral power of the nation is slumbering, or if awake, +arrayed to a great extent, in the defence of slavery! That a man who +values his reputation--that a minister of the gospel of Mr. B's +intelligence and knowledge of the country's condition and history in +regard to this matter, should make such a declaration, is truly most +wonderful. Could he have expected it to be believed? Could he have +believed it himself? + +Mr. B., page 15, by way of explaining why Mr. Thompson was so +differently received in Glasgow and Boston, applauded in the one +place, and abused in the other, says that he took up the question of +slavery as one of political organization. We give to this assertion, +the answer of the editor of the Emancipator. 'This we pronounce +_utterly and unequivocally false_. We were with Mr. Thompson, while he +was in this country, as much probably as any other one individual. We +were with him in private and in public, in the house and by the way, +in the public convention and the public lecture, and we most solemnly +declare, that we never heard George Thompson, on any occasion, take up +or discuss the question of American Slavery, 'as one of civil +organization.' He always discussed it primarily and essentially as a +moral and religious question, and never went into its political +relations and bearings, except to answer the objections of cavillers +and opponents. And we are astonished that R. J. Breckinridge should +dare to make such an assertion, when, we venture to say, he never +heard George Thompson in America.' + +The same editor has furnished a better solution than Mr. B's, of +the--not very difficult--problem of Mr. Thompson's different reception +in Boston and Glasgow. 'For the same reason that Knibb, and Taylor, +and Burchell did not meet with the same reception in Glasgow and +Jamaica--because, and simply because the slave spirit was diffused +through the land, infecting and corrupting alike the leading +influences of Church and State, so that Mr. T. could not condemn +slavery and prejudice 'in Boston as in Glasgow,' without constraining +the conviction and the outcry from the implicated and the prejudiced, +"so saying thou condemnest us also."' + +'There is not a sane man in the free states, who does not wish the +world rid of slavery.' This Mr. B. states as his conviction, page 15. +Perhaps it is correct, but if so, there are a great many _insane_ men +in the free states, or a great many who have a very strange way of +manifesting their wishes. The fact is notorious, that Northern men who +remove to the South, almost uniformly become slaveholders the moment +their convenience or pecuniary interest can thereby be promoted. + +On page 20, Mr. B. accuses Garrison of having written placards to stir +up a mob against him, when he lectured in Boston, in behalf of +colonization. A charge more utterly false was never made, and it +requires a great exercise of charity to believe that Mr. B. did not +know its falsehood. It will have been seen that Mr. Thompson +challenged proof of the accusation, but none was produced except the +word of the accuser--evidence on which, any reader who compares his +assertions in several other instances, with facts, will place very +little reliance. + +Another of Mr. B's accusations against 'some of the friends of the +Anti-Slavery Society,' is, that they procured a writ to take the two +'African princes,' who had been sent to the Maryland Colonization +Society to be educated, and that Elizur Wright was the instigator of +the measure, on pretence that the boys had been kidnapped. See page +20. The truth of this matter as given in the Emancipator, on Mr. +Wright's authority, is that, on learning that two native African boys, +supposed to be slaves, were on board a schooner in New York harbor, +bound for Baltimore, Mr. Wright made inquiries on board, and could +only learn that they were brought from Africa by a passenger, and +consigned to some one in Baltimore. To make sure of the means of +prosecuting a legal inquiry, a writ was obtained, but as soon as Mr. +W. discovered that the lads were sent to this country to be educated, +he ordered the officer _not to serve it_. + +The next slanderous charge uttered by the reverend delegate is, that +Elizur Wright tried to stir up a mob to liberate a fugitive slave +confined in New York prison. The story of course is wholly false. + +In the second evening's discussion, Mr. B. says, page 34, the +admission of a clause into the Constitution prohibiting the abolition +of the slave trade for twenty years, 'was one of the brightest virtues +in the escutcheon of America,' A dark escutcheon, then, must be hers, +if the protection of the slave trade for twenty years is the +'brightest' spot on it. The 'importation of such persons,' &c. +(meaning slaves,) 'shall _not_ be prohibited prior to 1808,' says the +Constitution, 'The brightest virtue in her escutcheon!' exclaims Mr. +Breckinridge. + +'It was well known that the slavery existing in the United States was +the mildest to be seen in any country under heaven.' Page 34. Of this +assertion of Mr. B., we have only to say in the words of the +Emancipator, 'It is "well known that the slavery existing in the +United States," is _not_ "the mildest to be seen in any country under +heaven," and to say so is demonstration absolute of the most +"unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose to mislead." Witness the fact, +that the man who teaches the slave to read, or gives him the religious +tract, or the Bible even, does it at his peril. Witness the fact, on +the testimony of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, that the +large majority of the slave population are "heathen, and will bear +comparison with the heathen in any country in the world." Witness the +slave-code every where--particularly the following, which is the law +of North Carolina, and in Georgia nearly the same, "that if any person +hereafter shall be guilty of killing a slave, he shall, upon the first +conviction, suffer the same punishment as if he had killed a free +man"--(i. e. if any white man is witness, and will come forward to +testify in the case, for the testimony of a million of colored men +would go for nothing,) and "_Provided always, that this act shall not +extend to the person killing a slave outlawed_, (and running away, +concealment, and the stealing of a hog, or some animal of the cattle +kind, to sustain life, outlaws him,) _or to any slave in the act of +resistance to his lawful owner or master or to any slave_ DYING UNDER +MODERATE CORRECTION"--thus by the very law which prohibits, giving the +master express license to kill as many, and as often as he pleases, +provided he will only take care to do it, first, when no white men are +present who will inform or testify against him, or secondly, when the +slave is an outlaw; or, thirdly, when he lifts his hand in opposition +to his master, no matter how cruel the punishment or how base the +design upon his or her person; or, fourthly, by "moderate correction." +Let him only see to it, that it is done in one or all of these ways, +and under one or all these circumstances, and if reckless enough to do +so, he may kill ad libitum, and nobody to say why do ye so. Witness +the fact, trumpeted through all the papers within five years, that a +Southern man seeing another passing across his grounds in the evening, +and supposing that he was a runaway slave, _shot him dead_, because, +although he hailed him, he did not stop--when lo! it appeared that he +had shot a white neighbor, and that, the wind being high, he did not +hear, and therefore did not stop at the summons!--a striking +illustration of the carelessness and perfect impunity with which, as +a matter of fact, black men are and may be shot when attempting an +escape from their thraldom. And, once more, witness the fact, that the +way to emancipation is hedged up in this country so as it is in no +other "country under heaven," and then say what but "ignorance, or a +purpose to mislead," could lead to such statements?' + +'Perhaps the great reason against the exercise of that power' [to +abolish slavery in the District of Columbia,] was, that it would +_inevitably_ produce a dissolution of the Union. Put 'this and that +together.' 'There is not a sane man in the free states, but wishes the +world rid of slavery;' the free states contain 'seven millions out of +the eleven millions of the white population of the Union;' (see page +7,) 'a large minority in the slaveholding states, in some nearly one +half of the population,' (see page 13,) 'are _zealously_ engaged in +furthering the abolition of slavery,' and yet the exercise by Congress +of its constitutional power to abolish slavery in the national +district would '_inevitably_ dissolve the Union.' Verily, the old +proverb hath well said that a certain class of persons should have a +good memory. + +Mr. B. sneers at 'Mr. Thompson's argument about the standing army +employed in keeping down the slaves,' and declares that it was +'complete humbug, founded upon just nothing at all.' Will the citizens +of Southampton county, Virginia, who called in the aid of the U. S. +dragoons to quell an insurrection a few years ago, corroborate his +testimony? 'An officer of the United States' army, who was in the +expedition from fortress Monroe, against the Southampton slaves in +1831, speaks with constant horror of the scenes which he was compelled +to witness. Those troops, agreeably to their orders, which were to +exterminate the negroes, killed all that they met with, although they +encountered neither resistance, nor show of resistance: and the first +check given to this wide, barbarous slaughter grew out of the fact, +that the law of Virginia, which provides for the payment to the master +of the full value of an executed slave, was considered as not applying +to the cases of slaves put to death without trial. In consequence of +numerous representations to this effect, sent to the officer of the +United States' army, commanding the expedition, the massacre was +suspended.'--_Child's Oration._ + +And what says Mr. B. to this assertion of John Q. Adams, that were it +not for the protection of the western frontier against the Indians, +and of the Southern slaveholder against his human 'machinery,' this +country would scarcely have any need of a standing army. Is that +'complete humbug' too? + +Mr. B. ventures to say that 'there are not ten persons in the whole +state of Kentucky, holding anti-slavery principles, in the Garrison +sense of the word.' Page 40. We know not how many there may be now, +but in 1835, a constitution of a state society, framed on anti-slavery +principles, 'in the Garrison sense of the word,' was signed by more +than forty persons. + +Mr. B. tells about a minister who was driven, he says, from Groton, +Mass., by the storm of abolitionism, and who seems to have fled to +Baltimore, doubtless, seeking a congenial climate. See page 40. But +Mr. B. forgot to mention the many cases in which the _slave_ spirit, +'like a storm of fire and brimstone from hell,' has driven faithful +pastors from their charges, just for the crime of praying and +preaching now and then for the enslaved. + +Mr. B. says of a document from which his opponent quoted certain +Maryland laws that placed the 'benevolent colonization scheme' in any +thing but a favorable light, that it was said in America, and he +believed truly, to contain not the laws, but only schemes of laws +which never passed the Assembly. See page 47. On this the Emancipator +remarks, 'This was never alleged against the pamphlet. The pamphlet +contains the laws precisely as they stand in the statute book of +Maryland, as Mr. B. would have seen had he ever taken the trouble to +compare them. And for him to make such assertions, without having done +so, is only another instance of "unpardonable ignorance, or a purpose +to mislead."' + +In the third evening's discussion, Mr. B. asserted, page 50, that Mr. +Garrison was among the first who opposed the Colonization Society, 'on +the ground that its operations were injurious to the colored race in +America.' To this the Emancipator says, 'This is partly true and +partly not. The Society was decidedly opposed, at the outset, both by +the colored people and by those who, up to that time, had been most +active in promoting the cause of emancipation. As early as August, +1817, the subject came before the "American Convention for Promoting +the Abolition of Slavery," &c., at its session in Philadelphia. This +body, representing for the most part Friends, and made up of delegates +from abolition and manumission societies in different parts of the +country, after a full discussion, appointed a committee on the +subject. That committee reported, that "they must express their +unqualified wish, that no plan of colonization shall be permitted to +go into effect without an _immutable pledge_ from the slaveholding +states of a just and wise system of gradual emancipation;" and they +conclude their report, which was approved and adopted by the +Convention with the following resolution:-- + + "Resolved, As a sense of this Convention, that the gradual + and total emancipation of all persons of color, and their + literary and moral education, should precede their + colonization." + +When the Convention met again in 1819, the Pennsylvania society, in +sending up a statement of its views and proceedings, warned the +"abolitionists of our country to retain in view the lessons of +experience, and avoid substituting for them, schemes however splendid, +yet of questionable result;" and added, "for ourselves there is but +one principle on which we can act. It is the principle of immutable +justice! We can make no compromise with the prejudices of slavery, or +with the slavery of prejudice. The same arguments that are now urged +against emancipation, unless the subjects of it be removed from our +territory, were used with more plausibility when abolition was an +experiment, yet they were combatted with success." + +Mr. B. says, page 52, it 'would-be difficult, if not utterly +impossible, for evidences of friendship to the Colonization Society +from an avowed friend of slavery to be culled out, as occurring within +the last three or four years.' Says the Emancipator, "So far is this +from being true, that the most decisive evidences of this sort are +found, _within_ the last three or four years. Scarce a pro-slavery +mob, or speech, or meeting, during this whole time, but has contained, +in one and the same breath, a condemmnation of abolition and a +commendation of colonization." + +After quoting the resolution against the Colonization Society, in +Boston last year, Mr. B. remarks, 'that the verbiage of this +resolution, showed its parentage. No one who had ever heard one of Mr. +Thompson's speeches could, for a moment, doubt the authorship of the +resolution!' This is a small mistake indeed, and among so many great +ones, scarce merits a notice, but to show that Mr. B's sagacity in +conjecture, exceeds not much his veracity in assertion, we just +mention in passing, that the 'authorship of the resolution' belongs +_not_ to Mr. Thompson. + +'The abolitionists,' says Mr. B. page 54, 'have been going about, from +Dan to Beersheba, not only attacking and vilifying the whites, for +proposing to colonize the blacks, with their own free consent; but +equally attacking the blacks for availing themselves of the offer.' An +assertion utterly false, and wickedly slanderous. + +On page 55, Mr. B. introduces an extract from an address of some of +the Cape Palmas Colonists to their friends in America, for the purpose +of showing the prosperity of the Colony. In connection with this, let +the following letter from a colonist be read:-- + + 'CAPE PALMAS, MAY 5TH, 1834. + + _Dear Mother_,--I write you with regret. It is true, I wrote + to you of my passage, how I enjoyed it. I spent a very + agreeable time, and also on my first arrival; but now I am + distressed, and all Mr. C's family also. * * * O! I am sorry! + yes, sorry that I ever came to this country. It is true, + mother, had I taken your advice, I would not have been here. + I have suffered and all my family, and Mr. C's family too, + and we still continue to suffer. Not a cent of money have any + of us got. Now, mother, if you can get any gentleman to + advance the amount of three hundred dollars, or two hundred + and fifty dollars I will work for them for it four years. I + will serve as a waiter in a house, or any thing at all, to + pay for it. My wife says she would maintain herself and + sister, if that could get her home once more, for here they + can do nothing, for we are not able, the country is so + sickly--we have been sick ever since we have been here--* * * + I will serve any way or at any thing. _I will sell myself as + a slave_, for the sake of getting HOME once more. Try for me, + if you please, for my _family's_ sake. If I was by myself, I + might scuffle for myself.' + +In a subsequent letter, dated August 3, 1834, this same writer +communicates the additional intelligence, that Mrs. C 'died of grief.' + +'Every benevolent and right thinking person must see, that the scheme +of colonizing Africa by black men, is necessary to enlighten Africa, +and prevent the extirpation of the black man there.' So says Mr. +Breckinridge. Doubtless it was to _enlighten_ the poor natives, and +_prevent their_ extirpation, that a brisk traffic in rum, tobacco, +gunpowder, and spear-pointed knives, has been carried on with them by +black men colonized in Africa--that nine pound balls from 'a gun of +great power' were discharged into a body of eight hundred men, +standing within sixty yards, pressed shoulder to shoulder, in so +compact a form that a child might easily walk upon their heads from +one end of the mass to the other' and 'every shot literally spent its +force in a solid mass of living human flesh[B]--that by fraud and +injustice the colonists excited the hostility of the Africans, and +stirred up a war with King Joe Harris, which resulted in the slaughter +of numbers of the ignorant barbarians, who were unable to cope with +the superior arms, and discipline, and military prowess of the +American blacks--the 'missionaries in the holy cause of civilization, +religion, and free institutions.'[C] + + [B] See Gurley's Life of Ashmun, page 139. + + [C] Speech of Henry Clay. Tenth Annual Report of the + American Colonization Society. + +'America,' says Mr. B., 'was christianized by colonization.' Yea, +verily! and in this case we have another precious example of the +enlightening, civilizing, and christianizing influence of colonies. +The poor Indian has felt, and faded away before it, along the +Atlantic-shores, and still the 'missionary' work is going on at the +far southwest. Ask the Seminoles and the Creeks if colonization has +not Christianized America. Ask the shades of Metacom, and Canonicus, +and Sarsacus; ask the feeble remnants of the mighty tribes which once +dwelt from the lakes to the Gulf, and from the ocean to the Alleghany, +and learn of them the process of christianization which colonies have +introduced into America. Is it by a similar process that 'colonizing +Africa by black men,' is to 'prevent the extirpation' of the natives +of that continent? + +'The climate' of Africa Mr. B. says, page 58 'suits the black man, +while hundreds of white men have fallen victims to it.' And how many +'hundreds of black men' have fallen victims to it? Those especially +who have gone from the Northern states, have found it as fatal as have +the whites themselves, nor has it been very remarkably healthy to any +portion of the colonists. + +Mr. B. is very certain that colonizing Africa will destroy the slave +trade. He says the colonists 'would put an end to the trade the moment +they were able to chastise the pirates, or make reprisals on the +nations to which they belonged. Nothing is plainer, than that any +nation that will make reprisals, will have none of the inhabitants +stolen. If reprisals were made effective, the slave trade would be +immediately stopped.' A Christian mode of reforming vices and removing +evils, truly! '_Any nation that will make reprisals!_' So, if Peter +steals John's child, John must steal Peter's by way of reprisal, and +that will put a stop to the mischief at once! And why not reprisals +prevent all other kinds of violence, as well as man-stealing? If an +Englishman shoots a Frenchman, let a Frenchman shoot an Englishman in +return, and the quarrel is settled, and peace restored! For 'nothing +is plainer, than that any nation that will make reprisals, will have +none of the inhabitants' shot. Does past history sustain this +doctrine? Do present facts sustain it? No longer let our clergy +preach, that 'all they who take the sword, shall perish by the sword.' +'Nothing is plainer,' than that those nations 'which take the sword' +to 'make reprisals,' 'will have none of the inhabitants' injured by +the sword. But where is the need of colonies? If the 'Foulahs' will +only steal as many men, women, and children, from the 'Ialoffs,' as +the latter from the former, 'nothing is plainer than that these two +tribes will have none of the inhabitants stolen.' Do the various +African tribes never make reprisals? How happens it then, that the +slave trade, and the whole business of man-stealing has not been long +since suppressed? + +'On one hundred leagues of the African coast,' says Mr. B., 'it is +already to a great degree suppressed' by the operation of the +colonization societies and their colonies. To this the Emancipator +says, 'These statements are far, very far from true, and we can +account for them only on the ground of "unpardonable ignorance, or a +purpose to mislead." Again and again have we been assured, and on +colonial colonization authority too, that the trade still goes on in +the vicinity of the colony as briskly as ever, nay, that it is even +prosecuted within the limits of the colony, and in sight of Monrovia +itself. Indeed, at this very moment the colony, instead of being able +to suppress or destroy the trade, is in danger of being itself +destroyed by it, and is sending out its appeal to this country for +help, praying that some "American vessels" may be sent upon the coast +to seize the traders, and to protect the colony. Let our friends in +this country and in England peruse the following extracts from the +Liberia Herald just received in this country, and then say what shall +be thought of the man or the men who, in the face of such and similar +testimony repeatedly received, can unblushingly pretend "that on one +hundred leagues of the African coast, the trade is already to a great +degree suppressed?" + +Extracts from late Liberia papers, received at the office of the N. Y. +Commercial Advertiser:-- + + "_Slave Trade._--This nefarious traffic is again lifting its + horrid head in our vicinity, and increasing in a fearful + ratio. Within one hundred miles of the settlement, there are + at this very time, at least _four_ factories for the purchase + of slaves, and one of them not more than eighteen miles off! + The consequences are most severely felt by the colony. It is + now impossible to purchase rice, at any rate that would not + starve the most fortunate man. In our immediate vicinity, it + is reported, slavers have lately given the natives a musket + for four cross! the retail price of which, in the colony, is + six dollars! To the Spaniards, in view of a successful voyage, + the profits of which are so enormous, goods are of no value; + but it is far otherwise with us. The natives, like other men, + disposed to get the most for their articles, will of course + sell to those who will give the highest. This being the case, + we ask, _how are the people of this colony to live_? We have + sometimes thought if the people of the United States once + knew the _inconvenience_ to which the slave trade subjects + us, and what an _effectual check_ it is upon the advancement + and prosperity of the colony, and how little of those surplus + and useless millions, whose proper place of deposite has + created so much contention, that without an exception, saints + and sinners, politicians, philosophers, colonizationists, and + abolitionists, anti-colonizationists, anti-abolitionists, and + anti-all, would rise up, and with one general voice decree, + that a small armed vessel shall ply between Sherbro Islands + and Kroo country, and thus _effectually protect_ a few poor + OUTCASTS, while millions of their brethren are faithfully + slaving to enrich us at home." + +And so, notwithstanding the Paradise to which they have gone, and +their "free consent" to go, they are "poor outcasts" when they get +there after all; and the very trade which they were sent to abolish, +is in a fair way of abolishing them, unless government vessels go out +to their aid!' + +Of the remark said to have been made by him at the colonization +meeting, in 1834, that certain emigrants to Liberia 'were coerced +away, as truly as if it had been done with a cart-whip,' Mr. B. says +'it was an unfair report, got up by Mr. Leavitt, the editor of the N. +Y. Evangelist, to serve a special purpose.' The Emancipator answers +the assertion thus, 'This passage has been quoted and requoted in this +country, in times and ways well nigh innumerable, but, to the best of +our knowledge, it was never before pronounced an unfair report, either +by Mr. B. or any other individual. And now, while we leave Mr. Leavitt +to answer for himself on the question of its fairness, we take the +liberty to say, that if unfair, it will not relieve Mr. B. of +difficulty. For if the report be fair, and Mr. B. did say the things +attributed to him, why then, as every body knows, he said what was +true. If, however, it be unfair, and he did not say those things, then +as every body knows, he did _not_ say what was true, and what, if he +had spoken the truth, he would have said. For that they were "coerced +away as truly as if it had been done with a cart-whip," every body +knows to be fact.' + + _Mr. Leavitt's Note to the Editor of the Emancipator._ + + 'In reply to Mr. Breckinridge's allegation, that I "got up" + a report of his speech, "to serve a special purpose," I will + only say, that Mr. Breckinridge did prudently to go across + the Atlantic before he made that charge. My character as a + _fair_ reporter, will not be affected _here_ by such + insinuations. I have no doubt that the report in question + gives the ideas Mr. B. uttered, mostly in the very language + he used. My recollection, in this case, is very distinct, and + the words taken down at the time. + + JOSHUA LEAVITT. + +Mr. B. says, that 'in many instances the bad laws had become worse, +and good laws had become bad, solely through the imprudent conduct of +Mr. Thompson's associates.' Some of the most unrighteous, barbarous, +and abominable laws ever enacted in this land, whose rulers have so +long occupied the 'throne of iniquity,' and been so often and so +deeply guilty of 'framing mischief by a law,' are cited in Stroud's +Sketch, a work published several years before 'Mr. Thompson and his +associates' had commenced their 'imprudent' measures. Those laws +certainly were not occasioned by their imprudence. It is nearly a +hundred years at least, since these statutes of pandemonium began to +disgrace American legislation. + +In the fourth evening's discussion, Mr. B. asserts, page 88, that the +N. Y. Observer and Boston Recorder, 'print more matter weekly than all +the abolition newspapers in America, put together, do in half a year.' +It is really matter of astonishment, that he should venture the +utterance of such a glaring falsehood. He ought to have learned to +keep at least within the bounds of probability in his fictions. There +were at the time when his assertion was made--to say nothing of the +monthlies--not less than eight or nine _weekly_ anti-slavery papers, +some of which circulated more widely than the Recorder, and not much +less widely than the Observer. If we do not mistake, Mr. B. told a +story at least forty or fifty times as large as the truth, and we are +by no means sure that the proportion is not much larger. + +Mr. Thompson, for the purpose of showing what the abolitionists are +doing in one department of their work, produced copies of the Slaves +Friend, Anti-Slavery Record, Anti-Slavery Anecdotes, Human Rights, +Emancipator, Liberator, New York Evangelist, Zion's Herald, Zion's +Watchman, Philadelphia Independent Weekly Press, Herald of Freedom, +Lynn Record, New England Spectator, &c., and an Anti-Slavery +Quarterly. Of these, Mr. B. said 'some of them were, he believed, long +ago dead; some could hardly be said ever to have lived; some were +purely occasional; the greater part as limited in circulation, as they +were contemptible in point of merit. Not above two or three of the +dozen or fifteen that had been produced before them were, in fact, +worthy to be called respectable and avowed abolition newspapers.' Now +for the truth. _Not one_ of them was 'long ago,' or is now 'dead.' +Only one of them is 'purely occasional'--the Anti-Slavery +Anecdotes--but, with that exception, all are now alive, and nearly +every one has a circulation as extensive as that of the +Recorder--some, as already stated, still more extensive. And beside +these which Mr. Thompson exhibited, there are several other weekly and +monthly anti-slavery publications, which are neither dead, nor likely +soon to be. The Philanthropist, (its publication suspended indeed, for +a short time by the destruction of its press, but soon to be resumed,) +the Friend of Man, the American Citizen, the Vermont Telegraph, the +Middlebury Free Press, the Vermont State Journal, and a number more, +weekly, and some monthly periodicals are 'avowed abolition +newspapers,' some of them devoted almost exclusively to this cause, +and all 'respectable' both in character and extent of circulation. +Some of them are of the very highest order in point of ability and +merit, of the weekly periodicals of the country. Mr. T., therefore, +instead of exaggerating in regard to the number of the abolition +papers, fell considerably short of the truth. + +'Was he [the inhabitant of Louisiana] to be told then, that he should +turn off his slaves?' &c., asks Mr. B., page 90, Certainly not--at +least, not by abolitionists. They propose that the slaves should be +permitted to remain on the plantations and work as free laborers, +where their services will be needed, and will be mutually advantageous +to themselves and their employers. + +Mr. B. denies, page 90, that any person legally free, 'was ever sold +into everlasting slavery,' but his denial is only another evidence of +the facility with which he can utter, not only gross falsehoods, but +falsehoods which contradict _notorious_ facts, and which of course +cannot escape detection. Mr. T. has fully exposed this falsehood, by +presenting documentary evidence of the fact denied. + +Of Mr. B's declarations, on page 91, to which we refer the reader, the +Emancipator says, 'All this, if not "gratuitous folly," is at least, +unfounded and reckless assertion, which we have scarcely ever seen +equalled.' + +We ask our readers to turn back, and read again the paragraph on page +97, ending '_to_ COERCE _such emigration, might be a_ MOST SACRED +DUTY,' This has frankness at least, if it has no other good quality to +recommend it. But it is the frankness of the tyrant, who, confident of +his power to effect his purposes, fears not to avow them, however +iniquitous or abominable. And if there be frankness in letting out the +design, there is most unblushing impudence in calling its execution +'_a sacred duty_.' What utter heartlessness too, and what obliquity of +moral vision does it exhibit. And this man dares to rank himself with +the friends of the colored people! Such a friend as the Holy +Inquisitors of Spain, to the heretical Protestants, whom they deem it +their 'sacred duty to coerce' with rack and fire, to a renunciation of +their heresies. Such a friend as Louis XIV., to the Huguenots,--James +I., to the Puritans, and Charles II., to the Scottish Covenanters. + +On page 98, Mr. B. introduces what he calls a speech of Mr. T. at +Andover, as reported by a student in the Theological Seminary. Mr. T. +has met this anonymous report with counter testimony, not anonymous, +but we will add that of the editor of the Emancipator, who says, 'Mr. +B. although so often pretending that he had no documents, &c., here +read the false and distorted account of Mr. Thompson's speech on this +occasion, published at the time in the Boston Courier, and signed C. +Having been there at the time, we here record our testimony to the +fact of its being false and distorted in its representations.' + +Mr. B. on page 109, alludes to what Mr. Thompson has said 'about Dr. +Sprague having part of his church curtained round for persons of +color,' and says he notices it 'only because it was told as a +_specimen_ story.' In the same connection he evidently endeavors to +create the impression that the religious privileges of the free +colored people are equal to those of the whites. On this, the +Emancipator remarks, 'We can testify to the truth of the story in +regard to Dr. Sprague's church; and although every church does not +separate the blacks from the whites with so much care, or in precisely +the same way, yet it is strictly true, that almost, without exception, +the separation is made and carefully kept up, and this not only in the +ordinary worship of the Sabbath, but even when the church gather about +the table of their crucified and common Lord, to partake of the +emblems of his dying love.' And after admitting that colored men have, +in a few instances, been admitted to theological seminaries, and to a +seat in ecclesiastical bodies, the editor adds, and truly, as all +familiar with the facts can testify, 'Such instances, however, are few +and far between, and whenever they do occur, the individuals concerned +are, in many ways, made to feel their inferiority and to _know their +place_. The impression made by Mr. B's representation would be, as a +whole, incorrect.' + +Mr. B. asserts, page 110, that the free blacks 'in nearly every part +of America,' enjoy all civil rights 'to a degree utterly unknown to +millions of British subjects,' in various parts of the empire, and +'even in England itself.' 'It would be easy,' says the Emancipator, +'to show that he is wrong in several particulars.' And then, as one, +refers to the fact, that the colored man is not secure in his rights +or person, but may be dragged into slavery, even from free states, +without a jury trial. This one fact is certainly sufficient to +disprove Mr. B's assertion. + +'But,' says Mr. B. 'If any rights have been denied them,' as for +instance, that of preaching the gospel, 'which Virginia had lately +done,' it was all owing to the fury of abolition. See page 110. Yet +Stroud cites a law of Virginia, dating back as far as 1819, and being +then but the re-enactment of a law before in force, which rendered all +assemblies of slaves and free negroes in a meeting house or other +place by night, or at any school for teaching reading and writing, by +day or night, _unlawful_ assemblies, and subjects any person, slave or +free black, found in them, to the punishment of twenty lashes, by +order of a justice of the peace. Stroud, page 89. + +Mr. B. in the true colonization spirit, takes occasion to slander the +colored people, accusing them of 'insolence and imprudence,' and of +'insulting females in the streets of our cities,' and 'setting up +claim of perfect domestic equality with their masters,' &c. See page +114. We give the Emancipator's note on this wicked accusation, which +is as cruel as it is false. 'This whole representation is false. +Nothing can be more so. The modest deportment and the spirit of +forbearance manifested by the colored people, from the outset, has +been of the most marked as well as praiseworthy character, and in +instances not a few, has secured to them the approbation of avowed +enemies of the anti-slavery cause.' We add our own testimony, so far +as our observation has extended, to the truth of this statement. + +In the fifth evening's debate, Mr. B. complains, page 120, that Mr. +Thompson 'did not tell them that none of the ministers in twelve whole +states were or could easily be slaveholders, seeing they were not +inhabitants of a slave state.' And why should he. Would not the mere +knowledge of the fact, that 'they were not inhabitants of slave +states' render it unnecessary that his hearers should be particularly +informed that they were not slaveholders? Does Mr. B. believe that the +people of Glasgow supposed Northern ministers to be generally +slaveholders? We say _generally_, for we should not dare to assert +that '_none_' of them 'were,' whether they '_easily_ could be' or not. +If we have not been misinformed, and we believe we have not, it has +been our fortune, good or ill, to hear a northern slaveholding +minister preach, a minister too, whose pastoral charge was in the very +cradle of this _free_ nation. + +'The overwhelming mass of American ministers,' says Mr. B., 'never +owned a slave, and those who had, were exceptions from the general +rule.' Mr. T. has demolished this position with a most tremendous +broadside of evidence. We add the following quotation, which we find +in the Emancipator, from a document published a few months ago, by the +Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. 'The number of our ministers is +but little more than half the number of our churches, and of those +ministers _not one fifth sustain any pastoral relation_.' The number +of ministers is about 100, 'and many of them are obliged to devote a +part or the whole of their time to teaching, _farming_, or some other +secular employment, to procure a support for their families.' Farming +we all know, means in the slave states, 'slaveholding and +slave-driving.' + +Mr. B. seems very indignant at the declarations of his opponent, and +Moses Roper, (a colored man who had been present at some of the +meetings which Mr. T. addressed,) that slaves in America were owned, +not only by ministers and church members, but even by churches +themselves. He calls Roper's statement, 'the poor negro's silly +falsehood,' and says, page 123, 'If there be above five congregations +in all America, that own slaves, I never heard of them.' He then +mentions three of which he has heard, all in the Southern part of +Virginia. The Emancipator, in a note on this part of Mr. B's speech, +remarks, 'True, it is not the _general_ practice for churches or +ecclesiastical societies at the South, to own slaves as church +property, yet we suppose that the practice is by no means uncommon; +and the proof is threefold: _first_, that a number of instances of the +kind are actually known; _second_, that when such instances do occur, +they never produce any special sensation in the public mind--are never +spoken of as special and extraordinary cases, and never subjects such +church to reproof or the loss of ecclesiastical fellowship with other +churches; and _third_, that ministers very generally at the South hold +slaves, and that oftentimes when they are unable to buy for +themselves, some kind friend makes them a present of one or two for +house servants; and if to the ministry, why not the church?' It then +goes on to enumerate two instances, beside those admitted by Mr. B., +of churches holding slaves, and one of a bequest of slaves to the +Missionary Society, [A. B. C. F. M.] and gives also an advertisement +of the sale of certain property 'belonging to the estate of the late +Rev. Dr. Truman,' including land, 'a library _chiefly theological_,' +and '_twenty-seven negroes_, two mules, one horse, and an old wagon.' +The note thus continues, 'And when these notices appeared in the +Southern prints, no body was struck with amazement; no protestation +was given to the public that they were extraordinary cases; no +Christian minister or Christian newspaper, as we are aware, ever +lifted their voice against them as rare cases, or bore their testimony +against them as being as monstrous as they were rare. What then is the +inference? Why, that such things, if not _general_, are yet never +regarded as singular or uncommon. Now add to these; and others that +might be named, the cases admitted by Mr. B., and to this, add the +fact that Mr. Paxton at least felt that his church in Virginia _could_ +emancipate the _fifty_ slaves they owned, but _would_ not, and then +say whose statements have most of the "silly falsehoods" about them, +those of Mr. B., or the despised but honest-hearted negro?' + +Mr. B. seems to regard it as a mighty grievance, that when there are +so few slaveholding ministers, church members, and churches in +America, his opponent should charge the guilt of slavery upon the +whole American church. But why is not the whole church guilty, if any +of its members persist in committing the sin, and yet are regarded as +worthy members, in regular standing?--if any of its ministers with +hands polluted by the abominable thing, are still allowed, without any +ecclesiastical censure, not only to dispense the bread of life from +the store-house of God's word, but to distribute the emblems of +Christ's body and blood, to those who come around the table to +commemorate a Saviour's dying love?--if any of its branches, claiming +to hold God's image as property, and treating as 'chattels personal,' +their Saviour, in the person of 'one of the least of these' his +'brethren,' are fellow-shipped as sister churches, and unreproved for +their iniquity? 'Who dare pretend,' asks the Emancipator, 'That the +American church does not uphold and countenance Christian slaveholders +in their conduct? True, there are individuals, and individual churches +not a few, who do not, but who bear a faithful testimony against them. +But how is it with the _governing influences_ of the church? Their +character and their acts, and not those of a minority, however large +or respectable are the character and the acts of the church. What then +is the position of the governing influences of the American church in +regard to American slavery? It is that of protection and countenance. +The proceedings of the last General Convention of the Baptists, and +the last General Conference of the Methodists, and the last General +Assembly of the Presbyterians are our confirmation--and they are +"confirmation strong as holy writ." At this very moment, these three +bodies stand before the world as the three great Patrons and +Protectors of American slavery. Deny it as they will, the gains of the +oppressor, the hire kept back by fraud is in their coffers, the blood +of the oppressed stains their garments, and they refuse to confess or +forsake their sin.' + +Mr. B. would doubtless have thought it very uncharitable to cause a +large army of Israelites to turn their backs before their enemies, and +suffer a shameful and disastrous defeat, just because there was _one_ +Achan in the camp. + +We cannot but think that the reverend disputant rather unfortunate in +his reference to the book of Drs. Cox and Hoby, (see page 128,) for +information about the connection of the Baptists with slavery. In +looking there for light on that particular point, the reader might +chance to stumble on some things about the wicked prejudice against +the black man, as well as some sentiments in regard to the treatment +of slaves and free blacks generally, that would ill accord with the +expressed notions of the Presbyterian delegate. + +On page 133, Mr. B. introduces a letter, published in the N. Y. +Observer, and signed Truth, which represents the negroes of South +Carolina as '_generally_ well fed, well clothed,' and enjoying '_the +means of religious instruction_,' and declares that '_great and +increasing efforts are made to instruct them in religion, and elevate +their characters_.' We request our readers to turn back and read the +whole letter, and then to compare it with the following extracts from +a report on the subject of the religious instruction of the colored +people, published in 1834, by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. +'We believe that their (the colored population's) moral and religious +condition is such, as that they may justly be considered the _heathen_ +of this christian country, and will bear comparison with heathen in +any country in the world.' + +'The negroes are destitute of the privileges of the gospel, and ever +will be, under the present state of things. There were some exceptions +to this, the Synod say, and they "rejoice" in it; but although our +assertion is broad, we believe that, in general, it will be found to +be correct.' + +'They can have no access to the the scriptures. They are dependent for +their knowledge of Christianity, upon _oral instruction_. Have they +then that amount of oral instruction, which, in their circumstances, +is necessary to their enjoyment of the gospel? _They have not._ From +an entire state beyond the Potomac to the Sabine, and from the +Atlantic to the Ohio, there are, to the best of our knowledge, not +_twelve_ men exclusively devoted to the religious instruction of the +negroes.' + +The report then goes on to say that 'the negroes do not have access to +the gospel through the stated ministry of the whites,' that 'a _very +small proportion_ of the ministers in the slaveholding states, _pay +any attention to them_,' that 'they have no churches, neither is there +sufficient room for their accommodation in white churches,' and that, +in some cases, for want of a place within, 'the negroes who attend, +must catch the gospel as it escapes by the doors and windows.' 'We +venture to say,' the report continues, 'that _not a twentieth part_ of +the negroes attend divine worship on the Sabbath. Thousands and +thousands hear not the sound of the gospel, or _ever_ enter a church +_from one year to another_.' + +The report says too, that they 'do not enjoy the privileges of the +gospel in private, at their houses, or on their plantations. If the +master is pious, the house servants _alone_, and frequently few or +none of these attend family worship. In general it does not enter into +the arrangement of the plantations, to make provision for their +religious instruction. We feel warranted, therefore, in the +conclusion, that the negroes are _destitute of the privileges of the +gospel, and must continue to be so_, if nothing more is done for +them.' + +'We are astonished,' say the Synod, 'thus to find Christianity in +absolute conjunction with _Heathenism_, and yet conferring few or no +benefits.' + +Our readers, after comparing the above with the letter read by Mr. B., +can decide how much right the author of that letter had to sign it +'Truth.' + +Mr. B., page 155, endeavors to escape the force of the immense weight +of evidence with which his antagonist presses him to the earth, by +sneering at the witnesses as 'obscure,' and for aught that could be +known, 'fictitious persons,' although the names are generally given, +and yet he quotes evidence to sustain himself, which is absolutely +anonymous. See page 132. The Emancipator pertinently asks, 'Can Mr. B. +tell us who "Truth" and "A New England man" are? Or are the persons as +"fictitious" as their stories?' + +Upon Mr. B.'s assertion that Mr. Thompson's testimonies were of this +worthless character, the Emancipator has the following note. 'We beg +our readers to stop here, and go back and count the documents, and +they will find that the very reverse of what Mr. B. has stated is the +fact; and that while Mr. B.'s _main_ proofs are, first, his _own_ +assertions, and, second, the assertion of individuals, or of anonymous +writers in partisan newspapers, Mr. Thompson's _main_ proofs are the +formal resolutions and declarations of ecclesiastical bodies, and of +those who represent the _governing_ influence in church and state, and +that the testimony of individuals, so far as it is used, is brought in +only as confirmatory of the other.' + +On page 158, Mr. B. attacks Mr. J. A. Thome of Kentucky, with +characteristic virulence, because, in a speech at an Anti-Slavery +meeting, that young man had boldly exposed the abominations of slavery +in his native state. For this act his slanderer calls him 'the ingrate +who commenced his career of manhood, by smiting his parent in the +face.' But he cautiously avoids attempting--what he was doubtless +sensible would be a somewhat difficult task--to disprove the +statements of Mr. Thome. It is a little remarkable that the facts +stated by Thome, and denied by Mr. B. and his brother at the time, +were confirmed abundantly by an article published in the Western +Luminary, a Kentucky paper, on the very day on which Mr. Thome made +his statement in New York. Thus without any concert or arrangement, +two witnesses at a long distance from each other, testified to the +same facts, and unfortunately for the credibility of Mr. Breckinridge, +those were the facts which he was almost at the same time stoutly +denying. Other witnesses of unimpeachable veracity, have since +attested the same facts, and now Mr. B.'s impotent efforts to +discredit Mr. Thome, only serve to show his own vexation, malignity +and falsehood. + +We do not pretend to have noticed all the slips of Mr. B.'s 'unruly +member' in this discussion, or to have pointed out every instance in +which he has labored with all that ability and ingenuity which we +readily admit he possesses, to create false impressions on the minds +of his audience; but enough have been pointed out to show in some +measure, the degree of confidence which ought to be reposed in his +veracity as a witness and his candor and fairness as a reasoner. + +A few trifling errors into which Mr. Thompson has fallen, we feel +bound to correct; in proceeding to which, however, we cannot but +remark that considering the shortness of the time which Mr. T. spent +among us, the amount of labor which he performed in lecturing, +addressing conventions, debating, &c. &c. and the large portion of his +time necessarily consumed in social intercourse with his extensive +circle of acquaintance--nay, the very considerable share of it which +was required for the mere answering of applications to lecture, which +came from every quarter; we are actually astonished at the extent and +minuteness of his information, the mass of facts and documents which +he has contrived to collect, and what is more, at the general--the +almost uniform accuracy of his knowledge of American affairs. The +reader has seen how completely furnished he was, how armed at all +points, and ever ready to lay his hand on the very weapon which was +needed at any stage of the conflict, whether to parry the blow aimed +at himself, or to send home to his antagonist's bosom, a vigorous +thrust which neither the dexterity of sophistry could elude, nor the +buckler of brazen falsehood ward off. Indeed the mass of his +documents, and the readiness and aptness to the purpose with which he +used them, seems to have been one of the chief causes of the bitter +vexation which his opponent continually betrays. That he should have +fallen into a few mistakes is nothing surprising--that he should have +fallen into _so_ few, is indeed wonderful, and proves the industry and +diligence with which he labored at times when from the fatiguing +nature, and great amount of his public efforts, one would have +supposed he must have been obliged to indulge in perfect repose. But +to the errors. + +He stated the first evening, page 12, that there were now, exclusive +of the publications of the Anti-Slavery Society, one hundred +newspapers boldly advocating the principles of abolition. 'There are,' +says the Emancipator, 'about that number friendly to our cause, and +that occasionally speak in our behalf, but not that _boldly advocate_ +our principles,' or, as perhaps would be the more accurate mode of +expression, that do not boldly advocate our principles, _in their +application_ to the subject to which we apply them. + +On the second evening, Mr. Thompson in speaking of the New York State +Anti-Slavery Convention, page 30, said there were 600 delegates at +Utica the first day, and that when driven away by a mob, these went to +Peterboro', and were there joined by 400 more, making 1000 in all. In +reality, it was estimated that nearly or quite 1000 went to Utica, and +of these only about 400 went to Peterboro'. The error is indeed +immaterial. + +In the fourth evening's debate, Mr. T. alluding to Kaufman's +slanderous story about him, calls Kaufman 'the son of a slaveholder, +and heir to slave property.' Such was supposed to be the case, and we +were not aware that this supposition was erroneous, till we met, in +the Emancipator's note to this remark of Mr. T., an intimation that +this report had been contradicted. 'Mr. K. is from Virginia,' says the +note, 'but we believe not a slaveholder or heir to slave property.' + +These are all the errors we have observed in the statements of Mr. +Thompson, and these are of so little moment that we should not have +considered them worthy of notice in his opponent. + +It is perhaps unnecessary in concluding, formally to acknowledge, +what the reader cannot fail to have perceived, our large indebtedness +to the editor of the Emancipator for aid in the preparation of this +appendix. The truth is, our hands are at this time so plentifully +filled with business, that we have had but little time, to spare for +this work, and were glad to avail ourselves of the labors of one who +had, to such good purpose, just gone over the ground before us. + + C. C. BURLEIGH. + + Boston, Sept. 22, 1836. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +Other than a few punctuation errors and the misprints corrected in the +list below, printer's inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and +hyphenation have been retained: + + "solictied" corrected to "solicited" (page 4) + "conclusinos" corrected to "conclusions" (page 4) + "belived" corrected to "believed" (page 5) + "anamoly" corrected to "anomaly" (page 7) + "wasnot" corrected to "was not" (page 7) + "Birtish" corrected to "British" (page 8) + "him self" corrected to "himself" (page 10) + "alloted" corrected to "allotted" (pages 16, 163) + "immeditate" corrected to "immediate" (page 18) + "decison" corrected to "decision" (page 18) + "spirtual" corrected to "spiritual" (page 18) + "kidknapped" corrected to "kidnapped" (page 20) + "aleady" corrected to "already" (page 21) + "colonziation" corrected to "colonization" (page 23) + "however. Mr. Thomppson" corrected to "however, Mr. Thompson" + (page 33) + "actualy" corrected to "actually" (page 34) + "abosolute" corrected to "absolute" (page 35) + "opionion" corrected to "opinion" (page 36) + "capacties" corrected to "capacities" (page 37) + "excercise" corrected to "exercise" (page 38) + "elighten" corrected to "enlighten" (page 44) + "commited" corrected to "committed" (page 44) + "thoughout" corrected to "throughout" (page 87) + "alledged" corrected to "alleged" (page 111) + "ojection" corrected to "objection" (page 112) + "proceedure" corrected to "procedure" (page 113) + "equesterd" corrected to "requested" (page 135) + "occuring" corrected to "occurring" (page 171) + "comendation" corrected to "commendation" (page 171) + "Engl shman" corrected to "Englishman" (page 174) + "succesful" corrected to "successful" (page 175) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Discussion on American Slavery, by +George Thompson and Rev. Robert J. 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