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Show 72 truth, and must always be spoken and trusted. To be just is a greater work than to free slaves. or ~rapagate religion, or save souls. I have fa1t.h m. no policy but that of simplicity and godly smc~nty. The crimes of good men in past times, of whiCh I have spoken, have sprung chiefly from ~he .disposition to sacrifice the simple primary obligatiOns of truth, justice, and humanity, to some grand cause, such as religion or country, which has dazzled and bewildered their moral sense. To free the slave, let us not wrong his master. Let us rather find comfort in the thought, that there is no unmixed evil, that a spirit of goodness mixes more or less with the worst usages, and that even slavery is illumined by the virtues of the bond and free· I have now finished my remarks on Mr. Gurney's book, and in doing so I join with many readers in thanking him for the good news he has reported, and in repeating his prayers for the success of Emancipation. I now proceed to a different order of considerations of great importance, and which ought always to be connected with such discussions as have now engaged us. The subject before us is not one of mere speculation. It has a practical side. There are Duties which belong to us as Individuals, and as Free States, in regard to slavery. To these I now ask attention. 73 I begin with individuals; and their duty is, to be faithful in their testimony against this great evil, to speak their minds freely and fully, and thus to contribute what they may to the moral power of public opm10n. It is not enough to think and feel justly. Sentiments not expressed, slumber and too often die. Utterance in some form or other is a principal duty of a social being. The chief good which an enlightened virtuous mind can do is to bring itself forth. Not a few among us have refrained from this duty, have been speechless in regard to slavery, through disapprobation of what they have called the violence of the Abolitionists. They have said, that in this rage of the elements it was fit to be still. But the storm is passing away. Abolitionism, in obedience to an irresistible law of our nature, has parted with much of its original vehemence. All noble enthusiasms pass through a feverish stage, and grow wiser and more serene. Still more, the power of the Antislavery Associationis not a little broken by internal divisions, and by its increasing reliance on political action. It has thrown away its true strength, that is, moral influence, in proportion as it has consented to mix in the frays of party. Now then, when associations are waning, it is time for the individual to be heard, time for a free solemn protest against wrong. It is often said, that all moral efforts to forward 7 |