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Show 144 THE liON'rHLY OFFE!tiNG. (lr:T Petltions.-'ll) It is time that the work of obtaining signatures to aboli· tion petitions was commenced in earnest. Never, perhaps, has the prospect of success and usefulness in this important department of anti-slavery effort been more cheering, than at the present time. The anti-slavery field has, in a measUre, been suffered to lie fallow, for a considerable period, and, if now broken up, will amply repay renewed and increased exertion. The encouragement to effort from the increased proba· bility of a faTorable reception, and proper consideration o the requests we make ; both in Congres~, and our own Legislature, is also very great. There is very little doubt of the removal of the odious " Gag" at the next session of our National Congress; and if the abolitionists of this Com· monwealth will exert themselves as duty to the cause of human rights requires, they may confidently expect a declaration of the equal rights of men of every color, in the use of the means of conveyance furnished under State charter'; and the repeal of the odious law prohibiting the marriage of persons of different colors, during ~he coming session. Although abundant occasion exists for the exertions of the anti-slavery women of Massachusetts in a sphere so "appropriate; " yet the charge made during the last session of the Legislature that they only were desirous of procuring the repeal of the marriage law, and that the antislavery men had not sufficient gallantry to co-operate with them; should serve as a special inducement to the male aboli· tionists of the state to begin the work with zeal, and refute the false accusation by the testimony of thousands of wit-neslies. H. W. W. THE MONTHLY OFFERING. 0 C T 0 B E R, 1 8 4 1. •' Slavery as it is., Th' · h lishediS bis t ~ title of _a large pamphlet prepared and pub- . y t e Amencan Anti-slavery Society sometime ~nee. Though scores of thousands of this work have een scatt~red b~oad_ cast over the country, yet it has not had that CITculatiOn It merits. Could th £ t h . vealed b b h b e ac s t erem re- ,fide roug t efore the good people of the free states I am con en t there would be no more cavt· ll.m g about "k" ' d treatment" towards the slaves. The old stereotyped In ments, that "the slaves are contented and happy" artghu·t "the b ,-a w yare ettero~than our northern laborers,"" that the ould not take theu freedom if it was not offered them " ~ a thousand and one other objections fostered by · ' an and prejudi_ce, would be urged no l~nger. Ignorance Slave~y I.s at war with the whole constitution of man every prmcJple of which cries out for freedom Th , t · h · e sys· c:~:~ ~fe m;st un_natural one that can possibly be con· t . . I' an reqUires the most unnatural means to sus baumt 1It . t does not rob a man °f a part of his rights only• found?::o~heo~xe at,. and completely annihilates the ver; I b d all nghts. It converts the person of the ;h::·th: Y a~d s_oul,-that which was created a little ]ower ange s, lllto a mere thing, a chattel, a piece of |