Is it a “_merry_ marriage-bell” that rings in the ear of a slave-owning mother for the bridal of her daughter? Does not her soul recoil from the possible (probable?) evils before her child; to be placed, perchance, on an isolated plantation, environed by natural enemies; to see, it may be, the brothers and sisters of her own children follow their slave-mother to the field, or severed from her to be sold at the slave-market?
Compared with these miseries of the slave-owner, what are the toils and stripes of the slave? what his labour without stimulus or requital? what his degradation to a chattel? what the deprivation of security to the ties of kindred, and the annulling of that relation which is their source and chiefest blessing?
The slave looks forward with ever-growing hope to the struggle that must come. He joyfully “smells the battle afar off.” The slave-owner folds his arms, and shuts his eyes in paralysing despair. He hears the fearful threatenings of the gathering storm. He knows it must come,—to him fatally. It is only a question of time!
Who would not “rather be a slave than a slave-owner?”
LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF OXFORD[1] TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY.
MADAM,—I readily comply with your desire. England taught her descendants in America to injure their African brethren. Every Englishman should aid the American to get rid of this cleaving wrong and deep injury to his race and nation.—I am ever yours,
Hide the outcasts, and bewray not Him that wand’reth to be free; Haste!—deliver and delay not;— Let my outcasts dwell with thee.[2]
Shelter thou shalt not refuse him, Lest, with him, his Lord ye slight;[3] When, at noon, the foe pursues him, Make thy shadow dark as night.
With thee shall he dwell, protected, Near thee, cherished by thy side; Though degraded, scorned, neglected,— Thrust him not away, in pride.[4]
As, in truth, ye would that others Unto you should succour lend, So, to them, as equal brothers, Equal love and help extend.[5]
Thou shalt not the slave deliver To his master, when he flees:— Heritage, from GOD, the Giver, Yield them freely, where they please.[6]
As thyself,[7]—thy babes,—their mother,— Thou wouldst shield from murd’rous arm, So the slave, thy equal brother, And his household, shield from harm.