Communications: For The Signal Of Liberty: Emancipation Of F...
Mkssrs. Editors : - You profusa to bc advocates for ihe f Inviolability of ndivic'inl rights," and as such I would wish you 'God speed.' nfid liail your efforts as among iho liaruinfjers of a brighier era in tho history of the inoral and politica! worid. Much is 8nid of Slavery, of lts turpitudc, of its injustice. and its injurioua effecia on society. Many incidcnts are related, and many facts adduced to prove such assertions: Tbc final romoval of ihat curse is aniicipatcd and means proposed for effecting such retnoval. All this is vcry right. nnd no doubt has done, nnd will do much for tho penmnent benefit, and consequent improvcment of the popul.ition of our country. But a question arises in the mind upon a review of these movements. Wül thcy lead in rcnliiy to tho final abolition of slavory in the Unitsd States? Is therc not in truth a renson for its continuance till the present, and for some time to come, upon which linie has been said? Our 'Dtclaration of Indepondencc' proclaims nll men endowcd by tlieir Crémor with certain inalienable rights, such na lifc, liberty, and the purstiit of tiappincss, and that rulcrs hold their power only by the consent of the governcd. These righis inokc every min a sovereiyn, not subject without his consent to the power of any but li;s Maker. But unforttinntely the wise framers of that instrument neglectcd to point out that the word man includcs the human race. And thcir noble descendents have determined that it nppües only to the White Lords of Creation. They are eovereiLiis. And who would bc a sovereign with du', subject? The coniinuancc of slavery shows ihnt the question nnd its answor have been nppieciaied. Histtuy informs us that in all ajjes n great share of abs ilute sovereigns have becon-.e tyrants. Do not the abuse of a Gnrrison, the murder of a Lovejcy, and many other instancC3 prove ihat iherenre tyrants among us?Does not the principie of tyrnnny prevnil to n great extent? I atn pure it does. It is visible Ãn ilie social circlc.. Ãn all the rnmificatiotts of society, nnd in our laws and polilical regnlations. ïo person can observe candidly without being surt of the fnct. Elac, why in familie., bo the 2eniu8 of the children whnt it tnay. is the most care nnd expense bestowod upon the education of the sons? Or, that n so few of our States a wonmn enn liold her right to property after her marriage? Ãn short, why is woman deprived of almosi cvery right, physicai, civil and intellectui? It mny be sniri the females of our land ore satisfied with ïheir condition. Who fihou'.d nw.-ikcn the spirit of discontent within ihoir borioms? The snme has been said of the slave. and with the samo truth. We may not riee in a body and claim nt ymir hands that Freedom of which your sex nre so proud: but hecause it is thus, should wc ftül continue to bc fettcred? Should that spint of tyronny still be nourishcd whicb shows to nll Christendom our national hypucrièy? Which drstroys 'he life and joy of domestic relations, nnd aunders the interest which each meniber of a family. and of society should foei for oiliors. In moái bdoks profêiisediy devotcd to the improveriuint of the wonien ofour land. the virlues particül.irly récommended to their observance: are, resignatinn; piticnce; ah'd forbearancè. - The wife b advised for the peace of her home, to indulge ihe foiblce. pacs over the iblliec; and treat tlio viccè of her lord with stlent npprovaland if therc is n book the husbarid vi-ould roconi mend t Uie pofusal of his wifp. it is such au one né this. The fèsuïis nró obvious: witli nl! these virtüea in' constant action, her huslinnd considersshè pcrÃorms no more thari her düty, nnd ofien. ihni she is at best but ah ünpröfitablc.servant. Wit'.i these scntiments hc is prepared . to giU those riplits hta sons vvhich have eo L mucli ennobïed liim ; ancà tluis society contin . ucs to move on. A boy oà twèlveyeors usually ( consideré riiónéélf of more consequencé thnn a omnn 61' mnï'uc inind. .Maternal infi'uèrice- hicii wh'cn propcrly exertèd. is co'nsidcred to e ot thé mosl bereficial kihÃ, is thus lïearly st, and ihó möiher itÃi nñguisfi ?ccs her coun els despised by her son mcrely bccausc h'o was om to be a' man' ! The cvils of which I speak are not Without excèptiorf. but. thcy are general, id I have snid little when muèh niight have been added, and will on!y remark in conclusión, thal so long as" domestic Slavery is vcneratcd nè one of our household goda, we h'oVé little Ãéason lo believe that Afric.iri Slo very Vill receive ihecondemnatio'n ït deserves from the professcd triends offreèdam ; Vere t'his nbolishcd, aves could notbreathcon our soit. Liberty and her sister Truth wo'uld then stan'd bèf'ore ihè world unveiled, and owrï our land théir home ; biu they pów wéep over the deseérntion of their names, and witl niariy of our American sisterhood, point to Heaven as thrii only phere of life, thcir only home.