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KING SLAVERY'S COUNCIL; 
 
 OR 
 
 THE MIDNIGHT CONCLAVE : 
 
 !®ilMlil.^ 
 
 BY JA3IES REID, OF HEBRON, N. V. 
 
 " From gay to grave, from lively to severe." — Cowper 
 
 '• 1 must have liberty 
 
 Withal — as large a charter as the wind, 
 
 To blow on whom I please." — Shakspeare. 
 
 TRO Y:"^ 
 
 PRINTED AT THE DAILY WHIG OFFICE, 249 RIVER-ST. 
 
 1844. 
 

 ANALYSIS. 
 
 Scene opens. — Herald of King Slavery is seen collecting his Coun 
 sellora. — King Slavery opens the case by an introductory speech. — Is 
 succeeded by Infidelity, whose history is given. — Defends Slave- 
 r>' — gives his opinion as to the best means of meeting its opposers. — 
 Is succeeded by Mob-law— his history and character giveni— Mob- 
 law's advice as to the best means of putting down the Liberty Par- 
 ty. — Southern Chivalry described — his speech. — Whiggery's charac- 
 ter and speech. — Locofoco's character described and speech given. — ■ 
 Freedom speaks. — Religion speaks. — Conscience closes the Con- 
 clave.—Epitaph on Slavery. 
 
 ^('.| 
 

 THE MIDNIGHT CONCLAVE. 
 
 In his unceasing round, diffusing light, 
 The Sun had pass'd the Andes soaring height. 
 Which stretch themselves along our western 
 
 shore ; 
 And now with cheering beams was lighting 
 
 o'er 
 Pacific's waters vast, with light betimes, 
 Th' advent'rous mariner to distant climes. 
 The moon had risen high o'er eastern spires, 
 'Tended by myriads of lesser fires, 
 Which seem'd intent this western world to 
 
 scan 
 And watch with wakeful care o'er sleeping 
 
 man. 
 To heighten still the scene and give it grace. 
 The queen of night's full and resplendent face, 
 At intervals, by flights of clouds was veil'd — 
 Which 'long the heav'ns majestically sail'd. 
 Thus pleasing was the scene, when darkness 
 
 dread, 
 With mystic suddenness the land o'erspread. 
 Dark and electric clouds by whirlwinds driv'n 
 Swept fierce and grandly o'er the vault of 
 
 heav'n. 
 
And in directions all; spreading dismay, 
 In zigzag lines the forked lightnings play. 
 Dread thunders on tremendous thunders roll 
 Which rock the solid world from pole to pole. 
 As nature thus in storms convulsive rag'd 
 The approach of some calamity presag'd. 
 When as the lightning's flash lit up the skies, 
 A mystic being of gigantic size, 
 Amidst tempestuous storms you could discern 
 Him pass and then repass, go and return, 
 In all directions, "vvith such matchless speed, 
 As nothing but the lightning^s could exceed. 
 His meagre form to a mere shadow spent, 
 Was nearly to a semicircle bent : 
 A death-like paleness o'er his face wa»^ast — 
 And in his head his eyes stood fixed, aghast : 
 His much distorted countenance betray'd 
 What anguish on his soul intensely prey'd. 
 His name was Deep-distress — employ 'd was 
 
 he. 
 Now as the herald of King Slavery. 
 Whom thus in haste his sov'reign had sent 
 
 forth. 
 To east, to west, to south, and to the north. 
 To summon to attend, his counsellors all. 
 In midnight conclave at their Congress Hall, 
 In order there some questions to debate 
 That to the king were of importance great. 
 
 The hour arrived, the Counsellors obey'd, 
 And in due order 'round the room parade. 
 And such a motely crew of reasoning sages, 
 
On no occasion, had convened for ages, 
 King Slavery was there, and his two brothers, 
 His father and two sons, and hosts of others, 
 Whose names and characters will be related, 
 As we proceed in th' order they debated. 
 
 The king arose, and first the forum took. 
 He had a wrathful and ferocious look. 
 His eyes were set so crooked in his head, 
 His majesty invariably was led, 
 To view objects presented to his sight, 
 In a distorted and falacious light. 
 He did not only look askant like those 
 Who squint on objects viewed across the nose. 
 More strange, one eye was black, the other 
 
 bro^n, 
 The one was twisted up, the other down. 
 In fine, he was deformed in every part — 
 He had a christian's head and devil's heart. 
 He paus'd as if his audience to scan 
 With look severe and grave, he thus began : 
 
 "Most noble peers, wisdom's exalted son's, 
 First on the roll of earth's most mighty ones, 
 The object of importance vast, thus late. 
 For which you've been conven'd I haste to 
 
 state. 
 Three persons, in my realm whom long I've 
 
 held 
 Unwilling subjects, have at length rebell'd. 
 In heart they never did approve my cause, 
 But, by constraint, were forc'd t' obey my 
 
 laws. 
 
 If 
 
Freedom, Religion, and stern Conscience, 
 
 who, 
 Gives far more trouble than the other two, 
 Are of the rebel spirits — these the names, 
 Who have set up the most enormous claims 
 Against my government that e'er were known, 
 Determin'd that it must be overthrown. 
 They satisfied with nothing less will be, 
 Than that I abdicate to Liberty. 
 Already they've a faction form'd so strong, 
 What they've designed, they will effect ere 
 
 long. 
 Unless that we unite, and concert means, 
 Whereby w^e may defeat their mad'ning 
 
 schemes. 
 For many years, persuasion's force they 
 
 tri'd, ^ 
 
 And Ethic's laws and Bible precepts plied. 
 To make mankind believe the slavery plan, 
 A usurpation of the rights of man. 
 And that it is a damning sin to hold, 
 That negroes might like swine be bought and 
 
 sold. 
 Upon these points they labor'd long and hard, 
 Call'd to their aid, priest, statesman and the 
 
 bard. 
 And every means within their pow'r essayed — 
 Both heaven and earth were summon'd to 
 
 their aid, 
 They spoke, they wrote, they plead, they 
 
 preach'd, they pray'd ; 
 
But such mild means I valu'd not a straw, 
 Where Governor Lynch administered the law. 
 We there had ample means upon our part, 
 To veto all their Projects at the start. 
 When by petition they with Congress plead ; 
 We then returned their prayers unheard, un- 
 
 'read. 
 By timely threats, repeated, o'er and o'er,. 
 We gag'd their statesmen on the Congress 
 
 floor. 
 Where e'er their abolition speeches came, 
 We sack'd the mails and them con3i2:ned to 
 
 o 
 
 flame. 
 For Christian efl?brts, too, weprov'd too hardj 
 Their ministers we feather'd and we tar'd^ 
 And then, to flutter back we turn'd them loose, 
 A northward, homeward flight, like the wild 
 
 goose. 
 When April's powerful suns have cleared a- 
 
 way 
 The winter's ice from Hudson's marshy bay. 
 But finding ridicule and railery. 
 Lynch law, and rotten eggs, for slavery, 
 Were arguments too strong for suasion's force; 
 To other weapons they have had recourse ; 
 Which, wielded by their pow'rful arm, each 
 
 blow. 
 In accents loud, threaten our overthrow, 
 And thence throughout all slavery's vast do- 
 main 
 Exterminating war,, vo-w to. maintain : 
 
It is the bated, dreaded ballot-box. 
 Whose dire effects, like appoplectic shocks, 
 Greatly increased by each succeeding stroke. 
 Until the Tital springs of life are broke. 
 This is the weapon most I dread, I fear, 
 For which my friends you hare been sum- 
 moned here, 
 Means to devise, to quell their mad'ning 
 
 schemes. 
 And banish all their abolition dreams. 
 
 Clay-men. on you I call, on Locofoco too. 
 Unite as you in Congress used to do, 
 Rally your ranks, already by them thin*d. 
 Or slavery's power is given to the wind. 
 Tho* long Vd held their speeches in con- 
 tempt, 
 From fear and paiu I was not quite exempt, 
 For when e'er Freedom rose to plead their 
 
 caose. 
 And show the world that I a tyrant was, 
 And that I had by simple claim of might, 
 Usurp'd the negro's all, and ev'ry right : 
 And when Reiiion, too, would rise and plead 
 That Christianity condemned the deed ; 
 To ail they said, no matter where or when, 
 Stem Conscience would arise and say, *Amew.' 
 'Twas this my feelings most and keenest stimg. 
 And my vex'd soul with bitter^ anguish 
 
 wrung. 
 Of all the foes, with which I'm daily curs'd, 
 This self-same Conscience is the very worst. 
 
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 To be - 
 
10 
 
 upon this point, it seems you are agreed, 
 A tariff is the rery thing we need. 
 Yet managed as the office hunter wishes, 
 You disagree about the wovd judicious. 
 Both want a tariff, our int'rest to protect. 
 But incidentily one, the other more direct. 
 Upon the other points you disagree. 
 They're small and compromised might surely 
 
 he. 
 Such as Sub-treasury, by Matty plann'd, 
 And distribution of the public land. 
 Whether we view these in the simple light, 
 Of money'd things, of principle, or right, 
 Their weight, and their importance soon are 
 
 made 
 To disappear, when in the balance laid, 
 Vv ith slavery's mighty claims, involving all 
 The piiinciples of right, both great and small. 
 
 It is a fact, the Whigs will not dispute, 
 As Harry their beloved does compute. 
 That southern men twelve hundred millions 
 
 hold:, 
 By right of custom, from the times of old, 
 And: have by right of law held unmolested, 
 In negro and mulatto stock invested. 
 Which are as much their property by right 
 As are the cattle of the northern white. 
 
 To wrest this vast amount of property. 
 Out of the rightful hands of slavery. 
 To turn our negroes loose like cattle wild,^ 
 To cut the throats of master, wife and child. 
 
11 
 
 To burn our buildings down, lay desolate, 
 By servile war and woe, each southern state. 
 To fill with paupers and with convicts then,' 
 The pauper-house and jails of northern men' 
 Is the prodigious good, benev'lent schemes, 
 Of which the abolition party dreams. 
 If then my friends you would avert these woes 
 You must unite your legions and oppose 
 With manly force, these knaves, our common 
 
 foes, 
 Ere Freedom, with a high and mighty hand 
 Triumphant drives his car throughout the land 
 And mingled shouts, from different quarters 
 
 rise, 
 
 Of victor s triumph and the vanquished's cries 
 iJorne far and wide on wings of ev'ry gale, ' 
 The loud lament of slav'ry's dying wail— 
 Mingled with Freedom's shouts of victory— 
 *The negro's now, and ever will be free ' 
 
 Thus spoke the king, his labor'd effort draws 
 l^rom his admiring peers, bursts of applause. 
 
 The next who rose, and took the speaker's 
 stand. 
 
 To plead the cause that slavery had plann'd 
 Agamst the brave, the noble and the free, ' 
 Was old decripped Infidelity. 
 Who was as we from ancient history gather 
 Of slavery the loved and lawful father 
 
 His head was bleach'd like wool, with 
 length of years. 
 
 His eyes were red with rage, 'twas not with 
 tears. 
 
12 
 
 With furrows deep, time had his visage 
 
 plough'd, 
 And gloomy hate his count'nance did becloud. 
 His visage and his form both indicate, 
 That his longevity was vastly great. 
 
 'Tis said he was in Eden's garden born. 
 On that lamented day- — that hapless morn, 
 When lovely Eve from holy Adam stray'd. 
 And wandered thoughtless • on beneath the 
 
 shade, 
 In Eden's midst, to the forbidden tree. 
 Where first she met old Infidelity. 
 Who then and there to her a lecture made, 
 And of its fruits, to eat, did her persuade. 
 Which caused her good and evil well to know, 
 'Brought death i^ito our world and all our woe.' 
 From first to last this lecture was a lie. 
 'Twas *God doth know ye shall not surely die.' 
 And as he lectured then in days of youth. 
 So now he neither lov'd nor taught the truth. 
 But when he open'd first his mouth, a fume 
 Of nauseous, sick'ning stench, fili'd all the 
 room. 
 
 Such is the character and such the man. 
 Who now arose to speak, and thus began : 
 
 "My children, much beloved, for such I 
 claim, 
 No matter whence you are or what the name: 
 All these who brethren like, as one unite, 
 T' uphold by any means king Slav'ry's right. 
 
 If age gives claims to be reputed wise, 
 
13 
 
 Experience, presumptuous to advise, 
 I might, with confidence, presume to state 
 My views upon the question in debate, • 
 And in what light the subject should be view'd, 
 And what the measures are, to be pursu'd. 
 
 It is a fact fools only will dispute, 
 That negroes have not souls more than the 
 
 brute: 
 And hence it may, most fairly be presum'd 
 That they like them, by nature's laws are 
 
 doom'd, 
 To be forever servants to the whites. 
 To minister unto their appetites. 
 Their flattened nose, their curly wooly hair, 
 Their oily lamp black skin, aloud declare, 
 That they belong to quite another race, 
 And so should occupy a lower place. 
 But more,their dull and obtuse minds likewise, 
 In strength of intellect, which scarcely rise 
 Above what writers uniform describe. 
 As manifested by the monkey tribe: 
 Conclusive shows that nature has designed, 
 They should be slaves to others of mankind. 
 And that this too accords with moral right. 
 May soon be seen from revelation's light. ^ 
 (Though for a moment it must not be thought, 
 That what is in, and by the scriptures taught, 
 With Infidelity can have much weight. 
 In this or any other such debate,) 
 Yet if from thence we can our cause maintain, 
 Christians will have no reason to complain. 
 2 
 
14 
 
 The scriptures teach that Abraham the good, 
 The slav'ry cause in practise understood. 
 And that a great proportion of his wealth. 
 Was not acquired by force, nor fraud, nor 
 
 stealth, 
 Consisted in his slaves, as we are taught. 
 Born in his house or with his money bought. 
 
 Again when Moses led with mighty hand, 
 The tribes of Israel up from Egypt's land. 
 Thro' seas, thro' deserts, and thro' wilderness, 
 The heathen Canaanite to dispossess ; 
 And gave them laws divine, to regulate 
 The Hebrew policy of church and state. 
 It was decreed a richer Hebrew might. 
 Six years enslave a brother Israelite. 
 And they of heathen nations round them nigh. 
 Bondmen and maidens were allow'd to buy, 
 Who were henceforth perpetual slaves to be, 
 Nor go like others out at jubilee : 
 But after them descend in children's line, 
 A patrimony to the end of. time. 
 
 And lest it might be thought, in after days, 
 When gospel light shone forth in brighter rays. 
 That Jewish law as well as Jewish rite, 
 Were abrogated by the gospel's light, ' 
 'Twas taught by him who spake as never man, 
 Has ever spoken since the world began. 
 That he came not to make the prophets void, 
 Neither design'd the law to be destroy 'd ; 
 But rather came their precepts to fulfil 
 And leave its obligations binding still. 
 
15 
 
 And thus we find, that, Philomel the good, 
 The law and prophet's precepts understood. 
 For he the ties of consanguinity 
 Regarding not, reduced to slavery, 
 His brother "in the flesh," as we are told. 
 By Paul, who wrote of him in times of old. 
 Therefore my friends you see, plain as the 
 
 light, 
 That slavery is and ever has been right. 
 That reason and the scriptures both agree, 
 The negro has no claims to be set free. 
 I then would ask, and ask that all may hear 
 As well spectator as my fellow peer : 
 By what authority and by what right. 
 The Abolitionists both day and night. 
 Go lectur'ing round, both out of doors and in. 
 To show the world that slavery is a sin. 
 You must then rise my friends, rise in your 
 
 wrath — 
 Let righteous indignation mark your path, 
 Let ev'ry argument be keenly plyed. 
 And leave no measures and no means untried, 
 No arrows spare : what can be done, that do, 
 Until these fanatics, this motley crew, 
 Are driven from the field of public strife, 
 And refuge take in shades of private life. 
 
 Thus spoke old Infidelity. Loud cheers 
 Of deep applause, bursts from his fellow peers. 
 
 The next who rose was Sheer Hipocrisy, 
 The eldest son of Infidelity, 
 And was the brother of King Slavery, 
 
16 
 
 Y/hom he excelled in cunning knavery. 
 His look was grave, a sanctimonious smile 
 Concealed his inmost thoughts, surcharg'd 
 
 with guile, 
 Without he was most pure, while all within 
 ¥/as most corrupt, with ev'ry hateful sin. 
 He had a tongue most marvelous of all. 
 Which spoke both honey'd words and words 
 
 of gall. 
 Bat spoke not as he thought, for oft 't would 
 
 bless, 
 Praise equal rights, and plead for holiness, 
 ¥/hile all the time within his heart he'd curse, 
 And rail, and rage, in thoughts the most 
 
 perverse. 
 And then his hands would not his tongue obey, 
 Eut always acted as his heart would sd.j. 
 He spoke of good, yet ahvays evil done. 
 And thus his thread of life was constant spun. 
 
 Such is the man who now attention draws, 
 And thus proceeds, to plead the slavery cause : 
 
 "Most noble relatives and friends, I feel 
 'Tv/ould be great sin my thoughts now to 
 
 conceal, 
 Upon the slavery question, in debate, 
 W^hich does near all the world now agitate. 
 
 That slavery is a sin, (let doubt who can. 
 Against the laws of God, and rights of man,) 
 I firm believe, and is the cause whereby, 
 A thousand other crimes of blackest dye, 
 Are perpetrated by slaveholder's hand. 
 
17 
 
 On negro slaves, in our beloved land. 
 Nor do I wish this truth to be concealed, 
 That ev'ry slav'ry law should be repealed, 
 I am in fact as much as other men 
 An abolitionist, but then, — but then — 
 It i-s most desperate wickedness to mix. 
 Religious things with filthy politics. 
 They should be kept in every christian's heart. 
 And practice too, wide as the poles apart* 
 To carry slav'ry to the ballot box 
 Is madness then that all description mocks. 
 And should by all the good and orthodox, 
 Be met, resisted, and opposed most stern, 
 Until these abolitionists do learn, 
 And also learn, too, at their own expense. 
 This fundamental law of common sense. 
 That it is not republican to mix. 
 Religious things with earthly politics. 
 Already strange things they have brought 
 
 about, 
 The church within and in the world without; 
 So that for priests and statesmen now to 
 
 change, 
 Their relative positions, is not strange. 
 For politics the clergy often preach. 
 And statesmen go around and morals teach. 
 This is the desp'rate Babel work, alas ! 
 That abolitionists have brought to pass. 
 Far worse than all of slavery's wrong and 
 
 crime, 
 -From Adam's days down to the present time. 
 2* 
 
IS 
 
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 Tkiic '^T'tFTT isoj^: rc-sr ■ me s^^^rr 
 
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20 
 
 He was from his design forced to desist. 
 
 Again Mob-law, as history's story runs, 
 Stirred up two of old Jacob's desperate sons, 
 To put the Sechemites all to the sword. 
 Regardless of their father's plighted word. 
 And furiously deprived their males of life, 
 And from one simple Shechem lynch'd his wife. 
 And all because th' enchanting, fairy curls, 
 And witching smiles of one of Jacob's girls, 
 Had won the heart of Shechem, Hamor's son,' 
 And he away had with the damsel run. 
 
 Another time when sons of Jacob fed 
 Their father's flocks in Dotham's flowery 
 
 mead. 
 The envied Joseph was sent by his sire. 
 After his brethren's welfare to enquire. 
 Soon as they saw him come in sight, it seems 
 They call'd to mind the youth's offensive 
 
 dreams. 
 And all the partial kindness of their sire, 
 Which so incensed their rage and furious ire, 
 That Mob-law rose and caught him by the 
 
 throat. 
 And stripped him of his many colored coat, 
 And cast him in a pit that was hard by, 
 That there he might be left to starve and die. 
 
 In the meantime an Ishmaelitish band. 
 With balm and spices bound to Egypt's land, 
 Came sweeping by : it to Mob-law occurred 
 'Twould be a plan, far more to be preferred, 
 That Joseph should be sold for golden gain, 
 
21 
 
 • 
 
 Eather than be by his own brethren slain. 
 The plan was soon before the merchants laid, 
 Who twenty silver pieces for him paid. 
 
 The aged patriarch then to deceive 
 And make the old afflicted man believe. 
 That Joseph had by evil beasts been slain, 
 His coat of many colors they did stain 
 In blood, and said they found it on the plain. 
 
 Another desp'rate deed and daring act 
 B}'' hist'ry handed down to us as fact,. 
 As perpetrated by this lawless man. 
 Was when six hundred of the tribe of Dan 
 Went up to take possession of their lot, 
 And to mount Ephraim came, the very spot 
 Where lived one Micah who at great expense 
 
 'tis said. 
 Some little molten Gods for his own use had 
 
 made. 
 But Mob-law thought these gods could just as 
 
 well 
 Save one whole tribe, as save one man from 
 
 hell. 
 Therefore, right in he w^ent without delay, 
 And from poor Micah took his gods away. 
 And when the neighbors and th' insulted man 
 Pursued and overtook these sons of Dan, 
 And Micah cried, and plead and did implore 
 That they his golden gods should now restore, 
 Old Mob-law turned around and Micah eyed, 
 And thus to him insultingly replied: 
 
 'What ails thee Micah now, let not a word 
 
22 
 
 From thy insulting lips 'mongst us be heard. 
 But hold thy peace, respecting what's been 
 
 done, 
 Lest fierce and angry fellows on thee run, 
 -And in the bloody and unequal strife. 
 You and your neighbors each do loose his life.' 
 
 Eut worst and wickedest of all the crime 
 Mob -law has done, or can do, during time 
 Was when he stood in Pilate's judgment hall, 
 And with the rabble Jews did plead and call, 
 That Pilate should the Savior of mankind, 
 Guilty of treason, 'gainst king Cesar find. 
 And though the weak and fearful Pilate knew 
 That Mob-law's wicked charge was most 
 
 untrue. 
 Yet fearing Mob-law's power, at last complied. 
 And Christ condemned to be there crucified. 
 But as these are some of the desp'rate crimes 
 By Mob-law done, in past and ancient times, 
 It may be thought that by this time he might 
 In Freedom's land — a land of gospel light, 
 Be much reformed, from what in youth he 
 
 was. 
 And christian-like submit to christian laws. 
 Yet if we from the fruit may judge the tree. 
 What then in youth he was, still now is he. 
 
 Within the boasted land of Liberty, 
 That is, where blacks are slaves, and whites 
 
 are free, ^ 
 One Lovejoy lived, a fearless man indeed — 
 Who boldly dared for equal rights to plead. 
 
23 
 
 He and old Slavery ^eie morial foes- 
 
 Lcvejov had sworn his int'rest to oppose ; 
 He spoke, and wrote, and printei nmch to 
 
 show 
 -SlaT'ry the greatest sinner here -='"~. 
 Which so innamed his brother 2 _ "^'? ire. 
 Tnat he against this LoTejov did c t. 
 
 And in his lawless fmy lAJTejoy slew. 
 Air' '' ""' -- ■ ■ - - -"" - new. 
 
 L'r.e 'lay he puix'd a ne_ z aowr. 
 
 The reason was, the negroes once a week 
 V' y^l c[o to church to hear a nezro speak, 
 
 Xhat r- - - -~ "~ _ ". 
 
 When - — -— - -? 
 
 slave, 
 Shc'^i a: the trompet's caiL rise from the 
 
 grave. 
 They to the white nan's heav"n ii..z:r. Lsj 
 
 come. 
 As :hcir last hope, their last desire and home. 
 Such were the doings of this desp'rate man. 
 Who now arovse to speak, and thus began : 
 *'My friends, with deep aiten:: 7 : e 
 
 What .._-..,.f^'- "- speakers ha^e preferre^i. 
 The sins c: : .sts id show. 
 
 And the best means t* eSect their overthrcTr. 
 And though the means the speakers new ad- 
 vise. 
 
24 
 
 To meet all other foes, would be most wise ; 
 Yet these mad fanatics with such to meet, 
 Will not mere failure prove, but sure defeat. 
 To think to reason with them till they yield. 
 And talk them down, and talk them from the 
 
 field, 
 Are thoughts most vain and idle in extreme, 
 At best 'tis only a quixotic dream. 
 'T would be like shaming Satan out of sin, 
 The very thing he loves and glories in. 
 I would advise to drop this wordy war, 
 As other means are preferable far ; 
 Which in such desp'rate cases have always 
 Successful proved, in past and present days. 
 
 Whenever public notice then is given, 
 That at such place, and on such day, or even, 
 Some rev'rend some one, then and there will 
 
 be, • 
 T' address 3^ou on the wrongs of slavery ; 
 Be sure to rally out our friends likewise, 
 To reason with them as' I now advise. 
 Just tell our tools the Whigs and Democrats, 
 To fill their pockets and to fill their hats, 
 With dung, and dirt, and filth, and rotten eggs, 
 From clucking hens' nests bring the very 
 
 dregs, 
 And then, soon as they rise and do assay, 
 To reason 'gainst king Slav'ry in their way. 
 Then let both parties, to a man arise. 
 And argue with them, as I now advise. 
 Commence to hiss like serpents, or a goose, 
 
 i^!^ 
 
•25 
 
 And yell, as though all Bedlam had broke 
 
 loose, 
 And pelt them with your dirt and rotten eggs, 
 And soon you'll find they'll all take to their 
 
 legs, 
 And every point in argument will yield. 
 And leave you masters of the well fought field. 
 For 't has been found in this cause all along, 
 A rotten egg's an argument so strong, 
 No abolitionist in any town, 
 Has yet been found, able to choke it down-. 
 
 It was no longer since than forty-three, 
 I tried this argument for slavery, 
 And a great champion in their cause one even, 
 Quite from a church, by rotten eggs was 
 
 driven. 
 It was upon that far-fam'd little hill, 
 Where stands the pleasant little Schuyler- 
 
 ville. 
 The place where John Burgoyne, in seventy- 
 seven. 
 From Bemus heights was fairly backward 
 
 driven ; 
 When all his British clans, and Hessian hordes. 
 To General Gates surrendered up their swords. 
 This then's the means no doubt that best 
 
 will suit. 
 With lecturers, to settle the dispute. ' 
 But there's another class now in the field, 
 Whose lips, too, on this question, must be 
 
 sealed. 
 3 
 
26 
 
 It is those clergy who their sermons mix, 
 With gospel truths and filthy politics ; 
 Who do the sacred desk so much abuse, 
 To peddle abolition tales and news. 
 But there's a way by which this class of men. 
 Too can be gagged, at least nine out of ten. 
 Just say to them, with looks most grave and 
 
 stern. 
 Unless you from your present course do turn, 
 And stop your pulpit abolition talk. 
 With notice short, you'll be obliged to walk ; 
 For all good christian whigs and democrats, 
 Resolve to take their bibles and their hats, 
 And from your church retire, ev'n to a man, 
 And then pick up your sal'ry where you can. 
 This scheme has oft been tried with much' 
 
 success. 
 And will effect its object, more or less. 
 A christian threat, stern made within church 
 
 door. 
 Is what the bowie knife's on Congress floor- 
 It is in fact, such choaking argument, 
 Few clergy dare to answer or resent. 
 
 And if that class of men, who pills do ped- 
 dle. 
 Should with the slav'ry question intermeddle; 
 And think to make themselves a little bigger, 
 By pleading for the freedom of the nigger. 
 Just say to these knights of the saddle-bags. 
 You doctor, fool, you'll soon be clothed in 
 rags, 
 
27 
 
 Unless you let the slav'ry cause alone— 
 
 For of your pills and powders we'll have none; 
 
 They may both mould and rot upon your shelf, 
 
 Unless you choose to swallow them yourself. 
 
 We'd rather die than be cured by a pill, 
 
 Administered by abolition skill. 
 
 If then this plan is only firmly tried, 
 
 You'll find near all the doctors on our side — 
 
 And they will plead for us and never falter, 
 
 As 't were to save their necks quite from the 
 halter. 
 These are the arguments I would propose, 
 
 With which to meet our abolition foes. 
 
 Mad fanatics, insulters of the laws, 
 
 Who'd break the Union to maintain their 
 cause. 
 
 Then let all wordy means be laid aside. 
 
 And bowie knife and rotten eggs be tried." 
 Thus spoke Mob-law ; and from his fellow 
 peers, 
 
 Both long and loud, and deafning were the 
 cheers. 
 A younger brother of Mob-law next came, 
 
 A man he was of most renowned fame ; 
 
 For many who would not have feared Mob- 
 law, 
 
 Of this most daughty hero stood in awe. 
 
 'Tis true, his head was like his brother's, small, 
 With little intellect, and ideas few ; 
 
 But then he wore a cap with feathers tall, 
 And hugh mustaches, and a monstrous cue. 
 
28 
 
 A glittering sword hung dangling by his side 
 He looked as he would sav, "All men be- 
 ware 
 
 Of of ling insult to my noble pride, 
 
 For I'll resent to death •' here and elsewhere,' 
 
 Each plebian effort done in rivalry, 
 
 To cope with me, puissant Southern Chiv- 
 alry." 
 
 AH present bowed with faces humbly bent, 
 
 To listen to his speech grandeloquent. 
 
 "Most noble peers ! brave sons of noble 
 sires ! 
 
 Within whose bosoms burns the sacred fires 
 
 Of patriotism pure — behold your knight ! 
 Who, for the sake of our loved institutions, 
 
 W^ill to the northern fanatics show fight. 
 And count them all as puny Lilliputions. 
 
 I marvel great!}' that this shameful fear,. 
 
 Has seized upon your hearts as if upon your 
 rear, 
 
 The rebel hosts of freedom had descended. 
 
 And Slavery's dominion wholly ended. 
 
 Vrhy quake your trembling hearts ? Do you 
 not see, 
 
 Whoever's recreant. Southern Chivalry, 
 
 Stands like a tower in wondrous majesty ? 
 
 Have you forgat that in an evil hour — 
 
 When northern fanatics thought to get power ; 
 
 Now only wielded by king Slavery, 
 
 In spite of abolition knavery ; 
 
 When Adams, Giddings, and even Beardsley 
 too, 
 
29 
 
 • •- 
 
 Began wim freedoflt to asert tte 
 Of ^ek coBstifoali^ £d Jon Mt 
 
 To Tiew fli^lo^rr mien, and aee wfeatlia^tfs 
 M J oolar rose to, like 
 
 Rire jcm. fec^t, how 
 
 Hare ccm«^ bcc^^' 
 again ? 
 
 Adams, list 
 
 Bet its a 
 
 
 •■J^.:i> * 
 
 -^ 
 
30 
 
 Was quite a j^outh, his name was Whiggery. 
 He money 'd things accutely understood; 
 On moral subjects was not quite so good, 
 He held some principles, no doubt, were true ; 
 His trait was promise much, and little do. 
 He had a favorite son, called Harry Clay, 
 Who was the bigest boy, quite, of his day. 
 It had for many years been his fond prayer, 
 To place him in the Presidential chair. 
 But Harry long had been a lawless son. 
 And many were the wicked deeds he'd done. 
 Twice in the field he'd met a little brother, 
 Who there with pistols tried to shoot each 
 
 other. 
 He thought if he could kill his brother there. 
 It would be thought an honorable affair. 
 And then again, a score of men he bought. 
 And made them work his farm and paid them 
 
 nought. 
 And all because they had a darker skin, 
 Than that which Harry was himself wrap'd in= 
 He to these men the name of cattle gave ;^ 
 They call him '^massa," and he calls them 
 
 "slave." 
 That this was all great sin, young Harry knew. 
 His father Whiggery believed so too ; 
 For oftentimes he had chastised some others 
 Of his own boys for shooting at their brothers. 
 But Harry was a loved and favorite child. 
 And by too much indulgence had been spoiPd. 
 Such is the family hist'ry of the man, 
 
31 
 
 Who now arose to speak, and thus began ; 
 
 " That slavery is a sin, of blackest dye, 
 No man on earth believes, more firm than I. 
 I am an abolitionist as much 
 As any are, and always have been such. 
 The system on our land has brought a curse ; 
 Deprav'd our morals, and has pick'd our purse. 
 That it should be abolished there's no doubt. 
 If but the ways and means could be found out. 
 And though 'tis wrong that negroes held 
 
 should be 
 As slaves, it would be worse to set them free> 
 Indeed, they should by education's light, 
 Be first prepar'd t' enjoy this sacred right, 
 And then before that they are freemen made^ 
 Their masters should in full for them be paid. 
 But then to raise a party for this end, 
 Is to defeat, what they t' effect intend. 
 For thus the great Whig party they'll devour. 
 And place the wicked Locos snug in power — 
 Who do most stern oppose 'right of petition,' 
 And all reform in the poor blacks condition — 
 While we have done both all and every thing, 
 That promised such events around to bring. 
 
 To these mad fanatics, I then would say, 
 Just help us place my son, great Harry Clay, 
 Securely in the Presidential chair. 
 And eight long years help us to keep him 
 
 there ; 
 Then Avhen the tariff, of importance vast^ 
 We've settled on a basis firm and fast — 
 
32 
 
 Which in our purse pure streams of gold will 
 
 pour, 
 And make our cup of earthly bliss run o'er — 
 We then will our sincere attention turn, 
 T' investigate the slavery concern. 
 And if we then do find it will agree, 
 With our own purse to set the negroes free, 
 We'll surely lend a powerful helping hand. 
 To root the sin of slavery from the land. 
 But if the Constitution we do find, 
 The slaves, do fast and firm in slavery bind. 
 That nothing can be done to set them free, 
 We must just leave the blacks in slavery, 
 And hope and plead that God, some future day. 
 Would set them free, in his good time and 
 way." 
 Thus Whiggery spoke. Then Locofocorose, 
 His arguments for slavery to propose. 
 As was his name, coarse, rough and most un- 
 couth. 
 Such had his character been from his youth ; 
 Two mortal foes were Whiggery and he ; 
 They on no point or subject could agree. 
 Except they could most cordially unite, 
 T' uphold with all their energies and might, 
 In Washington those negro-catching laws, 
 Design'd to feed and fat the slavery cause. 
 
 This Loco, too, he had a favorite son, 
 A smart young man, who oft had races run 
 With Whiggery's biggest, best and swiftest 
 boys ; 
 
33 
 
 And once had won the presidential prize. 
 The name that Loco gave to this young man, 
 His oldest, smartest boy, was Matty Van.^ 
 But Whigger}^ in contempt of his erudition, 
 Nicknamed the youth the "Kinderhook Ma- 
 gician" 
 In broils he and young Harry oft were caught, 
 And had 'bout every thing but slavery fought. 
 On this they oft shook hands, drank, hugged 
 
 and kissed — 
 Then would go out and fight with tongue and 
 
 fist 
 Most desp'ratelv, about such little things, 
 As whether, if "the Englishman that brings 
 To us such articles, as want we may, 
 For such great privilege should be made to 
 
 Another quarrel that Matty and his brothers 
 Had with this Harry Clay, and several others, 
 Occurred about a singular affair. 
 When Mat was in the Presidential chair. ^ 
 He made a hobby horse he wished to stride, 
 And with it into office snugly ride. 
 He made it like a safe, plac'd it on wheels— 
 ■ Its bowels huge the public cash conceals. 
 And he this creature strange, which thus he'd 
 
 fram'd 
 At vast expense and toil, Sub-treasury nam'd; 
 And when he wished to lake a public ride, 
 He would this hobby horse of his bestride, 
 And harness up Calhoun and Silas Wright, 
 
34 
 
 Who'd pull and tug before, with all their 
 
 might, 
 While Benton and Buchanan, with some others 
 Of Matty's wond'ring and astonish'd brothers, 
 Of equal zeal, though less in powers of mind, 
 They lifted at the wheels, or pushed behind. 
 And while this Matty worked himself along, 
 Some of his little brothers in the throng. 
 Would thrust their hands into this hobby 
 
 horse, 
 And fill with cash, their pockets and their 
 
 purse ; 
 And then they would away to Europe run. 
 While Mat would laugh and giggle at the fun. 
 But on this horse so much and long he rode, 
 His seat got sore, his legs so stiff and bow'd, 
 That when in after days a race he run, 
 For presidential prize with Harrison ; 
 He fell so far behind in that great race, 
 It look'd as tho' he ran a wild goose chase. 
 
 Such is the family his'try of the man, 
 Who thus to plead the slavery cause began. 
 
 "That slavery is a sin, I must confess 
 The very height and depth of wickedness. 
 Which o'er our land has brought such deep 
 
 disgrace, 
 As crimson might with shame a tyrant face, 
 That each, and every slave might be set free, 
 The Locofocos one and all agree. 
 But then that each State's sov'reign is most 
 
 clear. 
 
36 
 
 And we've no lawful right to interfere. 
 When we thought best we did emancipate 
 Our slaves, just as we please in our own State. 
 Therefore in clearer light there's nothing 
 
 stands, 
 Than that, we from the sin have washed our 
 
 hands. 
 Nor to a thinking mind is it less clear, 
 That since these fanatics did interfere. 
 The slaves have all been used far more severe. 
 Instead of blessing them they've brought a 
 
 curse, 
 On slaves and made their hard condition worse. 
 Which is a sin that must and will therefore, 
 Be ever laid at this third party's door, 
 WhicK by no sophistry they can evade. 
 But must to answer for one day be made. 
 Yet out of this great sin some good may come, 
 If not to every one it will to some. 
 These abolitionists I hope and pray, 
 Will overthrow the hopes of Harry Clay, 
 And will the Locos in that lucky hour. 
 With Matty at their head, place snug in pow- 
 er — 
 And then my other sons for all their toils, 
 I'll feed and fatten on the party spoils. 
 And though 'tis true the presidential chair, 
 Will not hold all who'd like to get in there. 
 When Mat gets out another may get in, 
 If but to slav'ry's sleeve your faith you'll pin, 
 And him support, he'll lend a helping hand, 
 
36 
 
 That we may rule and reign throughout the 
 
 land. 
 Then ever}^ great and leading Democrat, 
 vShall each an office have that's good and fat. 
 And if some lesser ones should but incline, 
 These wicked abolitionists to join, 
 To stop their discontent and childish tones 
 We will them make Commissioners of loans. 
 And if some Democrats still less in mind, 
 To join this party third, should seem inclin'd, 
 .They in our ranks no doubt still may be 
 
 stay'd. 
 If little postmasters they're only made. 
 Which in the pockets of these little men, 
 Will slip a silver six-pence now and then, 
 Which will supplj^ a reason pure as gold, 
 Why the}^ the Democrats should still uphold, 
 And by this means no doubt we,can keep all, 
 The office lovers, hunters, great and small. 
 Which plainly is the best means to oppose, 
 Our wicked, worthless, abolition foes." 
 
 Thus Locofoco spoke, old Slavery smiled, 
 To think he'd such a lovely loving child. 
 
 They paus'd, a murmur through the house 
 then ran. 
 They had the question left where they began. 
 Their future course was left yet unresolv'd, 
 The meeting was about to be dissolved, 
 When lo ! to their confusion and surprise. 
 Within their midst,great FREEDOM did arise. 
 His manly form, commanding and erect. 
 
37 
 
 Made Whig and Democrat bow with respect?*^ 
 His look was kind yet firm and dignifi'd, 
 Compos'd, the audience he calmly e3''d. 
 He raised his voice, the silence deep was 
 
 broke, 
 And thus the noble-hearted Freedom spoke. 
 
 "It is a law, in ethics, deeply laid, 
 That all mankind by God were equal made, 
 Equal in rights, from all oppression free. 
 Born equal heirs to life and liberty. 
 
 What color be the skin it matters not, 
 '•To whom related or by whom begot," 
 Or whether he from prince, or peasant springs. 
 Born in a cot, or palaces of kings. 
 Nor matters it what portion of the earth, 
 To any human being, gives him birth. 
 Whether it be on Afric's burning strand, 
 Amid Simoons, and hills of moving sand. 
 Or o'er Columbia's, peaceful, happy shores, 
 Where liberty's proud eagle highest soars. 
 All from their Maker's hands alike do come, 
 'Tis nature's law ail shall be free, not some. 
 It is the law of tyrants and of knaves, 
 ''Make the few masters, and the many slaves." 
 A relic of the dark and barb'rous ages, 
 From those who toil and sweat t' withhold 
 
 their vv'ages. 
 That such oppression, wrong, and outrage, 
 Should be upheld in this enlightened age. 
 By kings, who o'er their subjects tyrannize. 
 Might well excite deep wonder and surprise. 
 4 
 
38 
 
 But that the boasted sons of liberty, 
 Should practise or connive at slavery, 
 Or let it draw within their land one breath, 
 Ere strangled by the ballot box to death, 
 To such vast inconsistency as will, 
 With deep amazement and abhorrence, fill 
 Every right hearted man in every clime. 
 Throughout all ages, to the end of time. 
 
 How is it that the boon you prize so high 
 That wealth of worlds would be too poor to 
 
 buy, 
 That which you do, in those who tyrannize, 
 And those who tame submit, abhor, despise, 
 As shameful cowardice or blackest crimes. 
 If borne by those in European climes, 
 But when the name and more abhorrent still, 
 Does half of our own land with wailing fill. 
 And the metropolis, too, of the land 
 By tyranny is made the auction stand. 
 Where husbands, wives' and children are sold 
 And scattered to the winds, for love of gold ; 
 Yet Whigs and Democrats look tamely on. 
 Deaf to their cries, their S3^mpathies are gone. 
 They dare not act, nor yet presume to speak 
 And scarce a blush burns on their shameless 
 
 cheek. 
 Alas ! how altered and degen'rate are 
 The sons of Freemen now from what they 
 
 were. 
 In times past, wheu patriotic worth. 
 Broke tyrants' chains and gave a nation birth ! 
 
39 
 
 How altered from that patriotic band, 
 On Bunker's hill who took that gallant stand, 
 Resoh'ed to break the tyrant's galling chain, 
 And thence be free or lie among the slain ! 
 And when compelled to leave th' embattled 
 
 field, 
 With what reluctance now, behold they yield. 
 How firm, how slow, how solemn they retire. 
 Across the plain before the enemy's fire. 
 Where bounding cannon ball and bursting 
 
 shell, 
 In dreadful and destructive showers fell. 
 But now in th' eye of Democrats and Whigs, 
 Of patriotic sires the blighted sprigs, 
 'Tis such default, such vast politic sin, 
 For men to have a black or yellow skin, 
 That they are doom'd perpetual slaves to be, 
 Till death more democratic sets them free. 
 
 If from the silent grave the mighty dead, 
 Whose blood was in the cause of fredomshed; 
 The gallant Warren who, on Bunker's hill, 
 His blood did in the cause so bravely spill ; 
 Or brave De Kalb,' who came from foreign 
 
 land, 
 To mingle in the contest on our strand ; 
 On Camden's bloody plains, who bravely fell, 
 That Liberty upon our shores might dwell : 
 Or Count Polaski, brave, and high-born Pole, 
 The love of liberty inflamed his soul, 
 He left his home, exiled and wandering far, 
 With Freedom's sons commingled in the war, 
 
40 
 
 And on Savannah's, fierce, embattled plain, 
 In fredom's cause was there untimely slain: 
 These and ten thousand more w-ho bravely 
 
 fell, 
 That liberty .within our midst might dwell. 
 If they could rise and stand, where now I 
 
 stand. 
 And see how slav'ry's practised in the land. 
 Would they not heave a deep and bitter sigh, 
 That on the embattled field they dar'd to die, 
 That they had sacrificed their noble lives ; 
 Their children orphans made, widow'd their 
 
 wives : 
 That such a most tyrannic race as we, 
 From British tyrany should be set free. 
 What would it in their noble minds have 
 
 weigh'd. 
 Whether a king and parliament were made. 
 In foreign lands, across the Atlantic's waves, 
 The cruel tyrants, we the servile slaves ; 
 Or whether Congress framed, by our own 
 
 hand, 
 Should take the tyrant's God-defying stand, 
 And millions of our countrymen enslave. 
 Till death should liberate them in the grave.' 
 ! Freedom, whither has thy spirit fled. 
 Which once so loud, so eloquently plead ; 
 vSo bravelv fou^-ht and led the battle's van, 
 In vindication of the rights of man. 
 But now thy sons, -they glory in their shame, 
 And their hypocrisy afar proclaim ; 
 
41 
 
 For Whigs and democrats have by decrees, 
 Said those who trade in slaves on the high 
 
 seas, 
 Have 'gainst the law of God and man rebelPd, 
 Therefore, they shall as pirates all be held, 
 And that the malefactor's death alone, 
 Can for such sin against mankind atone. 
 But when the same is practised on the land, 
 And Washington, is made the auction stand, 
 That Washington too by congress controU'd, 
 Where men, % fellow-men are daily sold, 
 In Slavery it is not held to be, 
 Either a moral wrong or Piracy. 
 There men by law are licens'd men to sell, 
 And Whig and Democrat, ye know it well. 
 Who would not then prefer to live on land, 
 Where Democratic slav'ry's waggish wand, 
 Can so absolve the soul from guilt, that when 
 We steal, or, buy or sell, our fellow men, 
 We'll not be held in check, or kept in awe, 
 Of the dread practices of penal law. 
 
 But i-f those wretches who plough ocean's 
 waves, 
 Should dare to deal in souls of men and slaves, 
 Democracy declares blood must be spilt, 
 T' absolve the nation from such awful guilt. 
 
 Ye Whigs and Democrats ! renounce for 
 shame, - 
 Your high pretence to a republic name. 
 And one ressume that will accord with facts, 
 A name appropriate unto your acts ; 
 4* 
 
42 
 
 And let that name henceforth and ever, be, 
 ^•Tyrants on land, republican on sea." 
 
 Thus Freedom spoke : deep were oldSlav'- 
 
 ry's sighs;- 
 A tear swell'd big in Whig's and Loco's eyes. 
 
 Religion next arose, and from bis view 
 Both Whig and Democrat, abashed, withdrew. 
 His look was kind, collected, calm, serene ; 
 Pure was his heart, and most upright his mein. 
 His speech, as the soft showers on earth dis- 
 
 till'd. 
 The heart with joy, the ear with music filled. 
 Such was the grave, the pure, the holy man, 
 Who now arose to speak, and thus began : 
 " Ye sons of men, how deeply and how 
 
 long, 
 Will ye your fellow men oppress and wrong ; 
 For know ye not the Scriptures do declare, 
 That of one blood all men created were. 
 Both white and black alike are Adam's sons, 
 And through their veins a kindred blood 
 
 thence runs ; 
 It matters not the color of the skin. 
 All are alike involved in Adam's sin ; 
 And when from heaven high the Son of God, 
 To earth cam.e down, with man to make abode, 
 And did the human nature, and divine — 
 In person one mysteriously combine ; 
 He then, according to the gospel plan, 
 Assumed the nature of the negro man, 
 That them he might redeem from woe and sin, 
 
43 
 
 As well as those who boast a whiter skin. 
 
 If he who then tills heaven's vast domain 
 With praise, the world with bliss, and hell 
 
 with pain, 
 Himself did humble, and so low abase, 
 As to assume the nature of that race. 
 Who now beneath the lash of slavery groan, 
 As certainly as he assumed our own. 
 What pride, w'hat arrogance, for those who 
 
 claim, 
 And boast to have espoused the Christian's 
 
 name ; 
 For those so weak, so wicked and infirm — 
 For son of man, who is at best a worm. 
 Thus to contemn in hate and cruel pride. 
 Those men for whom the son of God once 
 
 died; 
 And whom he now, from his high throne a- 
 
 bove, 
 Beholds as objects of his care and love : 
 Their sighs and cries, their groans and prayers 
 
 he hears, 
 Who counts their hairs and num.bers all their 
 
 tears. 
 Ye w^ho have made Religion's ways your 
 
 choice, 
 Then hearken to her kind entreating voice, 
 And let her golden rules, so just and pure, 
 Your steps in Wisdom's peaceful paths allure. 
 Ye who the equal rights of man despise ; 
 And ye who for the crime apologize— 
 
44 
 
 Who by your votes for mad slave-holders 
 
 polled, 
 The wicked system and its crimes uphold ; 
 How can such conduct then be reconciled 
 With these pure gospel truths so meek and 
 
 mild, 
 "Unto your fellow men, see that ye do, 
 As ye would like to have them do to you." 
 If ye were bound in slavery's dark domain. 
 And legislative power liad forged the chain 
 That bound you and your wife and children 
 
 there ; 
 Would not it be your wish and fervent prayer, 
 That every Christian should remember then 
 The bonds and sufferings of their fellow men ; 
 As well that of their bodies as their souls — 
 Not merely on their knees, but at the polls. 
 Another solemn truth by Scripture taught, 
 ^He loves not God, who loves his brother not,' 
 Ye do not then, as Christian men demean. 
 Who love their brother not, whom you have 
 
 seen ; 
 And can ye love that God who dwells on high 
 Removed far from the view of mortal eye ? 
 Jf then that love, pure, constant and divine — 
 Which love to God and love to man combine ; 
 ^T will not to men in words, merely declare, 
 *I wish ye fed, and warm'd, and clothed were;' 
 Nor merely say, *!' wish the slaves were 
 
 free,' 
 And make no effort that it thus should be. 
 
45 
 
 Nor as we pass along Time's great highway, 
 Will we see negroes fallen every da}^, 
 Man-thieves among ; while there they wound- 
 ed lie, 
 Both Priest and Levite-like, pass heedless by. 
 But like the good Samaritan we will 
 Their wounds with balm, their hearts with 
 comfort fill. 
 Again, mark well, what efforts now are 
 made, 
 What money raised, what countless sums are 
 
 paid, 
 To carry out schemes of bejiev'lence plann'd 
 To send the gospel to the heathen land. 
 And mark how ChristiaiT indignation burns. 
 When from these lands we hear the sad re- 
 turns. 
 That heathen kings resist, by sceptrS-might, 
 All efforts to diffuse the gospel light. 
 And Brahmin priests in heathen zeal with- 
 stand 
 And persecute those with relentless hand. 
 Who bring the gospel tidings to their land. 
 Yet in our boasted land of gospel light, 
 How many are by law deprived the right 
 To teach to fellow men — and they to read — 
 That book that to the path of life would lead. 
 Oh ! blush for shame, professing christians, 
 
 then, 
 That thus you've sinned against your fellow- 
 men; 
 
46 
 
 And slav'ry at the polls so long upheld, 
 That Against all moral law has thus rebelPd. 
 And let it be your prayer, your solemn vow, 
 You'll ne'er in Slavery's house of Rimmon 
 
 bow. 
 Again, how many christians daily pray 
 That God would hasten the Millennial day ; 
 When none will to his brother need to say, 
 'Know thou the Lord/ but know him every 
 
 one 
 Shall from the rising to the setting sun.' 
 Then rising from their knees, their vote is 
 
 cast, 
 T' uphold the reign of dire oppression vast ; 
 Which ever stood, dark as Egyptian night, 
 A barrier to the spread of gospel light ; 
 And so have done all that within them lay, 
 Long to retard the bright millennial day. 
 .In fine, let christians pause, as all men 
 
 ought, 
 And ponder deep and well this solemn 
 
 thought : 
 How often Christians Christians treat with 
 
 scorn. 
 Merely because that they were negroes born; 
 When many of that race you now despise, 
 At the last day may 'mong the righteous rise, 
 And in the firmament, with light divine, 
 As stars of the first magnitude there shine; 
 And 'mong the millions of our fellow men, 
 Of every tongue that people heaven then, 
 
47 
 
 And heaven's high arch with praise makes to 
 resound, 
 
 Despised slaves and negroes may be found.-' 
 Thus kind Religion spoke — he looked a- 
 round, 
 
 And Whig and Democrat were sleeping sound. 
 
 Their heads inclined upon their bosoms lav, 
 
 'Midst dreams of gold, they snored the time 
 away. 
 
 While old king Slavery, and the other peers, 
 
 Had with their little fingers stopped their ears. 
 Last, Conscience rose, the house was still 
 with fear ; 
 
 His look was stern and dreadfully severe. 
 
 With one keen glance he saw through all in- 
 trigues, 
 
 And scanned the thoughts of Democrats and 
 Whigs. 
 
 And though old Slavery's blood '^vith rage was 
 boiled; 
 
 In dread he from stern Conscience's viev/ re- 
 coiled ; 
 
 His nerves relaxed, his trembling knees then 
 smote,- 
 
 Like old Belshazzar's, when a finger wrote 
 
 Some mystic characters upon the wall, 
 
 'Midst revelry in old Belshazzar's hall. 
 
 Those who had slept while kind ?leligion 
 spoke, 
 
 The searching voice of Conscience now a- 
 woke : 
 
48 
 
 ^'That there's a cliff 'rence vast, no one dis- 
 putes, 
 Between the mind of man and mind of brutes; 
 Yet few there are who'U venture to define, 
 The very point of the demarking line. 
 That both possess a body and a mind, 
 Can think, and reason, will, and judge, we find; 
 And though these powers of mind, we must 
 
 confess, 
 Are stronger far in man than brutal race; 
 Yet, that's not it that raises man so high 
 'Bove beasts of field, or fowls in air that fly. 
 If then 'tis asked, what raises him above 
 All other creatures on the earth that move ? 
 I ansvv^er : 'tis a sense of diff rent kind. 
 From any faculty of brutal mind. 
 It is the moral sense, by man possessed. 
 Which stands as judge and witness 'bove the 
 
 rest. 
 And with this interwoven and conjoined, 
 Another power in man Ave only find ; 
 'Tis the belief our kind Creator gave. 
 That man shall still exist beyond the grave. 
 The former power by man possessed alone, 
 Is always by the name of conscience know-n. 
 The latter, vvhen renewed by power divine. 
 We, by the name of Saving Faith define. 
 'Tis these two faculties of human mind, 
 Tho' fallen now, and much depraved w^e find. 
 That raises man, when exercised aright. 
 Above all brutal tribes to such a height ; 
 
49 
 
 If they are not, they'll plunge him far below 
 The meanest brutes, in wretchedness and woe. 
 Such are the noble faculties of the soul. 
 That should man's every act guide and' con- 
 trol — 
 As well in politics and at the polls, 
 The market place of negros' rights and souls 
 As in religious things, the sole domain, 
 ^ome think, where conscience has a ri^ht to 
 reign. 
 
 Ye who opposers then of Freedom are 
 Mark well this solemn truth I now declare, 
 A truth deep laid in philosophic laws, 
 And on man's destiny that deeply draws 
 Those who do strive to put out reason's 
 eye, 
 And to their conscience sing a lull-a-by 
 To stop its cries, they in the end will find 
 Ihat reason, by degrees will grow quite blind 
 And conscience by degrees will silence keep; 
 Until 'tis lulled at last in wakeless sleep. ^ 
 Now Whig and Democrat on this agree, 
 That each and every slave shall be set free: 
 Ihat tis a violation dark and deep 
 Of moral law in bondage thus to keep 
 Our fellow men, and that the bursting of their 
 bands, ^ 
 
 Is by the Constitution lodged in Congress's 
 hands. ° 
 
 Trf/i^^f f^'l^^^ ^°*^ P^^t^^« "ow unite, 
 --ind do what both acknowledge to be rierht ^ 
 5 
 
50 
 
 If fools could blush for folly, well may they. 
 While I the mighty reasons now portray. 
 
 One reason then in this may be resolved, 
 A large share of both parties are involved, 
 Both leaders and the led, most deeply in 
 The guilt and crime of the slave-holding sin. 
 And if those who are not, should only dare 
 To ask of Congress, by most humble prayer, 
 To right these wrongs, full well they know 
 
 that it 
 Would both their parties into pieces split ; 
 And up.and down be 'gainst each other driven, 
 Like splintered oaks, when by the lightnings 
 
 riven. 
 Therefore they both conclude 'tis better far. 
 Still to remain and fight on as they are, ^ 
 And brave the pungent and the painful stings, 
 A sense of wrong a goading conscience 
 brings. 
 But worst and most absurd to be believed. 
 Of all the crooked thoughts, man e'er con- 
 
 ceived 
 Are the self-contradicting words of those, 
 Who by their Avorks support, and words op- 
 pose 
 The Wicked system of slave-holders reign, 
 Por sake of office, or some little gain. 
 Both parties tell us, with a face most grave, 
 That 'tis an awful sin, man to enslave ; 
 And that the negroes, every one should be, 
 By rightful legislative power, set free. 
 
51 
 
 Then with the same inflation of their lungs. 
 And same continued way,too, of their tongues : 
 Assert — with face as sober and as grave, 
 As though they're looking in a glass to shave — 
 It for the negroes worse, far worse, would be, 
 If we vshould set the helpless creatures free. 
 Therefore the grave conclusion must be this, 
 Though to do wrong, it wrong most surely is. 
 Cases sometimes occur wherein it might 
 Be worse, and far more wrong, just to do right. 
 Ye who then in the light of day avow% 
 The inconsistencies charged on you now ; 
 Search deep and find the vast corrupting cause 
 That men to such absurd conclusion draws. 
 Perhaps, that basest passion of mankind, 
 A sordid love of worldly gain, you'll find* 
 Has warped your judgment, and so dim'd your 
 
 sight, 
 That right looks wrong, and wrong so oft looks 
 
 right ; 
 So that a good fat office to obtain, 
 Or, party measure, that will promise gain. 
 Are more important in your judgment then, 
 Than justice, or the rights of fellow men. 
 It is a fact, that Democrats and Whigs, 
 Each other charge with deep and foul intrigues; 
 And do allege each others want of skill, 
 And course corrupt the causes that do fill, 
 The nation with distraction and distress ; 
 And prophesy with confidence, unless 
 The helm of government's placed in their 
 
 hands, 
 
52 • 
 
 We'll certainly be driven on- quick-sands. 
 Therefore, according to these prophets true, 
 Destruction's close at hand, almost in view ; 
 Unless the helm of government we wrest 
 From them, as each of other has confessed. 
 Thus, while they in each other faults do find,. 
 They to their greatest common One are blind. 
 Tis vain to think that legislative skill, 
 The land with peace and happiness can fill, 
 While legislative power binds fast the chain 
 On fellow men, in Slav'ry's foul domain ; 
 And holds three million souls in Slavery, 
 From avarice or downright knavery. 
 Mark welt this truth, perhaps it then may be 
 A length'ning out of your tranquility. 
 'Tis«righteousness that nations' does exalt; 
 While on the other hand, 'tis the default 
 Of those who dare on moral law encroach. 
 That is to any people a reproach. 
 Some think a tariff is the only thing. 
 That on the land will showers of blessings 
 
 bring. 
 Because they think 'twill raise the price of 
 
 wool, 
 And manufacturers pockets all keep full. 
 So they to these great interests must attend ; 
 It matters not what grievous woes descend 
 On negroes heads — on them few thoughts are 
 
 spent. 
 The only interest they will e'er consent 
 To plead for at the nation's ballot-box — 
 
53 
 
 The only interest at their heart that knocks — ■ 
 The only interest of all their care, 
 Is mighty self — a very small affair ! 
 
 Like some of old, whose strange constructed 
 
 throats, 
 Would swallow camels down, yet choke on 
 
 moats. 
 To justice they such high pretensions made ; 
 They tithes of cummin, mint and annise paid. 
 While they observed not, nor stood in awe 
 Of the more weighty matters of the law ; 
 But justice, judgment, mercy, truth, all were 
 Forgotten in selPs all-absorbing care. 
 
 YeWhigs and Democrats, who in such rage 
 And desp'rate fury on each other wage 
 Politic war with such relentless hand, 
 That each may rule and reign throughout the 
 
 land. 
 To ponder well, just make one solemn pause, 
 And weigh your principles with Freedom's 
 
 cause. 
 However wise, and good, and vastly great — 
 Important to the Union, or each state, 
 May be the principles contended for 
 With such most fierce and wordy war — 
 By Whigs and Democrats — ye can at most, 
 A contest 'bout mere cents and dollars boast, 
 Or else perchance 't may sink far lower still, 
 A struggle who the offices may fill. 
 But noble Freedom's gfeat and glorious cause. 
 Far higher rises and far deeper draws ; 
 5* 
 
e54 
 
 Compared to which the wealth of worlds 
 
 would sink 
 Down to annihilation's very brink. 
 And all the glory, too, of man is made 
 To disappear like a departing shade. 
 It is a contest for man's dearest rights, 
 That Freedom 'gainst both Whig and Loco 
 
 fights ; 
 And that this great first truth maintained may 
 
 be, 
 That all mankind are equal born and free. 
 
 Ye Whigs and Democrats,both self-deceiv'd. 
 To boast of liberty your sires achieved ; 
 How have the}^ fought, how resolutely broke, 
 And trampled under feet the British yoke ; 
 And long and loud declaim, in fearless strains, 
 'Gainst tyranny, in these remote domains, 
 Where united heads their iron sceptres swa}", 
 And from their subjects take some rights away. 
 Thus while the mote you in your brother's 
 
 eye, 
 Acute as with a microscope espy ; 
 No power of ethics, or of gospel light, 
 Can so illume your dark benighted sight, 
 As to behold what reason long has shown. 
 The beam that now is festering in your own. 
 Cast out this beam, ye hypocrites, then well 
 Ye tyrants may of their oppressions tell. 
 
 Again, the Whigs and Locos gravely state — 
 In case that we the slaves should liberate. 
 In justice, ere we take the slaves away, 
 
 d 
 
55 
 
 We should their value to their masters pay. 
 Now 'tis by all agreed, slaves should be free; 
 And if the masters also paid should be, 
 Why not, then, set about the means and ways 
 By which we may the value of them raise ? 
 Were this first step resolved, it might appear, 
 To honest thinking men, ye were sincere. 
 Again, the Whigs, they ask most grave in-^ 
 
 deed, 
 '^Do not the Whigs in Congress boldly plead 
 For that most sacred right, right of petition, 
 And to receive your prayers for abolition ?'* 
 Yea, this is true; but judge ye well how far 
 'T will serve t^ acquit you at stern conscience's 
 
 bar. 
 No doubt the Whigs have plead on Congress 
 
 floor, 
 That Congress should again unbar the door; 
 And as they ought again to grant the admission, 
 To free men 'sprayers for slavery's abolition ; 
 Well knowing they both willing are, and able 
 To lay these prayers forever on their table. 
 Thus while theiF hopes to slaves and freemen 
 
 gave, 
 That they designed the freedom of the slave, 
 They'er for those hopes but digging deep the 
 
 grave. 
 Eut last and most absurd to be believed, 
 As though both parties strove to be deceived: 
 They tell us with a countenance most grave. 
 It will not do to liberate the slave, 
 
56 
 
 Until by education they may be, 
 Both fitted and prepared to be set free, 
 Then if these sage philosophers you ask, 
 Why not immediately commence the task, 
 To teach, illume, and enlighten in some way, 
 These much benighted sons of Africa ? 
 And in the face of day make it appear 
 That your objections are at least sincere ? 
 They tell, with looks as confident and grave, 
 As though they Conscience could himself out- 
 brave ; 
 'It will not do to educate the slave. 
 As 'tis against both policy and law,^ 
 By which the slave is held and kept in awe. 
 Thus by erroneous views they seem spelU 
 
 bound, 
 To think in little circles round and round. 
 And while with gen'rous zeal, all hearts grow 
 
 warm 
 
 well HI, 
 
 And far and near all shout, Reform, Rejorm ! 
 They move around in these their little rmgs, 
 Like to a door that on its hinges swings. 
 Consider well, ye Democrats and Whigs, 
 So practiced in political intrigues. 
 How many human beings have been sold, 
 Since ye the nation's counsel have controled ? 
 How many vows of husbands and of wives, 
 Ye have made void, embittered all their lives? 
 What children ye have from their parents torn, 
 That father's care and mothers kindness 
 mourn % 
 
•57 
 
 What stripes, what tortures, and what name- 
 less wrongs, 
 Your present strife for power, to slaves pro- 
 longs ? 
 And ponder well, how many of those slaves 
 Each year descend as heathens to their graves, 
 Whom ye've deprived of all, not only here, 
 That life would make desirable or dear ; 
 But legislative power, in all its might. 
 Has been applied to shut out gospel light ; 
 Done all you could, as 't were by madness 
 
 driven. 
 To shut 'gainst them at last the gates of heav- 
 en. 
 Talk not to honest sober thinking men, 
 Of your respective, mighty interests then ; 
 Of the distress in which you are involved. 
 Which may in cents and dollars be resolved. 
 Until by calculating ye can tell, 
 Lifes sorrows all, and all the pains of hell. 
 Then let Religion who so long has bowed. 
 Her neck to slavery's yoke, now cry aloud, 
 And Christians show how deep, how vast the 
 
 sin, 
 The nation has so long indulged in. 
 
 Let Conscience, too, his death-like slum- 
 bers break. 
 And by his loud appeals each freeman wake, 
 To ponder well how close may be at hand 
 The day of vengeance on our guilty land. 
 And Freedom's mighty spirit let arise, 
 
 JH. 
 
5S 
 
 Burst the corrupting bands of party ties, 
 And sound that voice whose deep and thrill- 
 ing tones, 
 Once tyrants made to tremble on their thrones. 
 And let that voice be heard throughout the 
 
 land, 
 Until from Maine to Louisiana's strand, 
 From fruitful Michigan's lake-bounded coast, 
 To Florida's dark hammocks, let the host 
 Of liberated millions, raise the boast — 
 And shout from hill to hill and shore to shore. 
 That Slavery's in our happy land:no more. 
 Pursue, and hunt him from his last retreat, 
 Until you've wound him in his winding sheet, 
 And laid him low and lonely in the grave, 
 Abhor'd by all the good, the great, and brave. 
 And if worth while, to raise on his behalf, 
 A monument, thus write his epitaph : 
 
 "Here black and bloody Slavery lies en- 
 tombed, 
 Inbarb'rousages born it is presumed, 
 Of light and truth, who long withstood the 
 
 shocks, 
 But was at last, slain by the ballot box. 
 In nineteenth century came to his end, 
 This foe of God and man. the Devil's friend."