iteligiums welebmtimt of iiuﬁepenheucez

DISCOUESE
BELIVERED AT NORTHAMPTON,

ON THE

FOURTH 01:: JULY, 1827.,

BY WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE,

EASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH. IN WEST SPI?.IN'GrFIEIaD«,»

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EXODUS XIII. 3.

..a.;~m ;aros1=.s'snn mvro was norms, nmxmrnza -mrs mur, In WHICEH are
aura om: mom mu-tr, om: on THE mouse or norrmen.
THE descendants of Israel Were in bondage to
the Egyptians, about a hundred and ﬁfty years.»
When the fulness of time had come, God raiseﬂ
up Moses, and poured upon him the spirit of
wisdom and might, and sent him forth to eﬁ"ect
the deliverance of his people. At the threshold
of the enterprise, Moses had to encounter the
power and Wrath of one of the rnositihardened
monsters whom the World has seen ; hutcleho-1
vah was with him, and by a miraculous and
appalling agency, poured contempt upon all the
eﬁorts which were made to detain him and his
people in bondage. The result Was, that the
Hebrew nation went out in triumph from the
land of their oppressors .; and Goclordained that

it

their deliverance should be commemorated by an
annual religious festival. It was an event in
which all succeeding generations would of course
be deeply interested ; and hence the propriety of
transmitting a knowledge of it to posterity, by
some standing memorial.
Is there not some analogy, my friends, between
that portion of the Jewish history to which I
have adverted, and that part of the history of
our own country, to which our attention is direct-
ed by the present occasion P There was atime---
and it is Within the remembrance of many of
you-~——-vvlien the nation from which We sprang,
Stretched over us the arm of oppression. t It
pleased God to inte1'pose.-«snot indeed by mirac-
ulous agency, but by wonderful means for our
deliverance. The day which decided our na-
tional destiny, by producing the Declaration of
our independence, has, ever since, in its annual
returns, been greeted with a national enthusiasm.
It has been a day, with many, at least, sacred to
high and heroic associations. The spirit of re-
joicing has gone abroad among us ; and We have
seemed to breathe the fresh air of freedom. The
gratulations of this great and free people have

5
fpoured into our ears ; While the heavens have
appeared garnished with more exquisite beauty,
and the earth clothed with deeper verdure, as We
have contemplated, in the bright liglit of this
day, the prospect of our country’s glory.

But, it must be ackiiowledged that the celew
bration of this anniversary has not always minis-
tered to the best interests of our nation. Not
u11f1'eqne11tly, it has been perverted to purposes
of political jangling ;—-«for brandishing, even in
the sanctuary of God, the carnal Weapons of
party spirit ;-——-for stirring up the Worst passions
of hunian nature ;——for attenipting, lhad almost
said, to pour mildew around that plant of free-
dom, which it should be the design of this occa-
sion to cherisl . And who does not know that
'z:“ice has stalked abroad, on this day, with a more
than commonly shameless front ; as if the free-
dom, which the day commemorates, were only
the liberty of doing Wrong. So extensive have
been the evils of Wll-icll I spealt, that it has been
the opinion of many Wise and good men, that
not only the cause of Virtue, but the cause of
patriotism, was bleeding in consequence of these
annual celebrations ; and they have been 1'early

ti

to say, ‘Let this memorial of our na_tion“’s

freedom be blotted out forever, rather than.

he perpetuated as the signal for hoisting the
ﬂood gates of iniquity.‘

But, my friends, it is not needful, on the one
hand, that the observance of this day should be
abandoned, nor, on the other, that it should be
prostituted to any thing criminal or unedifyingt
The circumstances in which you are assembled
this morning, seem to say---—‘ LET THE DAY BE
oesnavm), BUT LET IT BE OBSERVED RELIG--
ioUsLY ;’ and the same language is beginning
to be heard from various parts of the christian
community. This I suppose to be the right
sentiment on this subject; and it is the design of
thee presentdiscourse to illustrate and enforce it.

I. LET THE ANNIVERSARY or‘ oua coUNTRY’s
ENDEPENDENCE BE CELEBRATE!) :

1. Because it is associatetl with the noblest
eﬁbrls of intellect, and the most illustrious deeds
ref he7*oz'sm.

The noblest eﬁorts of intellect. However it

be accounted for, I suppose it has never been A

seriously questioned, that the men whose coun-
sels projected and carried forward our revolution,

"ii

were men of no common intellectual stature;
that, whether they were born giants, in referience
to the Work they had to accomplish, or,‘Whethrei:
they became such under the inﬂuence of propi~—
tious circumstances, they actually exhibited an
energy of mind, which has never been exceeded
lay the greatest men of any country. In the
circumstances of the case, the very concepttion of

loeeorning a free people, was original: it was

too hold a thought for many minds to admit;
it seemed to them more like the oﬂspring scat”

deliriuni, than the calculation of sober judgment, in

And the measures for carrying this purpose into
etiect, were as great, and bold, and original, as
the purpose itself. Listen to the deliberations
of that body in which the great question is
agitated, and you shall hear eloquence, which
neither Greece nor Rome, in the days of their
glory, would have blushed to own; you shali
discover a depth of counsel, an almost inttritive
perception of remote consequences, which will
seem to you like the Workings of the spirit of
prophecy; in a Word, you shall see the human
mind coining forth in a majesty and storm ct
thought, which completely cast into the shade

3

all its ordinary operations. Nor were the intel-

lectual resources of our country lessened by this

ﬁrst effort towards independence; but through
a protracted scene of emergency and conflict,
the Whole course of our legislation bore marks
of the same consummate Wisdom. Indeed, it
would almost seem as if much of the common
talk of those days was more worthy to be record—
ed, as a monument of intellect, than many of the
set speeches of statesmen in other times; and
even ordinary minds-i—-l-minds Which, in other
circumstances, would have been contented to
plod along in the beaten track, received an
impulse which carried them off’ into new and
nnezroloretl regions of thought, and gave them
the deserved reputation of greatness. It may
reasonably be doubted whether there Was ever
a period in the history of ariycountry, in which
mind was more active--Iino1"e capable of com-
manding its povvers—--more ready to mount up

to lofty and difficult enterprises, than the period

of our revolution.

But there was heroism as Well as intellect ;-----
aniinvincible moral courage, which rose in pro»-
portion to the pressure it sustained; a spirit of

'1.
Q at

9

resistance to tyranny, which mingled itself with
the very lifeblood of the body politic. It would
have been to no purpose that this spirit had
pervaded the hall of legislation, provided it had
not gone forth into the dwellings of the land ;
but it did go forth with a lightning-lilie energy;
causing the youth to forget his pleasures, the
man of middle life, his cares, and the veteran of
four score, his inﬁrmities. I might tell you What
many of you know better than I do, having seen
and felt it—-—hovv this spirit operated to induce
the peasant cheerfully to exchange the imple-
ments of husbandry for the implements of war;
how it brought the man of strong domestic
attachments to turn his back, without a sigh,
upon the blandishments of home, and march for
the ﬁeld of battle. I might tell you how, in
those days, female character seemed to assume
an unaccustomed strength; how cheerfully the
mother would part with her son, or the Wife
with her husband, to go and ﬁght in his country’s
cause ; and how both mother and Wife, who

had been educated to habits of most delicate

reﬁnement, could even become the tillers of the

ground. I might tell you how this spirit lived,
2

10

and Waxed more and more vigorous, ‘while our‘
cities Were on ﬁre, and the blood of our kindred
was ﬂowing, and every wind that swept over
our country seemed a presage of the storm of
battle. In short, my friends, there was heroism
enough in this community, to carry into effect
the greatest measures of the greatest minds;
and this, combined with the intellectual energy
of which I have spoken, may be regarded as the
very corner stone in the temple of our national
freedom. '   a
,Novv, I ask vvhether“ there be nothing in all
this which gives propriety tothelobservance of
this day ‘I’ Is it any thing more than t a just
tribute to the memory of the illustrious dead’,
that We should commemorate an event which
was connected‘ with so much wisdom and valor,
so much peril and blood P’ Is it not du'e to
ourselves, that We endeavor to become more
deeply imbued with the spirit of patriotism, by
accustoming ourselves to contemplate the bright
example they have left of it? Is it not due to
our young men, that, on the annual return of
this day, We should endeavor to hold up before
them the illustrious models of the past, and to

ii

"impress them with the privilege and the responm
sibility of being citizens of such a country?
And is it not due to all future generations, that
We cherish the recollections which this celebra-
tion is ﬁtted to awaken; and send them down
as an accompaniment of the rich inheritance
-which we hope to transmit? Whether, then,
we regard the dead, or the living, or those Who
are hereafter to live, it seems a dictate of reason,
that we a should celebrate the birth day of our
country’s liberty.

But let me not be misunderstood. Let no one
suppose that it has been the design of the precedw
ing remarks, to confound intellectual greatness,
or heroism, or love of country, with religion.
You surely need not be told that a man may be
a very giant in intellect, and so devoted to his
country as to be willing to face the cannon’s
mouth in her defence, Who yet may even be a

l reviler of the cross. It is only when the char-

acter comes under the pres-iding inﬂuence of
religion, that any trait can be considered a chris-
tian virtue ;. yet We do not exalt the qualities of
tvliich I have spoken, too highly, When We say
that they are praiseworthy and of good 1‘-6PO1'.12§

192

and though they will never furnish any one a
passport to heaven, yet they may have a ‘useful
operation in the present life, and may be made,
in the providence of God, to minister even to
the cause of religion.

2. Let the anniversary of our country’s incle—«

pendence be celebrated, because it commemorates.

an event, which is a signal rnonnm-ent of divine
interposition.

I know that a spirit of atheism lurks in the
human heart; and though God is speaking to
us by a thousand voices every moment, yet,
because he holds back the face of his throne,
and is seen and heard only in the regular‘ march
of his administration, We overlook, in a great
measure, his agency, and limit our Views to
second causes. But the history of our revolu-~
tion furnishes a rebuke to this spirit. In every
part of it, We behold the footsteps of an All
wise and Almighty God. It may emphatically
he said of us, as of Israel,  it had not been
the Lord who was on our side when  men
rose rap against as, then they had swallowed
as up quick, when their wrath was lcinclleal
againstas.

M ..

13

For a people situated as we were, to cast off
the yoke of political thraldom, Was a mighty
event. The very announcement of the purpose
drew the eyes of the World upon us ; and every
one, both at home and abroad, felt that it was
an enterprise of appalling magnitude. Between
the conception of the purpose and its accom-
plishment, there were mountains of difliculty;
but before the hand of Omnipotence, they were
destined to become a plain. There were indeed,
as we have seen, much human wisdom and

human valor enlisted in this enterprise; but if

He who sitteth in the heavens had not put forth
a directing and controlling agency, the counsels
of is the Wise would have come to nought, and
the earth would have drank the blood of the
brave to no purpose. It was Jehovah, the
King of nations, who arranged the whole system
of measures, that produced this stupendous
result.

Do you inquire for particulars, in respect to
which the special providence of God was mani-

fest, in procuring our independence? It was

manifest in all that previous train of events,
which awakened in our countrymen the purpose

14

of becoming a free people. It Was manifest in

bringing a set of men upon the stage, at that

verytime, Who were eminently qualiﬁed to con-

duct such an enterprise ;——--one man in particular,

Who, like Moses, was emphatically the leader

of his people. It was manifest inrthe general

harmony that pervaded our counsels; in the
union of feeling and purpose which existed
among our citizens; in thehigh beating of the
public pulse towards a state of political freedom.
It was manifest in bringing us foreign aid, when
our condition Was most necessitous ; especially,
in sending to these shores a brave young man,
With a rich offering both‘ of “ treasure and of
service, to the cause of freedom; a man Who
became a powerful coadjutor with the Father
of his -country, and Who, in these latter days,
has returned to survey the inheritance Which his
very blood helped to purchase. And we might
descend to many events still more minute ; and
show you how the providence of God was
manifest in exposing and defeating the designs
of our enemies ; in deciding the fate of battles;
in removing obstacles, by an agency which seems!
ed almost miraculous, when our path was hedged

15

up. Yes, I repeat, though in all this there Was
the stirring of a brave and patriotic spirit ;--A-——
though Wisdom, and courage, and burning zeal,
Were exhibited in almost every ‘movement, yet a
higher than human agency Was here : it was the
agency of Him, who orders all things according
to the counsel of his own will.

‘Here, again, my friends, I ask you whether
you do not ﬁnd an argument for the celebration
of this anniversary? If it is right that the day
should be observed, because it is commemorative
of that noble immcm agency, by which our
country’s cause was sustained, in the days of
her peril, much more should it be observed, as
a memorial of . God’s povverand goodness in our
behalf. Let the celebration of this day, then, be
perpetuated ;, and when our children’s children,
or those of more remote posterity, shall inquire,
‘ what mean ye by this service .9’ let them be told
that it commemorates the deliverance of their
fathers from bondage, by the strong band and
the outstretched arm of Jehovah.

3. Let the anniversary of our independence
be celebrated, because at has been 1 followed by
consequences of most deep, extensive, and perms-

16

nem.‘ interest. This is true. both in respect te
our own country, and the world, p,

In respect to our own coumfry-——-this event has
led to the establishment of a government, which
is already beginning to be regarded by the-
civilized World, as an improvement upon the
best models, whether of ancient or modern
times ;-—a government, which, while it lrnovvs
nothing of hereditary thrones and privileged
orders, on the one hand, is yet equally remote
from the strife and tumult of a pure democracy,
on the other. It would, seem, indeed, as if
those who framed our national constitution, had
incorporated into it whatever was great and
noble in all previous political systems; While
theyiileftpout all those materials which, in other
governments, have constituted the elements of
disorder and decay. But, Without attempting
what would better become other hands-—-to
analyze our political system, and thus show its
tendency to promote ” public happiness, I will
only refer you to the fact, that our government
actually has exerted a more benign inﬂuence on
all the great interests of our country, than was
ever exerted by any other government, of human

1'?’

origin, on any country below the sun. Compare
the progress of the American people, ‘during the
last half century, in numbers, in wealth, in
learning, in political importance, with their
progress, during any preceding period, and after
you have given due Weight to the operation of
other causes, you will ﬁnd that there is a vast
amount of improvement that remains to be set
down to theaccount of our government. Or
you may arriveat the same result, by comparing
the condition of our country during the same
period, with that of any of the present tributaries
of Great Britain. A Or you may even Search
through the annals of nations; and, if I mistake
not, the result will be a full conviction that our
country, during the period to which I have
referred, stands completely unrivalled in the
marchtof improvement. It is fair then to con»
clude---~forit is in View of , actual experiment----~
that our government is pre-eminently adapted
to foster the highest interests of our country.

But, the event which We commemorate, was

‘ too great to be conﬁned in its effects to a single

people : its inﬂuence has extended over the world,

T o say nothing of the direct inﬂuence which


I 8
was exerted upon other nations by our rerjolrution,
it admits of no question, that the inﬂuence of

A our government is felt, at this hour, in a greater

or less degree, by every civilized people. It is
a little leaven gradually pervading the Whole
lump. Time was, when it was laughed at
abroad as a visionary experiment; even now,
there are those who will have it, that it contains
Within itself, the principle of its destruction:
but everything indicates the contrary; nay, every
thing seems to say that it is probably destined,
in its general features, to be the model of the
best governments, in the best days of the World.

I have spoken chieﬂy of what has been; but
I must not forget to add, that this great event

is probably yet to exert its greatest inﬂuence.

We know---for God has told us-—--that there is a.
period of universal moral’ renovation approach-
ing; and there is much in the aspect of Provi-
dence, which seems to indicate that our country
is to have a prominent-—-may I not say----a prin-
cipal instrumentality in the introduction of that
period. And this instrumentality is no doubt
to be exerted, in a great degree, through those
institutions which are more or less nearly con-

19

nected with our government. We look back
to the event which we commemorate; and its
influence, originally, appears no more than a
rill ; but already it has expanded into a majestic
river, and will hereafter, as We believe, swell
into an immense ocean, whose waters shall be
for the refreshment and health of the World.

And what say you, my friends, in view of this
consideration, as to the propriety of celebrating
this day E’ Is there a clay, upon which God has
not left the special impress of his authority, in
the annals of any country, that better deserves it?
If the event Which it commemorates has been
followed by such consequences, both to our own
country and the World, and if its benign inﬂuence
is to be felt by all future generations, Will not
every heart and tongue exclaim, ‘let the public
observance of the day be perpetuated.’ _

ll. But if the day is to be celebrated, the
inquiry naturally suggests itself, iIN WHAT MAN-
NEE is IT TO BE CELEBRATED P I have already
said that it should be celebrated RELIGIOUSLY;

But, more particularly,

1‘. By as devout acknowledgment of the prose}-
dance qf God, in procuring our independence,

‘I20

lt is manifestly proper that We should, on this
day, enter the courts of the Most High, with our
offering of thanksgiving; that we should bow
before Him Who sitteth King among the nations;
that we should celebrate His most Worthy praise
in view of the deliverance which He has wrought

for us. We should endeavor to gain a deeper

impression of His agency in this Wonderful

event, that our reverence and gratitude towards
Him may be proportionably increased. We

should devoutly recognise our dependance. on

tG~od for the contmxuarzce of our freedom, and all

our national blessings; should comm.it our
country, anew, with all,..--its-. interests, to His
special- protection. We should look to Him as

the authorrtof I all" just counsels, to endue our

r rulers with the spirit of wisdom, and the fear of

the Lord, that they may devise the best measures
ifors the promotion of our public prosperity. We
should humble ourselves in View of our national
sins, for which we so justly deserve the frown
of the Almighty. And with these acts of reli-
gious Worship We should mingle a deep sense of
our personal responsibility ;-—our responsibility
as citizens of a country, whose freedom has been

21

‘purchased With blood ; Which has hitherto been
the object _ of Heaven’s special care ; which
furnishes such rich advantages both for improve-
ment and enjoyment ; and which is to exert such
a powerful inﬂuence on the destinies of the
World. Let these be the purposes for which we
come, on occasions like this, to the sanctuary of
God, and notvve only, but our country, will have
occasion to say, that ‘it was good for us to

1 be here.’

2. Let the anniversary of our independence
be celebrated, by religiously noticing the passing
d'iS]J8TL8C!JTi0ﬂS of Providence towarcis our cotmtry.

There are seasons when it is peculiarly proper
for indi"oiduals« to make the dealings of God
towards them a subject of serious reﬂection;
and there is no period, perhaps, which is more
favorable to such recollections, orto which they
would seem better ﬁtted, than a birth day.
And what is true, in this respect, of individuals,
is true of nations also; especially, when the
commencement of their existence is, like ours,
strongly marked. Yes, my friends, it is right
that, on this day, We should devoutly trace the
dealings of God towards us, as a people, ever

22

since We had a distinct existence; especially,
that We should call up events of recent occur-
rence, Whether prosperous or adverse, and let
them have their legitirnate inﬂuence upon our
feelings and conduct. Nations, as Well as indi-
viduals, are subject to a providential discipline ;
and to the former as Well as the latter, may
the inspired declaration be applied—----Ife that
hetzing often reproved, hczrdeneth his neck, shall
sttddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
I pause here, my hearers, for a moment, to
direct your attention to that act of God’s provi--
dence, which has excited the astonishment of the
World, during the past year, but which I fear
has been contemplated with more of Wonder
than proﬁt—-iuremoving, on our nationaljubilee,
two of the most illustrious of our revolutionary
patriots. I do not introduce the subject for the
sake of eulogy ;——--for of that, however Well
deserved, it must he acknovvledged that there
has already been an overvvhelrning surplusage :
but I introduce it simply to remind you that
there are religious reﬂections suggested by this
event, which, as a people, we are bound to
clrerish. It preaches to us most eloquently

23

concerning the vanity of human distinctions. It
tells us that, however great man may be in the
present life, he carries none of his greatness to

the tomb. It tells us that, in the affair of our

salvation, those splendid achievments which
most attract the eyes of the World, are lighter
thanair ;—--—-that the statesman and the hero, if
they enter the kingdom of God, must go through
the same straight and narrow Way of faith and
holiness, which is trod by the obscurest christian.
I Would leave to the Searcher of hearts the
province of judging the characters of my fellow
men; but, as a Christian minister, I would
protest against that faithless dealing in respect
to the dead—,—--even the most illustrious dead-—--—
which substitutes heroism for piety ; which
enthrones a man in heaven, not because he has
repented of his sins, and believed in Christ, but
because he has guided the counsels, or bled in
the battles of his country.

3. Let the anniversary of our independence
be celebrated, by special eforts for the benefit
of our nation.

It were Well that there should be a public
feeling in favor of devoting this day to objects of

24¢

national importance; that it should he a day
sacred to the projection or accomplishment of
great and good enterprises. It were Well if
every person would associate with the dawn of
this anniversary a strong impression that, how-—
ever he may work for himself on other days, on
this day he must labor for his country, If he
has a mind capable of projecting some great
plan for the intellectual or moral improvement of
his countrymen»--—some project that will tell on
the destinies of a future generations, let that be
his Work for this anniversary. Or, if there be
institutions already in existence which demand
his aid, let him cheerfully put forth his hand for
their support. Or, if his be a less gifted mind,
and adapted to ap humbler sphere, let him do
what he can with the powers which God hath
given him; and let him remember, for his
encouragement, that the most splendid deeds
are not always the most useful. If he goes out
into his neighborhood to try to persuade the
drunl-§.a1'd to castaway his poison, he is laboring
for his country; for intemperance, more than
almost any other Vice, threatens to entail upon
it the curse of God. If he goes into his closet

25

to intercede with the God of nations, still he is
laboring for his country; and, no doubt, far
more successfully, than many a blustering orator,
who talks loudly of patriotism, and boasts much
of national glory, vvithoutseeming to remember
that there is a God or at Providence. In short,
I would say, let every man labor on this day, for
the beneﬁt of ' his country, according to his
several ability. Choose the sphere in which
you can do most, and do best, and there let the
spirit of patriotism have its perfect vvorlt.

4. Once more: Let the anniversary of our
independence be celebrated, by expressions of
sympathy towards the oppressed.

We are strongly reminded. by this occasion of
the days in which we were ourselves an oppres-
sed people ; and of the succour which was
extended to us from abroad, when our own
resources were exhausted or cut off. And now,
in the midst of peace, and plenty, and rejoicing,
when our independence is gained, and We have
grown up to political manhood ;---novv, especial-
ly, that we have come together to commemorate
the birth of our country’s freedom, is it not a

dictate of reason-—-of humarrity--—-of religion,
4.

26

that we should remember those who are yet in
bondage? Does not the finger of Providence
seem to point us, now to what has been done in
other ‘days for ourselves, and now to what
remains to be done for others, While a voice from
heaven--—-the voice of Him who does not overlook
the cup of cold Water given to a disciple----
proclaims, ‘ W/tatsoeoer ye would that men should
do to you, do ye even so to them.’

It is just cause for grief and humiliation that,
in looking round for an object upon which to
exercise our charity to day, We should ﬁnd one
of such appalling interest, as actually presents
itself among ourselves ;———that here in the very
lap of freedom slavery should have found a
resting place ;-——that while We are chanting the
praises of national liberty, there are more than
two millions among us, who are groaning under
the most abject bondage. But thanks to God,
the long and guilty slumber of our country, on
this subject, seems to be disturbed. The forma«
tion of the American Colonization Society, in
Whose behalf I now solicit your aid, marks an
era in the history of American slavery. That
society proposes to establish colonies of l free

$127

blacks and emancipated slaves, with their own
consent, on the coast of Africa. Of the practi-
cability of this object, the success which has
already attended their efforts, furnishes ample
proof. After encountering the most formidable
obstacles, they have planted a colony of ﬁve
hundred souls, in which are to be found learning,

liberty, religion, and which is already as a light

shining in a dark place. This colony has a

mild but efﬁcient government, a ﬂourishing
commerce, schools in which more than two
hundred children are in the course of education,
and the constant enjoyment of Christian institu-
tions. So much has this society already effected:
to enable it to extend its operations, it solicits
your aid.

And now, my friends, shall not the aid which
this society asks, be most cheerfully rendered?
I appeal to you in behalf of a clegmdetl popula-
tion, who have hitherto been groping in intellec-
tual and moral darkness, who yet have minds
susceptible of cultivation as your own, and
many of them capable of being moulded to any
station of influence or honor. I appeal to you
in behalf of a .9t2qﬂ"em?22,g population, who are


doomed to one of the hardest lots of humanity;
in behalf of mothers, Whose children are torn
from them at the will of a cruel master ; of the
sick and the aged, who are often left to go down
to the grave, Without any of the comforts of this
life, or any hope of another. I appeal to you
in behalf of an irzjlzrred population ; Whom the
ruthless hand of prowling man---more prowling
than wild beasts, has separated from all the
delights of lrindred and home, and consigned to
cruel bondage in a land of strangers. I appeal
to you in behalf of many humane and good men,
upon Whom, in the providence of God, the curse
of holding slaves has been permitted to be entail-
ed; and who stand ready to co-operate in all
prudent measures for their emancipation. l appeal
to you in behalf of our own national character ;
the glory of which is obscured by this foul stain,
which makes us a by-a-worcl among the nations.
I appeal to you in behalf of the future destinies of
our country ; for it is no dream of imagination
that, if nothing he done in behalf of these wretch-

ed beings, they may ere long rise in the collected V

strength of an injured people, and deluge some
parts of our land with blood. And ﬁnally, .1

29

appeal to yen in behalf of the cause of Christian-
ity itself--that blessed religion Which proclaims
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison
to them that are bound ; and as you desire to ex-
tend its redeeming inﬂuences,l ask you to lend
your aid to the object for which I am pleading.
May God give to each of us the spirit and the
blessing of the charitable, for the sake of Jesus
Christ our Lord !