The Liberator

OFFICIAL MENDACITY.

Gov. Marcy, of New York, in his recent message to the Legislature of that State, makes the following foolish statement:

At the commencement of the last session of the legislature, the public mind was much disturbed in several of the states by schemes then on foot for abolishing domestic slavery. Some undoubtedly embarked in them with good intentions; but it is now more evident perhaps, than it was then, that many of the agitators were prosecuting political designs under the mask of pretended philanthropy. As soon as the excitement ceased to subserve party purposes, it began to abate. Although these fanatical proceedings have not been entirely discontinued, they are not now of such a character as to attract much public attention here, or furnish any just cause for alarm elsewhere. The mass of our fellow-citizens, without regard to party distinctions or religious sects, reprobated them, and united in urgent and strong appeals to the agitators to forego their mischievous designs. It was then a matter of sincere regret, that any had given their sanction to measures tending to disturb the friendly relations among the members of our Federal Union; and it is now a subject of congratulation, that, rebuked and circumscribed as these proceedings have been, and I trust will continue to be, by the vigorous and healthful tone of public opinion, there is no longer any cause for disquietude on this account.

Official mendacity, like the above, has scarcely its parallel. Observe-1st. the sneering epithets, twice repeated, 'the agitators'-2d. the unfounded charge against the abolitionists of prosecuting 'political,' 'mischievous,' 'fanatical' designs, under the mask of 'pretended philanthropy'-3d. the glaring falsehood. that they are diminishing in strength and numbers— 4th. the approbation of mobs and lynch law, conveyed in the panegyric upon 'the vigorous and healthful tone of public opinion,' by which the proceedings of the abolitionists have been 'rebuked and circumscribed'!!! Observe, again, that it is deemed a high misdemeanor for abolitionists, but not for Whigs or Tories, to prosecute political' designs. Why? Are they not American citizens? And have they not a right to cast their suffrages as they shall think proper?— What! are they to be disfranchised, because they abhor slavery, and cling to liberty?

But the lie official-the lie explicit-the lie mountainous-the lie absurd, is, that since the termination of the Presidential election, the abolition cause has retrograded almost into non-existence! This, in full view of the fact, that hundreds of anti-slavery societies have been organized, and thousands of converts made, since the last pro-slavery message of the same Governor was delivered!-and that not less than seventy Agents have been commissioned and sent into the field, within three months, to give battle to southern oppression!