The Liberator

LABORS OF ABBY KELLY IN CONNECTICUT

Washington, Conn. Sept. 13, 1839.

MR. GARRISON:

Dear Sir—In these days of fearful excitement, how shall a man preserve his sanity of mind? When ministers run mad, and command their people to raise the yelp and follow in their track, how shall a fanatic hope to escape the convulsions and terrific guakings which this pro-slavery, negro-hating, man-despising malady produces? Yet it is not the negro that is hated among us, so much as it is the spirit of free thought and free discussion. Yes, up here among the hills and glens of old Connecticut, there prevails as much of the slave-spirit, as among the rice swamps and cotton fields of Alabama. Slavery is here advocated as a divine institution; the doctrine of inalienable rights spurned as an absurd dogma—the root and the offspring of infidelity; the claims of the negro to respect and affection as a brother-man, treated with contemptuous loathing; the truth belied, its advocates vilified and defamed; and all this by those who profess to be the followers of Him who was no respecter of persons, and who came to preach deliverance to the captive and the opening of the prison-doors to them that are bound. The fire had indeed lain dormant for a time, till the breath of 'foreign interference' swept away the ashes, and it burst forth into a flame. Abby Kelly came last Thursday to arouse her sisters to action in the cause of the down-trodden slave. On Friday, she addressed a respectable assemblage of females on the inherent sinfulness of slavery, and notwithstanding many injurious and slanderous reports were circulated with regard to her character and principles, by those who profess to be members of Christ's church, her remarks made a salutary impression upon the minds of those who were willing to give her an unprejudiced hearing.

On Sunday she attended divine service in the congregational church, the Rev. ——— officiating as pastor. His address was every way worthy of a christian minister, enjoining upon all his hearers to do their duty and wait with patience and full assurance for a good result. In the afternoon he preached from this text—' And the apostles and elders came together to consider of this matter.' The sermon must have been a sweet morsel to those who love to ride upon the necks of their christian brethren—a mighty easer of conscience to authority-courting priests, and power-loving rulers in Israel. At the close of divine service, he rose and stated that he had been requested to read a notice of a meeting in which a woman was expected to address a mixed assembly. He then proceeded to attack and misrepresent her principles, declaring that she was a non-resistant, and advocate of doctrines which would open all our prisons, prevent the collection of taxes and debts, give unrestrained sway to lawless violence, &c. &c.; and that non-resistance grew out of abolition. Quoted St. Paul to prove that it is a sin and a shame for a woman to teach men, and finally wound up by requesting the church to tarry and express their opinion with regard to the propriety of her speaking. After a brief discussion, the church Resolved, ' That they disapproved of the introduction of female lecturers into the society by members of the church, and of such persons lecturing in the Society.' The spirit of clerical dictation could no farther go.

Miss Kelly addressed a crowded house on Sunday evening, and again on Tuesday evening. The slanders by which her character was assailed, had no other effect than to increase her faith and animate her zeal. She still persisted in proclaiming the truth of the sinfulness of slavery, and the guilt of its abettors. But when will men learn to respect the truth, from whatever lips it may come? When will the slave-spirit cease to reside in the breasts of a time-serving clergy? When will men learn to think for themselves and not make another man the keeper of their consciences? Strange! that the most violent and embittered opposition to a holy cause should arise from holy men! Strange! that the shepherd should be found preying upon the sheep—that the 'light of the world' should be the profoundest darkness. But is this not rather a spurious light—a libel on christianity and a mocking of the truth?

May God speed the day when every refuge of lies shall be swept away, and the slave stand erect and free—a man and brother.

NDE