and other countries with slave-holding dependencies,
all indicating that the days of slavery are numbered,
should serve to encourage and stimulate us to
increased exertions; and while it is a cause of profound
regret, that any thing should have disturbed the
harmony and unity of the real friends of emancipation
in this country—the hardest battle
field of our moral warfare—I am not without
hope, that, in future, those who,—from
a conscientious difference of opinion, not as
to the object, but the precise mode of obtaining
it,—cannot act in one united band, will
laudably emulate each other in the promotion of
our common cause, and in Christian forbearance
upon points of disagreement; and that, where they
cannot praise, they will be careful not to censure
those, who, by a different road, are earnestly pursuing
the same end. Without entering into the controversies
which have divided our friends on this side the
water, I believe it would be nothing more than
a simple act of justice for me to state, on my
return to Europe, my conviction that a large portion
of the abolitionists of the United States, who
approve of the proceedings of the late General
Anti-Slavery Convention, and are desirous of acting
in unity with the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery
Society, from the general identity of their practice,
as well as principles, with those of the British and
Foreign Society, are entitled to the sympathies,
and deserving of the confidence and co-operation
of the abolitionists of Great Britain. It
has been my pleasure to meet, in a kindly interchange
of opinion, many valuable and devoted friends of emancipation;
who, while dissenting from the class above-mentioned
in some respects, are nevertheless disposed to cultivate
feelings of charity and good will towards all who are
sincerely laboring for the slaves. And in
this connection I may state, that neither on behalf
of myself, or of my esteemed coadjutors in Great
Britain, am I disposed to recriminate upon another
class of abolitionists, who, on some points, have so
far differed from the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery
Committee, and the great majority of the Convention
above mentioned, as to sustain their representatives
in refusing to act with that Convention, and in
protesting against its proceedings; and who have
seen fit to censure the committee in their public meetings
and newspapers in this country, as ‘arbitrary
and despotic,’ and their conduct as ’unworthy
of men claiming the character of abolitionists.’
“As a corresponding member of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Committee, and intimately acquainted with its proceedings, I am persuaded that its members have acted wisely, and consulted the best interest of the cause in which they were engaged, in generally leaving unnoticed any censures that have been cast upon them while in the prosecution of their labors. Yet, before leaving this country, I deem it right to bear my testimony to the great anxiety of that committee faithfully to discharge the duties committed