“As my prudence and discretion had excited observation, I ventured to remark that it would be a great gratification to me, if the slave holders would meet together and let me occupy an hour or so in defining the true position and principles of the abolitionists; but this, as I had expected, was declined.

“When I paid the money, I felt constrained to testify that I could in no degree sanction the principle that man could hold property in man; that the slaves were our equals by creation, and for their salvation, equally with ours, did Christ leave the right hand of the Father to suffer on the cross.  I told them that contradictory as it might seem to them, the man who was now paying money for slaves, had such a detestation of the system, that he deemed it a duty to abstain from eating or wearing any of the products of slavery.  This seemed to them wondrous strange, and they inquired if there were many at the North who agreed with me in this scruple.  I told them yes; that the number was increasing, and that my friend, Gerrit Smith, had abstained from slave produce for many years.

“A few hours previous to my final departure one after another gathered around me, and as we stood in the open piazza, I said what I could to explain the principles and practice of abolitionists.  I think S. Worthington felt a little hurt at my being thus engaged, for when the stage drove up, he came in great haste to inform me that it was ready.  I found it surrounded by many persons, principally colored, who had assembled to bid farewell to the objects of my charge.  Their master shook each slave by the hand and bade them farewell.  I observed him as we moved away, and thought he seemed to be a good deal moved from some cause or other.

“I took care that coachman and passengers should be informed of the history of Sam and his wife; and some one or other of them was sure to make it a subject of conversation wherever we stopped.  At Lawrenceburg, where we put up for the night, the landlord was also stage proprietor and a slave holder.  He tried to make me believe that his slaves were much better off than himself.  He enumerated his troubles and perplexities in contrast with the blessed freedom from care enjoyed by his slaves.  I told him he had made out his case very well; but to test his sincerity, I merely wished him to declare candidly, whether he should be altogether willing that himself and family should exchange places with a slave family.  The test was too severe, and he walked off.  Two young men at table then took up the conversation.  The tyranny which slavery exercises over the entire community, was illustrated by the assertion that the head of a certain college did not dare to acknowledge himself an abolitionist; for if he did he would lose his office, which brought him in a good salary; and, moreover, the people of D——­ would dismiss him from his pastoral charge.  I of course