other—­or the citizen who, by his vote and influence, creates and upholds enactments which legalize this monstrous system, is known only to Him before whom the secrets of all hearts are unfolded.”]

“To thy remark that thy business was necessary to the system of slavery, and an essential part of it—­and if slave-holding were to be justified at all, the slave-trade must be also—­I certainly can offer no valid objection; for I have never been able to discover any moral difference between the planter of Virginia and the slave dealer of Baltimore, Richmond, and Washington.  Each has his part to act in the system, and each is necessary to the other.  And if the matter were not, in all its bearings, painfully serious, it would be amusing to witness the absurd contempt with which the slave owner of Maryland or Virginia professes to look upon the trader, whose purchase of his surplus slaves alone enables him to retain the residue in his possession; for it seems very evident that the only profitable part of the system in those States, at the present time, is the sale of the annual increase of the slaves.

“In passing from thy premises, we looked in upon the Triennial Convention of the Baptists of the United States, then in session in the city of Baltimore, where I found slave-holding ministers of high rank in the church, urging successfully the exclusion from the Missionary Board of that Society, of all those who, in principle and practice, were known to be decided abolitionists; and the results of their efforts satisfied me that the darkest picture of slavery is not to be found in the jail of the slave-trader, but rather in a convocation of professed ministers of the Gospel of Christ, expelling from the Board of a Society formed to enlighten the heathen of other nations, all who consistently labor for the overthrow of a system which denies a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures to near three millions of heathen at home!

“But allow me, in a spirit, as I trust, of Christian kindness, to entreat thee not to seek excuses for thy own course in the evil conduct of others.  Thou hast already reached the middle period of life—­the future is uncertain.  By thy hopes of peace here and hereafter, let me urge thee to abandon this occupation.  It is not necessary to argue its intrinsic wickedness, for thou knowest it already.  I would therefore beseech thee to listen to that voice which, I am persuaded, sometimes urges thee to ’put away the evil of thy doings,’ to ‘do justice and love mercy,’ and thus cease to draw upon thyself the curse which fell upon those merchants of Tyre, who ‘traded in the persons of men.’  That these warnings of conscience may not longer be neglected on thy part, is the sincere wish of one who, while he abhors thy occupation, feels nothing but kindness and good will towards thyself.

    “Thy friend,

    “JOSEPH STURGE.