is to make the world believe all this. Nothing
is found to answer their purpose so well, in the accomplishment
of this object, as African slavery in the Southern
States. They have talked about negro slavery—negro
oppression, and the negroe’s woes, until they
have really induced some to believe that they are
persons of more than ordinary benevolence—that
they are really humane, generous and just. But
it is mere affectation—it is all hypocrisy.
Facts prove it. England boasts of her philanthropy—talks
about American oppression, and at the same time makes
no effort to elevate her own miserable tenantry, whose
conditions are far worse than American slaves.
If she is really philanthropic, why refuse to do any
thing for her own suffering poor throughout her vast
dominions? This is proof positive, that John
Bull is an old villain; a rotten, two-faced, bigoted,
meddlesome old hypocrite. If abolitionists in
the United States are really philanthropic, why have
they not made some effort to relieve the suffering
poor in their own midst; whose conditions in general,
are far worse than Southern slaves? They have
work enough at home, and it is an old and very true
proverb, “that charity begins at home.”
It is certainly true, that home is the place where
it should begin. What are they doing for the
thousands of ignorant, ill-clad, half starved free
negroes now in their midst? Nothing for either
soul or body! They spurn them from their presence,
or trample them under their feet, and turn around
and wipe their mouths, and express the deepest sympathy
for the poor slave in the Southern States; whose conditions
are incomparably better than the free negroes, North!
Ah! their benevolent souls are overflowing with sympathy
for Southern slaves, who are generally well fed, well
clothed, content and happy; but the poor, vicious,
degraded and friendless free negroes, North, are left
to shift for themselves. And what are they doing
for the suffering poor of their own color? How
many widows that they have defrauded, and orphans
they have robbed, will confront them at the bar of
God? I appeal to those among whom they live;
to those who know them best; as citizens, as neighbors;
are they humane, generous and just? Are they
husbands to the widows; and fathers to the fatherless?
Do they feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit
the sick? Are they ever ready to relieve the
poor, the needy and distressed? In every city,
village and neighborhood, throughout the length and
breadth of the North, there are poor, wretched, miserable
objects of charity, and here they have an opportunity
to give us practical proof of the sincerity of their
professions; and until they furnish evidence that they
are what they profess to be, we wish them to cease
their hypocritical cant about Southern slavery.