are thousands of them religious, continually raising their voices, sending up their prayers to God, invoking His aid in their behalf, asking for a speedy deliverance; but they are still in chains, although they have thrice suffered out their three score years and ten.  That “God sendeth rain upon the just and unjust,” should be sufficient to convince us that our success in life, does not depend upon our religious character, but that the physical laws governing all earthly and temporary affairs, benefit equally the just and the unjust.  Any other doctrine than this, is downright delusion, unworthy of a free people, and only intended for slaves.  That all men and women, should be moral, upright, good and religious—­we mean Christians—­we would not utter a word against, and could only wish that it were so; but, what we here desire to do is, to correct the long standing error among a large body of the colored people in this country, that the cause of our oppression and degradation, is the displeasure of God towards us, because of our unfaithfulness to Him.  This is not true; because if God is just—­and he is—­there could be no justice in prospering white men with his fostering care, for more than two thousand years, in all their wickedness, while dealing out to the colored people, the measure of his displeasure, for not half the wickedness as that of the whites.  Here then is our mistake, and let it forever henceforth be corrected.  We are no longer slaves, believing any interpretation that our oppressors may give the word of God, for the purpose of deluding us to the more easy subjugation; but freemen, comprising some of the first minds of intelligence and rudimental qualifications, in the country.  What then is the remedy, for our degradation and oppression?  This appears now to be the only remaining question—­the means of successful elevation in this our own native land?  This depends entirely upon the application of the means of Elevation.

V

MEANS OF ELEVATION

Moral theories have long been resorted to by us, as a means of effecting the redemption of our brethren in bonds, and the elevation of the free colored people in this country.  Experience has taught us, that speculations are not enough; that the practical application of principles adduced, the thing carried out, is the only true and proper course to pursue.

We have speculated and moralised much about equality—­claiming to be as good as our neighbors, and every body else—­all of which, may do very well in ethics—­but not in politics.  We live in society among men, conducted by men, governed by rules and regulations.  However arbitrary, there are certain policies that regulate all well organized institutions and corporate bodies.  We do not intend here to speak of the legal political relations of society, for those are treated on elsewhere.  The business and social, or voluntary and mutual policies, are those that now