dially approve of their Christianfforts, in the and I regret exceedingly, that it will not be in name of God and of bleeding humanity, to free my power to assemble with you, at your Conthe M. E. Church from the sin of slavery.

vention.

"10th. That we feel greatly indebted to, and "More than sixteen years ago, I was admitted highly approve of ZION'S WATCHMAN, for its into the travelling⚫onnection of the M. E. unflinching course in exposing the enormities of Church, and from that time to the present, I the system of slavery, and arousing the slum have been an ardent lover of its doctrines and bering energies of the M. E. Church on this institutions. But little did I then think, that subject; and that in our opinion, it is to be one of the book of God would be construed by some the principal means under God for enlightening of our ministers to support a system of oppresthe church and the community on their duty sion, cruelty and vice," the worst that ever saw with regard to the immediate and entire aboli-the sun," and especially that annual Confertion of slavery ;-and that therefore, we recomences, and a General Conference,--the highest mend this paper most cordially to the liberal pa-officers of our church, and preachers of talents tronage of our people. and influence, would be giving countenance, J. G. BALDWIN, Secretary." and with united co-operation coming up to fill the chasm in that system which is eating out The Convention passed unanimously the vitals of our holy religion! But so it is. the last of the above resolutions, and We blush- -we mourn, we weep, that it is so. supported it by pledging on the spot We dare not; it would be criminal in God's "Shall we be silent? Can we hold our peace? about eight hundred new subscribers! sight. God's suffering poor are bought and The following letters were addressed sold as beasts, goods and chattels in the shamnto the Convention by brethren who could bles. They cannot speak for themselves. We must speak for the dumb. I trust the convennot attend. tion will speak in tones of truth and power, "Dear Brethren,-As it is not convenient that will be heard through New England, for us to meet with you at the anticipated Con-through America, and felt throughout the vention to be held at Lynn, from several world. considerations which it is not necessary to mention, we would just say, that we remain firm in the great doctrines and measures of modern abolitionism. And as we believe it our duty to use our influence to promote the freedom of the press and the rights of conscience, against a time-serving and slave holding spirit, as well as against what we consider the oppressive course taken by our two bishops at the last session of our Conference-we therefore declare, that we are prepared to stand by you, should "We love pure Methodism; and for the you deem it necessary to pass strong resolu- spread of its doctrines we labor and pray, and tions condemning slavery as it exists in our we mean to wear out in this service. But we Church. And we would also say, that as we deplore the connexion of our church with slahave been severely afflicted by the course very, and for the destruction of this monster, taken by our two bishops at the last confer- we have drawn the sword of truth, thrown ence, held at Nantucket, in their positively de-away the scabbard, buckled on the armor nying us our right, as a Conference, to express of righteousness, and entered into the conan opinion against slavery, that we shall feel test. May we never return, until victory is honored in joining our names with yours, in won through all the ranks of our Israel. "Your convention will be an important one, any pudent course you may take against these usurpations upon our rights and liberties, as as it will give an opportunity to concentrate ministers of Jesus Christ. As much as we love your views and plans of operation for the future. It is what the Conferences in New Methodism, we are not prepared to submit, tamely, to such a course. England need; and the course you take there, Hence we think a public expression of the views of our preach-wili much retard or expedite the emancipation ers and members against such evils is called of the slave, so far as the Methodist Church is for at this time. Yours affectionately,

"You cannot speak in a Conference capacity and tell what you believe to be "a sin against God and the inalienable rights of humanity." You will, no doubt, do it in your convention.

"Sensible I am, you need wisdom which cometh from above, and I hope while you exercise all due forbearance and affection towards slave holders, apologists for slavery, and your most bitter opponents, you will not shrink from speaking out in the omnipotency of truth.

concerned at least.

"Though I cannot witness your deliberations, yet I trust I shall be with you in spirit; praying that God will preside in all your councils and deliberations. I close by subscribing myself yours in the Gospel of Christ, and in behalf of the oppressed, SAMUEL KELLY."

REV. JOHN N. MAFFITT.

The following extracts are from an Address by JOHN N. MAFFITT, on the evening of the 4th of July, 1830, delivered in Bennett Street Church, Boston, Mass. Query-Are these his senti

ments now ?-and does he preach them soon pass resolutions, saying that slavery is not in the South?

a moral evil-and that another would openly license the slave trade, "providing the pur"Let not the oppressor triumph-says a poses are kind and the intentions good"—and great voice from heaven. God abhors the that yet another would pass a resolution, reproud. The sighing of the prisoner comes up quiring of all her candidates for ordination, before him. The robe of sackcloth is as beau- a "pledge," that they would not agitate the tiful in his eyes as the gorgeous attire of pa- Church with discussions on this subject!laces-and the human form furrowed with the 9 Methodism, what hast thou done?] It is a taskmaster's whip, is as acceptable to its Maker horrible wrong, unjustifiable, impeached by every as the pampered and delicately beautiful coun- noble feeling that throbs the bosoms of the coltenance of him whom the winds of heaven lective race of humanity."

have not been permitted to visit too roughly." "CHRISTIAN AMERICA! I must reluctantly "What hath Africa done, that her children close my plea in behalf of enslaved millions, by should blacken beneath a heavier, more lasting charging home upon the Capitol, where the curse, than ever rested on any other nation! emblematic eagle spreads his broadest, boldest What hath she done to thee, great America, wing-upon every legislative hall in the slave that thou holdest her sons, her daughters, her holding States-upon magistrate and people— feeble infants, in bondage, and refusest to let upon army and navy-upon plain, mountain, and them go?" river, the deep, and as yet irreversible stain of "To erase from being, is to inflict but a mo- slavery. The Genius of Columbia, as she surmentary pang-while to enslave generation veys from the loftiest peak of the Alleghanies after generation, from the earliest dawn of life's the azure field where the stars are sprinkled, clouded day to its dark going down, is to en- has also in prospect the nebulous vapors that tail torture in such a fearful shape, as to make roll up heavily from the slave-cultured earth. it bear no imaginary similitude to everlasting The eye of HEAVEN is brighter than her's of wo! O could we this day assemble the enslav- the stripes and stars'-and Heaven is all ear ed sons of Africa! bring forward the millions to record every extorted groan. The solemn free America holds in bondage, alike regardless demand in the High Chancery of Heaven of human or divine right-make the Indian against the beloved country of my adoption and islands give up their slaves, and Southern tenderest love, will not be the price of what America yield her's-place them where the Africa now is-but of what she would have cool winds of heaven might fan their throbbing been, if her millions who have miserably per foreheads in the amphitheatre of your broadest ished in inhospitable climes, like branches rent valley; for their numbers would throng a wide from the parent tree, had remained on the extent of territory-and there speak peace to shores of her Gambia, her Niger, and had, from all their troubles! We would tenderly say-the genial influences of peaceful commerce and Bleeding Africans! your God remembers you. the renovations of civilization, surpassed the He did not account of you as dust trodden grandeur of her once renowned empires. It is down, to be carried away by every passing the ghost of a mighty people that points the wind. He did not leave you without a pro- fleshless hand towards America-then, solemnmise. The mighty pulsations of joy could not ly raising it towards Heaven, says I will be full in the mind of uncreated benevolence meet thee there-not at Philippi, in night and until, in the deep communions of His spirit battle agony, but at the bar of God, under the with man, He had revealed Africa stretching blaze of the judgment fires, just when the highforth her hands-her hands-for alas! she hath est hills in heaven are reddening with the worn manacles, and could not lift up her iron-united flames of Africa and America. I will eaten sinews to the Avenger of nations! O meet thee there, to ask for my kings and queens, Africa! this is the broad charter of thy coming my sons and daughters, my cities, my national freedom, the promise of the Everlasting renown-and for my eternal salvation!' God."

"Slowly, like one stiffened in death, the ac"The day is past, when any attempt may be cusing spectre has vanished. It is for us, my expected to vindicate slavery on philosophical or beloved countrymen-it is for us to lay this religious principles. [Not quite so fast, Brother terrible spirit for ever, that he accuse us not at Maffitt. Little did you think, when you pen- a moment when all that have breathed on earth ned that sentence, that President Fisk and the world's gray fathers' and the latest born, Bishop Hedding would defend slavery by Bible arguments and the Golden Rule in 1835-7! And that two Methodist conferences would so

shall be witnesses of our disgrace-when the hollowness of our boast of freedom shall provoke the jeers of the world.'"

AMERICAN SLAVERY

AS IT IS:

TESTIMONY

OF

A THOUSAND WITNESSES.

"Behold the wicked abominations that they do!"-EZEKIEL, vfii. 9.

"The righteous CONSIDERETH the cause of the poor; but the wicked regardeth not to know it."-PROV. 29, 7. "True humanity consists not in a SQUEAMISH EAR, but in listening to the story of human suffering and endeavoring to relieve it."-CHARLES JAMES FOX.

NEW YORK:

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY,

OFFICE, No. 143 NASSAU STREET.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

A MAJORITY of the facts and testimony contained in this work rests upon the authority of SLAVEHOLDERS, whose names and residences are given to the public, as vouchers for the truth of their statements. That they should utter falsehoods, for the sake of proclaiming their own infamy, is not probable.

Their testimony is taken, mainly, from recent newspapers, published in the slave states. Most of those papers will be deposited at the office of the American Anti-Slavery Society, 143 Nassau street, New-York City. Those who think the atrocities, which they describe, incredible, are invited to call and read for themselves. We regret that all of the original papers are not in our possession. The idea of preserving them on file for the inspection of the incredulous, and the curious, did not occur to us until after the preparation of the work was in a state of forwardness; in consequence of this, some of the papers cannot be recovered. Nearly all of them, however, have been preserved. In all cases the name of the paper is given, and, with very few exceptions, the place and time, (year, month, and day) of publication. Some of the extracts, however, not being made with reference to this work, and before its publication was contemplated, are without date; but this class of extracts is exceedingly small, probably not a thirtieth of the whole. The statements, not derived from the papers and other periodicals, letters, books, &c., published by slaveholders, have been furnished by individuals who have resided in slave states, many of whom are natives of those states, and have been slaveholders. The names, residences, &c. of the witnesses generally are given. A number of them, however, still reside in slave states ;to publish their names would be, in most cases, to make them the victims of popular fury. New-York, May 4, 1839.