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as it was richly deserved. In a word, the venerable figure, the saintly aspect, the benignant smile, the ethereal spirit, the tranquil resignation, the humble faith, the cheerful temper, the habitual meekness, the generous sympathy, the comprehensive charity, the modest unpretending gentleness of his whole manner, -all proclaimed the mature and gifted Christian, ready to depart, and calmly expecting his final translation to a more congenial world.

To the last, this good man continued accessible and attractive to all; and he well knew how to engage in pleasant and profitable conversation with persons of every variety of age, rank, and condition. Always the Christian gentleman, it was impossible for him to make an approach towards levity or coarseness, in word or act. I never heard from his lips an anecdote or allusion, a hint or expression, which might not have been whispered in seraph's ears. This innate purity or acquired sense of propriety, I think, was peculiar and characteristic. It certainly is not always prominent even among divines. He took great interest in the youthful candidates for the ministry. He delighted much in their society. His little parlour was often filled with them. And then, what words of wisdom, of kindness, of encouragement, of counsel,—and the prayer!-for he always concluded these meetings with prayer. The prayer of the dying patriarch,-of the ascending prophet!-for such to us he seemed. Thus blandly and peacefully passed away the latter years of the veteran invalid

soldier of the cross,-doing what he could,—still, as ever, faithful to his vows, and zealous in his Master's service. If he had faults, I saw them not; or if I did, I have long since forgotten them. Such are my recollections of Dr. Smith.

Very respectfully and truly yours,

PHILIP LINDSLEY.

THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.

AN EXTRACT.

[THE following passage is the one to which reference is made on page 574 of the present volume, as containing the author's earlier views on American Slavery. It formed a part of his discourse from Gal. i. 10, on leaving Princeton in 1824, and was published at the time in pamphlet form at the request of the Senior Class of the College of New Jersey, accompanied by an Appendix, explaining more fully his position. As, however, the whole passage was omitted in the author's carefully revised manuscript copy of the discourse, written long afterward at New Albany, it was thought best, in republishing the discourse in the second volume of his Works, to follow the manuscript rather than the printed copy. Hence the sermon now appears without the passage. But, inasmuch as the passage is a remarkable one, as showing the author's views at that early period, and inasmuch as he had himself once committed it to the press, it has been thought every way appropriate to insert it, along with the explanatory Appendix, as a separate article, in this volume of his political and miscellaneous writings.]

Men often overlook the claims to their generosity which are at hand-near at home-at their very doors -while they make a show of extraordinary sympathy and regard for remote objects, about which the public mind may happen to be greatly excited. They will give, for instance, to the rescue of the Greeks from Turkish oppression, while they forget that we retain in this land of liberty a people as numerous as the Greeks, in a state of bondage, a hundred-fold more degrading and miserable than any Mohammedan tyrant

ever dreamt of inflicting on his conquered vassals. I object not to our aiding the Greeks in their noble struggle for independence and the rights of man. Theirs is a good cause, and worthy of more substantial support than all our eloquent speeches have yet procured for it.

But when will Christian charity awake to the tears and groans and cries and sufferings of the two millions of wretched Africans, who were dragged from their distant homes by Christian avarice,-not subdued in the field of battle, and subjected to the usual fate of a conquered people, as were the Greeks,-and who are here doomed, under Christian masters, to drink the bitterest cup ever presented to the lips of humanity? The very tenderest mercies which they experience at our hands, are cruelty and mockery, compared with the harshest treatment which the Mussulman has ever shown to a Christian subject in time of peace. And even in the tumult and fury of rebellion, have the infidel Turks been more prompt to destroy and to exterminate, than are Christians in seasons of insurrection among their Christian slaves? How absurd is it for us to volunteer as knights-errant in the cause of liberty, humanity, and religion, while the fairest portions of our land are cursed and blasted with ignorance and depravity and slavery and cruelty, to which the old world has never furnished a parallel!

Colonization Societies may do great good both to individuals here, and to Africa and to Hayti. They may do infinite good, especially to injured Africa. They may withdraw from us many turbulent, ambitious spirits,

many lazy, worthless vagabonds,-many who here would be burdensome or dangerous to the community, but who may, in a more congenial abode, prove a blessing and an honour to their species. Nay, it is possible that in time they may succeed in conveying the whole black population of these Northern States to the land of their fathers or of their brethren. Heaven prosper them, therefore, and dispose every well-wisher to his country to countenance and to aid them! But they will never touch the tremendous evil which exists,—which is every day rapidly augmenting,--and which is already so threatening and appalling in its aspect that few dare to look it in the face.

Our slaves must be emancipated upon the soil which they cultivate. There is no alternative. And here they will be emancipated, either by the fears, the interest, or the Christian kindness of their oppressors; or, they will, by violence, wrest the rod from the tyrant's grasp, and drench in the white man's blood that soil which has so long been watered by their tears. Two millions of human beings cannot be removed. They cannot be kept in perpetual bondage. In twenty years they will be four millions,-in forty or fifty years, eight millions, -and so concentrated in particular sections of our country that one daring effort will break their chains forever.

Give them Christian instruction,-give them the Bible, you will say. Good,-give them the Bible, and teach them to read it. Christians cannot do less. What a horrible state is that which renders the distribution

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