Letters to Catherine E. Beecher, in reply to an essay on slavery and abolitionism, addressed to A. E. Grimké — John Shaqi
Letters to Catherine E. Beecher, in reply to an essay on slavery and abolitionism, addressed to A. E. GrimkéGrimké, Angelina Emily
History
Letters to Catherine E. Beecher, in reply to an essay on slavery and abolitionism, addressed to A. E. Grimké
Grimké, Angelina Emily
Beecher, Catharine Esther, 1800-1878. Essay on slavery and abolitionism; Slavery -- United States
unkind feelings towards the South. All my relatives live in the
slaveholding States, and are almost all slaveholders.
I think the abolitionists have done, and are doing a great deal of
good, by holding slavery up to the public gaze. Sentiment at the
North on the subject of slavery must have the same effect on the
South, that their opinions have on any other matter.’
The writer of the foregoing is, as I am told, still a resident of
Virginia, where he has long been known, and is highly respected.
In the 11th month, 1835, the United States Telegraph, published at
Washington city, contains the following remarks by the Editor, Duff
Green.
‘We are of those who believe the South has nothing to fear from a
servile war. We do not believe that the abolitionists intend, nor
could they if they would, excite the slaves to insurrection. The
danger of this is remote. We believe that we have most to fear from
the _organised action upon the consciences_ and fears of the
slaveholders themselves; _from the insinuations of their dangerous
heresies into our schools, our pulpits, and our domestic circles. It
is only by alarming the consciences of the weak and feeble, and
diffusing among our own people a morbid sensibility on the question
of slavery, that the abolitionists can accomplish their object._
PREPARATORY TO THIS, they are now laboring to saturate the
non-slaveholding States with the belief that slavery is a ‘sin
against God.’ We must meet the question in all its bearings. We must
SATISFY THE CONSCIENCES, we must allay the fears of our own people.
We must satisfy them that slavery is of itself right--that it is not
a sin against God--that it is not an evil, moral or political. To do
this, we must discuss the subject of slavery itself. We must examine
its bearing upon the moral, political, and religious institutions of
the country. In this way, and this way only, can we prepare our own
people to _defend their own institutions_.’
In another number of the same paper, the Editor says,
‘We hold that our sole reliance is on ourselves; that we have _most
to fear from the gradual operation on public opinion among
ourselves_; and that those are the most insidious and dangerous
invaders of our rights and interests, who, coming to us in the guise
of friendship, endeavor to _persuade_ us that slavery is a sin, a
curse, an evil. It is not true that the South sleeps on a
volcano--that we are afraid to go to bed at night--that we are
fearful of murder and pillage. _Our greatest cause of apprehension
is from the operation of the morbid sensibility which appeals to
the consciences of our own people_, and would make them the
voluntary instruments of their own ruin.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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