THE HUNTERS OF MEN. WRITTEN on reading the report of the proceedings of the American Colonization Society, at its annual meeting in 1834. HAVE ye heard of our hunting, o'er mountain and glen, Through cane-brake and forest the hunting of men? The lords of our land to this hunting have gone, As the fox-hunter follows the sound of the horn: Hark! the cheer and the hallo! - the crack of the whip, Gay luck to our hunters! - how nobly they ride In the glow of their zeal, and the strength of their pride!The priest with his cassock flung back on the wind, Just screening the politic statesman behind The saint and the sinner, with cursing and prayer — Oh goodly and grand is our hunting to see, In this "land of the brave and this home of the free." all grasping the rein Right merrily hunting the black man, whose sin Is the curl of his hair and the hue of his skin! Woe, now, to the hunted who turns him at bay! ? Will our hunters be turned from their purpose and prey Ho! - ALMS for our hunters! all weary and faint Over cane-brake and river, and forest and hill. Haste alms for our hunters! the hunted once more Have turned from their flight with their backs to the shore: ALMS -ALMS for our hunters! why will ye delay, The politic statesman looks back with a sigh Oh! haste, lest that doubting and fear shall prevail, CLERICAL OPPRESSORS. [IN the Report of the celebrated pro-slavery meeting in Charleston, S. C., on the 4th of the 9th month, 1835, published in the Courier of that city, it is stated, "The CLERGY of all denominations attended in a body, LENDING THEIR SANCTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS, and adding by their presence to the impressive character of the scene!"] JUST God!-and these are they Who minister at Thine altar, God of Right! Men who their hands with prayer and blessing lay What! preach and kidnap men? Give thanks and rob Thy own afflicted poor? - Talk of Thy glorious liberty, and then Bolt hard the captive's door? What! servants of Thy own Merciful Son, who came to seek and save The tasked and plundered slave ! Pilate and Herod, friends! Chief priests and rulers, as of old, combine! Paid hypocrites, who turn Judgment aside, and rob the Holy Book Of those high words of truth which search and burn Feed fat, ye locusts, feed! And, in your tasseled pulpits, thank the Lord How long, O Lord! how long Shall such a priesthood barter truth away, Is not Thy hand stretched forth Visibly in the heavens, to awe and smite? Shall not the living God of all the earth, And heaven above, do right? Woe, then, to all who grind Their brethren of a common Father down! Woe to the priesthood! woe To those whose hire is with the price of blood · The searching truths of God! Their glory and their might Shall perish; and their very names shall be Of a world's liberty. Oh! speed the moment on When Wrong shall cease and Liberty, and Love, And Truth, and Right, throughout the earth be known. As in their home above. THE CHRISTIAN SLAVE. [IN a late publication of L. F. TASISTRO, "Random Shots and Southern Breezes," is a description of a slave auction at New Orleans, at which the auctioneer recommended the woman on the stand as "A GOOD CHRISTIAN!"] A CHRISTIAN! going, gone! for His grace Which that poor victim of the market-place My God! can such things be? Hast thou not said that whatsoe'er is done In that sad victim, then, Child of Thy pitying love, I see Thee stand- A Christian up for sale! Wet with her blood your whips-o'ertask her frame, A heathen hand might deal Back on your heads the gathered wrong of years, Ye neither heed nor feel. |