Con well thy lesson o'er, Thou prudent teacher- tell the toiling slave But wisely shut the ray Of God's free Gospel from her simple heart, So shalt thou deftly raise The market price of human flesh; and while Grave, reverend men shall tell From Northern pulpits how thy work was blest, Oh, shame! the Moslem thrall, Who, with his master, to the Prophet kneels, Cheers for the turbaned Bey But our poor slave in vain Turns to the Christian shrine his aching eyes — And rivet on his chain.† *There is in Liberty county, Georgia, an Association for the religious instruction of Negroes. Their seventh annual report contains an address by the Rev. Josiah Spry Law, from which we extract the following:-"There is a growing interest, in this community, in the religious instruction of Negroes. There is a conviction that religious instruction promotes the quiet and order of the people, and the pecuniary interest of the owners." † We often see advertisements in the Southern papers, in which individual God of all right! how long Shall priestly robbers at Thine altar stand, Oh, from the fields of cane, From the low rice-swamp, from the trader's cell- Hoarse, horrible, and strong, Rises to Heaven that agonizing cry, HOW LONG, OH GOD, HOW LONG? slaves, or several of a lot, are recommended as "pious," or as "members of churches." Lately we saw a slave advertised, who, among other qualifications, was described as "a Baptist preacher." + STANZAS FOR THE TIMES. Is this the land our fathers loved, And shall we crouch above these graves, Shall outraged Nature cease to feel? Shall Mercy's tears no longer flow? The dungeon's gloom-the assassin's blow, Of human skulls that shrine was made, *The "Times" alluded to, were those evil times of the pro-slavery meeting in Faneuil Hall, for the suppression of freedom of speech, lest it should endanger the foundations of commercial society. In view of the outrages which a careful observation of the times had enabled him to foresee must spring from the false witness borne against the abolitionists by the speakers at that meeting, well might Garrison say of them, "I consider the man who fires a city, guiltless in comparison." And must we yield to Freedom's God, Shall tongues be mute, when deeds are wrought Shall Pity's bosom cease to swell? Where Freedom weeps her children's fall By their enlarging souls, which burst The bands and fetters round them set Within our inmost bosoms, yet, No-guided by our country's laws, For truth, and right, and suffering man, What shall we guard our neighbor still, While woman shrieks beneath his rod, And shall we know and share with him The danger and the growing shame ? And see our Freedom's light grow dim, Which should have filled the world with flame? And, writhing, feel, where'er we turn, Is 't not enough that this is borne ? And asks our hearty neighbor more? Clank round the Yankee farmer's door? Must he be told his freedom stands On Slavery's dark foundations strong- Its life - its soul, from slavery drawn? False-foul-profane! Go- teach as well Of holy Truth from Falsehood born! Of Heaven refreshed by airs from Hell! Of Virtue in the arms of Vice! Of Demons planting Paradise! Rail on, then, "brethren of the South' |