running a thousand miles for freedom-第15章
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a virtuous young woman must fly the American shores； and seek； under the shadow of the British throne； the enjoyment of 'life； liberty； and the pur… suit of happiness。'
〃But I must pursue my plain； sad story。 All day long； I have been busy planning a safe way for William and Ellen to leave Boston。 We dare not allow them to go on board a vessel； even in the port of Boston； for the writ is yet in the Marshal's hands； and he MAY be waiting an opportunity to serve it； so I am expecting to accompany them to…morrow to Portland； Maine； which is beyond the reach of the Marshal's authority； and there I hope to see them on board a British steamer。
〃This letter is written to introduce them to you。 I know your infirm health； but I am sure； if you were stretched on your bed in your last illness； and could lift your hand at all； you would extend it to welcome these poor hunted fellow…creatures。 Hence… forth； England is their nation and their home。 It is with real regret for our personal loss in their de… parture； as well as burning shame for the land that is not worthy of them； that we send them away； or rather allow them to go。 But； with all the resolute courage they have shown in a most trying hour； they themselves see it is the part of a foolhardy rashness to attempt to stay here longer。
〃I must close； and with many renewed thanks for all your kind words and deeds towards us；
〃I am； very respectfully yours；
〃SAMUEL MAY； JUN。〃
Our old masters； having heard how their agents were treated at Boston； wrote to Mr。 Filmore； who was then President of the States； to know what he could do to have us sent back to slavery。 Mr。 Filmore said that we should be returned。 He gave instructions for military force to be sent to Boston to assist the officers in making the arrest。 There… fore we； as well as our friends （among whom was George Thompson； Esq。； late M。P。 for the Tower Hamletsthe slave's long…tried； self…sacrificing friend； and eloquent advocate） thought it best； at any sacrifice； to leave the mock…free Republic； and come to a country where we and our dear little ones can be truly free。〃No one daring to molest or make us afraid。〃 But； as the officers were watching every vessel that left the port to prevent us from escaping； we had to take the expensive and tedious overland route to Halifax。
We shall always cherish the deepest feelings of gratitude to the Vigilance Committee of Boston （upon which were many of the leading abolitionists）； and also to our numerous friends； for the very kind and noble manner in which they assisted us to preserve our liberties and to escape from Boston； as it were like Lot from Sodom； to a place of refuge； and finally to this truly free and glorious country； where no tyrant； let his power be ever so absolute over his poor trembling victims at home； dare come and lay violent hands upon us or upon our dear little boys （who had the good fortune to be born upon British soil）； and reduce us to the legal level of the beast that perisheth。 Oh！ may God bless the thousands of unflinching； disin… terested abolitionists of America； who are labouring through evil as well as through good report； to cleanse their country's escutcheon from the foul and destructive blot of slavery； and to restore to every bondman his God…given rights； and may God ever smile upon England and upon England's good； much…beloved； and deservedly…honoured Queen； for the generous protection that is given to unfortunate refugees of every rank； and of every colour and clime。
On the passing of the Fugitive Slave Bill； the following learned doctors； as well as a host of lesser traitors； came out strongly in its defence。
The Rev。 Dr。 Gardiner Spring； an eminent Presbyterian Clergyman of New York； well known in this country by his religious publications； declared from the pulpit that； 〃if by one prayer he could liberate every slave in the world he would not dare to offer it。〃
The Rev。 Dr。 Joel Parker； of Philadelphia； in the course of a discussion on the nature of Slavery； says； 〃What； then； are the evils inseparable from slavery？ There is not one that is not equally inseparable from depraved human nature in other lawful relations。〃
The Rev。 Moses Stuart； D。D。； （late Professor in the Theological College of Andover）； in his vindi… cation of this Bill； reminds his readers that 〃many Southern slaveholders are true CHRISTIANS。〃 That 〃sending back a fugitive to them is not like restor… ing one to an idolatrous people。〃 That 〃though we may PITY the fugitive； yet the Mosaic Law does not authorize the rejection of the claims of the slaveholders to their stolen or strayed PROPERTY。〃
The Rev。 Dr。 Spencer； of Brooklyn； New York； has come forward in support of the 〃Fugitive Slave Bill；〃 by publishing a sermon entitled the 〃Religious Duty of Obedience to the Laws；〃 which has elicited the highest encomiums from Dr。 Samuel H。 Cox； the Presbyterian minister of Brooklyn （notorious both in this country and America for his sympathy with the slaveholder）。
The Rev。 W。 M。 Rogers； an orthodox minister of Boston； delivered a sermon in which he says； 〃When the slave asks me to stand be… tween him and his master； what does he ask？ He asks me to murder a nation's life； and I will not do it； because I have a conscience； because there is a God。〃 He proceeds to affirm that if resistance to the carrying out of the 〃Fugi… tive Slave Law〃 should lead the magistracy to call the citizens to arms； their duty was to obey and 〃if ordered to take human life； in the name of God to take it；〃 and he concludes by admonishing the fugitives to 〃hearken to the Word of God； and to count their own masters worthy of all honour。〃
The Rev。 William Crowell； of Waterfield； State of Maine； printed a Thanksgiving Sermon of the same kind； in which he calls upon his hearers not to allow 〃excessive sympathies for a few hundred fugitives to blind them so that they may risk increased suffering to the millions already in chains。〃
The Rev。 Dr。 Taylor； an Episcopal Clergyman of New Haven； Connecticut； made a speech at a Union Meeting； in which he deprecates the agita… tion on the law； and urges obedience to it； asking；〃Is that article in the Constitution con… trary to the law of Nature； of nations； or to the will of God？ Is it so？ Is there a shadow of reason for saying it？ I have not been able to dis… cover it。 Have I not shown you it is lawful to deliver up； in compliance with the laws； fugitive slaves； for the high； the great； the momentous interests of those ＇Southern＇ States？〃
The Right Rev。 Bishop Hopkins； of Vermont； in a Lecture at Lockport； says； 〃It was warranted by the Old Testament；〃 and inquires； 〃What effect had the Gospel in doing away with slavery？ None whatever。〃 Therefore he argues； as it is expressly permitted by the Bible； it does not in itself involve any sin； but that every Christian is authorised by the Divine Law to own slaves； provided they were not treated with unnecessary cruelty。
The Rev。 Orville Dewey； D。D。； of the Unitarian connexion； maintained in his lectures that the safety of the Union is not to be hazarded for the sake of the African race。 He declares that； for his part； he would send his own brother or child into slavery； if needed to preserve the Union between the free and the slaveholding States； and； counselling the slave to similar magnanimity； thus exhorts him：〃YOUR RIGHT TO BE FREE IS NOT ABSOLUTE； UNQUALIFIED； IRRESPECTIVE OF ALL CONSEQUENCES。 If my espousal of your claim is likely to involve your race and mine together in disasters infinitely greater than your personal servitude； then you ought not to be free。 In such a case personal rights ought to be sacrificed to the general good。 You yourself ought to see this； and be willing to suffer for a while one for many。〃
If the Doctor is prepared； he is quite at liberty to sacrifice his 〃personal rights to the general good。〃 But； as I have suffered a long time in slavery； it is hardly fair for the Doctor to advise me to go back。 According to his showing； he ought rather to take my place。 That would be practically carrying out his logic； as respects 〃suffering awhile one for many。〃
In fact； so eager were they to prostrate them… selves before the great idol of sla
