all state laws that can impair the obligation of contracts. It tolerates, it is true, an evil it could not consistently name, but it was the best that could, under the circumstances, be formed. Its framers were under a compulsion so to form it as to obtain the consent of independent slave-holding states, or to abandon the task. The alternatives were disunion, and border wars, insecurity, weakness, and the final extinction of republican freedom; and Union, with peace, prosperity, strength, and the perpetuity of the great example of free institutions, and man's power of self-government, on the basis of the greatest good of the greatest number. The uncompromising hostility of Friends to slavery, is not factious, violent, or abusive; but, proceeding from a deep religious and moral conviction of its injustice and impolicy, their opposition is based upon an established testimony, from the support of which they cannot swerve so long as Quakerism shall endure. It is a hostility that is patient, resolute, and candid, and speaking in behalf of humanity, it is only fearful of doing aught to mar the progress of a good work. Pacific in principle, they can excite to no violence; Christian in practice, the sword must be sheathed; and as the fetters are imposed by masters who only can repeal the law, that authorize their infliction, the appeal must be made to the public opinion of the states which tolerate slavery. That opinion cannot be favourably reached by abuse and denunciation, or by any method that will arouse the passions, disturb the reason, and array the feelings in hostile reaction. The legislator, exercising the prerogative of sovereignty, must be reasoned with, to convince his reason, and his passions tranquillized, that he may listen to the voice of humanity within his own breast. Nearly a hundred years ago, John Woolman, in his tenderly conscientious and beautiful writings-[often, and on his death-bed, recommended by Philip Price to the perusal of his children] afforded the best example of effective writing upon this subject; and he published in the midst of slaveholders without offence, because he calmly addressed that reason and humanity, the possession of which no civilized men dare to disclaim. Friends have, accordingly, at all times kept the door open for friendly entreaty and the convincement of the masters; have securely performed religious visits to the South, and held meetings with the slaves for religious worship; but no clandestine conduct hostile to legal claims was ever practised there by members of good repute in the Society. To the slaves they preached the patient and peaceful religion of the Gospel; to the masters the obligation of kindness and mercy, and the duty of doing unto others as they would have others to do unto themselves. But it would be to expect quite too much to believe that any true Friends should in any manner aid in the restoration of fugitive slaves, or that they would not afford them comfort and facility in their flight. Regarding them as fellow beings and co-heirs of immortality, they admit the obligation towards them to do unto them as under like circumstances they would be done unto, and thus yield obedience at the same time to the Christian and Mosaic Law, the latter declaring that—"thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which has escaped from his master unto thee." But if the master come and take his servant, they can offer no resistance. The example and influence of Friends, aided by the co-operation of a Bryan, Reed, Franklin, Morris, Rush, Peters, Rawle, and other philanthropists, led to the abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania, and the subsequent protection of those unlawfully held in bondage. It was in the midst of the American revolution that the people became awakened to a sympathy for others' woes by their own sufferings, and on the 1st of March, 1780, was passed a statute the most just, and the preamble the most responsive to the voice of humanity, of any before placed on the statute book of any nation. Reciting their grateful sense of the aid of the Divine Being in the national struggle for liberty, the patriots of the revolution conceived it to be their duty, and rejoiced that it was in their power, "to extend a portion of that freedom to others, which had been extended to them;" and feeling their "hearts enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards men of all conditions and nations"-enacted that slaves should be for ever released from thraldom in the State of Pennsylvania. It was a peaceful, patient, earnest, yet wise perseverance that led to so happy a result, and placed upon the statute book its most luminous pages. May the same wise counsels, pacific and humane spirit, ever continue to plead the cause of the oppressed, and lead to further triumphs of humanity, -pacific, bloodless, and glorious! In the 6th month, 1807, Mary Witchel, a friend from Bradford, England, and Rachel Price, started on a religious visit to Friends in Ohio and Virginia. No turnpike had then been made across the Allegheny Mountains, and the narrow and steep wagon track, in soft places, was cut into deep ruts, and in others was rough and stony. The women Friends in crossing the mountains were obliged to dismount from the carriage and walk, or ride alternately the single riding-horse, on a man's saddle, going at the rate of two miles an hour. Rachel Price writes, "I think it is not possible for any one to conceive how bad the roads are, without seeing them. We are preserved in good health, and our minds from sinking. My mind when crossing the mountains was filled with admiration and praise in beholding the wondrous works of an Almighty hand." * * "In our preservation we have had often to exclaim, Surely these are the Lord's doings, and marvellous in our eyes. May a grateful sense thereof rest on each of our minds, to our own humiliation." "When we left Pitt we pursued our journey along the bank of the Ohio, the beautiful river on the left, and on the right a mountain, with rocks overhanging our heads, awfully majestic to behold. We may say with the poet,— These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Thus wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous then; In these thy lowest works; yet these declare At New Garden she writes, "We attended Springfield |