Israel Campbell to Frederick Douglass, October 8, 1856

FOR FREDERICK DOUGLASS'S PAPER.

ADVICE TO MINISTERS AND ELDERS, AND CHURCHES.

MR. EDITOR:—My text may be found in Heb. xiii. 3:—"Remember them that are in bonds and bound with them and them which suffer adversity, as being yourself also in the body." You will remember at present, that there are more than three millions of God's creatures deprived of their God-given rights.—It is not every year that we can reach their deplorable condition. The Presidential election is close at hand, and we have often prayed for the abolition of slavery; and now let us, in this election, answer our prayers. We are the people that have shown injustice; now let us, for once, show them justice. We hold the key in our hands; we can lock and unlock; we feel that duty demands us to remember them in bonds. Luke iv., 18:—:"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath annointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives." Let us all remember this is our calling. I now cite you to Saint James:—"Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works; by our works we are known." John xiii., 34:—"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye also love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

The day of the election will tell the story.—Then remember them in bonds as bound with them, to toil and vote, and pray for them, that their chains may burst asunder, and the oppressed be for ever free. Matt. vii., 12:—"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." So I wish to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, to open your mouths for the dumb, vote for those that cannot vote for themselves and help to break the tyrant's grasp, that you may feel your conscience clear when you have voted for John. C. Fremont, who says, free labor, free speech, free men, and free Kansas, too. Isaisa lviii., 6:—Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free." In doing this, we

will remember them that are in bonds as bound with them.

These are the duties which God, requires you. I beseech you to observe them. With delight, I could say much more; but time fails me. I must close my remarks by saying, see to your duty, and carry it out, ye men of God. Your readers may wish to know who the author of this short article is. I answer, in reply—he is a man who has lived a slave for twenty-tive years. Yours, &c.,

ISRAEL CAMPBELL

Windsor, C. W., Oct. 8, 1856.