Julia G[riffiths] Crofts to Frederick Douglass, April 27, 1861

LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD--NO. LXXIV.

HALIFAX, (Eng.,) April 27, 1861.

MY DEAR FRIEND: Our excellent friend, Dr. Cheever's coming to Halifax was so often postponed, from various causes, that I had almost begun do doubt whether it would ever come to pass, when he appeared among us.—It was a pleasure as sincere as rare to shake by the hand an American minister of the Gospel of Christ, who has 'not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God,' 'in season and out of season,' at the sacrifice of his worldly prosperity and comfort, and who, at all risks, has faithfully shown up the short-comings of the American churches, and the unfaithfulness of their silent pastors in regard to that awful sin of their land, AMERICAN SLAVERY. Dr. Cheever has been so long and so widely known in England, by his writings, that I hoped and believed there could have been a simultaneous rallying of all the Independents of our town around him; at the same time I felt convinced that the interest would not be confined to his own denomination, but that all the thorough-going, whole-hearted friends of the slave, would give him not only the right hand of fellowship, but all the aid in power. How far it will be well to say I was disappointed in the first part of my expectations, I cannot tell. Dr. Cheever preached in the pulpit of our excellent friend, Rev. J. C. Gray, on the Sabbath morning from the text, 'The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day,' and closely riveted the attention of his audience. The morning was cold, with drizzling rain, and the congregation not as large as I could have wished. ZION CHAPEL pulpit had been secure for the evening, when the sermon upon slavery was to be preached; my own gratification that day was greatly marred by the knowledge that for the first time since Dr. Cheever had crossed the Atlantic, no collection was to be permitted at the close of the discourse, and from the conviction that the crowded congregation assembled within the walls of Zion Chapel, would have given bountifully to the cause so powerfully advocated, had boxes been forthwith passed round. The error, or mistake, or supineness, (or call it what we may,) was very great, and never retrieved; though a few of us tried our best to remedy the evil during the week. Dr. Cheever's text that evening was as appropriate as it was remarkable, and his discourse (to my thinking) was equally so. In the 4th or 5th verses of the prophet Zechariah are these striking words, 'Thus saith the Lord God: Feed the flock of the slaughter, whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed by the Lord: for I am rich, and their own shepherds pity them not.' To apply this remarkable passage to American slaveholders, and those (so-called) Christian people and ministers who back them up in their system of iniquity, was easy, without any stretch of imagination on the part of Dr. Cheever.—His discourse was a masterpiece; the whole was so finely knitted together, that it defied dissection. Its truths were entire, and could not be refuted; so to dislike the sermon as a whole, was all that could be done by those whose minds have been warped by contiguity with New York merchants, or Southerners.—With some of these people I conversed during the week following, and exceedingly I pitied them for wanting in head as well as heart. It had evidently escaped their memory, that the passage chosen for the text was not the composition of Dr. Cheever, but the word of God. The meeting on Monday evening was held in the Square School-room, (where you delivered one of your lectures; ) Joseph Thorp, Esq., (a distinguished friend and philanthropist,) kindly consenting to occupy the chair. Dr. Cheever then gave a lucid exposition of the objects of Christian abolitionists in their conflicts with slavery. These, he stated, were four fold, viz:

First—the deliverance of the enslaved, in obedience to the Savior's command to "let the oppressed go free.'

Second—the redemption of the cross from the infamous charge of sanctioning slavery.

Third—the redemption of the children of slave parents from slavery.

Fourth—the salvation of the slaveholders themselves from the guilt and ruin of their own system.

On each of these points he dwelt at considerable length; his arguments were unanswerable, his logic sound, his statements convincing. He clearly showed how impossible it is for a man to look impartially at slavery where his interests are concerned. His moral sense is sure to become corrupted, and his conscience seared. To discuss 'the present aspects of slavery in America,' occupied a brief part of the address. The distinction was clearly pointed out between the abolitionists and the anti-slavery party. Dr. Cheever seemed, however, to think that the North had been 'chloroformed` long enough, and would not submit to further compromise. He looked on the present secession as a merciful Providence—the forerunner of the destruction of slavery—urging at the same time, the duty of European nations not to acknowledge the Southern Confederacy. He closed his powerful address by briefly stating the object of his mission to this country. Could you, my dear friend, have been a hearer that evening, sure I am your heart would have beat in unison with all Dr. Cheever's truthful utterances; and you would have sympathized with the burning words of eloquence that feel from his lips, in behalf of your deeply injured people.

The audience was a good one; but the unpalatable nature of the truths told in the previous evening's sermon kept some from going to the lecture! These complainants only said, 'They didn't like it,' and stayed away, or, 'Dr. C. went too far,' 'it was a great pity,' (and so it was!)

So many new aspects have presented themselves within the last year, concerning slavery, and so many Americans are coming over to this county, and professing to enlighten their business friends on this side the ocean, that people now seem frightened to commit themselves in any way on the subject, who, some time since, appeared not only interested, but ready to aid any movement made by the friends of the slave. These good people are of the Nicodemus kind. They mean well, I dare say; but their hesitancy is as pitiable as it is disastrous to the efforts made by the friends of the slave. So far as I am able to judge, I do not think the anti-slavery feeling as strong now in England as it was two or three years ago. In one sense, all Englishmen are anti-slavery, and agree in wishing the slaves were free; but they are apt to listen to the oft repeated tale brought across the Atlantic, about 'peculiar difficulties' connected with the subject of emancipation, mixed up with false assurances that the Southerners would gladly free their slaves if they could, and with the old libel upon the colored people, viz: that they are incapable of taking care of themselves, and need kind (?) masters to think and to act for them. Others, again apparently forgetting that there were false priests and prophets of old, who 'spoke smooth things and prophesied deceit,' to please the people, seem to imagine that if emancipation were the right thing to be carried out, all the American ministers would preach it from their pulpits. The churches being so utterly unsound, and unfaithful to the cause of the slave, these good folks cannot realize; they find it easier to condemn a faithful Abdiel, than to give heed to his solemn denunciations.

I hope and believe that our Scotch friends see more clearly on this subject, and are rendering good service to Dr. Cheever's mission. Gladly would I have him heard from every pulpit in our land; and then, methinks, a new anti-slavery baptism would result throughout the kingdom. Of course you will know that Mr. Bailey, of Kentucky, is in England? I trust he will secure the required aid. Our Society, having lately sent him a donation, we have not invited him to Halifax, fearing that at this time a meeting might not prove successful. He has our warm sympathy in his self-sacrificing undertaking. There are now so many lecturers traversing the country, and soliciting aid for their respective objects, that it is desirable all friends of the slave should make due inquiries as to who and what it is they are assisting. The singular man I named to you some time since, from the Western territory, whose hatred of your is most intense, is carrying on his alleged determination to 'injure you as much as possible, wherever he goes.' You know far better than I whether it will be well for your to notice his attacks. You have in times past survived many violent attacks made by false friends, as well as malignant enemies, and I do not doubt your surviving the present one, made by a man 'off whose roof (some of his friends say) there is a slate.' The alleged object of his mission is to re-imburse himself for losses sustained in the United States from his fidelity to the cause of the slave, and to secure assistance for the future. He seems a kind of Ishmaelite; his tongue is against every man; no Balm of Gilead falls from his lips; but he plentifully distills wormwood and gall, and is never likely to do good, either to himself or any one else. I again repeat, that I trust the anti-slavery friends will make inquiries before they give aid to any person who presents himself, recommended by himself! There are so many important objects needing aid, and calling for aid, in connection with anti-slavery, that it is a pity a single pound should be thrown away.

Our friend, Mr. Day, is extremely active and energetic, and I hope successful. We hear from him, with interest, from time to time. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Troy are still at work, and deserve success.

If our friend Loguen has the least thought of coming over to England, I earnestly advise to him postpone his visit. There is a countless

number of people (whose names I do not know) going up and down the country and collecting money for the cause; and truth to say, the friends are rather wearied with the continual importunities they receive. A little cessation would be desirable. I am not speaking for myself, but for 'the public,' to whom the appeals have generally to be made.

Your review of the President's 'Inaugural' I consider a masterpiece, and so do others, better judges than I. Dr. Cheever wishes it could be copied into a number of our journals. So rapid are the changes in the phase presented by slavery at this time, that we scarcely know where we are, or what we have to hope, or to fear, in regard to the future. The news has just come to us that the looked for war has broken out; but it is said the telegraphic wires are in the hands of the secessionists, and we are warned not to believe all we hear. We cannot even pray, 'God defend the right,' for with such a cowardly North there is little 'right;' but may that God who delivered the children of Israel out of their Egyptian bondage, open a way for the Southern victims to escape from their worse than Egyptian taskmasters!—God reigns, and reigns in righteousness, and will, in His own time, deliver the oppressed slave. He is never the God of the oppressor. He is my constant, my only Hope, when striving to solve the complicated problem of American slavery, and seeing the extraordinary changes that have taken place of late in the aspect of affairs. I dare not allow myself to enter on the vast subject. I need scarcely say we eagerly watch for American news, and speculate what next?

That God may sustain you and all those who are faithfully laboring for the deliverance of their brethren from bondage, is the sincere prayer of

Your ever true friend,

JULIA G. CROFTS.

P. S. The most important part of a letter is sometimes said to be left to the postscript. It may be so in the present instance, when I earnestly express the hope that our Government will never see fit to recognized the piratical Southern Confederacy. Some of the A. S. Societies have been moving and adopting memorials on the subject.