L. J. Madden to Frederick Douglass, December 2, 1859

SLAVERY AN UGLY MONSTER

MR. EDITOR:—It is hard to characterize the slavery of this professedly liberty-loving nation by other names than those suggestive of the darkest and most loathsome monstrosities of which the unprejudiced, humane mind can well conceive. Viewed in the light of its past aggressions and barbarities, to say nothing of its present indignities and murderous-intentions, manifestly, no name than that applied to his satanic majesty can represent so strikingly the unnatural God-insulting developments of the vile system. Within the past few years, it has repeatedly added insult to injury, by the most inhuman efforts to extend its fatal power, crushing beneath its cloven hoof the dearest rights, the highest and holiest interests of humanity, to effect its atrocious schemes.

The infamous Fugitive Slave Bill—a hideous, and yet appropriate monument to the memory of those who gave it being—is the legitimate heir of the ugly monster. The Missouri Compromise, an offspring of its own begetting and considered, at the time of its birth, a very promising child, was brought into existence to hush its clamor; but before reaching the years of maturity, the ungrateful mother remorselessly sacrificed the life of the child as unsuited to the extension of her power. With this barrier out of the way, acting in accordance with her proclamation through the highest court of the nation, that black men have no rights which white men are bound to respect, she sought by the most nefarious means and hellish stratagems imaginable, to plant her black standard in the soil of Kansas, and unfurl her dark banners all over its fair plain; but thank God, ye freemen of Kansas, for a John Brown. Yes, 'OSAWATOMIE BROWN,' to you, your sons and daughters, your rights, prerogatives and homes, was the 'strong man armed,' a terror to your murderous foes, more than a match

for all the hordes of merciless ruffians who, for a time, for purposes black as the bottomless pit itself, stood in your very midst as the representatives of all that is mean, ugly and contemptible, in that 'MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS,' the peculiar and exclusive property of this Christian land, the boasted asylum for the oppressed of all lands. He who had proved himself your noblest and most efficient benefactor, whose large, liberty-loving heart ever beat as true to the interests of freedom as the needles to the pole, has fallen a victim to the slave power. Another generous, glorified soul, clad in the 'white robe' of immortal glory, has taken its place 'under the alter,' to unite its voice with 'them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.' 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?' This cry shall never cease to fall upon the ear of God Almighty, 'till he send forth judgement unto victory.' 'It is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.'

American slavery, the ugliest and most despicable of all earthly scourges, has added another martyr, heroic and sublime, to the very last, to the number of those 'of whom the world was not worthy.' This enemy of God and man is a doomed foe; but the fall of the brave old man will hasten the day of its death and burial, and then the tears of those released from the chains of oppression shall bedew the grave of the hero.

Victorious his fall—for he rose as he fell, With Jesus, his Master, in glory to dwell; He has passed o'er the sea—he has reach'd the bright coast— For he fell like a martyr—he died at his post. And can we the words of our brother forget? O no! they are fresh in our memory yet: An example so sacred shall never be lost, We will fall in our work—we will die at our post.

Slavery may be considered the ugly monster of this nation, in the light of its despotic developments—'the vilest,' as John Wesley remarks, 'that ever saw the sun;' and yet, its votaries will sing the songs of liberty, make eloquent speeches in behalf of freedom, denounce the despots and despotism of other lands, welcome Kossuth to their shores, homes and hearts, weep over the sad fate of down

trodden Hungary—all this they will do, and then defiantly insult God, and every principle of justice and true patriotism, by grinding to the very dust four millions of human beings created in the image of God. 'What an incomprehensible machine,' Jefferson remarks, 'is man! who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment, and death itself, in vindication of his own liberty; and the next moment be deaf to all those motives whose power supported him through his trail, and inflict on his fellow man a bondage, one hour of which is fraught with more misery than ages of that which he rose in rebellion to oppose.' This is the kind of 'bondage' in 'rebellion' to which the heroic and noble John Brown 'rose, one hour of which is fraught with more misery than ages of that' imposed by British rule. The ugly monster is the fruitful source of terror and dismay to its patrons themselves. 'John Brown's Invasion' most strikingly develops this fact. 'Old Virginia,' once the home of the generous and brave, is panic-stricken, resembling, in more respects than one, the pitiable condition of a nervous, hysterical old woman. Slaveholders see the insecurity of their position and tremble in view of their danger. They know full well how they would act, and how they would have others act in their behalf, if they were in the stead of the enslaved; and the know, too—or ought to understand from the light of history, and the word of God—that the time must come when the oppressed millions of their wicked rule, shall 'strike for freedom or the grave.' Slavery makes cowards of them all.

The London Times truthfully remarks:—They never know in its full force the meaning of the word "security." If they lie down to rest, they know not but they may be awoke at midnight by the light of their blazing houses, and the yells of the incendiaries. If they wander in the forest, they feel no confidence that the hand of the assassin does not await them behind every thicket. Danger begets fear, and fear cruelty, and that cruelty again increases danger.' But so sure as there is a God, this Heaven-daring and humanity-degrading power must fall. In the language of Thomas Jefferson. 'When the measure of their tears shall be full, when their groans shall

have involved Heaven itself in darkness, doubtless a God of justice will waken to their distress. Nothing is more certainly written in the Book of Fate, than that this people shall be free.' The words of Holy Writ, uttered against a less objectionable form of oppression than the slavery of this nation, may, with all consistency, be applied to the 'peculiar institution:' 'The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock whose habitation is high: that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee, down, saith the Lord.'

In conclusion, Mr. Editor, permit me to remark that the recent lectures of that able and eloquent advocate of human rights, Wm. J. Watkins of your city, at West Bethany Mills, and Middlebury, before large, intelligent and deeply interested audiences, have given a new impetus to the anti-slavery enterprize, and opened the eyes of many to appreciate the heroism and humane intentions of John Brown. His lecture on the Equal Suffrage question was a masterly effort, and must tell with fine effect at the polls.

The public speaker, possessing the intellectual and moral qualifications of Mr. Watkins, together with his manner and matter—winning, logical, eloquent, fearless and faithful--can but make a lasting impression for good upon the public mind, and secure the sympathy and co-operation of all in sympathy with the well being of man.

L.J. MADDEN.

WEST BETHANY MILLS, Dec. 2, 1859.