ABSTRACT
I occasionally send you a newspaper, to let you know how we are going on here. I read of your doings with much interest, and although you approach slowly towards the accomplishment of your great end, yet it is cheering to believe that your progress is right onward; that every day you are gaining fresh strength, so as to be able to feel a moral certainty that your labours are approaching to a consummation. You have indeed great difficulties to contend against, but they seem to be melting away rapidly, before the attacks of yourself and those valued friends who are laboring with you. In conjunction with a few others here, I endeavor to aid your efforts, as opportunity arises. I send you the enclosed, to let you see a late attempt I made to influence public opinion in England. The League has a great circulation, which made me anxious to have my letter published in it; and, if inserted there, I knew it would be seen by the ‘soul-drivers’ in America, who have the impudence to profess themselves friendly to freedom of trade, while they deny any rights to their fellow-men, whom they retain in bondage. I was very glad to see the manner in which O’Connell’s speech on the Texas question was received in your land.6 Your pro-slavery folks now feel that the much-loved leader
of the Irish people is really in earnest in his detestation of their infernal system. Our people feel with him on the subject; but most of our other popular leaders are disposed to pass by the question of slavery altogether, and accept the aid and sympathy of the devil himself, if he offered it, to assist them in carrying out their views. I think their views are legitimate; but I fear their accomplishment will be retarded, if not altogether overthrown, by the willingness that is evinced to avail of unholy influences. You seem disposed to stand firmly on the rock of principle, and therefore man’s improvement drags slowly along.
