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    warmly supported by my excellent friends Mr , A . ' Clarke , the * Ret . M . Maurice , and Mr . T . eddied JW . ; tJiit- * the latter seemed to be possessed of Mftie satne feeling as haV been expressed since "by your Watchman , that the Unitarian is looked ljpbn as a strange , out-of-the-way

    creature : if he wishes to join in the benevolent plaos of the orthodox , he is avoided ; if he wishes to rectify their errors , he is regarded with horror ; and he in consequence expressed his fears that the very circumstance of a Unitarian Society originating such a measure as the one proposed , would tend to bring it into discredit , and defeat the end we had in

    view . I acknowledge that I have often felt this myself ; hut when I find that those who avoid us lest contact should defile them , are themselves so little imbued with real Christian benevolence as to do nothing on questions of such vital importance , morally considered , as is that of

    the Abolition of Slavery , and , 1 will add , that of endeavouring to approximate the Penal Code of our country to the spirit of tne gospel , 1 as"k , what is to he done ? Are we , professing what we deem a purer creed than others have , to be prevented from acting on purer principles , and to be hindered from discharging our dutya duty peculiarly incumbent onus in consequence of greater mental illumination than have others—by endeavouring to

    amend the morals and practice of our legislature and of our country at largebecause , forsooth , bigotry cries out that any thing which we propose it will have nothing to do with ? This appears to me to be bad reasoning . Those who too much observe the clouds , will not sow , and their lands will in consequence be barren ; but those who in the morning sow their seed , and who in the evening withhold not their hand , have a chance

    of some prospering ; and though it may be advisable and quite reasonable to consider what are the best means whereby to promote our object , I cannot admit the ; propriety of doing nothing till all the clouds of perversity , ignorance , and folly , which may at present unfortunately surround us , shall be removed . The case is ,

    if a subject be brought forward by an obnoxious individual or sect , bigotry , interest , laziness , avarice , may from different niotives join in keeping aloof from the question , each sheltering its inactivity under the supposed obnoxious character of the party stirring . / Mils is to he lament , ed , but we must not forget that there are many who will still look at the question

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    apart from the sect to which the agitators naay belong $ and through these it is that We are t <* expeei ? and fti > pe that the pub - lic mind' will "become ^ enlightened on the matter in cfoestion i j white , if the subject be not agitated ^ the atte n tion of that public is of course not excited . Bat what ended our discussion was an

    intimation from a very warm friend to the Unitarian cause , connected with our Fund , that he felt convinced that if any petition to the legislature on this subject should be entertaiued by the Society , two or three individuals would leave it , as they would regard this act as mixing up politics with a religious society . After this declaration the matter could

    not be pressed ; but 1 rould uot suppress my sorrow at finding that any professing Unitarianism should have tlri £ feeling . ' They may be very clear in their couvietion that one must be distinct from thri v e , and that three cannot by any hocus-poctis process be made one , but they must ht very muddy and confused in their ideas as to moral subjects . 1 know liot the

    parties , Mr . Editor , who were referred to , so I can mean nothing personal ; but as a general remark I am not disposed either to soften down or hi any way to qualify the expression . ' Let statesmen such as Canning , and more ignoble than he , declaim against the possibility or the propriety of regard ^ ing the question of Colonial Slavery sitoply as a moral question ; it is as a moral

    question only or chiefly , as it strikes toe ; it should be regarded . The point fbi * a Christian , and especially for a pure Unitarian Christian , to consider , is , is Slavery accordant , or not , with the genius of the gospel ? If it be , then let those who think so advocate it ; if it be not , let those who think so , as they regard consistency , as they regard , perhaps we may say , salvation , array themselves ill hostility against it .

    Though I speak thus strongly , Mr . Kditor , 1 do not mean to irisiriuate thkt persons connected with Colonial Slavery must necessarily be destitute of every particle of humanity and kindness ^ 1 know the contrary to be th'& ' ca ' s& I'have

    at this moment among tri-y nio ^ t' esteemed and valued friends ; Individuals $ o circumstanced , who have the' essence of Christian philanthropy arid kiifdm ? ss giving a rich fragrance to their Actions and projects ; and it is this Very hujudnity extended to their slaves Which makerf

    them insensible in a degree to the horrors' of Slavery , because they know that those who are dependent on' th&n dre

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    $ 02 Miscellaneous Correspondence .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1829, page 802, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2578/page/58/