ferred that their views upon it,
should appear before the public in a fictitious garb. I have no doubt,
that the first inquiry of most of those into whose hands this volume
may chance to fall, will be, "_Which side of the question is it on?_"
Thus, it appears that the question of African slavery has two sides;
and that either interest, ignorance, or prejudice; or what is worse, a
vain glorious desire on the part of some to be considered the
champions of liberty, the guardians of the rights of man, has arrayed
a large portion of this nation on one side, or the other. I utterly
despair--I have no hope that my labors will meet the approbation of
ultraists, North, or South. But there is yet another class in our
country--a class of persons who are conservative in their views,
honest in their intentions, and patriotic in their feelings; who are
prepared to listen to the voice of reason, and the injunctions,
admonitions and warnings of Divine Revelation. It is to them I appeal.
Thank God, I believe that they constitute a large majority of the
nation.

I have long beheld with regret and astonishment, the efforts that have
been made by a certain class of writers, to disseminate erroneous
views in the Northern section of the United States, with regard to
Southern slavery.[2] The recent publication by Mrs. Stowe, entitled
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," is a work of that class. I have no wish to write
anything harsh or unkind; for however ill-timed, ill-advised, or
ill-judged the work may be, if her object was the alleviation of human
woe, I can but respect the motive that prompted her to write, though I
may differ with her in opinion as to the means most likely to
accomplish the proposed object. The fair authoress may have meant
well. I shall leave that, however, to the "Searcher of all hearts;"
but I frankly confess that I fear that the book will result "in evil,
and only evil." I cannot avoid here, quoting the language that she
puts in the mouth of Chloe, the wife of Uncle Tom, who is the hero of
her tale: "Wal any way, that's wrong about it somewhar, I can't jest
make out whar it is, but thar's wrong somewhar." We all admit that
there are wrongs, it is clear to every one, neither do we differ much
as to what those wrongs are, nor yet as to their causes and effects;
but unfortunately for us, we differ widely, when we undertake to
propose remedies for the evil complained of. We have all need of that
charity "which suffereth long and is ki