re they could be
compared, Mr. B. must prove that the population of Ireland were
_constrained_ to worship the Virgin Mary--that in India, men were
_forced_ by British Law to worship idols. No British subject was
compelled by any law of this country, or any other country to which
British sway extended, to be either a _Papist_ or an _Idolator_. But
in America, men were converted into _beasts_, "according to law," and
their souls and bodies crushed and degraded by a system most
vigorously enforced by the strong arm of the _State_. His opponent had
said, however, that slavery was not a national sin. He (Mr. T.) had to
thank a friend for suggesting an illustration of the knotty problem.
Suppose a number of _Agriculturists_ and _Merchants_ and _Highway
Robbers_ were to meet together to form a Union, and the Highway
Robbers were to say--come, let us unite for the purpose of common
security, and common prosperity: we will defend each other, and trade
with each other, but we will not "interfere" in each other's
_internal_ affairs. You, gentlemen, Agriculturists and Merchants,
shall promise that you will take no notice of my felonious and
cut-throat proceedings, and I, on my part, will pledge my honor not to
intermeddle in the affairs of your farms or counting-houses: and
suppose they were to shake hands, complete the bargain, and ratify an
indissoluble union of Agriculturists, Merchants, and Highway Robbers!
would the world hold the farmer or the merchant guiltless? Mr. B. had
said much of the purity and emancipation principles of Massachusetts,
and New-Hampshire and Maine. How came it to pass, then, that they were
in terms of such close and cordial fellowship with South Carolina,
and Georgia, and Louisiana, and so ready to mob, stone, and outlaw
those who deemed it their duty to cry aloud on behalf of the
oppressed? To return to his own mission. He would never condescend to
apologize for speaking the truth. He had a commission direct from the
skies, to rebuke sin and compassionate suffering wherever on the face
of the earth they existed. This world belonged to God; and all men
were His subjects and his (Mr. Thompson's) brethren. Men might be
naturally divided by rivers, and oceans, and mountains; they might be
politically divided by different forms of government, and specified
lines of demarkation; but he (Mr. T.) took the Bible in his hand and
deemed himself at liberty to address every human being on the face of
the earth in r