An old letter from Rev Dr Channing to Mr Webster has recently been revived from its original publication by Mr W. in 1851, in which that truly Christian philanthropist and abolitionist said: —
“We ought to say to our southern brethren distinctly, we consider slavery as your calamity, not your crime, and we will share with you the burden of putting an end to it. We will consent that the public lands shall be appropriated to this object; or that the general government shall be clothed with power to apply a portion of the revenue to it. We must first let the southern states see that two are their friends in this affair; that we sympathise with them, and, from principles of patriotism and philanthropy, are willing to share the toil and expense of abolishing slavery; or I fear our interference will avail nothing. I am the more sensitive on this subject from my increased solicitude for the preservation of the Union. I know no public interest so important as this. I ask from the general government hardly any other boon than that it will hold us together, and preserve pacific relations and intercourse among the states. I deprecate everything which sows discord and exasperates sectional animosities. My fear in regard to our efforts against slavery is, that we shall make the case worse by rousing sectional pride and passion for its support; and that we shall only break the country into two great parties which may shake the foundations of government”
Springfield Republican, Springfield, MA
William Ellery Channing
William Channing was a leading Unitarian preacher and abolitionist