Free Produce
Dublin Core
Title
Free Produce
Description
Blackley, near Philadelphia,
2d mo., 5th, 1850.
RESPECTED FRIEND, WM. LLOYD GARRISON:
Looking through some of my exchange papers today, I noticed an article in the Anti-Slavery Bugle, under the title 'Expurgation of Books.' The facts stated are not, of course, new to thee, but I enclose the slip containing them. Abolitionists are well acquainted with the distaste manifested by slaveholders towards any thing which conflicts with their sentiments and interests, and we are accustomed to condemn the dough-facism that mutilates books, poems, &c., to suit them.
Pursuing my task, I took up the Liberator, and casting my eye over the report of the proceedings of the Syracuse Convention, copied from the Syracuse Journal, which I had previously seen, I was disappointed, astonished, pained, at finding an 'expurgation" of an incident--the introduction to the meeting of Henry B. Marshall, together with his remarks upon the duty of anti-slavery men to refuse the purchase of cotton, sugar, &c., from slaveholders. This man doubtless felt that for fourteen years he had been robbed of the products of his labor, and he was taught, by his unsophisticated sense of right, that the purchasers of those products are partakers in the wrong committed by the oppressor. I think great weight is to be attached to the feelings and testimony of such a man. I have known other cases of a similar character; Wm. W. Brown is one of them. The first time I saw him was at a large anti-slavery meeting in this State. I offered a resolution affirming the duty of abolitionists to refuse to purchase or use the fruits of the cruel system which they were seeking to overthrow. After two or three had spoken, Brown rose, and, as I was entirely ignorant of his sentiments on the subject, I felt some anxiety; but he soon relieved and delighted me, dclaring that while he was in the condition of a slave, and when he began to reflect upon the character and nature of slavery, one of the first impressions on his mind was the wrongfulness of purchasing and using the products of slave labor!
Such, too, has been the conviction in the minds of thousands, during their early, fresh, pure anti-slavery life. Such was the early conviction of WM. LLOYD GARRISON! and the writer of this has long believed, that if this champion of freedom has continued, as he began, to earnestly and powerfully advocate the disuse of slave products, in connection with other anti-slavery duties, the downfall of slavery would at this moment be nearer than it is. O! that his eyes were opened to see, as they once saw, that slavery is not sustained merely by the political and ecclesiastical union of the North with the South, but that the commercial union, which at once gives and satisfies the motive for slaveholding, largely contributes to sustain the system, and should be dissolved by every one who would not strike hands with the oppressor. Is it not plain to him, that slavery in Cuba and Brazil is sustained mainly, if not exclusively, by a commercial union between those countries and others, including the United States?
With sentiments of great respect, I am,
Very truly, thy friend,
SAMUEL RHOADS
P.S. If abolitionists would but go 'onward, hand to hand and heart to heart,' in realizing themselves, and pressing home upon the people in the free States, their INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY in sustaining slavery by purchasing and using its productions, it will not have to be said, after another twenty years' persevering effort, that 'there was not one single village in the country, however small its population, that was thoroughly imbued with the anti-slavery spirit; that there was not an anti-slavery pulpit or church that has a reputable character; and that the leaders in Church and State are still with the oppressor.'--See Proceedings of Mass. A.S. Society.
For a brief rejoined to this complaining letter--this impeachment of our fairness and moral courage--see editorial department.
2d mo., 5th, 1850.
RESPECTED FRIEND, WM. LLOYD GARRISON:
Looking through some of my exchange papers today, I noticed an article in the Anti-Slavery Bugle, under the title 'Expurgation of Books.' The facts stated are not, of course, new to thee, but I enclose the slip containing them. Abolitionists are well acquainted with the distaste manifested by slaveholders towards any thing which conflicts with their sentiments and interests, and we are accustomed to condemn the dough-facism that mutilates books, poems, &c., to suit them.
Pursuing my task, I took up the Liberator, and casting my eye over the report of the proceedings of the Syracuse Convention, copied from the Syracuse Journal, which I had previously seen, I was disappointed, astonished, pained, at finding an 'expurgation" of an incident--the introduction to the meeting of Henry B. Marshall, together with his remarks upon the duty of anti-slavery men to refuse the purchase of cotton, sugar, &c., from slaveholders. This man doubtless felt that for fourteen years he had been robbed of the products of his labor, and he was taught, by his unsophisticated sense of right, that the purchasers of those products are partakers in the wrong committed by the oppressor. I think great weight is to be attached to the feelings and testimony of such a man. I have known other cases of a similar character; Wm. W. Brown is one of them. The first time I saw him was at a large anti-slavery meeting in this State. I offered a resolution affirming the duty of abolitionists to refuse to purchase or use the fruits of the cruel system which they were seeking to overthrow. After two or three had spoken, Brown rose, and, as I was entirely ignorant of his sentiments on the subject, I felt some anxiety; but he soon relieved and delighted me, dclaring that while he was in the condition of a slave, and when he began to reflect upon the character and nature of slavery, one of the first impressions on his mind was the wrongfulness of purchasing and using the products of slave labor!
Such, too, has been the conviction in the minds of thousands, during their early, fresh, pure anti-slavery life. Such was the early conviction of WM. LLOYD GARRISON! and the writer of this has long believed, that if this champion of freedom has continued, as he began, to earnestly and powerfully advocate the disuse of slave products, in connection with other anti-slavery duties, the downfall of slavery would at this moment be nearer than it is. O! that his eyes were opened to see, as they once saw, that slavery is not sustained merely by the political and ecclesiastical union of the North with the South, but that the commercial union, which at once gives and satisfies the motive for slaveholding, largely contributes to sustain the system, and should be dissolved by every one who would not strike hands with the oppressor. Is it not plain to him, that slavery in Cuba and Brazil is sustained mainly, if not exclusively, by a commercial union between those countries and others, including the United States?
With sentiments of great respect, I am,
Very truly, thy friend,
SAMUEL RHOADS
P.S. If abolitionists would but go 'onward, hand to hand and heart to heart,' in realizing themselves, and pressing home upon the people in the free States, their INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY in sustaining slavery by purchasing and using its productions, it will not have to be said, after another twenty years' persevering effort, that 'there was not one single village in the country, however small its population, that was thoroughly imbued with the anti-slavery spirit; that there was not an anti-slavery pulpit or church that has a reputable character; and that the leaders in Church and State are still with the oppressor.'--See Proceedings of Mass. A.S. Society.
For a brief rejoined to this complaining letter--this impeachment of our fairness and moral courage--see editorial department.
Creator
Samuel Rhoads
Source
Liberator 20:9, p. 36
Date
3.1.1850
Collection
Citation
Samuel Rhoads, “Free Produce,” No Stain of Tears and Blood, accessed October 22, 2026, https://productsoffreelabor.com/items/show/120.
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