Communications. Interesting Extracts.

COMMUNICATIONS.

INTERESTING EXTRACTS.

To the Editor of the Liberator.

RESPECTED FRIEND—While different religious societies are taking up the subject of slavery, it may interest thee to learn how far the meetings of Friends are interesting themselves in what has heretofore been only an individual concern. The last Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia says, in its epistle to its members,

'The situation of many of the slaves in the southern States is peculiarly afflicting; the laws of their taskmasters are cruelly-at variance with the principles of the Lord Jesus, whose holy religion they profess. Thus, in some places, it is made a penal offence to instruct slaves in reading and writing; by which they are debarred from a participation in the benefits of reading the scriptures, although some of their oppressors consider a knowledge thereof essential to salvation.' The treatment of free colored persons, in some of the States, is most unjust and degrading; as by iniquitous laws they are liable to be banished from their native soil on account of their color. Among the means proposed for the correction of this enormous evil, none has appeared better calculated, in the view of many Friends, for the attainment of that object, than refraining from the use of articles which are produced by slave labor.'

The Epistle from the Yearly Meeting of Friends in New-York, contains the following paragraph:

'The long protracted oppression of our brethren of the African race calls for our continued sympathy; and since some of their faithful advocates have been recently removed from works to rewards, it becomes in interesting question, whether our testimony on their behalf shall decline or rise with renewed energy. The public mind is, we trust, awakening to a sense of the rights of this people; and it is deemed worthy of inquiry, whether we could not more generally, by abstaining as way might open the use of the products of slave labor powerfully plead their cause.'

Hudson, N.Y.