Miss Sarah M. Grimke, of Charleston, S.C.

MISS SARAH M. GRIMKE, OF CHARLESTON, S.C.

On going out of the city to our residence, on Fast day eve, who should we meet, but wife, daughter and domestics, full of life and animation, all clamorously asking, are not you going to hear Miss Grimke lecture on the rights of women to-night? We calmly replied, certainly not. Well, say they, we must hear her. So we made a virtue of necessity, turned around and readily made our way to the ODEON. Being rather early, we succeeded in getting seats for our whole party. We would inform our distant readers that the Odeon is the old Federal street Theatre, fitted up by a musical society. The seats, bottoms and backs conveniently cushioned. It is occupied for the purpose of giving Oratorios and Musical Concerts. It is also used on the Sabbath by an orthodox church, for public worship, and week evenings, frequently, for scientific and other lectures. It has a tremendous organ. Sometime before 7 o'clock, P.M. the vast building was filled to a perfect jam;—far back of the speaker, filling the space formerly occupied by the orchestra, and for scenic exhibitions, with the first, second, and third galleries—3 or 4000 people at least, were present. Vast numbers were compelled to go away. Three ladies, for some time, had occupied the speaker's seat. At last, the organ with a thundering and deafening sound struck up some popular air. When it had done, the wife, we believe, of Mr. Henry Chapman, arose, and with an excellent voice and grace, read the 1st chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah. Then arose Miss Grimke, and held forth; there is nothing prepossessing in her appearance. To our surprise, instead of lecturing on the rights of her sex, she took up the old stale subject of slavery; she evidently showed considerable powers of mind, and is rather a good orator and declaimer. She failed to give a single new argument in favor of emancipation; we think her discourse highly prejudicial to that object, and calculated to produce other than christian feelings between the parties concerned. She endorsed all that Mr. Garrison and others have said of the severity of masters to the slave. She recommended to the people of the north to attack the business and character of slave owners, not to trade with the south in articles, the products of slave labor, never to admit a southern minister to our pulpit, nor a member of their churches to the Lord's table; and told the ladies as soon to marry a horse-thief, as a southern gentleman if he have slaves. In fine, a large part of her discourse was made up of low vituperation, such as we have detailed. And, alas, we felt to sigh for the poor slave, if left to the tender mercy of such rash and ill-advised friends. As we are connected with the pulpit and the press, we readily forgive her the blacking she severally gave to each. We think, after this, it is rather doubtful whether any of the South Carolina lords of creation will ever seek the heart and hand of their great orator in marriage. In sober truth, we can most religiously say, that we think the course pursued by this lady and her advisers, is any thing but calculated to ameliorate the man of color, enslaved or free; and least of all does it promote the healthy morality of the Bible. If the south are wrong in the institution of domestic slavery, what sane man, much less christian or philanthropist, believes that the chivalrous inhabitants of the south will be convinced by a merciless attack on their character and all their means of existence? To such a code of morality we cannot subscribe.

The foregoing decent and very cogent article is from the pen of the editor of a paper in this city, misnamed the 'Olive Branch.' It is a fair specimen of the accuracy, good sense and piety which characterise the lucubrations of him who advertises that he is 'connected with the pulpit (!!) and the press.' It was Angelina E. not Sarah M. Grimke, who spoke on the occasion alluded to. It was not Mrs. Chapman, but the President of the Boston Female A.S. Society, who read a portion of the scriptures. The lecture was duly advertised in the city papers to be on the subject of slavery; yet—vastly to the 'surprise' of the Reverend critic—'instead of lecturing on the rights of her sex, she took up the old stale subject of slavery'—all which was inexplicable, amazing and unpardonable conduct, to be sure! 'The old stale subject of slavery'—that sounds feelingly, as if he who utters the brutal sneer 'remembers those in bonds as bound with them'! 'Stale'—while millions are pining in hopeless bondage, and are daily robbed of their earnings in order to supply 'the means of existence' to the 'chivalrous inhabitants of the south'! 'Stale'—while the lash is falling upon woman's flesh, and chains are forging for human limbs, and the trade in slaves and souls of men is pursued to an extent that causes the foreign traffic to dwindle in comparison!—Now, doff that sacerdotal garb, thou recreant priest! Quit thy profession, thou scandal upon the press, and rare monster of a reformer—for reformer thou aspirest to be! Play the ruffian openly. In thy ears the cries of the needy and perishing, the shrieks of violated innocence, and the supplications of heart-broken, sundered parents and children, have become 'stale'!!

He who is destitute of humanity, must also be lacking in veracity. Hence, the assertion, that 'a large part of the discourse was made up of low vituperation,' is a low and gross falsehood.

'There is nothing prepossessing in her appearance'—'it is rather doubtful whether any of the South Carolina lords of creation will ever seek the heart and hand of their great orator in marriage.' This—which is obviously intended as something smart and witty—is personal rudeness and vulgar slang, in keeping with that 'code of morality' to which a heartless assailant can and does subscribe.

'We felt to sigh for the poor slave.' Did you? What for? Why, that a woman should plead for his deliverance from bondage! Truly, a natural cause for unhappiness to one who makes it his profession and business to get all the fleece from the flock that he can!

We have been the more severe in these strictures, in consequence of the truckling policy which has long been pursued on the subject of slavery by the editor of the 'Olive Branch.'