

Freedom and slavery for Africans.
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For The Tribune.


Freedom and Slavery for Africans.
Rev. ORvlLLE DEwEy, D. D.:


SIR: A report Of the Lecture delivered by
you last night, which you will find In the New
York Tribune of this morning, contains the fol-
lowing sentence:


Emancipation has taken place here. I'm the Free
States.l vet the free blacks worse Oft than the
slaves OF the Souh-not being so well clothed fed,
or SO happy


Presumng the above TO be correct report OF
your remarks, beg to say that, being the son of
a slave, owing my liberty to the Emancipation
Act of the State Of Newly York, and having
kindred in Southern state, some of them slave
holders, others slaves, feel called upon by graft
tude to this my native State, and by deep
soHcitudc for my brethren at the South, thus pub
hclv to deny the popostion which you have an
nounced as above And mold myself prepared
to prove, either in oral discussion, or in any man.
ner you may choose:


lst. That the Free Blacks of the Free States
are moi worse off than the Slaves of the South.


2dly. That they are better fed than the Slaves.


3dly. That they are better clothed than the
Slaves


In regard to the last clause Of the proposition,
the term "happy" will bear various interpreta-
tons. If, by that term, you mean, lnsensbhty
to degradation, an ignorance of, and therefore
carclessness regarding, human responsibility,
with consequent enjoyment of the aHer"t
cum beliuis c0mmune," then you are night IN
asserting that the Slaves are happier than the
Free Blacks but if you atfiy to the term chap
pv" human sgnihcaion, will show,


4thly. That the free blacks are happier than the
slaves and


5thly. That the experiment Of emancipation in
the free States. proves the safety and expedlency
Of emancipat!on-bel the angel voice. teach
ing the South how to act.


In seeking to discuss this matter with you,
Rev. sir, | am impclled by the same motives
which led you to deliver the lecture of last even
ing-with this difference, you stood up to defend
90 American Manners and Morals from assaults
which are seasoned with some variety and origin
atty; l am forced to defend a class of our coun
trymen from stereotyped lbels of unmitlgated
plalitudc. These libels had their origin in the
American Colonization Society, which found
them profitable in pecunlary point OF view;
they have been industriousy retaicd by foreigners
who may be excused when they he for their bread
but when the same bels are dovetailed into
hollow argument, by the able, the eloquent, the
manly Mr.. Dewey, ii is time they should be met
and tried at the bar Of public opinion.


They assume serious form when endorsed
by your highly respectable name and am for
ced TO cali you OUT to defend your proposition
which contains them. So long as they were con-
tined TO The Interested | was Hing, along with
my colorcd brethren, to live them down; but
now, when they arc uttered by the dsinterestcd,
and the candid il is clear that they are gaining a
crcdcnce which will operate fatally against our
efforts at Improvement, and even against our op-
portunities to earn our bread. Bereft OF the sup
port which slaves receive, and yet partially en-
slavcd-burdened with all the responsibilities of
frecmen, but denied large share of the rights OF
c:tizenship-our good name is all we have lettus
(undcr Sod III our struggle for sustenance and
for advancement You SIT, have robbed us of our
good name and it is fair and manly thai you
should afford us the opportunity to repair the
mischief which might thereby bcfa US. You
have done the act inadvertently, repeating the
hearsav OF others but [ am mistaken in you, il
YOU Will inadvertently trampe upon the weak,
and then shut your against their appeal Tor
justice.


In this matter have nc vindictive feelings to
pacfy, no insulted pride to avenge no soaring am
DiliON 10 gldlIi I--put dtt EO' 'tiHCu ol q N.Ai"0
and single desire to make known the facts III re-
gard to the free people OF coor-tacts which Will
show steady improvement in Their condition
since their emancipation-facts which Will take
away the reproach from that portion OF Freedom
which has been granted them-iacts which VIII
open the eyes OF candid men TO the falsehood
OF the assertions that g Freedom, IN this Repub-
lie, is no boon to the black man. and That
there are difficulties in the way of the South Az
TER emancipation" 1t Is important to those
whom YOU have libeiled, that these facts should
be attached to a name sufficiently prominent TO
attract public attention, hence yours has been Sc
lccted: and it has been chosen for the additional
reason that vou are man open to conylcton'
and of sufficient independence to obey your con-
victions, come what may.


Let me beg that you will accept this proposal
1t comes from the lowly and is addressed to the
lofty; vet it is from man to man. DO not let
the impossible barrier OF i difference IN com
pIexion hinder YOU from the contest TRUTH
and Justice know no complexion, and their fol-
lowers should emulate their example. Let us
reason together on this subject and | doubt not
that YOU will find that the Providence OF the
Almighty in regard 10 the Free Blacks OF these
States. is one of the most interesting displays yet
onaped to the observation of man.


LANES ACUNE SMITH.


S,c York January llth. 1914.


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Rare Chance fora Prin:er!--.I'fr 'ntsiest
in profitable Dsy and " sekiy Nsy.sa-f %
x nav - - sc.r;sias OF the Editor OF The Tribune