Communications

Fr.IEXD FOSTEB : Dear Sir : - Af'er an absence of sorno twenty-threo day, 1 fiud myself al home, in quiet possrssioïi nnd enjoyment of all thnt is vóTunbla ir. social and domestic 1 i t. On the 8th inst. I left Detroit for Cincinnati by wr.v of Sandu-kv, Ohio, where ltookthe"Mad River Koil Rond" to BfrUefontaine, and thwce by Stage to 8prngfieH, an;l from ibero by the " Littíe Miami Rail Iload," to the Queen City," where I spent two days witb g:e--t in'erest and pleasure to myself. Cincinnati is a pleisant place, though i the slalc of moráis, on tho whole, is at a rnuch lower ebb than thoan in most vülagesof tlie eail, nnd perhapssome of the j west. I hera met wilh S. P. Chnse Eq., and the Editor of the Cincinnati Herald, ond withJ. C. Vimg'nnn E q., Editor ot the Louisvil'e (KyJ Exatniner. We had a fui! and friendly interchange of views on nea'ly all the important topics connected with the Anlislavery entcrprisc. TIich brethren, residing ns they do, in the miilst. or on the borders of slavery, see nnd frel Is pernioious and r:e:u]lv infiiienrc, nnd ure nnxious, probablybeond i'.any uf us thribr nortli, that sonie plan mny be fixed upon by vivx all ilie Anti-slavery sentimeiit, and pover of the noith may be concentraten for the sjieriiy overthrow of ibis Gnddishonoring and Baan detroving insti'ution. Fro:n ihis view ofi!ie tu'ljêcl afose the öe ie in Iheir minda to postpun the rjoiriinnliim of our Natinnnl cnmlidates tintil the spring of :4S : boping someihing favarfcbla to a unión by that time miglit take placr. I spenta few hours with Judgo McLean at bis house, nnd had a free conversation with hiin on the Subject of slavery, war, &C. lle is aman of a high order of talf n'- afT'ible and kiod - opposed to the war, and L hae r. doubt at heart, purely an Anti-lavery man. Many in ourrnnks have been looking to hioi as s suilable siandnrd bearfr of our principias. But ihis will r.ot do. - His interfs s anr! lovcof office are too dear to al'.ow hiïn lor a single moment to say or do any thing by whkh he would be shorn of dis influence and jtowc" 2' tne South. I have less hope of any thing like assislance from hira in the cause of Liberty than I had befare our mtercourse. Duri'ng my stay in this cily a Slaveholder from landed with n alive - a noble looking and somewhat intelligent felloiv. No sooner had lie set his foot on free soil ïhan he determined to i: use il ralher," and in company wiih one of his color soon found his way to (he office of S. P. Chase Esq , foradvice nñ counsel. Friend Chnse proposed to tnke tiim wit!i b writ of Babeos Corpus beforo iho cotirt and had no doubt but he would be declnred free.' But tbw " chaitel" sepined to understand at least two things - the"dolay" and the " uncerlahrty" of ihe law, and fenred to risk himself, anH proposed to take tlie " Underground Rail rond," whicli afier a linie consiillntinn was agreed to and very soon nfier dark his povvers of locomolion were bearing him quietly on to the. " land of ihe free," (C?s'Casada.c5 The chivn.'rcus Southerner huvried round in great consiernation for his prey, but to no purpose. The "thing" had been translbrmed inlo a n;an, nnd was off- and the masterwas iinder the necessiiy of leaving Pive or Slx Huijdred dollars the poorer for havÍDg spent a day in Cincinnaji. I related this circuinsta.ice to several Slaveholders al! of whom wcre anxious to know how 1 could recoi;cile my condiict ns a " negro steaJer," wit') the prin■ fijiles of common honesty. 1 toj'i them tlmt 1 snsiained noauch chaiacter - ibat to '■ üteal negmes" was a crime of tt;e dfepest dye, and uoder ihe law was to be pnnished by de.ith- ihat all 1 had done vras to advine a friond to change liis residnceas 1 thoug'r. it would be for his advr.ntagf. 1 pointed him tothe'better land and bade him God speed. Deut. 22 c. 15, 10. Last of nll I met an nld acqiuiinlance nnd friend, formerjy n resident of Wnshtcna'-v county, who had henrd me leciuie in by gone diys upon the horrible 1 e'tíes of slovery. Ile believed me bonesi, but inisi.-iken, supposing it to be utiMly im)"ssible that such cruelties as 1 rel.ved should ever have been perpetralcd. But he is undeceivrd - he lias resided Iwo ears in Souih Carolina nnd has scen the things of which I had only heard. fie most religously declared that he had seen both men and women - boys nnd girls s'.rippcd as naked as they were born inlo the woild and whipped until the b!ood feil to the ground, nccompanied by the most bitter wailings and lenra, ard earnest entreaties for pardon and relief, nll of which only had the efl'ect !o enrage the senspless brutes in humai. for m, who under the influence of passion ar:d intoxicaling drinks would increase the fn'.al scourging. Uon one plantation the slaves had frequently run away,lhereüy giving Iheir pretended owner mtich Irouble. At tength a lnd of about futirteen wns missf nor ; he was ndvertised and a rewarcl of $50 oiFereJ for liis apiehen-ion and ; livery to hismasler ' dead or nlivt' In a ! few days lic v;is brouglit in anJ llirown j down dead bcfore the utlipr slavcs by w.tv ofcauiioK and wnniing to (hem. Mc 1 had been followod au 1 fthot in a swninji : by a inimbor of ruffians wbo olaifi.ed and obtained llic reword. Of lh!s my informant wns a wil nes.-. ' On Tyfsday morning at 10 o'eloek I took the i'U'.mn Packet " ftle.sengcr" for W heel ing, Virgibm. Thrre was a Inrge company on board ma;!c ap pf antislnvery uien, Slaveholders, slaves and sorne ladies. No sooner were we under w;iy Ilion discusión counienced. Slavery wns ili?. ïop'c. I should tbink that full thrce-fomths of the company were decio'e'ily nittislavery in llicir sentimenis. This dicussion was some four liundred miles long. leaching from Cincinnali, Ohio, to W'lieoling, Virginia, during which, slaveholdevs and their apologists were as thoroughly shook up in the crucible of antislavery truth as it was possible for t ta be done. More of truth perhaps n so short a time thry never heard, nnd I have the fullest confidence ihatt'ey will be benefitled by is nfluence. Missing the stage at V heeling we conlinued ip tlio river to the 'Cily of Smoke,' and fi-oni iliere to Browrisvillp, a dielance frora Cincinnati of nboui i Six Ilundred miles. In passing trp ihis river orie can but observe the difT.rence hetween slavery nnd íVecdom. Virginia once the garden of the world, has fcarfiiHy retrngraded, and ander the blightng curse of slavery is tunde to wear the as eet of premature decay anc! oíd age - while Oliio eiiuuted by her side, under the infliiRtice of the freeman's arm, has beon converted, as it were, into a paradise. AtBrownsville we look the stage for Cumberland, crotsing the AlU-gany Moiintains. Ourcompany was of theirst order - tlie day was delightful and the Mountoins piesented n picturesque view the most exnlied and delightful. F rom Cumberland we proceeded to Baltimore by Rail Kond. This route passes through a country much of whicli i' cursed with slavery. Thmigh it has been.long sett!ed it is in appearance half a century behind the limes, The dwellings are small, and very meagre in tbeir appearance - ;i;e fiirms are poorly worked, all argning the rottennes and defect of the institution of Slavery. Baltimore isa greaj and populous city, cotnbining in its inhr bitants the peculiarities of many nations. Ilere I found a hearty welcome nt the hou?e of Mathevv Smith being introduced by Hannah and Kliza Marsh who were put inlo my charge at Brownsville by iheir brother with a request lliat I see lhem safe to Ballimore. They were higlily cultivated ladies, of the society of Friends, and were right on a!l the great moral qufstions of tlie age. As travelling compnnions they were sociable - ready and free lo discuss the subjpets of Education, Slavery, Temperance, &c, thus contributing much to the interest of the journey. From Bnltimoie 1 proceeded by Rail Road to Philadelphia and irom there to New York. This route may be considered the great thoroughfare of the nation ; and no one but tiiose who have traveled it can have nny adequate idea of the dense mass of human beings that are urgit;g iheir way to and from these cities. In New York on the 19ih inst. the corner stone of the " Washington Monument" was laid. It was a time of general interest among all classes of community. All tlie mililary companies, Firemen, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance &c. &c, were in attendance. I heard no attempt at estimating numbers, though some thought therecould nol have been less than from 'scvepty-five tü one hundred acres of human beifg" on a rusn t0 see - and hat ? why, stot.-e laid ! The military - the war spirit of this land is tríumphant. Nothing can compete with, or stay its fiuy. The gospel which proclaims " pe-e on earth and gnod will to man' sems to posseess littleor no power to chanTi - regnrdless of its heavenly teachings man rushes on to murder and destroy his fellow man. For the prosecuiion of an tingodiy war - the ncquisilion of territory - and the extensión of s'avery, un!old numbers have, and are ready to e.)list. Uut lo ameliorate the condition of sufl'ering humanity - send light and peaf-e to the destituto, and 10 restore the world lo one vast brolherhood, is to most a thankless - an unwelcome task ; and when there will be a change for the better is known only lo the Governor ofthe Universe. LeavingNew York I took the splendid Steamer " Hendrick Hudson," up the North River to Albany, and from there by Rail Road to Buflalo, where I feil ín with a number of our Antislavery friends who had been in attendance at the Bnffalo Convention. In company wiihiheml took the mammoth Steam Bost " Niágara" for Detroit. There wcreor. board about 700 passengors who weremostly bound for the west. Anmngtliis vost crosvJ ihrre were very f w who feit disposrd to join issue with liie friondt of tlio t-lavp, showing thal tlierc hasn tremendou revolmion taken place in the public mind on lliis sulijecl (iuring iho firW past years. At Detroit I look Ihe cars upon tne Cenlral lïail Etoad at 8 o'clock A. M., nnd at 11 o' - cloefc A. M., foi.nd mjself in Ann Arbor greally rejoiced lo be relieved froai tle fatigue of a long journey. REFLECTI0N8. Religión. - Tho principies of Evnngelical piety ns laught by t!e Savior of men and which was exemplified in the livesof the piimitive chrislinns, leading them to love their Maker - respect their breihrcn - do good to the poor and destitule - nnd malte the best posible use of time, seem in a groat measure lo have taken their leave of earlh. To atnnss wealth - gnin popularity - robothers of their rights - and conquer and subduc the vorld to our self, sepins tobe predominant in the human mind, and the on!y hope for n better state of hinga is, ihat the time is not ffir Hislar.t vl:en tlie God of Nations will turn the henrts of men as the rivers of water are turned. Politics. - The doings of the ncxt Congress wil! be frnught with the depprs! inlertst to the eniire nation. Whelher our army will be called back to our own tenitory nnd an amicable arijustment o1 the whole matter beiween us and Mexico take plnce, or men and means be voled ti) prosecute the aggressivennd ! godly war, rpmains to be determined. - For rny own part I doubt iwt but au Ulempt will be made, whelher YVhigs or i Demoernis control the legislation of the nation, to "conquer a peoce," - in doing which the war will continue, and perhaps; tot the next ten years bloody hoslilities will be kept up. For n long time I have had but one opinión with regard to the policy to be pursued by the Liberty Party and that is to '■define the ir posilion" on all questions uf National and Slale policy, and poMpone llie nomination until spring, lt seems, however, thnt the Cufíalo Conversión thought otherwise, and aciing underthnt judgtnent have nominaled John P. Hale of New Hampshire, lor President, and Judge KiN'G, of Ohio, for Vice President. These men are "capable and honest," and a beller nomination could not have been made. I doubt not but they will receive the hearty support of the friends of freedom throughout the land. What there is ín reserve lor '.hedownlrod.den of our country, time must delermine. For one I confess the future is portentous and dark to me, ttill 1 hopo for the Lest. Secret Societies.-- Masonry, Odd Fellowahip, Rechnbitism, and the Sons of Temperance (which by the way are all the same lo mej have a tremendous preponderating influence in their favor whcrever my observalion extends. Not aJourn.il, polilical or religious, to my knowledge, hos commenced liie discussion of the question of secret societies edilorially or by correspondence, but what has been compelled to give up the discussion. The friends of these societies will not tolérale the investigntion, and their enemies stand in awe of them, and so the matier rests. For one I maintain uncompromising hoslility to them all. 1 plant myself upon the free, open and avowed principies of the gospel, and the government. With them 1 stand, and ifneedbe, wilh them I Pal!. As I now view the subject, I believe ihem wrong in principie and pernicious in their tendency - unwoithy the support of the virtuous and good of this or any other land. The very fact that the discussion of the question is net, and cannot be tolerated is alarming. To belong to a Society whose principies, oaths, obligations and doings I cannot divulge, and defend if need be, is so manifestly at variance with the gospel - the genius of cur government, and every principie of my nature thnt I must undergo an entire change of views and feelings before I can be a member of any secret " oath bound," or "honor pledged" society. Temperance. - In my journey I did net visit those places where low and beastly drunkenness prevail, but mingled in the highest and best society of the land, and BR] sorry :o say that although there are many who rigidly adhere to the princiules of total abstinence, neverlheless ihe great majority of lliose who are in high life are fearfully intempe.-ale, and form the most serious obstaele to the speedy triumph and ultímate success of the causo of temperance. There is however no one species of intemperance that so much annoys me whüe journeying, as the use of TOBACCO. How lamentably prevalent the use of this weed has become. lts hatred to me issecond only to that of slavery. - The eontemptible tobáceo mungerspreads his filth and slime over the floor of the car, coach, steambont and wherever he chances to be. If a gentleman by accident drop an article of clothing, it is at once besmeared and rendered unfit for use. If a lady seat herself for n moment her dress i at once dipped in this ocean of ültli flowing from tlio inoulhs of these would lie gentlemen. No sooner is tlie mouth emptied of ts cintemptible lond, than a cigar is placed between ilieir lips and Oom benenth their craler issues a volume ofthe most ofiensive smoke, greatly annoying evory person who regards the rules of dece.icy or has adesireto observe the njiuiction of the apostle, "keep lliyself pure." As a specimen of the insolence ano" contempt of these persons I vvill mention two fiets. A gentleman (pardon the expression) seated himselfnear somc laciiesin the cabin of the boat and commenced pufi'ing his cigar. Soon signs of disrtpprobation were apparent. He took his cigar (torn his mouth and turning lo a Inriy, nsked ; " Is smoking ofiensivo to you, madam I" to which she ansvvered, ' it is.' 'Wall,' replied the wag, " it is to sorne folks," and without changing his posilion continued his smoking. A nother, seated in the gentlemen's cabin ofthe same boat was smoking his cigar, much to the annoyanee of some of the company, when a gentleman by his side requested him to desist (rom smoking in the cabin. Heturned round, and with npparent concern, asked ; " Is tobáceo sniokc oflensive to you, sir V' to which ie replied, " il is, sir." Well llien "you ïad belter go on deelt," was the answer, ind the oiïence continued - showii g nn Lifter want of every thing like decency propriety. Wherever I go [ see the card postcd J), OJNO SMOKING .1LL0WED IlERE.j) PÍOW for wliose benefit s this 1 Not ibr ho$.p who do not smoke most cerlainly. Tliey would know belter i han to be guilty jfsuch a wanton outrage,bul for the benfil of ihose wiio through indulgence in the man-debasingan'J laoy insulling prac tice, have impaircd iheirsense of propriety - vitialed tlieir tasteand so lar lost their regard for themselves and others as to render it necessury to place an advertisement staring tliem in the face at every turn, NO SMOKING ALLOWED [IERE! Still wilh this timely,and nlmost constant admonition before theireves, the Rail Road car, the Stage Coach and Steim Boat cabin are rnpr-atedly contaminated wilh the ofi'ensive eiïluvia or smoke of tobáceo. My position is t'nat my raveling companion has no more right to infect and poison the atmospliere I breath, with bis pipe and quid, ihan hc hai tho waler 1 1 drink, with arsenicoi' any other poison. CONXLUSION. In the above jouwey I traveled 2542 miles, was absent from Ann Arbor, 549 hours, 238 of which I spent in traveling-, 311 in amusement, rc&t or in the Itansaction of business. 1 took firstclass f;re in every instancP; and my expenses were $00,87. I mention tliesc facts to show the rapidity wilh which we can travel in this country and the comparative trival expense with which il is attended. Yours respectfully, Ann Arbor, Oct. 28ih, 1847.