NORTHERN VASSALLAGE.

While reading the contents of your excellent paper, the wish has ever been present with me, that some means might be devised by which to place it in every colored family in the non-slaveholding States; it seems to be well calculated to enlist their sympathies, and to gain their confidenceーtwo essential points to be gained in order to influence either for good or evil. The time must eventually come, when a paper edited and published by colored men, will cease to be regarded as an experiment of doubtful utility, or as an anomaly in the literary world. Emanating from the source it does, the "North Star" will have an important bearing upon the anti-slavery cause; and its influence will be felt in those circles, which have affected to look upon the social, moral, and intellectual elevation of the colored race, as a fanciful idea existing only in the restless brains of "Northern fanatics." Slaveholders and their apologists, will consider it beneath their dignity, to notice such a paper in any other way, than to give vent to their spite against its authors and supporters: but their vituperations will fall as harmless snow-flakes on a winter morning. "Northern fanatics," thank fortune, are not "dough-faces," to be frightened by Southern chivalry; for this reason they are feared, as well as hated by the South, and are traduced by "Northern men["] (and women) with Southern principles, which, in obsequiousness to the slave power, rank next to "overseers."

They prate long and loud of their patriotism, and of their devotion to their country; while the seductive influence of Southern courtesy, without the temptation which led an Arnold to the commission of a lesser crime, leads them to surrenderーnot a part to King George, but their own manhood, and the interests of the North, to the keeping of the slave power. If Arnold deserved the execration of his countrymenー" Northern dough-faces" deserve some kind of a compliment from their constituents, accompanied with a "free pass" into the shades of retiracy from public life. The South, like a petulent and exacting bride, says to the Northー" I shall do as I please; and you will submit to my caprices, or there will be trouble in the family;" while the North complacently repliesー" I will submit to anything, my dear, for the sake of living with you;" and meekly assumes the duties of a subordinate. Is there not anti-slavery feeling enough at the North, if it could be faithfully represented, to effectually resist the encroachments of the slave power? If there is not, may the shades of the departed heroes of the Revolution, never revisit the earth, lest a knowledge of the regeneracy of their sons should disturb their future repose. In the present position of political parties, it is impossible for the anti-slavery sentiment of the North to obtain a fair representation; for the claims of humanity must be rudely thrust aside when they conflict with the interest, or endanger the success of the party. And never, until the North indignantly thrusts its contemptible "dough-faces" from their seats of power, and commits its interest to the keeping of men who dare to be freeーwho scorn the low trickery of servile demagoguesーand whose principles are strong enough to withstand the blandishment of Southern courtesy; will the North emerge from a state of vassallage to the South; and consign, if such a thing be possible, the emblems of its servitude to oblivion.

The slave toils on in his bonds, at times hopeless and desponding; again looking eagerly forward for better days, as some temporary mitigation of his wrongs leads him to look for justice from the hands of his fellow man. But will justice be rendered while it can be withheld? The domestic servitude of the South, finds a counterpart in the political vassallage of the North; and the existence of the former seems to depend, in a great measure, upon the continuance of the latter.ーWill the Southern slave be permitted to assume his manhood before the Northern vassal becomes free? When the North dares to be freeーto assert and maintain its claim to equal rights and impartial legislationーthen, the slave may look forward to a time as not far distant, when the fetters will fall from his limbs; and he will receive his manhood and his freedomーnot as a gift from manーbut as rights belonging to him in common with all the human family. For this we labor, feeling fully assured that our purpose will be accomplished; and that the repudiation of political vassallage by the North, will be the precursor of the downfall of domestic slavery at the South.

HARRIET N. TORREY.

Parkman, O., Feb. 27, 1848.