Philadelphia, Jan. 18, 1848[9].

It is not customary for females to take a stand against renowned public speakers; but the spirit leads; I obey. I am not a Philadelphian, but feel as one. My native home is the fair and sunny South. Though cursed by the iron rule of slavery, as my home, I love it still.
My attention has been attracted by the great cry of Reform, reform; but reform where? Who can tell where it is needed?—Some say in the Church, and have knocked loudly, but were not admitted, and rightly too. I am no bigot; I am no communicant of any denomination; but such is my reverence for the house of the Lord, that I think the language used by the Anti-Slavery lecturers a desecration. Suppose, as we ought always when in God's house, that he is there too, do you think that such expressions as infernal, hellish, rascals, and many more of like tendency, would meet his approving smile? No, sir; none can be found who would stand in the presence of God, and give utterance to such language. Hard words harden the heart, but a mild and kind reproof worketh wonders. Can men who threaten, abuse, and try to drive us to do what they may think right, expect to gain their point? When our Saviour sent his apostles to teach, he bade them go forth meekly and lowly, and they did so, converting as they went, and I suppose touched many a heart as we (so called) pro-slavery Philadelphians possess. They did not cry out with a loud voice, You shall not wear broad-cloth, and appear always clothed in the best and most fashionable.—Men who love God and serve him in truth, are and should be privileged to rebuke the church; but those who have never know God, or made a profession to know him, I think it sheer presumption in them to attempt to take the mote out of their brother's eye, when they have a beam in their own.

I was present a short time since when one of the anti-slavery lecturers laid a great many sins at the door of the Philadelphia people. First, he found fault with the distinctions made in society on account of color. I likewise disapprove of it, and I know it exists to a great extent, but I do not think that to abuse is the way to reform.

Another charge was, we were too fond of dress; ladies with curls and ribbons flying, in imitation of our oppressors; and girls who live at service spending their earnings in bedecking themselves equally in appearance with their employers. I should like to know how the gentlemen would have us dress. I suppose the old-fashioned bonnets and dresses of our grandmothers would please him. I know they would please our oppressors, for the unwelcome truth would not stare them in the face, that we are as capable of refinement and taste as they are. I think our service girls have been unjustly handled. Most of them have poor parents, and a great part of their earnings go to assist them, which leaves them little to spend upon themselves; yet a stranger, who knows nothing of the social relations of the laboring people of our city, undertakes to censure them for extravagance! The gentleman speaks much against our young men wearing broadcloth; but I may say, that I see none of them dress as fashionably as he does. Pray who does he ape? Is there any nation of the "genuine color" that I have not heard of? America does not origniate her fashions; she receives them from France and England, so when we follow a fashion, we consider ourselves no more imitators than our oppressors.

It is now my turn to find fault. It is with something of more consequence than people's dress or color. I seldom attend a lecture, but I am disgusted with some expression which makes the blush of shame o'erspread my face. What gentleman would allow the utterance of words at his fireside, which would cause his wife or daughter to hang her head? Then may I inquire, What right have lecturers to use language in public that they would not dare use in private? Do they expect to reform the people? Do stop this, I beseech you. Think where you are—consider we are not all simple, but have a little sense, and would not mind improving ourselves. You wish to elevate us; if you employ the right means you can. Let us set to work—have lectures on scientific subjects; let us have our schools well filled, our retreats and houses of industry supported; and above all, let us raise a fund to build a college or high school in the State of Pennsylvania, that our young men of the next generation may be so well educated that our proud oppressors can no longer say we are not equal to them. God speed the time when our people will have more public spirit among them. Let us pull together, every one feeling that he has something to do for the common good, and then as a well-organized family we must prosper.

Yours,

Irwin.