The Pulpit and the Press Corrupted by
Slavery.

There is not a spot on the broad domain
of the Western continent, but what is affect
ed with the malaria emenating from this foul
and loathsome system. The great body of
our citizens depart from the true and legiti
mate ends of existence, and try to satisfy
themselves with the aeriel phantoms of life,
by leaving untouched the real and demon
strated business of man's duty toward his
fellow man. The Pulpit and the Press are
among the most prominent instrumentalities
in forming the public mind, and giving ex
pression to public sentiment; this thought
is suggested at this time, by reading in the
issue of the Frederck Douglass' Paper of
May 27th, 1853, the proceedings of the great
Anti-Slavery Anniversaries, and comments
of some of the prominent presses in the
State, in regard to the speech and opinions
of Frederick Douglass. Amid the laudations
of such men as Thurlow Weed towards friend
D., and others sustaining the same relation
to American society, there is a secret, yet
powerful influence in favor of expelling the
nominally free people of color from this
country, to give slavery the undisputed right

of existence through all coming time.

I have heard the vindicative and anti-Christian sentiments that the editor of the
Troy Family Journal speaks of; and while
listening to these burning and truthful
thoughts, I have thought that lexicographers
have failed as yet in furnishing a basis of
language, that will adequately express what
American slavery is. What would be the
burning language of the immortal Jefferson,
and others who resisted the strong arm of
oppression and determined to be free, in see
ing one slave State after another added to
the Union, until it is a system of colossal
proportions—that it is the governing power
of the nation. It controls our national con
ventions, and brings forth candidates for the
sufferage of the people. It demands of Con
gress the exercise of authority, to make ev
ery State in the Union hunting ground in
pursuing the panting fugitive. It converts
statesmen that once stood up fearlessly be
fore this power, in defence of the rights of
man, into willing slaves of its cupidity and
cruelty. It corrupts the streams of moral
influence that flows from the church of the
living God, and sends forth a pestilental va
por that is more destructive to society than
any other evil that exists among us; and the
priests that stands daily ministering at the
alter become dumb dogs, non-committal, or
open advocates for the system as divine in
its origin; it is guilty of theft, murder, and
adultery; in fact, there is no crime that the
human mind can conceive, or that man can

be guilty of, but what is comprehended in
the words of American slavery. Our great
commercial cities bow down before the God
of Southern patronage, with the pusillani
mous devotion of a beaten dog; the press of
those cities, for the sake of defending and
sustaining their respective political and re
ligious parties, become the allies of Southern
despotism; thus the infected streams of
moral and political pollution overspread the
land, producing hatred to the free people of
color, and exciting disgust of the thought
ful and humane in all parts of the civilized
world. The war between liberty and oppres
sion must and will roll on regardless of the
manifestoes of political leaders on the sub
ject of agitation. The press, the priests, and
politicians may combine yet; men will think,
speak and write, in spite of all men can do,
and no doubt greatly to the annoyance of
those interested in the bodies and souls of
men.

Dear sir, enclosed is one dollar for a copy
of the Autographs for Freedom, which you
will please send me by mail. I am satisfied
that the sentiments contained in this work
will live when the authors of them shall have
passed away to the land of spirits.

Yours as ever,

WM. SHAPCOTT.

AUBURN, June 6, 1853.