ADDRESS.

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t he f u l l f uture l i b e r t y o f the s l a v e be s e c u r e d a g a i n s t a l l c o n t i n g e n c i e s , b y a r e c o r d e d deed o f e m a n c i p a t i o n , to t a k e e ffect a t a specified t i m e . I n the m e a n w h i l e , let the s e r v a n t b e t r e a t e d w i t h k i n d n e s s     l e t a l l those t h i n g s w h i c h d e g r a d e h i m be r e m o v e d     l e t h i m e n j o y m eans o f i n s t r u c t i o n     l e t h i s m o r a l a n d r e l i g i o u s i m p r o v e m e n t be sought     l e t h is prospects be presented b efore h i m , to s t i m u l a t e h i m t o a c q u i r e those h a b i t s o f foresight, e c o n o m y , i n d u s t r y , a c t i v i t y , s k i l l , a nd i n t e g r i t y , w h i c h w i l l fit h i m for u s i n g w e l l the l i b e r t y he is s oon t o e n j o y . T h a t master i s , i n o u r o p i n i o n , d o i n g most for the d e s t r u c t i o n o f this s y s t e m , w h o thus sets i n o p e r a t i o n a m a c h i n e r y w h i c h , i n a g i v e n a n d l i m i t e d p e r i o d , w i l l n ot o n l y u n b i n d the b o d y o f the s l a v e , but w i l l , l i n k b y l i n k , a n d in the o n l y w a y i n w h i c h it c a n be effected, twist off the fetters that n o w c r a m p his s o u l . I f the m a s t e r r e t a i n s h i s a u t h o r i t y o v e r h is s e r v a n t s o n l y for a t i m e , that he m a y e n j o y a m p l e r o pportunities o f e m p l o y i n g means for t h e i r a m e n d m e n t a n d e l e v a t i o n     i f he r e g a r d s t h e m as a trust c o m m i t t e d to h i m b y h i s M a s t e r a n d t h e i r s , for t h e i r m u t u a l benefit, a n d n o l o n g e r as p r o p e r t y o f w h i c h he h a s the u n c o n t r o l l e d d i s p o s a l , f or h i s o w n selfish e n d s     i f he acts a n d feels t hus, h e is not o n l y free f r o m g u i l t , but he is " b r i n g i n g f orth f ruits m eet f or repentance "     h e is d o i n g a w o r k o f r ighteousness a n d h u m a n i t y . I f it be pretended that s u c h a m a n is s i n n i n g , it must be on one or o t h e r o f these g r o u n d s     e i t h e r he is d o i n g h a r m to his o w n s e r v a n t b y h is c o u r s e , or he is i n j u r i n g o thers b y c o u n t e n a n c i n g the oppressive and cruel system of s l a v e r y . B u t neither o f t hese a l l e g a t i o n s w o u l d be c o r r e c t . W i l l a n y s ober m a n , a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t he o r d i n a r y c h a r a c t e r o f s l a v e s , assert t hat i t w o u l d be d o i n g t h e m a n i n j u r y to d e n y t h e m , for a t i m e , t he e x e r c i s e o f u n l i m i t e d s e l f - c o n t r o l ? W i l l h e a s sert, that the a u t h o r i t y o f a conscientious and k i n d b enefactor e x t e n d i n g o v e r t h e m , for a t i m e , to assist t h e m i n t he a t t a i n m e n t o f c o r r e c t sentiments, useful k n o w l e d g e , and virtuous h a b i t s     r e s t r a i n i n g them from vice, shielding t h e m f r o m t e m p t a t i o n , a n d m o u l d i n g t h e m to r e c t i t u d e     w i l l h e assert that s u c h a u t h o r i t y is d o i n g h a r m ' . ' Why i s i t that w i s d o m a n d b e n e v o l e n c e h a v e fixed upon twentyone as the age at w h i c h o u r c h i l d r e n a r e to b e c o m e t h e i r