of the slave trade.  Not treaties concluded with foreign nations; for a people holding such sentiments could never make a treaty shutting themselves out from the most promising field of missionary labour; or if forced by circumstances to conclude it, their religious convictions would urge them to break it at any moment.  In fact, were a powerful nationality once established, with interests and religious convictions all pointing in the way of reviving the slave trade, it would be utterly impossible to prevent a resumption of that abominable traffic.

We have dealt with the professed convictions of the Southern ministers as sincere convictions.  We should be sorry to accuse any body of men professing to be teachers of the Christian religion of intentional insincerity, and although we can hardly conceive the possibility of men who base their religion upon the same Bible upon which we rest ours, attempting sincerely to justify slavery upon religious grounds, we would rather attribute the extraordinary moral obliquity which the attempt exhibits to the demoralising influence of the slave system than to actual hypocrisy.  The spectacle of a crowd of learned and no doubt pious men standing forth as the avowed apologists of a system which deprives their fellow-men of all the rights of humanity is, perhaps, the most distressing evidence of its blighting and blinding influence which has yet been exhibited to the world.  It ought to have its effect.  As we have said, it is the duty of every man to study the lessons which this address of the Confederate clergy has for him.  If his sympathy and influence be given to the Confederates, let him understand the nature of the cause he is aiding.  Let him learn from the statement of the Confederates themselves that their cause is the cause of slavery, and that they look forward to the perpetuation and extension of slavery as the prize of success.

* * * * *

SLAVERY AND LIBERTY.

    I’m on my way to Canada,
      That dark and dreary land;
    Oh! the dread effects of slavery
      I can no longer stand. 
    My soul is vexed within me so
      To think I am a slave,
    Resolved I am to strike the blow,
      For freedom or the grave.

          CHORUS
        Oh, Righteous Father! 
          Wilt thou not pity me,
        And help me on to Canada,
          Where coloured men are free.

    I’ve served my master all my days,
      Without one dimes’ reward,
    And now I’m forced to run away,
      To flee the lash and rod. 
    The hounds are baying on my track,
      And master just behind,
    Resolved that he will bring me back
      Before I cross the line.