Resolved, That in our judgment, he was an intelligent, talented, upright, noble-hearted man; a sincere and consistent Christian; an able, independent, and faithful minister of the gospel; a bold, uncompromising enemy of oppression in all its forms; a self-sacrificing friend and defender of civil and religious liberty, of truth and righteousness, whose name and whose virtues deserve to be embalmed in the memory of every friend of God and man." A work, containing his life, letters, poems, and a history of the riots, was published by his brothers, in 1838, and from the introduction to it, written by the Hon. John Quincy Adams, we make the following extract: "That an American citizen, in a State whose Constitution repudiates all Slavery, should die a martyr in defence of the freedom of the press, is a phenomenon in the history of this Union. It forms an era, in the progress of mankind towards universal emancipation. Martyrdom was said by Dr. Johnson, to be the only test of sincerity in religious belief. It is also the ordeal through which all great improvements in the condition of men, are doomed to pass. The incidents which preceded and accompanied, and followed the catastrophe of Mr. Lovejoy's death, point it out as an epoch in the annals of human liberty. They have given a shock as of an earthquake, throughout this continent, which will be felt in the most distant regions of the earth. They have inspired an interest in the public mind, which extends already to the life and character of the sufferer, and which it is believed will abide while ages pass away. To record and preserve for posterity, the most interesting occurrences of his life, has been considered an obligation of duty, specially incumbent upon the surviving members of his family, and in the effusions of his own mind, and the characteristic features of his familiar correspondence, the reader will find the most effective portraiture of the first American Martyr to the freedom of the press, and the freedom of the slave." INSPIRATIONS OF THE MUSE. WHO has not felt, when life's dull stream was low, Like healing virtue o'er the stricken soul, When some fair hand the trembling lyre had swept, And left their marks transcribed upon his soul, Gently they spoke in silver notes of bliss, With hues of grandeur deep around her thrown, How oft her strains have smoothed the angry brow; She strikes the chords that round her heart entwine, And warm responses breathe on ev'ry line. The mind, awakened by the burning strain, Starts in a flight which seraphs scarce can gain : Bursts from its mortal shroud and soars away, And basks and revels in unclouded day; Leaves earth's dull scenes with all its cares and woes, Mounts into light, and kindles as it goes! |