Page:A Memoir of Thomas C. James, M. D. - Hodge.djvu/13

 intellectual and moral darkness in which his brother was enshrouded, and then would knock off fetter after fetter, from the enslaved limb of the African, until he could, with confidence and exultation bid him walk forth a freeman; free from physical restraints to his body; free above all things from the slavery of ignorance and vice. Such were the views of Dr. James; hence he early lent his influence to the society (formed chiefly among Friends, and having for a long time the late excellent Wm. Rawle as its president,) for the abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania. In perfect consistency with these views he was among the first members, and for a considerable time the president of the Pennsylvania Colonization Society, believing that the true interests of the black would by this institution be most efficiently promoted. Perhaps it is known generally, that at that period, more than at present, these were not the general impressions respecting the Colonization Society, especially among the society of Friends, who regarded the system of colonization with a jealous eye, as calculated to strengthen, not to weaken slavery in these United States. Dr. James was, therefore, unpleasantly situated with his most intimate friends and his religious society. He acted on this occasion in obedience to those feelings and principles which always governed him. He resigned "to please friends," anxious to avoid any thing which would gender strife or bad feelings, to avoid "even the appearance of evil;" although his own sentiments, as declared to the writer, remained unaltered. Another example in which the amiability, timidity, and modesty of his character, prevented him from taking that bold stand in which his influence would have been great, and, in the opinion of many, for nothing but good.

Dr. James lent also the great weight of his character to the active measures adopted for the suppression of lotteries, but his modesty was again shocked in being made president of the society for their suppression. He did not live long enough to see the triumph of these benevolent principles by which he and his colleagues were actuated, in the abolition of this nefarious business by the constituted authorities of the state.

Such was the character of our late president, modest, retiring, distrustful of his own abilities; willing at all times to avoid responsibility, seldom acting therefore boldly and decidedly; but, nevertheless, a man of superior talents, well cultivated with ardent feelings and social propensities, in love with literature and science, eminently prepared for the social circle, for literary and scientific society, and for the active, laborious, and exhausting