Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker Slavery volume 5 .djvu/96

84 ness, whose depth they knew not, nor yet its prophecy, who meekly trusting in their God, in want and war, but wanting not in faith, laid with their prayers the deep foundations of the State and Church. Then follow more majestic men, bringing great truths for all mankind, seized from the heaven of thought, or caught, ground-lightning, rushing from the earth; and on their banners have they writ these words: Equality and inborn Eights. Then comes the one with venerable face, who ruled alike the senate and the camp, and at whose feet the attendant years spread garlands, laurel-wreaths, calling him first in war, and first in peace, and first in his country's heart, as it in his. Then follow men bearing the first-fruits of our toil, the wealth of the sea and land, the labours of the loom, the stores of commerce and the arts. A happy people comes, some with shut Bibles in their hands, some with the nation's laws, some uttering those mighty truths which God has writ on man, and men have copied into golden words. Then comes, to close this long historic pomp,—the panorama of the world—the Negro Slave, bought, branded, beat.

I remain your fellow-citizen and friend, Boston, December 22, 1847.