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he was told that some sought to cast imputations on his character, he was greatly surprised, and offered to give favorable testimony in any form that might be desired.
J. R. Whiting, the District Attorney, expressed the same readiness; and private misrepresentations were silenced by a published certificate from them, testifying that throughout the affair Friend Hopper had merely ‘exhibited a desire to procure the money for the master, and the manumission of the slave.’
The principal argument brought by Friends, against their members uniting with Anti-Slavery Societies, was that they were thus led to mix indiscriminately with people of other denominations, and brought into contact with hireling clergymen.
There seemed some inconsistency in this objection, coming from the mouths of men who belonged to Rail Road Corporations, and Bank Stock Companies, and who mingled constantly with slaveholders in Southern trade; for the early testimonies of the Society were quite as explicit against slavery, as against a paid ministry.
However, those of their members who were abolitionists were willing to obviate this objection, if possible.
They accordingly formed an association among themselves, ‘for the relief of those held in slavery, and the improvement of the free people of color.’
But when this benevolent association asked for the use of Rose-street Meeting-house,
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