committal of the order with instructions to report a bill, and urged the measure in a speech of much earnestness and ability. But the Senate refused to recommit by a large majority. This refusal to perform an act, perfectly reasonable and justifiable in the position Massachusetts had assumed, gives but too much cause to apprehend that the brave words uttered by her on this subject, and others affecting her rights, are but so much empty sound signifying nothing.

The right of the colored inhabitants of the State to equal advantages of instruction with the whites also came before the last General Court. The School Committees, in the exercise of their sovereign power, have seen fit in certain towns either to establish separate schools for colored children, and to require them to attend those schools or none, or else have made such local regulations as amounted in effect to the same separation on account of complexion. It is believed that the Supreme Court would decide that the laws of the State contemplate no distinction between its citizens, founded on color; but there was no way in which the point could be brought before them for adjudication. Accordingly a bill was carried through, though not without opposition, giving to any child deprived of the equal advantages of the public schools, in any town, a right of action by his next friend, against the town. The success of this measure was largely owing to the untiring exertions of Messrs. SHAW and GARDNER, of Nantucket, who devoted themselves to the work of carrying it through the General Court with praiseworthy zeal and perseverance. We are not aware that any action has yet been brought under its provisions, but we cannot doubt what the decision of the Supreme Court would be, if the question be presented to them.

It may be mentioned here that an attempt was made last Summer in Boston to destroy this source of prejudice. A Petition was presented to the School Committee, from colored citizens, praying that "separate schools for colored children be abolished and the said children permitted to attend

the schools in their several districts." This question excited a good deal of discussion in the community, as well as in the Committee. It came up for final determination in a special meeting of the Committee, June the 19th, when, after the rights of the colored people had been maintained with much spirit by the Rev. Messrs. PATTON and STEDMAN, Mr. A. J. WRIGHT, Dr. C. A. PHELPS and Dr. BowDITCH, the Committee decided that it was inexpedient to grant the prayer of the petitioners, by a vote of FIFTY-five to twelve. It is but justice to say that the honor of this attempt to remove this cause and effect of prejudice from this city, is mainly due to Dr. HENRY I. BOWDITCH, whose zeal and industry in the cause were untiring. The chief opposer of the change was Mr. JOHN C. PARK, who in his place in the Senate, a short time before, had given his weight against the passage of the law just described, in its most effective form, and who has always distinguished himself, on all fitting occasions, as the organ of the pro-slavery spirit, and the hatred of color, which yet lingers in the community.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

During the past year this State, which has been long looked upon as the stronghold of Southern principles in Northern latitudes, has been visited by a wholesome agitation, coming from a quarter whence it was least expected. When the question of Annexation was agitating the public mind, the Hon. JOHN P. HALE, one of the Representatives from New Hampshire, then a candidate for re-election, addressed a letter to his constituents, in which he gave his reasons for departing from the policy of his party, on this point, and opposing the Annexation of Texas into the Union. His letter contained a conclusive and well-reasoned argument on the unconstitutionality of the measure, fortified by quotations

from the formerly expressed opinions of the oracles of Democracy; but it placed the main objection against the act on the impregnable ground of its necessary and avowed tendency to extend and perpetuate Slavery. This letter produced a strong excitement throughout New Hampshire and the country. Mr. HALE was at once denounced as a recreant Democrat by the leaders of the Party, and every description of abuse heaped upon his head. A new Convention was called, and another candidate selected in his stead. But though the leading influences of the party were thus ready to sacrifice him for his fidelity to liberty, there was a large portion of the masses who refused to obey their dictation. Mr. HALE has addressed large popular meetings in various parts of the State, and has thus been the means of disseminating knowledge on the subject of Texas and Slavery, which was sedulously hidden from the eyes of the people by the self-constituted keepers of their consciences. Several elections have been held without success; and, from present appearances, it seems very doubtful whether a majority of the people can be dragooned or coaxed into appointing as their Representative the nominee of Slavery. Had the Whigs of New Hampshire been willing to drop their minor differences of opinion, and to unite with the better part of the Democracy in a common testimony to the great principles which were the true issue of the contest, Mr. HALE would have been triumphantly elected, the pseudo Democracy would have been rebuked, and perhaps a revolution effected in the politics of the State which would have delivered it from its disgraceful vassalage to the Slave Power. But, even as it is, incalculable good has unquestionably been done by this breach in the solid columns of the pro-slavery Democracy of New Hampshire, and it is not likely that it will ever again be able to present an unbroken front, as of old, by the side of its "natural ally."

NEW YORK.

An interesting question is now attracting public attention in the State of New York. By the existing Constitution the right of suffrage is confined to whites, and to colored persons possessing a certain property qualification. A Convention being proposed for the amendment of the Constitution, it was soon suggested that this was a provision loudly calling for attention. The Democratic party were, or pretended to be, so much in fear of this threatened pollution of the right of suffrage, by accepting a ballot from a black as well as from a white hand, that some of their presses urged the people to vote against the calling of the Convention, lest it might be incurred. The Convention, however, has been called. The elections of delegates will, doubtless, to a considerable extent, turn upon this point. It is to be hoped that there will be enough found in the ranks of both parties who really feel the love of human rights they both equally profess, and of Abolitionists who stand aloof from either party, to turn the scale, and to expunge this disgraceful monument of a vanished Slavery from the archives of the Empire State.

ENGLAND.

The attention of the English nation, both politicians and people, has been anxiously directed towards this country, during the past year, watching the course of our public policy with a curious eye. The contempt which our Slavery, Lynch Law, Annexation and Repudiation had brought upon our national character, has not been diminished by the vaporing spirit and bullying tone which our rulers have seen fit to indulge on the subject of Oregon. This question is yet unset

tled, and England is making silent preparations to vindicate what she conceives to be her rights by the sword, in the last resort. It is not at all probable, however, that she will be compelled to this ultimate argument. The Slave-holders are now supreme in the Senate of the United States, by an actual numerical majority, and it is not probable that they will lay waste their cotton plantations, and invite by their weakness and hostile domestic population the invasion of an emancipating army, for the sake of giving free territory to the North. A war with England they fear too truly would be a lever of Emancipation. And the risk of such a war we do not think they would incur, unless it were for territory fitted to enjoy the blessings of Slavery. The promise of the whole of Oregon was extended to the West to bribe her to consent to their acquisition of Texas; that being now secured, England will be propitiated to ensure their quiet enjoyment of their prey.

The hostility to negro slavery, which is now become an internal element of the British character, has manifested itself on frequent occasions. The Message of President TYLER to the Senate on the African Slave Trade, in which he spoke of the condition of the Africans liberated by the British cruisers, in the West India Islands, as no better than that of slaves, was the subject of discussion in the House of Commons. Mr. ALDANE, member for Leeds, called the attention. of Sir ROBERT PEEL to the Message in a spirit of just indignation. The prime minister stated the exact state of the case, that the liberated Africans were absolutely their own masters, as soon as they touched the British dominions, and expressed his surprise that the President should have made so gross a mistatement, without inquiry into the facts.

In a speech on the Sugar Question, the Rt. Hon. THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY took occasion to expose and denounce the horrors and enormities of American Slavery and of the