“We begin our Nineteenth Volume with a new typographical dress  — and with a determination to make the Liberator the enlightened, faithful and intrepid advocate of Liberty, Peace, Universal Brotherhood.”   It appeals to its subscribers  for continued support.  The fee of $2.50 per annum, will be reduced to $2.00 for all who pay the subscription within three months; those who do not pay within the three months after subscription, will be expected to pay the full amount.

Douglass has announced on Dec 22 the completion of the first volume of the paper.  Now he appeals for support,  and includes words which indicate that it has been well received in many places, including Europe.  He calls upon its subscribers to answer the question, “Shall it be sustained?” by securing subscriptions among their friends, with a special plea that its failure would only feed the prejudices of those who feel that colored people cannot successfully run such an enterprise.

The editor comments:  “Shame on the free colored population of the United States, that they do not liberally patronize the Star.”

Under the Refuge of Oppression column is an account from the Richmond Enquirer telling of recent proceedings in the Virginia Legislature, warning that passage of the Wilmot Proviso would threaten “disunion and civil war”.    “….there are certain laws, to which, if they should be enacted by Congress, the South, under no circumstances, ought permanently to submit.  We enumerate them as follows: 1. A law in any manner interfering with the institution of slavery in the States.  2. A law prohibiting the slave-trade between the States.  3. A law abolishing slavery or the slave-trade in the District of Columbia.  4. A law prohibiting slavery in the territories.”

“The Dissolution of the American Union is the only vital issue with the Slave Power now before the country.  It is essential to the speedy overthrow of slavery, and especially to the deliverance of the people of the North from all responsibility for the continuance of that nefarous system.  While the Union continues, the guilt, the shame, the infamy, the curse of slavery will be national. Thank God, the friends of freedom at the North are beginning to realize this momentous truth, and to proclaim their desire for the separation….”   Then follows a petition to the Senate and House of Representatives of Massachusetts, calling for a Convention of the People “to determine what measures shall be taken to effect a peaceful secession from the American Union..

William Wells Brown writes to Garrison, telling of the escape of the Crafts, Ellen, 22, William, 24 years of age.  “They are now hid away, within 22 miles of Philadelphia, where they will remain until the 6th, when they will leave with me for New England.” Then Brown lists four days when he will lecture about the escape, in Norwich, Ct., in Worcester, Pawtucket, and New Bedford.

Here is notice of an ACS meeting recently, in Washington.  It records that there were 443 emigrants for Liberia in the past year, of whom 324 were liberated slaves, and 117 free colored persons.  Expenditures for the Society exceeded receipts by $1825,33.  The Society has 600 applications for passage out this year, of liberated slaves, and expects 500 more. There is a request for funds and help.

Placed under Refuge of Oppression, from the Boston Recorder, here is some flavor of the article, titled Calhoun and Garrison:  “Though influenced by somewhat different motives, Calhoun at the South, and Garrison at the North, are laboring side by side and making common cause in this great business.  Wonderful is the sympathy between these two men and their followers.  Both classes are domineering, denunciatory, and defamatory.  …And  both are eager to vapor and fume, whether anybody cares for their bluster or not.  …Garrison, if born in the South, would have been a cruel slave-driver; and Calhoun, if a native of the North, would have been as cruel upon slave-drivers. …Hence we are not surprised to see one of them manifesting his respect for the other. ….At the Annual Meeting of the ‘old organization’, Anti-Slavery Society, held last week in Faneuil Hall, a resolution was passed, highly commendatory of Hon. John C. Calhoun for his honest and consistent course in defending the institution of slavery.  Although this resolution, was, probably, not so much designed to compliment the Southerner, as to reflect a side glance on the inconsistency of Northern dough-faces, yet it is to be presumed that the commendations of Mr. Calhoun are quite sincere, and adapted to encourage him in his frantic course of disorganization..  The Garrison faction ought to admire Mr. Calhoun; for he is aiming at the same object with them, though with a thousand times more energy and likelihood of effecting their wishes.  He has forty Congressmen to do is bidding, and they not one……”

Note:  on the second page of the same edition , there is a brief comment from the editor.
It calls attention to the article in the Refuge Oppression column.  In regard to the article from the Recorder, the note says it is ” worthy of the ‘father of lies,’ on the score of mendacity and malice.”

A letter to Garrison, from T. Bicknell, Kingston, Feb 8th, tells of an Anti-Slavery meeting in the Town  Hall.  W. W. Brown, and the Crafts, and Jonathan Walker are present. Brown introduces Mr. Craft, who spoke, ” and in a very modest and becoming manner gave the details of the recent escape of himself and wife from slavery…..The crowded assembly present were deeply interested in the narrative, and frequently interrupted him with bursts of applause…..”

Here is the first of articles on the titled subject, by Angelique Le Petit Martin, Trumbull Phalanx, Braceville, Trumbull Co., Ohio, Jan 17, 1849

A note about Anti-Slavery meetings in New Bedford, two successive evenings.  W.W. Brown introduced the Crafts.  During the presentations by the two they were questioned by the audience. 

“A lady in the audience wanted to know of Ellen if they called her  ‘a nigger’ at the South. ‘Oh, yes, ‘, she said, ‘they didn’t call me anything else; they said it would make me proud’”

“William was asked what he expected to do, if any attempt was made to take him.  Said he, with deep energy,   ‘I knew the consequences; I made up my mind to kill or be killed, before I would be taken.’”