Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-02-15


self emphatically the appeIlation Of the
Land Of Liberty 10 land which has but
lately, and in the remembrance probably
Of some who DOW hear me, thrown off the
shackles Of foreign servitude, and declared
that all men are born free and equal; the
blood Of whose children flowed freely and
profuseiy to defend the principle, which
reason and nature had taught them, and
which their spirit aud tongues had boldly
pronounced, Ein this land we are assem-
bled, TO resist proposal introduced into
the house Of the Representatives Of The
people for admitting aud sanctioning the
most absolute aud degrading slavery of
these whom God, and nature, and that SOL
emu declaration which every American
should revere, have stamped free as our
selves; slavery which, not coutent with
combining aud decorating and killing the
body, debases and brutalizes the mind, un
iii ii almost defaces the Image Of the ere.
ator, and reduces its devoted subjects 10 q
level with the laboring beast 81 The field.
All could we fully realize the accumula.
ted miseries OF this unfortunate, this ill-fs
ted class of beings, it should soften, me-
thinks, the hardest heart; with the power
of the prophetic rod II should rouse all the
spirit within us, aud not heart should be
unconcerned, not hand should be idle in
This great, this good, this godike cause
with pleasure | see around me numbers Of
that highly respectable denomination whose
devotion to this excellent cause has rung
their praises through the civilized world.
has called down upon them the benedic.
ton of many a liberated and relieved cap
tive--has distilled upon their heads, we
trust, the dews of heavenly blessing and
lighted up their hearts with the smile of
celestial appreciation. Permit me to sag-
gest that the present period, the present
moment, is one that calls upon the we'll
disposed citizens of our country for un-
common and peculiar exertion; that nov
is the time for the opposers of slavery to
muster their whole force. make strenu
GUS and vigorous stand against the further
extension of this alarming evil: now when
its friends and foes in the great nationa!
assembly are proiessediy about 10 array
themselves under their separate standards.
and make trial of their strength. Let the
constituents Of the champions of freedom
animate and encourage them to the con-
test. Let them declare with lood and
spirited voice, that the principles of liber-
ty are 10 unison with their opinions aud
wishes. and that the more bold and deci-
ded the stand of their representatives a.
gainst the federation of slaves, the more
certain and effectually they will secure ihs
favor and support Of those they represent
If this question be DoW decided 10 Con
gress, ia favor of slavery, by the admis-
sion of Missouri without any restriction
into the union, it will be 10 vain hereafter
to attempt to restrain it. The dam will
have been broken down, and torrent viii
have rushed forth, defying resistance and
disdaining obstruction. until il shall have
deMged the immense face of the whole
southwestern territory: the poison will
spread from one new state to another. until
this fair and extensive portion Of our coun
try shall be blasted by pernicious anc
deadly influence. The floor of congress,
will TEEN with the representatives of slaves
(but not of their own knowledge or choice
who sit there empowered TO vote agains
The representatives of freemen. The evi
will continue to increase with every year
that rolls around, until eventually perhap:
but not, we may hope, until our eyes arr
closed in final sleep, the slaves. rising il
their own strength, as Ia the island Of ST
Domingo, or leaguing with foreign foe
shall massacre their masters, and raise !
government Of sanguiuary despotism on the
once free plains Of western America
Gloomy anticipation! at which the feelings
sickeu and revolt, but which reason and
probability do not reject. But should the
matter uoE be determined against the ad.
mission of slavery, the friends of humani
" will have ground for triumph. The
supporters of this execrable system, defeat.
ed in the grand struggle for victory, viii
hang their heads 10 dependency -theiI
forces disheartened and dispersed, can ne
yer be rallied with effect. The preee
dent now established will have irresistible
weight on every new accession TO our con
federacy. and each new applicant viii
come prepared to accede this indispeusi
BILE condition of union--exclusion Of slave
ry. Our country will have exhibited &c
the world glorious consistency 10 her
principles and practice: she will have dis
played a character honorable TO her pro
fession. and which the good and worthy O
every country, of this and future ages will
admire and applaud.
To lend helping hand towards this
happy contamination, it is, that we are
convened on this day. Not resting salts