State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-11-29
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.


1t requires but q dull capacity of percep-
ton to discover, that the question, whether
American Slavery shall or shall not be
abolished, is destined TO become, and that
speedily, the all-absorbng topic of the
times, Throughout this country and the civ
ilizcd world 1t is impossible TO believe
that our countrymon as a mass, when once
aroused to q conviction Of the character and
tendencies of slavery us it really is, can be
luled again into sleepy Indifference, until
the doctrine of the Declaration shall be
practically recognized and our country
shall no longer be characterized as a land
of charters and chains The day must
soon come when the fetter of every bond
man will be riven by the force of all-con-
quering Truth The array Of moral power
already enlisted in favor of universal
freedom is truly formidable but what
work of hell can stand before it, when by
the augmented strength of few short
years it shall pour its thunder.tones into
the ear of this nation? The rapid multi
plication of associations in the free states,
the liberal diffusion of anti-slavery inteli
gence though an hundred presses, and the
half-subdued temper of thousands, who
but yesterday were crashing their teeth at
abolitonists, are not the only indications of
the speedy overthrow of slavery. England,
already rejoicing in the brilliant success of
her own experiment. is citing us to the
unwonted quiet, the surprising thrift, and
the augmented happiness of her West In
dian subjects, with their 100000 freedmen,
raised from the condition of beasts to the
dignity of men in an hour. The official
returns to Parliament, exhibiting statements
OF the various staple productions of the
islands from year to year, clearly confirm
the faithful testimony Of history, that the
freedom of any people is indispensable to
permanent prosperity. But why need we
look to Barbados or Bernce for the golden
fruits of freedom contrasted with the blight
and mildew of slavery? Why is the whole
south almost, to this day deprived of the
music of manufactures, so common OH the
hill-sides of New England? Not because
there is lack Of water power. Not be-
cause the raw material for an important
branch is not whitening her fields; nor
e =, booorco tho b,,ciuoec is unavoidable ~,
itself. The spirit of enterprise is crushed
by the Juggornaut of slavery. The same
curse has converted the once fair and fertile
fields of Virginia into n comparative waste,
and has driven her sons in squadrons to
the free states of the West. So it is, that
the argument of pecuniary interest comes
in to the aid of moral truth and though
the shareholders heart be rs impervious TO
the latter as the bars Of castle, he will yet
Never have we been more firmly con-
WINGED than now, that the anti-slavery eff
forts Of the present day are loundly
called for by every consideration Of ma
tional honor,.by the mandate OF Christianity,
by political economy, by the national safe.
.ty, by the tears of two and half millions,
poutsd down TO the earth under n weight of
>1niseries that groan for the graves shell
ter" And in retiring from situation
in which we have frequently endeavored
to impress these sentiments upon the pub
lie mind, it affords us great pleasure to
know that they will find warm reponse
in the hearts of a very large and constantly
increasing body of the people of this State.
Let those who have put on the armor of
abolition, toll on with consistency and pa
tience and faith Let the ministers of
religion remember that the Injunction
" remember those in bonds as being bound
with them," has never been abrogated.
Let Christians remember that THE FIELD
marked out by God as the theatre ftheir
labor, is THE WORLD--that moral du-
ties to our fellow men cannot, therefore, be
circumscribed by geographical boundaries.
Let the people ask Congress TO exercise its
power to abolish slavery and the slave
trade in the District OF Columbia and the
Territories. And let all unite in forming
and expressing public sentiment which,
under God, shall be efIectuol in breaking
every yoke.
Rev. Alva Sabin of Georgia, Rev. S. NJ.
Wilson of Craltsbury, Rev. Guy Beckley
of Northfeld, Mr. lcabod Codding, late Of