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

lie would quote single paragraph from
each, as n sample: We hold these truths
to he selfevidcnt that all men are created
equal that they are endowed 10y their
Creator with certain inalienable rights
that among these are life, LIBERTY, ard
the pursuit of happiness" Whatsoever e
would that men should do to you, do yc
even so to them"
Now, said Mr.. II. aboltionists aim to act
out the principles cited from our boasied
Declaration of INDEPENDENCE, and from the
] holy scriptures. They are not political
partizans. but Christian moralists; they 10
| not Join with the pro-slavcry zealots Of the
South, in styling the sentiments quoted
J from the Declaration of Independence "a
rhetorical flourish and "a splendid absurd
! ity;' and they take the declarations of scrip
ture in their obvious meaning. If God had
intended that the Bible should he used 10
defend the atrocious system of slavery, it
would have read thus: Whatsoever We
would that (white) men should do 10 you
do We even so to them God hath made
of one blood all (white) men that dwell OH
the face Of the earth God is no respec,er
of(whte) persons, &c.
MIR. President, .aid Mr.. 7. having glanc-
ed Mt the principles of the abolitionists, let
us inquire what arc their measures We
aim to prove that tolerating the system of
slavery and the slave trade in this country,
contradicts the avowal in the declaration OF
Independence, and stamps us as nation of
hypocrites. We endeavor to show that
slavery is crime against man and sin
against God; that free labor is more profit
able than slave labor; that slavery is i'm
pOvershing the slave states, nluriously af
feeling the interests of the white population
Of the South, and corrupting the morals OF
their children and servants. And, sir we
are striving to abolish with slavery, the
great pauper system that exists in all the
slave states reducing one half of the com
munity to bondage, to labor without wages
in support of the other half in idleness and
iniquity.
it is asked, said Mr. T., in what manner
abolltionlsts are prosecuting their measures?
! answer, by sending lecturers abroad to
address the people, and by scattering anti
slavery publications far and wide. Though
it has been reiterated by Governors, aud
echoed by the mnions of party, that
those measures were unconstitutional aud
incendary, we appeal to the constitution
under which we live; Congress shall
make no law respecting an este blishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof or abridging the freedom of speech
or Of the press, &c. We appeal also to the
constitutions of the several states, all Of
which, not excepting those of the slave
States, avow that freedom of the fpress
is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty,
and therefore ought not TO be restrained
Every citizen may freely speak, write and
print on any subject, being liable to the laws
of the land, mot to northern mohs or south
ern vigilance commitees) for the abuse Of
that liberty
Sir, in the exercise of this constitutional
right the American Ant-Slavery Society
have been publishing about twenty thou
sand copies of their publications weekly,
and sending them to subscribers, and for
gratutous distribution throughout the I'm
ion. Yes, MIR President, throughout the
Union Notwithstanding the pretended
destruction of these publications, by the
conflagration at Charleston s. c., when the
Post Office was robbed of 'Emancipators,'
Slaves Friends and Human Rights >
withdrawing the argus eyes of the CEN
sors of the press, in the persons of post
masters, our publications are subscribed
for, received and read by thousands in the
slave states. Planters, when at the north,
purchase them; they receive them through
the mail, and they read them with curiosity
and trembling.
Mr. President, if we had larger funds, we
could advantageously increase the number
: of agents, and multiply the publications
: until their white leaves should cover the
whole land; and as the Acting Treasurer
ofthe Society, | would earnestly appeal
. TO the friends here resent, to be liberal in
their donations to this blessed canse. Al
ready upwards of fifty agents are in the
| field-ardeni, intrepid and eloquent men,
who are lifting up their voices like u trum.
; ct, making proselytes like the drops OF the
, morning dew. Let the State Societies aid
t the parent society, by pouring their funds
directly into its treasury, and more agents
and more publications will be sent into
!. their boundaries.
But, said Mr.. II. there is one thing ubol-
:, tonists have not done that they ought TO
have done, and which they solemnly
pledged themselves to do. The second
I Article Of your constitution states, 'The
object of this Society shall be- (among other
9 things) 80 raise our enslaved countrymen
l TO rank BETTING rational, accountable and
D immortal beings And one Of the resou-
lions adopted by the convention that adopt
ell that constitution, was as follows =
That as the free colored people among US
are the peculiar representatives of the
= slaves, and suffer many disabilities, we will
prone our love for the slave, by our efforts
@ for the improvement of the free people o!
G coor-in morals, education, and the useful
e arts; and by our treatment Of them as men
l. and as fellow christians
G appeal to the aboltionists of Providence
said Mr. r., if they have redeemed these
o pledges with reference 10 the 400 people
y Of color oftheir city. ] appeal to the aho.
b liIionisis who are here assembled from diff.
n terent parts Of the state if they have re,
# doomed them. They have not been re.