Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-01

lnd 10 the atmosphere which his lungs were
made to inhale. 1t is common, Heaven
derived right in regard to which in theory
we have all been sufficiently orthodox: vet
who needs to be told that practically we
have lived down this great cardinal princi-
ple-thus justly exposing ourselves to the
imputation and reproach Of foreigners, one
OF whom has most appropriately denominat-
ed US, "a land Of characters and chains"
The question is whether one man has
right to seize and lay hold Of his fellow
man and use him as property-a piece of
mercantile. And here the question is mar
rowed down to very small point. The
decision of this decides the whole. ANY
man or set of men have as good right
thus to seize on you Or on me, Mr.. Chair
man, as on any other human being and if
you and may be thus seized and treated,
then may the President of the United States
be thus seized and used, for he is only
man.
Mr.. Knapp adverted to the progress of the
cause, as apparent in the late proceedings of
the Vermont Legislature, which had been
noticed in the Report just read. The at
tention of the Legislature was called to the
subject by communications from the South
Mr.. Knapp, from the situation which he &C.
cupied,* had had an opportunity of seeing
most Of those communications; and he must
say that in general their language was any
thing but respectful-it was unhandsome
He was amused with the absurdity and self
confutation which those papers carried on
the face of them. They first stoutly denied
the right of Northern interference with the
subject. With the verv next breath they
demanded Northern interference. Wemay
interfere if we will take hold with "our
Southern brethren" and lift at the wheel of
their Juggernaut. Such interference they
demand. But if we wink or breathe on the
principle that call men are created equal,
and endowed with certain inalienable rights, ),
we are met with, '1hands off," no interfer-
ence."
One year before, the Legislature treated
the subject with neglect-with contempt
They now took hold of it as a matter Of
grave importance. A large majority of the
members seemed to see and feel tina, thew
were called upon to act for their country
for Liberty and Humanity.
Before Mr.. K. sat down, he would relate
an interesting fact, illustrative Of the ad
vancement of the cause in Vermont. There
was town in the northern part of thi
State which had but seventy-fve legal 70
tiers. In this town the means of intelligence
had formerly been quite limited. Only nov
and then struggling newspaper had fount
its way among them. Of late they ha,
been reading anti-slavery publications, AM
the result was, the formation of an anti
slavery society, composed of every lega
voter save foe, three of whom were drunk
ards and two were gamblers !
o. l.. Shafter submitted the tollowin.
resolution without remarks:
Resolred, That we regard emancipation in tn
British West India dependencies and in Sout
Ainca' as an additional step.n the demonstration
OF the problem which asserts, that the great prin
cPle of equality Of right may, in ali cases,
safely and probably recognized 10 the govern
ment of man.
This resolution was seconded by Jane
Mllllgan, agent of the American Anti
Slavery Society. Mr.. NJ remarked that
from all the facts that had come to his knowl
edge, slavery in the West Indies had beeI
much the same thing that it is in the Unite
States: yet in one hour 100000 of its vic
tins started up into freemen. This act ha.
excited universal attention. Every eye wa
fixed, watching the result. And what is tn
result2 Let those who have observed an
swer if they have discovered ought in tn
case prejudicial TO the doctrine or the prac
tice of immediate and universal emancipa
ton. In some Of the Islands there wer
ten blacks to one white, and ye* no violence
no disturbance. The effects had been
peace, quietness, kindness, industry-th,
establishment of the marriage institution
among those who had before lived in univer
sal concubinage, and the preaching of tn
Gospel of salvation to those who had beer
robbed Of this heavenly treasure.
E. D. BARBER supported this resolution
He said, The doctrine of the resolution is
that Immediate Emancipation is safe. Phi
losophers have speculated much about wha
constitutes property. 1t has been defined t,
be feeling Of nature. Now if you treat
man in manner to acknowledge that b,
has property in himself-that he has right