Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-11-03
BRA TILE BORO, VT. d

sires ana The felon, who had long been ac-
Ious'omed 70 life Of yagroncy and idleness.
would pot strenuously object 10 the perne,ro.
tIon OF any, wickeduess to obtain his freedom.
or even diminution of his daily task. IN.
deed such temptations might be drown II
ms way, as human nature could not resis,
but by means Of much better principles than
ielons can be supposed 10 possess He NIGH
be sconrged into compliance or his labor
might be so Increased as 10 make him for a
llltle respite eagerly embrace the most nela-
rions proposal which Ills master could make.
,or oeing absolute property, there is no earth.
y tribunal 70 which he could appeal for jus.
uce; and feions do not commonly support
themselves under trials, by pious meditation
on a future state y
by reasoning in this way, we are far
from meaning 10 insinuate that shareholders
IN general torture their slaves into the com!
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them we know 10 be religious, humane, and
benevolent; but they are not infallible: and
some Of them may be ipstigated, some OF
them undoubtedly have been instira,ed. bv
avarice and other worse principles 10 com.
pei creatures, who are so absolutely their de.
pendants, TO execute deeds Of darkness loo
hazardous for themselves But the morality
or immortality of any action. and the moral
illness OF any state, areio be judged BY their
natural tendency, il the one were universal.
W practised and the other universally prev
alent and as the natural tendency OF abso.
lute domectic slavery among such creatures
as men is to throw the most powerful tempt
atoms to vice in the way both of the master
and slave, IT must be in every instance, even
when employed as punishment, inconsistent,
with tie fundamental principles Of moral
virtue. W = ~
Some writer's indeed have maintained.
and the civil law seems to suppose, that chill.
dren are the properly Of their parents, and
may by them be sold as slaves in case of urgent
necessity: but If we duly consider how prop
erty is acquired, and attend to the natural
consequences OF slavery, we shall soon be
convinced that this opinion is vciy i'll found
ed. The rights Of parents result from their
duties; and il is certainly the duty Of that
man who has been the instrument Of bring.
ing into the world an intellectual aud moral
beIng,iodo everything ia his power TO render
the existence Of that being happy both in the
present life and that which is 10 come. II
this duty be conscicnliously discharged, the
parent has manifest right to the gratitude,
love, and reasonable obedience. of his child
but cannot, in consequence Of any duty per.
formed, claim a right to transfer that child
as property 10 ihe aneoaiyolled disposal OF
any private master; Tor this plain reason,
that the man who is considered the private
property OF another, cannot be reasonably
supposed 10 enjoy happiness in this world.
and is under many temptations to do what
must necessarily render him miserable in
The next, 800.
criminals cannot be reduced TO a state
OF absolute private slavery much less sure
ly can It be lawful to reduce insolvent debt
ors and prisoners of war 10 that state Ma
ny viruous man, who has contracted debts
with the faircst prospect Of paying them, has
been suddenly rendered insolveDt by fire, by
shipwreck. or by the bankruptcy Of others
with whom be was necessarily engaged in
the course OF his trade. Such a man can be
IN no respect as criminal. He
has been indeed unfortunate; bu, il would
be grossly unjust, us well as shockingly cru
Ell, TO add TO bis misfortune by reducing him
TO state which we have just seen that the
viIcst ielon cannot be reduced without vio-
lalion OF the laws OF morality. fraudulent
bankrup;s indeed, Of whom we daily see ma
ny. might with great propriety and the strict
est justice be compelled to eMenuate their
debts by laboring for the benefit of those
whom they have injured; aud criminals of
other descriptions might be made 10 work for
The benefit OF the public; but 10 both cases
The task TO be performed should be ascertain
ed by the law, and the persons OF the labor
ers be protected by the State II such can
be called slaves, their slavery is undoubtedly
consistent with every principle Of virtue and
religion; for they suffer nothing but the due
reward Of their deeds, Prisoners Of war,
however, can upon no honest principle be re-
iuced even to this state OF mitigated bond.
ige; for they are so far from incurring ghih
BY fighting for their country, that even 10
heir enemies their courage and conduct in
such cause must appear worthy OF reward
A victorius general has certainly right 10
prevent the prisoners taken in battle from
lgain drawing their swords against him
Turing the continuance Of the war; but there
IRE many ways by which this may be done
'ffectually without claiming the unfortunate
;aptves 10 the oar, or selling them like cat
lie to private purchasers, by whom they may
'e treated with caprcons cruelty, and driven
o the preparation Of the greatest crimes
Oct, ~, 1887. X