Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-15

them as part OF our populauon Oh tle same
principle that you do mep bound to service
for a term of years. What is the difference
We can see none. Representation and tax
alton, it is settled, shall be spportioned be-
tween the several states, according to actual
numbers, black or white. To leave out our
people of color will do Us great injustice in
the councils Of the nation. We shall not
agree on this principle.
Northern men: We cannot admit the
principle, that your slaves, who are not free
men, should come into this enumeration as
whole. This would be unjust and unequal.
AS you consider them yourselves not free
men, but property, on the principle you con-
tend for, we should enumerate our horses,
therefore it is manifestly absurd. But lest
we should fatally split on this question, we
will propose compromise. We will agree
that the article shall be worded as follows,
" and ntree:fj1hs Of all other persons."-
We can exercise no control over your prop
erty. When you raise these "persons'' 10
the rank Of -freemaen, the whole will Of
course be enumerated as in the Free States.
We know that terms similar to the fore
going-if not expressed in the same Ian
guage-did eventually prevail. And this
patriotic body, in referring to human beings
IN bondage, had the nagnanimity to term
them persons, not things of traffic.
In all the sections Of the constitution,
where allusion is made TO men thus degrad-
ed, the PLANES: evidence is given, of look
ing forward to. or providing for, an eventual
extinction of the evil Of slavery, as the most
desirable state Of things. This view of the
subject appears much more rational, and
consistent with their views of justice, than
recognizing right to enslave fellow man.
After all have said, am not prepared to
justify, in all respects, those noble minds.
who formed this section above referred to
for judge it as winking too much at the
sin Of slavery. They in my opinion should
have sternly faced this enemy of all human
rights, and taken the citadel at once And
had they possessed as much moral courage
and light on this subject as has happily fallen
10 the lot Of men Of the nineteenth CEN
fury, and is now beaming on our happy land
| could hardly have found a satisfactory ex-
cuse to my own mind, for their submitting
for moment to any compromise regarding
the rights of men, "created Free" IN any
sense it might be construed, save full re-
lection Of the proposition.
But the trailty of human nature is such,
that the best of men should be looked upon
as imperfect beings, and for this reason, we
should be inclined to look on our southern
brethren, perhaps, with more charitable feel
lngs than we sometimes do, especially when
we consider the deep personal interest thew
have in this subject, which serves to blind
their judgment, in discriminating between
right and wrong, producing in them belief
that what is, is light, and what is against their
personal interest is wrong. 1t is to be Ia
mented that the great moral principle of
right has not yet come into the account, on
this plain question, in regard to the Heaven
daring sin of slavery.
have sad, it is the cause of humanity.
Who that possesses the least spark of that
human feeling that the God of nature has I'M
planted in the heart of man, can for a mo-
ment behold the wretched state of that suf-
ferlng portion of our race, without the deem
est sensations of horror, and fervent desire
to emancipate them from worse than Eovn-
tian bonGage2
1t IS the cause Of God, because he has
made OF one blood all nations that dwell on
Inc face OF the whole earth, and has com:
handed alto do unto others as they would
nat others should do unto them. Put this
rule into the most simple practice, and all
men would at once be free. He has said
TOO: that to "obeyis better than sacrifice and
o hearken, than the fat of rams" We NAV
oreVer despair of doing our suffering fellow
men any good, while we neglec, to obev
neSe divine Injunctious. They must be the
'round work, on which to base all orr Of.
orts' A strict adherence to this golden rule,
the only hope we have of eventually
overcoming the evil of slavery. When men
an be brought to think and act on these +
the work of emancipation will ,
re done. And are not the Churches of ,
Christ bound to adopt, and act up to this {
lvIne rule, although all others refuse to ,
% so? Do we need more information IN
his subject? we have the means. Bu, are
We not too much like the morning dreamer
Vho, from time to time resolves to rise and
xecute some favorite nroiect mr. nouc