Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-04-04

slavery: that every American citizen, who
retains human being in Involuntary bon
dage as his property, is Iaccordlng to
Scriptures a MAN-sTEALER that the
slaves ought instantly to be set free, and
brought under the protection Of law that
IL they had lived from the time of Pharaoh
down to the present period, and had been
entailed through successive generations,
their right to be free could never have been
alienaIed, but their claims would have,
constantly risen in solernnity: that all those
lows which are now in force. admitting the
right Of slavery, are therefore before God
utterly null and yoid-being an audacious
usurpation of the Divine prerogative, a
daring Infringement Of the law of Nature,
base overthrow of the very foundations
OF social compact, complete extinction Of
all the relations, endearments, and obliga-
lions OF mankind, and a presumptuous
transgression of all the holy command
ments-and that, therefore, they ought 10
be instantly abrogated.
We further believe and affirm, that all
persons Of color who possess the quaIii.
cations which are demanded OF others,
ought to be admitted forthwith to the en-
joyment Of the samo privileges, aud the ex-
srclse Of the same prerog.nives, as others;
and that the paths of pre:ermenr, of wealth,
and Of intelligence. should he opened as
widely to them as to persons of a white
complexion.
We maintain that no compensation should
be given TO planters emancipating their
slaves
Because it would be a surrender Of the
great fundamental principle, that nan can,
not hold property in man;
! Because SLAVERY Is CRIME, AND
THEREFORE, 1T Is NOT AN ARTICLE TO
BE SOLD;
Because the holders Of slaves are not
the just proPrietors OF what they claim {:
freeing the slaves is not dcpriving them of
properly. but restoring it to its right own
1T is not wronging the master. but
rlghtlng the slave-res!oring him to hum
self;
Because immediate and general eman-
eipation would only destroy nominal, not
real property: it would not amputate a
limb or break bone Of the slaves, but bv
infusing motives Into their breasts, would
make them doubly valuable 10 the masters
as Tree laborers and
Because, If compensation is to be given
at all. il should be given 10 the outrage
and gulItless slaves, and not 10 those who
have pIundered and abused them.
| We regard, as deIusive, cruel, and dan
gerous, any scheme of repatriation which
Ipretends to aid, either directly or indirect
J Iy, in the emaGci patton of the slaves, or to
be substitute for the immediate aud total
abolition of slavery.
We fully aud unanimously recognize
: the sovereignty Of each State 10 legislats
exclusively OH the subject Of slavery which
is tolerated within its limits; we cobcede
; that Congress. under the present national
; compact, has no right TO interfere with any
Of the slave States, in relation 10 this mo
nentous subject.
But we maintain that Congress has q
> right, and is soIemniv bound, to suppress
the domestic slave.trade between the seve
raj States, and TO abolish slavery in those
: portions OF our territory which tn Consti
{ tuition has placed under lis exclusive juris
: diction.
We also maintain that there are, at tn,
, present time, the highest obligations rest
: ing upon the people Of the free States, tc
1 remove slavery by moral and political &C
5 ton, as prescribed in the Constitution o
the United States. They are now living
: under pledge of their tremendous physi
cal force to fasten The CALLING letters Of tyr
amy upon the limbs of millions in th.
Southern States; they are liable to br call
l ed at any moment to suppress genera
: instruction of the slaves: they authoriz,
d the sIave-owncr 10 vote for three-hfths o
: his slaves as PROF erty, and thus enable hin
! to perpetuate bis oppression they supper
= a standing army at the south for its protec
;, ton and they seize the slave who has es
II capped into their territories, aud send hin
d back to be tortured BIZ an enraged maste
or brutal drive. This relation to slave
e ryis criminal and full of danger: IT MUS
= BE BROKEN UP.
g These are our views and principles
+ these our designs and measures With en-
u tire confidence in the everything iusric
e of God. we plant ourselves upon the DE
}. claration OF independence. and the truh
: of Divine Revelation, as upon the EVER
y LASTING ROCK.
= We shall organize Anti-Slavery Socie
ties, if possible. in every city, town, an
s village in our land
IS We shall send forth Agents to lift u
'e the voice of renonstrance, Of warning, G
$, rntreaty and rebuke.
$. We shall Circulate, unsparingly and eS
e tensively. Anti-SIavery Tracts aud Per
4 odirals.
|. We shall enlist the pulpit and the pres
/; in the cause of the suffering and tn