Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-09

N ~ 49, UDuD0. \
when at. elade was interrupted it
was ri, intention 70 have proceeded, 10
subs.ancc. os folIows:
Ma 6PnkKsR: let me now call your
attention % m act Of the continental con-
1rcss. Of ne 10Th Of October, l774. l.
was not tn net passed with the ordinary |
so|enn|,ics but 4 vas in the form OF |
solemn 1krfsusni and declaration, signed
.kV .II III. io|cgafes,of tvcIrs colonies, in
eh1|Iofthemsslees and their constituents;
in which, in the name Of "viStHe, honor,
and ieps ef eonntry," they, among other
things, declared
ave will neither import, nor purchase
>nny slave imported AFTER the first day of
[. Decemb y nexi after which,we win who'll.
(. ~ discontinue the slayetrade, and will
neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor
will we hire our vessels, nor sell our COM
moiilies OF manufactures 10 those who are
concerned ia it,
fhage, Mr.. Speaker, referred to this SOL
emn act, forthe double purpose Of showing
the deep adherence in which slavery was
holden At q time when the PFoscipiss 81
soc Fceototton Wofc thhOsb III f-s<s4sJliy VII
dcrstood and felt, and Of exhibKing the
strong contrast which It presents to the ap-
nthy with which this nation now, in the
pride Of It's Independence and power. re-
CARDS slavery and the sIaue-trade- in the
capital Of the republic. The year IVA
was gloomy period in our history. We
feltihe weight Of British oppression; and
we felt, too. the Inconsistency of appealing
! ID the world, and above all. to Heaven, for
sountenance and aid, while our hands
we're defiled with the abotAinations of The
s slave ifade That was right feeling. =
Where has it fed What have become
OF he vows we made In that day Of troub-
lel Let the unrestrained prosecution oil
slave trade in this district, scarcely less
\ atrocious than the African slave trade it.
cell, answer.
SLAVERY DIssEcTED.
- i have thus far, Mr.. Speaker, answered
ne Qnesuon- is slaysry2 mainly
with q reference to its legal defnition
and the total subversion Of human right;
which il involves. But am told that i
Z isunfair to judge slavery by such stand
ard for, though the general definition
given Of il, throws the slave into the hands
of an absolute owner, and seems to leave
him there, helpless and unprotected, We
that thisis not full and fair view of The
case; for, though the slave laws speak o
= the slave as property. yet they really trea
him as a human being, and yield him .
reasonable protection; and if, in any re
spect. they seem to come short of il, the
deficiency is made up by the interest Of
the humanity. Of the slave holder Well
lot Us, then, look at the matter in thi
light for If there is any protection to tn,
slaye. ! am anxious TO find il.
The slave laws. in the first place, leav
the slave exposed to the unlimited exac
tions Of the master as. 70 the degree an,
duration Of his labor. I cannot learn iha
the slave Iascs Of the United States i'm
poses any restriction ia this respect
There are, in some OF the slave states, law
which forbid the master from compellin
the.slave TO labor on the Sabbath, an
which limit the hours Of daily labor
An example Of the latter may be found !
the lawsof South Carolina. which fix sue
limit At ffssn hoursl Utmost Of the state
rs in this district. the laws are, on the:
points. entirely silent
I. \ In the next place. TIE quantity and qua
ny Of food and clothing. are entirely at d
direction Of The master. There are SON
few Of the states where there are regul;
tons on this subject, which, if they we
eforesd, would be but sorry prov;sic
forthe comfort Of the slave; but whic
from their nature. and the general obst
cles in the way of enforcing any laws
his favor--which shall presently notice
can seldom be carried into execution
The SLAVE is left, as in the case Of the
y. ration Of daily labor, and few other cas-
- il which the laws sometimes hold out Il
semblance Of protection, to the absolu
nnd really irresponsible discretion OF
owner. @
The power Of the master, in the ne
place, 10 inflict punishment or perpetrate
'olence on The slave, is unlimited, with thr
exceptions: These are. murder, maiDli''
and sach cruelty as would, If inflicted
beast. subject the porpe;rator to an indl
ment at common law. for misdemeanol
For the first, the master may be punish
tapiially, and for the two last, by fine.
Inc save ~ ildDle 10 % Oeutcu "
body and every body, without any respC
sibility,through civil prosecution, but
lhe owner. The slave has no remedy.
Inthenext place, the slaveis, in virtue of
4 quality as chattel personal, liable TO
(. sold, mortgaged. or leased, as the capr
81 necessilies ofthe master may dictate
He may, moreover, be taken and sold
process Of law at the suit Of his mast'
creditor, OF by an executor or adminisl
tor, in satisfaction Of the debts or bequ'
ola deceased master.