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


VERMONT TELEGRAPH. /
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY APRIL Z. 1888.
THE DEcLAEATioE or SENTIMENTS OF TIE
AMEaicAH ArrESLAyEaY SocIEry, ought to
have accompanied the Constitution, which
will Be found on the fourth page Of this pa
per; bur Il was forgotten until il was too
late for that page, and 20 il is given below,
~ the two ought TO be kept as near together
- possible.-ln fact, they are az insepara-
bic as the Declaration Of American IndepeLd-
ence and the Constitution Of the United
States.
DECLARATION.
The Convention, assembled in the city Of Phila.
delpha, to organize National Anti slavery So
Getty. promptly seize The ops ortunity 10 pro-
mulgate the following DECLARATION OF
SENTIMENTS, as cherished by them in re-
lat'on To the enslavement Of oue-six h portion
Of the American people:
More than 6fiy-seven years have elaps.
ed since band OF patriots convened in this
place. 70 devise measures for the deliver.
ance Of this country from a foreign yoke.
The cornerstone upon which they iound.
ed the TEMPLE OF FREEDoM was broad
ly this-"that all men are created equal /;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights; that a.
lnong these are life. LIBERTY, and the
pursuit OF happiness. AT the sound OF
their srumpe.-call. three millions of people
rose up as from the sleep of death, and
rushed to the strife of blood ;-deeming it
more glorious to die instantly as treemen,
than desirable to live one hour as slaves.
They were few in number-poor in re.
sources; but the honest conviction that
TRUTH, JUSTICE, and RIGHT were on
their side, made them inyincibIe.
We have met together for the achieve.
ment Of an enterprise, without which that
Of our fathers is incomplete; and which
for its magnitude, solemnity, and probabl,
results upon the destiny of the world, al
far transcends theirs. as moral truth doe.
physical force.
In purity Of motive. in earnestness o.
zeal, in decision Of purpose. in intrrpidity
Of action. in steifastness of faith, ia sin.
ceriiy Of spirit. we would not be inferior
10 them. s-..
TSeir principles led them to wage Wal
against their oPpressors, and TO spill hu.
man blood like water. in order to be free
Oars forbid the doing Of evil that good
may come, aud lead Us 10 reject, and TO en-
treat the oppressed TO reject, the use Of al
carnal weapons for deliverance from bond
age; relying solely upon those which ar,
spiritual. and mighty through God to tn,
pulling down of strong holds.
Iaeir measures were physical resist
anee-,he marshalling in arms-the nos
tile array-the mortal encounter. Our
shall be such only as the opposition of NOR
al puritylo moral corrupiion-lhe destruc
ZION Of error BY the potency of lruth-th,
overthrow Of prejudice by the power O
love-and the abolition Of slavery by tn
spirit Of repentance.
Their grievances, great as they were
were trihing In comparison with III
wrongs and suHerings of those for whom
We plead. Our fathers were never slave
newer bought and sold ike cattle-nev
er shut out from the light Of knowledg
and religion--neyer subjected to the las
Of brutal lask-masters.
But those. for whose emancipation w
are MISUNDERSTANDING at the preser
time at least one-sixth part Of our country
mrn,-are recognized by the law, an
treated by their iellow-beings, as marke
able commodities goods and cha
tels-as brute beasts are plundered da
y ly OF the fruits of their toll without r.
dress really ENJOYING no constitutions
nor legal protection from licentious an
murderous outrages upon their persons
|, are ruthlessly torn asunder-the tende
babe from the arms Of its frantic mother
ths> hear-broken wife from her weepin
husband--at the caprice or pleasure of i
responsible tyrans. For the crime
f having dark complexion, they suffer tn
pangs OF hunger, the infliclion of stripe
: and the ignominy of brutal servitude.-
They are kept in hrathenish darkness b
) laws expressly enacted 10 make their ir
struction a criminal offence.
These are the prominent circumstanc.
! in the condition Of more than two million
. Of our people, the proof Of which may
; found in thousands Of indispulabIe fac,
. and in the laws oflhe slave-hoIding State
II Hence we maintain, that in view of Il
! civil and religious privileges of this n
: lion. the guilt of its oppression IS unequs
; led by any other on the face Of the eartE
|. and. therefore, that it is bound to repr
instantIy-,o undo the heavy burden
break cry yoke, and to let the oppres
} ed 60 free. ~. ... .....,...-.-
, We further maintain. that no man has
; right to enslave or i.nbrutr his brother
10 hold or acknowledge him. for one n
ment. as piece Of merchandising Ike,
bach his hire NV frand ar 10 hrn,aI;z, n