The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-04
THE V0E0-a OF EDB18D0MGo
For the Voice of Freedom.
Extract of an Address delivered at RichfOrd, vt
BY A. II. BAKER.

BY A. II. BAKER.
Rut let us advert to another event in the prog
ress of our cause, which shows its triumphant sue
cess | mean the abolition of the West India ap
premiership system. 1t seems evident that God i
removing every obstacle that can serve as an ex
cuse for the continuance of slavery.
While many have advocated gradualism as tn,
safest and most practicable-nany have insisted
upon colonization or a complete removal of the
colored peope-many have cried out that it would
be unjust to the master to take away his slave with
out remuneration-many have shuddered with the
rghtful apprehension that slaves would resent the
gift of freedom by cutting their masters throas-
and many with bowels Of compassion, have feared
that the slaves would be unable to take care o.
themselves, and would be worse off if made free
God has wrought out as it were on the blackboard
of this worlds history, an example of gradualism
and immediatism, which settles the point; and
holds it up to the gaze of nations, as star OF
guidance to the wise of mankind.
The abolitionists of Great Britain for long
time had been aboring for the overthrow of slave
ry in the West Indies, and with the same obsta-
cles as ours in their way-fears, SANDERS prophe-
cies of evil, &c. Even the islands threatened to
Secede' from the British government and throw
themselves upon the United States, unless the in
reference of abolitonists with their peculiar in
stitutons was stopped. At length the Imperial
Parliament passed an act to abolish w. |. slavery
on the LIST of August, 1884. 1t was not, howev-
er, to be immediate and full emancipation. The
slaves were to work years longer for their mas
tiers as apprentices.
This was intended partly as partial remunera-
ton to the master, and partly as course OF prepa-
ration, or fitting the slave for freedom At the
same time, the colonial Legislatures were allowed
if they chose, to adopt immediatism. Mark the
c1p IF Co1 in Two Of cla ohoco
to emancipate fully, at once, matter of politi
cal expedency, while the remainder chose gradu-
alism in the form of the apprenticeship. The Brit
lsh abolitionists, finding that the latter system was
liable to numerous abuses, and was but another
name for slavery, which they had all along sus-
pected eXerted themselves for its overthrow. Pc
ttions were poured into parliament from all parts
of the kingdom for the abolition of the apprentice
ship on the LIST of August 1898. Their exertions
did not succeed. Providence had ordered other
wise. The islands, that had adopted this system,
finding that immediate emancipation worked so
much 6etter-was more profta0ze-and that there
was no prospect of getting any further compensa-
ton from the home governments of their oacn &C
cord by their colonial Legislatures abolished the
apprenticeship, tho gears before its termination,
and declared theirsaves completely free on the lst
of August, 1893.
Thus, while abolitionists were disappointed In
not bringing the action of the British Parliament
to bear as they wished, God was bringing deliver
ance to the captive in way which would tell an
hundred fold more in favor of the great work, as
it exhibits the united testimony ofa the islands in
favor Of immediate abolition: a testimony which
cannot fail to- exert an influence on surrounding
nations-and although this a measure of pol
icy, profit, and expedency on the part of the ISL
ands, more than from any regard for the rights OF
Al IL, &C he hocI
proved, that the aboitionsts were right-the fears
of their opponents groundess-their prophecies
false-and the wisdom of God unbounded.
The question is often asked-What have aboli-
tonists accomplished with all their igh-sounding
pretensionss We answer IN part by pointing to
the 100000 liberated slaves in the West Indies.
And while we rejoice at this great transformation
let us remember the millions Of our own country
men in bonds, and with hands strengthened, and
hearts encouraged, take hold of the work with re-
newed vigor And why is it, with all this light
blazing round us, that we have so much opposition
to encounter? And above all, why is it that the
greatest difficulty in the minds of some, is the fear
Of wronging, not the S1aue, but the Shareholder
Surprising as this sympathy may appear yet ma
ny argue, that Shareholders lying on the consti-
tuition and laws of their country, may have invest
ed their 1cbole property in slaves now to go and
Gberate these slaves without paying for them,
would impoverish the masters, and be great in
Justice to them.
However much we may be opposed to injustice
of any kind, yet we cannot look upon this mole
hill as of sufficient magnitude to hide from our
view the vast mountains of injustice and oppres-
sion, which have for ages been heaped upon the
slave; nor we believe, that all these wrongs
must continue to multiply, with all their attendant
miseres, for ages without end rather than per-
chance few Shareholders may hare purchased
slaves and have not robbed them of their earnings
long enough to regain their purchase money, and
thus lose few dollars
But why such a flood of sympathy for the slave
holder in this imaginary case The child is not
born vet, much less has it fell into the ocen and
burned to DEATH Reserve your tears; when this
circumstance occurs it will be soon enough toI
weep over it; nor need we expect that mankind
will 60 without bread, for fear of such an accident.
But carbohydrate the slaves suferings mothing?
Are thew not existing realities? Have not his
wrongs accumulated with every moment OF his ex-
istence Is he not scorched in the furnace OF OPP
preston? And what atonement will be made to
him? What recompense of reward given him
Oh he will be made a free man ! lie will o'om
ho clam -