The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-20
MISC ELL A n EO u S
Important Jury Trial.

We select the following excellent remarks from
the introductory chapter of Judge jays new work
entitled, A View Of the Action Of the Federal
Government in behalf Of &arery.' Gentlemen
of the Jury, read and reflect
Beader, you are empanneled as juror to try a
plain case and bring in an honest verdict. The
question at issue is not one Of law, but of fact
"what is the actual condition of the slaves in the
United States ?' palmer never went to a
jury. Look at it. Twenty-seven hundred thou
sand persons IN this country men, women and
children, are in slavery. Is slavery, as a condi-
ton for human beings, good, bad, or Indifferent
We submit the question without argument. You
hero eonse, and conscience. and human
heart pronounce upon it. You have father,
a mother, brother, sister, wife, or husband
make the case your own, make it theirs, and
bring in your verdict. The case of Human Rights
against Slavery has been adjudcated in the court
of conscience times innumerable. The same YER
dict has always been rendered." Guilty." the
same sentence has always been pronounced, " Let
it be accursed," and human nature with her mil
lion echoes has rung it round the world in every
language under heaven, " Let it be accursed, let
it be accursed." His heart is false to human ma
ture, who will not say" Amen" There is not
man on earth who does not believe that slavery is
curse. Human beings may be inconsistent, but
human nature is true to herself She has uttered
her testimony against slavery with shrek ever
since the monster was begoen, and till it perish
amidst the execrations of the universe she will
scour the world on its track, dealing her bolts up
on its head and dashing against it her condemnng
brand. We repeat it, every man knows that sla-
very is curse. Whoever denies this, his lips IL
bel his heart Try him; clank the chains in his
ears, and tell him they are for linn. Give him
an hour to prepare his wife and children for life
of slavery Bid him make haste and ready their
necks for the yoke and their wrists for the cofTle
chains then look at his pale lips and trembling
knees, and you have natures testimony against
slavery.
Two millions seven hundred thousand persons
In these States are in this condition. They were
made slaves and are held such by force and by
what have you to say of such treatment ? Is it
right, just benevolent? Suppose l should seize
you, and rob you of your liberty, drive you into
the field and make you work without paw as long
as you live would that be justice and kindness,
or monstrous injustice and cruelty Now, every
body knows that the shareholders do these things
to the slaves every day, and yet it is stoutly af-
f1rmed that they treat them we'll and kindly, and
that their tender regard for their slaves restraints
their masters from inaicting cruelties upon them
We shall go into no metaphysics to show the alb
surdlty oil this pretence. The man who ro6s you
every day, is, forsooth, quite too tender-hearted
ever to cuff or kick you! True, he can snatch your
money, but he does it gently lest he should hurt
you. He can empty your pockets without qualms
but if your stomach is empty, it cuts him to the
quick. He can make you work life time with
out pay but loves you too well to let you go hun
cry. Content to fleece you of your rights with'a
relish, but is shocked if you work bareheaded in
or in winter without warm stockings
He can make you go without your liberty, but
never without shirt He can crush, in you, all
hope of lettering your condition by vowing that
you shall die his slave, but though he can cody
orture your feelings, he is too compassionate to
acerate your back-he can break your heart, but
s very tender of your skin He can strip you of
III protection and thus expose you to all outrages,
,ut if you are exposed to the aoeather, half clad
md half sheltered, how yearn his tender bowels
What shareholders talk OF treating men well, G
nd yet not only rob them of all they get and as
asst they get it, but rob them of Themselves aso
heir very hands and feet all their muscles, and /
mbs. and senses, their bodies and minds, their t
light to acquire knowledge, and property and rep