The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-07-20
KIAH BAYLEY,
Secretary Hardaoick fl. S. Society.
For the Voice of Freedom.
The Slave Trade.
Mr.. KNAPP

In the last Emancipator, you have doubtless
seen the astounding disclosures of the article from
Mr.. Buxtons work on the Slave Trade, as we'll as
the paragraphs from southern papers, urging the
advantages of an open trade with Africa, in the ar
tice of hunaan cattle. These articles suggest the
inquiry to colonizationists, as 10 how long the
credit of their society," for efficiency in destroying
the slave trade, will be sustained in the light Of
such disclosures? i do not think that this socie-
ty will ever prove itself an adequate remedy for
slauery,' say some of the dupes of its hypocrisy,
but then, ITS influence IN suppreSsing the Stare
tra1e must commend colonization to the patronage
of every foe to human suffering. But Mr. Bux-
ton has told us what that influence u.s. or rather
what it is not The slave trade is now prosecuted
to greater extent, and with more attendant cruel
ties than ever before; and this too, against the
potent influence and opposition of the British ma
w. And some ofthe men whom mlsanthropy has
expatriated from the land of their birth, through
the fundamentally of the colonization society, are
returned in irons to the shambles of christian slave
markets.
1t is of but little consequence to the slave ira
ders whether they make up their cargoes of the
cof1les from the interior, or from the towns on the
coast of Africa; and if the slave-ho.ding princi-
pies, which now menace and defy the civilized
world, must finally prevail, the day is not distant
when Monrovia will become good depot of this
trade in human blood.
Let it not be supposed, that the inhabitants Of Lii
IBERIA will have any instructive horrors at such a
traffic, from the remembrance OF their former SER
vitude If slavery is such a blessing to its victims,
as is pretended by some of our acute logicans, in
bringing them under the influence of Christianity,
surely to kidnap the ignorant heather from the in
terror and transport them to this country, where
they can be converted and saved under the tender
mercies of the lash, where humane bloodhounds
keep their vigils around the borders of the Pit, to
keep out those who neverha wing heard of Saviour
would otherwise plunge nuwarly into the burning
gulph, would be worthy the hearts of phllanthro-
pists But to Leave this irony for sober truth, there
is strange and almost unaccountabe lmconsls-
tency in man, developed in his forgetfulness ofthe
motives and feelings which controlled him in one
condition in life, when he chances to be removed
to another. Is My servant q dog that he should
do this hingF is the language in sacred history
OF one in humble station to the prophet who lore
told his future elevation and the cruetles oil which
he would afterwards be guilty. AS one has ele-
gantly remarked, the soul of Hazael kindled at
that time at the imputation of cruelty;' but he
proved himself in the sequel that perfect model
OF inhumanlty and crime which the prophet had
presented for his contemplation when he came to
act in the capacity of King of Syria. 1t asserted,
and doubtless with truth, that the slave driver who
is elevated from among the gang to lord it over
his fellows in bondage, is among the most cruel
and relentless of his class, and this too when per-
haps but ad ay has passed since he himse. groaned
under the pitess torures of his tasli-master.
1t is not merely among the victims of degrading
bondage, that human nature has manifested such
perversity; but among the intelligent fathers Of
New England, the refugee from persecution be-
came theinveterae prosecutor, and martyrs breath
ed out their dying groans in the presence of this
heather wilderness, to commend with the elo-
quence of blood, the religion Of the white man to
the poor benighted Indians.
Such inconsistencies are accounted for,onIy from
the influence Of prevailing systems of philosophy