The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-04

out in years of hopeless toll 1t does not rails
the dead from their graves and from the depths
the sea- and restore them TO youthful vigor, to thei
homes and country,
Why cannot these delicate sympahies-thes
fertile imaginations, realize the SIaUes condition
and feel for his wrongs, and remember those d
bonds' even though they are guilty of colore
skin; as well as to have all their concern takel
up by such imaginary injustice to the master
But admitting for the sake of argument, tina
the difficulty is as great as it is thought to be-
How shall it be remedied? Shall those who have
never been guilty of slavery be compelled to pay
Shall the guilty pay This would be taking on
promote justice in the least What then will
you appeal to the charities of the world for contri
buttons to buy the slaves Is it probable tina
money could be raised in any way to purchase the
three millions' Not at all. But it is idle tc
talk of these absurdities The living reality Of
slavery is about u.s. The slave stands before us
with uplifted, lnanacled hands, and with flowing
tears, appeals to our philanthropy. Am not a
man and a Brother p For what crime am
chained in bondage? Why am | condemned to
hopeless servitude? Why must | cringe beneath
the drivers lash, and toll meath scorching suns to
administer to the Injuries of my fellow? Why
was torn from my family and sold like beast ?
Why do the fruits of my labor only serve to fill
the Golfers of my master, and enable him to add
to the number and suferings of his slaves Oh
maddening thought Have I not an immortal
mind and must it be forever chained? Is there
not God of justice? Will He not come down
and deliver me, and Judge those who have oppres-
sed the stranger and kept back the hire of the la
borer?
And will ace not hear this cry? Will we not
heal his wounds? Or will we pass by like the
Priest and the Levite on the other side, and at last
cry ourselves and fad no mercy? Do you en-
quire what you can do? Iask and 1.-THE question
come home with the lighming's power to the
breast of every individual. What are you DOING
directly or indirectly to encourage slavery-to sus-
man in the dust, and bind his soul in chains of
darkness
If we can ascertain that any act of ours tends
to produce these effects it follows, that we are
morally guilty as long as we persist in that act !;
and are so far responsible for its consequences. 1t
will be long time before slavery will come down
by our efforts, if we build it up with one hand as
fast as we pull it down with the other
Then one great thing which we must do, is to
cease doing those acts which brace and support the
SYSTEM and draw a veil over its enormities. Now
what are these acts +? The consumption of the
products of slave labor-the apologies for slave
honors heaped upon them-the Grim
cling serviHty to them the base bowling of the
knee to the dark spirit of slavery'-the general
voice of community in opposition to immediatism
the prosecutions of abolitionists-the wicked
prejudice against color, and last though not least,
The christian fellowship with the whole system and
its supporters-are no doubt among the most prom
nent
Want of time will forbid discussion of all
these points. But there is one branch of chris
Ian fellowship which has, believes very impor-
ant bearing on the subject refer to the receiv-
ing into the treasury of the Lord the contribu-
lions of shareholders. Here, | am aware that
an treading on ground that may seem forbidden
10 many, and that | may be accused of rashness,
&c. But believe that all who sim
lsrely desire to wash their hands from all connec-
ion with slavery, will give me their candid and
patient attention, while investigate the point
Abolitionists have maintained that the system of
slavery is system of theft and robbery, and of
course that shareholders are manstealers and man
robbers, and, as many are excusing themselves TOR
standing aloof on account of this hard language,
1t becomes our duty to ascertain whether the cir
truth of the case, warrant the use of
such terms and if so,-the next question is not,
whether it is right-but whether it is ezpedient.
What says the Bible? He that stealeth a man
and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he
shall surely be put to death This shows that
there is such crime as manstealing, and it is one
Of those great crimes, which, like murder, &c. were
punished with death, by the command of the great
Jehovah. Now aehat IS stealing man !? Is i'll
bouncing upon him in the dead of night on the
coast of Africa-tearing him from all he holds
him in the accursed slave ship
him to some foreign land and there
him to toll amidst countless lashes and
groans, without pay and without hope No doubt
you will readily admit that this is manstealing.-I
Now ASK Is it any less criminal in the sight of
Color any less an outrage against humanity, to
steal a man from himself-in Amortization his
very BIRTH and all his natural life-or 6uy or sell
or even keep person thus stolen?
When God created man, He stamped His own
image upon him. /" In the likeness of God made
he him." He was, as Gods representative on
earth, to have dominion over the fsh-the fowl
the catte-over all the earth and over every Creep
ing thing, &c. but not over man, this 'noblestI
work of creation--so highly favored and distin-
guished. The LasD and curse of God, was de-
signed to protect his own image from base en-
slavement and wanton violation. Mark the pen
atty And lest some might quiet their conscien,
Il Il +