The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-20
From the Pennsylvania Freeman.
DIR, Channing'S New Work.


the United States Senate, but incidentally discus
SEES the whole ject of Aboltonism. 1t is, judg
ing from the few pages we have found time to
read one of the ablest efforts of the author, unu-
sually nervous eloquent and mpassioned 1t eX-
poses, with somewhat of lofty scorn, the misera-
bic sophistries, and animadverts with becoming
indignation upon the monstrous and unchristian
sentiments of the Kentucky orator. We cannot
envy the feelings with which these structures will
be read by Henry Clay. Their justice and truth
will be felt, even through the triple soaring of a
slaveholding conscience. We make few extracts
from the pamphlet, to give our readers an idea of
its power:
"The constitution requires the free States to
send back to bondage the fugitive slave. Does
this show that we have no concern with the do
mestic institutions Of the South that the guilt of
them, if such there be, is wholly theirs, and to no
degree ours This clause makes us direct par
takers of the guilt and of consequence, we have
vital interest in the matter of slavery. | know
no provision Of the constitution at which my NOR
al feelings revolt, but this. Has not the slave a
right to fly from bondage? Who among US doubts
it 4? Let any man ask himself how he should con-
strue his rights, were he made a slave ; and does
he not receive an answer from his own moral ma
ture, as bright, immediate, and resistess, as light
ming And yet we of the free States stop the fly
ing slave and give him back to bondage 1t
does not satisfy me to be told that this is part of
that sacred instrument the constitution, which all
are solemnly bound to uphold No charter of
mans writing can sanctify injustice, or repeal
Gods Eternal Law. cannot escape the convic-
ton, that every man, who aids the restoration of
the flying slave, is wSong-doer, though this is
done by our best and W1sest men with no self-re-
proach. To send him from free State into bon
| Il Al, Al
transport him from Africa to the West Indies or
this country. shall undoubtedly be told, that
the fugitive is slave by the laws of the territory
from which he escapes. But when laws are ac-
knowedged violations of the most sacred rights,
we cannot innocently be active in replacing men
under their cruel power. The slave goes back
not merely to toll and sweat for his master as be-
fore. He goes to be lacerated for the offence of
| flying from oppression. For hardly any crime is
the slave so scored and SCARED as for running
away and for every lash that enters his flesh,
we of the free States, who have given him back,
must answer
know perfectly how these views will be re-
ceived at the North and South. Some will call
me visionary while more will fix on me hard
er name. But look above scofers and denounc-
ers, to that pure, serene, Almighty Justice, which
is enthroned in Heaven, and inquire of God, the
Father of us all, whether he approves the surren-
der of the flying slave. l shall be charged with
rreverence towards the fathers Of the Revolution,
the trainers of our glorious national charter. But
reply, that great as they were, they were falli-
BILE, and that the progress of opinion since their
day, seems TO me to have convicted them of error
in the matter now in hand. | am aware too that
good and wise men, friends who are dear to me,
will disapprove my free, strong language. But
must be faithful to the strong moral conviction
which cannot escape on this subject. If | am
right, the truth which speak, however question
ed now, will not have been spoken in vain. To-
day is not Forever. The men who now scorn or
condemn, are not to live forever. Let few years
pass, and we shall all have vanished, and other
actors will fill the stage, and the despised and neg
lected truths of this generation will become the
honored ones of the next"
The author thus comments upon the Kentucky
statesman's valuation of slave property:
"Mr. Clay maintains, that the total value of
the slave property in the United States is twelve
hundred millions of dollars and considers this
immense amount as putting the freedom of the
slave out of the question. Who can be expected
to make such sacrifice The accuracy of this
valuation of the slaves have nothing to do with
admit it without dispute. But the impression
made on my mind by the vastness of the sum- is
directly the reverse OF the effect on MIR. Clay
Regarding slavery as throughout wrong, | see,
in the immenseness of the value of the slaves, the
enormous amount of robbery committed on them.
see twelve hundred millions of dollars seized,
extorted by unrighteous force. know not on the
face of the earth system ofsuch enormous spoil
alton. know nowhere injustice on such giant
scale. And yet, the vast amount of this wrong is,
in the view Of many, reason for its continuance!
If strip my neighbor of few dollars, ought
to restore them but if have spoiled him of his
All, and grown rich on the spoils, | must not be
expected to make restitution Justice, when it
will cost much, loses its binding power! What
makes the present case most startling Isl that this
vast amount of property consists not of the goods
of injured men, but of the men themselves Here
are human nerves. living men, worth at the mar
ket price, twelve hundred millions of dollars. -
That this enormous wrong should be perpetuated
in the bosom of Christian and civilized commu-
nifty, is sad comment on our times. Sad and
strange that distinguished man, in the face of a
great people and Of the world, should talk with
entire indifference offeow-creatures, held and la
beed as property, to this immense amount
But this property, we are told, is not to be
questioned, on account of its long duration. Two
hundred years of Legislation have sanctioned and
e 1 Noth,p H,f