The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-04
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, WAY A, 1899.

llghtened age, oppose the disconnuance of slave
ry, and withhold the hire of their laborers WIKI
reap down their fields are aootully corrupt, an(
destitute of religion What can qoe expect, bu
that He to whom all power is given in HEAVIER
and Earth will say,-' lnasmuch as We have done
it unto one Of tile least Of these my brethren'-In
asmuch as We have made slares o1my fock-chain
ed body and soul in bondage Ye hare done ii
INTO E"-' Depart from me, We workers of in.
iquity-' mever hmeaO you p
Hence, in view of these awful considerations
in view of the vital importance of the subject with
its danger and guilt,-abotionst have depicted
its frghtfu colors and its tremendous responsible
ties. And they have done this in sorrow, in gret
and in love; tremblingly alive to the dearest rights
of man, the purity of religion, the welfare of mil
lions, and the honor of God. 1t is such faithful
reproof which gives offence, and though prompted
| by the most unbounded philanthropy, and the pu-
rest benevolence, the blow is warded off, and the
conscience soothed, by eliminating the motives
of the reprover! The Shareholders feel themselves
TO be sleeping over the pent up fires of volcano
Guilt prompts the feeling, but covetousness and
pride forbid removal from the danger They
dream of daggers and pistols, and start up with
alarm. An accusing conscience warns them of
justice-but avarice and luxury stihe the monitor
In addition to the belief that slavery is a sin
against God and man, abolitionists have gone up
on the principle that Shareholders are men, and
have the feelings, consciences and susceptbilites
of men-that these, though blunted and dormant,
can be moved-that they are sensitive on points
touching their honor; that as long as the world
at large does not condemn slavery, nor reprove
and rcbuke the Shareholder his conscience is
comparatively at rest nor does he feel debased in
the eyes of mankind. But let the world sing in
the ears of Shareholders its utter adherence of the
system, and refuse any fellowship with them in
their unfruitful works of darkncss-keep aloof
from them as they would from band of robbers
and they would shrink back within themselves
conscience would do its work, and they would abol-
ish the system. Hence the pointed rebukes of alb
otionists, their strong language, their efforts to
abolitionize the North, &c, And what has pre-
vented our efforts from having their desired effect
Simply because of the thousands of pro-savery
editors, politicians, merchants, and clergymen who
unite to misrepresent and SANDER us,-who cry
peace, peace, when there is no peace'-who array
the slaveholding christians CD in their front rank,
and vehemently cry out You must not aim
the church'-you will cause infdelity to triumph
While on the other hand those entrcnched in their
zeal, triumphantly exclaim-' You cannot wound
us until YOU first remove these men Of God
We therefore call upon apologizing proslavtes,
and upon all who say it is of no use 10 address
the Shareholders to stand out of the way, and let
their consciences be reached, and see if they are
to the appeals of God and man in be-
half of the oppressed-see if they will not be
moved by the worlds whitening scorn-see ifthev
are mere SoulleSs, heartlesS pet'ifactionS Of men,
YEA we call upon them to come up and help US
build the wall of freedom, and labor no longer to
pile up rubbish in the way, or pull down the wall
Is not this a great work A work which affects
the destiny of millions? A work in defence of
the rights of man? work for the elevation of
men from mere chattes or things, to the proper
dignity of freemen2 And who shall hinder us Il
Who shall prevent its final consummation With
these views of duty and expediency, return to
the point. If then these premises are correct
which have advanced as preliminaries, it follows
as conclusion, that The American Board or
any other Board, by receiving into the treasury
of the Lord the contributions ofslaveholders, help
to quiet their consciences and give countenance to
slavery, with all its attendant wickedness, crime
and wretchedness. And in proportion to the high
character of the Board for benevolence and chris
tianity; this support becomes so much the more
magniied and prominent as a main pillar to the
system.
Is this a staggering conclusion Pause and ex-
anime it, for He that answereth a matter before
he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Prov XVIII Is.
Now supposing ! meet man-prescnt pistol
at his head and rob him of his money, or coward
ly go in the night and steal his horse and it be-
comes universally known. If could purchase
the respect and connivance of COMMUNICATED
conscience-secure my ilI-gotten gain, and escape
punishment by giving small portion of it for the
support of preaching, foreign missions, &c. would
not gladly do it, and think it cheap enough too
And supposing the man had robbed should pre-
sent himself to the trustees or agents, and prove
himself the owner of the money, and protest
against their receipt of it. Would he be thrust
lside and my offering accepted, and myself ac-
and treated as good christian Let
it be understood that robbers can escape in this
way, and who would not be robber? The sys-
EN- of slavery robs its millions of human beings,
not of hundreds and thousands of dollars merely,
out of their whole lives And here let me ask you
what sum of money, or what consideration, would
induce you to become a slave for life and entail
slavery upon all your postery Would you rec
ommend the hired men of Vermont to change
heir situation for the better off condition of the
southern slave? And, to bring the subject closer
lonle let me ask, How would you feel, il, on your
'eturn from your daily labor, you should find that
l. hal 49, zlr-,,I