The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-16
From the Friend of Man.
Letter from n Brother.

uear DrOlLer WnOm he mas not seen lOr Ion
time--a minister of the Methodist Episcopa
Church, residing at Windsor, Broome County
The following extracts will show his views of tn
great question pending in this country:
Colesville, Jan. 9TH, 1899.
Dear Brother Having for long time beer
favored with the Friend of Man." in which
read many of your thoughts on the subject of slave
ry, address a few lines to you on the same sub
Iject-and although l may advance nothing new
to yourself, yet if you think them of any use to the
cause of humanity, you are at liberty to publish
them.
Slavery has always been considered great evil
by the wise and good of all ages and most Of our
opponents profess as much sympathy for the slave
as the abolitionists do and yet they oppose any
direct measure to remove it, as though the evil
would remove itself. Now as slavery exists by
immoral political action, it cannot be removed
without moral political action, any more than the
heather, the drunkard, the swearer the libertine
or sabbath breaker, can be converted without d.
rect moral action. But no sooner did we act on
the subject, than we were told by the high and
low, rich and poor, that morality had nothing to
do with politics Although Washington, in re-
firing from public life declared that of all the dis
positions and habits that tend to political prosper
lty, religion and morality were indispensable sup
ports" although the above sentence was copied
into our spelling books, taught TO millions of our
youth, by thousands of our teachers, and applaud
ed by the nation from center to circumference, vet
no sooner is this principle acted upon IN favor of
the Slaoe, than it is pronounced fanatica and false
But let us examine this sentiment If morality
must be excluded from politics, and if the stream
cannot rise higher than its fountain, we will leave
morality out of the question, and see how far we
can proceed with safety to the nation In nation
like ours, where there are thousands of Christians,
shall they be excluded from the polls Or shall
they become hypocrites and say to religion and
morality, tarry thou here, while we go up to the
polls yonder! Or, if they wish to read political
papers to inform themselves, shall they refuse 10
obey the apostle, who commands us, Whether We
eat or drink, or whatever we do, do all to the glory
of God % Or must they forego the right of suf-
frage altogether? And should a Christian be
elected to make our laws must he forego the priv
ege of being Christian, till his term of service
expires? And again, must all prayer to Almighty
God, Except immoral prayer) be [excluded from
the counsels and deliberations Of this nation We
are taught, " II any lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, who giveth to all men, claw makers and ru-
lers not excepted) and it shall be given them" So
thought Washington, at the head of the American
army.
But again, if morality is excluded from the de-
alterations of the nation and the stream cannot rise
higher than its fountain, then all laws that are
made must be destitute of moral principle; and if
so, they must be destitute of the principle of JUS
tice! Thus let this principle be carried out, and
no mans person, or property, or civil, or religious
privileges are any more secure than if no laws eX-
listed. Thus will men throw away their dearest
liberties, rather than acknowledge the African to
be man. entitled to freedom. Such is the legit-
innate fruit of disobeying the Saviours golden rule,
to do unto others as we would they should do I'M
to us.
But it may be said, such state of things can
not take place. Believe it not Look at the signs
of the times. Why this disregard for the laws
that now exist? Why do our Chief Magistrates
and Executives recommend a course contrary to
the Constitution Why should the very man that
headed the Utica mob, be promoted to the office of
Attorney General, by the government of this State?
Why have men in authority, who are sworn to
keep the peace, assisted the mobs, or looked on
with cool Indifference, while anarchy and misrule
have been doing their work Answer: because
our rulers are marching with rapid strides towards
the full practice of the above sentiment, that mo-
rality has nothing to do aOitA politics!
Notwithstanding the dangerous condition of our
nation, yet there is chance for escape. Let no
man be promoted to office but those of moral prin-
ciple, and just ruling in the fear Of God" There
is yet efficacy in the blood of the Lamb There
is a God who governs, and who hears prayer. Let
every christian and philanthropist unite in expos
ing sin in all places, and compare the doings off
men with the word Of God. Let the principles off
our holy religion be inculcated; let unceasing
prayer be made to the throne of Grace, and by the
blessing of heaven we may say, in the name of
God, to the torrent of iniquity, Thus far shalt
thou come and no farther, and here shall thy proud
waves be stayed"
We may be certain, with Mr.. Wesley, that no
human codes, war, or any other circumstance what
ever, can give one man that right to another, that
he has in his sheep and oxen" Liberty is right
God has given to every man, and none but He
has right to take it from him. Although we
have practical demonstration, in the West In
dies, that emancipation is for the interest of the
MASTER yet we may offer some further proof.
Slavery has tendency to make labor appear dis
honorable, and to produce disregard of the COM
mands of God, who requires us to labor. vast
amount of labor is thus lost Add to this the ex-
travagance of a life of idleness,-the incompatible
ity of slave labor with that which is voluntary
the inactivity of mind, (nineteen twenteths of the
riubtc haipo pvoptad in tho Norhnrn