The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-18


jority, 43.
Why don't you go to the SOuth'?--s What has
the North to do with slavery,
1t is not very remarkable or uncommon, even
in these days of light truth and consistency, fol
abolitionists to be met in their Jealous and ahec-
tomato appeals and strong arguments, for the OPP
pressed poor, with interrogations just as insipid
and contemplate as those which stand at the head
of this article. 1t is earnestly contended by many,
and those too, who are as much opposed to slave
ry as any body that ant-slavery lectures and ar
guments should be addressed directly to the slave
holders because, say they, we have no slaves
here and of course your appeals will do no good
will not loose the captive's bands because there
are none the North will not have to answer for
the sin of slavery-her skirts are clear.
But the North has something to do with slave
ny 1t has responsibility, weighty and fearful,
1T has duty, immediate and imperative. The
North has work to do-a work dictated by eve
ry ennobling feeling of the human heart human
sympathy and religion are at the bottom-a work
in which all may cngage-in which the honest
and undetermined acM engage.
The questions arise, what have abolitionists ac-
complished ?-what effect have, or can they have,
upon the insolent, slave-hodng South? In the
first place. they have excited discussion and inter-
est-waked up the Lions of the South = Clay, Cal
houn, McDufie, Harper, all on the alert-al con-
vulsed with agitation and fear. Southern news
papers discuss the slave Observation-Disclosures min
listers and aymen are eager for information,-
save-Iaws IN one state at least, are so mitigated
down, that Imprisonment, for term of not less
than ten years, is substituted for the gibbet-the
consciences of the naturally honest are horror
stricken at and melted down by, the mirror of
TRUTH which has so accurately portrayed and re-
f1eced their wickedness and cruelty,-and the
frank and open-hearted christian, when he retires
to his closet to hold sweet communion with his
Cod remembers those in bonds as bound with
Them The South is agitated- interested-over
whelmed with a consciousness of guilt,-and she
will speak out upon this great subject, pro or con,
and good will follow-for the deliverance of the
captive draweth nigh, the signs of the times de-
clare mature declares it-God declares tit is
inevitable. Do you ask how this influence has
been brought to bear upon the south by northern
abolitoniss? 1t is no matter-petitions prayers
and preaching are mighty, even to the pulling
down of the strong holds of satan. 1t is enough
for US to know that their hearts are pricked-that
they want light and truth.
We have just glanced at one of thousand of
the happy results, directly or indirectly, of north
ern abolitionism, and yet, we behold the cause in
its very infancy-3,oOO,0O ofhuman beings, bone
of our bone, and flesh of our fesh,' are crouching
beneath the iron rod of the judgment-darng ty-
rant-and shall we, of the FREE north, so called,
be silent? shall we cease to cry aloud for the
poor slave-the wreck of humanity?
There is spirit--a pro-sIavery, groveling, das-
tard spirit abroad at the North, more despcable,
and mean, even, than that which contaminates the
moral atmosphere of the South. There are chris
tan ministers, pious and godly church-members,
and boastng philanthropists and democrats, long
and loud in their huzzas for liberty and equal
rights, who openly apologize for this accursed'
blighting, whitening sysem,-and have we MOTH
ing to do at the north9 Let the North first cast
the beam out of its own eye'-exterminate the de-
basing spirit of slavery at home and then it will
do to ask why do you not go to the south !>-h
will then do to approach the south more directly
we can then say, with love and kindness, brother,
thou hast mote in thine eye While we are
thus at work at the NORTH our example and infu-
ence will be felt and regarded at the south. The
hearts and conscences of Shareholders will thus
be made susceptible of the wrongs practiced upon
the out-cast African.
The fact is, the north has plenty of work for abb
olitionist--worl which demands their immediate,
united vigorous engagement-work which will go
unfinished until the black lines are drawn around
the record, of the memorable 18th of December
and Charles G. Anterior, and the sfrty-three rot
tcnhearted sycophants, from the free states who
Joined him in that scene of disgrace and infamy,
are driven from the Halls of Congress.