The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-16

and she resumed her benign message, when she
was again asSailed by the stormy violence of av-
arice RIGHTEOUSNESS, and despotism, in their most
frantic moods.
But here am reminded that the excitement du-
ring the progress of the Reformation in Europe,
was not confined to the enemies of christianity
True. Her friends were deeply, JUSTLY and ne
cessarily excited. In the struggle of light and
darkness, intense anxiety filled all minds In this
eventful crisis of the worlds best hopes and dark
est fears, all Europe stood enbattled. Says the
eloquent historian, (Robertson) "The human mind
reused Of sudden, and became inquisitive, mu-
tnous and disdainu of the yoke to which it had
hitherto submitted" The deep and wide excite
ment he calls "a wonderful ferment and agitation
of mind" He says that "the spirit of innovation
broke out in every part of Europe with various
degrees of violence" andthat "even in Spain ana
Italy, symptoms appeared of the same disposition
to throw off the yoke"
When opposite principles ct, each win oPpoIc
site interests under It's protecuon' the severity u
the conflict must be measured by the deplh oil thoSe
principles and the amount OF those interests, pre-
sent or prospective. Earnestness begctS earnest
ness virtue becomes sterner by resistance; ne
cessitv pives her strength, and with it heavier
weapons. Inveterate habits, if voluntary, are an
other name for inveterate attachments. Great
present interests, real or supposed, do not let go
their hold of great sins without violent struggle.
Whatever interest is bred by sin will,
d" when soaring sounds modest,
Cling close and closer to its mothers breast"
and strengthen an attachment founded not only in
maternal cares, but in mutual hopes. While the
world gives silent assent to the system OF slavery,
it will last. A sin so strong by the force of ma
ure will yield only to the utmost strength of the
worlds resoue hand. This is obvious from the
jealousy awakened by the most silent approach to
it. The slightest touch Of its extremity irritates
a nerve that reaches the seat of life and excies it
into an attitude of envenomed resentment. This
excitement will last so long as it sees that the
world fears it. Hesitation or wide circuits round
it will give it courage When it sees, beyond a
doubt, that the world hates it and means its death
is in earnest and will not finch, but is rising to
bring down upon it a blow that will need no Sc
cond-it WILL like every other sin, first quail and
then flee from off the earth down into its cave of
everlasting darkness. That slavery will forsale
even our republican soil without deep and wide
excitement will not be looked for by him who has
read even the most meagre chapter of the human
mind. To stay in it without excitement is equal
ly impossible. Present quiet will only prepare
for deeper agitation. The excitement which is !
now so much feared, has already been too long |
delayed. Come it must sooner or later in one
manner or another and if put off to the farthest
possible point-a distance not very remote--t will
at last come, on our whole land, in the shape Of
judgments which no wisdom shall be able TO shun
and no penitence plead of.-Rev. Geo. Aliens
ADDRESS,