The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-09-21
EEIzIlA V0IUiA OF BDM lA D@1iIo
For the Voice of Freedom.


before the Montgomery Amti- Slavery S0cietz
July 4M 1889, By the Req. J. GLEED C0mgregc
tiomal minister Of Berkshire.
Seldom do stand up to advocate the cause {
our southern fellow countrymen in bondage, man
thousands ofwhom are also our fellow Christians
butt feel singular embarrassment. Whenpreach
ing the gospel both on this and the other side @
the Atlantic for a number of years under mon
archica form OF government could think, speal
and write my views on the all endearing subjec
o. human rights, without fear and without dreat
of molestation But under this Republic, which
is supposed to harbor none but freemen, and t.
foster in all its literary and scientific institutions
its different political parties, its various denomn
atoms of Christians, and ramiications of govern
ment, the most scrupulous and conscientious at.
tenton TO the principles of civil and religious lib
erty, regardless alike of circumstances, complex
tions, locations, and parties find the public and
sincere advocate of mans natural rights, has even
in the free States to encounter with violent contra
dictions, the abuse of mobs, and perhaps Lynching;
and in the slave states, let him dare to advocate
the cause of the oppressed or the undoubted rights
OF all without regard to color and country, and
martyrdom shall be his reward. And why is
this 1t is most singular moral phenomenon.
On what principle must we account for it !? Is it
because under the limited monarchy of Great Brit
ain, which is thought by many among US to be a
very arbitrary and power, The people en-
JOY repubcanism in practice though not in theory,
and that under this Republic, which is thought
to know nothing but freedom and to maintain
nothing but right, the people enjoy republicanism
in theory but not in practice? Or, is it because
the mother in her decrepid old age, is shaking off
the infrmities Of her younger days and determin-
ed to assume the full bloom of enchanting youth
in advanced life while the daughter, charmed
with the once silly and detested wbims and fances,
folles and vices in her mothers councils, laws and
rulers, is resolved to grow feeble, old and grey
headed in arbitrary measures and cruel conduct
when but yet in her youth? Or, is it because one
power has practiced long enough to be convinced
that nothing but freedom, perfect freedom to all,
can make her strong, rich and happy at home,
respected, honored and powerful abroad, therefore
she is resolved to repent of her past dark deeds
which are written in blood and marked on the
stocks, the dungeon and the stake of the religious
martyr, and dyed too deep on the CORY whip, the
thumbscrew, and the chain of the oppressed slave
to be blotted out by the tears of eyes; and in her
future deeds of mercy to the oppressed under her
own sceptre and her hearty good will to the wrong
ed by other powers, to atone for her past conduct;
while the other refusing to profit by the mistakes
of her ancestor is bent on treading the same path
but with enlarged dimensions, to make fearful
work for the future repentance for her children
and children's children, and when she has pressed
a downward course like the mother, till loaded
with national disgrace and dishonor with the tears,
the blood, and with the cruel stripes of her own
sons and daughters, and groaned and hooted att
for her base inconsistencies and black enormties,
by all the nations of the earth, she will have toI
sit down in sackcloth and ashes and weep day and
night over her past folly and madness Look at
this picture, oh Vermonters, look at, oh we Amer
leans, and blush and hang the head.
Perplexed with this embarrassment, often ask
the question, is the contest now at issue between
the anti-slavery men and the pretended lovers Of
liberty and human rights question that concerns
me? Cannot n citizen of this commonwealth pass
along mind his own business enjoy his own
rights uninAuencing and uninfuenced by this
question No; It's utterly impossible so mixed
up is slavery with church and state, with trade and
commerce. with morals and religion, with all the
various departments both civil and military, and
with all the interests of the countrywide leaven
it so completely peryades and is pervading the
whole lump, that every man and woman is par
ty concerned in the question, Such is the public
and bold attitude the question assumes--so dis
tincty does it address itself to every ones notice
and obtrude itself in the path Of every foot, that
yes or no, must issue from every lip. If you take
part, it must be for or ngaipst if you aTe silent
then silence gives consent-and either an active
party or a silent observer, you must be.
i shall now proceed to elucidate and inculcate