The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-06-08
From the Emancipation.
Address of the Executive Committee to the ABB
OlitiOnists of the United States.

The Executive Committee of the American An.
tiSlavery Society, in entering on the seventh yeal
of their abors, are constrained by the peculiar
circumstances under which they are called to re-
sumo their duties, to address to those for whom
they act, brief exposition of the present situa.
ton and claims of the abolition cause.
We begin by expressing our undated interest
In the cause, and our increasing confidence in its
success. Although each successive year developes
new aspects of difficulty and new expedients Of
opposition, yet the signal displays of divine good
ness and wisdom which have so often turned eve.
ry short-lived triumph of the supporters of slave
ry to the signal advantage of the cause of liberty
assures us that our cause is of God, and that APP
parent reverses and hindrances are but his appoint
ed methods of preparing the country for the over.
throw of the most atrocions and complicated, sys-
TEN of v1llany, the sun ever shone upon sue
is the light in which both experience and foi
have taught us to regard the prospects vi r,
cause and we fondly anticipate, for the coming
year, degree of prosperity exceeding all that has
been enjoyed heretofore. The temporary exulta-
ton of our enemies produced by the delinquency
of some abolitonists at the polls, by the speech of
Henry Clay, in favor of perpetual slavery, and by
the differences of sentiment which have sprung up
in the abolition ranks, is already abating, and the
public heart of America begins to recoi from the
obvious and only alternative Of abolition-slavery,
Divine institution, the basis of our union, and
the cornerstone of our republican edifce.
In commencing the year, we have renewed the
solemn determinations under which we have ever
aimed to act, to con6ne the operations of the Am
erican Anti-Slavery Society, entrusted to our di-
rection, precisely to the constitution under which
we act, while we carry out the constitutional in
junction--to adopt the most energetic measures IN
our poacer to adUance the objects of the society,"
What are those objects?
in the United States.
To elevate the character and condition of the
people of color.
The means contemplated in the constitution for
the accomplishment of these objects, are the incul
cation and practice of moral and political truth
We propose to accomplish the peaceful exermina-
ton of slavery from our land, by means of vol
untary associations, by the dissemination of truth
by the press and the living voice, and by political
action. If we can unite the wise and good in
Slavery Societies, if we can every where
dffuse knowledge of the truth respecting slave
ry and emancipation, and the effects of both and
if we can persuade our fellow-citzens to exercise
their political franchises, under the constitution and
laws of the country, according to the principles of
liberty-we are assured that slavery, with all its
horrid train of evils would soon give place to free
dom and the equal rights of man.
The second great object of our association, we
propose to attain,
l. By encouraging theestablishment of schools
and lyceums, the support of newspapers, and 9TH
err means of intellectual improvement among our
of color.
2. BY promoting temperance, purity, ORDER in
dustry, and other moral virtues.
3. BY introducing colored youth into mechan-
ical trades, and by turning the attention of the men
to agriculture, and other branches of regular bu.
siness.
A. BY encouraging citizens Of color to practice
the elective franchise, assisting them to vndicate
their legal rights, and place around them the strong
arm of the law, and by persuading
them not to forsake their native country and their
brethren in bonds.
The aboltionists of the country, increasing in
numbers and in strength, until the handful had
become host, have maintained good degree OF
on all material points. The occurrences
OF the late Annual meeting, however, show that
there is such diversity ofsentment in our ranks,
as will call for the exercise of much wisdom and
hdellty to prevent disastrous consequences.
THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN.
The first agitatng topic that was introduced in
10 the meeting was, what is technically called, the
8 Woman Question:" From the beginning ofour
the Anti-Slavery Socety had relied