The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-11-30
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER so, 1889
Petitions to Congress.

GGSWy' AHH re tCoI1i0 HoI )0F u W/ttLej OuE a.
tcracard he said roitAim himself Though Itcar not
God, nor regard man, get because t0is a0idou
trOuJleth mc, will aocngc her, lest By her contin
nal coming she aoeary me. The widow by her
importantly obtained from the Judge her request,
though he neither feared God, nor regarded man.
And may not our rulers be induced to hearken to
our petitions for the slaves, if we follow up our
suit from year to year, even supposing that they
are the lawful descendants of the Judge and have
no better motives? The example of the widow
is worthy imitation. Let all the friends of JUS
tice, humanity, and mercy rouse to action then
fill up their petitions to Congress, and say again
to that body, " Break every yoke and let the op
pressed go free" They may indeed for the pres
ent disregard our petitions. But should they do
so, this should not discourage US. Could we know
that the GAG LAW would again be inforced
still there would be important reasons, why our
petitions should again be pressed to Congress in
greater numbers and more solemn appeals.
l. Our own chartered rights have been denied
and the Constitution violated by the rejection and
sitting of petitions year after year in Congress-
The Constitution says, Congress shall make no zatc
ajridgimg the right Of the people peaceaJiy 10 as
Scn,Jle, and 10 petition the Government for a re-
dress Of grievances. With this clause ofbc Con-
stitulion before their eyes, and their oaths to sup
port ii warm upon their tongues. the majority in
Congress- have once and again, refused to have our
petitions read, or acted upon. Could sucn men
fear God, or respect their fellow men? Let their
consciences and posterity answer. Clear it is, that
they have trampled under foot the provision Of the
Constitution and the rights of the petitioners
And should we submit to such base measures,
give up the contest, and refuse to assert our rights
by again sending on our petitions, they would be
strengthened in their wickedness, and we should
appear by orr conduct to acquiesce in their meas
ures, and to admit that they may at pleasure tram
pie on our rights aud violate the sacred provisions
Of the Constitution.
2. Duty 10 ourselves, to our suffering brethren
and TO the cause of liberty, requires US to do it,
We do know, that nearly three mii.ls of our
fellow beings, the creatures of God and candidates
for eternity, are held in cruel slavery, worked and
beat like beasts of burden, denied every personal
civil, and religious privilege, robbed of their dear
est rights, degraded, insuted, abused, deprived of
the means of instruction and the word Of God, liv-
ing and dying like heather. In them all the in
allenabe rights Of man are tramplcd Upon, ali the
selt-ecidem truths Of our Bill Of Rights denied,
all the claims OF humanity and religion disregar-
died. all the blessings Of liberty treated with con-
tempt, and the undying soul left to perish in all its
guilt, in this land Of bibles. Shall we then alto
gether hold our peace, and not even present Pc
tition on their behalf? How, then, cal; we clear
our skirts Of their blood Is this obeying Christ,
this the way our love to our brethren operates
this the way we support the rights of man, the
claims Of humanity, and the blessings OF liberty /?
five move not finger to help the oppressed, but
place the cppressor on the bench Of Of justice, and
invite him into our pul pits, how can we sympa-
lhize with the slave, bear our testimony against
the Shareholder, avoid being partaker in all
his crimes7 actions speak louder than words and
they will BIZ regarded by men, and by our final
Judge. five stop our o.rs at the cry Of the OPP
pressed, and will not show them any mercy our
selves, or petition others, must we not read with
awful forebodngs tue divine declaration, "He
shall have judgment without mercy, who hath
showed no mercy" And must not every man and
woman, who fears God, has any compassion, hu-
manity or mercy, every friend of human rights, of
civil liberty, of the undyng soul, every one, who
believes that God will Judge the VOID in right
eousness, AM render to every according to his
works, come forward heartily, give his name and
influence, and say to our rulers, we besecch you,
Breah eDery yoke and 1t The oppressed go free,
8. BY presenting our petitions the attention of
the public is turned tothe great principles of hui
man rights and discussion is excited Since our
fathers have fallen asleep, and we have been left
to enjoy the fruits Of their tolls and suferngs the
principles, for which they bled, have in great
measure receded from view lost their value, or
been made the subject of ridicule. The spirit Of