Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-06-28


slaves out OF three millions, would, as be-
ieve it would, imminendy hazard both.---
The whole South and Southwest, not only
in Congress, but in the nation, are united
against it, Nothing less than the union of
the whole North and Northwest both in
and out OF Congress, could possibly accom-
piish il even in CoHeress- The President
has given pledges in advance, both before
and since his election, that he would inter-
pose his veto against such bill should il ev-
er be carried BY majoriiies in both Houses
Of Congress. To expect that majorites Of
twothirds of both Houses now, or for many
years TO come, would vote for this measure
agains; the Presidential negative would be
nothing short OF insanity. What then, is
the meaning Of that Immediate abolition
which the American Anii-Slavcry Society
has made the test OF orthodoxy to their po-
!tical church A moral and physical i'm
possibility
am not aware that any one Of the petit
tons which were committed by you TO my
charge required the Immediate abolition Of
slavery in the District or the Territories
but in the recent report OF the Executive
Committee ofihe American A. s. Society,
observe that the friends OF free institutions are
congratulated that the doctrine of immediate
emancipation is now established on basis
from which it canno: be disodged, either by
the malice of its enemies, or the unfaithful-
ness Of its friends. They consider tho key
stone OF this divine argument as placed in its
eternal home by the parliamentary liberation
OF tho slaves in the British Colonies.
But 1.-THE example of British parliamenta-
ry emancipation is TO be considered as bav-
ing solved this question upon a divine foun-
dation, you will please 10 observe that an es-
seniia part Of it is the payment of one hum
dred millions OF dollars 10 the owners of
those emnncipated slaves by way Of indemni-
ty for the loss Of their property as il had
been held to be under the preceding laws.
and as il is held 10 be by the laws Of our
slaveholding states. This parliamentary
emancipation was evidently compromise
in my estimation an honest and honorable
compromise but whatever of divine the
Executive Committee Of the American Anti
Slavery Society perceive in the immediate
emancipation Of the British Colonial slaves,
| do moi understand them as considering the
payment OF the twenty millions of pounds
sterling TO indemnify the owners oil the slaves
as pa,,aking any share ofthat divine author
| ily
If understand correctly the sentiments
Of the Executive Committee OF the American
Anti Slavery Society, they approve and APP
plaud The parliamentary process so far as it
extends to emancipation but reject, not with
out Indignation. that part Of the British pre-
cedent hich grants. at the expense Of the
nation, an equivalent TO the dispossessed pro-
prietor.
For myself fellow-citizens, | freely con-
Tess that, believing as | do that freedom is a
! natural and inalienable right of man, and
that. by the laws of Nature and OF Natures
God an immortal soul cannot be made
chatlel lam yet disinclined TO make OF these
opinions articles OF religious creed with
the pretension 10 impose it upon others. If
asked whether consider il sin TO hold
felow.creaiure in bondage for life, | might
answer that it would be so in me; but um
not commissioned to denounce the judgment
of God upon those who differ from me in re-
igious belief, whether upon the slavery ques-
lion or upon any other | have heard frem
my Master the injunction, Judge not, that
ye be not judged. and from more than one Of
his Apostles the question, Who art thou
that judgest another mans servant. oil anoth-
era The days OF denouncing prophesy are
phei anu WIKI sec iuai SiaNSiy mas uccu
perunllted by Almighty God to exist from
the earliest periods of history, sacred or pro-
fane down TO the present day, though look
forward with earnest hope and intense desire
10 the day when it will be banished from my
country and from the world, have no voca-
ton Tor the exercise OF force or constraint or
injustice, even for the Liberation of the slave.
If the abolition Of slavery is ever to be ef-
lecled in this country, il must be either by
force. that is, by civil and servie war. or
by the consent of the owners oithe slaves
All The abolilonists and all the anti-savery
societies totally disclaim all intention or pur-
pose 10 employ or to sanction the employ
ment OF force, and complain with reason, that
the mputaiion OF any such thing 10 them is
a SANDER Immediate emancipation, there
fore, is in their purpose TO be effected, with
the consent Of the masters, and without in
demnily to Ahem, 10 what page Of The vol
ume Of human nature they found the recipe
for this balsam to the sore Of slavery, or in
what cell in the imagination il was devised,
know not FRANKLIN, it is said, made
the discovery that an effusion Of oil will
smooth the mountain waves OF a stormy sea /;
bui no philosopher has yet appeared to make
The experiment Of pouring it into the summit
of smoking crater TO estingulsh the volca'
no within.
!. With The most sincere belief in the integ-
rity of your intentions, and with reverence
for the bencvolence and purity Of your pur-
poses, let me ask those of you, my friends.