Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-04-03
VOL. XI. NO. %.

rorS, "crlmes committed against the lib
erty OF a people, nTe the brands which
Mr.. Jefferson has burned into the fore
head Of slavery and Tie slave trade. When,
SIR have |, or any other person opposed
to slavery. spoken in stronger and more
orprobrlous terms Of slavery than thisa-
You have caused the bust Of this great
man 10 be placed in the centre Of YOUR
capitol, IN that conspicuous pau where
every visiter must see it, with lis hand
resting upon the Declaration of Indrnen.
dence, engraved upon marble. Why
have you done this Is it no. raockerv1
Or IS It 10 remind Us continually of ihe
wlckelness and danger Of slavery
never pass that statue without new and
increased veneration for the man II rem
resen's. aud increased repugnance aud
sorrow that he did not succeed In diving
slavery entirely from the country. Sir. #
l am an abolilioDist, Jefferson medt. IN.
SO; and | only regret that the discipe is
go f1r behind the master, both in doctrine
and practice. But, sir, other reasons and
other causes have combined TO fix and e.
taIlish my principles in this matter, never.
trust, 10 be shaken. A free state was
the place of my birh; free territory The
theatre of my juvenile actions. Ohio is
my country, endeared to me by every
fond recollection. She gave me political
existence, and taught me in her DO itical
school; and should be worse than an
unnatural! son, did forget or disobey her
precep's. In her Constitution il is de-
cl&ret. That all men are born equally
free and independent and that there
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary
servltude in the State, otherwise than for
the punishment ofcrimes.' Shall I staLd
up for slavery in any case, condemned as
il is by such high authority as thisl No.
never But this is not all. Indiana. our
younger Western sister, endeared 10 Us
by every social and political tie, State
formed in the same country as Ohio, from
whose territory slavery was forever e1-
cluded by the ordinance Of July, 1857
she too, has declared her adherence Of
slavery in more strong and emphatic terms
than we have done. In her constitution,
after prohibiting slavery, or involuntary
seryitude being introduced into the safe.
she declares, But as the holding any mart
ofthe human creation in slavery, or in
voluntary servitude, can originate only in
tyranny aud uSurDGLion, no alteration Of
her constitution should ever take place. so
as 10 introduce slavery or involuntary ser.
'ltude into the state, Otherwise than for
the punishment OF crimes whereofthe mar
" had been duly convicted Illinois and
Michigan also formed their constitutions
on the same principles. After such
cloud of witnesses against slavery, and
whose testimony is so clear and explicit
as citizen Of Ohio, should be recreant
TO every principle OF honor and olius,ice,
to be found the apologist or advocate Of
slavery IN any state, or in any country
whatever. No, cannot be so inconsist-
ent as to say am opposed TO slavery in
I the abstract, IN its separation from a hu-
man being, and still lend my aid to build
! it up, and make it perpetual in its opera.
ton and effects upon MAN in this or any
other country. | also, in early lie, saw
slave kneel before his master, and hold up
his hands with as much apparent submis-
sion. humility, and alteration, as a man
would have done before his Maker, while
his master, with ouisireiehed rod. stood
over him. This, thought, is slavery !;
one man subjected 10 the will and power
Of another, and the laws affoTding him no
protection, and he has to beg pardon of
man, because he has offended man fnot
: the laws as if his master were a superior
} and all powerful being. Yes, this is slave.
: nv, boosted American slavery, without
| which, it is contended even here, that the
union of these states would be dissolved
in day, yes, even in an hour HamiIi-
1 ating thought. that we are bound together
as states by the chains of slaveryi 4,
: cannon be-.he blood and the tears OF
. slavery form no part of the cement of our
2 Unon-and 1t is hoped that by falling on
J its lands, they NAV never corrode and ca,
: them asunder. We who are opposed 10
It and deplore the existence of slavery in our
: country, are frequently asked, both in pub.
J lie and private, what have you TO do with
Y slaveryl 1t does not exist in your state
: il does not disturb you All, sir, would
r. TO God it were so-ihat we had nothing &c
Of do with slavery, nothing TO fear from il:
s. power or lis action within our borders
d that It's name AMI lis miseries were IN
Id known to US. But this is not our LOT =
I'd we live upon its borders, and in hearing
g of its cries; yet we are unwilling to &C
in knowledge, that if we enter its territorie
IS and violate lis laws, that we should b,
ct punished at lis pleasure, We do not com
lg plain of this, though it might well be con
nst sdercd just ground of complaint Il
he our firesides, our rights, our privilege,
20 the salty of our friends, as well as N
us sovereignty and independence of our stat
int that we are now called upon 10 prote,
.es and defend. The slave interest has