Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-07

would be, were il of recent introduction
Palllatlves of its enormity, and excuses
Lor Its continuance are sought for: but in
vain. They are all absurd or deceptive
he that supports slavery on a plea of
self-lnterest is unworthy of the name of a
man and he who asserts the condition Of
a slave to be not inferior to that of MANY
who are free, knows not the value of lib
lerty. We know indeed that some are
found who assert that they whom we hold
10 bondage are in better condition than
freedom and equality could confer on
them. This. though heard from the lips
OF treemen, is the genuine language of
Iyrants, and is as false in sentiment as it
is odious in sound Let him who be-
lleyes that our slaves are happier than
they could be, if relieved from their seryi-
tude and degradation, GO then to the one,
who, when driven with his manacled
companions past the door of the Capitol.
lifted his tettered hands to the representa-
tIves of the nation, who unconcerned
looked on, and with sublime irony raised
the patriots song; Hail Columbia, hap
Ply land : Let him go even to them.
whose vacant laugh at night-fall has furn-
lshed him with an argument for his pre-
posterous opinion, and offer them their
liberty. and to remove them to a land.
where no degradation is attached to the
color which their Maker pleased to give
them, and see if they reject his kindness.
But if he thinks that inexperience might
dictate an erroneous choice, let him go to
Sierra Leonne, and visit .fourishing
City, its places of worship, its schools and
halls of justice, remembering that it was
peopied with the ignorant and the squalid
from various hostile tribes, who were TAX
en-, manned and emaciated from the holds
of slave-sbips. Let him visit Liberia,
our own happy colony, and sec flourish
ing traffic in the productions of the coun-
try wi here formerly the slave-merchant re-
celved his victims ;-let him see cultivat-
ed fields luxuriant from the labor of free
men where once the thickets concealed
the man-stealer, fellest of savage beasts,
lurking for his prey; let him behold the
house of God, where stood the cabin ded-
icated to the worship of Devils and if he
be still incredulous, and attributes all to
the wisdom and assistance of white men,
let him visit that land not far from our
own shores, where the people, whom ma
ture is said to have stamped with an imbc-
cility incompatible with freedom, by one
mighty effolt burst their chains, and
Wrote in characters of blood and fire,
their claims to the rights of men. Let
him notice their progress in twenty-three
years, from extreme degradation to re-
speclabilitY, their ignorance yielding to
the gradual diffusion of knowledge
their rapid advancement under the great
est discouragements to importance In the
scale of nations let him then offer to all
these their former badges, and promise
them the highest load of slavery that was
ever borne, and listen to their scornful and
indignant reply. The truth is, there is
nothing to be said in favor of slavery
Mingle with it what you will, it is still
the bitterest draught, that man ever held
to the lips of his fellow.
Authorized as it is by our laws, and ex-
listing to such degree in our country, il
afixes guilt to the nation, and unless re-
moved, will bring upon us the vengeance
of benevolent God. The,experience Of
six thousand years confirm the truth of
that memorable sentiment of his country
a sentiment that should stand In letters Of
gold in the halls of national legislation
4 The smiles of Heaven can never be ex.
i pected on any nation that disregards the
eternal rules of order and right, which
Heaven itself has ordained 1t avails US
not to throw back the blame of slavery in
our land upon them who first introduced
it. That was THEN crime,-the voluntary
continuation of it is ours. That part o.
the union cannot alone act for its abolition
is the very reason why the feelings OF all
should be interested in it. If it be said
that the subject is beset with difficulties
we grant it; yet they are not insuperable.
The disease strikes so directly at the life,
that no remedy can be named which is
not preferable to letting it take its course.
Better even that the national treasury
should pay the appreciated value of every
'lslave in the union, and transport them "a
the land of their fathers, than that this
foul stain should continue on our national
character. The lover of his country can
not look at the continuance of slavery, I'm.
anxious for he sees it in the already
Isnrou;;ng seeds of commotion and blood
lshed. which nothing but their complete
eradication can prevent from ripening tc
maturity. We five too late IN the world
for the present state of things to continue
} long. The spirit which has freed con
: tinent-which has broken the MASSEY yokl
of Spanish superstition and cruelty is no
quelled, nor will it suffer them who's
: necks were first liberated from the chains
! of unjust control, 20 retain in their hand
Q the far heavier ones of despotism. w