The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-21
n UNH BIER 81.

plainly and palpably unconstitutional as you con-
slider it TO be.
Abolllonlsts ought to do whatever the laws of
inc land presumed not to be inconsistent with
INC divine law permit, for the extinction of sa-
very. 10 this they stand pledged "to the on
pressed, TO their fellow citizens who hold slaves.
to the whole country, to posterity and to God."-
Because they associate together to effect partic-
uIaT object, they are not on that account TO be
set down as acting with DELEGATED powers and
therefore to be subjected to rules District construc-
ton as to the extent of them. There is no dele
cation in the matter. Abolitioniss associate to-
gether with the view Of UNITING powers that have
NOT been delegated--such as are reserved 10
them as the people-to accomplish lawfulend.
1t could not have occurred to the Rev. gentle
man, who thought that the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church had cognizance of all
ecclesiastical matters not expressly forbidden in
the Book of Discipline, that the Assembly acts
not with original but delegated powers-~and
that, therefore, the exercise of these tpowers
ought to be subjected to strict construction All
powers that the Presbyterians, as BODY, have
not conferred on the General Assembly, they
have reserved, either 10 subordinate tribunals or
to themselves. The American Anti Slavery So
Iclety is a primary assembly-its powers are
original, not dervative-they are reserved pow
ers; such as belong to the members, as citizens
of the country. They can delegate powers to
others-as they have to the Executive Commit
tee
| have, now, my dear sir presented you such
views as entertain on what you are pleased to
call ny side of the question. fear, what have
written is di1use and unconnected. The only
apology can offer is, that have not had time to
condenSe my arguments and throw them into
more logical FORM
AS your letter calls on me only for such opin-
IONS as may entertain on the CoNSTITUTloNAIJTY
OF the third party movement, could not, perhaps,
even if time were allowed me, to enter here on
the discussion of the eapedieRcg of that measure.
I'm unwilling, however, wholly TO dismiss the
subject without saying, that instead Of feeling APP
prehenslve OF disaster TO our cause, from the ca
gerness now showing itself among abolitionsts
to UNITE in political action it is to me cheering
sign OF encouragement.
Our political movement, heretofore may be COM
pared to the wake of vessel at sea--never in
creasng in length no matter how many thousands
oil miles she may sail. But the presentmovement
shows that we have discovered our mistake-that
there is enough oflife and spirit among us to at
tempt Its correction-that we willing to act
as well as talk-to overshadOpr, with this great
question, minor ones that have for long time dis
tracted portions of our friends and alenated them
from each other-and that instead of resting salts
fed with still longer committing our sacred cause
to the hands of its enemies or of mere partzans
who almost uniformly thus far have either bafled
or befoocd, or betrayed us, we have confidence
enough IN 1t and in ourselves to take the POLITICAL,
as we have the other parts oft, into our own keep
ing and under our own management | look on
the independent party movement as proof, not on
y of the greater force and energy ofthe antsIave-
ny cause but of its greater expansion; & am not
more surprised at it, than would be- at seeing the
young of noble Bird grown too large for the nest,
and feeling its strength and courage equal to the
attempt, committing itself to the bosom of the air.
and training its powers in the region of thunders
and ightnngs and storms,
Very truly your friend
JAMES G. BIRNEY