The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-06

the columns of The Caledonian. The editor oil
that journal having declined its publication, ac-
count of the severity with which it assails Mr..
Clay the author has committed tito our disposal
To the Enemies of American Slaveho Gliding:
BRETHREN-We are fallen on event(ul times.
The cause of Universal Freedom in which we are
engaged, is advancing with rapdity not only
cheering but astonishing. And if any one event
can be named, calculated to give to this cause a
new and more powerful influence than it has yet
received, it is the pro-slavery speech which the
great Mr.. Clay lately delivered in the U. States
Senate chamber. How lately was the doctrine
proclaimed in the halls of Congress, that the COM
mencement of debate on this subject would be the
signal for the dissolution of the Union? Touch
this subject said, in substance, the wise men of
the South,-open debate in these halls on the
subject of slanery,-and our work is done. We
quit these seats in moment. We go home to
our constituents, and tell them the splendid
fabric of our government is overthrow. The bar
riers of the Constitution are broken down. The
Union is dissolved, and we must provide gov
eminent for ourselves. And now what do we be-
hold The great champion, the very Goliath of
Southern institutions, opening the grand debate
on this very subject on the floor of the Senate
which, to his immortal honor and that of the
Green Mountain State, William Slade had the
preeminent privilege Of opening in the House
g d. tbo oct
Yes! we hear Henry Clay open the debate on the
very subject of Mr.. SHADES resoluton,-the aboll-
ton of slavery in the District of Columbia,- land
declaring his belief that it ought to have been
opened before. True, he comes out on the wrong
side but no matter. Discussion is what we
want. Let falsehood grid up her ons, and buck
lie on her armor, and grapple with truth. We
fear not the result. We have reason to rejoice,
too, that this grand debate, which we trust in God
will never be closed till the last fetter is knocked
from the American slave, was opened in the grand
est council on the globe, by the giant of that body
For what has this giant produced? What has he
put forth to his country and the world against the
abolition of slaveholding7 An intelligent school
boy, among the abolitionists of the Green Noun
'~.-, light A;eroen of thie mighty speech,
Of which Mr.. Clay himself should he fight no
more duels, may live to be most heartily asha-
med.
Mr.. Clay thinks there is no substantial differ
ance between the manner in which the anti-slave-
~ petitions have been treated by Congress, and
receiving and referring them, and reporting against
heir object. Does he suppose this could have
been done without debate Does he suppose that
report against the petitions could have been vo-
ed by committee, and read, and voted through
10Th houses Of Congress, without hearing o. the
easons pro and con? And does he know that
UGH hearing would produce no effect in favor
f the petitions, or effect towards satisfying any
ortion Of the petitioners that they are in error?
Mr.. Clay's war is chiefly with what he calls
he ultra aboitioniss. He says, they promuzgate
0 the acorzd their purpose to be, to nanumit forth
With all the slaves in the u s.; and yet he char
es them with concealment of their purpose
With using their efforts against saveholding in
ne District of Columbia, and in Florida, and a.
ainst the removal of the slaves from one state to
mother, as mashed batteries, concealing the real
Oint Of attack Can he put that and that to-
ether?
To all he says of the recklessness of the aboli-
onsts, their disregard of the rights of property,
ner overlooking the difference between the pow
rs of our government and those of the British
ariament over slavery, their willingness to dis
Dive the Union, to deluge their country in blood,
&C., &c, it is sufficient to reply again, as they
ave often replied to those and similar charges, as
lr. Clay ought to know, and must know if he
as read the southern correspondence, that the alb
lionists are not reckless. They know the DIFF
culties of their enterprise. They have surveyed
ne evil they have undertaken to overthrow in its
sngth and breadth. They understand we'll how ,
II it is fortified by the constitution and laws of
ne country and of the states They ask nothing
Congress which that body is not clearly author t
,ed to do by the constitution. They do indeed t
aim for the slaves immediate and universal eman-
patton; but they know very well that this must
effected in the slaveholding states, by the in