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

very the slave trade and the right of petition addressed thu
state Legislature and Congress, and have ao published
distributed gratuousy thousand copies OF Appeal to tn
females of Vermont by female which the committee have
believe has done essential the interests of tn
slave
OF the pledge of $4,000 to the parent society," directed by tn
committee be made by delegates there has been coece
and paid since the last annual meeting the of $ 59 CO.
this there has been paid for coengby the parent soce
y S471 o. leaving the of $17SS So the amount fur
nshed the parent society from this free of expense for thu
urheance of the general interests of the There has al
been collected in the state $347 3d. included in the above
making the whole received in the the past yea
$2606 a. Of the above of $259 go the of $500 hal
been raised to meet the pressing necessities of the parent society
upon the personal responsibility of the members of the commit
ee reying upon the contributions of individuals and auxiae
enable them the payment of the when the OBJ
legation against them becomes due.
After considerable difficulty and delay the committee sue
ceeded in making arrangements with c. L. Knapp, Esq for the
publication of antsavery paper this state be devoted
principally to the interests of the abolition cause and be pub
hed under the sanction and control of the committee In
codance with this arrangement The Voice Of Freedo
issued at Montpelier early January last under the editorial
charge of Mr. Knapp and sustained by the aboonists
the state will continue to be published until slavery shall be
more The committee feel it both duty and pleasure
commend this paper to the patronage of all friends of the anti
slavery and of all who wish to become acquainted
with the merits of the great question which is occupying the
mind of the nation and will long be the absorbing topic
discussion and contest
The committee have made considerable effort carry into
effect the Library system In addition the personal exeons
oil the members of the committee agents have been
employed for limited PERIOD form library societies and fur
nish them with books Books to the amount of $780, have
been purchashed and such have been disposed of for IL
brares remain in the AnSlavery depository Vergennes
The committee have considered of vital importance the
erests of the that this system should be adopted through
out the state, deemng it among the best and efficient
of enghtenng the public mind questions connected
with slavery and its abolition and of enndng and increasing
the zeal of aboonss themselves in the work They there
fore recommend this branch the antsavery operations the
particular attention of the society," and the friends of abolition
generally.
During the past year the whole control of the cause in this
State has been renquhed by the parent society," and assumed
by the committee Notwithstanding many forcbe reasons
which exist for the adoption of this may b doubt
ed whether the general interests of the will be promoted
by it. upon fair trial it should be found succeed
well as the plan of central action through the parent society,"
will without doubt be cheeruy abandoned 1t must be mani
fest to all the slightest reflection, that if this system is
adopted generally the pledges OF the State societies be lib
era and be promptly met the parent society will be
shon of its strength and will become entirely unable go for
ward in its operations with any systematic effort.
In taking into consideration the present of the abolition
and the duty of its friends relation the to be
employed to further its advancement and success the prom
nent topic which presents itself for discussion the attitude
umed by Congress in regard petitions relating to slavery
The resolutions passed by the House of Representatives the
1th and 18th of last December similar in spirit and pn
cpe and designed effect the object the resolutions of
Mr. Pnckney Mr. Halves and Mr. Patton of previous sessions
Congress- though they evnce the part of their trainers and
supporters slight regard public opinion that they
reasons us6caoy of the of their movers which
mansy intended satisfy the people of the propety of
have been brought offer for the hghhanded and
bitray which they have fit pursue great
point gained for when the principles for which aboitons
contend brought the of scrutiny and dscusso then
is at hand And Notwithstanding the resolutions in
question had for their object the sitting of discussion yet when
heir trainers far departed from the position of the despot
offer for their arocous warfare upon the constitution
and rights of the they made themselves amenabe to the
of public opinion and when those fail them their
rial before that tribunal they drop from naughty dctaon
eprovabe cuprs waiting on their sentence from the in
1gnant udicaory which they have appealed We propose
examine hastily possible, the positions taken in those
resolutions. They as foows
Resolved That this government is government of limited
oowers and that by the constitution of the United States Con-
gress has jurisdiction whatever the institution of slave
" in the several states of the conederacy.
ReSored That petitions for the abolition of slavery in the
District Of Columbia and the territories of the United States
md against the removal of slaves from state another
part of plan of operation set foot to affect the institution
slavery the several sates and thus indirectly to destroy
hat institution within their limits.
ReSoloed That Congress has right to do that indirectly
which do directly; and that the agitation of the sub
of slavery in the District of Columbia the territories
and with the vew of disturbing overhrowng that
Institution in the several States against the true spirit and
meaning of the constitution infringement of the rights of the
aes affected and breach of the public faith upon which they
entered into the confederacy.
ReSoI0ed That the constitution rests upon the broad prnc
of equality among the members of this conederacy and that
congress the exercise of its acknowledged powers has mol
light to discriminate between the institutions of portion of
he states and another with the view of aboshng the one and
promoting the other.
Resolved therefore, That all attempts on the part of Congress
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia or the territories
to prohibit the removal of slaves from state dis
rmate between the institutions of portion of the coneera
and anoher with the views aforesaid in violation of the
onstuon destructive of the fundamental PRINCIPLES on which
oiaO nf etc ri