The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-11-30
Seth NJ. Gates and Gerrit Smith.

in New York. The lie Roy Gazette, Extra,
brings us lengthy letter from Mr. Gates, in re-
ply. The following paragraph, will suffice 10
show, on what grounds Mr. Gates endeavors TO
vindicate his course:
81 acknowledge that / am Wing, was NOM
mated as such. and feel deep interest in the
prominent measures of which that party the
known advocates and after the generous conf
dence the Wings of Genesee have been pleased
to repose in me, should indeed consider myself
"blind to truth and duty" basely TO turn my back
upon their interests, unless had very different
cause for it, than any which has yet occurred.
You speak of the DETECTION in the year 1886,
in the ranks of abolition, and Of its cruel inAu-
ence on the cause of the slave, matters conceded
and certain. Your remarks may he suited to the
meridian Of Madison, but deny that they are to
GeneSee We are conscious OF no such general
detection. And | think | may safely say, that a
very vast ma orty, ifnot ''nineeen twenIehs" Of
the abolitionsts Of Genesee, still believe that
they conscientously discharged their duty 10 the
slave and their country in the exercise Of the
elective franchise last fall; and most of those
who Go not believe so, so far as know, are men
who, like yourself seem to have become DISCUS
ted with all political parties and feel little inter-
est in any except abolition politics.
In stating the number so great, have not
forgotten. sir, the last fall convention at Warsaw,
where met you, and with others Intellectually re-
sisted your resolution calling upon the abolition
lists of Genesee to repent of voting for ticket,
which, through the toerence and liberality of the
Wings, had upon it Lieutenant Governor,
Senator, two members of Congress, ard at least
three out of four members Of Assembly, all then
supposed 10 be consistent abolitionsts, and Gov
ernor TO say the least, decidedly more liberal and
tolerant in his views than the candidate opposed
to him, and whose answer to the Undergraduates,
you yourself was pleased to write me after the
dictate, you found upon fresh examination, was
in truth more anti-slavery than you was aware
Of do not forget sir, that majority of the
meeting voted to repent not only for themselves,
but certainly with great generosity for the rest of
the county; but SO far as | have ever heard it
came very generally to be considered work Of SUI
pererogation never spread, and Judging from the
result Of our late convention, | imagine that it
has been retrograde Why sir, should we all
come to practice what my friend Chaplin, face
tously calls the sublime Of Abolition throw away
our votes until the political parties are driven 70
the necessity of selecting their candidates from our
truest men, we can hope but for little improve
ment upon the ticket for which the aboliloniss Of
Genesee supposed themselves to be voting last
fall however some of us are like TO disappont
their and your expectations. Then, now, they
may be deceived. 1t is true Governor Stewards
answer was not what would gladly have had it;
but it was in many respects decidedly ant-slave-
ry, and his public life has evinced heroic devo-
ton to the supremacy of the laws an unyied-
ing resistance to the organized rights of an humble
citizen, and heart deeply imbued with the great
foundation principles of liberty and equal rights
His conduct since his election has increased,
rather than diminished the confidence reposed in
him, and am Informed in his late letter to the
Governor of Virginia, among other things dec-
dedly favorable 10 human rights, he has distinct.
avowed the great Fundamental. onti-slavery princ-
pie that man cannot hold property in man Was
it nothing, sir, to the election Of such man
in the place of one who recommended the enact
ment of laws TO prohibit ant-slavery publications
Was nothing accomplished for the slave in
eecting to the popular branch Of our LegisIa-
ture, men who passed an act giving to the fugi-
tive from slavery, the right of trial by jury in the
Joined hands and coalesced with centious and
infdel philosopher, with a wild and fanatcul og-
rarianism, and had voted the Ministers of the
Most High, and their prayers out Of the halls of
legislation
"There may have been pro-savcry men among
the Wings at the last Legislature but for none Of
them am conscious Of having voted, and yet |
was expected to evnce penitent sense of my per-
ncious error, of my folly and sin, and hereafter
to number myself with those who do not vote pro-
slavery
{" ! confess I voted for Mr.. Seward, and am
absolutely so blind Notwithstanding all the light
which has been shed upon the subject as 10 be
very we'll satisfied with that vote. You, sir, | re-
warned us not to vote for him, but YOUR
self voted and called earnestly upon others to vote
for Mr.. Bradish Since that vote, sir, Mr.. Sew
ard has taken new and strong ground in favor Of
human rights, while all have since heard from
Mr.. Bradish, is, that he has made very hand
some contribution to that Qneenof all HumJugs,the
COLONIZATION SOCIETY, society which
you regard as n main pillar in The Temple of
Slavery. would, with perfect good humor, en-
quire, whether, if you insist upon my taking the
Stool of Repentance for voting for the former
you could not with some proprcty bear me COM
pany for voting for the latter? lean hardly VEN
ture to predict what effect such an example, with
the prospect of such company, would have upon
me-"