The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-11

this moment, OF large proportion of the produc
ing classes ?-of two and half millions of oul
fellow laborers at the South are they compensa-
ted for their toll Do they enjoy the comforts o.
life =? Are they enabled to consume their justshare
f of wealth, the product of our joint labor Are
they not degraded, and sunk almost below the sym.
pathies of their fellow producers in this as ye
more happy portion of our republic? Are not oul
Interests in some measure identified And is moi
the ignorance of the connection existing between
their welfare and our OaOa, implied by our lack OIL
sympathy itself fearful harbinger of approach
ing degradation to ourseves2
In short, what is American slavery? What are
its effects upon general industry? What upon civ
il and political liberty g.
These are important enquiries which it is in
cumbent upon us to meet,-to examine and discuss
fully and fearlessly.
First. The cruelty and oppression Of The system.
What is the real condition of the slave as pre-
scented in the existing laws of the Southern States?
made hereditary and perpetual to the last moment
of his existence, and to all his descendants after
him? His labor is compulsory and uncompensated
no contract is entered into, no wages paid him.
His food and his clothing, both as to quantity and
quality, depend entirely on his masters discretion.
He is personal chatte may be sold at public or
private sale and separated from his wife and fam
lily for ever-can hold no property--cannot be a
witness against any free white man in any court
of justice, however atrocious the crimes he may
have committed-may be punished himself with
out trial at the masters discretion, whether his
offence be real or imaginary. He is not allowed
TO resist or defend himself when assaulted, or his
wife, or his daughter, when assaulted by brutal vio-
lence, under pain of death He is entirely I'M
protected in his domestic relations-cannot redeem
hinocof chopua biS crI1n1l1r
What is a trihing fault in the white man, is con-
sidered highly criminal in the slave, and punsha-
bic with death In short, the whole power of the
laws is exerted to keep him in ignorance and abb
iect dependence. These are few, and but few
of the horrd features of slavery, as exhibited by
its suffering victims.
But if we could Danish from our bosoms all the
kndlier impulses of humantv,-if we could be-
come callous to the wrongs-the grievous oppres-
sion of the down-trodden slave-if we could be
moved by no other motives than those exclusive
and selfish, still we shall find abundant reason to
regard the institution of the South, as one of the
greatest evils country can suffer- not only as re-
CARDS its effects upon general industry, but upon
its moral and political institutions. The graphic
description given by member of Congress from
Ohio, can never be successfully gainsayed by the
most Jealous defenders of the patriarchal institu
ton.
Gross says he, the line that separates the free
from the slave state, or stand upon it and look
across the former, you will see, comparatively all
hle all happiness, all prosperity, both public and
private; but turn your eyes upon the latter and
survey it, every thing material, Except few of
the wealthy proprietary bearing the impress of
poverty and dilapidaton; all look as fpestilence
and famine had been making their sad innovations.
The anger of God and the vengeance of heaven
seem to rest upon every thing which you can cast
your eyes. Every prospect seems to be withered
and wted by the frown and disapprobation of
avenging justice and violated humanity. In short,
almost every institution, every prosperity, public
and private, seems to be sickening and dying from
the corroding effects of slavery
But we are not compelled to rely upon the
statements of travellers, or of persons resident in
the free States, for proofs they are abundantly
furnished by shareholders themselves, by states
men and men of influence and observation, who
have grown up in the midst of it.
During the famous debate in the Virginia Leg
islature, in the winter of 1889, M r. Brodnax made
the following remark:
That slavery in Virginia is an evil, and tran
scendant evil it would be more than idle for any
human being to doubt or deny. 1t is mildew
which has blightcd every region it has touched,
from the creation of the world. Illustrations from
the history OF other countries and other times,
might be instructive and profitable had we the
time to review them but we have evidence tend
ing to the same conviction, nearer at hand, and ac-
cessble to daily observation in the short histories
of the different States of this Confederacy, which
are impressive in their admonitions and conclusive
in their character
During the same session. Mr.. Faulkner said
If there be one who concurs with the gentle
man from Brunswick (Mr. Gholson) in the harm
less character of this institution, let me request
him to compare the condition of the slaveholding
portion of this commonwealth barren, desolate,
scared as it were by the avenging hand Of heaven,
with the descriptions which we have of this
same country from those who first broke its virgin
soil.
To what is this change ascribable Alone to
the whitening and blasting effects of slavery. If
this does not satisfy him, let me request him to ex-
tend his travels to the Northern States of this
beg him to contrast the happiness and
which prevails throughout the coun-
try. The busy and cheerful sounds of industry,
the rapid and swelling growth of their population,
their means and institutions of educaton-their
skill and proficiency in the useful arts-their en-
terprise and public spirit-the monuments of their
and manufacturing industry-and
above all, their devoted attachment to the govern
Il i