The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-11-09

lie Roy, Genessee Co. NJ Y
Ny DEAR SIR Your Christian principles an
rare intelligence give you deservcdly great INF
euce over your fellow abolitoniss. How lamer
table, that this influence should be employed t
turn them from the path of duty 10 the exel
ton of this influence was it owing, in no small
degree, that more than nineteen twentiehs of tn
aboitionists of the county of Genesee, voted at th
last election, for party, instead of the slave.
is not to fatter you, but to remind you of you
responsibilities, that | thus aude to the large
share you had in producing the memorable de
lection of the year 1885, in the ranks of N. Yorl
aboonists-a detection so extensive and cruel
that the cause of the enslaved still lies bleeding
at every pore, on account of it.
1t is true, that at the last election, you were un
der an especial and strong temptation; tempta
ton of sufficient power to blind the wise and the
good-to sacrifice duty to interest But, mas
much as that temptation ceased with the election
and inasmuch as you have had "a year to observe
the unhappy effects of the wide betrayal OF our
cause at the polls, and to reflect on the folly and
sin of yielding up principle TO calls however spe-
cious and for gains, however auring-it was
confidently hoped that you would, at the ap-
preaching election, evince penitent sense fyour
pernicious error, and number yourself for the flu
ture, with those uncompromising abolitioniss,
who, in whatever circumstances, or upder whatever
temptations they may be, are true to their heaven
and earth witnessed pledges, never to vote for a
pro-slave1y Legislative candidate. How greatly
and grievousy you have disappointed this expec-
tation Of your repentance and amendment, all
will see, who read the proceedings of the late
meeting of the Genesee anti-slavery society, held
at LIE Roy. Abolitionsts, who cling to the slave
though at the expense of damaging and dispeas-
ipr will ho n,;pod To low, fropo thoco
ceedings, that their holy and beloved cause must
for at least one election, encounter instead of en-
joyng the extensive influence of Seth M. Gates.
1t appears that you took the ground in the
meeting referred TO, that the voter at liberty to
cast his ballot for a legislative candidate, who is
not an aboitionist. Thanks to the power and
the love of truth, that so large minority, of the
meeting resisted this anti-republican and unchris
tan doctrine.
What is American Slavery? 1t is system,
which, by law and in practice, forbds marriage,
and the reading of the Bible, and classes immor-
tai and blood-redeemed men with brutes. 1t isl
unsurpassed in wickedness and cruelty, by any of
the systems that ever outraged humanity or in
suited Gcd. put it to you then, my dear sir
and would have you answer me as in the light of
eternity, rather than under the worldly influences
which surround and press upon you, Can a
didate who is opposed to the repeal of any of the
laws that uphold such system?' Can a
Christian consistently vote for legislative candid
ate who is opposed to the repeal Of any laws
which may sanction and uphold the crimes of
counterfeitng and burglary? He can so vote
with much less Inconsistency, than he can vote for
pro-slavery legislative candidate. For of how
light hue are the crimes of counterleiting and
burglary, in the eyes of him, who is called on to
choose between the evil of having counterfeit
money put upon him, or his house robbed every
month of his life, and the unspeakable greater
evil of wearing the yoke of slavery, for even a
single month! In the eye of the slave, the Chris
tian, who sanctions slavery by his vote is a thou
sand fold more inconsistent, than he who thus
sanctions ecounterleiting and burglary; and so
would he be in our eye, if our soul were in the
slaves souls stead and if we obey the apostolic
INDUCTION 10 remember them that are in bonds as
bound with them" But you will, perhaps, say
that the pro-slavery candidate is not sensible of
the sin of slavery, and that the other candidate is
sensible of the sin of counterfeting and burglary.
This is true, and because it is, thousands of
good men vote for pro-slavery candidates. But
the great question with the elector, on going to the
polls, should not be, whether the candidate is ig-
norant or aware of the giant iniquitv Of system
which that candidate, if elected, will exert his Of
llcial powers to uphold. This is, indeed proper
and indispensable question for determining wheth-
er the candidate be more or less guilty but the
knowledge or ignorance of the candidate on the
point under consideration, in no wise affects the
guilt of the elector who votes for him. If, in the
good providence of God, | have come to learn,
shat slavery is enormous wickedness, it is then, at
she peril Of my soul, that | vote for pro-savery
legislative candidate admit, that am to exer-
else Christian charity toward the candidate, and to
nope if can, thai his sin in the premises, is but
the sin of Ignorance, nevertheless, it is my knowl
edge, rather than his ignorance, that is to be the
prompter and guide, and measure OF my conduct.
/ am to walk in my own light and not in his
darkness. believe there may be STAKEHOLDER,
who is Christian but if vote, for such one
for law maker--lor one, who, if elected, will con-
tribute his official powers to sustain slavery
God will hold me, rather than the benighted slave
holder, for whom vote, guilty of The sin slave
ny.
Can republican consistently vote for a legs-
lative candidate who is in favor OF pro-slavery
laws7 The question is readily answered in the
negative by reference to the foundation doctrine
Of republic-the doctrine that all men are cres
ated equal" The subiect of n government