The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-09-07


ing compiled Pro Slavery candidate to back on
and whole-souled abolitonist " and no mistake,
to take his place daughter and applause) The
three means to insure victory, were moral power
political power, and money power; strong pull
that was the political power and pull altogeth
er and that was the money power Loud ap
plause
The Convention adjourned to Thursday morn
ing, 8 o'clock
THURSDAY MORNING, 9 o'clock.
The Convention met and was opened with
prayer.
The President reminded the members of the
convention, that this was the LIST of August, 1899
the YEAR ONE Of emancipation to half million
of their colored brethren in the West India Islands
Mr. Stewart said he had considered that day,a year
agoas the best day that had occurred in the lapse of
time since the Saviour was upon earth. He knew
of no era that could compare with it; no act had
so developed before the world the force of divine
ascendancy of the principles of humanity as had
the act of the British Legislature, emancipating
the ensaved population of the West India Colo
MES. 1t was glorious spectacle to see mighty
and ancient nation rising up, as one man, for a
great principle of morals and civil polity, and in
an hour setting half million of bondmen free
Where was the threatened violence that was to
follow? What masters throat had been cut
Who could shew even spotted garment? What
soul had been sent unannointed and unanea'ed to
its last account by this great act Of mercy! Hap
Ply, happy day! Mr. S. glad that in Prov-
dence it had so happened that this anniversary CO.
incided with the time of the meeting of an Anti
Slavery Convention gathered from all the free
States of this union and he was still more graf
flied at another coincidence, no less providentia,
he meant that the convention should have been
favored with the presence of distinguished stran-
ger, British phlanthropist, just returned from
tour of benevolent enquiry in the immediate scene
of this great triumph of freedom.
The time of the convention was taken up for
more than an hour in discussion of the conduct
of Governor Seward in relation 10 the applica-
ton of the Governor of Virginia for three coored
men.
Mr., Israel Smith, V. P. having by request tenn:
porarily assumed the chair, Mr. Alyan Stewart
addressed the Convention upon the first resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Stewart said he had heard many important
remarks in the able speeches of members on this
resolution: but his objection to them all was this,
that no definite mode had been pointed out for the
concentration of the political power of the aboli-
tionists of the U. States, by which to render it
available to the great object they had in hand.
Merely to pass general resolution that they
would support no political candidate unless he
was thorough-going abolitonist, and then to re-
turn home and leave every man to pursue what
ever course he thought best for the cause, would,
he feared, lead to a want OF union, and to differ
ences and heart-burnings among those who ought
to act as one man. This want of concentrated
action was their most fatal enemy. This was to
be dreaded more than the force of both the great
political parties put together. The consequences
might be seen already in some of the counties of
this State, where abolitonists had been mutually
each other. And so it would contin-
ue to be so long as they were left to draw their
bow at venture and shoot into the blue sky. |
The little handful of the friends Of the slave would
be overwhelmed and lost in the general melee of
political factors. What was wanted
was wise and universal system of action And
in view Of the whole case, he was disposed to cry
out with wiser man "who is sufficient for
these things? 2" who should lay down the outlines
Of combined action for the entire abolition army
Who should plan the attack and determine at
which angle the ancient, firm, blood-cemented
fortress of slavery could be attacked with the most
of breach This called for the wisdom
ofall the gray-headed generals of the camp.
1t seemed to him that the full scope of our Gov
eminent was not fully appreciated. The great
principle that political power was moral power,
NAV ''A'ASA VIZ
could use for the government OF the conduct OF
another, was not sufficiently impressed on many
minds. He believed that the moral power of
representative government was to this day great
but unexercised power in this country. What
we had yet to learn was to convert our political
power into great moral power to bring the
force of the balot-box to bear on the existence
and continuance of crime. By refusing to select
any man as our representative who was not tenn
perate himself and the friend Of temperance in
others, the vice of intemperance might ultimately
be driven from the land. And so of profanity, Of
righteousness, of slavery. By political power,
which was moral power of the highest charac-
ter these four evils might be abolished in the
And if they were able, in one gen.
Grafton to achieve so great deed, surely they
would not have lived in vain. 1t was moral tri-
lnph that would attract the wonder of the world.
Neither angels, nor the minds of "good men made
perfect were sufficient to compute its value no,
not if the powers of angels and archangels were
to all eternity. Political power, as
hitherto exercised had been directed to purposes,
chiefly of internal government; TO questions Of I
peace and war to the safeguards of real property,
or the collection and safe keeping of the revenue;
or the licensing of taverns, and encouraging the G
manufacture of ardent spirits for the advance {