The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-13

relating whatever slavery aforesaid
the abolition thereof SHALL presentation without any fur
Their action thereon laid upon the table, without being debated
printed REFERRED" surely could have been necessary
in order sustain the Constitution to trampe upon some OF It's
sauary and beneficial provisions If the doctrines of the
resolutions upon which have been commenting sound
and enabe discussion would only have strengthened them and
they would have been an appropriate reply to the petitioners as
for granting the prayer OF their petitions, after that
consideration Of and action upon them which necessary to
the preservation of the constitutional right Of petition and of
speech5 but can form of justification for the practical de-
na of the right of the petitioners to be heard the condemnation
of them by the very resolutions which permitted to be
discussed and the smoherng debate the floor of Congress-
essential to the promotion of pure legislation, the enlghen
ment the public mind and the preservation of rights of mi
nory To assault the buwarks of the Constitution, in the
of the Constitution method of preserving that inu-
nvoae peculiar those who consider slavery the
ner stone of our republican edice Nothing hardly be
imagined in legislation despotc and Inconsistent with pub
lie liberty than the in question AS well might the
majority of the House have established rule that the minority
should not be heard upon any question in relation the cons
nationality of which their views might be different from those of
the majority.
Another strange feature of this resolutions that treats with
the dsepect and consgns the oblivion the SOL
of state legislatures touching the subject of slavery,
that it does the petitions of individuals Until very recently
and since has been found necessary appease the domnee
ing and awess spirit of slavery by yielding the sacred
immunes of the free its nsoence, the acts of the
reign members of the condeacy have been treated with great
respects expression Of sentiment by them has been received
and considered by Congress with that attention due
ang from authority high be Sighted and which
contuonay and from courtesy entitled be heard in
the national councils but under the operation Of this
traordnary resolution distinction is made between the SOL
resolves of state legislatures and any other papers present
ed to Congress in which the word slavery happens occur
all indscmnaey and conemptuousy thrown upon the
table of the speaker and sted In what this species of
croachment upon the rights of the people and upon the author
iy and dignity of the states will end if timely resisted is
impossible 1t certainly evnces amenabe de-
generacy from the exalted and hghsonled patriotism of ia
theirs, and betokens startling willingness in those entrusted
with power yield up party and sectional interests those
fundamental principles of popular freedom which constitute the
benecence of our institutions, and without which they will be-
poweress for human good the arocrac institutions
Of the old world.
Since astannivesary the abolition of the apprentice
ship system in the British West India Islands, has added
other stupendous item of proof those which already existed of
the correctness Of the doctrine of immediate emancipation 1t
giant auxiliary carry forward the of alb
clifton in this nation and furnishes evidence Of the practicable
and safety of such too strong to be resisted by the
preudced and skepca mind The great proposition Of
emancipation is there wrought for the inspection of all who
willing inquire prophecy has become history; matter
of faith has become of fact The of the abolition
principle in those islands, where the apprenticeship system had
been adopted and which had been productive only of bitter
fruits well calculated result in evil must be sufficient to
every candid and ingenious mind OF the eXpedeny and
safety of emancipation wherever slavery may exist All those
horrible COMPUTATIONS of the fancy which have haunted those
who have been arrayed against dpeed by the
light reflected from the West Indian experiments the demon of
evil which has been said possess the abolition enterprise is
exercised by the spirit and presence ogh and uthand
all the horrors which have been thought cluster around the
consummaton of the anavery principle practice have been
changed by the wand of the magician into chapes Of
peace and adjoining in the sunlight Of experience.
When reflect that in the British West India possessions