The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-30
For the Voice of Freedom.

long thought that the views of the large class of
persons to whom this term is applied are not fully
understood, nor correctly represented cannot of
course speak for others. can only give my own
views. | sincerely believe that many of the most
ardent friends of universal emancipation, are now
looked upon as secret friends TO savery.N How
ever, do not wish to conceal the fact that we
ought not to deliver over all shareholders, inds-
criminately, to the same condemnation. Nor do
think we ought to Judge those who have been
born and educated under the whitening influence
of slavery, by the same rules by which we should
state, and who has afterwards become a savehol-
der. Let any person read the New Testament
candidly, and he must be convinced that God judg-
es men according to the light which they have
given them, as we'll as by their actions; or in 9TH
er words, that He will adjudge to different persons
different degrees of punishment, who have been
guilty of the same acts of wickedness-and that
too, because one was placed in circumstances
where he had greater facilities for knowing his
duty than the other. Indeed suppose that igno-
rance in relation to moral duties is sin. Men are
ignorant because they choose to be ignorant; and
of course sin cannot be given an excuse for sin.
But it is to be remembered that when man re-
ssts the light of revelation, he gives evidence of
greater hatred to the truth than the mere son of
nature. Those who are born and educated in the
land of slavery are not in so favorable circumsan.
ces for knowing their duty on this subject as
they would be if they had inhaled from their in
fancy the air of freedom.(2) have often found it
necessary to apologize for persons whom | esteem
and love, on account of their notions respecting
certain kinds of labor, and on account of their
treatment of persons whom they have in their en-
ploy. Go among the sturdy yeomanry, and you
will find many intelligent and worthy christians
who hardly know how to fellowship some of their
brethren who cannot admit TO their tables persons
whom they employ to perform certain kinds of la
Dor. They will tell you that they themselves,
their wives and daughters find it necessary to en-
gage in the same kind of labor, which is looked
upon as appropriated belonging to low and ig-
noble class; and they may tell you also, that their
daughters are compelled to labor in the families
Of villagers, where they are treated as belonging
to a lower rank, and where they must be called
servants, domestics, help, and the like, lest the
honorable title young lady should be made too
common They will tell you that God requires
us to labor with our hands, and that they cannot
see how christians can strive to bring honest in
dustry into disrepute in way which fiaters pride
and honors laziness. These persons who breathe
the free country air. do not make suitable allow
ances for the influence of a perverse education and
fashion to weaken and narrow the mind, to stul-
;ify common sense, and to Supply the conscience.
And am apprehensive, Mr.. Editor, that if this
sin of debasing certain kinds of honest industry
were fully exposed in our public journals, we
should see manifested something of that spirit
which abolitionists are accustomed to attribute sole
ly to the influence of slavery.(0 Now II we are
TO make apologies in the latter case, why not In
the former? Surely if no allowances are to be
made, should feel to ask myself, how can certain
persons, whom / now esteem as christians, be the
followers of Jesus of Nazareth? | have found II
necessary to apologize for good abolitoniss, and
must not do it?(4) would here give an anec
dote were not my communication already too long
Should there not be the same forbearance used
towards southern Shareholders which we find il
necessary to use towards those among us who
maintain that there must be grades in society
founded upon the different kinds of labor in which
men are employed, and who assign those kinds
of labor which are the most necessary to the low
est rank ?(5) Yours, &c. H. c.
) As general thing, we believe that &C the most ar
dent friends of universal emancipation will somehow con
trive to manifest their faith openly to exonerate them
selves from all suspicion of their being secret friends
slavery The genuine aboonst will be sc living eps
tie, known and read of all men, When we hear maj
protesting that he much opposed to slavery as any
body the presumption is that he begins to be little res
tive under the influence of anti-savery truth. His con
science awake Ere long, may be hoped his ardcr will
develop itself in open advocacy of the of the crushed
slave.
~ The correctness of the general principle here la
down, is admitted but does the himself believe tina
the most benghed STAKEHOLDER in this nation abec
as to be unconscious that slavery is wrong