The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-07-06
Mhatis the Remedy?

be asked BY any one who really knows what the
slave system is-nay, by any one who even vague
" considers slavery to be IAN evil"
Whether slavery be a sin, or a calamity, its
REMEDY must be the REMOVAL of the things
wherein it consists ]. can be nothing else. There
can be no remedy while these things continue, and
their renioUal and the remedy are one and the same
thing.
When the people are really dispeased with theiI
laws do they ever find it difficult 10 ascertain the
true nemedy9 If either the Banking laws, or the
Tariff laws, or the Excise laws are considered an
evil" who doubts that their repeal is the proper
remedy? Just so with the slave laws. Imagine
yourself slave, and the remedy" of slavery will
be equally simple and self-evident Undo the
heavy burdens" "Break every yoke" Let
the oppressed go free" Proclaim liberty through
out all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof
"But it will bankrupt the south ~ We shall
be over run with them" 1T will dissolve the
Union"
Indeed The true question then, ls-NOI
how to abolish SLAVEY? Not" what is the rem
edy of this evi?" The question is how to get
rid" of the supposed evils" of FREEDOM! A
fine question truly, for republican people!
Would you learn, with precision the reGsedy of
slavery? Look over again, the slave code. Note
of their repeal and you have clear conception of
dent-the only possible or conceivable one. /.
The chattelship. Repeal that! 2. The entire
subsection of the slave to the will of the master.
Repeal that 3. The humiliation of marriage
d. The enforcement of labor without wages s.
The prohibition of education. 6. The forbidding
the free exercise of religion. z. The withdrawal
OF legal protection-the warranty of "cruelty."
g. The legalized slave traffic and kidnapping
Make thorough work Repeal all these laws,
and you have the abolition-or in other words
" the remedy" of slavery. Let the individual slave
holder berate his slaves from these particulars Of
oppression, and "the remedy" is extended to
them.
The reader has now full and fair answer to
the question as above stated. But does it satisfy
the nquirer?' If it does not. then the right query
was not propounded If the question be, how the
white people of this country possibly live: and
be united, and prosper, unless they live by steal
ing from the negroes Ia grave question, no doubtD
it must be attended TO-, in its proper connexions but
its answer will form no part of the answer to the
question, Ho,o shall ,oe gel rid Of Slavery? What
as the renaedy"
Whenever persons are really dissatisfied with
the existence Of particular practice or custom, do
they ever appear to be puzzled with the question
" what is the remedy? 2" Persons may be puzzled
to know how to retain bad practice, and yet avoid
its guilt, its shame, and its punishment. So they
may be puzzled to know how 10 retain or spare
the gains, the pleasures, or the advantages of
wong practice, and yet give up the practice itself!
1t is not proper for persons in such frame of mind
to say that they willing, OR should be glad to
u get rid" of such a practice, but don't know hon.
The truth is, they know hon. well enough, but
are unwilling. This is precisely the predicament
Of every convicted but inpenitent transgressor.
And this suggests another view of the subject.
The remedy must be adapted to the nature of
the disease. What then is the nature of the slave
system? If slavehodng be SIN, then the reme-
dy is a very simple one. 1t must be the same as
the remedy for all other sins-REPEN TANCE
and ABANDONMENT. Repentance entire
mediate-without reservation.
Works meet for repentance. The Bible knows
no remedy for sin that does not include these.
IF slaveholdng be sinful, then the STAKEHOLDER
ought at once to abandon it. If the slave laws are
wicked and unjust-then the competent authorities
ought Immediately to repeal them. IF the legsla-
lures have sanctioned wickedness and oppression,
they should at once, and forever cease to sanction
them If they have withheld protection from the
outraged, and wronged, they should withhold it no
longer. If they have not restrained robbery and
crime, they should neglect the proper duty of civ
il government no longer. Civil government, now,
and at all times should be "a terror to evil doors,
and praise them that do WELL" The simple
statement of these propositions would seem sufii-
cient, without any abored argument to sustain
them.
MEASURES
But how shall the STAKEHOLDER, and the unjust
ruler be brought to repentance! BY precisely the
same means appointed and adapted to bring other
sinners to repentance. 1t was in special reference
to the sin of oppression that God said by his an
cient prophet, Cry aloud! Spare not Lift upI
thy voice like a trumpet! Show my people their
and the house of Jacob their sin."-|
Isaiah lviii, /. 1t would be easy to fill this Lee
ture with Scripture directions and precedents for
this course Vide Sunderland's Testimony of
God against Slavery
DOUBTS.
But would the immediate abolition of slavery
be prudent? Would it be safe Would it be
profitable
If slaveholding be sin-then these questions
may be stated thus. Would it be prudent to do
right! Would it be safe to leave off SHINING
Would it be profitable to obey God? 1t can
scarcely be necessary to answer such questions.