The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-06-08

season
and theyshope 1t will be at least equal in value tc
the last The stereotypng.is already in progress
and the WORK, may be expected by July.
But publication which we regard as eminent
ly seasonable at the present crisis, has just been
completed by our faithful feIlow-laborer, Theo-
dore d; Weld. 1t is entitled AMERICAN SLAVE
RY,As IT Isl" and shows by the testimony of more
than thousand witnesses, that southern slavery
Is every where system of oppression and cruel
ty;; replete with violence and misery, with tor
lures and tears, with lust and blood that it bunts
the sensibilities apd brutraizes the minds ofthose
who intlict it; and that, legaized but lawlesS
despotsm, it produces the Legitimate fruits oil ar
bitrary \dominion, exasperated by private passion
Such an array of facts and arguments has been
rarely, if every bfoaght together before, on any
subject; and just in proportion as IT IS circulated
and read, must enlist the generous emotions OF ev-
ery,heart for the speedy abolition of such sys-
tenn.
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
A third class of our proposed operations is that
of Public Anti-Savery Conventions, and special
meetings of thef Society. Acall is issued, by a
Committee of Arrangements appointed for that
purpose at the late Annual Meeting, for a Nation
al Convention of Freemem Of the United States
aoho adopt the principles embodied in the Conaitu-
tion Of tie american Anti- Szarery Society," to
be held at Albany, ON the 31st of July next. The
deliberations Of this body it is to be expected will
be confined chiefly to the consideration of the du-
ties of citizens in the exercise of the right of suf-
frage, and the means of checking the usurpations
of slavery. Besides this Convention, which will
be independent Of the Anti-Slavery Society, the
Committee propose to.ca series of Special Meet
lngs of the American Anti-Slavery Society, as
provided for in our Constitution, to be held in dit.
terent parts of the country. Such meetings have
been found beneficial by our State and county Aux
iharies. There seems to be no other way in
which the generality of members residing at
distance, and who are equally constituents of the
Society, can exert an equal influence upon its
measures, or enjoy an equal advantage from its
meetings, with those in this neghborhood With
this view, the Committee propose to hold meetings
at Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Rochester,
Hartford, Portsmouth, Cincinnati, Detroit Middle
bury, Alton, &c, &C., at such times as NAV be
found convenient. In addition to this, the Com
mlttee was called upon to enter into systematic
cooperation with the philanthropists Of Europe,
in carrying out plan proposed by that wise and
efficient friend of liberty, Joseph Surge, Esq. of
birmingham, for the universal determination of
slavery throughout the civilized world, as the only
effesual means for the suppression OF the infa- 1
nous Slave Trade. 1t is probable that deputa- q
ton for this purpose will be required to visit Eu-
q
General Convention of Anti-Savery Delegates c
from different nations, assembled as Congress of i
Phl!anlhropy IN the city of London or Paris a
PETITIONS AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION. =
We are again called to put forth our energies, d
and "endeavor in constitutional way to infu- $
ence Congress to putan end to the domestic slave a
trade and to abolish slavery" wherever they have O
the power. A new Congress is to convene on the Y
first Monday Of December next, which has not f
committed itself against the Right of Petition and
the Freedom of Debate. Let petitions, both Of v
men and women, be again poured in, with greatly d
increased numbers. We hope measures may be \
taken in every neighborhood as early possible,
to give every man and woman in the free States o
an opportunity to try the efficacy of persevering "
and importunate petition upon the ear of Repub- S
lican Congress. Recent Developments also point a
to the Importance of multiplying memorials to the ii
various religious bodies, from their members,
Letting their appropriate action in favor OF eman
cipation.
The State Legislatures are also assuming d
new importance in our moral warfare against sla- r
very. Already the shareholders begin to fear the O
action of the State Legislatures even more than a
that of Congress. Every year, something is gain
ed here. The resolutions adopted by the Legs- O
lature of Massachusetts, protesting against the fl
laws by which her free citizens are liable to be v
and ensaved in the ports of her sister
States and providing for the rescue of such at s
the expense Of the Commonwealth the efectual e
bill for securing trial by jury to persons claimed
as slaves, passed by the overwhelming vote of 81
to 81 in the popular branch of the Legislature of
New York, and the firm stand maintained by the u
government of Maine against the claim for the y
delivery of innocent citizens to the unjust trbu- II
nails of Georgia, all indications of what is to
be expected hereafter, when the Legislatures of all
the free States shah BE true to their own rights,
and the principles of liberty. Let no pains be a
spared to secure the election of sound men to the
several legislatures tina: are to be chosen this fall
The State Societies will bear the chief response
biity for influencing the State Legislatures. This
Committee design to prepare a series of pubica-
tons, in suitable form 10 be circulated as docu
ments, in both the National and State Legislatures
the ensuing winter, +
ABOLITION. IN THE SOUTH.
At late meeting in Washington city, Francis :
Key, Esq, declared that the State of MARYLAND 4,
had already removed the line of freedom to the =
river Potomac. Mr. Adams presented Ant.Sla. ;
very petitions fromtresident citizens of Virginia
and we have information of de~oted aboltonists l.