Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-05-18

the sacIed right of petition. and put gag [
into the mouth Of every northern repre-
sentative 1t has made it high lnIsde-
meanor,, capital offence, to remember
those in bonds as bound with them. It
has created sectional animosllies, and led
10 perpetual discord. 1t has made the
North responsible at the tribunal of heay-
en- for every heart that has been broken,
every intellect quenched, every soul ruin
ed, every victim killed, under the slave
driving system at the South.
v hat is the liberty enjoyed by the citi-
zens of the North? The liberty, if they
travel or reside south of Mason and Dix
on's line, 10 be cast into prison on saspi-
cion of being inimcal to slavery, as was
Crandall in the District of Columbia, and
Torrey at Annapolis! The liberty 10 be
scoureed ON the bare back by the drivers
whip, as was Dresser at Nashville! The
liberty to be ,arred and feathered, as was
Kendall in Georgia? The liberty 20 be
hunted for their lives, like wild beasts, as
was Hopper at Savannah The Liberty
to be shut up in the peni.entlary with fell
ons for fourteen years. as are Thompson,
Burr and Work in Missouri! The lib
erty 10 be shot down, and consigned to an
uniimelv grave, as was Lovejoy at Alton !!
The liberty to be hanged by mob, as
was Able Dean ia citizen of Connecticut)
in Mississippi The liberty, if having a
colored complexion, Of being thrown into
| Jail on suspicion Of being fugitive slaves,
and sold into slavery to pay their Jail fees
True, if they will renounce their manhood,
deny their God, swear allegiance to the
southern MoIoch, give no utterance 10 free
Thoughts, curse the aboitionists, maintain
the divine origin and patriarchal nature
Of slavery, discard from their possession
every book, pamphlet, tract, newspaper,
circular or letter, which contains any
reflections upon slaveholding injustice and
cruelty, or pleads 10 favor Of immediate
emancipo.ion--if they will do all these
things, and whatever else the South shall
choose to require, then they may travel in
safety, and receive extraordinary hospital
ity. and enjoy liberty! ..-.
People of The North this is your con-
dition. The tyranny Of the South over
| you is million times more frightful than
was the oppression OF the mother country,
which drove your revolutionary sres to
take up arms in self-defence. You crouch
beneath its over shadowing power, and
scarcely dare 10 think or breathe. You
| feel its bligh.ing influence upon your pros
perily. aud know that it has taken away
your dearest rights; yet you tremble al
the sound ofthe slayedrlver's whip. Your
petitions are treated with as much con-
tempt as though you were DOGS or SWINE,
and ALL your senators and representa-
tives are gagged on the floor of Congress.
1t is the Union that has reduced you to
this pitiable condition.
People of the North resolve, as did
your fathers, never willingly to wear the
yoke of bondagel But do not, as they did,
engage In blood y conflict to redress
your wrongs; for it is not lawful in the
sight of God to do evil that good may
come-and all war is forbidden by that
gospel which you profess to revere. Lei
your weapons be of ethereal temper. and
revolution be effected through the mai.
esty of moral power You can be free
without the shedding OF blood. Demand
| he repeal of the Union, or the abolition
OF savery-not as A. THREAT, but as A
MORAL oBLIGATIoN-as the performance
Of an imperative duty TO clear your gar
ments from pollution, and you! souls from
blood-gui!tiness. This you have right
10 do, by the very theory of your govern
/ ment. You are an overwhelming maj or-
/ ity Of the American population. The
malority have no right TO do wrong, but
/ they are bound to hearken to the voice of
i God, and TO give heed to the claims OF
bleeding humanity. Do you ask for hu-
! man authority Read the Declaration OF
Independence Hear what one Of the
signers oflhat Declaration. Justice Wilson,
says "Of the right of a maj 7Tity of the
! whole people to change their government
at aoiiI, there is no doubt. The supreme
or sovereign power of society resides in
the citizens at large; and they always
retain the right Of abolishing, altering or
amending their constitution, at aohaterer
time, and in aohateUer manner, they shall
deem expedient' Chief Justice Marshall
declares that" the people may change the
constitution aoAenever and hoUecer they
! please.-This is right, of which no
positive institution mot even that of slave
/ rv j can deprive them Thomas Jefer-
son declars it to be- not only the right, but
the duty of those now On the stage OF &C
tion, TO change The laws and Institutions
of government to keep pace with the pro-
gress Of knowledge, the light of science,
and the Moderation of the condition OF so,
ciety -. ...s....
/ People of the North if the South be
wholly dependant upon you for protection
[ in nrosecutifiu her bloodu pnormi,ias nh,