The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-12-21

bated, and had large minority vote.
But, behold the change Maryland,
which was expected first to move in the
cause OF emancipation, taking alarm from
such interference, has inserted clause In
/ her Constitution for the perpet@sty Of slave
nv! The whole mind of the slave States,
has been thrown off from its former basis
of growing favor toward emancpation,and
nut in the attitude of defence against for
eign interference. The ingress OF free
blacks into the slave States has generally
been interdicted; free colored residents
have been oanished from some parts, and
IN all places subjected to great dIsadvant-
age land deprived ofimporiant privileges;
the work of emancipation has been put IN
check, and the disposition for it qnenched;
rigorous defensive laws have been enacted
and enforced; the Intellectual, moral, and
religious improvement ofthe slaves, which
before was encouraged, and growing in
popularity, has been very much abridged,
and in some places entirely stopped; the
slaves are subjected 10 a stricler watch,
and treated with greater rigor, where caus-
es OF apprehension exist; scarcely an ad-
vocate of emancipation can be found in the
slave States, where there were thousands,
and tens of thousands before; freedom of
speech and of the press, except on one side
of the question, is chiefly suppressed; and
the entire save-hoIding portion of the
Union, INSTEAD OF being engaged,as before,
in meliorating the condition of the slave,
mitigating the rigors Of the system, and
marching forward toward the goal of final
emancipation, has been forced into an atli-
tude, and into measures of defence against
the political abolition Of the free States.
We ask, if these are not very impressive
and very instructive facts? The lessons
of experience teach US, that it is safe to
Judge of the future from the past of what
is to come from what has happened. Such
being our rule of Judgment it is manifest,
that, as political abolition has yet done
nothing but injury to the cause it has TAX
en- in hand, and injury on an immense
scale, il will do nothing but injury in
time 10 come.
What does 'Junus' mean by the tout
break of political abolition in the free
States?' A little ambiguity here. If the
writer means that there was good deal of
talk in favor of emancpating the slaves in
those States which now hold slaves, and
which were originally OF the thirteen
previous to the emancipation acts by those
which are now free, shall not dispute him.
But he evidently does not mean this, be-
cause it would carry him too far back for
his present purpose. political abolition
has been carried out by the following States,
and in the following manner: Pennsylva-
MIA enacted law in 1880 for the gradual
abolition of slavery. Connecticut ip 1884;
Rhode Island in 1884; New York in 1899;
New Jersey in 1904; Vermont by Conslltu-
ton, in TIT; Massachusetts in 1880; and
New Hampshire in 1884. So says quot
alton used by William Slade in speech
delivered in Congress, January 1910. No
intelligent man will deny that, prior TO,
during it, and for some time subsequent to
the Revolutionary War, freedom was the
theme. AN men are created free and
equal,' was the declaration on which our
forefathers based their rebellion against the
British government. This was the time
that tried mems souls and they dared not,
in the face of this declaration to the world,
speak against the ultimate release of the
slaves, until prosperity had hardened their
hearts, and they, like Pharaoh of old, RE
fused to let the people co. What then
does the writer mean by this outbreak of
political abolition? take it for granted he
has reference 10 the organization of what
is now called the Third or Liberty Par
w. Let US then see how his arguments |
and pretended facts will bear investigation.
Nothing of much importance was done
towards organizing Liberty Party till
1910. So long ago as the year 1922, the
Legislature of South Carolina enacted the
following, which was in substance repeated
in December 1923, and from the report of
Committee made to Congress 10 January
last, seems to be still in force.
Sec. 8. And be 1t further enacted By
The authority aforesaid, That if any YES
sci shall come into any port or harbor OF
this State, from any other State or foreign
port, having on board any free negroes or
persons of color, as cooks, stewards, mar
iners, or in any other employment on
board Of said vessel, such free negroes or
persons of color shall be liable 10 be sez-
ed and confined in Jail, until said vessel
shall clear out and depart from this State;
and that, when said vessel is ready
to SAIL. the captain of said vessel
shall be bound TO carry away the said Tree
negro or free person of color, and to pay
the expenses of his detention; and, in case
of his nenLeci or refnsll so TO do be shall