The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-07-20
V OIL. V. NO. 4.

The slow notes of The clock fell up
on the multitude; peal on peal, peal
Oh peal, rolled over the PROSTATE
throng, in tones of angels voices,
thrilling among the dcsolate chords
and weary heart strings. Scarce had
the clock sounded its last note, when
the Lightning flashed wildly around,
and a loud peal Of thunder roaled
along the sky-God's pillar of fire,
and trump Of jubilee A moment
Of proioundest silence passcd-tlcn
came the barst-they broke forth in
prayer; they shouted, they sung,
"Glory," " aIleluia )" they clapped
their hands, leaped up, fell down,
clasped each other in their free aims,
cried, laughed, and went to and fro,
tossing upward their unlettered
hands; but high above the whole
there was mighty sound which ever
and anon swellcd up; it was the ut
terings in broken negro dialect Of
gratitude loGod.
After this gush Of excitement had
spent itself, and the congregation be-
came calm, the religious exercises
were resumed, and the remainder OF
the night was occupied in singing
and prayer, i'll reading the Bible, and
IN addresses flom the missionaries
explaining the nature of the freedom
just received, and exhorting the freed
people to be industrious, steady, obe-
dent to the laws, and to show them
selves in all things worthy Of the high
boon which God had conferred upon
them.
The first of August came on Fri
day, and release was proclaimed
from all work until the next Monday.
The day was chiefly spent by the
great mass Of the negroes in the
churches and chapels. ThilhcI they
flocked rs clouds, and as doves to
their windows" The clergy and
missionaries throughout the island
were actively engaged, selling the
opportunity in order to enIi9htcn he
people on all the duties and response
bilItics Of their new relation, and u
bove all, urging them to the attain
ment Of that higher liberty with
which Christ maketh his children flee.
In every quarter we were assured
that the day was like Sabbath
Work had ceased; the hum Of bus
mess was still, and noise and lunuLr
were unheaid Oh the sheets. Tran
guilty pervaded the towns and cotm-
try. A Sabbath indeed when the
wicked ceased from troubling, and
The weary were at rest, and the slave
was free from his master! The
planters informed Us that they went
to the chapels where their own peo-
pie We're assembled, greeted them,
shook hands with Them, and OK
changed the most hearty good wish
cs.
We were told by the missionaries
that the dlcss Of the negroes on that
occasion was unconmonly simple
and modest. There was not The
least disposition to gaiety.
We were also informed by planters
and missionaries in every part Of the
island, that there was not Il single
dance known Of, either day or night,
nor so much as a fiddle Played
There were no riojous assemblies,
no drunken carousals. it was not
in such channels that the excitement
of the emancroated flowed. They
were as far from dissi paiion and de- =
bauche1y, asthey were from violence
and carnage. GRATITUDE was the
absorbing emotion. From he bill
tops, and the valleys, the cry OF
l!senlhraIled people went upward
like the sound OF many waters, " Clio
~ to God, glory TO God"
IIN o ~ L Il D G E.