Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-03
the rights existing between the master and

1t follows, therefore, that the slave, when
he reaches our territory, becomes at once
reinstated in the enjoyment of all his natu-
raj rights which belonged TO him while IN
Africa. 1t is true that we lend him no pro-
lection against his MASTER but we leave nm
to defend himself with all the means in his
power. He may, for this purpose, provide
himself with weapons If there be two or
more of them together, they may unite their
efforts to defend themselves; and III all re-
spects put forth their physical powers to the
same extent that they could do were they
on the soil of their native land. l am aware
that many of our people think it wrong to
do any thing by which the slave shall learn
his rights. With such disagree. it
were in my power, every person should
know his rights the moment he touches our
soil. To withhold from this knowledge,
would aid his master in regainlng him.
We are under no constitutional, legal or
moral obligation thus to aid the MASTER
therefore, every means we may use for that
purpose makes MS partakers Of his guilt
On the contrary, we are under every moral
obligation to use all our efforts and influence
to the advancement of justice and liberty,
so far as we can, without offending against
the laws of our country. 1t is on this prIn-
cple that every citizen Of our State, wheth-
err he be Judge, justice of the peace, or any
other State officer, incurs as much moral
| guilt when he assists a master IN retaking
slave, as he would were he TO go with the
master to Africa, and aid him in capturing
and bringing into slavery the inhabitants
of that unhappy land. 1t must be yltiated
state ofpublic opinion that regards them in
any other light. The offence against man
kind is the same in either case and intend
that no false deicacy shall deter me from
an unreservcd expression Of our rights
One of these rights is to inform every per-
son within our borders of all his legal priv
f ileges. | would as soon take from slave
his physical powers of defence, as | would
rob him of his moral power | would as
soon bind his body in chains, as would
bind his intellect in ignorance. But while
the slave enjoys these natural rights, the
master has his constitutional and legal
privileges; and these we are bound also to
respect and observe. The master may en-
ter our State, and pass through 1t in pursuit
of his fugitive slave, and we have not the
constitutional power to prohibit him. As
individuals, we may refuse HIM admission
to our dwellings, or we may deny him the
rights of hospitality we may regard him
with horror, and teach our children TO de-
test him; but he may nevertheless, travel
our roads, and may arrest his slave in our
presence; aud may bind him, if necessary,
and transport him back to the State from
whence he escaped. We have no right to
, interfere for the slaves protection, although
our sympathies may be excited in his favor.
On this subject our faith is pledged, and
must not be violated But while we hermit
the master to do this, we do not protect him
in dong it. Far from it. When he enters
, our State TO arrest his fugitive slave, 50 far
as they t,oo are concerned, he does it at his
own peril, as much as he would if he we're
to go to Africa to kidnap native of that
country. He has no law to protect him,
/ and must depend upon physical force; yet
he must respect the rights of our people,
He must not violate the sanctity of our pri-
waite dwellings, nor must he violate the pub
t lie peace. He may lay gentle hands" up
5 on the slave-he may arrest and secure him
but we are under no obligation to furnish
him the use of our prisons, or TO guard his
, captive for him. If the slave defends him
self, the master is not thereby authorized to
shoot or kill him as he would if in slave
f State. Should he do that, it would con-
s,itute murder under our law, for which he
would be hanged, the same as though he
had killed freeman After he has arres-
ted the slave, he cannot compel him to per-
form any mental service whatever, nor can
he legally beat or chastise him. Should he
do this, he may be arrested and punished
for the assault and battery. The masters
power extends so far as is necessary to ar.
rest and take back his Sldoe; beyond this
he cannot go. But he may do every thing
to effect this object peaceably. Here his
rights terminate But this he does at his
own peril and if the slave, in defending
himself, kill his master, it is a matter in
which we have no concern. Yet he must
6 not do it wantonly or unnecessarily Should
he beat of his master, and, while the master
is retreating, shoot him, that too, would
be murder, and we should then hang the
/, slave.
These are some of the rights of the mas
ter, and of the slave, while within our
State; and it will be observed by every reader,
that il is matter entirely bttUcen Themselves
, 1t is subject in which our people are I'M
, der no obligation TO interfere. If the slave
, drive back the master when attempting
, to arrest him, there is no moral or legal
; duty resting upon MS to step into the mas
ter's aid. There is no such stipulation con-
tanned in our Constitution. The patriots
who framed that charter of American liberty
: made no such degrading compromise for
the people ofthe free States. Yet, by the
> Constitution, our State is made the race
f ground over which the master may pursue
his slave; and may use every means to ar