The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-07-05

VIOLATIONS OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
UED.
Mr.. EDITOR proceed to notice, brief.
ly, some Of the instances in which the PEG.
pie of the free States have been involved in
the disgrace of slavery. In my first num-
Der alluded TO the unanimous declaration
by these States of The seL>euident truth,
THAT MAN is BORN FREE, AND Is ENDOWED
BY HIS CREATOR WITH THE INALIENABLE
RIGHT OF LIFE. LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS" Every act OF our Federal
Government, which denies 10 our fellow men
these rights, exhibits to the world an incon.
sistency. and renders Us obnoxious to the
charge of Hypocrisy. The first act OF gross
inconsistency, on the part of the Federal
Government, was the act of Congress, ap-
proved 9Th February, 1901, by which sIa-
very and the slave trade were re-establish>
ed, continued, and are now supported in
tho District Of Columbia. Under that law,
The people of the free States have for forty
years been involved in The disgrace of the
slave trade, which, during that period, has
been carried on in the city of Washington.
At an carly day, il was found that the
slaves of The south escaped 10 the British
Yves, India Islands, TO Mexico, and to Can
ada. Our Government espoused the cause
Of the Shareholders, and opened CORES.
pondelce with Great Britain and Mexico,
in order TO obtain an arrangement with
those Governments for the return Of such
slaves thus endeavorlng 10 make the Fed
eral Government and the free States the
protectors of slavery, and holding out 10 the
world that it was a national institution, in
palpabe violation of the constitution, and Of
every dictate Of justice. In 1885 the peo-
pie of Florida sent representation to Gen.
eral jackson, that the slaves of that Terri>
tory, and Of the adjoining States, we're in
the habit of fleeing from their masters and
taking refuge with the Seminole Indians
Our troops, paid by the Federal Govern
ment in money drawn from the people Of the
north, were ordered there, and we're literal
ly made the catchpoles Of shareholders; thus
making the capture eff fugitive slaves the
business ofthe nation, and involving the
people Of the free States in its disgrace
mentioned in a former number the fact
that, by order of the War Department. a
gunboat went up the Apalachicola river for
the purpose Of destroying fort in which fu-
giiive slaves had taken refuge, and that two
hundred and seventy human beings were
murdered in cold blood by the agents of our
Government, paid by the freemen Of the
north.
In this extraordinary transaction, our peo-
pie of the free States were involved in The
disgrace Of numbering fugitive slaves.
The efforts which our Government put
forth 10 obtain indemnity for the owners of
slaves who escaped 20 the British army du-
ring the late war, led that nation, and the
civilized world, 10 believe that slavery was
a national institution. sustained by the free
States as we'll as the slave States, and we
were consequently involved in all the odium
of slavery. The exsrtions of our Govern.
ment TO prevent the abolition of slavery in
Cuba, and thus 10 stop the progress Of hu- |
man liberty, involved the people of The free |
States in all the disgrace attached TO that
transaction. The spirited /
manner in which our Government espoused !;
The cause of the slave dealers, who owned |
lhe cargoes of the Comet and Encomium,
brought upon the people of the free States
all the ignominy attached to The supporters
,f :he slave trade.
But the honor of the free States has suf-
Tered most deeply from the restraints placed
Upon our people by the force Of public SEN
iment among ourselves. This state of pub
ic opinion originated in the patriotism Of
he northern States Prior to the formation
IF our Constitution. our people felt the alb.
,olcte necessity ola confederated Govern.
nent, with more ample powers than existed
under the old confederation. To obtain
his, they were ready and willing to make
Georgia and South Carolina
would no, adopt the Constitution, unless