The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-11-02
Letter of John JAY.

true sentiments OF Mr.. Jay we copy INT
following letter written to the Editor o
The Albany Patriot.
New YORK. October 9th, l843 }
Office, No. SIS WaIl-street.
SIR this morning received copy
of the Albany Patriot, of The 26lh of Sep.
TENDER, containing an editorial account Of
the proceedings OF the estate Liberty
Party Convention" lately held at Canas
tota, N. Y, in hch fiud The following
passage:
"Mr. Dresser Horace Dresser. Esq
Of NewYork,) also assailed JOHN JAY,
William jays son, for aiding a savehod-
err by legal advice to get IA sIave-woman
into his power. His inference was,
that :" if John Jay was chip of the old
block, the block needed TO be looked to-"
hope that charge so damning TO The
character Of an aboi,onisi, would require
no denial with those who knew me but
it is no less my duty on that account to
notice it, when it has been thus publicly
made in my absence 10 body Of men pro-
Tossing the same anli.savery principles,
which lopenIy avowed ten years ago, and
which | nave ever siuc9 consistently
maintained. | ask leave, therefore, in
your columns 10 pronounce it ABSOLUTE
LY FALSE. and TO deny, as To most er-
ptacltly, MatI haze ecer gtcen legal ad'
cjce, or rendered iegaL or other aid d.
rectly or indirectly, against The freedom
n Hu3i Sj1re 3pb 1tpror
1t is unnecessary for me to remark up
on The character OF this attempt 10 shake
the confidence of aboitionis's, IN the pu-
rty of my fathers principles, by SANDER
ousIy representing his son as the abetior
Of a slavecatcher. But lest it might be
supposed by any, fom the boldness Of
this statement, that am at all Indifferent
to the high and holy claims which fu9i-
tives from the pri:on-house of slavery
have upon the Christian jewellers in our
Free States, [ may perhaps be allowed to
say, that | have always rtjojced, and al
ways will rejoice at every opportunity, OF
aiding with food, clothing, money and adj
vice, the sell-emancipated slave, weary
and way-worn, in his search for 1.-The in
allenable ghts OF life. liberty and the pur.
suit Of happiness" l have brought 10 the
notice OF the public, the illegal tamperng
Of slave catchers with some of our judicial
Officers, and have used every exeition to
obtain the indictment of Police Justice
and Marshal in this city, for violating the
provisions Of the Statute, against kIdnap
ping. | look with disgust and inIigna-
ton upon those members Of my profess
ion who occasionally assist southern
masters, or their northern hreiugs, in re-
capturing their felIow-couutry men, who,
born with the same right 10 freedom as
themselves, have, after a life of bondage,
but just begun to taste its swee!s; for | can
not help regarding the sIavehunlers of
America, as second only in inflmy-if
indeed they are second at ALTO the slave
hunters OF Africa.
Should any attempt be made TO subsan-
tate The charge, that ever "aided a
Shareholder by legal advice" or by any
other means ITO get a slave. woman into
his power Ut will be time enough Tor
me 10 descend to particulars, and to show
that in every transaction in which have
been engaged touching the liberty Of fu-
gitiVes from slavery, my conduct has
been such as TO bring no diShonor upon
my fathers principles or on mine own.
am, Sir, very respectfully, your ODE.
dient servant, JOHN JAY.
To the Editor Of " THE ALBANY PAT
RIOT"