The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-08-31
l will say then, that as an aboli,ionist |


prefer Mr.. Clay as the better man of tn
two, because even if personally equal
Objectionable with the other probable can
didate, yet his party relations and connec
, tons would determine my choice. Few
| apprehend, will have the hardhood t
deny that the Wings, as party, have
shown themselves more favorable TO the
cause OF the slave than their poitica
Opponents; and their position is such thai
they can with less difficulty cut loose from
slavery. The facts which establish this
assertion are too well known and under
stood 10 require either rehearsal or com.
men. l would not, then, under this view
of the subject, aid in throwing the polt-
ical power OF the Federal Government,
into the hands of those who, as party,
have stood in the attitude of hostility 10
The cause in question.
And here let me not be understood TO
assert that the Wings. even of this State,
are all they should be in relation to this
subject. do not believe they have yet
felt so forcibly as they will, how deeply
even their own interests are involved in
the question. But consider the controll-
ing majority of them TO be substantially
right. and that they have already done in
this State all that political action could do
to favor the cause Of the oppressed. And
| believe that in this and the other free
States they are, under the influence of
light and truth, sure y and steadily becom-
ing more and more firm in their convic-
tons of the importance of this subject, and
more and more settled and sincere in their
hatred of Southern oppression.
But granting what it would require no
common share Of audacity to assert, that
there is no preference, on this score, be,
tween the two great political parties that
the Wings have done and are doing no
more than their political opponents, and
no more hope for the future, in relation
to this subject, can be reposed in one par
ty than in the other, so that no motive
from this quarter could operate to decide
my preference-then should determine
my choice in view of Other-and, if you
please, minor and even tr,aimg consider
atoms. For, in the absence of higher
principles 10 govern me, tritling matters
should settle the point. And these would
decide my preference still for Mr.. Clay
But granting still further, not only that
all other political interests are trfing
when compared with The great interests
Of humanity here involved. but that the
other interests of the country are ALSO
lutely nothing-and even then should
only be driven to the position of neutral
ity without any possible motive TO do
0therwise than give him my vote.
|, however, protest against admitting it
as truth that all the great political inter.
ests of the nation, aside from those con-
nected with the subject of slavery, are
absolutely nothing. 1t will not do in
sober argument 10 let truth lie disguised
under a rhetorical flourish. The other
interests of the country are something
something in you' estimation, Mr.. Editor,
as well as in mine.
To meet you on your own ground,
suppose that some of your children were
bound in the chains Of Southern slavery,
and you saw no practicable method of
their immediate release; and
what would be the course you would
parsue2 Why, doubtless their redemp.
ton at the earies. possible period would
be uppermost in your mind, and you
would resort to the use OF every means
which you might suppose calculated to
hasten that period. But would you neg
lect all other worldly interests2 Would
you neglect to provide for the rest of your
family, and leave your remaining chill.
dren to grow up in ignorance and immor.
ality, and to suffer from hunger and ma
kedness and cold2 But it is rot neces.
sary that we should suppose strong fc-
tilious case, although even in that you
would not, think, come up to your own
standard. Let US then take things as
they really ore. Your brethren, your
kindred by the ties Of a common human
itv are groanino under an onnressive