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

against it. Agains; it, Divine Revelation
launches its thuoders The voice of God
condemns it, in the deep p aces of the hui
man heart. The woes and wrongs unut-
terable which attend this dreadful viola
ton of natural justice--the stripes-the
torlares-the sunderings of kindred-the
desoat of human at1ectons-the I'M
chastity and lusl-lhe toll unCompensated-
the abrogated marriag e-the Iegaized
healhenism-the burial of the mind-are
but the mere incidentals of the first grand
outrage-that seizure oflhe entire man
nerve, sinew, and spirit, which robs him
OF his body, and God of his soul. These
are but the natural results and outward
demonstrations OF slavery - the crystali-
cations from the CHATTEL PRINCIPLE.
1t is against this system, in its active
operation upon three millions OIL our coun-
trymen, that the Liberty party is, for the
present, directing all its efforts. With
such an object well may we be men of
one idea. Nor do we neglect other
great interests for all are colored and
controlled by slavery, and The removal of
this disastrous influence would most eff
fecuaIy benefit them.
Political action is the result and imme-
date object of moral suasion on this sub
iect. Action - action - is the spirits
means Of progress, lis sole test of recti-
tude its only source Of happiness. And
should not decided action follow our deep
convictions of the wrong Of slavery 3
Shall we denounce the Shareholders of
the Safes, while aOe retain our slavery in
the District OF Columbia? Shall we pray
that the God of the oppressed will TURN
the hearts of the rulers in South Caro-
lima. while qce, the rulers of the District,
refuse to open the prisons, and break up
the sIage-markets on its ten miles square ?
God keep US from such hypocrisy Eve
ry body now, processes 10 be opposed TO
slavery. The leaders of the two great po
liticaI parties are grievousIy concerned
lest the purity of The anl-slavery enter
prise will suffer in its connection with
politics. In the midst of grossest pro-
slavery action, they are full of anti slave
ny SENTIMENT They love the cause, but,
on the whole, think it too good for this
world. They would keep it sublimated,
aloft, out of vulgar reach or use altogeth-
err, intangible as Magellan's clouds
Every body will join US in announcing
slavery IN The 0bS:ract-not a faithless
priest nor politician will oppose us;-l
abandon action, and fOrsooth we can
have an abolition INTERCHANGEABLE wolf
shall lie down with the Iamb-whIe
SLAVERY IN PRACTICE clanks, in
derson, its three millions of unbroken
chains. The Gays, the Van Burens, the
Athertons, are all "Aboitionists in the
abstract" They have no fear of the
harmless spectre of an abstract idea
They dread it only when it puts on the
flesh and sinews of practical reality, and
lifts lis right arm in the strength which
God giveth to do, as well as theorize.
AS honest men, then, we must needs
act; let US do so as becomes men engag-
ed in great and solemn cause. Not by
professions and idle parades, and spas,
modic enthusiasms-by shallow tricks,
and shows, and articles, can a cause like
ours be carried onward, Leave these to
parties con'endln2 for Office, as the 'spolls
of victory We need not DISCUSSES, nor
false pretences, nor subterfuges; enough
for us to present before our fellow coun-
trymen the holy truths olfrecdom. in their
unadorned and native beauty. Dark as
the present may seem, let US remember
with hearty confidence, that Truth and
Right are destined to triumph. Let US
blot ont the word discouragement from
the anti.slavery vocabulary. Let the enc
mics Of freedom be discouraged; let the
advocates CT oppression despair; but let
those who grapple with wrong and false
hood, in the name Of God, and ia the pow
OF His truth, take courage. Slavery must
die. The Lord hath spoken it. The vi
ais Of his hot dispIeasure, like those which
chaSlised the nations in the Apocalyptic
vision, are smoking, even now, above its
'habtations Of cruelty II can no lon
ger be borne with by Heaven. Univer-
sal humanity cries out against it. Let US
work, then, 10 hasten its downfall, doing
whatsoever our hands find to do, with all
our might Truly your friend,
JoHN G. WHITTIER.
II.I'f