The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-10


| He says they aim at other objects than
those they profess-emancipatlon in the
District of Columbia. No, says the Sen
ator, their object is universal emamcipa-
ton, not only in this District, but in the
Territories and in the States. Their OBJ
iect is to set free three millions Of negro
, slaves Who made the Senator, in his
place here, the censor of his fellow citizens!
Who authorized him to charge them with
other objects than those they profess p
How long is it since the Senator himself,
on this floor, denounced slavery as an evil?
What other inducements or objects had be
then in view2 Suppose universal eman-
cipaton to be the object of these petition.
ers; is it not noble and praiseworIhy OBJ
ject; worthy of the christian, The phllan-
lhropist, the statesman, and the citizen
But the Senator says, they 1.-THE petitioners
aim to excite one portion OF the country
against another. l deny, sir. this charge,
and call for the proof; ii is gratutous, I'm.
called for, and unjust toward my fellow
citizens This is the language ola slrlck>
en- conscience, seeking for the pallalion
OF its own acts, by charging guilt upon
others. 1. is the language Of those who,
failing in argument, endeavor 10 cast sus.
picion upon the character of their oppo.
ponents, In order to draw public attention
from themselves. 1t is the language of
disguise and conceament, and not that of
lair and honorable investigation, the OBJ.
Iject of which is truth. lagain put in
broad denial to this charge that any por-
ton oithese petitioners, whom represent
seek 10 excite one portion of the country
against another; and without proof / cam
4 not admit that the assertion of the honora-
Bile Senator establishes the fact 1t is but
opinion, and naked assertion only. The
Senator complains that the means and
views of the abolttlonists are not confined
TO securing the right of petition only; no,
they resort to other means, he afirms TO
the BALLOT BOX; and if that tail,
says the Senator, their next appeal will be
to the BAYONET. Sir no man who is
an American in feeling and in heart, but
ought to repel this charge instantly, and
without any reservation whatever, that if
they fail at the ballot box they will resort
20 the bayonet. If such fratricida course
should ever be thought of in our country,
it will not be by those who seek redress OF
wrongs, by exercising the right of petition,
but by those only who deny that right to
others, and seek to usurp the whole power
ofgovernment. If the ballot box fail them
the bayonet may be their resort, as MODS
and violence now are. Does the Senator
believe that any portion of the honest yeo,
manry of the country entertain such tho't ?
hope he does not. If thoughts Of this
kind exist. they are 10 be found in the
hearts of aspiranls to office, and their ad,
herents and none others. Who, sir, is
making this question political affair 3
Not the petitioners. 1t was the slavehold.
ing power which first made this move |
have noticed for some time past that ma
ny of the public prints in this city, as well
as elsewhere, have been filled with ESSAYS
against abollionists for exercising the
r rights of (reemen.
APPLY THE BALLOT BOX.
Both political parties, however, have
courted them in private and denounced
them in public, and both have equally de-.
ceived them. And who dare say that an
aboIi;ionist has no right to carry his prin-
cipes to the ballot boz? Who fears the
ballot boz? The honest in heart, the low
,, er of our country and its insttltons2 No
sir !! 1t is feared by the tyrant; he who
usurps power, and seizes upon the liberty
of others; he, for one fears the ballot box.
Where is the slave TO party ia this coun-
try who is so lost TO his own dignity, or
so corrupted by interest or power, that he
does not, or will not, carry his principle
and his judgment into the ballot box g.
Such an one ought 10 have the mark OIL
Cain in his forehead and be sent to labor
t among the negro slaves Of the south. The
, honorable Senator seems anxious to take
under his care the ballot box, as he has
the slave system of the country, and direc
( who shall or who shall not use it for d
: redress Of what they deem political
: grievance. Suppose the power Of the
| Executive chair should take under its care
$ the right of voting, and should prescribe
any portion of our citizens who shoE Id
carry with them to the polls of election
! their own opinions, creeds, and doctrines
. This would at once be death blow to oul
r liberties, and the remedy could only b.
D found in revolution. There can be no ex
S cuse or pIetext for revolution while the
= ballot box is free. Our Government is
l.. not one of force, but of principle; its Ioun
= datlon rests on public opinion, and its
hope is in the morality of the naion.-
S The moral power of tina, oflhe ballot box
: is sufficient to correct all abuses. Let me
q then, proclaim here, from this high arena
: to the citizens not only of my own State
5 but TO the country, to all sects and partie:
!. who are entitled TO the right of suffrage
S to the ballot box! carry with you honestly
. YOUR own sentiments rpSneclinn the wei