The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-03-21

lest that should imply assent TO the lde
that the importance Of the case lies in
station, or a personality, rather than
principle.
But, secondly, much more import
ant remark is, that Mr.. H., in his concep
ton OF the circumstances, annexes TO tn
facts | stated, a new one, distinct from ant
not implied in them, and contrary to thu
reality. l refer to his staten ens begin
ming thus: 1t takes taoo 10 make bar
gain. If Gerrit: Smith should will me {
hundred acres Of land, must accept o
it, before it can be NINE, SC. Now, i
this is taken in legal sense, the reverse
is, obviously, the fact and if taken to i'm
ply, with respect to the individual to whom
in this case the circumstances pertain
more than legal relation, the reverse is,
equally the fact. The truth | hold to be-
and this harmonizes with the circumstan.
ces originally presented, that the indi-
vidual alluded to did, By no act, in the
entire progress of the occurrences, rsceive
or hold a telloU being, as property. This
essential mislake-l call it-runs through
every subsequent paragraph in which
Mr.. Fl. contemplates that topic, and forms
the chief ground of what he impules as
'sin,' sanction to slavery and the like.
Mr.. Hocomb, undertaking, with praise.
worthy motive, 10 handle The case pro.
posed, seems, inadvertently, to have treated
Of one not identical with it. in that essen.
ial element. This does not, in the least,
preclude his addressing himself 10 the
Ease, anew, under the important correc-
ion have suggested. My own appre.
lension continues to be, that the facts, as
Jet forth, when correctly understood, offer
| fair field for all the &C umen that may
'e exercised upon them.
Thirdly,-respecting the la,o Of Geor.
yia. This, Mr.. Holcomb, as far as nv |
ecollection extends, has quoted correctly |
But, respecting the effect of the law, in
his particular transaction, he is mistaken |
And, now, can not trust my pen with |
n exposition-liable, of course, by some |
Contingency, to find its way to place
where might not wish it public, of the
aspects in which the slaveholding legis-
ators have failed TO complete their inlen-
on. - for, bad as the law is, l am not
onGdent it might not be made worse
However, the thing, in its real spirit, can
G made Ineligible, thus: the laws of
Georgia imposed on this individual n
over to do his fellow being great
'rong. He, refusing 10 exercise the legal
oaoer, has taken the most e6ectuol means
ossible that no other person, non or here.
tter, shall be competent TO do It,
One Misrepresentation, farther, will be
il that | design TO notice. In my second
uestion | did not mean 10 ask, whether
umanity can ever justify man in doing
,rOng, but whether, in these specific cir
humanity and every other
Ugh moral principle did not harmonize
With the course actually pursued. My
wording of the question, l believe, was
90 abstract and might lead to an unblame.
Bile mistake.
AS to explanations called for, on my
art, or on the part of any other man,
now Of none, Except that in saying the
olored man could qDrite, | misconceived
pom an immaterial point. The exact
act | find to be that he can read The
asst is as good for my purpose - to show
he general intelligence of the man - as
he first would b.. Mr.. H. would, doubt.
ass. conceive, in the light of a circrm-
lance he undertakes 10 allude to, that the
words "his wife, should be omitted in
he sentence which speaks of exile from
ountry. friends, &c. do not see ne
essity for change; but, if Mr.. H. pre-
,rs, l will grant him the erasufe. L!
fleets no principle of the case. That
,ill stand, and does stand, as | originally
resented it, in every importan: particu.
ar
In thus responding to Mr.. Holcomb I
ave acted, it has been perceived, from
Their feelings than those Of obligation to
o it. And if in my own case, who first
al