Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-02
BIRNEY'S
CONNECTION with SLA VERY!

The Wings of the free States have long been
apparently determined to destroy the character and
reputation of JAMES G. BIRNEY, one of the purest
minded men in the nation, that they might elevate
Henry Clay, an inhuman oppressor, blood-thirs-
ty duellist, a black-leg and wne-bibber, to the
head Of this government; but not being able them
selves to bring a railing accusation against him,
and their craft being in danger, they have turned
despairingy to their ilIuSriou5 compeers, the
Shareholders of The South, uttered the touching APP
peal of BaaIam's ass, and raised the Macedonian
cry for help And 10! a response has come, In
the shape of letter from Kentucky Shareholder,
living in the neighborhood of Mr. Birney's former
residence, attempting to show that Mr.. Biney
sold his SLAVES after he turned abotioniS in order
to avoid puciniary loss And this charge is copied
by the northern press, especially that of the Wing
party, with an eagerness which shows that they
would rejoice in the fall of one of the brightest Or
naments of our race, if it would but aid in the cleo
ton of their vii candidate for the presidency-
Fortunately, however, for the cause of Truth, of
Righteousness, and Human Liberty, we are fur
nished with full and minute account of the whole
affair, from the pen of Mr. Birney himself, written
and published eight gears ago, not word of
which has ever been disproved or questioned. We
rejoice that, in the good providence of Cod the
friends, of freedom, of consistent Christianity and
moral purity, are thus armed with full and
truthful expose of Mr.. Brney's whole connection
with slavery that they may be able to thwart the
unhoIy designs of shareholders and their northern
services; and especially, that this account was
made public so long ago, that it is not liable to the
charge of being manufactured for the occasion.
The first charge in the Kentucky letter, is, tina
Mr.. Birney sold nearly all his slaves in Alabama
and retained but a remnant for emanci pation.-
By Mr.. Birney's letter. it will be seen that he dit
sell some slaves in Alabama; that he bought again
which last he afterwards emanci pated; all ofwhcl
was done gears before he became convinced tina
slavery was sin. Another charge is, that Mr.
: Brney tore away child from its mother on hi
removal from Alabama to Kentucky. By the let
ter it will be seen that Mr.. B. was DESTROYS o
carrying them both to Kentucky, in order to Civ
them their freedom; but that the woman, havn
formed an attachment for a negro in the neighbor
hood, utterly refused to go, and desired him t.
take the child-which he did, and emancipated ii
The last and most grievous accusation is, that M
Birney, one month after he had emanci pated hi
other slaves, sold young man, who was sent dow
: the river, and lis now loiling in hopeless bond
, agep and the certificate of Mr.. Tilford, VIII
. bought the slave of Mr.. Birney, is given to sub
! stantiate the charge. Upon this point, also, MI
Birney's letter is explicit. Notice: it was upo
y tho false representations of this same Mr.. Tfor
: that Mr.. Birney, some months previous to emar
n cpatng his slaves, gerry reluctantly purchased tn
: slave Charles, with distinct understanding this
If if he was Industrious and orderly, he might pu
chase his freedom-f not, he was to be sold agar
70 and when he became so troublesome as to make
e necessary to dispose of him, Mr.. Birney Above
y him to 60 and find his own master-made a sacr
y flee of $4,000 on him, and returned him to II
n very place from which he hal taken him! Ar
:. when Mr.. B. subsequently became sensible of Il
error he had committed against his principles (n
20 the injustice he had done to Charles,) and W
Sc anxious to retrieve his mistake, he was prevents
IN by the circumstance that Charles had been hast
y sold dotUn the riuer by this Mr.. Tilford who nc
v comes forward as the sole witness to impeach N
re Birney
to We say unhestatingly, that the history of Il
o. whole affair sheds new lustre upon the character
if Mr.. Birn ey for justice, humanity, and religic
Oh principle--and will elevate him in the affecti(
of all such as fear God and love His image.
we. se The fact that Mr., Birney subsequently emf
cpated twenty slaves, which fell to him fir
he his father-that he sought them in preference