The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-08

M | S G Z L L A N Y
For the Voice Of Freedom.
LETTER TO e. ID. COLVER.

Dear Sir, -Having been favored with the
privilege Of listening to your address at the
Wing Convention assembled at Castleton,
and being myself firmly attached to the car.
dinal principles of the Wing party as we
have been wont 10 set them forth, (at least
in the north and as much Of your address
was given for the benefit Of that unfortun>
ate 'one idea class, called aboli,ionists,
with whom chance to sympathize, and also
doubling that MIR Clay IS the complete en-
bodiment Of all the {Norlhern) Wing prin-
ciples,' or even the just exponent of most
Of them, as they are set forth in our popular
harangues, so repeatedly sent out to the
people to act on the public mind--in con-
sderaton of this have taken the liberty to
PROFOUND few questions growing out of re-
marks made in the course of the address be-
fore alluded to, and respectfully request you
10 give such an answer, as your time will
allow, and the importance of the subjects
embraced demand. In the first place, you
doubtless recolect saying, that you would
not have Mr. Clay free his slaves al present,
even if he were so disposed, for then his
motives would be assailed. Now Sir, wish
to inquire, if by any approved standard of
morals we are authorized to continue 10
kno,un SIN Jcr day, because if we should
at once abandon the evil we should be term>
ed hypocritical and it should be said that
our motives were selfish? OF one thing |
am sure, the voice of inspiration says touch
not of the unclean thing
Again in the course of your remarks, you
endeavor TO prove that Mr. Clay must be op-
posed to slavery from the fact that he once
was in favor Of abolition. Now sir, let me
ask, what should we think of the assertion,
that man must be favorable to christianity
because once he was professor of religion,
although in the face of this he no1o delights
to rev:le the name Of Jesus, and denies the
authority Of his word Yet as well might
you say this, as TO say that Henry Clay has
heart that feels for his oppressed country
men or desires 10 see their burdens removed
and they enjoy the sacred boon of freedom,
having their rights secured by the same
laws under the broad shield Of which, we
find such ample protection. If this is the
case, why his anxiety TO separate The frends
of the right Of petition from the abolition
lists? Why does he rejoice that neither of
the great political parties have any design
TO affect the abolition of slavery? Why
say that 300 years have sanctifed Amer
can slavery 2 tina, the sun spreads darkness
over the earth at mid day--provc that light
and darkness are the same but attempt not
10 prove that Mr. Clay is friend to univer,
sal freedom or feels for suffering humanity
unless the victim be entirely Invested of a
sable hue.
Again, you assure us that by the eleva.
ton of Mr. Clay, we shall secure the tri
umph of Wing principles. Now Sir, this
position it seems 10 me is false in fact, ant
fatal and delusive in its tendencies. Isi, as
it regards the tariff so long as it is southern
influence, and southern men that go for It's
defeat, especially if il carries the Smales
feature Of protection 10 northern interests
and so long as the interests of slave labor
are Numerically opposed to fcw,-then tel
me il by clevating man who is the open
and avowed advocate Of slavery we do moi
lend our influence TO strengthen and perpet
uatc power which has always been WELD.
ed fol the destruction of northern interests
I'd. The right of petition. Now it will
be admitted by all that the South have new.
er objected to the right of petition except
.unon tho subipct of sIavaru. mr. connoctad