The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-18

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ma and engaged in planting.n the neigh
borhood of Huntsville. He afterwards re.
sumed his profession in Huntsville, and
in addition to large and lucrative private
practice, held for several years the Office
OF solicitor general, of northern Alabama,
and was looked 10 as one of the most ris-
ing men of his age in the State. He was
elected by the legislature one of the trus-
tees Of the State University, and by the
Board was commissioned to visit the North
and procure officers and teachers for the
College. He was also a candidate for
presidential eector, in 1928. along with
the Hon. Mr.. Dellet, now member of
Congress from Alabama. He served al
SO, one year in the Legislature of Alabama
and aided in eecting Col. Kim 10 the
United States Senate. He had before
teen member Of the legislature Of his
native State.
In 1926 great change took place in
his religions views, and he united with
the Presbyterian church, of which he
has ever since been an exemplary mem.
Der. In humility, placableness, D6hevo-
lence, and conscientious uprightness, he
has eminently adorned his Christian pro-
fession. His religious feelings soon d.
rected his thoughts 10 the evil of slavery,
and he embraced the colonization scheme
looking on it ''as germ of effort capable
Of expansion adequate to our largest me-
cessities in the determination of slavery"
In 832 his zeal in the cause led him 10
give up his profession and become an a.
gent for the American Colonization Socie'
ty, and great expectations were formed by
the managerstr from his talents and fidelity
But his hope of enlisting the philanthro-
py of shareholders in favor Of the slaves,
was taken away by bitter experience, and
after years labor, with little success, he
left the work, and removed bis family
back to Kentucky, with deliberate reso-
luton there to make stand against slave
ry. In December 1888, he, with eight
others, all shareholders, formed society
al Lexington for the relief of the Stale
from slavery. by adopting the post natl
priuci2Ie, i. e.. to free the children of the
slaves as soon as they were of age. Of
this scheme he became the ardent and &C.
tive advocate, until experience taught him
its ineficacy. In January. 1884, he was
chosen one of the vice presidents of the
Kentucky Colonization Society. His
mind was necessarily occupied with the
subject of slavery, reading every work he
could lay his hands on, and talking of
in all circles. About this time he was
elected one OF the trustees Of the Presby-
terrain college at Danville, and an arrange
ment was made for his permanent en-
gagement 10 the college as a professor;
but some timid friends becoming alarmed
lest his opinions on slavery should injure
the institution, he at once, with character
islic disinterestedness, su omitted the mat
ter to the discretion of the faculty. Their
decision that it was expedient for him not
10 hold the Office, made no alteration in
his friendly feelings towards them or the
college; for at a subsequent period of ex-
element when il was feared the college
would suffer from the aboliionism of
Professor Munsell and Buchanan, he Of
fered to pay fifty dollars each to ten young
men of good character who desired nm
education and were unable to meet the ex-
penSe.
We now come to the commencement of
his new career, which has made him in
the sight of this nation and of the world,
the foremost practical lahore. in the cause
of immediate emancipation. Early in
the summer of 1884, his mind became
fully settled on the great truths of The sin
fuIness of slavery, and the duty Of imme,
date emancipation. He forthwith en1an-
oil 81 vi
Of July addressed long letter 20 the Rev.
Thornton J. Mills, secretary Of the Ken
lucky Colonization Society, resigning his
Office in tina! society, and giving the rea
sons of his new position,
This letter had a very wide circulation,
and produced powerful impression. The
Huntsville (Ala) Advocate, August ID,
said Of it Mr. Birney was for a long
time citizen OF our town, and his talents,
his attainments rs a scholar, his happy
and fluent pen, his pure aud uneXceplion.
able morals, had won a high degree Of re-
Spect and esteem from all classes Of Socie-
ty' Mr. Garrison, in the Lberaor. spoke
of it as one of the most important docu,
ments that the anti-savery cause has yer
produced in this country it contains no
thing superAuous, nothing tame as
it is chaSte, vigorous and eI'
oquent its logic is clear, compact, irwin
chile From the eloquent conclusion We
copy a sentence admirably expressing the
two great classes Of considerations by
which he was moved
when recur to my own observation,
thrauuh a life nj mora than fortv wears NJ
the anti-repu5lican tendencies Of slavery,
and take up our most solemn state paper,
and there see that all men are created
equal, and have right that is nalenabIe,
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi-
ness | feel settled conviction of mind
ihal Slnunr1. &c il nYlsIs nmnnn is Is On