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

weak TO the expressions of the powerful.
In the year 1889, Mr. Birney visited hi
aged father, from whom he had been sew
eral years separated by the excitement o
the times. His reception was very cor
dial from all his friends, including TIT
late Gov, Clarke and many other leading
men of Kentucky. His father was anx
ious TO make arrangements for his on J
son to return and live with him in hi
| old age, but all calculations of this kline
were terminated by the death of Mr. Biz
ney Senior, soon after he had enjoyed lhi
gratifying visit of his son.
His father having died without will
he and brother-in-law were The only
persons legally interested in the estate
AT his request, in division of the estate
the slaves, twenty-one in number, were
all set off 10 him; and as soon as the ne
cessary documents could be executed, he
sci them all free. He was thus enabled
to execute a purpose formed long before,
of freeing all his fathers slaves at his own
expense. The deed of emancipation is as
! follows:
KNOW ALLMEN BY THESE PRESENTS,
That l, James G. Birney, late Of Ken
tucky, but mow havjmg my residence in
the city Of NeaO York. believing that slave
holding is Inconsistent with natural Justice,
with the precepts and spirit of the Chris.
tian religion, and with the declaration oil
American independence, and wishing to
testify in favor of them all, do hereby
emancipate, and forever set free, The fol.
lowing named slaves, which have come
in my possession, as one of The heirs of
my father the late JAMES BlRNEY, of
jefferson County, Kentucky, they beng
all the slaves held by said JAMES BIRNEY,
deceased, at the time Of his death.
Then follow their names and descrip-
tons, and the deed concludes In tesli.
mony ofthe above have hereunlo sci my
name aud affixed my seal, this third day
OF September, in the year OF our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
JAMES G. BlRNEy. (Seal)
And this, Christian reader, is the man
for whom, as candidate for the presidency
of the United States, the slave so;cits you;
support. Shall we have it.
In 1910, Mr. Birney attended the first
Worlds Convention in London, and
was one of the vice presidents of that au.
gust body. He spent some months in
England, travelling, and attending public
meetings. He also visited the green Isl.
and, and the place of his fathers nativity.
but found, we believe, only one member
remaining of his fathers flmily-an aged
aunt, who was garruIous in recountlng
the good qualities and boyish adventures
of jamie, before he went to America
At Dublin he was introduced by Mr. o.
Council upon the platform of the Corn
Exchange, as his dlsting uished friend
from America, and man worthy of the
highest honors his country could bestow.
Since his return, he has retired upon the
shattered remnant of fortune which eman-
cipalion, and suretyship, and seven years
devotion to the labors of philanthropy
have left. consisting of trac; of new land
on the Saginaw river, in Michigan, where
he has hardened his hands by literal toll
such as his distinguished slaveholdiog
competitors would thlnK only belonged TO
SlaUes either white or black.
Mr. Birney abandoned the pursuits of
political distinction when he yielded to
what he believed TO be the dictates OF re.
ligion, in Withdrawing from all other la
bots 10 devote his life 10 the deliverance of
his country from the curse Of slavery
But when, in 1889, sound philosophy and
bitter experience had together taught the
wsest of the abolilionists the folly of hop.
ing for any great good from parties al
ways and necessarily subjec. to the dicta-
lion OF Shareholders, their minds were
turned upon BTney. as the proper repre-.
sentative of their principles and objects,
and worthy 10 be the first man elevated to
the presidency for the glorious purpose
of overlhrowing the political power of
slavery.