Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-05-31
ODDrpSSiOn in Illinois,

Just as our paper was ready for the press, we
received letter from the Rev. John Cross, in
which we are informed that he is ncarcerated in
the Jail at Knoxville He is imprisoned there for
the henous crime of feeding the hungry and pro-
tecting the weak and deenceless, "against the
peace and dignity Of the people Of Illinois! He is
imprisoned for this act. IN THE NAME AND
BY THE AUTHORITY of the people of Iii
nois." Hear that, We people of Illinois; you have
cast into foul and loathsome cell, the place for
felons and mnrdorers, ono of your most respecta-
Bile and worthy citizens, minister of Christ and
the gospel of everlasting peace; and there you
are now holding him. for aiding and comforting
mother and her little children in their distress, and
shielding them from their oppressor,--tor doing
what common humanity caims-what our
own consciences and innate sense of right approve
-aChat the law Of God absolutely reqmreS-but
what the law of this State forbids and Furnishes as
crime. And this high handed act of despotism is
done for the defense of slavery in the free %
State of Illinois. Hear that, We liberty loving and
boastng citizens of Illinois. One of your, own
citizens is now in prison on an indictment
which charges him with secreting "said cOlored
children" from the lawful owner" Andrew Bor-
ders, of Randolph county, in the State of Illinois
Is Illinois a free State? are yOu free?
| Such acts of oppression are committed in the
name of the people, and by the law while the po-
litca parties of this State will not raise their little
fingers to remove those burdens from the people,
and the deep and damning disgrace from the State
but rather add injury and insult to the victims of
this oppresson, and those who are striving to wipe
the disgrace from the statute-book. The demo-
cratic and wing parties of this State, and those
who vote with them, are responsible for the slave
ry of Illinois, her laws which are black with mi
putty, and for the recent act of imprsonng the
Rev. John Cross. Leading politicians of the par
ties will do nothing to redeem the character of the
State, while they are quarrelIing about the spos
of office. Democratic papers are silent upon
these laws, approve of them, or propose to make
them still more severe and barbarous. Wing
Journals call those who are active in endeavoring
to procure their repeal, haters of men and whining
hypocrites, while they back-guard and insult
even the ladies, who, following the impulse of
their noble hearts, sympathize with, and labor for
the oppressed, and have the independence to hear
their testimony against the injustice and wicked
ness of our laws and rulers. These are the great
parties of oppression that strive to rule this State
and naton-what hope is there of them? We re-
peat, those who vote for these parties are respon-
sbe for such laws and the oppressive acts which
they sanction. Come out of them, ye people of
Illinois! Let every ore that loves to have an APP
proving conscience. and regards the welfare of his
soul, whose immortal destiny hangs upon. his con-
duct here come out of those parties. Come out
of them as you would out of Sodom!-W eStern
| Citizen,