The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-04
w. G. BROWN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR.

that last one have named, the miserable
| aris!ocracy spawned of a false republic
e lift up their voices and exclaim, Public
opinion is all sufficient 10 prevent such
cruelty as you denounce.' Public opin
ion Why, public opinion in the slave
States IS slavery, is it not? Public opn.
ion in the slave States has delivered the
slaves over to the gentle mercies of their
\ masters. Public opinion has made the
laws and denied them Legislative protec-
ton. Public opinion has knot.ed the lash,
heated the branding.iron, loaded the rifle,
and shielded the murderer. Public opin-
ion threatens the aboliionst with death,
if he venture TO the South; and drags him
with rope about his middle, in broad
unblushing noon, through the first city in
the East. Public opinion has. within a
few years, burned slave alive at a slow
fire in The city of ST. Louis; and public
opinion has TO this day maintained upon
the bench that estimable Judge who charg-
led the jury, impanelled there TO try his
Imurderers, that their most horrid deed
was an act of public opinion, and being
so, must not be punished by the laws the
public sentiment had made. Public opin.
ion hailed this doctrine with a howl of
wild applause, and set the prisoners free,
to walk the city, men of mark, and inhu-
ence, and station, as they had been before.
Public opinion! what class of men
have an immense preponderanee over the
rest of the community, in their power of
representing public opinion in the legisla-
ture? The slave owners. They send
from their twelve States, one hundred
members, while the fourteen free States,
with free population nearly double, re-
turn but hundred and forly-two. Be-
fore whom do the presidential candidates
bow down the most humbly, on whom do
they fawn the most fondly, AID for whose
tastes do they cater the most assiduously
In their servile protestations The slave
owners always,
Public opinion hear the public opjn-
ion of the free South. as expressed by its
own members in the House of Represent
atives at Washington. Il have a great
respect for the chair, quoth North Caro-
lima, i have a great respect for the chair
as an officer of the house, and great re.
spect for him personally; nothing but
that respect prevents me from rushing to
tae table and tearing that petition which
has just been presented for the abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia, to
pieces i warn the aboliionists,' says
South Carolina, Ignorant, Infatuated bar
barians as they are, that if chance shall
throw any Of them into our hands, he may
expect felon's DEATH Let an abolition
list come within the borders of South Car
DINA cries third, mild Cardinals col
league, and if we can catch him we will
try him, and notwithstanding the inter-
ference of all The governments on earth,
including the federal government we will
HANG him. >t
Public opinion has made this law it
has declared that in Washington, in that
city which takes its name from the father
of American liberty, any justice Of the
peace may bind with letters any negro
passing down the street and thrust him in
10 Jail no offence on the black mans
part is necessary. The justice says, Il
choose TO think this man a runaway =
and locks him up Public opinion en-
powers the man of law when this is done
10 advertise the negro in the newspapers,
warning his owner to come and claim
him, or he will be sold to pay the Jail fees.
But supposing he is free black, and has
no owner, it may naturally be presumed
that he is set at liberty. No; he is sold
10 recOmpense his jailer. This has been
Edone again, and again, and again. He
has no means of proving his freedom 3
has no adviser, messenger, or assistance Of
any sort or kind; no investigation into
his case is made, or inquiry instituted
He, free man, who may have served for
years; ard bought his liberty, is thrown
into Jail on no process for no crime, and
on no pretence of crime, and is sold to pay
the Jail fees. This seems incredible, even
Of America, but it is the law.
Public opinion is deferred in such cases
as the following, which is headed in the
newspapers
Interesting LaO Case.
AN interesting case is now on trial in
the Supreme Court, arising out of the fol-
lowing facts gentleman residing in Ma
ry!and had allowedan aged pair This slaves
substantial though not legal freedom for
several years. While thus living daugh-
ter was born TO them, who grew up in the
same liberty until she married free ne
gro, and went with him 10 reside in Penn
sylvana. They had several children,
and lived uhmolested until the original
owner died, when his heir attempted to
regain them; but the magistrate before
whom they were brought decided that
he had no jurisdiction in the case. TIE
0Uner seized The seom0@ 0nG children M
The night, and carried them 10 Mary !
land.' .. ...