The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-10
October 10, 1914.

large proportion OF our country, thal VIZ
are prosperous and happy people Blu
its late attempt to force its influence anC
power into the free States, and deprive
our citizens of their unquestionable
rights, has been the moving cause of al
the riots, burning, and murders that have
taken place on account of abolitionlsm;
and it has, in some degree, even in the
free States, caused mourning, lamenta-
ton, and wo. Remove slavery, and the
country, the whole country, will recover
its natural vigor, and our peace and flu.
ture prosperity will be placed on more
extensive, safe, and sure foundation. 1t
is waste of time to answer the allega.
tons that the emancipation of the negro
race would induce them to make war on
tho white race Every fact in the histo.
ny of emancipation proves the reverse:
and he that will not believe those facts,
has darkened his own understanding,
that The light of reason can make i'm
preston: he appeals to interest; not to
truth, for information on this subject. -
We do not fear his errors while we are
left free to combat them. The senator i'm
plores is 10 cease all commotion on this
subject. Are we to surrender all our
rights and privileges, all the official sta
tons of the country, into the hands Of
the slaveholding power, without single
struggle? Are we to cease all eXertions
for our own safety, and submit in quiet
to the rule of this power' Is the claim
ofdespotism to reign over this land,
and the voice of freeman to BIO no more
heard? This sacrifice is required ofus,
in order to sustain slavery. Frermen,
will you make it? Will you shut your
ears and your sympathies, and withhold
from the poor famished slave, a morsel |
of bread? Can you thus act, and expect
the blessing of Heaven upon your coun
tryf | beseech you to consider for
yourselves.
CONCLUSION.
Mr. President, have been compelled
70 enter into this discussion from the
course pursued by the Senate on the res
olution | submitted a few days since. -
The cry of aboitionist has been raised
az inst me. If these resolutions are alb
oitionism, then am an abolitionIst from
the sole Of my foot to the crown of my
head. Ito maintain the rights Of the
State, the security of the citizens from
violence and outrage, if to preserve the
supremacy ofthe laws, ifinsisting on the
right of petition, as medium through
which ccerQ person subject to he laws has
an undoubted right to approach the con- ;
stitutional authorities of the country, be
The doctrines of aboltionists it finds re- :
Spouse in every beating pulse in my ,
veins. Neither power, nor favor, nor :
want, nor misery, shall deter me from its !
support while the vital current continues -.
to flow.
Condemned at home for my opposition i
10 slavery only and single hGnled here, .
we'll may | feel tremor and emotion in I
boarding this lion ofslavery in his very !
den and upon his own ground. | should -
shrink, sir, at once from this fearful and 6
unequal contest, was | not thoroughly :;
convinced that | am sustained by the =
power of truth and the best interests Of g
the country. listened to the senator :.
from Kentucky with undivided attention !;
was disappointed, sadly disappointed; =
/ had heard Of the senator's tact in maxi :,
ing compromises and agreements on this
floo., and though opposed in principle to =
all such proceedings, yet | hoped TO =
hear something upon which we could =
hang a hope that peace would be restored
to the borders Of our own State, and all =
future aggression upon our cltlzeos from y,
the slave States be prevented. Now, sir, }
he Offers us nothing but unconditional
submission or political death: and not +,
alone but absolute death. We I,
have counted the cost in this matter, and +,
are determined to live and die free. Let }
the STAKEHOLDER hug his system to his bo-
som in his own State, we will not 90 there
to disturb him; but, sir, within our own e
borders we claim to enjoy the same
privileges. Even, sir, here in this
District, this ten miles square OF common ,
property and common rights, the slave
power has the assurance to come INTO
this very hall, aud request that we-yes,
Mr. President, that my constituents be
denied the light Of petition on the sub
ject of slavery in this District. This
most extraordinary petition against the
right Of others to petition on the same
subject as theirs, is graciously received
and ordered to be printed; peans sung to
it by the slave power, while the petitions
/ offer, from as honorable, free, high
minded and patriotic American citizens
as any in this District, are spit upon,
and turned out Of doors as an @ncIeom
thing. Genius of liberty! how long will
you sleep under this iron power OF OPP
preston? Not content with ruling over
their own slaves, they claim the power to
instruct Congress on the question Of re-
ceiving petitions; and yet we are taun-
tingly and sneeringy told that we have
Al. i |, 10 picin IF 81