The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-03-07

| ed and sold as his slave. Dr. Ely being
distinguished clergyman, his influence
was great with the mass of those of his
denomination, and gave others license 10
hold slaves.
may as well now say, that the Mr.. -,
spoken of by A. G. T., is Mr.. s. W. Nc Gill
Cor Masill,) pastor Of the first Congrega-
lional church in Cornwall ; and A. G. t.,
learn TO be Prof. Twining of Middlebury
College. I trust Mr.. McGll will see clear
Iy that he has not done all he can to clear
himself from responsibility in the case
for. in the first place, it takes two to make
bargain"
If Gerritt Smith should will me hun
dred acres of land, must accept of it, be-
fore it can be mi1e So in Mr.. McGill's
case - he voluntarily accepted of the rela
lion of master to The slave; else he could
not hold the legal right 10 give him his
freedom. Now, altho' Mr.. McGll might
do This slave favor by acc epting the will
of his deceased relative; yet the moment
he took this relation upon himself, he must
be, in the nature of things, looked upon as
lending his sanction to the system, until he
absoves himself from said relation. AIlho'
he may have acted honestly in all his
transactions, and may think he has done all
he could or can do by way of duty to this
slave, and to others, still he may be shown
that he has not yet discharged his obliga-
tons fully in the case.
The article of Prof Twining does not
stale that Mr.. McGill has peitioned The
Legislature Of Georgia for special enact
ment to give his slave his freedom. This
can be done, unless some very recent alter
alton in the laws Of Georgia prevents for,
it is but few years since the State House
at Milledgeville took fire 10 difficult aud
dangerous place to reach; slave assembled,
the fire, and the Legislature
then in session purchased his freedom at
5 1900. Other instances OF freedom being
given slaves in that State, are on record.
And if this slave bears such character as
10 render him safe there under the present
the strong probability s,that
a special legislative act might be obtained
for his entire freedom. But suppose this
act could not be obtained; what surety has
Mr.. McGil, or the slave, that Mr.. McGill's
life will be prolonged gear or even "a day.?
Should he soon decease, where is The gain
10 the slave? Will he not, should this
occur, be in the same position as before Mr.
McGill accepted the relation Of master?
But :here is another view to be taken of
this peculiar case. The laws OF Georgia
are jast as severe against letting slaves
receive their earnings as their freedom, as
think the following quotation will show,
provided no law Of later date has been
enacted, which will do away the former.
If this is the case, will Mr.. McGilI inform
ME how the present laws stand
Call and every will and testament, deed,
whether by way Of trust or otherwise, con>
tract, agreement or stipulation, or other
instrument in writing, or by parole, made
and executed TOR the purpose OF effectlng or
TO effect the manumission of
any slave or slaves, either directly by con-
lerrlng or attempting to confer freedom on
such slave or slaves, or indirectly or viru-
ally, by allowing and securing or attempt |
ing to allow and secure 10 such slave or |
slaves the right or privilege of working for (
his, her, or themselves, free from the con
troll of the master or owner of such slave
or slaves, or of enjoying the profits of his,
her or their labor or skill, shall be, and the
same are hereby declared to be utterly null
and void; and the person or persons so
making, &c. any such deed, &c. &C., and
all and every person or persons concerned
in giving or attempting 10 give effect there
TO, whether by accepting the trust thereby |
created or attempted 10 be created, or in any |
way or manner whatsoever, shall be sever
ally liable to a penalty not exceeding one
thousand dollars, TO be recovered, &C. &c,
and each and every slave or slaves in whose
behalf such will or testament, &c. &C.,
shall have been made, shall be liable to be
arrested by warrant under the hand and !
seal Of any magistrate of this State, and
being thereof conricted, &C., and shall be
liable TO be sold as slave or slaves, by |
public cutlery, and the proceeds of such
sales shall be appronria ed," &c. &c.
Princes Digest, 466.
If the laws of Georgia of 1918, remain
as quoted, nothing can be more clear TO my
mind. than that the slave is in as dangerous
, situation as though actually set free by
Mr.. McGill.
Another thing will name, which is,
that the man who holds the
citation of master aforesaid, is also eXecut-
,r of certain estate which left the 1oJe of
his slave under the control of Mr.. McGill,
md that the woman has no children. If |
,ova hpen wronp Iv informed on this noint