The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-02

ready tv admit, that the least right OF the
least infan. amongst the tens OF thousands
of our fellow immortals, whom slavery
treads under foot in the District Of Colum'
bia and in Florida, and who are thus trod-
den on with the express appreciation OF
our General Government and Of Henry
Clay, is entitled 10 an infinitely more So
licitous protection, at the hands OF thal
Government and of Henry Clay, than are
all The pecuniary interests ofal the naIlon.
rejoice, that you did not find it in your
heart 10 give negative answer TO The cues
ton, whether if you were citizen OF "
hio, you would vote the Liberty Party Elec'
loraI ticket or 10 the question, whether,
if there were such a ticket In your OVID
state, you would vote it. Liberty Will,
probably, have no ticket in Kentucky, the
present year. If she should have, you
would find il much harder TO refuse 10 vote
it, than 10 vote Tor Henry Clay. Would,
my dear Sir, that you might experience such
baptism Of the spirit OF Liberty, as should
make you willing 10 cast solitary vote for
her! Would that she might irresislibly
imPel you 10 compose vote OF the names
oil black men, if there are not white men
aY, OF slaves. even, ii there are not lreenen,
in your Stale, TO represent your anli-slavery
principles. Poslerily would accord more
honor TO you for casting such vote, than
10 your distinguished namesake Tor the most
triumphant success Of his highest ambition.
Pardon me, dear sir, that have so freely
expressed the Coacern OF my heart, respect
ing the character of your vote. Take, if
you please, in return, the like liberty with
me and the anti-slayery men Of The North.
Tell US, how you would have US vote. If YOU
shall not vote an ani-slavery electoral tick
ct next Fall, you will have Inc excuse, that
no such ticket was nominated in Kentucky.
But, if we shall not vote one, It will no. be
for such lack, and we shall not have such
an excuse. There will lie aDti>slavery cleo
toral tickets in all the free STATES. Shall
we vote them? ianticipale your emphatic
affirmative reply. Were we not 10 vote
them, your heart would grievs bitterly over
our uniaihiulness TO The cause, which is
dearer TO you than any other cause. II you
shall not vote an anti slavery ticket, anoth-
er of your excuses, as we have seen, will
be, that you dwell in the midst Of great
darkness respecting slavery. But, ii we
Shall not we, who live where floods Of
light are poured forth on this subject-you
would Yourself be among the very first 10
reproaCh US with our utterly excuseless
Fellowship with the works OF darkness If
you shall not vote an anli-slavery ticket
next Fall, you will as we have already said
your letter informs US, make as much OF an
excuse, as you can, out Of the fact, that you
voted in accordance with your views on the |
Tariff and certain other questions in polite
al economy. Bu', it by no means follows,
that YOU would have US turn away from our
tickets TO vote for men, who |
will represent our views on such questions.
All of US have sympathy with the Wings |
or Democrats on these questions--a part |
with one, and part with the other and,
were our votes to follow this SYM
paihy, there would be no Liberty Party left.
II would be reabsorbed by those parties,
from which we came out, and from which |
we came out for the very reason, that they |
allow these questions 10 come into compe>
tilion with, and even to merge, the claims
of the slave. The Liberty Party, which
you had the honesty and courage so recent
ly TO eulogize in a public meeting in your
own State, would then be wrecked and
ruined. The American anli-slavery cause |
would then have persisted from The treache-
ry of its own friends. know, that from
such inevitable consequences of our suffer |
ing the consideration Of dollars and cents,
instead of that OF inalienable human rights, |
TO govern our votes, your spirit recoils, as
aud as widely, as our own b.; and,
that, whilst you are YOURSELF yielding 10 the
peculiar and strong temptations TO leave
your own duty undone, you bid US go for
ward and manfully do ours. Rest assured,
my dear Sir, that we shall not disobey such
righteous instructions. Ifyou can afford TO
cast one more pro.slavery vote, we cannot.
We have repened too sorely of our past
voting against the slave, that we should
ever again repeat the enormous crime. And,
besides, we have stood by him too long,
that We should now forsake him. We will
continue 10 hold up the standard Of freedom,
as we'll as such feeble ones can. Next au-
lumn will witness your last sin against
your enslaved brethren; and then your !
strong hands will also grasp that standard ;
and then, too, thousands and tens Of thou |
sands will flock to it, under the inspiration |
of your example. Slavery will succeed in
The approaching election. a STAKEHOLDER,
or guil,ier servant of slavery, will then be
elected 10 the Chief Magislracy. But, one
consolation under so painful conclusion
is, that this will be the last national polite
al triumph of this system Of malchless fraud |
and horrors. The Presidential election, |
four years hence, if indeed God shall spare
our guilty nation so long, will write upon
our standard: Jehovah has triumphed- |
His people are Free am, dear Sir, with |
great regard, your friend,
GERRIT SMITH.
as ANTIsLAvERY RESOLUTIONS
The following were passed by the Con-
urerat;onaI churrh of Moretown and Dnx.