The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-03
V o L. vi. NO. IS.

Yes, this is slavery, boast ed American
slavery, without which it is contended
even here that the union fthese States
would be dissolved in day; yes, even
in an hour! Humiliating thought, that
we are bound together as States by the
chains of slavery! 1t cannot be; the
blood and the tears of slavery form no
part of the cement of our Union-and it
is hoped that by falling on its bands they
may never corrode and eat them assun-
der We, who are opposed to and de-
plore the exitence ofslavery in our coun.
try, are frequently asked, both in public
and private, what have you to do with
slavery! 1t does not exist in your State;
it does not disturb you! All, sir would
% God it were So that we had nothing to
do with slavery, nothing TO fear from its
powers, or its action within our own Dor.
ders, that its name&its miseries were I'm.
known to US. But this is not our lot; we
live upon its borders, and in hearing of
its cries; yet we are unwilling to ac-
knowledge, that if we enter its territories
and violate its laws, hat we should be
punished at its pleasure. We do not
complain OF this, though it might well be
considered just ground Of complaint. Il
is our firesides, our rights, our privileges,
the safety OF our friends, as well as tho
sovereignty snd independence Of our
State, that we are now called upon IN
protect and defend. Tho slave intere ST
has at this moment the whole power of
the country in its hand. 1t claims the
President as Northern man with South
ern feelings thus making the Chief Mag
istrate the head Of an interest. or por,v'
and not of the country and the people at
large. 1t has the cabinet OF the Pres;-
dent, three members ofwhich are from
slave States, and one who wrote book
in favor of southern slavery, but which
fell dead from the press, book which I
have seen in my own family thrown mus.
ty upou the shelf Here then is deci-
dcd majority in favor ofthe slave interest.
1t has five out of nine judges of the Su.
preme Court; here, also is a majority
from the slave States. 1t has, with the
President ofthe Senate and the Speaker
ofthe House Of Representatives and the
clerks Of both Houses, the army ard
navy; and the bureaus, have, am told,
about the same proportion.
POWER OF SLAVERY.
One would suppose that, with nll this
power operating in this government, il
would be content to permit-yes, will
use the word permlt--it would be content
to permit us, who 1.-Two in the free States.
to enjoy our firesides and our homes in
quielness; but this is not the case. The
Shareholders and slave laws claim that as
property, which the free States know on.
" as persons, reasoning property which
OF ITS own will and mere motion, is fire.
qnentIy found in our States; aud upon
which THING we sometimes bestow fool
and raiment, fit appear hungry and per-
lshlng, believing it to be human being;
this, perhaps, is owing to our want ofvis-
ion to discover the process by which
man is converted into THING. For
this act OF ours, which is not prohibited
by our laws but prompted by every feel
ing, christian and humane, the sIavehot.
ding power enters our territory, tramples
under foot the sovereignty of our State,
violates the sanctty Of private residence,
SEXES our citizens, and disregardng the
authority of our laws, transports them in
to ITS own jurisdiction, casts them into
prison, confines them in letters, and loads
them with chains for pretended o6enses
against our laws, found by willing grand
Jurirs upon the oath Ito use the language
Of the late governor of Ohio y of PERU
red villain. Is this fancy, or is it fct.
sober reality, solemn fact Need say
all this, and much more is now matter
Of history in the case ofth Rev. John
Is. Mahan, Of Brahen county. Ohio
Y es,l is so; but this is but the beginning,
case of equal outrage has lately occur
req, II newspapers are TO be relied on, in
he seizure OF citizen of Ohio, without
even the forms of law, and who was car
led into Virginia and shamefuy punish
ID by tar and feathers, and other dis.
graceful means, and rode upon a rail.
according to the order of Judge Lynch,
md this only because in Ohio he was an
Would L could stop here-but cam
lot. This slave interest or power seizes
ipon persons Of color in our State, car
les them into States where men are pro-
'erty, and makes merchandise of them,
ometImes under sanction Of law, but
more properly by its abuse, and some
lines by mere personal force, thus dis
urbng our quiet and harassing our cit.
1ens. A case of this kind has lately
ccurred, where coored boy was sedu-
ed from Ohio into Indiana, taken from
renee into Alabama and sold as slave.
nd TO the honor oflhe slave States, and
entlemen who administer the laws there.
e it said that many who have thus been
ken and sold by the connivance, if not
ownrl9ht corruption, OF citizens in the
ee States, have been liberated and ad-