Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-07-26
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
RIGHT AND WRONG.

THESE qualities of human action apply as we'll
to political action as to any other; and yet, how
little the same is noticed or considered The oh
ject of the laws, in every well regulated commun-
ty, is, to encourage the doing of what is right, and
prevent, or punish, the doing of what is wrong
And, when wrongful act bears upon an individ
ual injurouSy, like assault upon his person, or
the destruction of his property; or upon the sur
rounding population, like common nuisance, cre-
ating an odious, or unhealthy, atmosphere,-it is
condemned as wrong by all who become acquain-
ted with the fact. And, if the deliberate act of
professor of religion occasions such injury, it is
considered to be proper subject for church disci
pne. If man sends his agent or servant, to do
any of these unlawful acts, and he does them, they
are considered as the acts of him who sent such a
gent or servant So the law considers it. AS a.
mong ourselves, in these northern States, the cor
RICHNESS of the rule, to do to others as we should
wish them to do to US in like circumstances, is
generally, if not universally, admitted. Probably
few can be found among US, who would deny the
correctness and sautary tendency of the principle,
"that he, who knoweth to do good, and doeth it
None of our actions Of worldly nature can
more properly be said to be right or wrong, than
the exercise of our political power at the baotbox.
Its influence is as long and broad as our country;
high as moral principle and deep as human mise
ny can extend. To our safe-keeping and enjoy
ment is committed that liberty for which our FORE
fathers toiled, were, in blood, for years
ord oh III ~ &c +ho
processes to secure to all posterty Our ballots,
cast from year to year, tend either to preserve this
liberty, and extend its blessings to all the inhabit
ants Of these U. States, destroy it wholly,
deprive portion of the inhabitants ofits blessings
The former can't he wrong; the latter can't he
right. Slavery, the direct opposite of this liberty,
exists in thirteen States of the Union. This sla-
very, us it thus exists, is total destitution of all
right In nations wholly uncivilized, slavery is
the entire effect of despotc power. In civilized
nations, (if those who tolerate slavery can be call
ed cvized) slavery is merely the creature of pos
tive law. In each State it is created by the laws
of such State. By such laws three millions of hu-
man beings are deprived of all human rights, and
reduced to mere goods and chattes; just as are
cattle and horses sheep and swine. The laws Of
the United States have done the same work for the
District of Columbia and the territory of Florida,
and similar work in character in their slave pris
ons and slave markets in the said District of CO.
lumbia; and by their act of Feb. 10, 1898, under
which fugitive slaves are pursued into the free
States.
Ifthis communication is read for good or ill., it
will be by Inhabitants and, perhaps, freemen of
the North or free States. And here gladly avail
myself of the correct sentiment prevailing almost
universally among us, that slavery, as it exists in
the Southern States, is a national and moral evil.
would, that all were ready to admit its being
vile inIquity, inviting the judgments of God upon
our nation, at least upon all who uphold that sys-
| tenn
1.-THE adoption of the system of slavery, az it ex
lists in thirteen States into the other, free staes
or its continuance in any state, were presented for
the decision of the freenen of the free states the
ballot box; and it certain that their decision
would settle the question for all future generations
how many, do you suppose, would vote for its
adoption or continuance? Probably but few
i should hope none at all. The importance and
consequence of the decision would rise to view,
before the ballot entered the box. The horrors of
slavery would be seen; and the sinfulness of sup
porting it would not be wholly forgotten. We
should be apt to think of our pecunlary interests;
aud recoect the very many millions of money al
ready drawn from the United States Treasury for
the support of slavery. We should feel ourselves
connected with the expense, and the sin, and the
shame of it, and shrink from it, with resolution to
be wholly freed from it,
Why are we not now as resolute 10 be freed from
the sin, and the shame and the burden of slavery,
and that as soon as possible? Why not open our
eyes and ears, to learn the truth and the whole
truth concerning slavery; and teach our hearts to
feel for those three millions Of human beings, de-
prved of all human rights by unrighcous laws,
welded by despotic power: and feel for ourselves
that we have such burden laid upon us by the
rulers of our own choice! The reason is pain.-
These evils and burdens have come upon US by
means so well concealed from our view, and by a
progress so slow and gradual, that we bear all by
custom, as it were; and remain too little alarmed
at their gigantic growth, and threatening aspect
We seem to have thought but a little about the
tendency and effect of our bsllots when we have