The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-07-03
is it only the belts of its harness. 1t has
a musket on its shoulder. Of in The
distance, the tented field. Such is the
vignette. The paper answeres to It,

vignelte. The paper answeres to It,
Letter from, Horace Greeley to the I.Anti-
Slavery Convention at Cincinnati.
New YoRK, June 8, 1916.
Dear Sir IL received, weeks since
your letter inviting me 10 be present at 8
General Convention of opponents of Hu,
man Slavery, irrespective of past differen'
ces or party organizations. have de.
laycd till the last moment my answer, no.
ping might this season indulge a long
cherished desire and purpose by visiting
your section and city, in which case
should cerlainl y have attended your Con.
vention. Being now reluctantly conpel>
led 10 forego or indefinitely postpone That
visit, | have no recourse but to acknowl
edge your courtesy in letter
Ia saying that | should have attended
your Convention had | been able to visit
Cincinnati this month, | would by no
means be understood as implying that
would have claimed TO share in its de-
liberalions still less That should have
been likely to unite in The course of action
to which these deliberations will probably
tend. Whether there can true reconcile
ment grow between those opponents of
Slavery whom the late Presidential EIec.
ton arrayed against each other in desper>
ate conf1ic', | do not venture to predict
Most surely, that large portion of them
with whom 4 acted and sill act, have been
confirmed in our previous convictions OF
duty by the result OF that election, and by
the momentous consequences which it has
drawn after it. Not merely with regard
to this question Of Slavery, but to all ques
tons | have by that result been warned
against pledgIng myself to any special and
isolated Reform in such manner as to in
tcrtere with and leuer my freedom and a.
billy tG act decIsively and effective v upon
more general and Immediately practical
considerations Of National intercs, and Hu.
man well being. You and yours, un il,
derstand, have been confirmed in an op>
posite conviction. Time must decide on
which side is the right.
But while | canno. hope that | should
have been able to unite with you upon a.
ny definite course of action to be hence
forth pursued by..aU opponents Of Slavery,
Irrespective of past or prcsen! differences,
l should have gladly met you, conferred
with you, compared opinions, and agreed
10 act together so far as joint action is moi
forbidden b. conflicting opinions. Anim-
ated by this spirit, | shall venture 10 Sc,
before YOU, and ask lhe convention 10 con.
slider, some views which deem essential
as bearing on the present condition and
ultimate success OF the Anlislavery move
ment.
What is Slausry? You will probably
answer, "rhe legal subsection Of one hu-
man being to the will and power oil anoth-
er," But this definition appears TO me
inaccurate on both sides-too broad, and
at the same time, too narrow. 1t is too
broad, in that it includes the subsection
founded in the paren,a and similar reIa-
tons too narrow, in that it excludes the
subjectou founded in other necessities not
less stringent than those imposed by stat
ute. We must seek some truer detini-
ton.
1 understand by slavery, that condition
IN which one human being exists mainly
as convenience for other human beings
in which the time, the exer.ons, the fac
ulies Of part OF the Human Family are
made 10 subserve not their own develop
mcnt, physical, intellectual and moral, but
the comfort, advantage or caprice of 9TH
crs. La short, wherever service is rem
dered from one human being to aao!her,
IN n foniinn nj onu eidoJ n nj mi IF ,,,,,,,
al obIigation-wben the relation between
the servant and the served is one not of
affection and reciprocal good Offices, but
OF authority, sociaI ascendency and power
over subsistence on the one hand, and OF
necessity, scrviIity and degradation on the
olher-there, in my view, is slavery.
You will readily understand, therefore,
that, if | regard your enterprise with less
absorbing interest than you do ii is not
'ha. | deem slavery a less but a greater
evil. II am less troubled concerning
he slavery prevalent in Charleston or N,
Orleans. it is because | see so much slave.
~ in New York. which appears TO claim
my first efforts. Irejoice in believing that
here is less of it in your several commu-
mites and nei9 hborhoods; but that i does
exist there am. compelled to believe. In
esteeming it my duty to preach Reform
first to my own neighbors and kindred,
would by no means attempt to ceusure
hose whose consciences prescribe diff.
ferent course. Still less would under
lake to say that the slavery of the South
is not more hideous in kind and degree
han tina! which prevails at the North. -
The fact that it as more ffsgrant and pail
pabIc renders opposition to it comparatively
easy and its speedy downfall certain. But
how can l devote myseIf 10 crusade a.
gainst distant servitude, when ! discern
its essence pcrvading my immediate com
nuni,y and neighborhood nay, when
hive not vet succeeded in hanis hin n il