The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-11-20
J. +. MCCLELLAN, Printer.

|
natural that stranger in passing thro'
our State should take up such impress
sions, IRON the liberal tone in which our
politicians and other intelligent men
speak on the subject, as long as they ale
permilted TO deal in generals, and TO
qualify their remarks by the important
word IF. But if you call upon them 10
propose some plan, ard TO commence &C,
ton, they will almost universally draw
back. think know something of our
public men, aud tell you they are for
doing NOTHING" Let me be no more,
Their, damned with faint praise" that
my motives are good, but that am
rash and denunclatory" No, my coun>
trymen. it is not acords but action FOR
which am now outlawed.
The Shareholders Of the other counties
have dropt the stale and shallow plea of
incendiarism, and say that Slacery shall
not be discussed. This is the only and true
issue. This manifesto means Though
| it was ashamed TO say ii. Else why speak
of its constitutional guarantees ? Now,
The United States Constitution leaves it
fairly within the power OF change. The
Kentucky Constitution, article Z, section
l., thus reads "The General Assembly
shall have no powerto pass laws for the
emancipation Of slaves, without the con-
sent of their owners, or without paying
their owners previous 10 such emancIpa'
| ton full equivalent in money Tor The
slaves so emancipated." 1t is true, we
of the emancipation party have never
pressed this power, bscause we deemed
ii Improbable IN execution. Yet, here
is a clause putting the whole question
fairly within The field of discussion, be-
cause in The field of oction--which re-
lieves Us of The necessity of claiming in
our defence the constitutional rights and
speciti; guarantees OF the liberty OF speech
and The press.
say, then, tba. this last and all these
allegations against me are false and ca.
luminous, and for my own justification
"appeaI 10 Kentucky and to the world. "
Having said thus much upon this subs
iect in connection with my own name, in
order 10 deyelope lis injustice and studs
ed cruelty and determined wrong--k
shall now consider it in its far more i'm
portont bearing ca the liberties Of the
S ate and Nation
Section 2, Article 6, Kentucky Con.
stiiuion, has this definition Of treason:
Treason against the commonwealth
shall consist only in levying war against,
or in adhering 10 lis enemies, giving d
and comfort" Now here was a great
party of men who rose up and declared
themsel yes Grmed--" we are armed and
esolved"-lhey go to the civil authors
ties, the Mayor and Marshal of the city
of Lexington, officers of the common-
wealth, who warn them that an illegal
ACT is about to be perpe,ra'ed--and with
arms and an overpowerIog force eject
them and take property which was yields
ed up to the possession Of the law. Not
only do they fail to make restitution, but
they avow their determination 10 con-
linoe their illegal action, and il neces'
sary, 10 shed bIood-to commit murder
, upon peaceful ciIizeus. Now if this is
} not Ievying war against the common
wealth, then is human language utterly
incapable Of conveying any thing in'el'l~
) gibIe 1t was a reUOlutiOn, bIoodIess
only because no physica resistance was
made, as they themselves avuw. What
> is the commonwealth lis constitution
. That they avowedIy set aside as being
, incompetent to meet the case. What
is the commonwealth lis laws2 They
I proclaimed that there was no legal pow>
err for their action. They put it down in
writing that there was usurped an origin
e al or revolutionary power. The assfm~
: bly, was called in open day--iis Pfesi-
/ dent was mag istrate, sworn conserv~
ator Of the peace OF other tmes--its ac-
ton was deliberate and "dignifed "--its
y. uun bers were large--aud its force ire
3 sisible-ils end the suppression OF the
u press and the Constitution OF the State
y and lastly it solemny appealed 10 the
e world in justification OF its proceedings
v II il be not revolution, then never has
" one taken place in the history of men
O No matter what may have been the prov
# oca.ion ON my part-even though l had
v been proven an Observation-Disclosures tho
IS [ had been caught applying the torch &c
!. dwellings Of defenceless women ano
}, chIdten--even though | had been taker
If with bands red with the blood of my fell
r. low-ci,lzens-sti the character o! thl:
action is unchanged in the least respect
!. The press had passed from my possession
n 1t was stopped by legal process-'whaI'
d ever danger it threatened, if any was
4. passed-il had become inert matter, in
il capable of moral or legal wrong-ant
= even if it had not, the common wealth
= only was responsible Tor its Influence
!, whether good or bad, upon the safety o
y the community. which these men affect
y, ed to believe endangered, but of which
| in reality, they themselves were the onI.
r enemies.
! n, tho IQlh of Auous, then were tn