Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-16
For tho Waterman and Journal.
THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.
No. VII.-IMMEDIATE EMANC


THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.
ny r. DISsMoRF.
No. vII.-TMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION.
The principles of the American Anti-Slavery So
cicty are professedy embodied in the following ar
tlcles of their Constitution:
"ARr O. The objects Society are the entire abolition
ofsvory tic United States While that each state
which slavery exists has, by the Constitution of the United
that State it shall aim to convince I'll eowczen by
sumcns addressed to their understanding and consciousness that
ty safety and best all concerned require its mmed
ate abandonment without repatriation. The Society will also
cndeavo in Constitutional to influence Congress to put
end to the domestic Slave rade and to abolish slavery in all
troll especially in the District of Coumba and likewise pre-
vent the extension of State that hereafter be ad
"Anr s. This Society shall elevate character and
condition Of the people of color by encouraging their nteeu-
all moral and religious improvements and by removing public
udice that thus they may according to their intellectual and
gous privileges but the Society will never any way coun-
9nance the oppressed in ndcatng their rights by resong
Car L. Any person, hO e principles Of this Com
suton, who contributes the funds of this Society and
STAKEHOLDER, may be member of this Society, and shall be
titled to a vote at its meetings."
That individuals have constitutional right to
organize themselves into an association for the &C
complishlnent of all or any Of the objects express
ed in the above Constitution cannot, for an instant
be disputed by any one. No good man will object
to the means recommended for this purpose, for ev
cry friend of truth is ready and willing to listen to
arguments addressed to his understanding and con
science. Whatever differences of opinion may
arise in New England, in relation to this subject,
will be found to exist respecting the prudence and
roprety OF the organization, and some Of the meas
ures recommended by the founders and leaders of
the association.
The Society has inscribed "IsrMEDIATE EMAN-
CITATION" upon its banner. 1t is their sole
dy for the evil of Slavery. Their fundamental
principle is, that all "slaveholdng is u heinous
crime in the sight of God" Here lies the founda-
ton of all their If all suveolding be GRIM
inals then all saveholding should be Immediately
abandoned, for crime can never be successfully JUS
tilted nor excused. All voluntary slavehodng
should be Immediately abandoned and for the sim
pie reason that whoever voluntarily deprves a hui
man being of his liberty is guilty of "heinous
crime in the sight of God"
But what is meant by immediate emancipation
The Abotlonisls have made numerous explana-
tons and definitions, but they have made none,
which | have seen, calculated to throw any light
upon the subject To emancipate properly means
to set free from servude or sIavery-by the voun
tary act of the propretors to restore from bondage
to freedom. Immediate emancipation instantane-
ousy dispossesses the MASTER not only of his right
to the propety but also to the lime and services of
the slave 1t would instantly place nearly three
millions of ignorant and heather slaves-lor such
, they are often represented by Aboltoniss, and we
fear with too much truth-completely on footing
OF equality with their masters. Until this be done
it is idle TO talk about einancipaton for SO long as
= you continue the authority of the master over the
slave, although you may have destroyed his right
y of property the slave cannot be said to be emanci-
l. pated and free. Can all this be safely done? Ger
G talny not, unless our Aboonist friends have
e grossly msrepresented the degraded condition Of
d the slave. Whenever the slave, however, is prop
d erly qualified for the enjoyment of absolute, unn
tied freedom, nothing but the grossest injustice
Of keep him from it single instant
A very important inquiry now arises Can Con
N gress and The State Legislatures, within those lin
to its where they possess the power of legislation i'm
e nediaiely abolish Slavery, in conformity to the con
&c stitution and laws, by any means? The law OF thu
ID land recognizes the slave as property. But thi
IN law, told is contrary to the law Of God, ant
s. therefore void Be this it may, Government, at
ter having recognized the masters right to the prop
e erty of his slave and after having vested this RICH
ID of property in him. cannot by legislation take th
m right Of property away from him, without compen
,e satlon So long as the government which enacted
this law is in force, it can possess no power to d
r vest any Of rights acquired under it, An md
De piduai, convinced that "slaveholding is henou
lis crime in the sight of God" may Immediately emar
nd cipae all his slaves and the government may en-
he courage emancipation in various ways, but it cannC
lr. compel any of its subjects TO part with any egt
ST. right OF property without compensation The Leg
IT. slature may prohibit all future acquisition OF pop
ery 10 slaves but It cannot disturb pested rights
An act, which is legal at the time of its commits
e- sion, cannot De rendereu criminal Dy SUDSeQuel
ed legislation; nor rights, acquired under an e'
ra- istng law, ever be rendered wrongS. This won
be contrary to the spirit if not the letter of the Coz
stulional provision, which prohibits the States fro
zee passing any post fdcto law, law imparing Il
are obligation of contracts. OF this opinion are Il
most eminent jursts in our country.
But to this it may be answered. that all laws yes
of ing right of property in slaves, are void, and a
es- neither binding upon the government nor the Pc
nd ple 1t would be sufficient replication to tn
The plea, to aver that our judicial tribunals may dete
ors mine otherwise. Let us, however, admit, for Il
BILE sake of the argument that all laws of this desert
ton are actually void. 1t is true true that la
Ike which is void imposes obligation on the subjc
on to obey it, but haping obeyed il in good faith, Il
ole government can possess no power TO punish hi
therefor, nor to rob him Of any property he mt
ol- have thus acquired. A contrary doctrine is Il
no. very essence oil despotism. Whenever the Cover
ment becomes convinced Of the slniuness OF 81
IN vey it can and should do all in its power to rer
&c edy the evil by making the provision that, hersF
n ter, no one of its subjects shall acquire right
APP property in slaves, and it may also encourage Z
emancipation of slaves in every proper mode a
tie form. If the government has criminaly encoura
ed and protected the institution OF Slavery, 1t Is
nry from being reduced to the disagreeable necess
of continuing its transgresslons. All laws exist
was upon the subject may be repealed; all impedime
in the way of emancipation may be removed fr
ting the conscientious STAKEHOLDER. All this the COVE
pro- ment may do, but it can do tno more The pec