Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-06-06
For the Waterman and journal
THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.

l For tho Waterman and Journal
THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.
r. iSsNoRE.
NO. x.-DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURES OF SLAVE
i HOLDING STATES.
The next question which naturally presents it.
self for discussion is, What is the duty Of the Leg
slatures Of Slavcholding States?
| approach the discussion of this question with
much reluctance. 1t is fact, that the citizens OF
non-Slaveholding States have no more constitu-
tional right to interfere with the municipal regua-
tiUns of Slaveholding States than they have with
the internal government of France or Great Brit
ain. When we condemn the willingness of the
Stakeholder to continue the existence of Slavery,
and when we pronounce this willingness to be &
sin, we do no more than give manly, independent
utterancc to correct and patriotic sentiments
When the Shareholder complains of this, he does
no more than what may be expected from every
transgressor, when reminded of his crimes. But
when we attempt to point out with particularly, IN
,chat manner the Shareholder must dispose of his
Slaves, and ho,c the institution of Slavery must be
abolished, it is not at all strange that honest indie
pendent minds, should complain Of our dictaiion and
unauthorized interference. We may indeed be told
that we have no right to speak Of Slavery at all,
that we have no right to denounce it, when voun-
tarily continued as sin; but when the Stakeholder
assumes this position, he is rs impudent and unrca-
sonable as any Northern Abolitionist ever was or
ever can be. All questions, of whatever nature
connected with our national prosperity, we have an
undoubted right fully TO discuss, for these are ques-
tons in which the North are equally interested
with the South On these questions we have the
means at hand Of arriving at correct conclusions,
but farther than this IT is out Of our power safely
to proceed.
In answer, then, to the inquiry, What is the du-
| ty of the Legislatures of Slaveholding States
| am not ashamed to acknowledge ignorance. Had
our Northern Abolitonists protested little more
modesty in the discussion Of this subject, their Ia
bors might have been much more acceptable and
beneficial, among the more candid and conscien-
tious at the South We should have heard less
said about dictation and interference. Undoubted-
ly the unprincpled Stakeholder would have discov-
cred much to object and rail at, even had prudence
been most scrupuousy adheredto but there would
have been no good grounds for complaint, and many
who now bitterly denounce the labors of the Abo-
lltonists would have been their friends. The cause
of emanci patton would have progressed much more
rapidly, and the interest OF the Slave been more
certainly promoted.
The Legislatures of Slaveholding States ought,
in the first place, to direct their attention to the
domestic Save-trade. That human beings may be
bought and sold like cattle, in any portion of our
Union, is a fact discreditable to the Republic
Those monsters of cruelty, who are ready for the
sake of gain to to traffic in the bones and sinews
of their ellow-mortals, should at once be given to
understand, that, not only is the employment in
which they are engaged GccurSed Of God, but will
partment of our government. The power to pro-
hbit the disgracefu traffic must exist somewhere,
either in Congress or the several States. No eX-
cuse can be offered for its continuance. There eX-
lists no necessity for it. No immediatiSm can be
too sudden for its destruction. Whatever can be
safely done should be Immediately done. Delay is
only continuation OF sin 1t is not question of
expense and profit hut question of right. Let
me not be misunderstood | do not undertake to
say how, nor in what manner, the domestic Slave
trade should be prohibited. present no project in
the shape Of bill to be passed into law-that is
question for the Legislatures themselves to dis
cuss and determine. | can only say, that the sep
aration of families, the total disregard of marital
rights, and the forcible transportation of Slaves
from the more Northern to the more Southern
Saveholding States, should be prevented in some
form or other. IF the Legislatures have no power
to prohibit the traffic, the establishment Of justice
and the promotion of the general welfare certainly
require that Congress should attempt it; for so
long as this crying sin continues to exist, an infa
my is attached to the American name and charac-
ter not easy to be avoided.
BY the laws of the several States, the Slave is
regarded as the property of the master. Nothing
but the most absolute necessity can justify this
claim of property. How far the Slave is qualified
for the enjoyment of irecman's rights is more
than shall undertake to determine If the negro
be incapable of taking Of himself, his master
should be his guardian, not his owner. The negro
has natural rights, and the degradation of his in
tellectua character can neither justify excuse
their destruction 1t is the duty of government to
protect them. If the negro must be placed under
guardianship, it should be because he cannot eXer
else the rights Of freeman in safe and judicious
manner.
Provisions should be made by the Legislatures to
elevate the intellectual and moral character of the
Slave. i very well know that ignorance and vice
are more congenial to the spirit of Slavery than
intelligence and virtue, and that the plea Is often
urged IL ,piH not do 10 eeuaie The Stare. 1t is very
true that if YOU intend the Slave shall continue to
be Slave it will not do to educate him, 1t will not
do to acquaint him with the fact that he rs man,
that God ever gave to him the feelings of "A man.
| II you intend to treat him as brute that may be
bought and sold, it is Kindness instead OF cruelty,
to shroud his mind in perpetual and hopeless igno-
rance But if the Slaveholding States have any
desire to enlist the sympathies of the Christian
world in their favor, they must speedily repeal all
laws tending to deprive the poor negro of the priv
ilege of worshipping God, or of cnltlvating his
mind or heart. The Protestant cannot very con-
sstenty, censure the Catholics for withholding the
Scriptures from the laity, and at the same time ap-
prove the unchristian apathy manifested by South
ern population towards their heather servants.
on the 9th December 1888, committee OF the
L SYNOD OF South Carolina and Georgia, to whom
was referred the subject of the religious instruction
OF the colored population made report, which has
peen Pupished, and in which this language is used
"Who could credit, that in these years of revival
and benevolent effort, in this Christian Republic,
there are over tloo millions of human beings in the
! condition of hedthen and in some respects in n
worse condition? From long continued and close
observation we believe that their moral and relig-
ious condition is such that they may Justly be con-
sdered the heather of this Christian country, and
will bear comparison with heather in any country
in the world. The negroes are destitute of the