The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-05-29
NASHVILLE, Tenn. May lS45.

1NAShFILLE' L ENNs MAY lC4O.
FRIEND HoLcoMB,-I have fen fu-
gilive moments TO spend in communica
ting some thoughts and facts relating to
the great subject o. a@0Oluntary ser0itude
and abect slavery.
In The northern part of Kentucky and
Virginia, slavery is manifest in its direful,
yet milder forms, and, perhaps can, with
some propriely, be styled Involuntary SER
vi,ude, in contra distinction TO the cruelty
and painful subsection Of the slaves of the
more Southern. Thu OUCH the interior and
nor;hern portions OF Ky, slaves are very
numerous: many of them are, compare
lively, treated with Show of kindness !;
and especially on holidays, are deSenlIy
clad and, in some districts religious SER
wants are permitted! to hold concerts of
prayer and praise. say religious SER
wants, because believe If there is any
true, HEARTFELT religion in the South, the
poor slave has it and if there is a G low
Of pure christianity in any bosom it blazes
in the dark breast Of the commiserated AT
rcan. The conviction OF the truth OF this
fact has irresstibly been fastened upon my
mind, while Witnessing the throboing
breast, the fearful eye, the irgepresslbe
groan, and the loud acclamalioh Of Amen
of the christian slace while receiving
from the desk, not 10 say sacred desk, the
principles and consultations of the gospel
religion. While contemplating The sus>
aiming hopes and happy prospects of the
I" heir of grace" the poor slave, wrapt in
transports of joy, importunes the father Of
mercies for the redemption o. his body,
and the perfect Tuition Of eternal felicity,
How many such may have prayed for
their welcome deliverer, grim death, to
speed his way and sunder the marace: OF
of inhumanity and "unstring the shack les
of mortaliiy' eternity alone can develop.
But 10 return. Although in some dis
tricts slaves are allowed 10 convene for re.
ligious worship, yet these cases are ex,
ceeding y teD; and wherever permitted,
the servants regard it as Distinguishing
act Of kindness and condescension in their
masters. But these slave-meetings are al
most exclusively confined 10 the interior
or Northern portions Of Kentucky. On
the Southern border of the State and in
Northern Tennessee such things are not
practised: and we know that in most
Southern States they are prohibited by
law. This is certain indication of the
r%gor and Sereritg Of slavery. As far as
nv observation has extended am con-
vinced that The slaves are much more cru
ely treated-mean!y clad-onerously bur
deued in Tenn. than in Ky.
But where oppression "abounds, vice
does much more abound" This fact has
been so fully established by observation
that it has become a marlm. Forge The fet.
lers and rivet the manacIes of oppression,
and community is environed by the mass
sive barriers Of immortality and vice.
Soth, ignorance, auserity, lust, licentious.
ness, debaucbery and murder, lif up their
heads and stalk the streets of such pande.
m0aium. The institution of slavery is
the foundation upon which such " BROTH
Ell" is established. The denizens think of
/ nothing but slaves--SLaUcS & 0, 0, all
else SlaUeS, the subject OF their gossip,
the object of their Nvarice and base de-
sires From these considerations am
soleualy convinced that there can be found,
in the frighLful calendar Of human vices,
none more pregnant with cruelty and
wickedness than this prolific monster
She diffuses her baneful poison through
all the avenues Of domestic aud public in
lercourse and exhales her demoralizing
effluvia through all the ramifcalions OF
society. Medeusa.like, she robs The heart
o! all the tender sensbiIiies of nature, and
converts it into stone. She produces a
moral alteration Gf may so use the
worG( and induces man TO call "evil, good "