Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-03-28
For the Waterman and Journal
THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.
ny n. DfNsMnRE.
No. O.-WHAT IL SI,ANEI

M o wi Il ~ ~ i ~ ST i,vrpv,
In proceeding with the discussion of our subject.
the first question that naturally presents itself is
What is Slavery? Unless we fix in DIR minds n
clear, distinct and definite idea of Slavery we can
hardly be expected to arrive at any thing like cor
rect conclusions respecting it, Notwithstanding
the amount of discussion that has recently been
had on the subject of slavery men still continue 10
entertain and express very loose indefinite opinions
respecting it. There are but few whether aboli
tonlsts or their opponents who can or will rive
you a correct definition of slavery. II IS USUALLY
defined to be The conversion of a human being into
property.
Now, it may be true, that no human being can
be converted into property. without being NJ the
same time slave but it does not follow that eve.
ry man who is slave NAV be sold like an OK or
horse, or that in fact, he NAV be sold at all. So
very is the entire subjection Of one person 10 The cu
of anoiher The ,riH of tho master NAV bo W.
strained by lar but the slave has M mower N SO.
cure the enforcement of anv laws in his own favor
| tie cannot petition for n redress of Grievance -
Some superficial PENSIONERS have even conc ca f,r
as to assert that minors and apprenices are slaves
because they are under the LEGAL control of tbe;r
parents and masters. But minors and annrantcos
not only have legal rights. but if those rights arc
wantonly taken away from tben, ,bov con annoaI
to the law for redress Every LAWYER knows that
there is vast distinction between ser.ont and n
Stare. Sbould the master of n servant faI IN ,ho
performance of his contract or in onv manner in.
lure or abuse his servant either in his nroner,v ~
person. the servant NAV maintain nm oci;on aro;rst
him o;,Lor IN H. - 80 M III 0.iOn "eci,':t
guardian or next friend. as the case mnv reonire -
Slaves can make no contracts. thew can maintain
no actions nt law: they can have M ronody Cor q,
redress of grievances "A ee,1,nr saws Dr Wob-
ster, differs from s'nye. as the servants snbec
ton is voluntary: the slaves is NOT Every siove
is servant. but every servant is not n slave
The great commentator on the laws nj Eno,and
Sir William Blackstone. would seem IN defne
pure and proper slavery, ne meaninr on,v ,ba,
species of 8 ,hiection whore .on ohsni,o al 49,.
limited power is oiven IN the moe,or oyo- tbo liz
and fortune of the slave Bpt the life Of the slave
NAV be nrotected bv law ond vet tha ,a ,an he
entirely subjected TO the masters will, # would
be very difficult to ax any other term than alorer,,
to his condition. whereby to EXPRESS il truly and
properly.
L is true that in the United States. the master
has the right of property in his slaves and can dis
pose of them by sale the same as he can of his
oxen or his horses The children of slaves are bv
birth slaves also; and are Thus without onv G,uit
of their own doomed IN n state If honeless bo,I
age "A Slave saws the Louisiana code : s in tho
power of the master to whom be beIorrs Tho
muster NAV sell HIM dispose of his no,snn his in.
dustry his labor; he can do noti,inp nossess no,h-
ing, nor acquire any thing but which must beono
to his master' Slaves shall no IeemnG ,okan5
reputed and adudpcd' saw the South CaroIino laws |
to be chattels personal in tho hands of their mas
tie s, and possessions TO all intents and nurnoses
whatsoever
The idea that n riuht of nronartv in man ;s oS-
sentiav NECESSARY n corstitria sio,or,, no.. oa |
stoned much confusion of thonrht on ihe snbiect |
Of emancipation DESTROY this right of n,oner,v
we are told and Won have at once and fprar Az
stroyed slavery. DESTROY the rCht of nronorty or
the right to merchandise in hnmSn flesh and Won
have not thereby DESTROYED the entire snbpctio1 If
the slave to the will of the master: Won have not
thereby DESTROYED involuntary seryitude. Tho rH-
lain regdrtiart who was annexed TO the manor or
land, was as much slave as the rilqin in gross.
who was annexed TO the person of the lord and
transferable by deed from one owner to another.
1t is easy to talk about the Immediate abolition off
Slavery, when our philanthropy costs us nothing
but words, but those who have studied the subject
of slavery in all its bearings and understand lis
nature, know very we'll that It's remedy. in the Uni |
ted States, must be the work of time.tbot il is an
evil of too great magnitude to be abolished nv n
single blow. If the description which we have
given of slavery be correct it will be readily zen
that no consistent republican can become its adyo-
cate. 1t makes war directly upon the native indie
pendence Of man. How, then can slavery be JUS
titled? Can any valid excuse ever be offered for
its continuance? Our modern abolitionists have
given us a short answer to these inguries-Slave.
ry is sin; all sin should be Immediately abandon
ed; therefore, slavery should be Immediately abol-
ished That slavery is sin. few in New Fnglond
would be willing to dispute. So. too. the takirr of
human lite is murder, but it is not every one Who
causes the death of fellow being that deserves m
be called murderer Whenever the mind does
is far from being guilty of crime. No act can he {
called criminal when divpsted of criminal infant