The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-07

tent, the American people halled the even
with iov. When Poland raised her arm
sgans, her oppressors every heart WISHED
her success, aud when she could no long
or contend against and unequal foe, you
welcomed her exiled sons 10 your frrer
and more peaceful shores. You can
point to fields that have witnessed the mos
victorious achievements OF our armies in
the Revolution. In the bosom Q! this soil
rest The ashes OF Patrick Henry, and
Thomas JefFsrsoo. and here are The lombs
of franklin, Adams. and Washington. -
So certain are we that we have superior
ity over all other people, we have thrown
ASIDE becoming nodes;y and proclaimed
ourselves the frees! nation on earth.
But fellow citizens look at the ruth.
In the name Of my brethren entreat you
not to turn from it with scorn. but view it
calmly, and fairly, however hunilaing it
may Be to your National pride.
There are atlhis moment three millions
of slaves in the Uui,cd Sta'es. MercifuI
God, what q vast number is this Our
proud New Eng laud does not contain
more inhabitants Besides this number in
actual slavery, there are more than half
million Of people Of color in the non slave
holding States, who are in one way or
other prescribed by law or abused by pref
udlce. Thus this G ,vernmenl has placed
its feet upon The neck OF three and half
millions OF A(rico> mericans: Where
then has been one tear shed in coDse-
quence Of The expressions of our mother
country or The perils of the Revolution,
ihere has been thousand shed on account
OF The bitterness Of that slavery which you
tolerate. And for every drop of blood
poured on, in defence of American Lber-
", yon can be pointed to streams drawn
from the liberated bodies oflhe descendants
Of Africa.
During the hundred and twenty five
wears we have been doomed to suffer in
this land all the crueIlies common 10 q sys.
tenn Of oppression, which in regard 10
wickedness, is not eqnaled by any 10 The
world.
In consequence OF this condition, a
mighty, overwhelming current Of pr"ju>
dice has set against us.
My brethren, many Of whom are mem.
bers of The church Of Christ, are sold like
beasts in the shsmbles, and every tie of
relationship is rulhlessly torn asunder.
Sons have been compelled 10 behold The
mothers who bore them, wrilhing beneath
the lash, aye and more, they have some>
times been iol ced 10 apply the scou:ge on
the labor broken frames Of their aged pa,
rents.
Our sisters, daughters, and wives have
been driven into prostitution, and concu>
5inage, and their unhappy offspring have
been sold by their unfeeling fathers, and
in order to preveLt these children from
pleading the privileges Of their Anglo.
Saxon blood, the American slave law de.
clares that the child shall follow the con.
dilion Of its mother
The Holy Bible is sealed book TO all
the enslaved with few exceptions.
Hence they are the most unfortunate oil
all hea,hens. They sit in darkness while
ligh. surrounds them. They die of thirst
while streams Of salvation are flowing
through this land.
In some parts of the country the most
sympathetic efforts have been made 10
keep US IN intellectual darkness, and the
reasons urged in favor of The course, is,
tina, knowledge would reveal our condition
to US more plainly. and would therefore
make us d:con'enle1.
Shareholders, and their apologies, say
that we are gnoronl, and unprepared for
freedom, and still they punish with an i'm
prisonment. and death, every attempt 10
prepare!
Oar children that are born from day TO
day, and who might have as fair opportu-
nifty as any other to tiI The most useful
spheres in life arc thrown into the same
ocean of degrcda'ion, in which their faith,
er's rights have been cngulfed.
The vast amount OF mind which is
crushed by The slavery maintained IN this
country, is the most featul par, OF the sys-
TEN. 1t has deprived the land of at leas,
two thousand educated ministers
1t has robbed US OF our due pro portion
of professional men-Physicians, lawyers,
Legislators, Merchants, Poets and PhiIos.
ophers.
1t has kept from the heather three huns
drcd missionaries.
1t has given rise to prejudice, which
proscribes US in Church, and in Safe.
All these impurities are sanctioned by
many of tho protesting christians, and by
many OF the ministers in the land.
The Government Of the country is like
wise against US, and the degradation of This
class oil American ciliz.ns is considered
by our Nalonat iaw~nakers to be an Oh.
ject OF their highest ambition.
We complain that members Of the !
Church and ministers thereof, many OF
whom are Shareholders and dealers, and |
slaves breeders are held in fellowship by
the on>slaveho'ding potion of the church.
notwithstanding it is generally ocknowl-
kdned TINT iheir a .,nds "a. aMI