Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-21
FANEUEL HALL ADDRESS.
To the PEOPLE Of lhe United States.
Concluded


10 the People Of the United States.
The States in which involuntary servtude ex-
listed, were not called upon to abolish such SER
vitude, before they could be admitted into to the
Union; nor on the other hand, was the proposed
government to be called upon to fortity the laws
Of the States, creating or establishing this invol
untary servtude, by any nterpositon of its au-
thority, OF any guaranty or assurance whatever
1t pledged itself, indeed, to exercise its authority
to suppress instructions, but this provision was
as applicable to one State as another, There
is reason, however, to believe that at that time
there existed amongst the citizens of the coun-
try, generally, even amongs those of the slave
holding States themselves, belief that slavery
was on the wane; that new views of political
economy and of the general interest, would lead
to the supplying of its place by free labor; and it
may be added, with entire truth, that the success
full termination of the war which had bren waged
for liberty and the rights of nan, had impressed
a general expectation that the political liberation
of the country from foreign domination would
tend to produce dispositions favorable to change
of the relations between the black and white ra-
ces; change which commencing with mtiga-
ton, and proceeding gradually and with safety
from step to STEP might eventually terminate in
the total abolition of slavery. Acts Of legisla-
tion official addresses, memorials, resolutions
and many other forms of proceeding showed
clearly the existence of such an expectation.
Let US recur to sentiments expressed at that time,
by those whose memory the country loves and
reveres, and whose wisdom. virtue, and patriotic
exertions, were most eminent in giving it an hon
ored station among the nations of the earth.
Soon after the adoption of the constitution, it
was declared by George Washington to be
among his first wishes to see some plan adopted
by which slavery might be abolished by law
and in various forms, in public and private COM
munications, he avowcd HE anxious desire that
"a spirit of humanity, prompting to the emanci-
patton of the slaves, might difiuse itself gener-
ally into the minds of the people,; and he gave
the assurance, that so far as his own suffrage
would 90, his influence should not be wanting to
accomplish this result BY his last will and tes-
lament he provided that al his slaves should re-
ceive their Freedom and in terms significant Of
the deep solictude he felt on the subject, he
most pointedy and solemnly enjoned upon his
executors to see that the clause respecting slaves
and every part thereof, be religiously fulfilled,
without evasion, neglect or delay
No language can be more explicit, more en-
phatic, or more solemn than that in which Thorn
as jefferson, from the beginning to the end OF
his life, uniformly declared his opposition tc
slavery. i tremble for my country said he
when | reflect that God is just-that his justice
= cannot sleep forever The Almighty
has no attribute which can take side with us il
such contest Interference to the state pup
: lie feeling, as influenced by the revolution, he
= said 4 think change already percepdble, since
o the revolution' and to show his own view cf tn,
S proper influence of the spirit of the revolution
IS upon slavery he proposes the searching question
e WHO can endure toll famine, stripes, imprison
d ment, and death itself, in yindcation of his owl
$; liberty and the next moment be deaf to all thos
$, motives whose power supported him through hi
; trial, and inAict on his fellow men a bondage
d one hour of which is iraught with mere niiscr
S. than ages of that which he rose in rebellion t
" opposed I'VE must wait he added with pa
a, tience, the workings of an overrung Providence
r. and hope that that is preparing the deliyeranc
n of these cur suffering brethren. When tn
is measure of their tears shall be full-when the
er tears shall have involved heaven itself in darl
IL ness doubtless God of Justice will awaken t
H. their Distress and by diAusing light and liberal
We ty among their oppressors, or at length by his e.
lis terminating thunder, manifest his attention
1g things of this world, and that they are not left
IS, the guidance of blind htaityp Towards tt
IN close of his life, Mr.. Jefferson made renewc
rd and final declaration of his opinion, by writr
IT. thus to friend: My sentiments on the subie
sh of the slavery of negroes have long since bee
his in possession of the public and time has on
ng served to give them stronger root, The love
he justice and the love of country plead equally Il
IN cause of these people; and it is moral reproa'
lily to us that they should have pleaded it so long
ar vain, and should have produced not single {
I'M iort--nay, fear, not much serious willingness
- to relieve them and ourselves from our prese
iot condition of moral and political Reproduction
ccs at would rejoice my very soul" said PArRIc
The Henry, in the Virginia convention, "tha eve
ing one of my fellow beings was emancipated.
ak, we ought with gratitude to admire that decree
an Heaven which has numbered us among the fro