Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-06-20
For the Waterman and Journal
THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY.
NO. xu.-DUTY OF THE NORTH.

What is the duty of the North in relation to the
subject of Slavery? This is the last question
which we propose to consider in the discussion Of
our subject.
We are not unfrequenty told that the North
have great and an important duty to perform res
pecting Slavery; a duty which we have too long
and criminay neglected. AT first, we were told
that this duty consisted in forming anti-Savery as
sociations, composed Unfortunately of men, wo-
men and children, in the circulation of ant-Slavery
periodicals. and in signing petitions praying for the
abolition Of Slavery in the District of Columbia,
and remonstrances against the annexation of Texas
to the Union But our anti Slavery societies sc en-
ed to be little else than harmless and useless folly
our anti-Savery periodicals. by their flaming APP
pcas and Incorporate dcnunciations, were produce
ing almost an incaculable amount of evil and our
petitions and remonstrances we G producing no
beneficial effect in the councils of the Nation.-
Anti-Slavery associations are not needed in New
England, for the reason that we have not single
Slave within our borders that can be benefited by
their labors Infanticide is an alarming vice in
China. Every phanthropist and every Christian
cannot bat most deeply amert its existence. Why
not our good Mothers our sons and our daughters,
form associations to make intrepid war against it !?
The object of such an association would certainly
be benevolent one, appealing to the best sympa-
thies and feelings Of the human heart. And should
any old bachelor venture to laugh at the concern,
would it not be advisable TO stigmati2e MIN as
enemy to his species and to the cause of moral pu-
rity
1t has been lately ascertained that in order to be
good abolitionlst, every citizen of free State
must refuse to vote for a Stakeholder in any case
whatever. Shareholders are reckoned unworthy of
any confidence or respect Indeed, all the evils
that have ever happened in our Government are
supposed TO be attributable to the fact that such
men as Washington, Jefferson and Madison have
been elevated to the Presidential chair. No man,
we are told, can conscientously oppose Slavery,
who, IN any case, gives his vote for Shareholder.
1t is true that men may oppose other evils and con-
scientiously enough support the man who enter
tains, honestly but mistakenly, other opinions than
our own respecting them, whenever those opinions
have no necessary connection with the discharge
OF those official duties which the candidate, if
elected, may be called upon to perform. 1t is of
no consequence to me whether the mechanic whom
employ be Catholic or a Protestant Trinita-
RAN or Unitarian, Calvinist or an Anninean;
sit neither breaks my legs or picks my pocket
So, too it would seem that we may be opposed to
Slavery, and conscientiously enough vote for
Washington TO fill the Office of President of the
United States, provided we have confidence in his
integrity and ability to administer the government
in its purity, Notwithstanding his unfortunate CON
necton with the institution Of Slavery. But no
our modern Liberty men have become so wise, that
no Stakeholder, in their estimation can be honest
tension of the Slave power in the United States,
that they have recently actually defeated the cleo
ton of one Shareholder to the Presidency, known
to be opposed to the annexation of Texas against
the common consent of the Union, and indirectly,
yet efectually, contributed to the election Of an
other, known TO be in its faror! To such consis-
ency as this we lay no claim, nor is it in our pow
er cordially to respect the motives Of those who are
by it. Men who can thus act may prate
I'LL their threats are sore about their opposition to
SlaVery-the demdgogue only can be benefited by
their lahors; the poor Stare has no very great rea
son to thank them for their services.
That the North have duty to perform in rea-
ton to Slavery, not all d,sposod to jony.
He who, because Slavery does not exist in New
England, should strenuously argue that have
nothing to do in relation to it. understands but little
Of moral duty and moral accountability. Whatev-
err concerns humanity, concerns us the field of
the Christian philanthropst is "THE WORLD" The
States constitute portion of our In
ion If Slavery be, as Southern statesmen have
declared it to be, moral and political evil it is an
evil which Injuries u.s. We are interested in its
removal No evil can effect one portion of our
Union, without ehecting, in greater or less de-
gree, the whole body polite. II Slavery tends to
weaken the physical, the moral or intellectual en-
ergies of any portion Of our Republic, the whole !
must suffer with that portion. And yet the South
tell us that we have no right to
peak, to write or even think upon the subject.
Our first duty is to assert the right of free dis
ussion. Let naughty Southern nabobs know that !
&c are freenen, not to be inundated by menacing
hreats. We should learn to treat with that silent
ontempt which they deserve, the supercllious de-
hands of the South, when they ask us by legisa-
ion, not only to stop discussion, but also to yield
ar citizens as martyrs TO their blood thirsty laws
zoo long have we patiently submitted to thermobs,
nd lawless violation of our private rights. Had
Dreign government abused one of our private citi-
ems as DRAPER or a HoPPER has been abused
n the streets of Nashville or Savannah, we should
ave heard war-cry ringing in our ears from
Iaine to Georgia. Whenever a Northern citizen
ttempts to excite Instruction or rebellion among
le Slaves of the South, let the government in1ict
5 severe punishment as the offence may richly
lerit, but when lawless mob, either at the North
r South, attempt to punish private citizens for Of
'nces, existing only iii their heated ina ginations,
r if existing, have never been judicially proved,
lnguage is too feeble to express our detesaton of
ne act When Garrison was mobbed in the streets
f Boston, it was not the abolitionist and fanatic
My that was mobbed, but also the man and the
izen. Every republican was called upon to de-
md HIM, no matter what were his opinions or the
haracter of his creed. We hold the right of opin-
IN and of free discussion by tenure, Independent
the wW and pleasure Of the South, or of their
ycophantic admirers in the North. They NAV de-
land the ears of our citizens, if they choose, and
hey may offer an exorbitant price for them; we
eIther want their ears nor any part of their bod
es, until those bodies can be made fit for the souls
T men to dwell in.
1t is the duty of the North to make the South
and feel the fact that we are totally and
opposed to Slavery When thew
ppeal for sympathy to Northern statesmen in Con-
ress, let them understand that the appeal can new
r be sustained. When they insultingly demand
f our State Legislatures the enactment of laws
free discussion let them be rebuked
in a voice of thunder. When South
'arolina ncarcerates citizens, be they black or
White, without specifying any crime of which they
ave been guilty, we should regard her in the same
ght as we should regard AlSiers or Morocco in
he commission of the same offence. We have
9th natural and moral right to reprove the
outh, faithfully and earnestly, for their sins Should
ley, in their turn, point us to our errors should