Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-02-28
TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

hu DCh"Oidte, lOE Tue pOStulatc tndt 'Wnat
he law makes property, is property, and
hat all good citizens should abide by the
aw, till they can, in legal and constitu-
ional manner, conform il to their comscien-
ious standard Of morality the Southern
press was denouncing me as wishing to EN-
,loy the army and navy of the United States
IN the forcible liberation Of the slave. The
many calumnies, insnuatons against my f.
deity TO the laws and State allegiance, ]
shall not condescend TO repel. say to those
who are so insidiously attempting to preju-
dice me in the confidence of the Wing par
ly that shall nothing paIliate or deny; con-
scious of my own duty TO the American peo-
pie, have iearlessly discharged ii and as
never played sycophant 10 men for the sake
Of Office, though sacrificing some personal
pride in the cause of the political principles
Of the party TO some portions Of which
owe nothing, so, in defeat, have nothing
TO deplore but the common calamities Of the
country.
To the people Of Kentucky would hum
bly, suggest that l am the son of one Of the
first pioneers of the west, man who, in an
obscure way, rendered some service 10 his
country, both in the council and in the field;
he was one of the founders of the state con-
sttution, and his services we're not unappre-
ciated by those who have perpetuated his
memory, by giving his name TO one of the
counties of the Commonwealth. ] speak
not of these things in a vain spirit, or from
over-weening filial affection, but TO remind
those men of yesterday that they are pre-
suming too much upon popular credulity,
and their own significance, when they set
themselves up as the exclusive guardians of
the honor and welfare of the State, and I'M
dertake to denounce and ostracise me as an
enemy to the country. Having some small
interest in the soil as we'll as in the good
name ofihe Commonwealth, with all my hui
mility aud love Of equality, cannot but
give utterance to some touches Of contempt
and indignation towards those feeders upon
the crumbs which fall from other mems ia
bIes, who affect so much sensibility abou,
the property of the country. II there is in
our state something improper or dangerous
to be talked or written about, put it to eve
cry true aud manly Ken,uckian,i If that thing
is not improper and dangerous in its exist
ence among usi And if so, is he who un-
dertakes to remove the evil the enemy OF
his countryl Or rather, is not that man,
who, seeing the wrong, for the sake of pop
ularity, and narrow selfinterest, in oppo-
sition TO the welfare of the great mass oi
the people, dares not attempt its extinction,
a traitor, and a coward, and truly deserving
the execra,ion of his countrymen | am
not ashamed to admit that am the uncom.
promising foe Of tyranny, wherever display
ed; aud proudly avow myself the eternal
enemy of slavery At the same time, expe.
rience-taught charity warns me to lose none
Of my sympathy for the STAKEHOLDER, because
of his misfortune or his fault; and whilst
would be just to the black, am free to con
Tess, that every feeling Of association, anc
instructive sentiment of self-elevation, lead:
me TO seek the welfare Of the white, what
ever may be she consequences Of Liberation
to the African.
Bred among slaves, | regarded them will
indifference seeing no departure from NOR
ais or economical progress in the tenure
| The emancipation movement about 1880
affected me as il did most persons at th,
time; and | felt some new and pleasing e
motions spring up in my bosom, when hat
resolved, in common with my lamenteC
brother, to liberate my slaves l authorized
him to put my name to the Emancipation
Society formed about that time in Merce
county. In the same year went on TO Yal,
College, in free State. l was not blind
and therefore saw a people living there lux
uriously, on a soil which here would hay,
been deemed the high road to famine an'
the almshouse. A city of ten or 6lteel
thousand inhabitants rose up in the morning
passed through all the busy strife of the day
and Land down again at night, in quiet AM
security. and not a single police officer wa
in any place to be seen. There were NOR
F than FIVE hundred young men congregate'
from all chimes, of various habits and temper
aments, in the quick blood of youth, and al
conquering passion, and there was not foun,
, in all the city, so far as the public were a
ware, single woman so fallen as to deman
a less price for her love than an honorable
marriage. A gray haired Judge Of sevent
years and more, ia a lifetime ofservice, ha
pronounced sentence of death upon but fiv
> criminals in whole State, aud three @
> these were brought down TO ruin by iniem
perance had been taught to regard Cor
necticut as land of wooden nuimegs an
leather pumpkin seeds-yet there was
I land Of sterilty without paupers, and pee
: pie where no man was to be found VIII
/ could not write his name, and reads hi
' laws and bible.
9 These were strange things but far NOR
e strange, passing strange will j, be, KentucI
: ians, il you shall not come to the same COZ
c clusion to which was compelled, that libe
Q ty, religion and education were the caus
of all these things, and the true foundaiio