Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-07
ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVE-
RY SOCIETY TO THE ABOLITIONISTS
OF THE U. S. OF NORTH AMERICA.

ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVE-
RY SOCIETY TO THE ABOLITIONISTS
OF THE U. S. OF NORTH AMERICA.
DEAR FRIENDs,-The deep interest we take
in the prosecution Of the anti-savery cause in
your country, coupled as it is at the present mo-
ment with so many interesting and important Cir
cumstances, some of hopeful and others Of
a painful character, Induces us to address you
for the purpose of expressing our cordial SYM
pathy with you in the great object of your la
bors, the unabated confidence we feel in your
prudence and zeal in its promotion, and the
hopes we cherish of its speedy and triumphant
success
Among the recent events which have occa-
stoned us much pain is the incarceration in the
common iails of Virginia, Missouri, Maryland,
Kentucky, and Florida of several estimable in
diyiduals, of both sexes, on the alleged ground
Of their having either counselled, or aided and
abetted certain slaves to escape from the yoke of
bondage. In the case of one of these Christian
philanthropists we learn that to the indignity of
chains and Imprisonment have been added the
torture of branding with red-hot iron, and the
insults of the plory For many long years most
of them will have to endure the privations, la
bors, and seclusion of their prison-houses, and
some of them to mourn over their separation
from the dearest objects of their affections, their
wives and children. And forwhat are they sem
fenced to endure torture, insult, and injury, the
privation ofliberty, and of endearing intercourse
of friends Not for having violated, but for
having practically vindicated the sublime declar-
alton of your constitution, that "God hath crea-
ted all men equal, and endowed them with GER
tain nalienabe rights, among which are life, lib
erty, and the pursuit of happiness not for
having broken, but for having given practical
effect to the royal law of love, that whatsoever
we would that men should do unto us we should
do unto them. They have sought to deliver the
poor when he cried, from the hand of him that
oppressed him, and for this they have been con-
demned to heavy and degrading punishments,
This new outrage on our common humanity and
religion will not fail, we trust, to give intensity
to the feelings of adherence with which all good
men should regard the horrid system of slavery.
requiring as it does, for its support, laws which
declare acts of humanity to be crimes, and that
punish deeds of Christian benevolence as ielones
We shall not forget cur brethren in their afflic-
ton; and you will derive new motive from
their "bonds and Imprisonment to increased ex-
erton to free your country from its guilt and
nfamy
Another event has also deeply greved us we
allude to the course which certain individuals
representing the Free Church of Scotland have
pursued on the question of slavery, both in your
country and in our own In the United States,
where, on their own principles, they ought to
have been the most eloquent advocates ofireedom
they were silent on that great niquity which re-
duces to the condition of "chattes personal in
THE hands of their masters three millions OF ms