The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-14

This is the subterranean fire that is no W
rocking and heaving the foundations of
human society with such mighty convul.
sions.
And should it be asked, what has all
this TO do with our political and religious
institutions, | answer
First, our Political Institutions.
Every freeman in our land has sworn,
that at the ballot box his whole influence
should be exerted to install those men in
office whose principles would best promote
the good of the nation. The sohoIe nation.
Now who does not know that this oath is
violated by at least nine lenths ofthe free
men Of our country. The wool growing,
the manufacturing, the slaveholding, and
all the other petty departments in which
self interest is concerned, are all strug>
Cling Cor the pre-eminence, 10 make such
laws as shall secure permanency to
their own private interests, while the in.
terest of their neighbor is thrown entiIel y
into the back ground, and with them is
considered OF no account.
And now I ask in view Of our present
political position, living as we do uuder
laws, framed and based solely on the loun-
da,ion of selism, the majority of the mass
putting forth every energy in their power
10 promote their own personal emolument,
how can we as individuals avoid acting on
the same prnciple2 There are thousands
Of individuals 10 our land, who are driven,
from stern necessity-against luminous
convictions of right and duty, TO crush and
smother all the MOBILES! emotions of their
nature ia order to secure themselves from
starration!
The man, who in consequence Of the
selfshness of our Lawmakers, is compel'd
to steal a piece of bread, with which to
exc gu. his miserable existence, by the
same law is coupel'd to pay the penalty
in peneteniary
So, as | before remarked; it requires
but little discernment to discover thai it is
The imperative subsection of all tina; is sym
palhising and social in our natures to this
selfish principle, that is overwhelming our
world with ignorance, poverty and crime.
And now let US take one glance at the
church as it is, and see the oppression. the
parsmoniousness, the egotism, the immod
crate attempts to gain fame, power, or
money. How directly opposed 10 that
Christian charity which seeketh not her
own"
See the ministers 60 from place to
place, and where they find few Presby-
terans, or few Methodis,s, or few Bap
lists. they say, here are few of our mem
bers here we must plant church. Here
the interests OF our denomination must be
nursed They Immediately set about
gathering little churches, sticking up thel'
stakes, putting up their sectarian bars, and
gathering around them all The parapher>
MALTA of sectarianism. Now on comes 8
minister of another sect and finds a few
whose prejudices favor his denomination
and he must gather IA church; and the'
another does the same, and another; I'll
YOU will see their little meeting houses o
other places of worship scattered here an
there, with few sectaran spirits gather
ed around a sectarian minister, allJealou
. of each oher, and making efforts, as the
say, to conrert the oorld. Now it is zeal
) " amazing, and agonizing, that this sam
selfish principle respecting mere dittrenc
, of opinion on points of minor importance
= should rend the church into parties, de
f stroy her unity, and not only jeopardiz'
but awfuIIy hasten and aggravate the rui
v oil lh6 world. Ana When goa SnaiI max
e inouisitlon for blood then let sectarlans
ready 10 answer.
r "How much better it would be if a
:. christians would resolve that no more tina
r one minister of an evangelical denomn al
: ton, should be spared to one field, and
r. they would insist on it, that where vi
e age or town is not too large for one col
gregatior, but one minister should be l'
IS TO occupy that field, such a state OF thin
e would be as life from the dead. Itwou
ID be vastly better for every village and ev
nv town 10 Chrstendom. thatall ministe
of should take this stand, and if all The ri