Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-10
TIL Z FIR b Il M A N .
For the Green Mountain Freeman.

late with the idea, that we-at least the female
portion Of this State--are far behind our sisters n
other states, who, years ago, assisted in planting
the standard of Liberty, and have rallied so ably
and fearlessly in its defence.
Have we not all been sleeping And while po-
litiCal partzans have been crying in the ears of all
friends of the slave, &c A little moro sleep, little
more slumber," have not we practically respond
ed A little more folding of the hands to seepi"
True, many of us have felt that family cares and
duties bore heavily upon US, as to leave US lit
tie time to commIserate with any beyond the pale
of the family circle, and so have hattered oursel-
yes, that we could claim exemption from any fur
Their duties, than those growing out of our domes-
tic relations. And is it so?
Will not moments reflection convince us, that
our benevoence should be as expansive as the suf-
ferings of our fellow MORALS? That wherever hui
mainly pleads, Woman, with all her tender SYM
pathies, should never he found shrinking from the
performance of every kindly duty3 If SO, then let
the cries of million of our own sex, borne down
by the most debasing northumberland the Word
of Life, and who heirs to a birh-right of sor-
row, misery and shame, which are waited to us
upon every Southern breeze, nerve us to action
vigorous, energetic, untirng action. Let us emu
late our brethren in the cause, who have enlisted,
"not for life, but fer success" And while they
using every effort to batter down the strong
holds of slavery, let Woman not be found shrink
ing from her responsibiIities-bu let her voice be
heard in words OF cheer to her aborers, as she
comes to the rescue.
The advocates Of slavery would no doubt be glad
to convince us that there is nothing which we can
with propriety do-eaving all the labor to our
liege-lords-but, let US not list to the syren-song
which would Iull US all into stupidity. There is
enough for US all to do, and that without over-step
ping the bounds Of feminine decacy.
Far be it from me to assume dictatoral spirit
or to attempt to preach you honilies upon the in
fuence Of woman. A superabundance of writers
of every Oge-including legislators from the ear-
est ages Of tme-have forestaed me in this; but,
allow to express the wish, that our influence
may be directed to the furtherance of right and
the downfall of wrong, principles AS Wives and
Mothers, have we forgotten the power that is pIa-
ced at our disposal for good or for evil? And
while, with mothers fond Partially, in looking
claim, as did Lucretia, the noble Roman nlatron,
"These are my jewels" have we not passed by
unheeded, other teachings which may be cleaned
from the history of the world? Shall the example
of Hamilcar, when he imposed upon his son Han
nibal an oath of undying hatred to the Romans, be
lost upon us, and shall we not impress upon the
. plastic minds of our children an eternal hatred OF
slavery in all its forms, aud use all influence
our brothers, husbands, and fathers, to arouse
their energies in behalf Of the oppressed that the
time may he fastened, when no longer the hypo
critical assumption of Liberty and Equal Rights
shall render US the laughng-stock of the world
and when our practice shall no longer cOn6lc
with our professions, as to appear burlesque il
the eyes of all Christendom.
Perhaps address some who are so strongly tine
tured with color-p hobia that they sympa
thize with their sisters of sable hue. To such
would reiterate the oft-repeated assertion, tina
there are many with skins fair any of the fai
daughters of Vermont, who now pine in slavery
Yes, 8" speak that do know, and testify that
have seen.'
But this is not all which should rouse our dor
mant energies. Can we forget our fellow-labor
ers, who are now incarcerated for not blowing tn
knee to BaaH Torrey Walker, Thompson
Work. and Burr, are now suffering in imprson
onment the penalty for possessing hearts of tles
instead of hearts of stone Who can think of tn
noble, self-denying Torrey, so efficient Lahore
in behalf of the slave-of his physical and ment
sufferings since his imprsonment-of his probab
separation from his dear family for years, if ut
for life and not feel his heart stirred within him
Oh! tell it not in Gath, nor let the sound reac
"A Ascalon, that a Christian minister, in a Christie
land is doomed to prison for years, perhaps fl
life, for obeying the express injunction of Ho
Writ, to "uudo the heavy burdens, and let the o
pressed go Free" Walker, Thompson, Work al
4 Burr, have a claim too upon the sympathies of /
+ Northern men and women. Husbands and fat
/ ers snatched from their fames-wves and ch
4 dren bereit of their counsellors and protectors!
II. Della A. Webster, Vermonter Iy birth, now
A prisoner in Kentucky, claims our sympathes.
Who can read her noble letter to her Pastor, al
not feel that something must be done for her, a
something too be done to close the yawning mou
of slavery, which, like the grave, is constantly or
ing-give, GIVE. Oh, when we Remember tho
in bonds as bound with Them" shall we not arou
from our stupor, to use all the means at our disE
SAL for the overthrow of system which lacks o
redeeming feature to shield it from merited opp
brium! Does not the enquiry of our Lord to
aborers, "Why stand ye here all the day idle
t come home with peculiar pernency to us? VIII
soeVer our hands find to do, we should do with {
might, and while our brethren doing all in tn
Il power for their brethren in bonds, let us not for
their families; let endeavor to see to it that Il
are kept above want, and do all in our power