The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-28

1s4Ss
ISince the publication of the letter of
nc. K. W. giving an account OF the cele-
bration OF the First of August al Walthan,
we have received letter from another
correspondent enclosing the following
sketch of the remarks Of Mr. Emerson on
that occasion. Many readers will be as
glad TO see it as we are to give it placed
What is the defence OF Slavery What
is the irresistible argument by which ev-
cry plea of humanity and reason has hi,h.
erto been borEe down1
Is it q doubt Of the equity OF the negro's
cause2 BY no means. Is it doubt of
the sincerity of the reformer2 No; the
abolilionists are thought partial, credulous,
tedious monomaniacs; bilter-but no man
doubts their sincerity. Is j. stringent
self INTEREST," No; this acls in certain
places. Il acts on the seaboard, and In
great thoroughfares, where the Northern
merchant or manufacturer exchanges hos
pitalities with the Southern planter. or
trades with him, and loves TO exculpate
himself from all sympathy with those
turbulent Abolitionisls. But it acts only
there; not on the Northern people at large.
The farmers, for example, in this County,
or in this State, feel no pinch Of self-inter-
est TO court the complaceny OF the South
erner. If Fi!chburgh stock is good-if
we can buy and sell land, and wood, and
hay, and eorn-if we can sell shoes, and
tin-ware, and clocks. and carriages, and
chairs-we don't care whether he likes or
mislikes it. What. then, is the objections
| think there is but one single argument
which has any real weight with the bulk
of the Northern people. and which lies IN
one word-a word which I hear pro-
nounced with triumphan, emp basis in bar.
rooms, in shops, 10 streets. in kitchens. at
musters, and at cattle shows. That word
is Niggers!-a word which, cried by
rowdy boys and rowdy men in the ear Of
this timd and scepsical generation, 10
reckoned stronger than heaven; it blows
away with jeer all the efforts of philans
thropy. all the expostulatioDs OF pity, the
cries OF millions, now for hundreds Of
years--all are answered by this insulting
|appellation, "Oh, the Niggers and the
boys straightway sing Jim Crow and
jump Jim Crow in the streets ami .av-
ems.
1t is the objection Of an inferiority Of
race. They who say it and they who
hear it, think it the voice of nature and
fate pronouncing against the Aboli,ioisls
and the Philanthropist that The ga, ga of
the Negro, his laugh, and the imperfect
articulation of his organs designate ar i'm
perfect race and that the goodwill of
amiable enthusiasts in his behalf will avail
him no more against This sentence Of Ma
ture than pair OF oars against the falling
ocean at Niagara.
And what is the amount of this concla.
sion in which the men of New.England
acquiesce2 1t is, that the Creator Of tho
Negro has given him up to stand as q
victim of carica.ure of the white man
beside him to stoop under his pack, and
to bleed under his whip. II that be the
doctrine, then, say, if He have given up
his cause, He has also given up mine, who
feel his wrong, and who in our hearts
must curse the Creator who has undone
him.
But no, it is not so the Universe is not
bankrupt; still stands the old heart firm in
lis seat, and knows that come what will,
the right is and shall be. Justice is for.
ever and ever. And what is the reply to
this fatal allegatiOn2
believe there is a sound argument
derived from facts collected in the United
States and in the West Indies. in reply to
This alledged hopeless inferiority Of the
colored race, But shall not touch it.
concern myself now with the morals of
he system, which seem to seorn tedious
catalogue of particulars on question so
simple as this. The only reply, then, to
his poor, sceptical ribaldry is the affim>
ing heart. The sentiment Of right. which
is the principle Of civilization and the
r At, n.