Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-30
From the N. II. Congregational Journal.
Speech of Professor HaddOck,
OH LII A NI1NM I'D
OF HANOVER,
On The Resolution Of Mr. Hale, IN reference TO SlaveH
IN The House Of Representatives, June 30

IN The House Of Representatives, June 30.
Mn. SpEAKER:--T am not forward to ask the car of
the House; trust that, keeping within the limits pre-
scrbed to the members by the rule adopted yesterday
| shall not weary it. Indeed | enjoy SO much of the
wit and cloqucncc of gentlemen about me-
that sometimes really forget that have any thing
else to do here but to listen
There arc Subjects however, upon which, us citi
zen OF an Intelligent free State, and especially
as ono of the Representatives of the scat of the prn-
cipa literary Institution of New Hampshire, where the
young men Of tho State urc instructed and disciplined
in the principles and duties of life, am not content to
be wholly silent.
The question before the House is one of these sub
ccts-a question of principle, of high moral duty, of
liberty and humaniy-thc great question of civllhis-
tory upon which have been expended the best cncr-
gcs Of awakened mind all over the world, and with
which arc connected the dearest hopes of our race.
The Resolution under consideration invites us to cX-
press ourselves on the sub ect of American Slavery
to speak QUITO let our voice be heard as the Govern
mcnt rf New Hampshire, as portion Of the people of
the free hills and the free air OF the North,
The amendment offered by the gentleman from
Weare, proposes nacton-sicncc. Sir, can consent
to such thing 1t is time for this State to speak, TO
speak intcgby and decidedly. She cannot be still
and be guess. 1t is too late for Indifference or neu-
traty or delay It is the duty of this Legislature to
utter its voice in the cause Of human liberty. The
people Of the State demand it; the country looks for
it. We cannot cvadc the responsibility. 1t is the
highest duty of the Government at this moment, and !
rejoice to see the disposition here to meet that duty
manfuly and heartily. We shall not regret it it will
be among the cherished rococctons Of our brict pub
lie life.
Gentlemen deprccato agitation; they arc alarmed at
discussion they coutrcposc and silence Why not DIS
cuss this matter, sir? Is any thing to be feared from
inquiry? Any thing to be lost by consideration and
courteous, earnest Argument of great civil and moral
questions? We propose no violence no exercise OF
unconstitutional power no Interference with the do
nestle policy of sister States. We claim no right to
strike the ghacllcs from single slave We only as
scrt the liberty of spocch VIC only solicit the car OF
the Master. We say to the people Of the slave hold
ing States, come, let us reason together We APP
peal to the conscience, the Judgment the magnanmous
sentiments of the human heart And it is matter OF
great Joy, that this appeal is not idle or vain never
was wholly so in any age Of the world, nor on any i'm
poant subject 1t will not be 50 IN this instance. 1t
has not been so hitherto.
Discussion has done something for the liberation OF
the Slave already 1t has done not little Il has en-,
gagged our own attention to the condition and the rights
of the oppressed.
The youngest member of this House is able to rec
ollcct when almost nothing known, or thought, Of
the American Slave in this remote part of the coun-
try. Intercourse with the South was infrcquon JET
crson had indeed expressed concern and alarm for his
guilty country; enlightened phiIanthropjsta had here
and there vcnturcA to question the right and to con-
denim the policy Of negro Slavery But there existed
very little knowledge Of the subject and still less in
crc5 in it among the people at large. Men were alb
sorbcd in their pursuits, cXutmg IN thcTow free
DOM and gathering together IN their places OF rch
gous worship to thank God for the blessings of fec
government and free Gospel apparently ignorant o
the cruel bondage under which SO many Of their fcl
low men and fellow citizens at the same time pin
ing with sorrow and faintng in despair. New Eng
land mothers were soothing their infant offspring to re-
pose with the gentle voice of prayer and the sweet
hymn of praise all unconscious that there were thou
sands ard tens of thousands of mothers in this free
rejoicing land, who could not call their children OF
themselves their own No voice was lifted up in then
behalf; no prayer for them mingled with the incense
of the public altar added fragrance to the odors
the domestic sacrifice. We labored by day, and wen
to our beds at night if such thing slavery OK
listed among our people. We rejoiccd as if none wept
and blessed ourselves the iroCst the best, the hap
piest of nations And what do now sec? We
see men everywhere becoming sensible, that all this
innocence and freedom, and happiness arc marrcd by
the federation of a system of more relentless oppres
sion of more grinding CALLING hopeless slavery, thar
ever dsgraccd the earth, dcfed the Heavens. The
pulpit is longer silent; public assemblies are agita
rights of the opprcssor the claims of wonged, outra
ged humanity, arc weighed and appreciated Not ;
political body assemble, from the county convcn
ton to the National Legislature, without being excited
upon the subject. Ecclesiastical assemblies are divi
dcd upon it. The State, and the Church, and the
whole people are coming to be alive to the sin ant
shame of American Slavery.
The two great divisions of the Presbyterian church
lately met in their General Assemblies in Phadel
al, hO,l n1I cd IN 1tor
nal admontion upon the bject from their brethren in
Scotland The other received an eplste of lratcrna
re2oof from their brethren in Canada. The latter
der the usual forms of courtesy and christian love,
so pungent and caustc in its rcmonstrance, that tho
Assembly, excited to Indignation, ready to refuse
the document even reading. One of the Doctors
more wary and more president than the rest advised
to moderation. to lorbeauncc. If, said he we rccC
this raernal letter, we rcnouncc communion with thu
Presbyterian Church of Canada; if we rcnouncc com
munon with the Church of Canada we must renounco
communion with the Free Church of Scotland, ant
with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Aud thol
where is the Presbyterian Church of the United State
of America? Alone in the world. And the brethren
heard the Church of Canada through, though wha
more they did, am not informed | Know however
that for the first two weeks Of their meeting botl
branches OF tins church were occupied with Slavery
as leading subject large part OF the Unitarian
Clergy have openly declared themselves abolllonst5
the FIccwl Baptist Church has gone over IN bod
10 that side of the question The Methodist Clurc
is actually rent asundcr upon it. Many of the Ne'
England Orthodox Congregatonalists have taken dc
cided and strong ground upon it. And the Epscop'
Church is only waiting as one OF her sons has sal,
till she can move with dignity proprley and effect
What do we now see Why, total revolution
sir in the state of the public mind-a substantial an
prevailing popular sentiment against which no instltl