Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-15
For the Green Mountain Freeman,
Facts for the Democrats Of Vermont

MEssRs EDIroRs.-It will be gratifying, perhaps, to
the friends of equal rights. to learn that the Rev. Mr..
Garnet was well received at Barre; and that his lecture
is highly spoken of by all that heard him. A new i'm
petus has been given to the subject of abolishing slave
nv, and people are disposed to look at the subject in its
true light The declaration is now made by many
"that these things are 50, and there is no use of trying
to evade the truth any longer" Let the car of truth
roll on until slavery, with her deeds Of darkness, ty-'
ranny and blood, shall not have an advocate on the
green earth until Philanthropy, Benevolence, Justice,
Mercy, and Religion, shall all be united in dispensing
equal Justice to all, whether black or white. Now,
Messrs. Editors, let me j~ustsay to you, and to all, that,
Ennn my earliest recollection, | have ~despised and con-
demned the system of slavery, mall its features,-
wrong in principle, and, therefore, wrong in practice !;
a dishonor to God, religion and humanity a reproach
to our nation and government; a stigma upon our
character as a Republican Government, that claims to
be "the land of the brave, and the home of the free"
But stop; these are broad statements, and, if true, they
certainly involve a portion of our American citizens in
guilt. If untrue, they never should be uttered much
more, never published to the world. And has that
Being who is infinite in benevolence and Justice, Gre
ated a part of our race for the purpose of being bound
in the chains of physical, moral and mental slavery
answer, it is a libel on the attributes of our heavenly
Father, who declares /" that he is no respecter of per-
sons" 1t is equally opposed to that heaver-born prin-
ciple which teaches us " that as We would that others
should do unto you, do ye even SO unto them" Audit
eInlra OIr humanity hollow thn hrutn rrpat1OO And
while despotic governments are abolishing the system,
is it not a reproach to us, claiming to be q nation Of
freemen, to legislate, foster and protect this odious
system? "Siu is a reproach to any people" Is it not
a reproach to u nation that boasts of her free institu-
tions-her equal laws and privileges, to see human be-
ings drove to the market like beasts-or, rather, |
should say, worse-because manacled and chained
like felons who had committed some outrageous crime?
Men, women and children, endowed by the God that
made them, with certain unalienable rights, such as
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" huddled to-
gether like beasts, and %impelled forward by the lash
and exposed to public sale, and all this under the caves
Of the Capitol of the United States, 1t is in vain for
any man who has any moral sensibilry left, or any
feeling Of humanity in his bosom, to draw up his shield
around him and say, | have nothing to do with this sub
ject The fact is, our influence, moral and political
tells, either for or against this evil. Every year brings
with it some new development of the all-grasping and,
domineering spirit of slavery. Texas must yield to its
Vaccinations and be put under the guardian care of
the south, to add another link to the CALLING chains of
slavery. The project, in my opinion, was "conceived
in sin, and brought forth in i~niquity;"-done to perpet-
uate this institution, and this the south were willing to
do at the expense and sacrifice of the Union ITSELF
And do you ask me what authority | have for making
such declarations? I answer, these sentiments were
avowed in South Carolina; in their primary meetings
held upon this subject At Barnwell, Sumpter, and
Edgefeld counties they put the question of annexation
or the dissolution of the Union in issue. They declar-
cd, awe believe that the very existence itself of this
blood-bought, blood-cemented Union will be determin-
cd by it" Their fifth resolution takes the ground
" that its final rejection will be considered as an evil
dence Of that increasing hostility to the institutions of
the south which has already shaken the confidence of
our people in the patriotism and fidelity of our northern
brethren, and which may render it necessary for us to
provide new guards for our future security" Do you
ask for any further proof Their 9th resolution de-
ciures, shat, in relation to the immediate annexation
OfTexas, we view, with pride and satisfaction, the con-
duct of the venerable Andrew Jackson, whose heart
beats true to the interests and honor of his country,
and we rejoice that his days have been heightened,
that he might unite his name with our third great strng-
gle for independence" And what are we to under
stand by this "third great struggle for independence,
fit is not to settle and fix this odious institution of
slavery upon these United States in an Independent
situation, beyond the reach and above the control which
wight be exercised over it by the free States2 Col.
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