Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-03-05
THE FREE MAN.
MONTPELIER, THURSDAY, MaRCH5, l846.
LIafayett Deceived and DishOnOred

We give the following extract from late letter
published in the Liberty Bell from Thomas Carkson:
81 will finish my letter with saying of one of the
dearest friends ever had, namely, General Lafayette
was with the General often, and corresponded with
him after his coming out of his dungeon at Olmutz
But the first time knew him was when was i'll Par
lis The year after the French Revolution, on the sub
ect of the slave trade and assisted him materially
He decidedly as uncompromlsng an enemy to the
slave trade, and slavery, as any man ever knew.
He freed all his slaves in French Cayenne, who had
come to him by inheritance, in 1856, and Showed me
all his rules and regulations for his estate when they
were emancpated. was with him no less than four
different times in Paris. He was real gentleman,
and OF soft and gentle manners | have seen him put
out Of temper but never Mt any time except Syhen
slavery the subject. He has said, frequently, ~
lco9 aeoer hagc aiaoa myscord IN Ike cause Of finer
ica If could hare concercdttat Mere6y wqs iotn1dng
! a land Of Slav0Y"
| American Frecmen, read these last burning lines,
penned by one who drew his sword and generously
we enjoy to-day. 1t is TO his strong arm and noble,
generous heart that we owe much Of ha we now loud
ly glory in. But how have we disappointed the high
raised hopes Which swelled his bosom US he saw the
flag Of freedom waving free and 4happy PEOPLE.
lie freely poured cut his treasures and his blood
left his family and native home to assist an oppressed
nation in contendng for justice and liberty. Our
fathers had declared to the world the self evident truth
that aall men are created equal" it was to establish
this truth and secure to all their God-givcn rrh that
he fought long and bravey. But we their degenor-
ate sons have tanned this truth in the dust dsgraceJ
the freedom which was purchased at such an expense
dishonorcd our patrons and teow-laborers, by redu-
cling to goods and chattels as many of citizens
then inhabited this whole country, and imposed wrongs
and suferngs upon Them one hour of which it would
be gricvous to bear than eternity of that which
Iafayett, Washington and their coadjutors repealed
with becoming bravery
Never did nation forfeit its promises, disgrace its
.proessions disappont its friends, bring lasting inla
my upon its fair name, and merted contempt upon it
professedly free institutions, like our own We have
made the oudest boasts of freedom and equality of any
nation on earth and yet we are the most oppressive
demonstrating hypocritical, God-de(ylng natoI
that ever disgraced the page of history. With on
hand have heldup to the gaze of the universe thu
immortal TRUTH that all are alike entitled to life ant
liberty and with the other we have Been forging chain
and letters to bind and enslave oncsixh Of our clt
zens One moment we have declared our hatred c
slavery and the next used our whole influence to bull
it up. With one breath we have prayed for the slave
and the next rote& for his cruel master.
Is there no remedy for all this Must LaGayct
! and all who like him drew their sword for frcedor
and not for slavery, go down 20 their graves 5efor
our country shall be free? Thank God there is rem
edy. Itconsists in the sovereign power Of Johoyal
the omnipotencc of truth and the stern mandates
= the BALL9T-BOX.
Freemen of Vermont, arouse to action the wor
can and mast be done Throw aside your party frnn
els, strike for liberty, and unlike fathers ceas
not your efforts until the work is fully accomplish
and every bondman set free, lest the departed spirit
Lafayetfshal revisit our land to reproach us for OIL
stupidity our sel6shness and guilt in suffering OF
! country to remain longer nation of slaves,