Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-23
From the Hartford Religious Herald.
A Comparison,

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treated by the mother country, determined to
throw off the yoke of bondage, and assert their
Just claim to those 'inalienable rights of which
she sought to deprive them. In carrying out
their purpose they found it necessary to struggle
long and YEARLY against the whole power Of their
unnatural parent and at times, it seemed as if
success, IN their endeavor after freedom, was ut
terly hopeless. The tidings Of this conflict for
liberty went across the ocean and reached the
cars of young Marquis, named Gilbert Mot
ter Lafayette. His generous soul at once over
flowed with sympathy for the oppressed, and
leaving home, friends and country behind him,
he FASTENED to the aid of our struggling fathers,
stood by their side on the field of battle, and
shed his blood in their cause as freely as il it
had been his own. This was noble conduct
and he had his reward. When, after the lapse
of many years, he came again among us, the
whole nation waxed almost delirous in its graft
tude A universal three times three rang in
his ears wherever he went at his departure,
countless blessings followed his path across the
sea, and when, but few years later, the sad in
telligence of his death was brought, the whole
land clothed itself in mourning, and the bells in
all steeples tolled forth the sorrow in all hearts
Look on that picture, and now on this.
In the Southern States Of this Union, there is
a body of men called siaces. In numbers they
equal the whole population of this country at the
time of the Declaration of Independence
Some of these slaves have taken up the idea that
they are oppressed and wrongfully treated-that
they are kept back from the exercise of certain
inaenable rights, such as liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness and with this impression
strongly fixed in their minds, they are watching
for every favorable opportunity to assert their
rights; not as our fathers did, by coming into
open conflict with their oppressors, but by sim
ply removing away from their reach, and taking
refuge in land where the law allows them the
ownership of themselves. young clergyman
of Massachusetts, Charles r., Torrey by name,
had his attention directed short time ago, to
these abused and suffering slaves. He knew of
their efferts after freedom. His noble heart
burned within him at their wrongs and gave him
no rest until leaving his native State, his wife,
his friends, and every thing else behind, he de-
voted himself to the good work of aiding fug-
tives from slavery to secure the blessings of free
dom, But he was unfortunate, He fell into the
hands of the merciless demon of Slavery. and
the pound Of flesh which the Law allowed and
the Court awarded, was cut from his bosom
nearest his heart yea, even to the twentieth
part of one poor scruple.' Had he been guilty
Of any other crime than this; instead of helping
slaves to their freedom, had he descended on the
coast of Africa and converted hundreds of free
men into slaves there can scarcely be doubt
but that he would, in the peculiar circumstan-
ces of his case, have been pardoned out of pris-
on, and suffered to die, at least, in the bosom
Of his family. But no the guilt of being a
friend to the friendless, and a helper to the
helpless, was charged and proved upon him, and
not even the shadow of approaching death upon
his hollow cheeks, could win from his tormen-
ors one word or look of pity. He died he
was murdered by law which came up from the
owest depths of hell that was his reward
Question |. Did our revolutionary fathers |
suffer an oppression more severe than that which
hree millions of slaves are now enduring at the
South?
Question II. If it was right for our ances-
ors to cast off the authority of Great Britain.
md achieve their independence by force can it
De wrong for Southern Slaves to escape, in
juliet and peaceful way, from the bondage of their
oppressors?
Question H. If it was noble in Lafayette
o leave his country and his friends, and mingle |
n conflict with which he had no personal con-
,ern, merely because his generous nature prompt
I'd him to succor the distressed, was it otherwise
or Torrey to do the same in behalf of men who
we're infinitely more wronged and outraged than
hose whom the gallant Frenchman came to
lelp?
Question w. If Torrey violated the laws
If Maryland, did not Lafayette to yet greater
extent violate the laws of Great Britain, and
we're the former more worthy of respect and ODE
Hence, ana less oppressive and cruel than the
after ?
And yet there are papers-relgous papers
,ery religious papers--papers of the most Or
hodox stamp-papers that smell the slightest
amt OF doctrlnal heresy alar OIL, and make as
much ado about it as if tie very heavens were
falling, which can record the death of Torrey
without one word to indicate that they do not
regard it as having happened in the very proper
est way imaginable 'We have large circula-
ton at the South, and it is not prudent to say
anything which will offend the prejudices of our
slaveholding patrons, and stop the influx of their
money to our pockets Nevertheless gentle
men, it seems to us that Christians ought to have
hearts as well as pockets. For ourselves, no
prudential considerations whatever should re-
strain us from uttering our adherence of the
Maryland Shareholders, and the laws which they
have framed and executed with such deadly vim
dictiveness. We will never cease to bear our
testimony against that monstrous system of OPP
preston which overshadows half our land, while
we have breath for words or while our hand can