Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-03-26
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There are thousands who dream away then
existence, wishing to accomplish this or that
praiseworthy object; but who never lift finger,
in real working temper to accomplish any
thing. We know many such on this very ques-
tiorsof slavery. They talk fairly and reason
well, when the subject is preached in a proper
way and at proper place; but they stop here.
They will risk nothing, not even the loss of
popularity, by discussing the question, or by
doing anything to bring about that discus
sion
| Could these men be induced to act-to carry
out their sehtiments-they would not know
themselves, or rather they would learn to under
stand for the first time, what manhood meant
For our part, we do not see how any one can
content himself with being nobody, as all per-
sons must be, who lack this positi0encss of char
acter. And it requires very little indeed toI
acquire this positiveness; simple yea and nag
rightly given will secure it. Any man, indeed,
who will tell to his neighbor and friend what he
honestly thinks and wishes, and accompany this
telling with resoueness of action, is man, and
will be respected as such.
We are provoked sometimes with class of
we'll meaning men who say to US, ooh, wish
l could do something to help you destroy the
deadly evil Of slavery" Where is your tongue7
That can wag fast enough where personal inter-
csts are at stake, and defend your personal
rights when danger threatens without difficulty
Why not apply it, then, against this ev' Why
not apply it as quickly and earnestly for free
do, f,r odyoocoD1npt1 II
is all idle to spend your breath in excuses, or
your time in prayers, when by putting your
shoulder to the wheel you could do the ucry
thing you say you wish to be done. We know
a plain man in this State, who with WcShyS
sermon on slavery, has enlightened whole neigh
J borhood, by oaning it first to one family, and
then to another, to read You have means
what is to prevent you from buying hundred,
or thousand Of these and flooding your coun-
try with theml You have time, in addition to
=, means-what is to prevent you from going to
your neighbors and asking them, as you. give
them tract, or Speech or book or paper, to
pass it round among other families. Or if you
are poor, and have but little means, and no time
to spare from your work-what is there still, to
: prevent you from laying up few dollars, and
getting paper, or an essay, which would shed
light on this subject to your own mind and the
It minds of your friends We tell one and all
who make these excuses that they will be of nc
: avail They are not sound. If people were
d in earnest, they would feel that they were not
e when they make them We like the faith ant
!, courage of the Moravian Missionaries, who
"a "a when starting for Greenland, to live and dit
1t there as Missionaries being asked one day. how
IS they proposed to maintain themselves, answer
IS ed, by the labor of their own hands and God
- blessing, and that not to be burdensome to any
o they would build themselves house, and til
e the ground. 1t being objected, they would flint
y, no wood to build with, and that the country pre-
5 scented nothing but the face of barren rock
ID Then" replied they GIVE will dig into it an
J. live there" and they went in that spirit to this
i frozen land, and by that spirit conquered an
e chrisauized the heathens who dweIt there w
lie are confident if the friends of Emancipation i
IS Kentucky possessed like faith and courag
h that in two years from this time, universal FRI
s. dom would be the law of the States,
N The Poet says;
ii Fling, fling the way-sde seed,
n Give it firm God-speed:
u What though more tempting pantage round shoe
r. Thy hope hath reached its goal,
If one wayfaring soul
Pluck healing virtue with the wholesome fruit"
n And this is true, and every man, conscious
10 hngng this waysde seed, knows it to be so, an
IN knows too, that healing virtues are plucke
b. from its wholesome fruit. And with the pres
scattering its leaves of light in every direction
en- and putting them within the REACH directly
ID indirectly, of any human being we cannot III
d. derstand how our antl-slaverv friends in Kentuc
Ike y, can excuse themselves. Is there no plea
Is, ure in diffusing the truth! Is there no happ
- ness in persuading fellow-being to stand by
CT righteous cause? Is there no self-growth
no planting deep and strong, a burning love of Ii
,ot erty in your own, and every citizens heal
~ whom you can influenced Try the experime
10 try it-and you will realize that it is
1n- source of everything good and great-that the
Of is no heroism in arms-ho glory in art-equ
our to it. Who thinks in our day, of compari
any of the warriors of his age with Luther!-
Who would desecrate humanity by putting
Bonapare on the same level with Howard
&C. No! the best and highest duty man can do
an ~. man. is to Undue his mind with truth to brea
the into his spirit the moral greatness of genera
freedom, and to make him feel, that all acqui
ley ton is given, or attained, only to make }
,oy further advances in civil and religious W
,es DOM
to Plead with your tongue, then, in public al
; private; plead with your pen; aad, if you ca
er- not do this, plead by your life, plead by mea
asst of books, and tracts, papers, and speeches,
n the cause of human freedom and happine
"a and you will realize, here and hereafter, Il
ose it is
:, 1t Beautiful, to men benighted,
ny Lifes true light to carry;
the In the depths of bosoms blighted
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