Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-23

NORTH Troy, July Is, 1876.
Rev. j. GIeed Dear Sir-Your letter of the Both
umo, propoundng certain questions, to which you de-
sire NE to give an answer for publication in the Free
man, has been received. Absence from home and the
pressure of previous business engagements have pre-
vented an earlier reply.
You ask lst What my views of the moral po-
ltcal and commercial character and influences of the
system of American slavery.
I'd. What, in my opinion, is the only course of ac-
ton that will effect its overthrow.
1t is to be regretted that at this advanced stage of
the anti slavery enter rize there should be any
sty Of discussion, presentation of the moral
aspect of American slavery in order to excite that abb
horrence and deesaton of its existence which its
cry feature, and its whole existence, well cacu
lated to inspire. But the present age is repete
with nice moral distinctions, and astuely wise in
reference to "organic sins" that ministers of the
gospel ambassadors of Christ, can "pass by on the
other side" unmoved by pity, and unawed by the in
functions of Jehovah, and leave the poor peeled vic
tins of the most barbarous atrocity to groan out
miserable existence in the grossest heathensm, while
they constantly pandering to the seishness and
brutality Of the most cruel and uneelng Oppressors
regard American slavery, in its moral nature and
tendencies as the sum of all vanies;" and woe to
the minister of the gospel who shall suffer his sacred
garb to be drenched in the blood of its victims The
most fragrant injustice and the grossest cruelty con-
sttutc the very clements of its being and it embodes
within itself almost every grade of crme and every
species Of niquy. 1t strikes at the root of christan
ty by eradcatng from the bosom of its votares every
principle of benevoence, and rendering them regard
less alike of their obligations to God and their fellow
men, while it encourages and promotes vice and immo
rality, in all their most revolving forms. 1t trampes
upon the precepts of the gospel, violates the laws of
nature and of revelation usurps the prerogatve Of
God robs humanity of its birlhrght, and riots in the
deepest abyss of human and degradation,
In its political character and influences, regard it
as the paramount evil of the land greater, and
to be dreaded, than all others combined. In mere
political sense, can conceive of no evil so dsas-
trous to government as violation of the iundamen
tai principles Of It's existence.
Our government professedly based upon the
platform that all are equally entitled to the full
and free enjoyment of the "rights of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" Whenever this doctrine
becomes discarded the foundation of the government
is broken up and although it may continue in exist
ence, it must be substantially in another form. | be-
eve the past history and present position of this
ton will bear me out in the assertion that this origin
al, distinctive feature of our nationality has been eff
facedhis essential element of our being rendered eX
tinct, and we have become in reality, nation of
Shareholders, egislatng and warning for the support
and extension of slavery, rather than for the protection
of human rights and the perpeuity of freedom The
temple of Liberty has become the charnel house of
Slavery. The national archives, hl should have been
the sacred repository of the memorials of freedom con-
tain little else beside record oftbe rapid strides with
which this monster of despotism has rode triumphant
over the rights of humanity. Slavery has assumed the
guardianship of the nation, and shaped and fashioned
almost its entire legislation best suited to the
purpose of her own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. She has taxed
the pockets of Northern freemen to strengthen and
fortify herself against all opposition and appropriated
the national treasure to rear her prison houses within
the walls of the Capitol From the passage of the in
famous law of 1893, which reduced the whole North
to common hunting ground and destroyed the last
refuge ofhe poor painting fugitive upon freedoms soil,
down to the annexation of Texas, the browning a.
chievement of all, but few important laws have been
passed. treaties made, that have not borne distinctly
her impress War has been declared, treaties confirm
ed or rejected the pghted faith of the nation violated
her honor sacrificed, and her blood and treasure pro-
fusely poured out whenever the mandate of Slavery
has decreed it. Being, in the language of one of hel
champions, the chief corner stone of the Republic
every department of the government has been brought
under her immediate control Every office must be fill
led by those, who practically repudate the principles
upon which the government was originally based ant
who willing to pledge themselves TO all the in
fuence of the station they may occupy, to sustain the
pararcha institution and render its existence perpet
ua Every northern man, who has ever dared to breathe
forth one sentiment in with the declaration
of independence, is regarded utterly unfit to hole
any office of honor or trust in the nation And 81
tamely have northern asprans submitted to these rgiC
exactons, that they have seemingly become lost to the
higher claims of humanity and narrow ed down thei
conceptions of natural equality and universal right
to the standard which this political Moloch has set up
While slavery has subverted the foundation of tn,
government thwarted its original purpose, and chang
cd its whole policy, its tendency has been to palsy tn
enterprise, and cripple the energies of every free la
borer Of the land Not content with robbing the slave
of all their inherent rights and reducing them to mel
chandze, it would fan encirce within its polluted pale
every Of wealth, and every branch of ndustr
throughout the nation,
The influence of such all institution must, of neces
sity, be most destructive to commerce. While it crush
es every energy of the slave, it begets within the mas
ter that Incidence and extravaganza which render hr
incapable of commercial enterprise Nor is this il
worst feature. Having little commerce of their owl
Shareholders have ever been jealous of the commerce
of the North lest the free labor interest of the nato
might acquire the ascendency over slave labor TIL
tariff of 1916 was forced upon the North by save-ho