Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-05-21

as not the remedy of slavery in its present influence
and relations. There needs power back of this.
What, them is the remedy? If permitted to answer
we would say, Christianity, proclamng by her teacA
Srs and followers, the condemnation OF slavery, III wore
and in deed pressing home her soul-stlrrng motives
drawn from eternal Judgment upon the Shareholders
conscience, and urging the obligation Of every either
to give his political influence efficiently against the a
domination. Christianity alone, employing the com
bned influence of good men in every relation of life
can abolish slavery This is not christianity halt anG
dumb. She walks forth in her majesty; she speaks in
her dignity she makes her demands of her followers
whether IT. church state and takes no denial. She
presses her claims by her heayenbo authority: she
seizes the coAsciences Of and holds them to the
right 1t Is christianity, alive, active, uDfettered. This
alone can bring into action all the elements of society
requisite to the peaceful overthrow Of slavery in this
country,
We see, my hearers, the sin. Wehavo the remedy
IT only remains that we consider our duty
We own no slaves. Yet none will say we have no
duty to perform. We are connected with the sin in
various ways; and cannot wash our hands in lnno-
cency without doing something. What that is we
ought carefully to inquire, and be ready to act with
cheerful heart
If the remedy is, the application of christianity to
the subject in all the relations of life, duty is PLAIN
We are to labor to impress its claims upon the slave
holder awaken his conscience to the sin and guilt
OF savehOding and to enforce the obligation on him to
break every yoke and let the oppressed 60 free. The
entire christian influence Of the land should be brot
to bear upon the conscences of Shareholders against
slaveholdng, as sin. And the church at the north
will never have done all its duty until it has uttered
IN kind but decided, united and uneqniyoca language
the sin and guilt of slayeholdng.
Moreover, that christianity may be fully applied it
is the duty of every church to withdraw fellowship from
those who are resolved to practice oppression. Fit
sin to hold men as propery-to rob them Of their
humanity we see no reason why it should be fellow
shipped, But there are strong and urgent reasons
why we should not give it our christian fellowship.
Pity to the slave, the good Of their masters, the TRUTH
purity and glory of our holy religion the advancement
of free principles in the world which the church is
called upon 20 promote, and the preservation of ON
libertes-all demand the utmost frmness and the
decided withdrawal Of fellowship from shareholders by
all christians. In no other way we ctectualI,
bring christianity to bear against the system as a sin
We must speak by christian action well as by word
otherwise we cannot reach the conscience.
But we cannot stop here. Christianity must regu
late our conduct citizens, Some may deny it, bu
they can give no reason why. 1t is admitted by al
that for the continuance Of free institutions We
are dependent on the influence Of morality and reh
gion in the hearts and lives of our citizens. But II
cut loose from the obligations of christianity in
action as citizens, how is the influence of religion t
bear upon our institutions? No, my hearers, can
not ACT as CIlZGiS OF TINS country without regard 10 tn
principles of our holy religion, and be guiltless W.
allegiance to the God Of heaven in every relation
Of life and in every sphere Of action. And we arr
bound citizens of free country to give our intu
ence against slavery. Especially does this duty pres
upon us when were member that the law enacted b.
national Legislature authorizes the holding of me
as property and the traffic in them as merchandise
and that under this law a most cruel system of til
slave trade prevails. We are all guilty on this pom
until we wash our hands in innocency by making eve
ny effort to secure its repeal.
What particular action should be taken, shall eay
for every man to determine. What would wish
that every will make it a subj ct Of prayerfl
consideration. Let conscience speak in this as
other moral questions. And bear in mind that eac
of us is accountable to God for all the influence W
exert directly indirectly, to sustain or to destroy th
crying sin of land. lie requires us to loose til
bonds of wckedness, to undo the heavy burdens, an
to let the oppressed 90 free. And, although cannC
do this by our individual action yet may thro
our influence into the right scale and acquit soul
before God. We may so act in relation to this sin
to receive the We'll done good and faithful servant
at the last day. Let us, dear hearers, do it; let til
hearts. Let the multiplied wrongs inflicted upon the
by protessedy free government lead us to deep an
bitter repentance Let the reproaches of the despo
rulers of the old world, while they put us to sham
lead us to serious and determined efforts to wipe ava
this foul blot from our nations glory. Let us to da
be resolved that we will not cease our efforts unit
the trump Of jubilee shall sound through our land an
world