Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-10-07
" InaIicnahle RightS.0


This phrase, Of two words only will stand text to as
profound analytic sermon as the greatest man in
the world can write Tine words either separately and
alone, or united, form strong postulaes as our Ian
guage Affords
Great as their significance is in the connexion in
which they stand in the Declaration of Independence
to the shame of the American name, theyare common
ly skinned over by a superficial reading without so
much as suspicion that they mean any thing or that
in placing them there Thomas Jefferson had gone back
of all legislation leapt all human statutes and
constructions and laid hold of the first principles of
human rights as they came from the Eternal Mind,
interrupted and pure. And least of all has the pol
troon politician Of our day, any conception of their
majesty, or any regard for The supendous truths they
express They are read by the eye alone, while no
more impression is communicated to the brain than
though man was not invented thinking beng:-ust
the unnterested Bible reader can pass his eye over
such pathetic passages as Christs amentaton over Je
rusalem the scenes of the Garden of Gethsemane the
Judgment Hall, and the last dying prayer from the
cross, without an emotion.
possess ourselves of; that which another cannot law
fully take away; gift, as life is gift, inseparabe
from our condition; part and parcel of the man.
RTGHTs.-Certain privileges consequent upon our
eXstcnce-neccssary to the development of our pow
ers, to qualify to sustain the character intended
by the Creator privileges necessary to the well-beng
or best interests ofthe creature-that which he can en-
joy without moesng the rights of any other creature
privileges which exist because being exists so Or
gained as to need them
In this broad latitude of meaning Thomas Jefferson
wrote those words at the head of his Bill of Rights OF
the American people. They were understood and ap-
precated in all their comprehensveness, by the fifty
six signers of that immortal instrument, as was fully
shown in the short but pointed speeches made on the
OCCASION and which come sparcely down to us, the
gems Of better age. They were understood by the
people, as was shown by the oneness of sentiment
which prompted to a Simultaneous and mighty rush to
arms under the banner of 'Liberty" Equality to ALI
men," They were understood by King George ard his
bigoued Parliament as were shown by their frenzicd
ardor to crush this first uprising of Humanity against
Despoti5m. They were understood and recognized by
the trainers of the Constitutions as was shown by the
difficulties which occurred in its adoption until par
tal concession was made in regard to tcchnlcas reat
ing to slaves and slavery They were understood by
the early administrators of the government shown
by many circumstances in it's history, and more exp
city by the direct statements of more or less frequency
by the fathers of the nation that this government con
empated the gradual but speedy extinction of slavery
and that its existence utterly incompatible with the
spirit and genius of the Constitution and the good o
the people
In that golden age, when men had Just emerged from
the purifying process of "tral BY fire" and their char
ter as men, Christians philanthopss, stood fortl
in something of the purity and stern virtue which Goo
originally clothed them with, there were none to CUES
ton the meaning of this fearful sentence-"We holc
these truths to be SeEeude that ALL MEN are createt
equal and endoloed by their Creator with certain MALI
ENABLE RIGHTS among uhich are, Life Liberty, and III
pursuit ofhappneSS. There were none to limit or quail
fy this sweeping decaration-none to propose excep
tlons founded on condition. color, or circumstance
ALL MEN were lncluded-aH men so understood it
The present state public mind in regard to slavery
Is oi nodeTh da'e-corruptons winch have crept IL
upon US as years have elapsed, and peace and plenty
left room and opportunity for mischief. When the
stern necessity of the times had softened down to lux
urous ease, patriotism began to loose its fire, and the
work Of degeneracy to commence. Avarice demand
ed the perpetuiy of slavery and but few of the states
retained enough of the spirit of other times to make
the sacrifice Freedom demanded;- and we now have
as consequence that slavery instead Of having, long
ago, rotted in its grave as the intention aud ex
pectation when Jefferson wrote, and Washington
fought, has now come to be Tyrant Ruler of the ma
ton, swayng despotism three millions of its
native born citizens, in comparison to which that main
tained by the mother country over the colonies wai
but an act of tenderness and mercy.