Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-22
THE FREE MAN
For the Green Mountain Freeman
Mr.. Carpenters Resolution.

equal In number 10 the congressional representation 10
consider the subject of ndemniyng such Shareholders
as may be disposed to abolish slavery and to appoint
tme after which, every child born of slave parents
shall be free;to deliberate on measures for properly
and constituonally aboshing slavery and to devise
measures for the speedy termination of the Mexican
war. 1t also appears that the proposition rejected
by the legislature.
1t is very probable that the mover cared about
the public discussion of the subject than about its be-
ing carried. Yet he may have sincerely desired the
investigation and report of the committee upon the
whole subject 1t surely was the dictate of patriotism
for him to desire every measure to be tried which
might put an end to the unrighteous the shameful and
murderous war with Mexico. If he had any friend
ship for President Polk he must have desired to ward
off from him the guilt of additional murders in the
Mexican war If he possessed any common share Of
philanthropy he must have desired every constitutional
remedy applied to set the bondman into liberty, and
into the clear light of the gospel and to free us at the
north from the reproach and pecuniary burdens OF
slavery The result of the proposition, was its reec-
ton, probably ought to be; formidable the
objections to such convention for such objects.
should object that, 1st The object, effected would
furnish market for such slaves as their owners would
be DESTROYS to set Free being paid for them, without
materially affecting the slave system, for many years
to come Shareholders enough to control the destnes
of the naton and keep up perpetual and disastrous
war upon human freedom and the rights of the NORTH
would refuse to agree to any measure which would
have a tendency to abolish slavery.
2ndly. An arrangement that children born of slave
parents, after given tme should be free, unless some
other and very improbable measures to abolish sWe-
ry prevailed in the time, would operate practi-
cuy to give slavery furlough to 60 at liberty not only
till the time when such children were to be born free
but till such children should become actors in the a
fairs Of the nation.
3dly. am expecting that the people in the north
long before such free children become men and wo
men, will become agreed to act in opposition to slave
ry just as the Shareholders are all the time agreed in
every measure which tends to support slavery
4thly. l am wholly opposed to the payment of any
thing whatever to the STAKEHOLDER purchase the free
dom of the slaves. Many of the slaves have already
paid their masters their value three or four times over
in their services Others Lave thus paid less perhaps
and young children, of course, have paid nothing
Probably the whole, upon average, have fully paid
the price of freedom, by their services But the claim
on the part of the slaves should not be forgotten Eec
has just claim for damage for being kept in duress
of Imprisonment all his or her life, being deprived Of
all liberty to exercise their bodily and mental powers
according to their inalienable rights, deprived of the
power to read-even to read the scriptures. VIVA
sum does the reader imagine would be a compensation
to man thirty forty years of age for his being thus
deprived Of his liberty, and kept in ignorance all hi
life? For what sum would any of you have a son or
daughter thus kept, and thus deprived of all right?
Ifany course could be taken to compel the slave
holders to 90 into such an equitable accounting witt
their slaves they would be glad to quit even, and lie
their slaves 60 free rather than pay to them their bal
ance.
5thIy. should be opposed to the sacrifice of tim
and money in such a convention, without some objec
which they could carry into effect should they be a
greed, Resolutions, to be sure, might be passed by
majority, which might have a salutary effect IN Great
ing proper public sentiment against slavery and tn
Mexican war; But on the subject of slavery, such re
, solutions would be opposed and voted against by a
the delegates from the slave states Much more plau
sible would be the call of convention of delegate
from what call free states, to consult upon the be'
measures that are constitutional to check the progress
and extent of the slave power, and become agreed
giving effect to those measures. And let the call en-
brace the further object if the convention should thin
it proper, when met, to nominate such candidates fC
the next President and Vice President of the Unite
States cannot be induced to aid the slave power
their inroads upon human liberty and their control
I the destnies of the nation
/! Perhaps such convention would be OF no servic
The whigs is true, profess to be opposed to SLAYER
Hence it might be hoped their first object at the pr
sent crisis und in the present strides of the slave pov
err to gain permanent control of our national affairs
would be to elect President as far removed as pc
sibe from all danger of his affordng aid to slavery
Still apprehend that preudices highly wrong
against all anti slavery men, it is at least, unccrta
J, whether they would agree to any candidate who
sufficiently firm opposer of slavery as to render hi
safe champion in the business. On the other han
the members of the Liberty party have seen and hea
$ much of professions against slavery, without al
fruit that they ought not and probably will not, pla
their confidence IN any man for that high Office on Il
ground of naked professions, before they can discov
q some fruit on the vine.
o may judge very incorrectly about future oper
# tons and the following results. But | say, witho
is hesitation, that if the wings should nominate any sla
1t holding candidate for the next President or any
e didate who would favor the slave interest they Dug
II not to succeed, and will not succeed, r his eectic
They can't be SO blind not to see, that the eecti
ofsuch president would be sealing their and our su
III servency to the slave power. | go farther-:f tn
o. should nominate candidate who is not slavehold
but whose prosavery character orbids the members
the Liberty party from voting for him, they cannot 81
coed. They must be content to let the Liberty pit
I'd ty be detemnedb be even Obstinate if you please up
= this point, since it is the only one in their creed
i i which they are, as party, at all determinate.
III MENTOR.