Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-01

From tIle NaIIuntl ETa'
Views Of a western man in Kentucky
no. 2.

Mr. EDITOR Shareholders themselves know
and feel that their system of labor IS an unproft-
able and vexatious one, and very many are ready
to acknowledge that the individual owners, and
the whole community, would be better off were
there not a slave in the land but they are far
from seeing the whole extent CT the difference
between the effects Of free and slave labor, as a
Western man sees it.
But the question naturally arises, if they see
slavery to be hostile to their true interests why do
they not abolish it? The answer to this ques-
ton involves considerations which the man who
has never seen the workings of the system, and
how it is ntcrtwined with all the habits of the
people, and the effects it has upon both slaves
and shareholders, can have little conception Of
Accustomed from childhood to have the atten-
dance of servants, they know not how to make
the attempt to do without them. Free labor has
been mostly driven from the market, and those
who would dispense with slave labor find it diff
cult to get any. Such are the influences that
have been brought to bear upon the black, that
he cannot at all be depended upon as freeman.
/ Uninstructed either intellectually or morally,
when he becomes free, he imagincs himself a
gentman and Immediately attempts to initiate
the manners of gentleman. Well, Southern
gentleman, you know, lives upon the proceeds
of the unpaid labor Of others, legally obtained,
and drinks wine and French brandy-the niger
gentleman lives upon what he can steal, and
drinks whiskey There are exceptions to the rule
in both cases, of course; but to such an extent
is it carried that the non-saveholder considers it
hardly an act of Justice to the community, or a
kindness to the slave, to set him free lntemper-
anCe is one of the greatest obstacles in the way
Of emancipation and believe that so much
are the blacks creatures of imitation that thor
ough reformation in the free population would
produce a corresponding change in the coored.-
Garry forward the temperance movement, then
with energy, and bring it South, as the most eff
fcient pioneer in clearing the track for the Cal
OF emancipation.
But the assertion has been iteratcd and re-te
rated, that the Anti-SIavery agitation has prevent
ed or put back the abolition of slavery. | can
see no evidence Of this. | can perceive none o.
that evaporation Of feeling so often spoken of
On the contrary, those few who have become
50 much convinced of the evil and injustice o
the system as to desire earnestly to be rid o
their slaves, complain bitterly Of those laws, anC
that public sentiment, which would prevent the
slaves from enjoying in the Free States those
rights for which Anti-Slavery men contend.
But the great mss Of the free population are
; only half awake, and see those evils which they
admit as in a dream. The thunderings of thu
political elements must become louder, and near
er, and the waves of public opinion must lash OF
with an increasing roar, before they will become
truly alive to their situation.
Go on, then, yc who are laborng in the cause
of human liberty; redouble your excrtions anc
your agtations, but do it in spirit of kindness
Whatever political leaders, who advocate the per
petuation Or extension of slavery, may deserve
there is no call for showering down dcnunciatioI
} upon the heads Of the mass Ct the people.
In my next will endeavor to give my view.
Of the practical application which is to be mad,
of political an moral Anti-Saycry power, for tho
; extinction of slavery, I.
icyjUO{gp Ey