Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-27
fr. Bolts, member elect from Virginia, SAYS


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Forthe Green Mountain Freeman.
Mr.. EDIrOM-In the Era of May 18th, there is an
extract from the Southern Quarterly Review which
deserves passing notice. And | am somewhat sur
prsed that the editor of the Era should make such Sc
iections without any comments upon them. The Re-
view, publication by the way devoted to the nstltu
ton of slavery, has out in its defence, and i'll
says that the social institutions at the south may be
triumphanty maintained before any unprejudced tr-
buna" But look! the very first step the Review takes,
u.s. to throw all responsibility from the south in the
adjustment of slavery. "Rght or wrong, it is here,
not by our agency" Now why shift the responsible
iy if slavery what the Review represents 20 be?
The very language quoted above, expresses in the
cearcst possible light doubt to the right of slavery.
Again. it says, "all that responsible for before
God, and all just and candid men, is, the discharge of
our duties as masters. And we affirm, far human
imperfection dare affirm of the performance of any
duty, that those duties faithfully dlscharged"-
Now if these declarations are true, there is nothing
more to be said or done, and indeed there is nothing
which ought to be DONE But before we give full
credit to such base hypocritical assertions of slave
holders, and publish them to the world let us look
them full in the face. And here let us lay down a
criterion to Judge of this matter. 1t is doctrine that
has been blazoned forth to the world, and Americans
have sacredly embodied it into their declaration as
truth Selfeuient shat all men are created equQl"-
But are not left to human declarations to form
criterion Hear what the Divine Lawgver has laid
down as rule for our conduct under all crcumstan-
ces. "Whatsoever We would that men should do unto
you, do we even so unto them" Now put this and
that together and we have criterion before lis to try
the subject of savehoding by. And we inquire, is it
rights it just to deprive our fellow beings of an
equality given them by their Creator and reduce them
to bondage? Is it possible, while we hold them in this
state of privaton of their God-givcn rights, to dis
charge our duty to them by feeding, clothing and shell
tering them, and bestowing upon them the utmost
kindness and attention? And can we thereby render
them an equivalent for their liberty?
But if we are to take tie opinions of Shareholders
as our guide, we should come to the conclusion that
all there is for man in this world to satisfy his ami
NAL nature. and especially the man who is not born
with lash in his hand, and inherits score of human
chattels as his portion. Hear the Review again
"The utmost that the laborer of any country can hope
to obtain in return for his labor is, food clothing, fire.
dwelling for himself and family, and shelter in his
old age. And in country but the slave states is the
Aaborer secure of these" And then goes on and
draws contrast between the peasantry of Europe and
the Slaves Just though the oppression of the aristo-
cratic landlord in Europe was sufficient justification
for deprving men and women of the rights which are
more dear than life itself
In the next place the Review draws contrast be-
tween the slave and the free laborer in moral point of
views and asserts that sin no country has the mass of
working people advanced so rapidly in moral and rell-
gous Improvement as the slayes"--Now, how utterly
destitute Of shame must that man be who should utter
such sentiments as these, when the fact is known
through all Chrstendom that the moral condition of the
slave population is of the most awful and depora-
BILE that can be described. And how can it be other
wise? Every barrier and restraint is removed from
the slave by the very system ITSELF And more: the
shareholders are guilty of encouraging and urging or
those practices among the slaves and participating in
them even themselves of RIGHTEOUSNESS and adultery
that would blot the last vestge of moral or religious
feeling from the heart. The truth is the Legitimate
result of the system is, brutaze and heathenize no
only the slaves, but the shareholders. But another un
blushng fasehood is put forth by the Review. say
"This feature in the condition of the slave which Sc
cures to him the necessares of life, gives HUI, as WI
have remarked larger share of the profits of the cap
ital with which his labor is connected than any ohe
laborer enjoys and this fact will go far to explain muc
that observable in the southern states 1t is one
its consequences that large profits are necessary to al
ford to the capital employed adequate return, be
cause the slave is secure of his share of the profits
Il is on this account that so much of the Souther
States is abandoned 1t is not the incidence nor Incl
iciency of slave labor but because the slave RUes bel
ter. consumes more and leaves smaller share to tn
employer than any other laborer. There must be fe
tile lanI-there must be free trade and valuable stapl
to secure to the employer of this kind of labor IA
remuneration" The above quotations are sufficient
show that the whole system of slavery is one dlrecu
at war with the best interests and rights of the sav
and in order to secure large p0s short feed, and poe
keeping and free use of the lash is necessary Wha
beautiful system! How 1t tends to improve the mo-
ais and religion of the slave! How it is calculated t