The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-02-04

Es2r.G--s~[
mir. EDrroE-Thinklng It might be Of lnterest to
some of your readers, l pencilcd some of the remarks
made by Mr., Bib, the fugitive slave,w while address,
q Ing the ladies in particular, during the session OF the
Convention recently held in this village. Should
you thinl, proper to Insert them, they are as follows
with q short description Of his personal appearance
Mr. Bibbis Of ordinary stature,w wit n com
plexion almost rs fair and clear as the MAJOR
ity of whites. His hair is nearly straight,and
thrown well back from his forehead. Etis
features are ragularevincing a well arranged
system, and in his eye seemed to burn the
fires OF genius and intellect, as he appeal
ed TO his audience in behalf of his brethren in
bonds. His manner is truly interesting his
pronunciation easy and distinct; and when
u little warmed in his subject, his eloqucncc
'rivcts the attention and charms the senses
of his hearers. 1t has been remarked in my
presence that he slightly resembles, in per
sonai appearalcc, MIR. Mattit, tine celebrated
Methodist reyivalist,
His name being called, Mr.. 3. took the
stand, and remarked that he appeared before
tie ladies Of this vicinity in behalf OF the
slaves, especially females, at the south. lie
appealed TO his auditory not as politicians or
prime movers, but claimed their prayers and
sympathy, and added, that he could sincerely
utter this appeal, as even now his own wife
was either clanking her chains III bondage, or
'slumbering beneath the sod Mr.. b. stated
that three million slaves were without the bl-
bic, and it was the duty OF every northern
woman to use her influence, as far as may be
to effect a change in this respect. lie en-
laraed considerably upon the idea that women
had nothing to do with politics that they had
no voice in the construction OF laws, which
equally affected them;-and the speaker rath-
or implied that more action, dictated by te-
male influence, would sooner break the shack
les Of interest and prejudice, aad thus set the
-boIdmen free.
After speaking Of the timidity of some of
the sex that if their prospects Of success were
not very bright, they were apt to retrogradc
he made some remarks on the religious edu-
cation of slaves at the south that a young
lady in his neishborhood met with several
slaves. to learn them to read; she procured
tracts, books, &c.; tic shareholders became
alarmed appointed officers, termed patrols; :
seized the slaves, and gave them thirty-nlne
lashes each. He added, that as far As moral
and religious education were concerned, the
poorer class of whites at the south are almost
on q par with the slaves, and then sung in q
beautiful voice, and with touching emphasis,
the song
"Wtere are the friends that to me arc 90 DEAR &c.
Mr. Bib then stated that on sugar planta-
tons a slaves life averaged only eight years;
also, that female slaves were to be pitied for
their exposure to their liceatious and brutal
masters and again that the ladies were some
+;,, ~, aLn.o,J f,On, thn narcn tA fnurnI in
connection w.,h which remark he related the
fact, that a certain young lady, perhaps rath-
.er s~olicitous for the digaity OF the sex, made d
little black rag-baby, and sent it by post Of
flee to the OIL. GER OF an anti-slayery society in
Michigan. This missile ofthe aIyersary,how-
ever, met with deserved contempt.
The speaker introduced a sketch Of the re-
bellion Of Nat. Turner, Of Virginia, too long
for me to mention aad perhaps many have
seen the accoaut in print. lie also mentioned
the escape Of a slave, who Bong chained to
the neck of a horse, cut OF the animals head,
without even, to use his own phrase, crack
ing u smile"
Mr.. Bib mentioned the experience Of DR..
Brisbane once Il noted Shareholder, which was,
to Judge from the ladies' handker"hiets, very
affecting and pointed out the destitution of
the fugitive slaves at their settlements i'll
Canada, and commended it as an inviting
field Of labor for the ladies of Vermont He
engaged that if females would use their inn4-
ehce judiciously, we should soon sec a different
STATE Of affairs, and concluded by advising the
unmarried portion of his audience to be very
careful in their selection of husbands; to
chose men who advocated the principle Of
liberty in every sense Of the word.
The whole wound up with Whittier's inim-
-itab!e song, " The Yankee Girl" who Mr.. B..
thought was " just the girl for him"
The audience seemed much interested in
the speaker, and at the close of the address
he requested all those ladies who were not
emily willing to talk, but to act, to rise and
;they rose up en- maSse.
Brandon, Jan. 80, l847.