Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-01
THE FREE NAN.
MONTPELIER, THURSDAY, APRIL, l847
Our COmtry~its Glory and IFS Shame.

Our COuntry~"its Glory and IFS Shame
strange combination of emotions must possess the
mind of any intelligent American citizen when he
thinks of his country, as it is. He may we'll rejoice
for his is gOodly heritage. Yea, he may glory in his
county-n its natural endowments and its civil lnst-
tuons for no country the face of the earth has so
many eXcellencies. And well may he mourn at the
same time. The cheek of any American may well be
crllnsoned with the deepest blush of shame, in the
midst of his glorying
Let us look at it in the light of sober facts. On the
18th Of July, 776, day that adorns the brightest page
in the history of natons-principes were embodied
and sent forth, with trumpet-tongue, which have
done more for the civil we'll being of men, than were
sent forth in the of nations on any other day
since the world began. The "selfevdent" principles
of '76, which lie at the foundation of government
have made the thrones of despots tremble. They will
still do it. True, the men who first laid down "tIeir
sacred honor their fortunes and their lives" in their
defence have gone down to the grave. True, also,
those who advocate them now may be despised, and
may meet with temporary repulses But the principles
LtemseiWs shall lUc. They, though trampled down,
shall yet be victorious.
"Truth crushed to the earth shall rise again;
The eternal years of God are hers"
! They cannot be destroyed. They are our nations
glory. Though the nation itself should be cast into
the gulf of oblivion these great foundation truths shall
never perish.
Take them, reader, and compare them with the fun
damentaI principles of any other government in the
world, and you will see a good reason for gloryng
that you are an American. No other constitution Of
civilized society contains much that is truly noble
so much to elevate and bless nation.
We also have goodly heritage in other respects
The sun in his course looks down upon no farer Lane
than ours-upon people more abundanty supplied
with all that heart can wish The showers Of heaven
fall on no more fertile soils than ours. The winds
coming and going where they list sweep over noun
tnlns nowhere more ma este and diversified lover
broad lakes and rivers in greater variety and beauty
over plains and valies of greater extent and fruitful
ness, than those which bless our land
We have every variety Of climate and OF sol
which the earth affords. Almost all the fruits of the
entire earth we have may have, in rich abundance
But, afs this land, richly blest of heaven will
the principles of liberty, and, to great extent witt
the actual enjoyment of it, is prominently cursed witt
the most absolute desposm-u unconditional, nternina
bic SLAVERY" the ves system that ever saw the SUM-
Our plains and valleys of which we are Justly proud
as the "ganary Of the world" are trodden by foo
of the slave. Our soils, rich beyond rival, are be
dewed with his tears There is not zephyr tina
breathes our hills and valleys but that comes tc
us freghted with his groans. Wherever the SUI
throws his life-giving beams this fair land Of Re
publican institutions, he looks down upon millions
vassas who bend at unrequed toll.
And the very principles Of the government are con
verted into despotsm and implements with which t.
rob and peel the slave. Our very "Declaration o
Rights managedas to rob one sixth of the inhab
itants of every right. There is not a mountain peak il
this wide land to which they can fly and be legally FREE
and safe from the pursuit of their republican soveegnS
Surely we will glory in being an American citizen
and be ashamed for the same reason
Slavery" says Lafayette "is dark shade on tn
map Of the United Statcs." When, oh when, shall w
cease to stand before the world poitica hypocrite
f of the worst description"