The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-02
NUMBER "a.

in repelling attacks and lnvaslons by their
barbarous and savage neighbors. They have
made treaties, annexed territories TO their
dominion, and are blessed with free repre-
sentative government. recently read a mes
sage, from one Of their Governors to their
Legislature, which, in point of composition,
and in careful attention to the public affairs
of their Republic, would compare advantage
ously with the Messages Of the Governors of
our own States, am not very supersttious,
but [ do solemnly believe that these Colonies
are blcst with the smiles of Providence, and
if we may dare attempt penetrating the veil
by which He conceals His all.wise dispensa-
tons from mortal eyes, that He designs that
Africa shall be the refuge and the home of
the descendants of its sons and daughters,
torn and dragged from their native land By
laWleSs violence.
1t is philauthropic and consoling rcAcc-
ton that the moral and physical condition Of
the African race in the United States, even
in Il state Of slavery, is far better than it
would have been if their ancestors had never
been brought from their native land. And
if it should be the decree of the Great Ruler
Of the Universe that their descendants shall
be made Instruments in His hands in the e5-
Enlistment of Civilization and the Christian
Religion throughout Africa, our regrets, Oh
account of the original wrong, Will be greatly
mitigated.
1t may be argued that, in admitting the
injustice Of Slavery, admit the necessity CT
an instantaneous PREPARATION of that injustice
! Unfortunately, however, it is not always safe,
practicable or possible, in the great moye-
mcnts Of States and public affairs Of nations,
to remedy or repair the infection Of previous
injustice. In the inception Of it, we may OPP
pose and denouncc it, by our most Strenuous
eXcrtions; bat, after Its consCnmation, there
is often no other alternative left us but to de-
plorc its preparation, and to acquicsce az .he
only course, in its existence, as less evil
than the frightful consequences which might
ensue from the vain endeavor to repair it.
Slavery is one of those unfortunate instances.
The evil Of it was inflicted upon us, BY the
parent country of Great Britain against III
the entreatieS and remonStranccs Of the Col
onles. And here it is among and amid us,
and we must dispose of it as best we can I'M
der all the circumstances which surround us.
1t continued by the importation of slaves
from Africa, i'll spite of Colonial resistance,
for period Of more than a century and &.
half, and it may require an equal or longer
lapse of time before our country is entirely
rid of the evil. And in the meantime, mode
ration, prudence and discretion among our
selves, and the blessings of Providence may
be all necessary to accomplish our ultimate
delverance from it, Examples of similar in
Fiction of irrcparabe national evil and injus-
tice might be multiplied to an indefinite ex-
tent. The case of the Annexation of Texas
to the United States is a recent and obvious
one, which, it were wrong, cannot now be
repaired. Texas is now an integral part Of
our Union, with its own voluntary consent
Many of US opposed the Annexation with
honest zeal and most earnest eXertions. But
who would now think of perpetrating the fol-
ly Of casting Texas out of the Confederacy
and throwing her back upon her own indie
pendencc, or into the arms of Mexico: Who
would now seek to divorce her from this
Union The Greeks and the Cherokee In
dams were, by the most eXceptionable means,
driven from their country, and transported
beyond the Mississippi River. Their lands
have been fairly purchased and occupied by
inhabitants Of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
and Tennessee. Who would now conceive
the fragrant injustice Of expelling those in
habtants and restoring the Indian country
to the Cherokees and Greeks, under color Of
repairing original injustice? During the
War Of our Revolution millions of paper
money were issued by our, ancestors as tho
only currency with which they could achiaTa
our liberties and independence. Thousands
and hundreds of thousands of families were
stripped OF their homes and their all, and
bro't to ruin, by giving credit and confidence
to that spurious currency. Stern necessity
has prevented the PREPARATION of that great
national injustice.
But l forbear: | will no longer trespass
upon your patience or farther tax my own
voice, impaired by speech Of more thar
three hours duration, which professional duty
required me to make only few days ago.
If have been at all successful in the expo
sition of the views and opinions which en-
terrain, | have shown
LIST. That the present War was brought
about by the Annexation of Texas, and the
subsequent order of the President, without
the previous consent and authority Of Con-
gress
I'd. That the President, being unenlighten-
ed and uninstructcd, by any public declare;
ton of Congress, as to objects for which it
ought to be prosecuted in the conduct Of it,
is, necessarily, left to his own sense Of what
the national interests and honor may require.
Sd. That the whole making power 81
the nation, as to motives, causes and objects,
is confdcd by the Consultation to the discre'
ton and judgment of Congress.
4th That it is, therefore, the right of Con-
gress, at the commencement or during the
progress of any War, to declare for what OBJ
ject5 and purposes the War ought to be waged
and prosecuted.
5th That it is the right and duty of Con-
gress to announce to the Nation for what cb-
iects the present War shall be longer contin-
ued that it is the duty of the President, in
the exercise of all his official functions to con-
form to and carry out this declared will Of
Congress, by the exercise, if necessary, OF all
the high powers with which he is clothed;
and that, if he fail or refuse to do so, II be-
comes the imperative duty Of Congress to ar
rest the further progress Of the War by the
most effectual means in its power.