Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-12-02
TIL FIR E Z NJ A N .
For the Green Mountain Freeman
One Shilling Sterling,
THE FIRST WAGES OF A FREEMAN

within the dOmnlonS OF Queen Vltona:-her Image is
stamped the piece. 1t was coined shortly after her
accession to the throne. 1t bears the date Of 1885,.
There is however nothing remarkable about the coin
itself-the associations connected with it arc what
render it to me an object of interest. Nearly seven
years have gone no more to return since 1t was Civ
en- to me, and have not during this time heard from
the gver, but if he is still living, he yet remembers
the first first shilling of WAGES that lie ever receiv
ed though he had tOied hard for nearly thirty years
before. The first thirty years, the best portion of his
life he had been kept in Southern prison house
and daily driven to his unpaid servtude. He had
while there received anything that he could call his
own Himself he could not claim. He could "dO
nothing posses nothing nor acquire anything but phat
must 5elong to his master" (Save laws Of Lay More
he was stable as catteS to be sold by his master at
his pleasure or to be taken in execution in payment
of his debts" While in this state ofdegradation some
one pointed out to him the North star, and told him if
he would travel long distance in its direction he would
reach land of freedom. Hope sprung up the spirit
of manhood within him, not wholly destroyed, a.
oused he started the desire for freedom gave strength
to his MUSCLES agility to his limbs and he sped on
ward like the wild roe. Long however and dark (he
could travel only at night was the way, aud much
and long did he suffer before he reached Victora's
soil HIS adventures during this long march for free
dom, were they well described, would make volume
of great interest, AT last all dangers past and he
arrived greatly emaciated and almost starved at "Free
don's Gate' entered and found himself FREEMAN
No language he said could describe his feelings at
that time. Though weak, he leaped he run, he shouted
stopped and kissed the eatth,-a free soil rose, bcs
sed the God of Heaven and earth, and felt like bes
sing all mankind. Nature however could not long in
dulge such eXtaces-food must be procured, and a
freeman must not beg but ,oOrk for it and earn it.
job was quickly obtained, finished and ,oages demand
ed by freeman and received. Then again the flood
gate of feeling was opened. He was a man, money
due him was paid to him as a man. He looked with
ineffable delight upon his own free hants that had
earned and received pay. How beautiful to him APP
Feared the bright silver shilling-how vauable it was
his own no master could take it from him. he could use
it as he wished, Appetite must give way; this shil-
ling, his first earning as freeman, must be laid mp
a memento. 1t was kept, most carefully preserved,
until another principle, gratitude for kindness, so
strong in the colored man, called more loudly upon his
excellent nature then this, his choicest treasure
freely given up. And here the shilling lies before
me while en- writing. AT his request have kept it
for his sake, and intend to keep it as long as live.
It's associations are valuable to me, than silver
or gold remember how this noble mans eyes spark
led when he related to me his feelings arriving on
a free soil, and receiving wages as a freeman. 1t
shows me that my coored brother values freedom as
well as |, that he is truly and has high exalted
feelings when proper circumstances call them forth
Such man will be fit to enjoy freedom. lle should
have it now Another principle is developed-grat
tude. My act Of kindness to him small, not wor-
thy to be mentioned, and yet for it, this man was ready
yes it was privilege to him to give me what he then
valued most highly. He would have done anything
for me; he would have rsked, | think even given up
his life for me. This same principle is strong in all
the slaves of the South What shall we learn from it:
Why this that it is perfectly safe to set them al free
at once. If for the least act of Kindness one will dc
so much what would not those do who should receive
FREEDOM from their master Did not this man value
!
greatest boon and gratitude will forever swell the DO
som of the colored man in the United States.
When look upon this shilling l am exercised witt
mingled emotions of gratitude and pleasure, gref ant
shame. | feel grateful that many of my oppressed
brethren can find an asy lum, where they be free
/ by escaping to the dominion5 of Brton's Queen.
am thankful that the paw of the British Lion protects
the painting fugitive. He is too noble an animal tc
take any advantage of the weak and defencoless.-
Vlctorias image is on the coin May God bless bel
and ever help her while she gives shelter and freedom
to the hunted African fugitive.
On the coin Of the us. is stamped in capitals
LIBERTY! For Liberty our fathers taught, bled anl
died. Our Declaration of Independence, procaim'
that all are free, our Constitution guarantees freedom
to all the inhabitants of the land, and yet three mil
lions of our fellow beings are held by us in slavery
worse than Algerine slavery. Our coin said
member of Congress last winter, is ga circulating false
hood" How long shall this be9 How long shal
slaves be held under the head of Liberty while unde
the crown all are free? How long must we go to the
dominions ola foreign government before we can kis
u Tree sOlE
OF am filled with shame at the thought that poo
Afrcs must pass over to the Queens country be
fore they can receive the first shilling as wages. How
long must this state Of things exist? When shall The
coored man be treated as a man, and find home, un
der the Constitution Of the United States? How mucl
longer shall We the reemen of the North, do the bid
ding of our Southern masters, turn hounds and rur
down and take back to the clutches Of the tyrant thu
ugitive,-a possessed of the noble nature of hin
who gave me this precious memento? Brethren of the
North, let US be doughaces, hck-spttes, cats-paw'
and hell-hounds no longer; let arise in our might
proclaim to the world that we live free soil, anc
that every slave that steps his foot on it is forever ree
This we can do any day. We have the power II we
will use it. And let us not stop here Let us place
lover of freedom ct the head of nation, drive ht
slave ocrats from Office generally, carry out the pruci
pes of the us Constitution, and proclaim freedom tt
orv soul throuphout all our borders The only wa,