Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-09-25

our Outys
It is finished, the fugitive slave law is written, and
signed, and seaed the duty of the citizens of this
republic is now mperativey prescribed and fenced
round by pains and penalties. Representatives,
Senators, and President have united in the deed Of
treason to freedom, 10 humanity, and to God.
Legislation has broken down our doors, and des-
ecrated the privacy Of our homes. Love is outlaw
ed from the household of the American Freeman.
Charity must henceforh be fugitive with the wea-
ry fainting beggars whom we are not to shelter or
feed. The issue has come at last between the au-
thority of Almighty God, and the dictation of the
shareholders and their abettors
And now let every man of conscience ask himself
what is my duty in this crisis' The martyr age of
the United States is about toreturn again. Human
ity and benevolence, and all the virtues that come
from the spirit of God, about to be arraigned in
these United States, before the bar of force once
more; and will for a time be consigned to the dun
geon and the tomb. Christ is to be again cruci6ed
in his disciples, and Christanity-the pure word of
eternal law is once more to be preached from the
dungeon.
The morning of American freedom has grown
dark and is deepening in gloom and he who would
demean himself like true man in its shadowy hours
must prepare to stand face to face with trial, and 10
shake hands with suffering Conscience and the
Laws of God are now all that the freemen of these
United States rely upon for support in their
al conflict with the demon of slavery. The law Of
parchment is against them pains and PENALTIES and
all the machinery of corporate interests, threaten to
overwhelm them, if they dare to obey the dictates of
conscientious duty, and listen with pity to the wall
of suffering humanity. The time is come for every
to ask himself in these circumstances sswhat is
my duty!' Whether / to maintain my con-
science and my allegiance to God courageously; or
satisfied with the extent of moral liberty which thew
are pleased to allow me?
The question being answered, and we know how
every true man will answer it,-et him be ready
for action and for sacrifice.
We declare in the faces of the God defying au.
thors of this infamous save-catching BILL and of the
doughfaced traitors who have basely endorsed it,
that we firmly believe and are satisfied that il
will be pleasing in the sight of God to do what
1t forbids us to do and that it will cover with
eternal disgrace whoever would be SO utterly lost
to honor, truth, and shame, as to obey one OF its
demoniacal propositions We do not quail before
this act fenced round with chains and fines and prs
on bars, although it be- The man who seeks on,
door hungry, shall be fed; if he is weary, he shall
be shelered and il the slave-catcher shall cross on,
threshold to drag him from our Preside, and thus
sully the sancty of our family altar, he shall be op
posed by all the that our strength and ing
nuity devise; and to the full extent that Chris
tianity will allow.
These.are not the times for vacIation and indie
cision There those amongst us who are fainting
before the array of forces which treason has sum-
Piled; and slavery discipned and there are others
who are timidly asking what shall we do, We
know our duty, and shall do it in the face of all the
forces that contravene the laws of Our God; the
Slaves God; of every body's God
This is the question, shall men, legslating under
the inspiration Of the devil, be obeyed or shall the
pure, the holy, the omnipotent God The issue Of
this question we leave to conscience; the conse-
quences threatened for perfect obedience to God and
conscience, we do not regard any more than as the
contemplate suberfuges Of cowards to Tighten the
unstable and timid of SOUL
Congress has made the law; we claim the right 10
judge it. right which freedom preserves to every
individual soul; and having judged, we claim the
right to dsobey it; right guaranteed to us by high
er law than even the Constitution.