Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-26
1850.

lslation. They are not matters of opinion. We
may as well be asked our opinion of sordid rape
and brutal cruelty. Opinion is for subjects on
which doubt is possible, and for which reproba-
ton is not moral necessity of human nature :"
ga runaway slave is man trying to catch
his manhood. He seeks to be what God made
him. His claim is to properly in his own thews
and sinews. Being man, he will moi confess
to being beast. The naenable ownership
in himself overrides all the stolen property in
him claimed by his master. This flight only
shows that he is not debased so low as to repu.
date the heaVen-given character of his exist
ence. No claims Of colonies to independence,
nor of nations TO freedom arc more sacred, and
they are less elementary than those of the indi
vidua man to his personal liberty. If single
negro in Virginia be legitmately the property
of the slave-owner, then is Virginia itself, and
the other States too, legtimately the property Of
Great Britain. Our sympathes are all with the
fugitive; and in the house of prayer, with our
Bibles open, we should say, God speed him.
Sordid sonls, indeed, must they be who, not be-
ing themselves slaves, yet sympathlze with the
SLAYER. The American Southerns are fighting
against universal feelings, hopes, wishes and
principles. They war with all that represents
God upon earth. No doubt their position is ar
embarrassing one-beset on all sides with diff
culles and perils. The most humane amongst
them may hesitate to say that they clearly SCI
their way out of it. Let them devise plans
though OF long graduation, to cmancipate thei
brethren, and the world will approve. Let then
cry for help out of their depth, and good mel
will everywhere bestir themselves to aid"
These detached paragraphs are probably tn
extreme, but nevertheless in perfect unison wit
the opinion of the mass of Canada Not all ar
capable of giving free uttGrance to their tho't
in the scathng language Of the writer, nor ar
all acquainted with the real evils of chattel slt
very, but wherever intellect and liberty hay
seated themselves, The tyrant's chains cannot
otherwise than abhorred, whatever law is mat
to strengthen them, and keep humanity in BON
age, is looked upon as oppressive, and again
the rights of man. We cannot say that we
gree with all that the writer has said for i
stance: The idea that the States are as legi
3 nately the slaves of Great Britain as Virgin
is the legitimate owner of single negro. T
aSsort;on ia mot intollt 0ihIo IN no cannof q
the relevancy of the two sides of it. We CO
cur with him, however, in the condemnation
f the fugitive slave bill, and hope that our prest
Congress will disannul it forever. 1t is most
dious, and one of the deepest stains on Amt
a can legislation. We ought to be model
q ton of freemen, despising, and teaching 9th
to despise the assumptions Of those who from
the Declaration of Independence under Il
:. feet in accusing it of telling the LIE that
men are created equal, endowed by their u
=, tor with certain unalienable rights, among wi
A are life liberty, and the pursuit OF happiness
n. Hush and Compromise bills, the assertion OF
W President to the contrary Notwithstanding
e not allay public excitement Those meu0
If ., congress who sought to propitlate the ia
None ne Lord, and strengthen the union Of
. oxtens;on Of dP'u l in lodging vote against
II have already found d
% aborS like those that spit against the VIM
n The stability of the Union depends upon
IN correction Of our national wrongs, and howe
70 long political expedIency may deter it, the
= Ply day ofquietness and safety will be foun
10 the removal of Fugitive Slave Bill and hui
bondage. T. |.
Glover, Dec. 10 1850