Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-10-24

fugtivea from the house of bondage, as upon
the principle involved. Men and nations are
often more guilty for what they only attempt to
do, than they are for what they actually accom-
plish and such, no doubt. will prove to be the
case with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Bill,
by the Congress Of the United States, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and fifty. 1t may avail in a few in tances in
catching a fugitive slave, who would otherwise
escape it may be enforced upon few who have
moral honesty and courage enough to violate 1t,
in the shape of fine or imprisonment; it may
subserve the purpose of kdnappefs in few in
stances, enabling them to seize and carry off
freemen to the Chains, and whips, and death of
Southern plantations but we have not the least
idea that it will, Or can be generally enforced
Public sentiment is too powerful in the Moth
for such laws, and it is growing stronger and
stronger every day, and must soon tower above
them and bear them down, and proclaim their
violation virtue, and render the penlties they
impose, 10 him who endures them, passport to
the sympathes of all the good and true.
1t is not, them the practical evil that alarms
US it is not the additional number of slaves
that will be recaptured; but 1t is the deep and
damning disgrace and guilt that have been re-
corded upon the nations statute book, the insult
that has been offered Heaven, and the outrage
attempted to be perpetrated upon Humanity. We
believe it no less an outrage upon th Constiu-
ton of the United States; that the slave indu-
ence has led the Constitution and led Congress,
in this matter, 10 assume legislative powers
which that document does not confer. These be-
| ing our honest and deliberate views, wo can do
| less than to denounce and oppose the Infamous
enactment. and this we shall do as already sta
ted
Let every northern man who voted for it, and
all who were not in their seats 10 vote against it
be forthwith indicted and arraigned al the bal
of public opinion, and be made to render an nc
count Tor THEFT evil deeds, and let the politlca
power and influence of the President, whose
right hand signed the bill, wther and rot upor
the body of his party. Let every officer, ant
every attorney, and every private citizen wht
shall attempt to aid or enforce the law, be look
ed upon with the eye of public contempt, unit
the blush of shame shall burn upon their cheeks
and let them and the party to which they ma!
belong, and that shall put such craven hearted
persous in nomination, be remembered at the bal
lot box, as honest men and patriots should re
meuber the enemies of God and their country
Let the cry of Repeal be raised let it be hear
GU IIOll lJiIOu|Il NUN diiu llouI DuhhOl iiHI
let it come as comes the northeastern sorI
from the snowy land and wide spread coast c
Maine let it be heard on every rocky cliff {
New Hampshire, and from the Green Mountain
of Vermont: let it roll along the shores of tn
st. Lawrence, and all the lakes and rivers an
canals OF New York, sweeping westward unit
it shall meet with the responsive echo comm
from the new empire sweeping up from the Pa
ciic shore. Let every man who feais God an
regards the rights of humanity, by all reason'
bic means oppose, resist and seek the repeal I
such an infamous statute, as an indispensable
condition Of eternal life. Let the press spea
and especially the religious press and let tn
portion of it that will not speak be looked upC
as cowardy, prosavery, and recreant to Il
claims Of God and man. And let the pull
speak, and let the ministers of the sanctual
tee ah that opposition to such laws is obeden'
to God. We now declare that it is our purpo
!, so to write and so to teach, 50 long as we CT
hold pen, or utter words in the ears of men,
If we live not to see it repealed, we will teaC
, our children to oppose 1t wnen we are dead, al
,, eni0n upon them to engrave it upon our tom
stone, that we have lived and died in opposite
to the fugitive.slavc law of eighteen hundFt
and fifty.