Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-29
For the Freeman
Slavery as 1t is.


hard terms-men who Will 60 SO far as 10 say,
slavery is SIN, and ought to be abolished."-
They may have visited slaveholding State, and
sed them under the most favorable circumstan-
ces, or perhaps visited a plantation, as we have
visited prison to see the laborers for few
minutes at work, have sale, EEL have been at
the South, and seen the condition of the slaves,
and They are as happy as zoe are. THEY are weO
fed and clothed, and not oUerUorked."
These apologies for slavery are not true, as |
purpose to show. have seen the reverse of
this; for having lived in South Carolina, Geor-
gia and Alabama, have had an opportunity of
seeing the practical workings of this great ma
tional sin; and to say that slavery ever did OF
ever can promote the happiness of the oppressed,
exposes these apologists to great want of an
observance Of the constitution of the human
mind, and of the nature and source of happiness,
The mind makes the man, in respect to enjoy
ment and the enjoyment of the mind is moi
secured by being eyen we'll fed and housed like
cattle. The mind is constituted TO be employed
in planning and contemplating the schemes and
Interests Of life, in its various relations and COM
pretending duties. 1t is made to be free. And
when the mind is freely employed in its own
schemes and interests, in pursuit of individual
domestic and social happiness, the labors requi-
site for the attainment of our objects are, gene
rally, but so many pleasures; at least, the free
sol is not weary under them. But let this Free
dom be taken array from the man, and let neither
his mind nor his body be his own, let him have
no plan Of life for himself or family, but know
that he is held as the property of another, entire
ly at his disposal, and he may be ever SO well fed,
clothed, and kindly treated, yet he cannot be
happy. His labor is dull, grievous round of
toll without an object; the mind corrodes within
ITSELF and life is a signing bondage all is dark
ness around, without even horizon-gleam in
any direction
TO show that this is not fiction, will give an
extract from the life of Frederic Douglass, a
fugitive slave. 1t is one of the most eloquent
appeals to freedom ever written, and would do
honor to a Patrick Henry. This Douglass has
become one of the most brilliant writer's and ell
oquent speakers in the United States. doubt
if there is white man on this or any other con-
tinent that can " stir mems blood" as he CAN
In his travels through Europe he was Toasted by
the nobilityand eulogzed by the press. In fact,
no American ever had greater honors shown
him than Fredesic Douglass, while on his mis-
sion in England. He is now the proprietor and
editor of sterling anti-slavery paper in central
New York. He says:
"Our house stood within. few rods of the
Chesapeake Bay, whose broad bosom was ever
white with sails from every quarter Of the habit
able globe. Those beautiful vessels, robed In
purest white, so delightful to the eye of free
men, were to me 80 many shrouded ghosts, to
lerify and torment me with thoughts of my
wretched condition. | have often, in the deep
stiffness of summers Sabbath, stood alone up
on the lofty banks of that noble bay, and traced
with saddened heart and fearful eye, the count
less number Of sails moving off to the mighty
ocean. The sight Of these always affected me
powerfully. My thoughts would compel utter,
ance; and there, with no audience but the AL
mighty, would pour out my souls complaint, in
my rude way, in an apostrophe, to the moving
multitude of ships.
8" You are loosed from your mornings and are
free: am fast in my chains, and am a slave
You move menily before the gentle gale, and
sadly before the bloody whip! You are free
dom's swift-winged angels, that fly round the
world | am confined in bands of iron o thai
| were free o that | were on your gallant
decks, and under your protecting wing! Alas
betwixt you and me the turbid waters roll. &C
on, 60 on. o that | could also go! Could
but swim! If could fly o why was bor
man, of whom to make brute The glat
ship is gone,-she hides in the dim distance
| am left in the hottest hell OF unendng slavery
o God, save me! God deliver me Let me be
free! Is there any God? Why am slave
| will run away. | will not stand it. Gel
caught or get clear, I'll try 1t. had as vel
die of the ague as fever have only one life
to lose. had as well be killed running as die
standing. Only think of it,,-one hundred miles
straight north, and | am free. Try it? Yes
God helping Inc, will. 1t cannot be that shall
live and die a slave"
As to the slaves being kindly treated on plant
ations, the reverse is the fact Douglass says
speaking of one of his overseers:
"Mr. Gore was proud, ambitious and perse.
vereing. He was artful, cruel, and obdurate.-
He was just the man for such place, and it was
just the place for such a man. 1t afforded scope
for the full exercise of all his powers, and he
seemed to be perfectly at home in it.
He acted up fully to the maxim laid down by
Shareholders, " 1t is better that dozen slaves
suffer under the lash, than that the oversee
should be convicted, in the presence of thu
slaves, of having been at fault" No matte
how innocent slave might be, it availed hin
nothing, when accused by Mr., Gore, of any mis-
demeanor.
Mr.. Gore was grave man, and thougl
young, INDUCED in no jokes, said no funn,
words, and seldom smiled. His words were il
perfect keeping with his looks, and his looks il
perfect keeping with his words. Overseers vii
sometimes indulge in witty word, even wit
the slaves moi so with Gore. He spoke but t.
command, and commanded but to be obeyed-
He dealt sparingy with his words, and bounti
fully with his whip, never using the forme
where the latter would do as well.
His savage barbarity was equaed only by tn
consumate GOODNESS with which he COMMITTEES
the grossest and most savage deeds upon tn
slaves under his charge. Gore once undertook
to whip one of Col. Loyld's slaves, by the nam
Of Demley. He had given DENLY but fey
stripes, when, to get rid of the scourging. h