Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-15
Progress of the Anti-Slavery
Cause,

The editor of the British Anti Slavery
Reporter thus sums up the results of the
Anti-Slavery efforts during the last hall
century. What American cheek does NOT
mantle with shame that your country must
be ranked among the lew nations that yet
hold on to the barbarous, degrading and
detestable institution of human slavery
We are justly placed in the same category
with the benighted nations of Spain, Brazil,
&c. How long, 0 how long, shall our ma.
tIonal character be stained with this dark
spot
The result of anti-slavery efforts during
the last half century, may be thus summed
up. Great Britain has abolished slavery
and the slave trade throughout her vast
domlnlons, in every part of the world, by
which millions have been emancipated, and
the traffic in human beings declared to be
piracy; and, short of death, subjected TO
the heaviest punishments known to our laws.
France, Denmark, and Sweden, have fol.
lowed the example of this country; and
although i'll the Danish colonies the liberty
OF the emancipated classes is still subjected
to many calling restrictions, yet are they 10
longer regarded or treated as properly
Mexico, and the South American Repub-
lies, have all, since their separation from
Spain, passed laws for th3 abolition of slave
ny and the slave-trade. In some of these
states, slavery yet protracts its existence !;
but if the laws ara honestly administered,
in few years from this time, the last vesti.
ges OF this great evil will have disappear
ed from them. All the European and
American powers, formerly implicated in
the slaVe-trade, have declared it to be piracy
or felony, and subjected it to severe punish
ments; and all have abandoned it, with the
exception Of Spain and Brazil, which pow.
ers, contrary to the stipulations of treatise
and of law, persists in continuing the in.
iquitous traffic. Holland and Portugal vet
allow slavery to pollute their foreign posses
slons; but hopes may be entertained that
the period will soon arrive when these coun-
tries will deliver themselves from the dis.
honor of perpetuating so vile a SYSTEM
To Spain in the Old World, and to the
United States and Brazil in the New. be.
longs the supreme criminality of maintain
ing amidst the blaze of light which has
been thrown on the giant iniquity, their
several systems Of slavery; and although
the prospect of a speedy termination of
these atrocious evils may not be near, there
can be no doubt that it will end, either by
violence, or by the consent Of the several
States in which it is found Our earnest
desire is, to see it peacefully abolished,
amidst universal rejocings, and not to
witness its extinction amidst the tumuIt and
horrors of servie war.
The progress of public opinion in the
United States against slavery is proceeding
with great rapidly; and although the
friends of humanity and freedom in that
country, last year, received a severe check
from the laws passed by Congress, yet the
signs of the times are encouraging. In
Brazil there is party, and a strong one
too, organizing against the save-trade
and, though probably influenced by politi-
cal motives only, it may speedily work the
overthrow of that nefarous traffic. Should
the President of the Argentine republic de-
clare war against Brazil, it is believed he
will proclaim liberty to the slaves, who, in
that case, would be found potent anxiliaries
to the invader II is known that large num-
bers Of the slave population of Brazil are
ripe for instruction, at any moment that
may give them prospect of success. Nor
is Cuba scarcely less secure. Combina-
lions of slaves exists there, who are watch
ing their opportunity-and then wo, wo, to
hose who have so cruelty degraded and
them. If Spain and Brazil were
wise, they would take immediate steps to
change their slaves into freeman; and thus
prevent terrible catastrophe, which other.
wise must, sooner or later, come upon
hem.
Though much has been done to promote
he cause of freedom, much yet remains to
re accomplished We must not faint or
row weary in the cause of suffering and
humanity. Cheered by past sue
ess, we may look forward with hope, and
ntlcpate the day wgen "every yoke shall
re broken" and "the oppressed" every
7here, Ego Free"