Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-26

Po0r man i know, he would not be a wolf,
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep,
He would be no lion, were not Romans hinds,n
SHAKESPEARE.
Did Shakespeare teach the nabobs of the South
which way to steer their bark, what sails to use
to catch the winds, blow high, or low, blow fierce
or gentle, LloH in what course you please, into
their yearning ports, laden with the blessing:
of our dear bought freedom ?
In days of yore, it meier was SO,
When despotsm from abroad assailed onr land,
A common weakness, to defend our rights,
Secured the exercise of Pa lriot's zeal, united.
Then we could talk and act as if our cause was one,
And, when our armies were to victory led,
By our brave Washington, and peace smiled DER the land
What fond anlicipations fred the Patriot breast,
That, what by toll and sacrifice had been achieved,
Would, by care parental and united, DO preserved!
But, upon our inheritance was one black spot
A surface marred with slaves, to till the soil;
A soil cursed with the sweat of labor unrequited.
The spirit of oppression, by exercise over slaves,
Is naught diminished, but stretches far and wide its grasp
Where beings can be fonnd who will submit to-
Hence, on this dark spot we see what met the eye prophetic
of our loved hero, when, in his last farewell, he warned vi
To beware of those, who seeds of discord e'er might sow,
To jeopardize the public veal.
Should the rehearsal of what are truths,
Al any time excite to jealousy, not blame, but praise,
Would then result. For truth, that maketh free,
Should well be known, believed, and practised,
And, upon those whose actions furnish food
For truths exciting on them the woe must rest.
The Lords of Slaves on this dark spot enthroned,
Claim Lordshlp DER the Nation. They fix the test,
By which ~prcferment may be sought and hoped for;
And show their teeth at what they do not dictate,
II silly worms, in northern regions bred, should dare
Resist their claims to absolute dominion, the woe,
For. Jealousy exciting, is poured upon them.
To the Caesars on this black spot what doth give courage
Thus to assume the power they exercise
Do they, in fancy, see the people of these states,
The s~overeigns of the nation, to be mere sheep,
Yielding their golden fleece, as tribute to their oppressors
And let themlake liberty and ali, through want of pluck
For battle Or do they esteem these soyereigns Of Oul
nation,
To be timid binds, flying from the first sound
OF the approach of Cesar?
Or have they posted, here and there,
Traitors to the cause of Freedom who second
All their aims to grasp the whole
Shame on the tloughtless sovereigns, who sleep
Till Caesar comes with all his urmy, aud with traitors, too
To transfer all your rights to Southern climes
And teach you not that color, but that power
Makes the slave!
Shame on the timid, too, the timid sovereigns, who
Fly at the stamp of CGsar's feet, and even the echo
Borne by traitors through the land
Great so%vereigns, from your lethargy arisel
Appreciate the boon your fathers bled for!
Nor. ignominious, fly the contest. Guard to the death
The liberty yon inherit, norlet 1t e'er be said,
That was a mere bubble, for which your fathers bled.
CAssUs.