Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-06-09
For the Freeman.
Slavery-Its Infu nee.

individuals aud community are accustomed
to Judge Of the merit or dement, of an nstltu
,ion by the influence which issues from IT,
Though the system Of American Slavery has
many apoIog,ss. 4 see no valid reason why its
character may not with Justice be determined
by its fruits. With this vie", glance at the
effects of slavery upon the North may not be
wholly VOID q interest. In taking rctrspec-
tive survey fths institution, do not propose to
90 back to it's iMarcy and trace out all its evil
bearings upon the North; but SIMPLY to refer to
the Black Lnw recently passed IN the legislature
ot illinois providing, among other disgraceful
enactnents, that any negro or mulatto who may
arrive in that State, and remain ten days with
the evident design of settling there, shall be
subjected TO fine Of fifty dollars and in default
Of payment, is'to besoid at public auction to the
person who for the shortest term Of service, will
pay the fine aud cost OF prosecution. Should
the accused fail toleave the State within
days attertht piration Of his term of service,
ue Is lidule " eeCoHu piNSeeutiob, INolVHiS II
penalty doubly severe.
Although our country has been cursed with
slavery from its earliest infancy, | was qni,e IN
prepared to conceive of spirit within the United
States pregnant with its poisonous Influence
as to produce or in nlsh nonrshnent to a Law,
which makes the image OF God not only slave,
but pugabona stranger; still that such a law
should pass in one of the Norhern States, nurs-
ed in the cradle Of liberty from its birth. where
reason and every d,etate Of humanity would
have supposed that, could partclesot the dead
" mlasrna ever issuing from slavery reach It's
borders, that it would be at once repealed, in
stead of setting downto terminate and bring
forth such law--ore so black that it would dis
grace the darkest age Of heaihcnsm.
It was to be hoped for tine that Illinois
would be compelled to stand alone in her dis
graceful attitude without the support of the press
from any quarter, Bu' this hope can no longer
be entertained; for hnmllialiug, as is the fact,
some editors have already come out in supI pn't
of Illinois, while they attempt to shield iheD-
selves under the rall pre'eose that in so doing
they are befriending the African, by Fastening
the time when our negro population shall be
under The banner Of the Liberian Republic.
While would cheeffuy use ali honorable
means to promote the welfare of this new re-
public. have vet to learn that laws expressing
the negro to the utmost extremity are cauated
to advance its interest or that OF the unfortunate
class for which it is laborIng, while the negro
has no means of reaching its borders.
Were the influences of slavery upon the North
to be regarded in pecuniary sense alone, it
would be comparatively tolerable; but when 1t
=" robs us of our good name," is there longer
room to question the right of the North To act
upon the snbjoc--at best so far as to withdraw
lis support from such IN institution and leave it
10 stand upon its own responsibility? But it IS
asked, how shall we extlrcate ourselves from the
monster TINT has grown with our growth, and
strengthened with our strength? would an
swer, by the direct action Of the Freemen of the
North IN The election of such men 10 Congress,
and such men only, as will use the power vested
in them to make laws that will allow the negro
to pass through or remain in any of the Free
States, 'i'hnm The liability of being hunted
down by Southern slave drver-,nen who will
not suffer themselves to BIZ forced from duty by
the hollow cry Of " Sdve The Uniont" s.