Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-09-08
The Heart of the People.

There is danger IN attaching 100 Wuch
impouance 10 the acts Of officials or men
in Office. in reference to the question OF
Slavery. when attempting TO ascertain inc
state Of public sentiment. The GOVERN
ment of a country even of this country not
unfrequently fails L" represent the people
fails TO reflect the heart of the people,
Our friends are sometimes inclined to de-
spond when the conduct of men high IN Of
fee cousidered-when ever our Judicial Of
6cers prove themselves inclined to bend low
before "the dark spirit of Slavery" The
out rage our decision ofthe Fugitive Slave
Law Commissioners-the passage OF the
barbarous Black Laws OF Illinois-the course
of two or three leading political Journals
on the slavery question, and the shameful
conduct Of high functionaries-Aare calcu-
lated TO dlshearten the trends OF Freedom.
But our friends must remember that men
in office, political, Judicial, or executive, are
interested in fostering a Pro.SIavery senti'
meut. Is. it strange that men who have
publicly eoipmitted themselves in favor Of
the Comp osnise, and who hold their offices
BY suffefahee of the South should defend
Slavery? Not would be strange if they
for a moment were to listen to the voices
of the oppressed. The politicians Of the
country are without heans-they are specu-
l%ators, and if ever they advocate the cause
of humanity it is merely as Il speculation
The acts Of such men may be, aud gener-
ally will be iniquitous-Dut such acts are
not kXasg, by Inc people. The people
are far ID ADVANCE of their rulers upon va
rlous questions Of Reform, aud especially
the Auti, Slavery Reform.
What matters it if Congress does pass a
FugnIve Sl've Law-Me peope will tread
it into the dust. Let the President nurse
the Compromise, as a mother does a "sick
child if he will; let the Washington I'm
ion defend Russian ~despotlsm and Ameri
can robbery at The same breath; let Com
missioner Ingraha,h send back-a poor crush
ed fugitive to the welcoming lash of hi.
master; let DR.. Dewey in his pulpit apollo
give for piracy aud what does all thi'
prove! That the American people are
retrograding-that they love Slavery better
By no means. There never has be n a tl,nl
since America was born, when anti.slaver,
sentiment was manufactured faster than i
is at present. The people of The Nor,I
hate Slavery, and thousands OF then hat,
its aiders aud abettors. What man Is Their,
who has the reputation of an honest citize'
who would assist IN a slave hunt? Is Their,
such a nan in Hartford? Is there such
man in ConDecticut! Is there such a MAJ
in the Free States? Yet Congress passe'
the Slave hunt Law, The people will no
obey the law their representatives made
We know of hundreds Of men who neve
yet cast an anll.sIavery vote. who yet wouI'
suffer a, The stake, rather than retnra a Ay
ing dondman to his master. We also knn,
of hundreds who four years ago cared no
"A fig about anti slavery, because they ha'
never examined it. who now are decided i
their sentimen,s-decidedly ahtl-sIavery me,
The Compromise woke thousands of me
from a state of indifference, to a state c
antagonist to man.ownership. In thousand
of ways the discerning retormer can Sc
that the people are progressing, while tn
political leaders seem to stand still, or g
backward. The Legislation Of Connect,
10 reference to Temperance has gone back
ward for the last ten years--has the caus
of Temgr]ce gone backwards Do III
people NE / less 'hau they did ten year
agoT 81 it is with the Ani-Slavery caus
Legislation may retrograde, but the pee
pie are advancing. The heart of the pee
pie is right. 1t hates Human slavery as
does the Devil, and in time it win dlscove
the best way to make its hatred feIt-that
through the balIot-box! The Church az
vances, very slowly 1t is true, but very SURF
ly, and We hope truslingly to see the da
when i, will NJ be the stronghold of Or
preston! Let us not despond then, at tn
acts Of State or Church-for we have wit
us the heart ofthe people - Hartford Re