Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-12-29
The Weakness of Slavery.

II The Weakness of Slavery.
A discussion has been going on for some
time, in Alabama, as to the propriety of ex-
emptng certain number of slaves from
forced sale under execution. and law en-
surfing some provision OF this character, it
is thought, will be enacted at the ensuing
Legislature of the State. Its object is evil
IDENTIFY and avowedly TO strengthen the sys-
TEN of Slavery, by increasing the number
of shareholders. 1t is in fact bride to men
of small means to become personally inter-
ested in Slavery by investing their capital
in a species of property which may he held
in spite of creditors. 1t is, moreover, to be
made beneficial to the State ia another way,
as the persons applying for the benefit Of it
are to pay bonus Of twenty-five dollars for
any slave, not exceeding FIVE. so exempted,
and the fund SO created is to I've used for
purposes of education. .......
The whole scheme is an acknowledgement
of the weakness of slavery, as it is based ON
the fact that there is large class which is
not interested in the perpetuation of the sys.
ten, and whose support it is worth while TO
purchase. One of the most earnest advo-
Gates of the law, who has been writing a
series Of articles in favor Of it, meets the
argument that the law will be an acknowl-
edgement that slavery needs support by
some admission, which, as made in Alaba.
ma, are worth reading He says:
There is no Disgusting that the institu.
ton Slavery is weak, nor will the agowal
render our position more dangerous, espec-
tally If we couple with it evidences Of de-
termination to add to its strength The un-
equal distribution Of slaves, as exhibited in
the census returns, the restessness we man
ltest whenever the Institution is assaled
the conduct OF our public men, the readi-
ness with which they have yielded to free
soil demands in the settlement of conlrover.
sizes in which the rights of the slave States
are involved, the ardour with which we con
tend for the annexation OF Texas, because
it would enlarge the area OF slavery, the de-
sire so general in the South for the incor-
Pmation into the Union the island of Cuba
from the belief that il would strengthen the
slave States, the general outbreak of iniig-
nation las it were but yesterday following
the announcement that England and France
were prepared to eater into negotiations with
Spain, the objects OF which was to provide
for the emancipation of the slaves in Cuba,
all attest its weakness aud our sense of it,
The moral power OF the world is array
ed against us on this subject. European
governments and people regard sIa, cry as a
reproach. The French republic, even as
her garments we've dripping with the blood Of
revolution, celebrates her birth by decreeing
emancipation in her colonies. In England,
her parliament rings with deuunciatIous OF
American Slavery. Her diplonlatsls and
statesmen scheme against her, foreign Sec
resaries protest against the statute of a SOW
ereign State prohibiting colored mariners
from entering her ports address formal re.
mons,e ances 10 geaeral government, and
when told that the natter rests in the State
alone, and is beyond the reach of federal
action, lament the inef1ic ency Of iuterna
tional law to abale the grievance. The
wires and daughters Of British peers and
officials address American women, invoking
them to aid ia removing what these titled
Intermediates regard as an abomination in
the sight OF God A gifted but shameless
4 woman, fase to her sex, false to her coun-
try, dead TO aid sense of truth, delicacy (and
had almost said decency), writes for a
base, bad purpose, book lineIlng her sex,
and s!andering her coantrym en-, and when
she visits England with the feeling of a
traitor mingled with the rapacity or a usuer,
she is teted and hoaored by Lords and Com
mons, peers and peasants.
Men of all ranks aud classes beyond
the ocean unite in protesting against the
institution
" In this country parties, sects and States
have warred against it in every form except
by resort to arms.
Our very sensitlveness under these as
sauts argues our fears of the strength OF
the institution.
"To think, then, Of con cealing a weak
ness which is so patent, is absurd and t.
caution US against acknowledging it, is to
make towards of us. Let us not deceive
ourselves.
eve stand alone, with nothing to break
or turn aside the force Of OPINION which
surges and roars around aus like an angr,
food
"Nowhere but in the slave States are
the defenders of Slavery to be found There
and there only is 10 be found whatever
strength it has The strength needed de
ponds upon ourselves. AMI must be sup
piled at home
elf there be Indifference to the institu
ton on the part of non.slavehoding Cit
zens, this feeling must be suppan,ed by
one of interest in and Tor it, Invite
> them to enter into direct relations with it
t Intervene it with their thoughls, habits g.
daily life Strive to make them regard il
not only as essential to them, but all impor
ant to lie State Let it be viewed as a
State right, and its defense State duty
that it is vital part of the ta,e's structure
the badge and evidence of State soyer
elgnty-that it is the great element of oul
4 prosperity, and that its sur render carries
with it individual ruin and State decay.
+ PERcN WALKER"