Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-05

estly believe to be our due, and that our char
acter is such, as fichly to entilc us, to all that
is possibly our due. Having such Il character,
our moral force would supcrsede the application
of our physical force. Had physical force been
needful to effect the deliverancc of Koszta, it
would have been needful merely because the
American people and American Government
lacked the moral character, or, in other words,
the moral force, adequate to his dcliverance.
But, as have already intimated, our nation is
no more deficient in this respect than other ma
tons.
said, that | could no bestow unqualified
praise on the Administration for its part in the
Koszta affair. In one or two of those passages
Of rare rhetorical beauty in his letter to MIR.
Huseman, Secretary Marcy insinuates the des-
potc character of Austria. Now, will not
say, that there was impudent hypocrisy in the
insinuation but will say, that the insinuation
was in bad taste, and that it was bad policy.
A cunning policy would studiously avoid, in our
diplomatic correspondence, all illusions to des-
potism and oppression, lest such illusions might
suggest to the reader comparisons between our
country and other countries, that would be quite
untavorable to u.s.
admit, that Austria is an oppressor. But
is it not equally true, and fur more glaringly
true, that America is u much greater and guilt
icr opprcssor. Indeed, compared with our des-
potisnl, which classes millions of men, women,
and children, with cattle, Austrian despotism
is but us the little finger to the loins. Surely,
surely, it will never be tim, for America to
taunt Austria with being an oppressor, until
the influence of American example is such, as to
shame Austria out of her oppression, rather
than to Justify and confirm her init.
In this same letter to the Representative OF
Austria, Mr.. Marcy prcsumes to quote, as one
of the iustifcations Of Capt. lngraham's con-
duct, the divine law, to do unto others as ace
could hare othors do unto US. Now, was it not
the very acme of presumption for the American
Government to quote this law, while it SURPRISES
every other Government in trampling it under
foot! Did Mr.. Marcy sappos, MIR. llulscman
to be stone blind! Did he suppose, that Mr..
Iiulseman had lived in the city Of Washington
80 long, and yet had seen nothing of the buying
and selling of human beings as brutes, which is
continually going on here, under the eye, and
under the authority, of Government Did he
suppose, that Mr.. iiulseman could be ignorant
of the fact, that the American Government is
the great sayc-catchcr for the American slave
holders. Did he suppose him to be Ignorant OF
the fact, that the great American slave-trade
finds in the American Government its great pat
ron and that this trade is carried on, not only
under the general protection, but under the spe-
cihc regulations, of Congress! Did he suppose
him to be ignorant Of the fact that many, both
at the North and South, (among whom is the
President himself,) claim, that American slavery
is national institution and made such by
the American Constitution 1t IS II national
institution. If not made such by our organic
law, it is, nevertheless, made such by the enact
ments of Congress, the decisions Of the Jndlcia-
ry, and the acqlicsccuce Of the American Poo
pie. And did Mr.. Marcy suppose Mr.. llulse-
mann to be entirely unaware, that the presant
Administration SURPRISES all its predecessors in
shameless pledges and devotion to the Slave
Power' Certainly, Mr.. Marcy fell into great
mistake, in presuming Mr.. IluIsemann to be in
total darkness on all these points. If, indeed,
mistake, it is 4 very ludicrocs one IF but an
aifectation, it is too wicked to be ludcrous.
reftrrctl Il moment since, to some of the evil
dences of the nationality Of American Slavery.
1t, sometimes, suits the shareholders to claim,
that their slavery is an exclusively State con-
Germ and that the North has, therefore, moth
ing to do with it. Bat as we'll may you, when
urging a man uphill with a heavy load on his
back, and with your lash also upon his back,
tell him, that he has nothing to do either with
the load or the lash. The poor North has much
to do wiRl slavery. II staggrrs under its iloa1Y
and sniaits under its FASH
But must do Secretary Marcy and the Adj
ministration justice. What have said, We're
to stop here, would convey the idea, that, in his
letter to Mr. lLulsomann, the Secretary, incul-
Gates the duty of unconditional obedience to the
law, which requires us to DO unto others, as we
would have others do unto US. He is, however,
very far from doing 50. He remembers, as with
paternal soictude, American Slavery and the
Fugitive Slave Act, and provides for they safety.
70 this end he quclifcs tho commandment Of Cod
and makes it read, that we are to obey it, only
when there is no commandment of man to the
contrary. In a word, he adopts the American
theology--that Pro-Slavery theology, which
makes human Government paramount to the
Divine, and exalts the wisdom and authority of
man above tie wisdom and authority Of God
| said, that must do the Secretary Justice :
and have now done it, Bat, in>doing it, a
piece OF fragrant injustice has bc2n brought to
light, For what less than fragrant can call
his injustice to the Bible The Secretary SAYS,
that this blessed volume " cnoins upon all men,
everywhere, uhen not acting undsy legal re-
sra,nt. to do unto others, whatever they would
that Others should do uu.o them" Now, the
phrase s. when not acting under legal restraint"
is sheer Interpolation. The Commandment,
as we find it in the Bible, is without qualifca-
tion-absolute. The Administration is guilty
therefore, through.its Secretary, of deliberately
corrupting the Bible. Moreover, it is g,lilty Of
deliberately corrapting this authentic and sacred
word Of Christianity, at the most vital point
For this commandment to do unto others as we
would have others do unto us, is the sam total
of all requirements of Christianity, say 50
Oh the authority of Christ himself For when
He had given this commandment, He added ::
"for this is the law and the prophets"
am not unmindful how strong temptation
the Administration was under, i'll this instance,
to corrupt the Bible. am willing to make all
due allowance on that account. Strong, how
ever, as was the temptation, it nevertheless
should have been resisted. am we'll aware,
that for the Administration to Justify the rescue
of Koszta on the unqualified, naked Bible
ground, of doing unto others as we woald have
others do unto us, would be to throw open the
door for The saseua o! every fugitive slave Ii
would be to justify the rescuc Of Shadrach at
Boston 1t would be to Justify the celebrated
rescue in my own neighboraood--I mean the
rescue of Jerry at Syracuse. 1t would be to
justify the bloody rescue at Christiana. For,
not only is it true, that all men would be res
cued from Slavery, but it is also true, that very
nearly all men would be rescued from Slavery.
even at the expense Of blood. add, that for
the Administration to justify on naked Bible