Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-01
Extract from a Letter in the N. Y. Times.
FRENCH OPINION OF NEGRO sLA VERY.

Various other causes have contributed Q
make our country and onr people unpopular
with the masses Q. France. Among 'lhem
may specially note Our position in respect to
slavery. Uacfe Tom has been read By al.
classes twenty editions are or sale at 1.-THE
bookstores. 1t has been dramatzed. engraved,
ithogro pied, vc.sified and sci to music and
thus wrought into the popular mind by every
app'iunce or literature and art. In its nature
1t is work taat Appeals with intense sympA-
thy to the humber classes.
And if it werc the design Of our country to
vlndlcate and enforce the terri Nc portlaiiures
Of this dark romance, the Administration,
Congress, the olavehoIding organs, have ali,
recently set be,ore the world series OF acts
and declarations, making Slavery appear to be
National Institution, cherished be the Gov
ernment and favored by North aud South, as
a good and henfcent Lustitution-compalib
with American liberty and with Christianity,
and suential to their full development among
u.s. cannot better illustrate what | mean
than by narrating an anecdote.
An American friend OF mine was called up-
Oh lew days since for the settlement of Il
bill by a Paris wine merchant, when the ol-
lowing conversation occurred: 80.
VIZ, M,r, hahs-What do the Americans
think Of the war
Am rir"n-Thsy do not take partizan
interest in it.
Wtar Mrr,hant-And why not?
Am ricnn-It seems to them only strug-
gle between the despotisms o. Europe, in which
tie people have little interest, about which
they were hardly consulted. When we see IA
struggle in which the masses Of Europe are
concerned, then we shall sympathize with them
Wine .Ntrrhaaf-(rising mHA grrot an.
imNim) | pray you to excuse me; but thi.
prc,ence Oh the part OF Americans of sympa
thy for masses, seems to me an odus by poe.
risy Or you hold three millions of the masse,
OF mankind in Slavery! You are the las
people in the world who should come to Eu
rope to talk OF liberty, and to express synpa
thy for the oppressed masses. This is thu
high privilege only of men whose hands Az
pure.
Amcricaa-But you must not charge Slav
cry upon us as a National Institution; it be
longs only to certain States.
Vine Mrrhamt-I am astonished to hea
man OF your position make Il statement 81
VIGOROUSLY inexact. | have read the Ameri
can papers and see that an act has recently
been passed by your Congress, removing iron
certain territory an ancient barrier to the ex
tension of Slavery therein.
Amrricoa-That was, however, rather
theoretical than practical measure.
IVinr Mrchant 1t strikes me as highl,
practical, because it was measure avowedl,
gratifying to the Slave interest. 1t was 81
intended by the President and the Admisis
tration; it was so received by the Savshold
ors; it was voted for by "a majority Of boil
Houses Of Congress, Members from the Ere
States participating ia the affirmative vote
Now, does not this show that Slavery is Ma
tional and cherished institution among you
American 1t may wear that aspect here
where you have only partial view of facts
4 but the men who brought forwardt the measure
you allude to we're only seeking private ends
1t was in short, bid tor the Presidency.
! VIM NJ rrhaat - Yes; SO understand i:
1t was the move Of the politicians but why
did they thus pay court to Slavery9 Because
OF its power; they courted the shareholders
because they we're masters of the country, il,
opinions. policy, patronage. If it were, al
you pretend, merely local institution, yol
would not see Presidents, Senator's wholt
Congress making court to it. No, sir, it i,
clear that Slavery is IA National establishment
IN the United States, and is the great key tc
your policy, domestic as well as foreign. Ii
your National elections you ninst havea Pres
ident and Vice President favorable to Slavery
1t is to serve the cause of Slavery that's spirit
OF lawessneSs has been evoked, threatening
Cuba, Mexico, and indeed the whole tropical
portion of America.
An ric"n- You are drawing very large in
terences IRON small premces. What you say
Is true only in appearances and upon the sur
face Slavery is not cherished institution
it is tolerated only as necessity. II 'xists,
ami Whm shall zee do NTH IL? No one has
yet given solution Of this fact, or sugge ted
a practical answer to this question. lrepeat,
it is tofrr It'd, not cherished. We all hope it
will be removed from the country within re.
sonahle time.
Vine Merehnnt-Here, again, according
to my point Of view, you are stating, uncon-
sciously Of course, series of inexactitudes.
As matter Of rigid logic, | would undertake