Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-01

spect, they found none, aud they were turned
out in an immense iroic. But to persist in
the joke 1t is not safe to play with edge
tools, and no knife is so sharp as legislation.
The occutation Of this nation took place
when Slavery was Recognised. In 1857 our
fathers entered into compact which ought
never to have been made They should have
refused the ordinance at the risk oil no Union.
There is always so much ruin for so much
crime, and, as one of the results of the crime
of Slavery there is not to be found in the pres
ent generation one son at the South to make
good the reputation of the fathers.
All writer's on law and ali jurists have a.
greed, that law against morals is void. Yet
in the United States of America justice has
been poisoned at the fountain, and here in
Now Englan4 IN our ancient Commonwealth,
no judge appeared with principal enough to
ask, not whether the fugitive law was consti-
tutional, but whether it was right. This CIV
ing back a stolen man to his plunderers, was
most painful. There was law enough in Mas.
sachusetts to prevent the crime. but no Judge
was found to execute it, and no Governor to
discharge his duty. The Governor was moi
worth his cockade, (great applause) and the
Judge was afraid OF the collision Of the Uni
ted States Courts with the local Courts.
What is the effect of this evil government
1t is, Of course to discredit all government
This is the compensation that bad government
afford, the theatre they offer for ilustriou
men aid we have a great duty to the Draw
and Conscientious men, who in the very hear
Of the evil acts, made their protests for them
selves and for their countrymen. They ar
justified and the law is condemned. Zap
plause.)
While the individual Independence which
manifested is vastly important, the social ac
tion in reference to slavery is not to be under
valued. Tue time was when the America
ideas found an embodiment in Washington an
Adams, but now we put obscure men into offc
and get figure awful only to Office holders
The historical theory Of our government is lii
erty. Liberty is serious thing-the seve1
est test by which a government can be triet
Through the unity of the-Seuth, and the a
tention there given to politics, the country hi
been swindled out Of liberty.
The "higher law was then vindicatcc
"No mnn," says Lord Nelson /" can 60 wrou
who brings his ship alongside the French
for the great order was down with tt
French" in naval action. So that in tt
right meaning of the Statute which extirpat'
crime and gives to every man the largest Ill
erty, compatible with the liberty of ever
other man. No citizen will 60 wrong WI
leans to the side of liberty. (Applause).
Mr. Emerson concluded by bringing torwar
the proposition to purchase the Slaves, neve
however, acknowledged the right of the plu
lerer to own men, but acknowledged the di
fculties of his position, and willing on OF
part to bear countryman's share in relevir
him. No tax would be more cheerfulIy pal
; he thought, though the price to be paid
mounts to S2,0O0,000,000. The monumen
to Washington and Franklin can wait for SUI
. work to be done.
Men are at last beginning to suspect that
divine Providence does really exist in Il
. world. Whilst this evil of Slavery exists, Il
, opposition to it will never end. As long
grass grows, or summer and winter succe
, each other, as long as there are men, so lo1
will their sentiments condemn Slavery. v
do not suffer by defeat. There is longevity
the cause of freedom. 1t is tbs course a.
chemistry of nature and the thoughts al
sentiments of the mind are the emancipate
r of the Slave
3 The lecture was just one hour in its deli
cry, and was listened to with intense inter'
by the immense audience.