Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-03-20

memorable instrument-the Declaration Of
Independence.
1t is difficult at this day to realize the
state Of public opinion respecting that un-
fortunate class with the civilized and en-
lightened portion of the world at the time
OF the declaration of independence and the
adoption of the constitution but history
shows they have, for more than century,
been regarded as beings of an inferior order,
and unfit associates for the white race, Ell
thcr socially or politically; and had no rights
which white men were bound to respect; and
the black man might be reduced to slavery,
bought and sold, and treated as an ordinary
article Of merchandise. This opinion, at
that time, was fSed and universal with the
civilized portion of the white race. 1t was
regarded as an axiom in morals, which no
one thought Of disputing, and every one
| habitually acted upon it, without doubling
for a moment the correctness of the opinion.
And in no nation was this opinion more
fixed and generally acted upon than in Eng
land, the subjects of which government not
only seized them on the coast of Africa. but
took them as ordinary merchandise to where
they could make profit on them. The opinion
thus entertained was universally impress
sed on the colonists this SIDE of the Atlantic;
accordingly, negroes of the African race
/
| held, and bought, and sold az such in
every one OF the thirteen colonies which uni
ted in the declaration of independence, and
afterwards formed the constitution. The
doctrine of which we have spoken was stri-
kingly enforced by the declaration Of inde-
pendcnce. 1t begins thus w hen in the
course OF human events, it becomes necess
sary for one people to dissolve the political
| bonds which have connected them with anO.
ther, and to assume among the powers OF
the earth the separate and equal station to
which the laws Of nature and of nature 5
God entities them. q decent respect to the
opinion of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them
to the separation and then proceeds. 'We
hold these truths to be self evident, that all
men are created free and equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights. that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. that
to secure these rights governments arc insti-
tuted among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent Of the governed &c.,
The words before quoted would seem to
embrace the whole human family; and il
used in Il similar instrument at this day.
would be so understood. But it is too clear
for dispute that the enslavcl African race
were not intended to be included, for IN that
case the distinguished men who framed the
declaration of independence would be flag
rantly against the principles which they
asserted. They who framed the declaration
of Independence were men of too much
honor, education and intelligence to say what
~ ~ '' ,,,rt 81 tho c;riIi,o1 ,rcrlJ we're the
.n ~ nas L,, oo,nn,o, 'corsont odnittcd
.s.L ni.,'.' c f,oo,,o,, Tboy snol,o oc
IL; IT, n,o.ioa. J,o,rinos and
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"bnnad ,,Lo, ,ho constitmt,on was odonted
Thn SSro"nIIo " sots fnrtb for what nnrpose
a,,J f.. ,,.I,as, b,naft IL ,rns formci hy tho
pcopic-such as had been members of the
~stginal states---and the great object was to
%. ',.ssings of liberty to ourselves
secure 'he 1T speaks in general
and our posterity' Il the United
telms ol citizens and people rant.
states Wh"n provlding Tor the powers
"d, without defining wh't description %,
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