Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-04

ton
BosToN, Jan. 25, 1858.
Rev. n. r. JOHNSTON Dear SIR Though
circumstances will prevent my bodily presence
at the Anti-Slavery Convention, to be held in
Bradford, this week, / shall assuredly be there
in spirit, responding to every true word utter
cd against " the sum of all villanes, exult-
ing in every indication of firm and resolute
purpose to seek its eternal overthrow, and re-
ocing in every advance toward unity of feel
ing and action, with reference to the sacred
cause of impartial liberty.
rejoice that the Convention opens its doors
to all who may wish to attend, and offers them
in good faith free platform, whatever may be
their views on the subject of Slavery. I" Let
there be light Let the discussions be free,
earnest, manly, yet kind and fraternal, and
characterized throughout by candor and impair
tialty. Let truth be the object sought-the
path of duty honestly inquired for, and
courageously welcomed, lead where it may for
it can never lead in wrong direction. Let
there be no evasion, no dust-throwing, no side
issue, no compromise, no attempt to pallate or
excuse, no verbal quibbling, no metaphysical
hair-splitting, no special pleading, no sanctimo-
NOUS cant, no cowardly apprehension of con
sequences" Let the question be clearly stated,
intelligently understood, ard thoroughly can
vassed. 1t is not, on the part of the North, SIM
ply one of selfdefence or pertaining to Kan
sas, or to the territorial extension of slavery,
or to the Fugitive Slave Bill, or to the bred
Scott decision, or to the designs of the Slave
power upon Mexico, Cuba, Central America,
Saint Domingo, OF to the guilt of the South gen
orally. 1t includes all these, and great deal
more. 1t is, primarily. LIST. What is Amer
lean slavery, in its origin, spirit, history, as
sumption and purpose? What is it, Judging
by its own code, and testing it by it's own fruits?
2nd. Who and how many are its victims, and
what is their physical, mental and moral con-
dition? Sd. Who are responsible for their en-
slavement, and of whom shall their blood be re-
quired? 4th. What is the religious relation
sustained by the North, through its churches
and various ecclesiastical bodies, to the slave sys,
tenn 5th. To what extent is the North re.
sponsihlc for the continuance Of that system
through its political and governmental relations
to the South? 9th. Ought the watchwort
throughout the North to be, "No Union ,cHh
Shareholders ?"
Briefly | Will say, that slsvcry originated ii
man stealing, by violence and blood, and al
it cannot change its character, is man-stealine
to this hour. Its spirit is brutal, sensual
! dcvilsh-at war with God and man, and mer
cIless in its treatment of all those who call it
rectitude nquestion. Its history is one of peril
dy, usurpation, lust, cruelty, blasphemy, anc
every conceivable sin and crme-crouded will
horrors and recking with blood. Its assumption
is, that it is God-ordained and God-approved-
sanctioned alike under the old and under tn
new dispcnsation-the normal condition of tn
laboring classes, without regard to race o
compexion-neyer to be abolished, but. on tn
contrary, to be cherished, strengthened, exten
ded, perpetuated, at whatever sacrifice or haz
ard. Its purpose ia, avowedly, to seek the over
throw of all existing free institutions, to sub
jagate the entire country to its bloody sway t,
tolerate nothing which does not bow down t,
It's behest, and to claim the right of universe
dominion. Its code is the repeal of all tn
commands of the Decalogue and all the injunc
tons of the gospel, the centration of all in
justice, the elimination of all villany, the acm
of all mpety, sundering as it does all human
ties subccting its victims to every species of tor
ture, degrading them to level with beasts AM
pershable property, compelling them to live il
a state of unceanness and pollution surpasse
by nothing in Sodom or Gormorrah, and max
ing the traffic in their bodies and souls one G
the most active branches of commerce. II
fruits are unbounded prohigacy, horrible pre-
family, wholesale robbery, internal barbarity
and throngng woes and curses innumerablt
Earth shudders at its existence-Heaven erie
terror from-God, and angels, and the spiri
of the just made perfect above, and all mob
and Cabinet-likc souls on earth demand its in
mediate and utter extinction.
The number of those who are clanking the
| L. l., f,l Ii
out hope" it is frightful to contemplate Thin
of it ltexceeds the entire population of IL
six New England States 1t is equal to OF
seventh portion of all the inhabitants in Anne
lea Its increase, by natural generation,
not less than one. hundred thousand annually
Every five minutes, fresh victim is added t
the immense throng who are doomed to toi
and suffer, and bleed, without redress and b
You'd all conception They are systematica
degraded, brutalized, heathenized. These a
our brothcren, according to the fesh-made
the same " one blood, - " a little lower than Il
angels under the same law to God-entitl,
to the hopes and privileges of the same gospel
as dear to the common Father as ourselves
invested by creation with the same inalienab
rights destined to the same Immortality
accountable to the same tribunal.
Where lies the responsibility for their awfl
fate? Upon every religious denomnatiC
which does not bear an incorporating test
mony against slavery. Upon every churC
which recognizes Shareholders of faith and di
ciples of Christ. Upon every political part
which gives any quarter to slavery, whether
Kansas or in Carolina. Upon all the people
the North comprehensively speaking, throug
their persistent and willing completely with Il
Shareholders and slave-traifckers at The Soutl
in every variety of action and combination
l. Tnon the Constitution of the limited State