The voice of freedom. [volume], March 16, 1839, Image 2

About The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848

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THE VOICE OF F R EE DOM
and she resumed her benign message, 'when she
was again assailed by the stormy violence of av
arice, licentiousness, and despotism, in their most
frantic moods.
But here lam reminded that the excitement du
ring the progress of the Reformation in Europe,
was Hot confined to the enemies of Christianity.
True. Her friends were deeply, justly, and ne
cessarily excited. In the struggle of light and
darkness, intense anxiety filled all minds. In this
eventful crisis of the world's best hopes and dark
est fears, oil Europe stood embattled. Says the
eloquent historian, (Robertson) "The human mind
roused of a sudden, and became inquisitive, mu
tinous and disdainful of the yoke to which it had
hitherto submitted." The deep and wide excite
ment he calls "a wonderful ferment and agitation
of mind." He says that "the spirit of innovation
broke out in every part of Europe with various
degrees of violence," ond'that "even in Spain and
Italy, symptoms appeared of the same disposition
to throw off the ypke."
When opposite principles ne.t, each with oppo
site interests under its protection, the severity ol
the conflict must be measured by the depth of those
principles and the amount of those interests, pre
sent or prospective. Earnestness begets earnest
ness ; virtue becomes sterner by resistance; ne
cessity gives her strength, and with it heavier
weapons. Inveterate habits, if voluntary, are an
other name for inveterate attachments. Great
present interests, real or supposed, do not let go
their hold of groat sins without a violent struggle.
Whatever interest is bred by sin will,
" when scaring sounds molest,
Cling close and closer to its mother's breast,"
and strengthen an attachment founded not only in
maternal cares, but in mutual Hopes. v nue tne
world gives silent assent to the system of slavery,
it will last. A am so strong by tne lorce ol na
ture will yield only to the utmost strength of the
world's resolute hand. This is obvious from the
jealousy awakened by the most silent approach to
it. The slightest touch of its extremity irritates
a nerve that reaches the seat of life and excites it
into an attitude of envenomed resentment. This
excitement will last so Ion? as it sees that the
world fears it. Hesitation or wide circuits round
it will cive it courasre. vviien it sees, beyond a
doubt, that the world hates it and means its death
is in earnest and will not flinch, but is rising to
bring down upon it a blow that will need no se
cond, it will, like every other sin, first quail and
then flee from off the earth down into its cave of
everlasting darkness. That slavery will forsake
even our republican soil without deep and wide
excitement, will not be looked for by him who has
read even the most meagre chapter of the human
mind. To slay in it without excitement is equal
ly impossible. Present quiet will only prepare
for deeper agitation. The excitement which is
now so much feared, has already been too long
delayed. Come it must, sdbner or later, in one
manner or another : and if put off to the farthest
possible point a distance not very remote it will
at last come, on our whole land, in the shape of
judgments which no wisdom shall be able to shun
and no penitence plead off. Rev. Geo. Allen's
Address.
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.
MONTPELIER, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1889.
From the Christian Rtfleetor.
American Temperance House, )
Worcester, Feb. 3. )
Mr. Editor. I hone vou will excuse the lib
erty I am about to take in addressing to you this
" communication ; although I think it a duty which
I owe to my fellow men and my God to raise my
voice in behalf of the slave. And, sir, if it be a
greeable to you and your wishes, you are at lib
erty to insert the same within the pages of your
hicrhlv prized paper.
About two years ago, my health failed me, and
mv physician, recommended to me to travel in a
warmer climate. I then resolved to take a tour to
the South. From that time to the present, I have
traveled in most of the southern states, and of
course, have resided in various places long enough
to see some of the evils of slavery ; and I confess
that J, like a great many others, have long stood
neutral in recrard to this subject, and have been
very much prejudiced against the proceedings of
the abolitionists, lint tne more i trav-iea in mat
direction, the more I was convinced that slavery
was an evil which oucht not to exist; and in my
conversations with southern people, (and the most
of them slaveholders) several of them frankly ack
nowledced to me that they were aware that slave
ry was wrong, but, continued they, our property
chiefly consists in slaves, and we would willingly
part withjhem at what they are valued at. But
on anv other conditions we cannot and will not
part with them.
I very well recollect of talking with one old
southern planter in regard to this subject. He
was a little rising of sixty, and had been engaged
in the traffic of slaves from the age of eighteen,
and moot of the time owned a large plantation
stocked with some over a hundred slaves. But,
as he was approaching the age allotted to man, he
was fast diminishing his stock. He was a person
possessing a very pleasant disposition, and would
at any time converse upon this subject without
the least excitement. One day, as we were enga
ged in conversation, he introduced the subject of
slavery. We passed a few moments in conversa
tion on the subject, and finally I asked him his
categorical opinion of the subject.
Said he "as wc are intimate, I will tell you
just what I think of it. About a year ago, I call
ed to see Mr H. on some business, and found him
reading one of your northern anti-slavery papers.
I began to joke him about it; and, said he, I wish
you would take this home and read it ; which I
did. And there, I confess, I found some things
that were too true. And, spon after, I received
another from him, and perused it with the srune
good effect ; and now I am fairly convinced that
slavery is entirely wrong. I could mention sev
eral others who have been convinced in the same
way, but they don't see fit to publish it abroad."
Thus you see the good effect your anti-slavery
papers are having upon the south. Many such
confessions I might give to you, but time and
room do not permit. I feel very much interested
in the cause, and hope you will 'go on, conquering
and to conquer.' The cause is a good one. I
know of no better way of expressing my wishes
for your prosperity than by quoting the Sandwich
Islander's poetry, thus i
Go on, go on, go on, go on,
Go on, go on, go on, go on,
Go on, go on, go on, go on,
Go on, go on, go on, go on.
.A Traveler. T. S. N.
Reconcile enmities, and cement friendships.
Letter from Hon. William Slade.
To the Editor of the Voice of Freedom. ;
Sir I observe that it is stated in your paper.
on the authority of an anti-slavery friend who had
been at Washington, that when I lose in my place
to offer the Resolutions relative to the driving of
slaves by the capitol, a member from South Caro
lina stepped forward in front of me, and brandish
ing his fist menacingly, cried out "offer those res
olutions if you dare with your State at your
back."
It seems to me to be due to truth that I should
say that your informant is mistaken. No one
brandished his fist in my presence ; nor did I hear
the language which it is said accompanied the me
nace. The Clerk had proceeded in reading the
preamble to my resolutions only far enough to dis
close its allusion to slavery, when the cry of" ol
der" arose from several parts of the Hall, and con
sidorahle confusion followed in the midst of
which, the language alluded to by your informant
or something like it. was, probably, used. But it
did not reach my ear. Such language, and such
a me.iace, however, are in perfect keeping with
the spirit manifested towards ine on that occasion ;
but I am- unwilling that the House of Represen
tatives should be held responsible before the coun
try for permitting such a direct and flagrant breach
of order and of personal privilege, in ils pre
sence, as your informant supposes was committed
in this case. Strong as is the disposition to brow
beat, and put down, those who, as the Representa
tives of freemen, speak out on the subject of slave
ry and the slave trade, I trust the time is far distant
when the Halls of Congress shall be disgraced by
such a menace as your informant describes. But
if that time must come, I trust it will find not a few
Representatives, from the free States of this Union,
who, regardless of reproaches, threats, menaces
and danger, will do their duty, and their whole
duy, to the suffering slave and the country, and
teach the South that the people of the North " know
their rights, and knowing, dare maintain" them.
I am, respectfully yours,
WILLIAM SLADE.
Middklury, Vt. March 12, 1S39.
It was not until we had penned the statement,
submitted it to our informant, and obtained his ac
knowledgment of its correctness, that we adven
tured to publish so singular a specimen of Con
gressional etiquette. The Carolinian is entitled
to the full benefit of Mr. Slade's explanatory note,
which we insert with pleasure. We may add,
however, that according to our informant who,
by the way, is incapable of designed misrepresen
tation the menace was uttered in the htaring of
one of the Vermont delegation. The man who
could utter such a menace in Congress Hall should
provide himself with a rope and go to Texas, or
be sent to Liberia ' with his own consent,' on a long
probation. At the rate we are getting on, the
time may come when a lree state Representative
will be required to take off his shoes before our
Congressional pa'riarchs, after the manner of Billy
Eaton before the Dey of Algiers.
From the Woodstock Mercury.
On the subject of hltraism, let us not be mis
understood. With the honest abolitionist we have
no quarrel. (1) The quakars of the middle states
have ever been, literally, abolitionists, yet they
have never presumed to obtrude their opinions in
.1 I . 1 I 1 1
to tne political arena, ineynave never made
the adoption of their creed the indispensable quali
fication of a candidate for office. They erected
no inquisition. They never sent forth their for
mula as a two edged sword, piercing to the di vici
ng- asunder ol social, religious and political com
munities. I heir practice has been consistent with
their preaching, they have studied and practised
peace and good will. (2) On the abstract question
of slavery, there is, perhaps, no difference of opin
ion among the people of New England. (3) There
are none, who would introduce the institution of
slavery into his own county none, who would
prefer a residence in a state where it exists, (4)
none, who do not most sincerely desire to see it
extinguished. (5) But we find ourselves citizens
of a government, which recognized slavery, as it
existed in several of the states, at the time of the
formation of that government, and can we, and
is it our duty, as members of that great body pol
itic to set in motion or promote a system of means,
the aim of which is to effect a flagrant violation of
our political compact and perhaps lead to butchery
and bloodshed, such as have only been witnessed
in llayti f(b) it is in view ol such a tearful con
summation, that we have been induced to make
any remarks on this subject. We are fully aware
that in some respects, it is a delicate one and sub
jects any paper that ventures upon it to the wrath
and evil speaking ot such vituperative publications
as " The Liberrtor," of journals which, tho' they
profess only to be dictated by a spirit ot benevo
lence and humanity, will, not incidentally but in
tentionally, seek to hold the balance in every polit
ical election in the country. It is to this spirit, that
we object.(7) We do it honestly, in the conscien
tious belief that it is the spirit of mischief and
issention. Ihe first effect ol its operation will
be to divide the political party on which it fastens
and the ultimate effect todivide the union. (8) If,
therefore, we, in future, speak of abolitionism, un
der the head of Ullraism we shall mean political
abolitionism, nothing more or less. There cer
tainly would not be so much industry in regulating
men's opinions, merely for opinions' sake. Some
thing practical is expected from it. With the hon
est abolitionists the practical result expected is the
extinction of slavery ; with the crafty, political
distinction is the aim. In the propagation of the
doctrine, men become fanatical and hence the ten
dency to Ul-TRAISM.(9)
(J) The anxiety of the Mercury not to be mis
understood, evinces, at least, some fear of the ris
ing tide of public sentiment on the great question
of the day. All pro-slavery cavilers should be care
ful what they write. With the honest abolition
ist the Mercury has no quarrel. Then it is pos
sible for a man to be an abolitionist without part
ing with his honesty. This admission is made
by the Vermont Mercury in the year one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-nine, just after the same
concession had been made by Henry Clay !
(2) The Quakers, then, are a fine set of folks
Why? Because they have not not obtruded their
opinion into the political arena. The free exer
cise of the elective franchise an obtrusion ? Que
ry: is the Editor of the Mercury guilty of an ob
trusion in making the adoption of his whig creed
' an indispensable qualification of a candidate for
office ?' Again : is there anything inquisitorial
in free suffrage, when exercised by a freeman ?
Would it not be well to have a board of censors
appointed to keep a special watch over the ballet
box and ward off all oblruders?
(3) What is meant by " the abstract question
of slavery ?" Abstract robbery, abstract theft, ab
stract cheating, arc perhaps very improper. On
the abstract question of intemperance there is
doubtless as little difference of opinion in New
England. Who talks of intemperance in the ab
stract? The pro-slavery riots at Woodstock and
other places show quite significantly what is meant
by abstract opposition to slavery, and how much
of the very spirit of slavery is rampant in New
England. It is that opposition to slavery which
shot E. P. Lovejoy, and burnt down Pennsylva
nia Hall, and scourged Amos Dresser all to pre
serve the compact, to be sure.
(4) How many Northern-born men have gone
south and become adepts in tyranny slaveholders
of the most reckless stamp? Have such New
England men gone south against their will? The
reason, by the way, why a northern man makes
the most cruel slave-driver, is this : while in a free
State, he found the stimulus of wages an ample
motive to induce his hired hands to perform their
alottcd task : at the south, the lash being substi
tuted for cash, the labor is reluctantly and careless
ly performed ; every thing goes by force and goes
lard. The master, unused to the tardiness of
slave labor, becomes impatient, tyrannical, and
soon outstrips the native of the patriarchal region
in his insolence and outrages upon his victims,
(5) Desires never broke a chain, especially ab
stract desires. The Hibernian had a very sincere
desire that the ship should not sink after she had
bilged; but when called to the pumps to do his
part in averting the calamity, he replied, " Och !
but I'm only a passenger !" . . .
(6) A story twice told. Those who talk about
a 'compact,' by which slavery was to be immor
talized, as an element of our republican govern
ment, and an eternal embargo established over
free speech in New England, and free voting in
the national district and territories, are bound to
bring forward their proof. Abolitionists don't look
upon the Constitution as an instrument which has
for its great object the protection and perpetuation
of slavery. The Constitution states its own ob
jects explicitly ; 1, to form a more perfect union ;
2, to establish justice ; 3, to insure domestic tran
quility ; 4, to provide for the common defence ; 5,
to promote the general welfare ; 6, to secure the
blessings of Liberty to the people of the United
States and their posterity. These are the declar
ed objects of the ' compact.' Which of them frowns
We find in the last Chronicle what purports to
be a part of a communication to that paper, as fol
lows :
To the Editor of the Vermont Chronicle:
There is an article in the " Voice of Freedom,"
of March 2d, to this effect : " A minister of Ver
mont was lately advised by an aged Colonization
ist to let Abolition alone and attend to his appro
priate work preaching the Gospel. The old gen
tleman was reminded that the gospel was to preach
deliverance to the captive and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound." It is thought by
many here to be a hard rub on me, as it is known
by some that I had conversation with Mr. Seely.
I did not advise, but in the most humble way that
was possible for me, I did have conversation with
him, Sf trust it was done with a true desire for his
good, the good of souls and the glory of God.
Now it was not once thought of by me that I could
be set up at this late hour for a public scoff: for he
told me that he was not then engaged as an agent,
and did not know that he should be. In answer
to the above remark I asked him if he would not
obey better to preach to the captives themselves,
and those that kept them bound, &c. Sec.
Thus far we copy ; although we would rather,
in such a case, have the ivhole truth appear where
the half truth did. Editor of Chronicle.
" It is thought by many here where? to be a
hard rub on me, who? as it is known by some
that I had conversation with Mr. Scclij." Indeed !
Well, then we beg to relieve the disturbed corres
pondent of Chronicle by saying, that the article
in the Voice of Freedom of March 2d, was written
and published without the least reference to him
self or Mr. Seely indeed, we suppose "an aged
Colonizationist" and Mr. Seely were something
like 100 miles apart at the time of the conversation
referred to! Still, " it is thought by many to be
a hard rub on me."
" So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
It spills itself in fearing to be spilt."
upon freedom ? nay, which does not call for uni
versal emancipation? If the Constitution was in
tended as a perpetual shield for slavery, why the
clause for the abolition of the slave trade after
180S ? Why the guaranty of a republican form
of government to all the States? Let the pre
tended compact be shown, and then let it be shown,
also, wherein abolitionists have been guilty of its
infraction.
We are pointed to llayti, and told of " butchery
and bloodshed." An hour's examination of the
history of St. Domingo will satisfy any mind, not
impervious to truth, that butchery and bloodshed
in that island, have never resulted from emanci
pation, but always from attempts on the part of the
whites to usurp authority and trample on the lib
erty of the blacks. Nor does the history of the
world furnish an example of an enfranchised peo
ple requiting the boon of freedom by violence and
bloodshed.
(7) The old story. The Editor would have us
infer from this, that the opponents of abolition nev
er indulge the use of harsh language. 0 no. The
Editor himself, a few weeks back, speaks of ' agra
rians and abolitionists.' And Mr. Cresson, while
here, characterised the whole mass of abolitionists
as' dolts.' One wrong does not justify another :
but we protest against this implied claim of ex
clusive gentleness and courtesy so constantly teem
ing from the pro-slavery press.
(8) Ah! 'it will divide our party !' The secret
is out at last. It will divide any party, which
seeks to hold up slavery or its abettors. And then
the Union is going to pieces, as another effect of
abolition. Sorry to hear it.
(9) The Mercury can't bear 1 vituperation.' It
admits that the Quakefs are all honest : infer
ence, all others are dishonest !
An excellent article this week from the
pen of Kiah Bayley. Read it.
To the Friends of the Bible Cause in Vermont.
Office of Vermont Bible Society,
Montpelier, March 14, 1S39.
The Vermont Bible Society has recently re
ceived a Circular from the Parent Institution at
New York, in which it is represented, that " in
the course of the current year, beginning with
May last, applications in unusual numbers have
been presented to the American Bible Society for
means to publish the Scriptures in foreign coun
tries. 1 hese applications have come from Russia,
Turkey, Syria, Persia, Madras, Ceylon. Northern
India, China, Sandwich Islands, and from two of
the tribes of our aborigines. The amount of pe
cuniary aid thus called for is little less than 850,
000, aside from what is required to print the French,
German and Portuguese Scriptures in New York.
Alter a iuu and careiut examination oi these va
rious wants, the Board of Managers, at their last
meeting, maae appropriations ol 42,uuu towards
meeting the same, to be paid out of the earliest
unappropriated funds. They then adopted, with
great unanimity, the following preamble and reso
lution :
" In view of the large amount of grants now
made, the urgent necessities of the several Mis
sionry Boards, (for means to print the Scriptures)
and the low state of funds in our treasury,
Resolved, that a suitable Circular to our auxil
iaries be prepared, setting forth our condition, and
urging them to extend their aid, as early and as
iar as may De in tneir power.
The circular, of which the foregoing is an ex
tract, was laid before the Directors of the Vermont
Bible Society, at a special meeting, March 11th,
and upon full consideration it was unanimously
voted to address a circular to the friends of the Bi
ble Cause throughout the State, covering the sub
stance of the communication from the Parent Insti
tution, and inviting such action thereon as the ex
igences of the present juncture seem to domand.
It should be understood that the State Society
has, at present, no agent in its service : it must
therefore rest with the local societies, and individ
ual friends of the cause to say with what measure
of liberality this obviously urgent call shall be
met.
It is respectfully requested, that the clergy, of
all denominations, will present the claims of the
Bible Cause to their several congregations, and
take collections in its aid on some Sabbath before
the 15th of April, that the result may be commu
nicated before the annual meeting in May.
On behalf of the Directors,
C. L. KNAPP, Cor. Secretary.
tE7Remittances to be made to Hon. Jeduthun
Loomis, Treasurer, Montpelier.
For the Voice of Freedom.
A Mistake Corrected.
Mr. Editor : In the Vermont Chronicle, Jan.
9th, a report is given of Mr. Cresson's third Lec
ture, at the close of which he says: "Moses was
the first colonizationist, and that Nehemiah was
president of the next colonization society." This
is rather a curious assertion for a wise and honest
man to make. I have supposed, that we might
find colonies and colonizationists at a much earlier
period. Gen. 4, 16, we read "And Cain went
out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in
the land Nod, on the east of Eden ;" and he
builded a city, and called the name of the city af
ter the name of his son Enoch. Here was a col
ony, and its first president was Cain,' who slew
his brother. In the tenth chapter of Genesis, it is
said of the sons of Japhet " By these were the
isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands : every
one after his tongue, after their families, in their
nations." All these were different colonies, nlnn-
i
ted by leading colonizationists, In the same chap
ter we have an account of the various colonies
that were planted by tho sons of Ham, and the
sons of Shem, by whom the nations were divided
in the earth after the flood. In point of fact, Mr.
Cresson has greatly erred, when he stated that.
Moses was the first colonizationist. And he has
been equally incorrect, when he says that Nehe
miah was president of the next colonization socie
ty. In the eighteenth chapter of Judges, we read
of a company of colonizationists who went out
from Zorah and Eshtad, and came unto Laish,
unto a people that were at quiet, and secure; and
they smote them with the edge of the sword, and
burnt the city with fire. On the ruins of Laish
these Danites built a city, which they called Dan ;
and there they set up the graven image which
they had taken by violence from Micha. An hoa-.
orable company of thieves, murderers, and idola
ters, with a Levite and his sons to help them in
planting their colony, and maintaining their idol
worship !
I mention one more colony, that was planted by
a great king long before Nehemiah. In the se
venteenth chapter of II Kings it is said "In the
ninth year of Iloshea, the King of Assyria took
Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria,
and placed (or colonized) them in Harah, and in
Habor, by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of
the Medes. And the King of Assyria brought
men from Babylon, and from Cutha, and from
Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim,
and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead
of the children of Israel ; and they possessed Sa
maria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. These col
onists made gods of their own, and made unto
themselves of the lowest of them priests of the
high places, which sacrificed for them in the high
places. Surely Mr. Cresson must have been very
ignorant of his Bible, or he must have supposed
that his hearers were very ignorant of theirs, or he
would not have hazarded such assertions. But
I suppose they answered his purpose for the mo
ment. Moses a colonizationist .' really, I thought ho
was an abolitionist. Exodus 4, 21, Sec. "And
the Lord said unto Moses, 'When thou goest to
return into Egypt, see that thou do all those won
ders before Pharaoh which I have put in thine
hand : but I will harden his heart, that he shall
not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto
Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son,
even my firstborn. And I say unto thee let my
son go, that he may serve me : and if thou refuse
to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy
firstborn.' " Here the demand is, unconditional
and immediate abolition. And it was met much
as slaveholders meet the same demand at the pre
sent day. Pharaoh said, I know not the Lord,
neither will I let Israel go. And his task-masters
added to the labors of the people, and beat
them for not making the full tale of brick, when
the straw was taken from them.
Nehemiah president of a colonization society !
When ? and where ? The Jews were carried in
to captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, and settled in dif
ferent parts of his dominions. When Cyrus came
to the throne, he issued a proclamation to the
Jews, saying, " Who is there among you of all
his people ? his God be with him, and let him go
up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the
house of the Lord God of Israel, He is the God
which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remain
eth in any place where'he sojourneth, let the men
of his place help him with silver, andVvith gold,
and with goods, and with .beasts, besides the free
will offering for the house of God that is at Jeru-.
salem. And the sacred vessels, which had been
taken from Jerusalem, were by the order of Cyrus
delivered to Sheshbazzar the prince o.f Jadah, who
brought them up to Jerusalem. Ezra, chap. I.
If any one can find a colonization society here, it
would seem that Cyrus must have been the pres
ident. Surely Nehemiah could have no claim to
this honor, for he was not then born, and did not
come to Jerusalem until nearly seventy years had;
elapsed. So much for Mr. Cresson's statement
of facts. Now for the accuracy of his reasoning.
A gentleman had objected, that the Americen col
onization society was unchristian. Happy for
me (exclaims Mr. Cresson) the contest now is no
longer between the objector and myself, but be
tween himself and the author of the Bible. He
then tells us what we there learn about Moses,
and the colonizing of Israel by the special com
mand of God himself. Do I understand the ar
gument? Moses colonied the Israelites by tho
special command of God. Those who opposed
his measures, did therefore oppose God. The
American colonizationists act by special command
from God ; therefore all who oppose their meas
ures ore opposing God. Is this the argument ?
Alas ! it is lame. Where is the evidence that the
American colonizationists act by special command
from God? Brine forward vour credentials.
show your signs and wonders as Mosss did ; we
will then yield the point. Until that is done, we
shall dispute your claims, and deny your inference.
A good rule, Mr. Cresson, will work both ways.
You have worked it in your way now let mo
work it in my way. Moses demandad the im
mediate abolition of the Israelites, by the special
command of God : those who opposed his aboli
tion measures, did therefore oppose God. Tho
friends of abolition in these last days demand that
every yoke should be broken, and. that the oppress
ed should go free, by the special command of God.
Hence, all that oppose their abolition measures,
are opposing God. Is Mr. Cresson one of thesa
opposers ?