Green-Mountain freeman. [volume], October 30, 1845, Image 1

About Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884

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Liberty and Equality, .71 n ' s c ommon birthrl sKx God's richest Z i ft IS eligion and Laiv their defence.
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"BY POLAND & MIGGS.
Young Mens' Department.
' ' From C. M. Clay's True American.'
' , : The Right,
The following, from tbe first numbnr of the " True Ainerkau"
revived, is full of intrinsic merit, but possesses a peculiar interest
from the fact that its author has just emerged from such a fiery -furnace
of trial as we hope may not again disgrace our nation or age.
Oh t that Cassius M, Qfciy may be clothed upon with thnt wwlom
Which cometh from above for surely no finite teaching can "attune
his apirit to the great mission he was suittoperfurm."-Ei'.FBE'N.
! When the passions and prejudices of men
subside, how their best affections leap up at the
bare mention of any benefactor to the human
Tace,. We do not think, looking back upon the
past, that Howard ever had foes, or that Wilier
force was once powerless, or that Washington
had to submit to the harshest abuse. But sU"St
was. And so it will ever be. The best men
have had their difficulties, and while enemies
thronged their path, and friends grew lukewarn
and difficulties set in thicker, they, like all other
men, have felt despondent and almost like giv
ing up. And it is all right that this should be.
For trial makes the man; it subdues what is
wrong and selfish in his spirit; it tames what is
haughty; makes him wary, thoughtful and wiser;
less prodigal of his strength, and more judi
cious in its use; and attunes his spirit to the
great mission he was sent to perform.
The young man setting out in life, revolves
his plans, and they formed, resolves what he will
do and be. , He starts fair. ' He is jostled in his
path. Perhaps one on whom he has relied rude
Jy'pushes ahead of him, or attempts to force him
from his track. What then? If passion, hate,
or revenge get possession of him, he falls, and
Ihe can neither do nor be what he resolved he
would do and be. Suppose he was prepared
ifor competition, fair and unfair, and suppose he
had the constancy and endurance to push-on, no
matter who doubted him, or tried to tempt, or
drive him aside, could he fail? Could sneers,
or flattery, plaudits or hisses from the crowd,
Huniles or frowns from the rich and powerful,
desertion of friends or attacks of foes, move h im
one jot from the virtuous path he had resolved
to tread? Steadily, but firmly, he would pursue
it amid every wrong, conscious that he was right;
and at peace with himself and the world, he
would, sooner or later, do what he 'had set
out to do.
. Let young men remember, then, that their
first great duty is to ascertain what is right, and
whatever may happen to them, to do it if they
would earn a name worth wearing, or a happi
ness worth having, or a success worth struggling
for.
The 'True Gentleman.
, We believe fhat true gentlemen are sonfmed
to no walk or rank in lifts.' The sturdy black
smith, with his dingy garments, his open, honest
countenance begrimmetl with smut, and his
rough, hard hand, scarred with service more
honorable than that of war, has an immeasura
bly higher claim to that honorable name than
the shajlow-pated fop who skips through college
with kid glovesaiidaratt.nl, cultivates the graces
before the glass and the ladies, and takes his
diploma with all his blushing honors thick on
his vacant head. It is a false and contemptible
notion that unless a man can boast a high de
scent, or. roll majestically along in a coach em
blazoned with arms, his name should be stricken
from the list of gentlemen. Which class has,
from time immemorial, conferred the brightest
honors on the hurrinn race the haughty aristo
crat, who shrinks with, strong convulsions from
the touch of the honest poor man, and moves
with a step that seems dainty of the soil it treads
or him who claims no merit but nobility of soul?
Whence come the great lights of the intellectual
firmament the stars that form the brilliant gal
axy whose beams dazzle the eye of every behold
er? 'In the vast majority of instances, they
have, emerged to eminence from the chilling
depth of obscurity, destitution and want. Whose
Voices are oftenest raised in successful vindica
tion or human rights, and float over mountain
and plain, over ocean "and land, till they vibrate
on the ear6fthe remotest dweller in Christen
dom.' 'Who arcrthey that
.U ;.!.' . , : ' '.
t.' . "-Pluck bright honor from the pale-faced moon,
Or dive into the bottom of the deep,
Where fathom line could never touch the ground,
' And drag up drowned honor by the locks ?"
The scions of noble blood? The worshipers of
Bacchus and Venus, who fritter away the hours
granted by Heaven for scl&improvement, in the
study o the contemptible and puerile forms of
fashion ? No ! They are men of low parent
age men who haje buffeted the billows of fate
without dependence, save upon the mercy of
God and their own enemies the gentlemen of
nature who have trodden under foot the " paint
ed lizards" of society, and worked out their own
distinction with an ardor that coujd not be
quenched, and a perseverance that considered
nothing done while anything yet remained to be
done.
Parents1 Departments
" Maternal Influence.
r. Timothy Dwight and Aaron Burr were first
(cousins their mothers being daughters of the
elderjonathan Edwards. I he mother ot Dwight
lived to educate and train her son and to enjoy
io 'rich fruits-of her watchful care; the mother
of the .latter, togewer wun ms tatner, an excel
lent nnd, exemplary man, died while he was
youngs Thus early bereft of paternal guidance,
Burr with high intellectual capacities entered
upon a course which has made his name a ter
ror, both in the social and political world. Few
, men, perhaps, ever attained to his enormity of
crime" fewer still-have experienced, more fully,
the miseries, which are the inevitable result of
a career, of sensuality and lust. .
! " Reft of his sire, too young his loss to know
- 1 1 Lord of himself, that heritage of wo,"
His ;eWljropensities early acquired the mas
tery love7iiis moral powers, and he fell, even in
the meridian of his days, a wreck, a moral ruin,
over which we shed a nation's' tears, and over
whose memory, withered though it be by pesti-
lerice of mighty vices, Christianity will long
mourn, .'..'
" As o'er the grave of one w horn God endowed
With powers noble, and for noble ends;
But who, in sin, conceived a mighty crime,
And fell no more to rise. "
As a contrast to the fate of Burr we may
present that of Dwight. In the language of a
terse and beautiful writer, "He became emi
nently successful in extending the beauties of
learning and religion, which he loved, and left
him a noble ' monument of piety and genius in
his written works. Who can say but that if
Mrs. Burr had lived to watch and pray with her
son, the highly gifted youths might have pursued
the same narrow path, and they might have
been equally useful in the eanh, and equally
happy in the heavens !
Mothers I though your children may not' pos
sess mental endowments of so high an order,
with which to bless or curse mankind, to honor
or offend God, elevate or degrade themselves,
yet they do possess souls as precious, for whose
salvation the same blood has been shed, and
while your lives have been spared, they are much
dependent on you for their guidance aright, and
you are as deeply responsible to God as were
those mothers, for the manner in which you dis
charge the sacred trust. 0, are you individually
prepared with reference to your children, to
obey the luminous, "Give an account of thy
stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer stew
ard!" The Mother's Reward,
I saw a little cloud rising in the western hori
zon, fn a few moments it spread over the ex
panse of heaven, and watered the earth with a
genial shower. I saw a little rivulet start from
the mountain, winding its way through the val
ley and the meadow, receiving each tributary
rill which it met in its course, till it became a
mighty stream, bearing on its bosom the mer
chandise of many nations, and the various pro
ductions of the adjacent country. I saw a little
seed drop into the earth. The dews descended,
the sun rose upon it ; it started into life. In a
little time it spread its branches and became a
shelter from the heat, " and the fowls of heaven
lodged in its branches."
I saw a little smiling boy stand by the side of
his mother, and heard him repeat from her lips
one of the songs of Zion. I saw him kneel at
her leet, and pray that Jesus would bless his
dear parents, the world of mankind, and keep
him from temptation. In a little time I saw
him with the books of the classics under his
arm ; walking alone, buried in deep thought. I
went into a Sabbath School, and heard him say
ing to a little circle that surrounded him, " Suf
fer little children to come unto me," in a few
moments afterwards, I went into the sanctuary,
and heard him reasoning of " righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come."
I looked, and saw that same mother, at whose
feet he had knelt, and from whose lips he had
learned to lisp the name, Emanuel. Her hair
was whitened by the frosts of winter, and hea
ven beamed on her brow, and in her eye, glis
tening with a tear ; and I thought I saw in her
tear the moving of a mother's heart, while she
reverted to days gone by, when this Boanerges
was first dawning into life, Jistening to her I ips
in the voice, of instruction; and inquiring in
childlike simplicity the way to be good, and I
said, " This is the rich harvest of a mother's
toil; these are the goodly sheaves of that precious
seed which was probably sown in weeping; and
your grey hairs shall not be brought down with
sorrow to the grave, but in the bower of rest you
shall look down on him who ' will arise and call
you blessed,' and finally greet you where your
hope is swallowed up in fruition and prayer in
praise.
iiel iff to u s .
j,
Tiiicllab,
ion
HliCSS.
Where does it dwell !"
Can a specimen be
found on earth ? Yes, reader I will show thee
an abode of happiness. It is in a retired part of
a new country. All about it is wild and grand.
The dwelling is constructed of logs, in the form
which nature gave them. Let us enter the rudely-constructed
habitation. There sits a mother,
and near her is gathered a group of children.
The internal" arrangements of the building arc
neat, but correspond in cheapness with the exte
rior. An air of cheerfulness pervades the coun
tenance of the mother, and her children all seem
obedient and happy ; the husband and father is
at work in the .field.
Madam, how is it that you appear to be so
happy, in this retired and humble abode ?
God is everywhere, and we feel that he is
with us. In his providence he directed us to
this place, and we are happy in being where he
stations us.
Then you have not always been accustomed
to this mode of life ?
0 no; my husband and myself were brought
up in circumstances quite different from these.
But was it not difficult to you to submit to
this conditiou 1
No; we enjoy the favor of our Father in Heav
en, and that satisfies us. With it, the retir
ed cottage is as pleasant as the populous palace.
Our home is sweet, very sweet to us.
You must possess but few, if any of the lux
uries of life ?
True ; but we enjoy many of the luxuries of
heaven.
You are far from neighbors ?
Yes : but God anil his angels are near. " As
the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the
Lord is -round about his people, from henceforth
and forever."
Do you not apprehend want ?
The Lord is our sheperd, we shall not want.
Have you ever been called to mourn ?
Yes; but we found it good to be alllicted.
We have buried dear children, but we have giv
en them to the Lord. While they were with us
we considered them as his. They were dear to
us, but it was right that they should be early re
moved from earth. , Our concern is with tlie sur-
vivors.
MONTPELIER, VT.," THUltSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1845.
Do you not fear, every day, that death may
seize these 1 . .
Death is the servant of our Redeemer, who
never errs. We pray for the continued life of
our children, yet endeavor to say " Thy will be
done." Infinite wisdom cannot do wrong.- Sub
mission is our duty and pleasure.
Are you uot a great way from the sanctuary
of God?
Yes; but we regard it a privilege to make
efforts, that we may enter his gates with praise.
Are you in search of happiness? Seek it not
in wealth, or honors, or learning- The world
does not yield it. It can be found at the feet of
Jesus, and not elsewhere. In him you may trust,
and enjoy his smiles forever. Christian Wit
ness. Prayerful Importunity.
The Saviour thrice repeated in the garden his
petition for the removal of the bitter cup. He
went to God thrice upon the same account.
Christians should not be discouraged, though
they have sought God once and again, and re
ceived no answer of peace. Christ was not an
swered in the thins he desired, yet he was
meekly submissive to the will of God. God
may not answer us in the thing we desire, but
an answer will be-given in his own good time,
such as infinite, tenderness and wisdom shall di
rect. A prayer sent up in faith, according to
the will of God, cannot be lost. Is there a
Christian inclined to cease praying, because he
has asked once and again, and no answer has
been received ? Has he prayed with the fer
,venc and repetition which the Saviour used ?
It lie is not answered in that he desired, will he
complain if God deals with him as he dealt with
Jesus Christ ?
If we are really to effect any thing by our
prayers, their character must be greatly changed.
How unlike the prayers of Christ, are our cold
and formal offerings ! How much better adapt
ed to call down judgments than blessings ! You
have asked God to revive his work; when you
see some neighbor on a death-bed of despair,
you will see that it was a very cold prayer that
was offered. You have asked God to convert
your children j' when disease has brought them
to the borders of the grave, you will see that
your prayers and efforts for their salvation were
imperfect. Study the prayers of Christ follow
his example, if you would have your prayers pre
vailing.
The Rose and the Clay.
One of the most eminent authors and philoso
phers has told the following little fable, in order
to illustrate the advantages which are to be de
rived from keeping company with the wise im j
virtuous.
" As I entered the bath one day, a friend pre
sented me with a piece of perfumed clay. I
was so pleased with the rare odor, that I ex
claimed, ' In what favored region of the earth
wast thou found ? I am enraptured with thy
heavenly fragrance!' It modestly replied, '1
am notning out common clay ; but I Had tne
good fortune to lie for many years at the foot of
a Rose-bushl and the sweet influence of so close
an intimacy has produced this effect upon me
which you admire; or else in truth, I should
have been nothing but a lump of worthless clay,
as is my nature.
And what art thou, O man ! if thou dost not
partake of the secret influence of a purer Being?
Worthless clay ! Aye, and worse than worth-
ess a mass of poison and corruption. Let the
Christian learn humility and gratitude from this
esson of the Mahometan." Persian Fables.
A DURESS
OF THE
. Northern and Eastern
LIBERTY CONVENTION,
Held at Boston, October ht, 1845,
To the People of the United States.
(Concluded.)
It remains to speak of the remedy for slavery. Wo
do not say remedies l'or, unlike many others, we be
lieve tliut mure is but one remedy tor Bluvery. God
has ordained but one remedy for sin. For the great
est sin, 11s well ay for the least for the stealing of a
man, as well as for the stealing of a pin. The remedy
is repentance. Repentance for slavery is all that is
needed to blot out slavery. Lot a penitent sense of
this crime melt the heart ot our nation, and American
slavery ceases. "The north give up and the south
keep not back." The slave owners, and they who
countenance and sustain the slave owners, mingle their
tears; and both are forgiven and loved and blest, by
the God to whom they have turned, and by the millions
wnom iney nttve set tree.
We praise God, thut repentance is already at work
to dislodge slavery. A Bimcy, and a Brisbane, and
many others have felt its power, and given liberty to
their slaves, Tetfs of thousands havo felt it, and burst
the bands, which united them to pro-slavery political
parties. Anti-davery societies and anti-slavery chur
ches exist without number ; and, in addition to other
" fruits meet for repentance," we have a political party,
whose purpose is, God helping it, to get hold of the
reins of Government, and abolish American slavery.
As, upon this occasion, wo represent this party, we
shall ho excused for making more extended remarks
on this than on any other anti-slavery agency.
That, in the political tempest of 1840, the Liberty
party could spring up and grow ; and that in the sim
ilar but even severer tempest of 1844, it could not only
live, but strike its roots still deeper, and spread out its
arms huh h urt, are convincing proots tliat never was
a party " made of sterner stuff." From the mad vortex
of 1840 the Liberty party snatched seven thousand
votes ; and lrom the madder one of 1844 it snatched
sixty-two thousend.
The common language at the North, of the great
political parties which have divided and which still di
vide this nation, is, that these parties are surely, though
liiuircciiy, accomplishing uie overthrow ot slavery.
But the Liberty party believes and from this belief
sprang its existence that slavery is a monster to be
overcome oniy in direct encounter and deadly grapple
I his monster laughs at the idea of his being made to
bite the dust by force ot'the mere incidental influen
ces and direct effects of agencies and parties, which
havo no direct bearing, and even no design, against
him. He laughs at the Doctor Springs and Professor
Hodges, for still insisting, that the Bible, which' they
allege is not directly against but even directly for him,
will, nevertheless, by some means or other, bring him
back. And he lauglis too at the declaration of the
vvnig. tnatuie policy ot his 'party, and at the declara
tion of the Democrat that the oolicv of his. will, al
though unarrayed against slavery, and even arrayed on
its side, bring slavery to its grave. Well may he laugh
at those ministers, who predict his death at the hands
of the Bible, even whilst they are using the Bible to
i il n nilii nl'lil iiiimi Miiji in
cover his head from the blows of his assailants : and
well may ho laugh at those politicians, who, whilst
voting and legislating for him, not only tell us that he
must die, but actually claim the merit of being them
selves at work to kill him. Well, indeed, may he laugh
at such preachers and politicians, whilst he can oppose
to their predictions of his death the fact, that, during
about every twenty years of their preaching, and vo
ting, and legislating, he doubles the number of his vic
tii'W. The Liberty parly is the only political party in the
Nation, whose purpose is to overthrow slavery. No
party ,nmdo up, as is the Whig and Democratic party ,of
snijc owners as well as non-slavc-owners, can have
this purpose ; for slave-owners, making as they all do
slavery their paramount interest, and ready as they all
arc, at all times, to sacrifice every other interest to it,
will not abide in will not come into a party that aims
at the destruction of slavery. . '
We ask for your help to overthrow the system of
American oppression. Oive it to us, we entreat you.
(i've it to us in oil practicable ways ; and let your con
ljtji with the Liberty party be one of thosa way
Is it not high time for you to cease from parties, which
are unpledged, unprepared, and unwilling, to attack
slavery ? and is it not high time for you to join a par
ty, which, called into being for the express purpose of
destroying slavery, has never set aside for the sake of
other interests, and never compromise, the declared
object of its existence ? Why should you not join it?
It is not, as you ire every where told it is, a fanciful
party. Its object, as worthy as ever appealed to the
heart of philanthropy, and its means to compass it, the
peaceful means of the peaceful ballot-box, are both ap
proved ot reason and religion. JNor is it, as you are
everywhere told it is, a party in opposition to the Con
stitution. The Constitution being an anti-slavery in
strument, and giving to Congress, as has been well
said no more power, nor semblance of power, to make
a slave than to make a king what motive could the
Liberty party have to set itself in opposition to it ? The
Constitution, being the Irieml ot the Liberty party.
shall not find in that party a foe. The Liberty party in
power would prove its truencss to trie Constitution, by
promptly withdrawing from slavery the protection of the
National nag; by promptly abolishing the curse in the
Drict of Columbia; and, wherever also, beyond the
original limits of the Nation, Congress has been so
treasonable to the Constitution, as to set up slavery, or
sutler it to be sot up. And if the Liberty party, on ta
king the reins or Government, shall not sweep slavery
from the original thirteen States, as well ns from the
other part of the Nation, the omission will be owing
not to its want of fidelity to the Constitution ; but, alone
to its want of the conviction,that it had the rightful jww
er to do so. The present indications, however, are, that
even this conviction may not be wanting ; for the pres
ent indications are, that the arguments of a Goodell
and a Spoonor to prove that slavery has no Constitu
tional nor legal existence in any part of the Nation,
remain unanswered, because they are unanswerable.
We asked, whether it is not high time for you to join
the-Liberty party. How different, had you joined it
years ago, would be the present character of our coun
try ! Now, it is branded with infamy for having robbed
a neighboring Nation of a large shure of its territory.
I low different to, had you joined it years ago, would
be the present condition ot our country ! JNow, it is
threatened with a war, which, strong as wo are, and
weak os are our fees.may nevertheless,result in its ruin:
for whatever supremacy we may claim, the injustice of
our cause should inspire the apprehension of its defeat
Had you joined the Liberty party years ago, neither
would this disgrace be upon the character, nor this
danger be in the condition of our country. Had but
enci'gh of you joined in lust fall to swell its vote to a
hundred thousand, the danger and disgrace, of which
we-JX!nk, -"would have been averted.' No! a few of
those members of Congress, who, on the Texas ques
tion, bowed down to the slave-power, would have been
ablir to stand erect had there been so increased a I jb
erty vote to appeal to their hopes and fears. But you
coufd not be induced to join the Liberty party. You
would cling to your Democratic party, notwithstanding
it had, openly, and shamelessly, and fully, identified
itself with as flagitious a scheme of robbery, as ever
one nation practised on unother. You would cling to
your Whig party notwithstanding it had called to the
office of Secretary of State the two men, who, in this
office, had committed the Nation to this pre-eminently
guilty scheme ; the one of whom, as long ago as the
yenr 18'-i!, entertained the Virginia Convention with a
calculation of the profits, which Virginia slave-breeders
would realize, "should it," to use his own w ords,
"be our lot, as, I trust it will be, to acquire the coun
try of Texas ;" and the other of whom was so bent
on reconciling the world to the extension of slavery
over Texas, that to make up the necessary number of
arguments for it, he advanced the doctrine, that, to
give freedom to (lie black slave, or,.in other, and more
heart-rending words, to give freedom to whomsoever
we .desire to retain in slavery, is to make him crazy.
That a party furnishing us, at such a time, with such
Secretaries, should, notwithstanding its flattering cry
in the ears of abolitionists against annexation, was as
loud as its nattering cry for annexation in the ears of
slaveholders ; that this party should, when the scheme
of ennexation came to bo acted on by Congress, sup
pljAhe lack of Democratic strength to carry it, is not
at all surprising.
But, is it even now, too lato to keep Texas out of
ummiuonr ur, u as some construe it i oxas is al
ready in the Nation, may it not bo saved from the curse
of slavery? The preliminary point, that Texas shall
not be a slave-holding country, once rightly settled
and it might not be very difficult to re-establish amity
between Mexico and this Nation. Mexico might even
consent to give up Texas to this Nation. The point
of honor, if not of principle, with her, is not to give it
np to slavery. Who can doubt, that, were the Liberty
party to double its vote the present year, Congress
would hesitate to receive Texas into our family of
States, were she to come with a slaveholding Constitu
tion in her hands ? Who can doubt, that, should Mas
sachusetts elect the liberty ticket, at her approaching
election, all, or nearly all, of the Northern members of
Congress would refuse to bow down, any longer, to the
dark spirit of slavery ; would turn to worship the glo
rious rising sun of Freedom j and would tell Texas,
that sho also must turn thither, or give up her hope of
a place in our sisterhood of States ? Make the exper
iment, Old MusKachusetts ! 'Glorious Old Massachu
setts ! It will give you a better tunic with a liberty
loving posterity than can your trnmnHimmcnt nnd
battle fields. It is your honor that you were the first
to resist the British oppression. But ten thousand fold
greater honor awaits the State, which shall be first to
turn the tide of American oppression.
That no such happy effect on the Texas ques
tion mid on the cause of liberty would follow a
however greatly increased vote either of the
Whig or Democratic party, is certain ; "for who
could be so simple, as to see in the increase a
denomination of hostility to slavery? With what
face, then, can those Whigs and Democrats n
mongst us, who have, all along, professed to" be
ab olitionists, and to be opposed to the annexa
tion of Texas with what face then can they
continue to make these professions, if they shall
cling, "and even at this crisis, to their pro-slavery
paties ?
Fellow citizens ! it is not enough to say, that
justice to Mexico and to our own character re
quires us to relax our grasp on Texas, and to
relax our purpose of overspreading it with the
horrors of slavery. The supposition that it is
for the very life of our Nation, that we relax
this robber-grasp and this diabolical purpose,
does no violence to probability. We speak of
the danger which threatens our Nation, and of
the possible ruinous consequences to it of a war
with Mexico. We know she ;s feeble; & tht no
Nation is so much dispised by us. But we know
too, that the Word and Providence of God testify,
that it is not uncommon for Him, when He
would humble a haughty individual, or a haugh
ty nation, to select for the agency of His purpose
the very instrument, which such individual or
nation most despises. Proud and contemptu
ous Goliah would have chosen death by any oth
er means rather than the sling and stone of lit
tle David ; and, so too, our proud and contemp
tuous Nation would rather receive its death
wounds at the hands of any other nation, than
that which she most despises.
But Mexico may not be alone in her war with
us. That war, in its possibly wide sweep of
consequences, may involve persons and nations
not a few. Whether, however, this shall, or
shall not, be; certain it is, that America, going
to war under the black flag of slavery, would
command the respect of no people and no nation
whose respect and sympathy are worth having,
It may, perhaps, be objected to what we have
said of the possible perils of our nation, that it is
too young to be destroyed too young to have ri
pened for destruction. It is young in years;
but, is it not old in crimes? What Nation, e
ven amongst those, which have filled up the
measures of their iniquity and perished, has had
blacker crimes recorded against it than those
which, in the blaze of gospel light, we have per
petrated upon the Indian and the African? But,
Jfnwevr we may compare in wickedness with
0tii?r Nations, the fact that we have already
committed such a crime as that for which God
destroyed the Jewish Nation, should fill us with
alarm, and hurry us to repentance. He remem
ber too, in this connection, that it was for such
a crime that the French power in St. Domingo
was destroyed. The Jewish Nation was des
troyed for re-subjecting to bondage those, whom
it had proclaimed free. "And ye were now
turned," said God to it, "and had done right in
my sight, m proclaiming liberty, every man to
his neighbor ; and ye had made a covenant be
fore me in the house, which is called by my
name; But ye turned, and polluted my name,
and caused every man his servant, and every
man his hand-maid, whom he had set at liber
ty, at their pleasure, to return, and brought them
into subjection to be unto you for servants and
for handmaids. Therefore, thus saith the Lord,
ye have not hearkened unto me, mi proclaiming
liberty every one to his brother, and every man
to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim a libeity for
you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pesti
lence, and to the famine; and I will make you
to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
And I will give the men, that have transgressed
my covenant, into the hand or their enemies, and
into the hand of them that seek their life : and
their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the
fowls of heaven, and to the beasts of the earth."
A moment's recollection of the history of our
Nation will convince us that it is guilty of such
a crime, as cost the life of the Jewish Nation.
It is, at least, a charitable supposition, that our
fathers, wljen, in the. year 177G, they resolved
to break away from the oppressions of the Brit
ish government, remembered the oppressions, of
which they were themselves guilty. It is, at
least) a charitable supposition, that a sense of
their wrongs. at the hands of that government in
spired them with a sense of the infinitely deeper
wrongs, suffered at their own hands. The let
ter, if not the intent, of a virtual deed of manu
mission, which they then wrote and published,
harmonizes with this supposition. The deed is
short for it expresses the grant or concession
in five words. Short as it is however, it is com
prehensive and clear : and such are the five
words, as to make it a deed of universal eman
cipation. "Ali, .men a he created equal,"
are those woids of truth and mercy and power.
It is true, that our fathers could not enfoice and
apply, the world over, the doctrine of this declar
ation. But they could do so within the limits
of their own Nation ; and thus set before every
other a Deautilui and attractive example d im
partial and universal liberty.
It is said, that this declaration of human equal
ity was but a stroke of policy ; and that the only
design of the Revolutionary patriots in it was to
win for their cause the sympathy and help of the
generous and true-hearted, whether in the Old
world or the New ? We do not deny, that when
these pntrioTs inscribed upon their banners,
" All men are creatfd r.QirAi.," they
foresaw with what grc:it power "these truthful
words would enter the hearts of men. Wo do
nut deny, that, had the inscription been, instead
of "Liberty to all," "Lilitrty to some, mid
slavery to others," the LaFaycttes and Dckalbs
and other lovers of liberty, who crossed the ocean
to help us on to victory, would have turned their
backs on our cause. "Let tyrants perir.h in the
grasp of tyrants." We do not deny, that our
fathers could have chosen a more successful
means for arousing the sympathies, and secu
ring the aid, of the wise and the good than this
acknowledgment of the equal rights of men
tliui. tl.isdcoJof universal emancipation proved
itself to be. But, we do deny, that, in making
this choice , they were governed by a heartless
policy. We do deny, that they were insin
cere in this constructive proclamation of liberty
to the slave. Historical testimonies are worth
less, if they do not authorize the conclusion,
that our fathers fully believed theirs was the last
generation, which sh.iuld see an American slave.
But, whether they were or were not sincere in
thus conceding, in the ear of the whole world,
the right of the bondman to liberty ; the con
cession itself is indisputable. And how sadly
true is it, that there is a parallelism between the
Jewish Nation and this, as well on the point of
re-sujecting the bondman, as en that of declar
ing his righHo deliverance. The half million
of slaves, who our fathers said should be free,
(and but for their saying which, and perhaps
also, but for their feelings which, our fathers
themselves could not have become free,) had
their chains riveted anew. And, now, instead
of that number, there are nearly three millions to
testify by their stripes and groans and tears, that
American masters, as did Jewish masters, have
broken their promise to God and the bondman ;
have relapsed into hardness of heart, and clung
anew to their oppressions. Why then shall not
this Nation perish, as did the Jewish Nation?
God be praised for the assurance, that it shall
not, if it do but repent. God be praised, that
the history of our world affords no instance, in
which He has destroyed either a penitent indi
vidual, or a penitent Nation. .
VOL. II, NO. 44.
And, now, men of the free North! Citizens
of the Eastern and Middle States ! by ever-y con
sideration of religion, humanity and patriotism,
you are urged to the exertion of alt your pow
ers for the overthrow of slavery. Your homes
and your altars, your honor and good name, are
at stake. The slave in his prison stretches his-
manacled hands toward you, imploring your aid.
A cloud ol witnesses surrounds you. The op
pressed millions of Europe beseech you to re
move from their pathway to freedom the re--proach
and stumbling block of Democratic slave
ry. From the damp depths of dungeons from'
the stake and the scaffold, where the martvrsof
liberty have sealed their r t8timwt; '' ' '"
blood solemn
to make the dear. .n
living truth. Jo.;, , . ,!., . , ? y
Slavery is might-: ?w-
In the name of G .u.iumi, kst bring.
the mightier ballot-box of a ki tigress people to
bear upon it. The model man of our Repub
lic, who might have been a king, but would not,
calls from his grave upon each of us to do that,
which he solemnly declared himself ready to di"
to give his vote to free the slave and to abol
ish the wicked phantasy of property in man. He
shall not call in vain. We acknowledge tho
duty of consecrating our votes to the deliverance
of the oppressed, and joyfully do we perform it.
The Legislature.
Senate, Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Memorial of the children of Col. Seth Warner, com
mander of tho Vt forces in the revolution, praying for
pecuniary relief, presented and referred.
Reports in favor of restoring J W Staples to his le
gal privileges ; ordered 3d reading. Against bill rela
tive to attachment of corn in the ear ; referred com'teo
on manufactures. In favor of altering time of Wind
ham co. court ; laid on table. In favor of changing
name of S L Stunord. Petition of Wm. Rounds dis
missed, as belonging to the Auditor of accounts.
liill introduced tor the improvement ot common
schools, providing for a town superintending committee
alone, &.c; reCd coin, on Education.
Engrossed bills relative to increase of sheriff s fee:
Laid on the table. Relative to the taxation of persons
residing in one town, and set off into the school district.
of another; passed.
Mouse Resolution. Directing the Auditor to audit
the account of the Secretary of State for composing,
correcting and completing the Record of Revolutiona
ry services and its Index; referred to the committee on
Claims.
A message from tho Governor, transmitting papers
received from other Slates, ond Texas, memorial of
Alexander Vattarmere of Pans, relative to the " inter
national exchanges of the productions of nature and of
tho mind." Referred. Adj..
House. A.M. Prayer by Itev. Mr. Comings.
Petitions, for the rechaiter of the Bank of Bellow
FallsjVf Howard Harris and 54 others, referred.
iluis Introduced and Referred, authorizing select
men to abate texas; to repeal law relating to 1'icenBed
to inn-keepers and retailers; to incorporate the Vermont
and Canada Railroad Company; resiling act relating
to common schools; permitting one pew to be held ex
empt from attachment or execution; for the relief of
the tow n of Berlin; altering the name of Susan. Lo
rinda Holt; all referred to appropriate committees.
Resolutions, relative to the printing of the Stata .
Geologist's report, providing for the audit of the ac
count ot the Secretary ot State for completing tho
record of Revolutionary services; adopted; providing
for the purchase and distribution of HO copies of Wash
burn's Digest, ordered to a third reading; instructing
Committee on Military Afiaiis to inquire into the ex
pediency of paying the uniform militia and providing
for their better discipline; adopted.
Engrossed bills. Relating to immaterial variances
between pleadings and tho proof; passed.
Bill extending the charter of the Farmer's Bank at
Orwell, amended so that it shall not be lawful for offi
cers to demand or receive more than 5 per cent per
annum for any discount; laid on the table.
The bill extending the charter of the Bank of Mid
dk'bury, motion to amend so as to interdict officers
from receiving more than 5 per cent. discount; rejected
by a vote of 1U5 to 5(5, motion. 'VMewl, so that tho
bunk shall take no benefit of.?'': ':U it shall have
paid into tho treasury 2 pc i on its capital
stock; lost. im;lrn to amonil uie bank shall
at all times be obliged to loan tin- : ' ttoimt required by
the general law to the State at 4 1-2 per cent; carried,
motion to lay the bill on the table, lost; read a second
time and ordered to a third reading.
Motion to reconsider the vote restricting interest to
be received by the Bank of Orw ell, carried; amend
ment laid on the table.
Brandon Bank bill taken up and amended so that the
bank shall at all times be obliged to loan the amount
required by the general law to the State at 4 1-2 per
cent; ordered to a t bird reading. Adj.
Senate. P. M. Amendment of the House relative
to the time of holding joint assembly to elect Judges
of the Supremo Court; adopted.
Bill called up regulating sheriffs fens, amended by
allowing 50 cts. instead of 1 for serving venires, und
. 1,50 per diem instead of $2 for attending county
court; passed.
liill incorporating hnspitil at Castleton, amended by
subjecting the charter to the control of future legislat
ures, and ord. lid reading.
Bill relating to pedlars' licenses amended, and ord.
3d reading.
Bill altering time of Windham co. courts, passed.
Adj.
House. Petitions presented. Of Norman Hastings
and others ; John Morse and others, both praying for
the revival of the law of 1818 as to enrolled militia ;-
referred to com. on Military attains. Ut H. 1 . Barnes,
referred to coin, on Claims. By Mr Swift, of select
men of Ripton ; referred to Judiciary com.
Report of coin, against the bill relating to exemp
tions from attachments ; 2d reading refused. By com.
on claims, in favor of tho bill to pay Sewall Fullam 27
dollars; ordered too third reading. By com. on Banks
against incorporating Addison Co. Bank ; bill laid on
the table.
Jiills introduced. In relation to the disposition of
property attached ; refeired to Judiciary com. By Mr
Barlow, to pay Jerome B. Barlow ; referred to com. on
Clikims. By Mr. Swift, in relation to suits for fraudu
lent conveyances; referred to Judiciary com.
Bills reported. From cm. on State Prison, to com
mute the punishment of E. Clifford. For relief of In
sane persons in the State Prison. Providing for the
sale of the Old State Prison ; all read twice and ordererV
to a third readtng.
Senate bill, relating to the collection of moneys by
attorneys ; referred to Judiciray com. Adj.
Thursilm, Oct. 23.
Senate. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Sutherland,
Bath, N. H.
House Bill Amending an act of last year,, by ap
propriating $5,000 annually for the relief of the Insane
poor, and also providing for tho annual appointment of
a commissioner of the Insane; referred to the com. on
Finance.
A message was received from the Governor inform
in the Senate that John Reynolds, elected sheriff of
Grand Isle, declines the election ; referred to the Sena
tor from Grand Isle.
The bill relating to Common Schools occupied the
remainder of the forenoon in committee of the whole.
House. Prayer by Rev. E. Ballou.
Mr. Kellogg moved to withdraw the Brattleboro'
Bank bill, and the bill relating to the compensation of
the Bank Commissioners from the Bank commiUee ; car
ried. Petitions, of Doct. Enos Cobb, referred to com. on
Education. Of W. M. Griswold and 181 other of.
Weathersfield ; referred to com. on Education. Qf N. .