Voices of Freedom by John Greenleaf Whittier
Feb 25, 2017 · 3 min read
" The despotism which our fathers could not bear in their native country is expiring, and the sword of justice in her reformed hands has applied its exterminating edge to slavery. Shall the United States— the free United States, which could not bear the bonds of a king, cradle the bondage which a king is abolishing ? Shall a Republic be less free than a Monarchy Shall we, in the vigor and buoyancy of our manhood, be less energetic in righteousness than a kingdom in its age "
"Genius of America!— Spirit of our free institutions !— where art thou ? How art thou fallen, O Lucifer ! son of the morning— how art thou fallen from Heaven ! Hell from beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming ! The kings of the earth cry out to thee, Aha ! Aha !— art thou become like unto us?"— Speech of Samuel J. May.
Our fellow-countrymen in chains !
Slaves — in a land of light and law !
Slaves — crouching on the very plains
Where roll'd the storm of Freedom's war !
A groan from Eutaw's haunted wood —
A wail where Camden's martyrs fell —
By every shrine of patriot blood,
From Moultrie's wall and Jasper's well !
By storied hill and hallow'd grc*,
By mossy wood and marshy glen,
Whence rang of old the rifle-shot,
And hurrying shout of Marion's men
