THE FREE LABOR MOVEMENT.

COTTON IS KING.

Moukton, Vt., 5 mo., 20, 1854

Under the above caption, a quotation is given by the Frederick Douglass' Paper from the National Era, and continues—"Is it not worthy the attention of genuine philanthropists to enquire whether cotton cannot be profitably cultivated by free labor?—The question is of easy solution."

I wish the Editor of that paper had, out of his store-house of knowledge, given his advice as to the best mode of proceeding in the solution of that question. In the absence of that, allow me to say a word.

I suppose no one disputes the fact that there are thousands of acres of land in the United States still in the state of nature, over which the slaveholder has not yet established entire dominion, and well suited to the production of cotton; that there are thousands of free laborers in, or yearly coming into, this country, every way competent to furnish the skill and physical effort requisite in such an undertaking, and at no greater cost to the consumer, (many of whom are already so employed;) that there are thousands of genuine philanthropists, scattered over the country, who would gladly embrace an opportunity of supplying themselves with such cotton; and many more who would as readily join them, if only their attention was turned in that direction.

These materials, which have been so long almost entirely neglected, might be brought together and form a powerful instrument of good in the hands of the anti-slavery host. But who will being the work? The philanthropist, with capital at his command, thinks the whole burden should not fall upon his shoulders; he does not feel himself justified in going beyond a certain limit, unless well sustained by public favor; he wishes to avoid any act that may cripple his influence in some other part of the struggle.—The philanthropist with very limited capital is, singly, very limited in power. Let us suppose, then, to remedy this difficulty, that the thousands that take the name of anti-slavery upon their lips, were to accompany that act with a resolution to do their part towards turning the tide of patronage from the slave-holding to the non-slaveholding planter,—let him, but more especially, let her cultivate a taste for things that are UNsustained by the blood of oppression—let them use their best efforts to procure a supply of cotton, sugar, rice, &c., through a channel which the moral law does NOT condemn—let this demand be made even at the risk of some inconvenience to themselves—let it be as general and incessant as the sufferings of the slave, and a solution of the question would follow, and the object of our sympathies would reap the benefit.

Under the belief that this is one of the ways by which our opposition to slavery may, under God, be maintained, numerous little associations are springing up, having these objects in view. One has lately been formed in this State; it has adopted the following constitution, and new names are frequently being added to its list of members. Humble as our beginning may appear in the eyes of a certain class, yet we have found no one, with anti-slavery principles, that will venture to call in question the soundness of ours.

The correctness of our principles being conceded—conceded also that what is the duty of one is the duty of all, under the same circumstances—an invitation seems spontaneously to grow out of our position, which we suppose no genuine philanthropist can reject. Let such associations become as general as anti-slavery societies once were; let the many store-keepers, anti-slavery by profession, but pro-slavery in their agency, put off their servitude to slaveholders and transfer their favors to the non-slaveholding planter, and who would doubt for one moment of the good effect that would follow in the cotton field, or on the sugar or rice plantations?

With these things before them, is not this subject peculiarly worthy the attention of our colored, as well as our white brethren? Does it not open a wide field of effectual labor for them?

HENRY MILES.

CONSTITUTION

Of the Free Produce Association of Western

VERMONT.

Believing that slaveholding is opposed to
the spirit and tenor of the Christian religion,
and mainly supported by the purchase of
the productions of slave labor, we regard it
our duty to abstain, as far as practicable,
from the use of such productions. With
these views, and to increase the facilities in
procuring goods produced by free labor, we
unite in an Association, under the title of
the Free Produce Association of Western
Vermont, and adopt for its government the
following rules

ART. 1. This Association shall consist of
such persons as concur in the above senti
ments, and sign the constitution.

ART. 2. The objects of this Association
shall be not to substitute this for other
modes of anti-slavery action, but to take up
the anti-slavery enterprize where the church
and ballot box leave it—to carry frequent
anti-slavery action into the family circle of
each of its members, to the counter of the
stoor-keeper, to the factory or the exchange,
as unreservedly as we would make it an af
fair of the church, or the business of legis
lative bodies—to stimulate ourselves in such
practical anti-slavery efforts as a constant
recurrence to our leading principles would
induce—to adopt means for obtaining a sup
ply of articles the production of free labor,
that cannot be otherwise readily produced
—to show the injustice and impolicy of slave
labor, the demolition of domestic comfort, of
social and religious privileges, and the de
struction of human life, which it occasions,
and the duty of withstanding from it our
support.

ART. 3. The Association shall meet annu
ally, and at such other times as the Board of
Managers shall direct.

ART. 4. The officers of the Association
shalt be a President, two Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Board of Di
rectors, to be appointed at the Annual
Meeting, and continue in office till others
are appointed.

ART. 5. The duties of the officers of the
Association shall be similar to those in other
associations, (defined in the by-laws,) and
they shall submit a report of their pro
ceedings for the past year at the Annual
Meeting.

ART. 6. The Association shall correspond,
as occasion may require, with such similar
associations as may be established elsewhere,
or with persons interested in promoting its
objects.

ART. 7. This constitution may be altered
or amended at any Annual Meeting of the
Association, by a vote of two-thirds of the
members present.

S. HUMPHREY, Pres't pro tem.

HENRY MILES, Cor. Sec'y.