Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-06-02
APPEAL TO AMERICAN WOMEN


APPEALTo AMERICAN WOMEN.
"For the time d come that Judgment must be-
Kin atthe house Of Godi and hrst begin At
us, what shah be the end Of them that obey net
the gospel VI God" IFeter, iv. II.
have quoted the above passage, below
ed sisters, for the motto Of my address, be-
cause believe it is about 10 be ful6lled;--
and ifthe apostle had written with spe-
sial reference TO those times. he could
hardly have, used more appropriate Ian
guage? Judgment must indeed begin at
the house Of God; and would that the
thrilling question were carried hometo
every heart. lift first begin at US. what
shall the end be Of them that obey not the
gospel of Code And who are they that
obey not the gospela Every man, wo-
man and child who remembereth not those
in bonds, as bound with them This is
an Astounding declaration; but it is, never
theless, TRuE-as the unity Of our nation
Al character is such that every individual
sswho does not lift up BIS voice against ma
,iional crime, becomes partaker. and an
adherent Of that cipe. They Of the
south, then, are not alone involved in the
guilt of slaveholding; but we Of the north,
who look on with tacit consent or open APP
probation, are equally 50.
It's believed that should the clergy
unanimously, or very generally, adopt the
principles Of immediate abolition, their in
fuence, alone, would be equal to the ex-
tinction Of slavery in the United States
But I Rrieve-I am, ashamed to say it
the strong hold Of Oppression is not more
inthe hands ofthe Shareholders themselves,
than in those ofour spiritual Teachers
our elergymen-the ministers around our
alters They not only seal and sanction
the supposed rights Of the masters, but
they do more; they voluntarily come for
ward and enact laws, tending to set aside
may, sending directly to annihiiate all
moral and religious obligation between
master and slave--hGsband and wife,
The STAKEHOLDER, without comment, OF
troubling himself at all to render rea'
son, separates husband and wife beyond
the probability Of re union. The church
kindly steps into the gap, crying: The OBJ
Ligation 0f6c marriage eOrenGHt bet'cee'
slapes Is nothing. When a slave is sepa
rated from his wife, he is, DEAD; and may
legally be declared so;' and, 10, it is re
solved into lao that SIareS are not mora
agents; therefore, the obligation Of TIT
marriage covenant may be annulled at tn
pleasure of the master. In what age O
Fapal darkness, did the Pope give bull
tsrmittiag an indulgence so heavily lade
with iniquity, 50 monStrous, so heaven
daring, as that promulgated by society c
Tsformed christians, in enlightened, reput
Lean, christian, protestant, America, i
the years Of Gospel Light, one thousan
eight hundred and thirty.6ve! Shoat
not Judgment begin at the house Of God?
Now, beloved sisters, in all confidence
will tell you OF a way by which muc
rood may be effected. If our gospe
teachers. will not lead US, we must lea
them Ispeak with all deference--an
vet repeat, emphatically-wE MUS
LEAD THEM To begin, we must ponde
the right way--aud, having ascertaine'
We must pursue il, fearlesSly, Underwriting
" Kindly demonstrating with opposeI
en- -. opposition and abuse with
MEEK and quiet spirit but at the san
time, yielding no opinion, conceding !
principle, Withholding no truth, whi'
conscience tells US it Is right to hold al
maintain. Such course Of conduct W
have its authority. One after another W
notice, enquire, listen, and finally beliey
The Societies will generally pfecede 4
clergy; because. in many instances
perv many, I fear-the latter will not da
20 forward, because it may not be popul
--because some heavily-heeced sheen
the flock may oppose--and they may L
their places. and their popularity, a
their skLARIEsI Well, if they viii
lend us their countenance and author
let us 90 on without them; and when
have faiyly scaled the black and mass
wall Of PREJUDIcE; and assembled f.
the land Of night into the glorious Ii
and liberty ofthe gospel-the land Of U
q versal liberty, universal light, where
peculiarities of form faature, or compl
ION may be- obnoxious 10 prejudice, :.
consequent persecution. Then, when
flock are all gone over. and the sh
herds are lefi well nigh alone the '
force OF attraction. the necessary conn
ton botween prizes, and people, will Dr.
them over 10 us. The land Of the nj
ow Of Death though pleasant land
cough. when illuminated BY good sees