Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-01-14

been honored. appeal to all with whom l
have had any transactions, pecuniary or 9th l
erwise, to point to an act, word, at variance
with honor, honesty, or veracity.
| came not to the the United States, as
has been falsely and wickedly asserted, "a
fugitive from JUSTICE" l left the country
of nv birth after an arduous and triumphant
public career, laden with benefits, and watt
ed by the blessings and prayers of Chris
tan community. Iherethe paths to honor,
independence, and popularity, were before
me, and by many | was sought to stay and
tread them. preferred to visit your shores.
l came, as you and all who know me can
bear testimony, not to seek the silver and |
gold so largely obtained by other "foreign-
ers," but to spend and spent in the cause
| of freedom and humanity, asking only a
hearing on behalf Of the captive pining and
signing within the borders Of your free and
fertile land. have been accused Of "abu-
sing the hospitality" have received. be-
lleve the charge will never be preferred by
any who have cherished the stranger. against
whom this accusation is so often hurled: it
never shall be, if gratitude which neither
time nor distance can efface or weaken, and
fervent love and active zeal for the true
welfare of their country, will commend me
to their continued regard. The charge.
however, has invariably originated. | believe,
with those from whom, if any friend of the
slave were to ask bread he would receive
stone; or if a fish, he would receive SER
pent or If an egg, would receive a scorpion.
While thus repel certain charges which
have been unIustly brought against me, let
1t not be understood that desire to claim in
talhblllty, or to vindicate, excuse or palliate
any act OF my past life which is Justly rep
rehenslbIe; God forbid | trust have too
sacred regard for the principles of truth and
integrity to attempt to weaken their force up
on my own or other minds by extenuating
any conduct involving a violation of those
principles. Wherein l have erred, have no
hesitation in speaking in terms of the bitter
f est self-reproach. Before heaven and the
world am ready frankly and sorrowfulIy to
acknowledge my faults. Could any labor.
any sacrIhce-cOuld my tears or nv blood
explate to society, or to individuals, the err
} rorS OF my past life, | would freely do and
, suffer all within my power. What more
can say? What more need say What
t more IS required, in reference to my fellow
! men, by Him who is the righteous Judge of
! all mankind What more is demanded bv
any Christian in America-in the world :?
. To the enemies of the sacred cause | advo-
cate, nothing could say would be satisfac-
. tory. In their eyes the crime of an indiyid-
ual consists, not In apOlogising for sin or
f continuing IN SIN, but IN repentance and re-
t formation IN turning from SIM and bringing
forth fruits meet for repentance Then is
e he brought up for judgment, and condemned
j. and punished for the sins of the past on &C.
= count OF the rectitude and unblanableness OF
q his present conduct. No fact is more obvi-
l. Gus than this. The men who most severely
l. scrutlnlze the character and conduct of abo
- Huonlsts, and compass sea and land" tC
Il frame a charge against them, are the oDen
d shameless, and systematic defenders of Z
f. SYSTEM OF PIRACY, LUST, HEATHENIsM AM
+ soUL-MURDER. To such | make no appeal
R They lack every principle of sound & right
IF eOus judgment. To those in the Christian
F world, who, forgetting the "charity" which
D "reJolceth not in iniquity, but reioiceth il
&c the truth" which 'hopeth all things and be
t; lleveth all things" are prone gladly to re
d celVe, and eagerly to propagate, reports :njn
to rIous to the reputation and usefulness O
st those who are laboring in the cause of hu
% mainly and freedom, | would say, Study tn
= character Of Him whose disciples YOU pro
- TESS to be-remember His awful words
$, Judge not, that We be not Judged Fo
e. with what judgment We judge, We shall
s. Judged; and with what measure We mete,
I'd shall be measured unto you again He tina
a. is 1o1tEoW sir among you, let him first cas-
,ir a stone"
s. thank God, cherish no feelings of bitter
er ness or revenge towards any individual i
)f- America-my most inveterate enemy not e2
he Cepted. Should the sea, on which I am 9
he bout to embark, receive me ere | gain nv ma
us tive shore-should this be the last letter
on ever address to you, and, through you. to III
n people of America, Heaven bear me witnes
nd | with truth and sincerity affirm, that, as
he look to be freely forgiven, so freely do TO
he give my prosecutors and slanderers an
N pray" Lord, lay not this sin to the
ev charge"
all Should kind Providence place me aga
ds upon the soil of my birth, and when Their
A should any American (and hope many viii
ar visit that soil, to plead the cause Of Writ
Ike and philanthropy, and strive, in love, to pr
rts woke us to good works, let him know TIL
red there will be one man who will uphold h
on right to liberty Of speech-one man wi
a. will publicly and privately assert and mai
Ice tain the divinity of his commission to attat
re- SIN, and alleviate suffering in every form,
md every latitude and by whatever name. ar
ich under whatever sanctions and authorities
ion may be cloaked and guarded. And, comir
ac- on such an Grand | think may pledge m
self, on behalf of my country, that he shs
hat not be driven, with a wife and little one
up- from the door of hotel, in less than thirt
gs, six hours after he first breathes our air-th
ion he shall not be denounced as an "incendi
the ry," "fanatic," an emissary," an " en-
nst my,"-that he shall not be assailed wi
ich oaths and missiles, while proclaiming fro
I'M the pulpit, in the house of God, on the e7
ate ming Of Christian Sabbath, the doctrines
ON Judgment, justice and mercy,"-that
Iple shall not be threatened, wherever he got
the with tar and feathers,-tha he shall not
INTO repudiated and abused in miscalled religio