Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-03-14
For the Waterman and State Journal.
ANTI-SLAVERY.

Messrs. Editors: Though have become in
general avcrse TO writing for public journals, l
am inclined to offer some reply TO COMMUNE
cation in your paper Of February Ia, by Am
iCus Popui.' The writer, 10 borrow his own
language, exhibits "much OF crude and hastily
formed opinion" upon the subject Of abolition.
He appearsto be one of the many who are dis
posed to censure Abolitionists without under
standing their yiews and plans. Perhaps alb.
olitionists are deserving enough OF censure, but
it is desirable that those who administer ii
would be more specific and instructive, and
that they would particularly inform US not on
ly what we do and say ,amiss, but how we
might do and say better.
Anxious Populi epjoins '"the language bf
kindness as well as OF earncstness and fidelity"
in speaking Of slavery. But what is the Ian.
guage OF kindness7 The slave-h holder is in the
habit of soothing his conscience with excuses
and palliatives. Do kindness and fidelity re-
quire us plainly TO tell him the nature and e.
normity of his crime? We arc accustomed TO
speak oftheft and dishonesty in severe terms
Do kindness and fidelity require US to speak
Of slave-holding in severer, or in milder Ian
guage7 Abolaionists believe that the kidnap-
per only begins wrong which the slave hold
err perpetuateS, and that slave-holding is essen
TALLY kidnapping continued Are they correct
in this belief, and il correct, does true kindness
require them to speak as they believer Abo-
litionists regard slove-holding as the sum Of
all the wrongs and outrages which men COM
nit against each other, and believe it is by no
means the less criminal for its having been
long practised. Are they right in believing
so, and ought they earnestly 10 declare their
belief If not, will A. p. inform them what
they ought to believe and how 10 speak
Some slave. dealers come into town in
New England and sieze u number OF ,chite
men, women s. children, and carry them TO
southern slave-market, where they are dispo-
sed Of TO the highest bidder, just as blacks are.
Now, If A. p, were required TO describe this
outrage in language as mild as could be used
consistently with fidelity, what terms would
he employ2 Would he speak Of those who
seized the white people as men-stealers? and.
ifso, what would he call those whe purchased
and held them in slavery7
Perhaps A. p. thinks abolitioLists have done
injustice 10 shareholders by expggerating the
wrongs Of slavery. If SO, he might do an i'm
portant service by showing wherein and how
far they have exaggerated.
Mrs. Grlmkc, whose Appeal has been ex.
tensively read, was a CaroIinan, brought up
in The midst Of slavery. After having "read
many anti-slavery pamphlets, papers &. books, !"
she says, &C am not at all afraid to assert that
ant-slavery publications have not overdrd,vn
the mons'rous features of slavery at all" Her
mind appears remarkably gentle, yet che calls
slavery monster of inIquily."
A. P's. notion of immediate and uncondi-
tional emancipation is, 10 let loose all the black
population of the South, and "sufier them TO
roam wherever they, in their folly and gno.
rance, might happen 10 please" This surely
would not be giving the slaves such freedom as
white people epioy--a freedom regulated by
law. 1t would be rather giving them up TO IL
centiousness, than giving them freedom. II
would be more like changing them from do
nestle beasts 10 wild beasts, than changing
them from brutes to men. We ask for the
slaves immediate freedom, and we insist that
they ought TO have it nditiona ily, that is,
without being sent TO hiberia, and without a
compensation TO their masters. But when wo
say freedom, we do not mean RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Our writer asserts that the domestic slave
trade may be abolished, the separation OF fam
lilies prohibited" &c., but the slave dis a
slave still, so long as he is subject to the will
Of his master" Here A. p. docs not seem TO
observe the distinction between slavery and
voluntary servitude or apprenticeship. Tho
sole object Of slavery is the masters pleasure
or profit without regard to the saye's happi-
ness. The masters power over his slave is
unlia,ited, unconditional, and perpetual: he
may exact what he pleases- withhold what he
pleases-inflict what he pleases, and all this
as long as he peases. But the hired servant
or apprentice has the advantage OF a compact
securing mutual benefits to the master & ser
want. In this case the masters power is limit
ed both in degree and duration, and depends