Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-18


different from that which may be antici-
pated from men"ot the world. Of what
use otherwise are the rectitude and tender
ness Of conscience, the holy light, and the
exalted principles which characterize a
Christian Now, it is to the churches Of
which you are the representatives, that we
make our appeal. Professors Of the name
Of Christ whatever others, do, we en-
treat you, neither hold a slave, nor counte-
nance slavery.
According to some allegations, indeed,
which, with whatever truth, have been
made on behalf of American Shareholders,
we are called on 10 believe, that through
the force Of iniquitous laws, the Liberation
Of the slaves is lmpracucabIe. Otherwise
we are assured many would gladly set
them free, but, in existing circumstances
1t is necessary and even obligatory to de-
tain them. Of course we understand this
as the language of lamentation and COM
plant. Here is a practical, and avowed-
ly regretted restriction on the liberty of
the holder Of slaves he may not give the
freedom be wishes to give The duty Of
person thus situated, surely becomes OBJ
vious in an instant. We say TO him, if a
law which either imposes an impossible
condition on manumission, or DEGREES the
seizure Of manumiued slave, makes 1t
imperative on you to detan him for the
moment, ought you not to be making rest
less endeavors for the repeal of that law,
and using every means to prepare for the
easy acquisition and the safe possession of
that freedom, which it is your right to
give, and his 10 enjoy! Wthouts such en-
deavors, it becomes manifest that the ex-
istence of the law is but a pretext for the
STAKEHOLDER, and his acquiescence in it
renders him partaker in its iniquity. In
ordinary cases, however, we conceive we
can not be in error in regarding slavery
as optional. Now we raise an argument
on this ground, and We can not hesitate 10
affirm that however it might be repealed
by a man Of the world, it ought to be
enough for Christian. To hold a fell
low creature in bondage, is to hold him
in condition personal degradation and
disadvantage; condition, as it now ex-
lists, which denies him access to the vari-
Gus sources of instruction and avenues of
advancement which are open to others -
which allows no sacredness of domestic
ties, but sets at naug ht the divine institu.
ton Of marriage, and with it both the af-
fections and the duties Of the conjugal and
parental relations, which makes man an
outcast from society, and repels him not as
an alien merely, but as brute, from the
community, Of which he is nevertheless a
constituent and vital part; which, in the
great majority ofinstances, involves labors
which shorten life, and in too many cases
the almost murderous extinction of it, and
which, in fine, impedes most grievous y a
slaves religious instruction, fosters his
vices Of every kind, and renders all but
impossible, for the most part his glorify-
ing God on earth or his learning the way
to heaven. Now we suppose It to be at
the option of a Christian, whether he will
hold fellow creature in a condition like
this. Can it for a moment be doubted
what his choice will be! Or can any
one, in either hemisp here, consent to call
him Christian, who chooses to have a
slave! WHAT is Christianity reduced
not merely to a name, but mockery .
Does its loud proclaim of "good will to
men mean nothing more THAI a sanction
for the right of. power? Is it no longer
the law Of our acknowledged sovereign
. DO We to others as We would that they
should do to youp' Are equity, benevo-
lence, and compassion, no more the char
acteristic and indispensable virtues of oul
protesslon9
If any one should meet this appeal by
saying that he treats his slaves as his chill
dren, we must rep y first, that he can ii
, no way do so we'll for them as by break.
, ping their chains; secondly, that he can
{ not tell who may come after him, nor how
soon and thirdly, that his example up
2 holds denominations which he refuses tt
, practice, and would appear to condemn.
/ Nor should we be siIenced. by being in
3 formed Of what We very we'll know, tina
}. in the southern states slavery is pollt
ical institution" We are not poltica
!, meddlers. But we suppose that even th
d political institution" of slavery does no
deprive the freeman of his liberty. W.
Y appeal, therefore, still to the heart of
n Christian, as to his individual choice
}, Our language is, fellow Christian and
= il fellow Christian, man of benevolen
d spirit Of universal love! VIII you hot
i a slGrer'
l. How can We conceive the heart of
r Christian debating, or permitting, an
n other answer than one to this question !
lr / WILL NOT. We must think the cas-
ID decided, therefore, with every Christian
n ifh be merely at his option. But we ca
ID not let il rest here. While it may assu1
D. redIy be expected that Christian wouI
b break every yoke if he might, it is impo
ID tant for him to remember not only that h
s, may but that if he can he must. Th
le declarations, "tbou shalt love thy neigI
II 4 IL.