Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-15
THE TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY, MARCH Is.

BRANDON. WEDNESDAY, MARGINS
VERMoHT ANTI-SLAvERY SoclErY-THrR
ANNUAL MEETINe-Proceedings continued.
LETTERS FROM FRIENDS OF THE cAusE.
PHLADELPHIA,F e5. Z, 1887.
MY DEAR BRoTHER: The relation which have
sustained 10 the Anti-Slayery Society Of nv na-
i've state for the last two years-my personal
friendship for large number Of its members
and my warm interest in the great object to which
Ito Efforts are directed, conspire to render my ne
eesssry absence from il approaching anniversary
no small trial 10 my feelings. Called in the pro-
violence OF God 10 labor in another field, and
being thus deprived Of the privilege Of meeting
with the Society on the occasion r. ferred TO,
permit me, through you, to communicate few
thoughts which crowd upon my mind. and which
hope may be found not altogether devoid of in
terest Of the present time.
OF all the topics embraced il the anti-.layery
creed. u seems 10 that no one IS Of surh trans
eendent importance, or requires to be held up so
prominently before the public mind, as the deep
and s1siDers0I stnfntness Of sIGue-holdiag. it
e the turning point Of the whole controversy
There Is not singe objection 10 our measures
which does not proceed upon denial Of this prop
oation, and hence It's ruth needs 10 be made
clearly manifest. That slavery 10 Renernllv sim
fal. b not often denie.l. except by is nconfgibe
advocates. the MeDuiies, Greens, Hammonds,
Pineknsys and Plumen; but Il IL streuuou.y con-
tended that u 10 not ditoays 80. II 10 said there
are hunireds Of men who love their slaves, who
supply ell their natural wants, protect them from
g'oss sbuse. and sord them religious instruction;
and t is insisted that in such cases slavery il no
Hn- We may speak Of stakeholder, ecntroiIv
- sinners, and apply 10 them the severest ephets;
out We are inquired, under the penalty of being
denounced 40 unchartable fanatics, 10 except from
eensure the class above described. Now il ap-
pears to ma that those who make these demands
ot ~ have no adequate conception Of what slavery
s-that 10 fact they take false view Of the sys-
ZEN They appear to considrr that its sinful
ness lies chiefly, il not exclusively, in its fettrr,
aud stipes-iIs chains and msnacIes. There
could not be greater mistake. These things, vile
ana sinful ~ they are, only the icidenIoLs of
the system-the fruits Of that still greater and
more enormous sin, which Is the essence Of slave
~ m eUeTy case Of its eSisIence--HE HOLDING
OF MAN AZ PROPERTY. 10 respect to this Tea
lure OF slavery-that in fact which distinguishes il
from every other relation and constitutes il, yerv
essence ali save-holders the kind as we'll as the
eruei-the wretch who drives his victims, naked
ana starving, to their unrequited toll and suhecst
mem 10 the most inhuman northumberland the
Professed minister Of The gospel, who inst, ucts
them IN their duties to one another and to God,
.esA bo"S Ilcm DeIOre the meTCV-Seat OF
heaVen-are upon the same level: tey are all
anke guilty OF Withholding inaIienakIe rights
OF ramPlIng under foot the image of God, and
dsreS ardIng The eternal and immutabIe distinction
between person and thing. And herein CON-
sists their greatest guilt. The cyeiies Of slave
~, as they are generally termed. are nothing
to thIs-a mere drop in the bucket, compared
with The sin Of making man property. II every
save IN the land wee a. well treated a. the
heppiest OF his class. the deep and damning guilt
OF slavery would still remain. and il would he our
duty to bear testimony against the system a.
1.-THE highest kind Of theft"-the most outrageous
robbery of which man can be guilty
Take a case which will illustrate the folly Of at
tempting 10 screen from the class Of slave
holders referred to. The foreign slave trade is
condemned by law and public opinion as piracv
why! Is 1t chiefly because that traffic is atten-
dea with peculiar cruelty 70 those who are its
victims! Lsr because they are crowded into the
Floating bells" without regard to physical com
fOrt and lett TO die Of thirst and sufocation7 Not
at all IL the guilt consisted only in the manner
IN which the traffic Is carried on it could not be
justly branded % piracy IL is thus branded on
account OF the nature Of the act out Of which all
10 attendant evils flow. Suppose a protesting
CHRISTIAN should ut out vessel for the slave.
trade; and instead Of burning and sacking the
villages OF the defncelets African. TO Obtain his
cargo OF human flesh, he should purchase it Of
sIAveholdlng prince; and suppose that instead of
rTowding hrs victims into the hold Of his vessel in
suc5 manner a. 10 sacrifice their health aud com.
tort, he should afford them every convenience on
their voyage. We will suppose that I've even
decks them with splendid clothing, AffoIds them
the most sumptuous fave. and employs a chaplain
(lhe Rev. MIR. Tracy for instAncr) to pray with
and instruct them! Would all this alter tie la |
ture OF the traffic, or him from the halter p
BY no means He wou still be regarded a. a
wretch III only Tor the society Of d. MODS! l
the slave trade cannot be justified from these iu-
eldentsi circumstance, much less can slavery, |
which Is the fountain from which that trade
originals
II were called upon to point out class Of
shareholders more guilty than any other, I would
point to thOse very ministers and protesting
Christians conc erhing whom apologies are often
est made. They stand, more than any Other
class, IN the way Of reform; and their respecta-
bllity but renders their example the more pern- |
eious. Just 10 proportion as they Top of the more
odious features Of slavery, and supply their place
with kindness and prayers. Just in that proportion
does their example tend to make the great sin |
OF slavery resPtetaLIe-to hide i:s deformity and
perpetuale its existence. such men, moreover. |
are generally better Informed than any other class
o. slavehoders and hence, on the principle that
light graduates guilt, they are must Justly OBJ |
noxlous to the charge Of high-handed criminality |
u % now a. Il was in ancient time: (" judgment |
must begin a the house Of God"-the church |
must hrst be purified before the system Of slavery
can be Uverthrown. TO ---'.'
my earnest desire that your approaching
anniversary may be marked By jealous and united |
action IN the great cause of human rights-that
your Society may adhere TO The great principles
Of freedom with a 6rmness worthy Of tbe hardy
IONS oi the Green MOuntains-and that the truth
pure and unsuIlied. may have free course, run
and be giorihed. until every vestIge Of Cypress.
ion shail DC done away aud the whole human fami-
" shall rejoice in the liberty wherewith Christ
makes fee Yours AFT ctionately,
OLIVER Johnson.
o. ,. hURRAY, Cor. Sec. VI. A. 8. 8.
Noarn-FxRRIssUReH ID month 18Th, 1857.
Mr. D.As FsIKEp, oRsoH 9. MURRAY Though
prevented ~ dtspensailon Of Providence from al