Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-01-10
From The Cincinnati Phiianthropist.
LETTER OF DIR. VIM. Z. CLAIMING
TO JAMES G.. BIRNEY.
Boston. Nov. 1. 1895.


Ny Dear Sri have moi the honor Of know.
ing you personally; but your history and Wi,
thugs have given me an interest in you which
induces and encourages me to address you
with something of the freedom Of acquGnt-
ance. ] feel myself attracted TO the friends o
| humanity and freedom, however distant and
when such are exposed by their principles 10
| peril and IT, !, and stand firm in the evil day,
| take pleasure in expressing 10 them my SWIM
paihy and admiration. The first accounts
which reached me Of the violence which drove
you from Cincinnati inclined me TO write to
| you but your Narrative OF those riotous pro-
ceedingsj' which | have lately received and
read, does not permit me TO remain longer ST.
lent. The subject weighs much on my mind.
feel that have a duty TO perform in relation
TO 1t, and cannot rest till | yield TO this con-
viction, till ! obey what seems to me the voice
| Of God. | think it best, however not TO con
hne myself to the outrage at Cincinnati, but TO
extend my remarks 10 the spirit of violence
and persecution, which has broken out against
The aboIionists thToug hout the " hole country.
lhs, Know, Will be more acceptable 10 you
than any expression of sympathy with YOU as
an individual. You look beyond yourself. TO
the cause which you have adopted, and to the
much injured body of men with whom you are
associated.
1t is not my purpose 10 cbeak of abolition.
lists as aboliionists. They now stand before
, the world in another character, and to this
shall give my present attention. or their me-
riis and dement's as abolitionists, | have for
merly spoken. 10 my short work on slavery.
l have expressed my fervent attachment to tue
great end 10 which they are pledged, and al the
same time my disapprobalion of their spirit
and measures. have no DISPOSITION TO travel
a rrn III IL ~
been left to pursue their object with the free
dom which is gnarnn led to them by our civil
institutions, had they been resisted only bv
t9ose weapons of reason, rebukc and rcproba-
ton, which the laws allow, | should have no
lnducement 10 speak of them again, either in
praise or censurc. But the violence of their
adversarles has driven them to new position.
AbolltiOnism forms era in our history. if we
consider the means by which it has been on
posed. Deliberate systematic efforts have been
nude, not once or twice, but again and again.
TO wrest from It's adherents that libettv of
speech and the press, which our forofathers as
serted unto blood, and which our national and
state governments are pledged TO protect as
our most sacred right. Its most conspicuous
advocates have been hunted and stoned. its
meetings scattered, its presses broken up, and
hothinS hut The patience, consiancy and inter-
"
JUNCTION. The aboliiionsts, then, not only an
pear as the champions of the colored race, bnt
IN Their persons the most sacred rights of the
white man and the freeman have been assail- |
ed. They are sufferers for the liberty of,
thought, speech and the press, and in main
tanning this liberty amidst insult and violence
they deserve place among its most honorcd
defenders. In this character shall now sneak
OF them. In re. lard 10 The methods adopted nv
The aboiilonIsts Of promoting emancipation. I
might mad much 10 censuro; but when reward
Their llrin, hairless assertion of the rights of
Tree discussion, Of speech and the press | look
On them with unmixed respect. sec nothino
10 blame end much TO admire. To them has
beeo committed the most important buwark
OF liberty, and they have acquitted themselves
OF The trust IKE men and Christians. No vi |
olence has driven them from their post-wbilst
in obedience 10 conscience, they have r,Iro;n'
cd from opposing force 10 force, they have still
per' eyercd amidst menace and insult, in hear /
ING Their testimony against wrong, in giving
utlefance 10 their deep convictions. OF sucb
men, do not hesitate TO say, that thew have !
rendered 10 freedom more essential service
thah any BODY OF men among us. The dcfen. |
oefs OF freedom are not those which claim and
exercise tights which me- one assals. or who
win shouts Of applause by we'll turned rom.
pllments to liberty in The days of her triumrb. /
they are those who stand up for RIGHTS which
RODS, conspracies, or single lyrans put in
jeopardy who contend for Liberty in that par.
'Irular form, which is threatened at the mo-
lnpn> by The many or the few. To the aboli. |
lIonIsis this honor belongs. The first SYSTEM
a'lc tforl TO strip the citizen Of freedom of
speech they have met with invncble resolu.
llon' From my heart ! thank Them. am
Iahf -
lhs moment write in safety, had thew SHRINK
rom The conflict had they shut their Inns i'm
posed silence on their presses, and hid them
selves before their ferocous assailan,s. I
know not where these outrages would have
stopped, had they not met resistance from
hcir ilrsi destined victims. The newspaper
PRESS WIN lew exceptions uttered no genuine
indignant robuke Of the wrong -doers, but ra-
her counlenanced by its gentle censures, tho
elsn OF Force. The mass Of the pcople look.
ID suplnely on this new tyranny under which
! portion OF their fellow citizens seemed 10 he
linking. A tone Of denuncialion was BEGIN.
ing 10 prnscribc ALL discussion of slavery.
ma had The spirit OF violence which selected
associations as lis first objects, succeeded in
ms preparatory enterprise, Il mialt have been
aShy turned against any and every individual ,
'uo hi2hl presume 10 agltate the unwelcome
upJec'; IL IS hard 10 say 10 what outrage the I
cl'ered press Of the country might moi have !
zen reconciIed. | thank the aboltionists,
hat IN This evil day, they were true TO The
lgh's which the multitude were ready 10 be. ,
ray. Their purpose 10 suffer- TO die, rather
han surrender their dearest liberties, TAUGHT s
ne luwIess that they had foe 10 contend with !
nom II was not safe 70 press, whilst, like all
'anly appeals, it called forth reelection and !
ympalhy in the better portion Of the commu. r
iy., In tho name of freedom and humanity I
'ank them. Through their courage, the yio l
'nce, which might have furnished a precedent d
llal 10 lr0edOm, is 10 become, trust. a wnrn. 2