Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-01-10
VOL. XXX, NO. 15... WHOLE NO1576.


disopprobutio1. The vast majority in the tree
states who refuse communion with you nre not
acluaed by base considerations. The fear OF
a setYlle war, the fear Of political commissions,
a perception OF the difficulties uf great social
changes, sell.distrust a dread Of rashnoss,
/ these, AID the like motives, have great n1u-
ence in dcterring muItltudes from giving thei
countcnaucc 10 what scom 10 thcm violc,
movements for the abolition Of slavery. That
culpeble fscnsbly 10 The evils and WRONGS
OF this nclariops institution is loo common in
the class Of which now srcok, do not mean
TO deny. SILL, how vast proportion Of thr
Intelligence, virtue, and pcty Of The country
is TO be found in their ranks. To speak Of
them slightly, contompinously, bitterly, is 10
do great wrong, and such Speaking, fear, has
brought much rcproanh on aholitionism.
The motives which hove induced me 10 make
this long communication TO you, will not, |
trust, be misunderstood. earnestly desire,
my dear Sir, that you, and your associates will
hold fast the right of free disccssion by speech
and the prose, and al the same time that you
will exercise il as Christians, and as friends Of
yonr race. Tlotyou Sir, will not fail in these
duties, | rejoice to believe. Accept my hum
BILE tribute Of respect aud admiration for yo,,r
dislnterestcdness for your laiihfulncss 10 your
CONVICTIONS, under the peculiar sacrifices 10
which you have been called. 1t is my prayer,
that by calm, fearless perseverance in welI.do-
ing you may guide and incite many 10 a like
virtue. -l...
II may be said, thai il is easy FOR one, living
rs / do, al distance from danger, living in
prosperity and ease, TO preach exposure and
suffering 10 you and your lriencs. | can only
say in reply, that lay down no rule for others
which do not feel binding on myself What
should do in the hour Of peril, may be uncer-
tam; but what ough; 10 do, is plain. What
desire 10 do, is known to the Searcher Of all
hearts. 1t is my earnest desire that prosperits
may not unnerve me, that no suffering NAV
shake my consistency in a cause which nv
heart approves. | sometimes indeed fear for
myself when think OF untried persecutons.-.
know not what weaknesses the presence Of
great danger may call forth. But in my mos
deliberate moments see nothing worth living
tor but the divine virtue which cndures and
surrenders all things for truth, duty and man
KIND. look on rcproach, poverty, persecu-
ton and death, as hight evils compared with
uniG'thiuncss 10 PURE and generous principles,
10 the spirit of Christ, and 10 the will oil God.
With these impressions, ought moi to be de.
TERED by self distrust or by MY distance from
danger, from summonng and cheering others
10 conflict with evil. Christianity as ] regard
1t, Is designed throughout 10 forify us for this
warfare. Its great lesson is self sacrifice. Its
distinguishing split is Divine Philanthropy
suffering on the Cross. The Cross, the Cross
is the badge, and standard of our relieion-I
honor all who bear It'll look with scorn on
the selfish greatness Of this world, and with
pity on the most gifted and prosperous in the
struggle for office and power; but look with
reverence on the obscurcst man, who suffers
Tor the Right, who is true TO good but pcrsc-
cuted cause-With these sentiments, sub
scribe myself
Your sincere friend.
VIM L. CLAIMING.