Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-09-18
For the Watchman and Journal.

The first 1nnuql Report Of the Waitsfeld
Female .Anti-slauery Society, at their an
nual meeting hoi3eH ,4ugust sOfh, 1887.
Amidst :he food OF light which is eman-
ainr from the pens Of talented and liiera-
~ men, and the mighty efforts which are
making by efficient agens TO diiiuse inior-
nation from the pulpit, and other places Of
public worship, upon the subject OF equal
rights; it cannot be expected that an OBJ
scure individual con add to the force OF ar
qumen.s already familiar 10 YOU, or bring
any hidden thing ia light. Deeply do
participate in the misfortune OF this associ-
atlnn in not having IA ab'r per on to Off
ciate on this occasion. But since circum-
stances have rendered il necessary that
should be Mus stationed, ! will not shrink
from an eXertion to answer the expectations
81 the society. A variety ofmolives might
be urged for engaging with ar&or in this
mighty enterprise. SDch indeed is the pre-
sent state OF things. that we are in danger
of relapsnr into selishness and losing sight
al the ultimate object OF all Antislavrry ell
forts. The lettering state Of orr political
fabric cannot fail TO interest the feelings Of
every patriotic heart, and draw forth the
ieryent calculations Of every christian phi
ianthrupist, that God wouId withhold his
Just indigna lion, aud save our republic
from impending ruin. am aware of the
objection that ladies' Should not interest
themselves in political affairs. Is il moth
ing TO vs., whether we live under dcspoic
or republican government? Is it nothing
10 us whether our children enjoy the boon
of liberty, inherited by them from their Gre
ator, and which our Ia hers bcd to secure,
or whether il he wresled from them by ,he
hands OF ambitious, designing men Are
not the interests and rights OF our male cit
liens ours, in common with them? Tho
our sphere OF action differs widely from
theirs, it is no less important. Said the
Hon. Bale Peyton of Tennessee, in allu-
sion to petitions TO Congress, 81 did not
like those abolition petitions signed by The
women. Some affected 10 despise them
but he regarded them in very different
light. These women, Sir, have the educa-
ton of the rising generation and the youth
ofour country will be brought up from their
cradles, like Hannibal, TO swear on their
domestic ai1ars, eternal hatred 70 slavery
II is 5eI] lsihat nearly every honest
heart stt saesent day, appreciates the
inhueh ~ z zursex. | do not speak OF il
as a masfef eboaslng- Otherwise -
When we M6k abroad upon our nation and
view with the glance Of the mind, the com
motions, dissentions. aud the numerous
moral evils which are lurking, like the in.
ternal fires of volcano, in the heart Of oul
republic, we have cause for the greates
humility and Sc i-ahasement before Cod
We cannot duly estimate our responsibility
withou; proper view Of the extent of ou
influence. For this reason, the subject can
not be too strongly urged upon our consd
Grafton. Upon mothers, under God, in
great measure, hang the desin:es OF ma
lions. You may starte at this idea, as in
volving such immense responsibilities: bu
do not reject il as absurd, until you hav,
weighed il in all its bearings. Scrutinz
the conduct and disposition Of your child
lnstil into his mind the principles which
are Indispensable 10 his own future well
being; let the golden rule, "Do unto others
whatsoever We would that they should d,
unto you" be ever before him, in precep
and example, and as his capacities enlarge
and his mind becomes matured, see how
much OF the impress OF the mother is man
Hest in the manhood OF the child. Tn
principle of equal rights, will be too firm
fixed to be easily overcome. His sou
would revelt at the practice of slavery, o
its kindred evil, arstocracy. Mother,
whilst You are thus cutivaline the mind
of your offspring, and imparling, or Prov
ding for their literary instruction, thus pre-
pairing them for future usefulness and res
peciablIily, remember the colored mother
who, Ignorant upon almost every sublec
but her own miseries, sees her children q
permitted TO remain with her) growing NJ
not for usefulness and Responsibility in 50
cety-not 10 he her comfort and support i
the decline OF life, but to add to the Golfer
Of the master for whom she is doomed 4
toll without compensation. Upon thi