Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-08
THE TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON, wEDNEsDAY,MARcHs
VERMONT ANTi1SLAvERY SoctErY-THnr
ANNUAL MEETING.

L
ANNUAL MEFrRe.
TProceedings continued.1
N.Culver, Agent Of the American Anti
Slavery Society, introduced the following
resolution, which he supported at length,
and which was adopted:
Rssolued, That the objections to the ag-
itation OF the question Of abolition at the
North, and the emancipation Of the slaves
A. tee South, have their origin in selfshness
21d Worldly expedieney.
The 6rst objection which be would no
tict was, that abolitiouists are charged with
trarnPling on the constitutional rights Of the
South.
Large numbers Of influential men stand
aloof from Us and our measures on this pre-
tsxt. But what do We do, that subjects us
to such charge7 Why, we send out agents,
over the length and breadth Of the land
wherever they can be heard, to set forth to
the people the sin Of slavery, aud its rene
dy, which Is abolition. Now what are the
South doing7 Why, they send Mr.. Hunt,
their Temperance lecturer, to the North, to
tell rs Of the wickedness and impolicy of
making, vending and drinking alcoholic
poison, and to point out to Us the remedy,
which IS total abstinence. How have we
tramplsd on the constitution more than they 2
Alcohol is legslized property, as much as
slaves. The people Of the North have
rights Of property as well as the people Of the
South. And the constitution protects the
former, as much as il does the latter. Free
discussion Of either subject is no violation
OF the constitution. The objection, besides
being entirely selfish, has no foundation in
truth.
Objection I'd. Abolitionists are producing
agitation and disturbance a. the North
What an alarmist and agitator is he who
runs through the street in the night crying,
ire fire when neighbours house, a village
or city T. wrapt in flames! Surely, he who
does It ought to be branded as fanatic and
disturber. But what does the fact that the
North is agitated and disturbed show 1t
proves that the North is not right on the
subject--that there is cause for the meas
ures which produce the perturbation. Are
temperance men disturbed at the preaching
Of Temperament 1t is those who ought to
be disturbed, that are disturbed. So in re-
gard to slavery. II the North were all right
on the subject, there would be no dis
turbancs here At the discussion Of it,
i would be very disturbing 10 a sheep
stealer to be followed constantly with the
cry Of @baa, baaw
Selhshness prompts mauy Of our mer-
chants aud manufacturers who are in trade
with the South, to raise a cry against aboli-
ton. They are greatly disturbed lest some
how they should lose their present profits
arising from trade with the South. Among
these interested pleaders, perhaps none
would be more Immediately and seriously
affected than a Uhip mandatory in Liber,
ty Street e. New-York city. If slavery is
abolished their factory must go down.
Examine what objections you will-trace
back to their cause any of the violent pro-
ceedings against the abolitionists at the
North, and they will be found to have ORR
giDated in selfshness or worldly expediency.
The leaders Of the mob at Utica, those raw
ing defenders Of the constitution who got
up riot to preserve order in that city
were principally Office holders and Office
seekers. One was member of Congress
who has since received his reward Mr..
G. had been astopished, and others would
be, in examining cases. Almost invariably
il will be found thar there is some relative al
the South STAKEHOLDER, or al the North
candidate for Office, or there will be found
lying a the bottom some other selfish or
worldly policy He instanced the case Of a
certain deacon Of his acquaintance, who was
in many respectsa good and valuable man.
He had wondered for long time why the
deacon could not be enlisted in the anti
slavery cause One day he inquired Of
neighbor TO know if he could divine to him
the reason. Why, don't you know, replied
the neighbor, that the deacOn's son is can
didate Cor The Office of justice Of the peace
inquire carefully, and most of the opposition
can be traced to some such cause. There
Is ONCE or interest in view for themselves,
the u relatives or their friends. 1t originates
IN sheer selhshnsss and time-serving e1pe-
diency.
Again, he would repeat: The tact that
there is agitation Is the strongest proof of
the necessity Of the work which produces
IT, Luther was one Of the greatest aeits,ors
and incendiaries Of his day. But who viii