Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-07
For the Vermont Phoenix.
BUTLER COUNTY, ONO, !
March 20, 1887. !

. ~Ot ASOs'
/ NJ DEAR FRIEND:-In my last commu-
tcslon, admitted that Slavery is aorong,-
anis moral evil--a political ;nconsis-
suty, under a government like ours-that
=, influence on the society in which ii exists
extensively evil-and that its practical
oral tendency is necessarily evil. | am
Hing also 10 admit, that it is sore polite
evil to those States who are yet under the
sessity Of maintaining it.
Having therefore admitted as possible,
bib in the abstract and practical view OF
avery, all that your abolitionists require,
Pu will now expect me, perhaps, to be will
pg 10 join you in the " Holy work Of I'm
edale Abolition But here you may be
appOiuied Religious duty and moral OBJ
CATION are as extensive as the limits of our
Obe; and before can consent TO act hastily,
am anxious 10 learn the mode by whichthese
ples and obligations are to be brought into
bcraliOn Otherwise, | might, perchance,
So'er that in their practical effect, | had
ade one religious duty contradict or DIES.
by some other religious duty. lncompati-
Is and contradictions, you know, are in
&Senl with Divine Wisdom.
am now, therefore, necessarily led to the
Institutional view of Slavery. Here. my
Sir is where we difer-and the differ
sS wlde. 1t is here that your Abolition
en- and | pray God that it may not, in
IRE tune, become an error, the practical
grafton Of which will Justly subjectits ad-
a'es' or ltsasenls, to the charge OF treason
alnS the government.
Lei US now take view of the Constitu.
|Aal ground on which this question. in
rests. 1t will be remembered, that be-
'le war OF the revolution, each colony
independent Of the others-and after
war each colony, or State, was still in
pendent oil the rest.-and also Of all other
as' Kingdoms and societies on the whole
A But the different States knew their
Weakness; and having already expert
go The great Inconvenience of not hav,
a@und understanding with others. as
nsa general interest by which a con.
VI action could be produced. whenever
''a'y required, agreed to form a written
upd0 under the denomination of a Consti
"" ms Constitution has been formed
accepted byall the States, in due FORM
10 SAID Constitution we find no express
tla,On that Slaves shall never be freed
''' vaey shall always continue in bond
mat instrument is silent on this sub
But IN article LIST, section 2d,and clause
slated, that Representative and di
IaeS shall be apportioned among the
'rl e'a'es which may be included within
n on'on according to their RESPECTIVE,
nV''S, which shall be determined by ad
'he whole number of free persons
,sung those bound to service for tern
>. ,s1 es, and excluding Indians not taxed.
'u"ns Of all other persons" Her,
a, We md authority for the practice o
Os !Ou nave termed "Slave representa-
o,,, Asaln-article list, sec. 9th, 18th,
'u VI Importation of snch persons al
IDs, 'ue States now existing, shall thinl
ns,.., admit, shall not be prohibited b,
H t Ia PRIOR TO eighteen hundred ant
i~ n" TAX or duty may be imposed oil
e,,S pOI'a'loo, not exceeding ten dollar
nuia, person" Here, again, we find tn
rS. r'0n, the authority, allowing you
m ,,u ancestors, and others, TO continu
'.,au of Slaves until the year 1906
aiD 1'eu 10 a former communications
n., article 4lh, sec. I'd, and clause 80
i % 'ns held to service or labor in on
Ge s". .b.,! The laws thereof, escaping int
ua,o snail IN consequence of any law O
lice W therein, be discharged from sue
ta;n AIM Iaeor,-but shall be delivered ur
abo' a Of the party to whom such seryic
D,s.. may be due" Here then we fin
Is , ~Sy declared, in substance, that thos
Ia. r;"S,. held Slaves, shall be protecte
spaI hgall and furthermore, that mo la,
'''aa0n' in any sister State shall de,