Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-04
From the Philanthropist.
Extract OF a letter from VIM, E. Chan
ming 10 -Jnn1,s n. Bir1eu.

Extract of a letter from Wm. E. Chan
ming to James g.. Birney.
In regard 10 the methods adopted by
the abolitionists Of promoting emancipa-
ton, might find muth to censure; but
when regard their firm. fearless asser-
ton Of the rights Of free discussion. Of
speech aud the press, look on them with
unmixed respect. see nothing to blame
and much 10 admire. To them has been
committed the most important bulwark Of
liberty, and they have acquitted them
selves Of the trust like men and Chris
tians. No violence has driven them from
their post. Whilst in obedience, to con-
science. they have refrained from oppos-
ing force to force, they have still perse-
vered amidst menace aud insult, in bear
ing their testimony against wrong, in CIV
ing utterance to their deep CONVICTIONS
Of such men, do not hesitate to say, that
they have rendered to freedom a more es-
sential service, than any body Of men
among Us. The defenders of freedom are
not those, who claim and exercise rights
which no one assails, or win shouts Of ap-
plause by we'll turned compliments to lib
erty in the days of her triumph. They
are those who stand up for rights which
MODS, conspiracies, or single tyrants put
in jeopardy; who contend for liberty in
that particular form. which is threatened
at the moment by the many or the few
TO the abolitionists this honor belongs
| The first systematic effort to strip the citi.
zen Of freedom ofspeech they have met
with inVincible resolution. From my
heart | thank them. l arm myself their
debtor. know not that should this mo
ment write in safety. had they shrunl
from the conflict, had they shut their lips
\ imposed silence on their presses, and biz
themselves before their ferocious assail
ants. know not where these outrage
would have stopped, had they not met re
sistance from their first destined victims
The newspaper press. with few excep
tons, uttered no genuine indignant rebuk
Of the wrong-doers, but rather countenanc
ed by its gentle censures the reign q
Force. The mass Of the people locke
supinely on this new tyranny under whic
a portion of their fellow-citizens SCENE
to be sinking. A tone Of denuneiatio
was beginning to prescribe all discussio
OF slavery; and had the spirit Of violenc
which selected associations as its first OF
: jects. succeeded in this preparatory entel
: prise. it might have been easily turne
, against any and every individual. VIII
might presume to agitate the unwelcom
/ subject II is hard to say. to what on
, rage the fettered press Of the countr
: might not have been reconciled. THAN
the abolitionists, that in this evil day, the
were true to the rights which the multi
, tude were ready to betray. Their pu'
;. pose to suffer, TO die, rather than surrer
der their dearest Liberties, taught the law
less, that they had a foe to'contend will
whom Il was not safe to press, whilst, lik
all manly appeals. It called forth reAee
:. lion and sympathy in the better portion
the community. In the name Of freedom
aPd humanity. thank them Throug
: their courage. the violence. which migt
haVefnrnishrda precedent fatal to freedom
! is TO become, trust, q warning to tn
. lawless, ofthe folly as we'll as crime Of
= tempting 10 crush opinion by Force.