Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-05-31
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.

go free Immediately
Yes,-in the sense of that passage of
scripture; which is, that the oppressor
should let the oppressed 60 free from OPP
preston. A father may Cypress his son,
and oughtto let him 60 free from oppres-
sion, though not from parental govern
ment The keeper of a prison may op-
press the prisoner. He oughtto let them
60 free from oppression, but not from i'm
prisonment. And so in many other cases.
The master may Cypress his slave, and
ought Immediately to let him 60 free from
every shadow of such oppression; but it
does not certainly follow, that in all states
of society and Of law, such master ought
Immediately to let the slave 60 free from
the legal relation in which the two stand
to each other. 1t is possible that cases
may exist in which it would be cruel and
unjust to the slave to do so. (6)
Question 8. do you apprehend any
danger, should the slave be set free in
stantIy?"
Taking the definition of slavery and
freedom as in the preceding answers, we
say, No. That is, we should not appre-
bend any evils to be compared with those
that exist in the present state Of things.(c.)
Question 4. "Are the principles on
which the Anti-Slavery Societies are bas-
ed, in accordance with those taught by our
Savior? ?"
No. For instance Our Savior be-
gins with proclaiming the great law of
love, and proceeds to the duties that result
from it; and according to the principles
taught by him, the relations of imam to man
are to be brought right by the influence
of that great law. The Anti-Slavery So
cieties, on the contrary, begin with the
assertion of rights, and 60 on to urge
claims founded on those rights, In this
respect the two are as far apart as the
spirit of worldly and of Christian reforma-
ton. Again Our Savior teaches that
sin proceeds from the heart. According
to his principles, those onl y are guilty OF
the sin of slaveholding, who sustain the
relation, in law, of owner to a slave, with
slaveholding spirit. The Anti-SIavery
Societies, on the contrary, hold that the
very relation itself is necessarily sin in
him that sustains it, whatever may be his
motives and spirit. Our Savior-to no.
tIce one more particular-our Savior has
given US the Gospel, as appropriate to the
wants of men in all circumstances; as the
only and adequate remedy for the evils
that exists among men and as adapted to
bring all the relations Of man to man into
accordance with the principles of truth
and justice and brotherly love. The
Anti-Slavery Societies, on the other hand,
deny the adaptation and suficiency of the
Gospel in certain circumstances they
maintain that the laws OF the country must
first be altered, and that it is duty to
postpone, for the present, the preaching OF
the Gospel to every creature, to make way
for an agitation of the community by
which change IL the laws may be bro't
about. (d.)
Question S. when a man becomes
convinced the above principles are correct
is 1t his duty to advocate them"
Yes,-for one of the very principles is
that such advocacy is, in all cases, duty.
This answer, however, implies what we
fear is often wanting. In most cases we
Judge tito be the first duty of man thus con.
WINGED, 10 re-examine the grounds of his
conviction. With the great majority oil
his fellow Christians against him, he
ought not to act without the most serious
and thorough study Of subj Ct. He
should think twice. He should go over
the ground again and again, with the best
help'he can obtain on both sides, and with
tervent prayer for Divine guidance If
after studying the subject long enough in
proper spirit, with adequate data, and
with the Difference due to the opinions oil
the judicious and wise, a man finally
comes to the conclusion that the principles
OF the Anti-Slavery Societies are right
we know no other way than for him to alb.
Vocate them with al! his might. (e.)
,Questio" 6. Is there any good reason
why the sin of slaveholding should be re.
Pented of and forsaken By degrees, while
the command ofthe Savior is to repent Of
every sin tO-ddy?"
No,-not shadow of good reason
Every slave holder ought to repent of and
torsake all the sin of which he is guilty in
that relation, Immediately. 1t should be
done in moment. He ought not to wait
as he must on the principles of the Anti,
Slavery Societies, till the legal relation be.
tween himself and his slave can be dissolv-
ed. That might in some cases require
days, and weeks, and months; especial.
ly if in doing it he consuIts as he ought
the slaves well-being. But he ought to
repent of and forske his sin, this verv
day and hour and moment,-and ever
after to bring forth fruits meet for repen.
lance. U)
Question 7. When you become con-
WINGED that the doctrine of immediate eman.
clPatlon is correct, will you advocate tina,
doctrine in the Chronicle2'
That depends on circumstances w.,