Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-01-10

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vile war; is so palpabe and resstlcss as to require
the immediate application Of force for its suppress
son as TO demand the substitution Of mobs for the
action Of the law, as TO Justify the violation Of the
most sacred rights Of the citizen
As TO the other charge, that the measures of the
ebolltionlss endangcr our national Union, and mus
therefore be put down by any and every means, ii is
weaker than The former. Against whom has moi
ibis charge been hurled! What party among US
has not been loaded with this rcproach DO we
not at the north almost unanimously believe, that
the spirit and measures Of Notification have di-
rect and immediate tendency to dissolve the Union
But are therefore authorised TO silence the null
liner by violence? Should leader of that party
travel among us, is he to'be mobbed? Let me fur
Their ask how is it that the dboonists cndanger
the Union? The only reply which have heard,
Is, that they exasperaie the South. And is it a
crime 10 exasperdte men? Who them so criminal
as the founder and primitive teachers Of our faith
Have we yet TO learn, that in cases Of evaporation
INC blame is as apt to lie with those who take as
with those who give offence How strange the
docrinci that men to be prescribed for uitcrinr
language which gives offence, arc to be outlawed
for putting then neighbors into passion Let it
also be considered that the abolitoniss arc not the
only people who cxaspcrate the South. Can the
calmost book be written on slavery without mo-
ducng the same effect Can the Chief Justice of
Massachusetts expound the Constitution and laws
Of that Commonwealth according TO their free spir-
IT, and OF course in opposition to slavery without a.
Congress has the right Of putting an end to slav erv
in the District OF Columb a, denounced as iercey as
the writings and harangucs of aboi.ionists? Where
then, shall mCbs stop, if the crime Of exasporating
the South is so helnous as to deserve their yenoe-
ancc If The philanthrOpst and Christian must be
slenccd on the subject Of Slavery, lest they wound
the sensitive ears OF the South, ought the tdae and
legislator TO be spared Who does rot see that
these apologies for awless force, if they have any
validity, will bring every good man under It's iron
sway?
In these remarks you learn my adherence of the
violence offered to the abolitonsis and my admira.
ton Of the spirit they have opposed TO 1t. May
they vindicate 10 the end the nights which in their
persons have been outraged. Allow mo to express
my earnest desire and hope, that the abotionists
will MAINTAIN the liberty ofspeoch and the press not
only by asserting 1t firmly but by using ii wisely,
deliberately, and generously, and under the control
OF the seVrrest moral principle. 1t is my earnest
desire that they vii! exercise it in the spirit of
Christians and phanthroplsts, with n supreme love
Of truth, without passion or bitterness and without
that ianatIcism which cannot discern the due pro.
portion OF things, which exaggerates or ds,orts what
ever iavors or conflicts with its end which sees no
goodness except IN It's own ranks, which shuts Itself
up TO one object and is blind to all besides Iiber-
ty Suffers from nothing more than from RIGHTEOUSNESS,
and | fear that abouonists are not be absovcd
II ON tins abuse Of It, 1t seems TO me that they are
particularly open To one reproach. Their writings
have been bleulshed by spirit of intolerance,
|
do not mean to bring this charge against all their
publications. ours, as far as | have seen them,
are an honorable exception, and others, know de-.
serve the same praise. But abolitionism in the
main, has spoken in an intolerabe tone and in this
way has repealed many good minds. given great adj
to its opponents and diminished The ener-
gy and effect OF lis appeals. should rejoice to see
IL purified from this stain.
Aboltonism seems TO me 10 have been i'm.
tolerant towards the shareholders and towards
those IN the free Stotes who oppose them, or
who refuse to take part in their meo sures. | |
say, first, towards the slave holder. The abo-
liiIonist has not spoken and cannot speak a.
sainst slavery too strongly. No language can
exceed hc enormity Of the wrong. But the
whole class of the shareholders often meet
treatment in anii-slavcry publications which is |
felt 10 be unjust, and is certainly rnvise We
always injure ourselves in placing our adverse !
ny on The footing of an injued man. One |
2roundlcss charge helps him 10 repeI many
winch are true. There is indeed portion of
who deserve the scverest repro !
baton. In every such community, there are |
many who hold their fellow creatures in bond /
age for gain, for mere gain. They pcrpctuato .
his OdIous system, not reluctantly, but from /
choice, not because The public safety compels
Ihem, as they think, 10 act the part VI despots,
but because they love despOtsm, and count
money their supreme good. Provided they
can be supported in ease and indulgence, can
pc pampered and enriched, they care not Tor
he means. They carc-noi what wrongs or
stripes are inflicted, what sweat is cxorted,
what powers Of the immortal soul are crushed.
For such men, no rebnkc can be too severe
i any vehcmencc Of language can pierce their
let 1t be used. The man who
lolds slaves for GAIN is the worst OF robbers,
or he seItishy robs his fellow creatures not
'nly OF their property, but Of themselves. He
s The worst Of tyrants, for whilst absolute gov
spoil men Of civil, he strips them of
PERSONAL rights. But do not, cannot believe
hat the ma joritv Of slave holders are of the
character now described. believe that the
majority, could they be persuaded Of the con.
slency Of emancipation with the well being ?
II the cOlored race & with social order would
chhquish their hold on the slave, and sacrifice
heir imagined property in him, 10 tho claims
u justice and humanity. They shrink from
Emancipation, because II seems 10 them pre-
lPlce. Having seen The colored man contin-
ally dependent on iUrei-n guidance and con-
rol, they u INK him incapable Of providing for
lmscli. Having seen the lah0rino cluSs kent ;
own by force, they feel as if the removal Of
Is restraint would be a signal TO universal
'wlessness and crime. That such opinions
bso'e ON a blame those who pei pcluate
avery, do not say. Tha; they are often
ircngthened by the self-nlercst Of The master, ,
cannot doubt; for we see men every VIII, re
rasplns aud defending doctrines which con. {
rin Their property and power. acknowledge I
10, That The ready, unhesilating acquiescence /
Tho Shareholder in such loose notions, es-
eclally al The present moment, is bad symp- 4
IN. In the present age, when flood Of :
GIT has been thrown on the evils Of slavery. $
nd when the whole civilized world cries out I
7ainst II as the greatest of wrongs and in c
rs country, where the doctrine Of human 4
shls has been cxpounded by The p'0loundcsl