Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-07-05

that its pledge, and lectures, and publica-
t'onS, constitute the only approved and
el1ecluaI machinery for promoting its prin-
cIp!eS, that the man scarcel y fails to
be laughed at, who Processes attachment
TO these principles, at the same time that
ne repudiatts the system of means to
which, uncomparabIy more than to any or
even all others, they are indebted for sue
cess. Now the. Anti-Slavery Society is
no less identified with The ant-slavery
cause, than the Temperance Society is
with the temperance cause. "Our enc
mics being udges," this is obviousl Y so.
DO rum-dealers and rum-drinkcrs despisc
every form of opposition to their practice,
save that, which the Temperance Society
presents? No less do Shareholders despise
every opposition to slavery, excepting that,
which is embodied in the Anti-Slavery So
ciety. You have told me of the planness
with which you have spoken at the South
Of the sin Of slavery. And yet, is it not
true, that whilst you are ever welcome,
thrice welcome there, Shareholders eXuI.
ting v tell me, that we're to come amongst
them, nothing short Of my life itself would
atone for the presumption! Whence this
difference? In the days that | advocated
the Colonization Society, and stupidity
thought that it favored the abolition of
slavery, Twas as welcome at the South as
you still are. How that you have retain
ed your name there, whilst sentence of out
lawry is pronounced against me? You
say, and believe truly, that you hate
slavery as much as do. You might say,
TOO, in language which we often hear
q" | am as much an anti-sIavery man as
you are, but --" 1t is this little
"but," my dear friend, that makes all the
difference in the case. 1t is this which
provides ehectually for your safety; whilst
| who am an anti-slaverv man without a
"but," am exposed to all the horrors OF
lynch law. Once deprive yourself of the
magic protection Of that monosyllable, as
you will if you join in the antislavery so
ciety, and thus adopt its measures as vel
as its principles, and you will find that
though southern men are not at all alarm
ed or off nded at your entertainment OF
anti-slavery principles, they will look upon
you in quite another light, after you shall
have espoused system Of means, which
gives mighty efficacy to those principl es
| will now consider the other supposed
cause of your delay in Joining the anti,
slavery society. | have no doubt that
thousands Of good men, whose hearts are
set on advancing the interests-some O.
one, some Of another of the various de-
partnents Of benevoIence, are restrained
from embracing the anti-slavery cause by
the fear, that if they embrace it, they
would thereby have less access to the pub
lie mind in behalf of their favorite enter
prises. This reasoning is faIlacious, and
. originates, | apprehend, in that false phi,
{ losophy, which, rejecting the will of God
as the only rule Of action, resol Ives all vir-
tue into utility, and makes the greatest
good to consist in the production of the
greatest happiness. 1t is that philosophy
which has brought into the church, and
deeply rooted there, the corruptng doc
/ trne of expediency. Oh, when will the
church be found again, as in the days Of
her primitive simplicity, to trust in the
Lord with all her heart, and lean not to
her own understandings" When again
will she put her hand in Gods hand, and
follow her sure Leader in the childIike
confidence of undoubting faith? When
again, having dropped her unwarrantabIy
assumed latitude of Judgment, will she be
content to be shut up 10 simple obedience
to the divine will? The man who is en-
deavoring to win the public favor to a
To
to Theological Seminary-is conscious
of the wckedness Of slavery But it is a
popular sin 1t is intrenched in mi lightly in
! 4uences-and if he protest against it, he
may, in some degree, forfeit his hold on
the public mind. His conclusion there
fore is, that although it might be worth
something to the cause Of righteousness
to have his name recorded against slavery,
vet it would fall short Of the importance of
| keeping his influence in behalf Of his So
ciety or seminary unimpaired. The Meth
olst General Conference knows that
slavery is a giant sin; so does the Pres
byterian General Assembly. But, it is
better, in their jud gment, to let It go.
unrebu'sed and unopposed -than by obey
ing the command to "open their mouth
for the dumb" to incur the risk of a
geographical Lewiston of their idolized
sects Better, in their judgment, for the
| cause of Christ, that two and half mill
ions of their countreymen remain classed
with cattle and hogs, and that shareholders
continue to be accredited professors of re-
Iigion, than that step should BE- taken of
possible tendency to the dissolution of
these great ecclesiastical institutions. But
whence is the authority for making such
calculations and striking such balances
derlved2 From the philosophy already
adverted to, which directs its followers to
govern themselves by human caIcul ations
of what is proper, rather than by the will