Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-09
no the Re.der. q che VI. TeIegraph

Slavery and Emancipation, under the above
head, There are probably more people in
the non slaye-holding States who agree that
slavery, as il exists in the United States, is
a s.n--an evil that ought 10 be done away,
than there are shat agree on the mode Of do
ing itaway, and the fine to be employed in
accomplishing the object. The evil has
been standing so long, and is Of such mag
nitude, that many people suppose the word
Immediate ought not TO be applied, while
speaking of removing it. The Editors Of the
Vermont Chronicle admitted Cast spring |
while answering some questions put to them |
by correspondent Of theirs) that the SAN Of
slavery ought TO be repented Of Immediate
ly-[ Here would ask what that sin is j
still contending that il was not necessarily
sin to hold the legal relation Of master TO
slave ;-for proof to sustain their position,
they quoted an instance like the following:
aRichard Tubman died, leaving a la,ge
property, besides goodly number Of slaves,
| 10 whom he bequeathed their liberty on GER
| tain condilions-one of which was, that they
were to get permit from the government Of
Georgia TO remain in that State free-or.
should they be refused this privilege, they
were to be furnished with certain amount
Of money, &C., and sent to Liberia. On con-
dition they chose not 10 go to Africa, they
/ were to remain the slaves of the widow Tub
man. 1t was also stated that the said widow
made them presents to the amount of a thou
said dollars for their extra services, &C.,
while under her care"
The Editors of the Chronicle cited this
case TO show that il was not necessarily sin
| TO hold such a relation. The story is very
plausible; but is the theory taught by it
sound? Unjust clearly be seen, that the wo
man might make those presents from either
good or bad motives. She might do it with
a design to benefit the slaves, thinking at
some future time TO liberate them and let
them retain those presents; or she might do
it to encourage them in the performance of
more than ordinary labor, thinking to retain
the money herself. Suppose she was not
criminal in holding said hat then2
II we admit that one person may hold said
relation and it be right, where will the line
| be drawn2 Suppose the people of Brandon
were notorious for theft "a press is estab-
lished for the purpose of impressing on com
munity the importance of obeying the COM
mand, Thou shalt not steal :"-another
press says, ii is not necessarily sin in one
man 10 go into his neighbours orchard and
take few apples to eat; or to go into his
, garden and take melon or some other fruit
or vegetables sufficient to satisfy appetite -
other persons Of rep'tted responsibility echo
+ the language of that Pfess-how soon should
+ we expect thienng wouldcease? will ven
: ture to say, not until those considered re-
f spectacle, utter different sentiments. In re,
|, gard 10 Slavery, people are liable to imagine
0 that man who holds his fellow-man as a
: slave, and yet feeds and clothes him well, il
5 not very guilty. To such, let me say, it is
j, these very men who prolong slavery. Why
d BeoaQse they give sanction to practice tina
d leads oilers to traffic in human Aesh-mer
S who, having obtained absolute control owe
d Others, exercise Ito their hurt. Look at tn,
is case of Doctor Ely, who pafchased slav'
IS named Ambrose, and paid seven hundred
e dollars for him, stating that he did it for tn
e slaves benefit, to keep him from going to-
J. southwestern Notwithstanding, he said
g at some future time, TO give him his freedom
D. | presume the Docior intended well; bu
10 look at the result. The Rev. Doctor becam
d, bankrupt as to property, and his man Am
8 brose must be sold. Had he brought tn
~ slave 10 free State, undthere given him hi
i freedom, then he would not have been agai
sold: this principle Of benevolence woul
e. have been carried out, TO the honor Of tn
in Doctor, and the benefit Of the slave Here
re think the word Immediate should have bee
s impressed CD his mind. When hehad boueh
ct the slave, let him have started imntediateE
C. for free State; and on arriving there, sal
Il. to Ambrose, You are now free' Or, if
he had not been able to lose the amount PAL
e. for him, let him have said to him, go I
he work. and pay back as soon as you can,
nv as much as you cam But instead of thi
: by purchasing and holding him as slav,
IS be sanctioned the practice, and the mar mu,
Id be again sold to the highest bidder. Nov
an according my view Of the word inansediat
is II is this Take hold of whatever piece
n work man may, If he use all suitable NEAR
an TO perform the work, and perseyere is thi
We work wiihoutcessation until il is accomplish