Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-30
Vol. X....No. SO
nsadsr. OF tho VT. Telexraph,

low say few words under the head, "Ner-
'rality." Twill in the first place quote Mr..
Webster's definition Of the term. &
l. The state Of being unengaged in dis.
putes, or contests between others: the state
OF taking no part on either side. 2. A state
OF indlierenee in feeling, or principle"
l have found some persons who, when
asked whether they were opposed to slave
whether they believed it Drong, sinful,
would reply that they ,Osre opposed to it,
believed it entirely wrong in the abstract--
the slave-holding system q sVicked thing;
and one that ought to be done away. Well,
do you believe il ought 10 be done away i'm
mediatety7 81 have my doubts about that
/ believe there are many good men who hold
slaves and are not guilty in SO doing" How
can that be2 IF the holding portion of our
fellow-men in bondage by another portion
be aOrong, how can it be right in irdividu-
als2 The reply Of some is, 4" I have known
OF slaves who were going to be sold-their
masters were either about removing to some
other portion Of country, and did not choose
to take thir slaves with them, or were under
the necessity of selling them, and would
give them a certain space Of time to seek
other masters, or men who would buy them
to save them from going to a southwestern
market. The slaves call on some pious men
and urge them to buy them, thinking to find
a igood home. Some who DO not wish 10
purchase are oyer-persuaded by the slaves,
and pay their money for them-then feed and
clothe them well, do not work them hard,
give them an opportunity of attending meet
ings on the Sabbath, and provide we'll for
them in sickness. Can it be sin in man
under such circumstances TO hold the legal
relation Of master to slave z" You have ap.
parentlV given me poser as some would
term it. My answer is, the man who pays
his money for a slave in that way, is under
just as much obligation TO hare his sympa-
thies hold Ell, until he frees the slave, as
, he was to prevent his going to another mas
Ter. He is under obligation fmorally) TO
examine the subieet-the different bearings
d his actions will have on the welfare of other
slaves, as we'll as on the one he purchased
!, = He has no moral right to let his sympathies
. rule-to benefit one man at the expense Of
It ten others. IL he cannot lose the money
d he pays for the slave, aud cannot assist him
IS in any way to gain his freedom. hold that
70 be would come nearer to dealing justly with
" all men, utterly to refuse purchasing the
slaVe-to let him be sold 10 one Of the most
- cruel task-masters in the country, and there.
e by show to the world that he would not
}. hold that relation to his fellow-man than
+ ne would, from sympathy to one man, to
J buy him, hold the deed Of his brother, and
f thereby assist in binding the chains around
. many others. 49,.
:" Well, but do you think il 1urong in such
case, to buy man for his benefit, and hold
= him as your properly until he earns you
= enough to pay the sum you advanced, and
d then let him go free2" Yes If am worth
i enough to bay slave, 1 am worth enough
&c to set him free; and should do this, am
y then as we'll off as the slave !. i believe that
6 mahy men, from good motives, have pur-
. chased slaves to hold during their lives, in
= tending to use them web, while they Obe
; mastery lived, and have made wills, long
before their decease, that al their decea,e the
'f slaves should have their freedom. Was this
: wrong Z" Yes: the holding of that relation
sanctioned the practice in others. ] do not
+ say the man designed wrong in doing i
J. but contend that the act was wrong-thatjt
IT was the duty of such individuals 10 Rave re-
= leased their slaves by taking them to free
$ o'ate, or by some other means, while living
$ They had no moral right to risk their becom-
ing bankrupt as to property, and having their
0 slaves sold at auction TO pay their debts
l. saying, " at the close of my life will give
+ my slaves their freedom but until then they
: are n'ne--yes, mine while lire. but when
: my Maker calls for me-when my spirit must
depart from nay body, and return to the God
who gave it--then, when /, can no longer re-
Y tam my grasp on my fellow-men. because
e cannot take them ,Oih me--then-O! then
e they shall have their freedom. What kind
o olJus'ice or righteousness is this2
beileve many lpen who once held that
relation sas are enjoying happiness iu anoth'
3 81 ~orid-nen who. while on earth, would
: no' knowingly have injured their felIow-be'
: ihss IN the least, and while abolitionists
contend thaiit is sin IN all cases to hold such