Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-12-26
M~ISCELLAN
Petitions !--Petitions .,..Pe1i1Ion. :;

0N--1O ZN1O1 10
The following" thoughts that breathe
and words that burn" from the pen of our
excellent conductor, John G.. Whittier, ed
itor of the Pennsylvania Freeman, we
most earnestly command to the immedi-
ate and thoughtful consideration ofour
readers. Could our own feeble language
add any thing to the weight and solemn.
ty ofthis appeal, it should not be wanting.
We believe we feel as deeply as friend
Whittier the importance of Increased &C.
ton in the matter of petitions, but we can
not SO forcibly urge home our feelings to
the hearts of others. Letus therefore speak
through him. The circulation of petitions
should be prosecuted vigorously. Not a
moment should be lost. Fverv man and
woman in the free states should have an
opportunity of signing one. We must
not think ~ofsending less than a million Of
signatures to Congress. If we are dill
gent and faithful we may send more. See
to it, friend of the slave. The watch
word should be-NOW.-Ch. Witness.
PETITIONS.
Vigorous measures must be universally
adopted for the speedy and thorough cir
culatlon of petitions TO Congress and our
State Legislature. We wish it were DOS
sible for US to express to our anti-slayerv
co-workers in Eastern Pennsylvania our
own deep sense of the importance ofthis
matter. Three years ago, when Pinck-l
ney's celebrated Report was adopted bv !
Congress, it was stated that only about
$4,000 names, of men and were
attached 10 the petitions on the subject of
slavery. At the next session there were
upwards OF 100000. and at the last, this
number was augmented seven fold.
How will j: be at the coming session oil
Congress? Will the ratio of Increase be
maintained Shall a voices
break upon the dull ears of our l~eeisla-
tors, demanding the immediate emancipa-
lion of the slaves of the District-shall
million of free citizens hold I'D the
hands of John Quincy Adams, as he re-
Dukes, in their name, that foul domestic
trade, which he so Justly speaks of
IS "INTERNAL PIRACY
Will aboiitionists at this hour-desert
he sold man eloquent" who has never
deserted them? Shall he be tainted with
he falling off of abolition petitions, as an
evidence that the excitement is "dyinp
lway GOOD forbid. If we fail now
We lose the advantage of years of effort. $
Not to advance now is to recede. We to
IS and to the holycause of human liberty. {
f we suffer our hands to hang down thro' I
.veariness-if we neglect, procrastinate, I
nd leave to others, the work which be-
to ourselves. The South is watch
ng US. Northern pro-slavery watches Q
s. Ii we fail in this matter, we do so in t
glare of day. The a~nnunciation of P
ur weakness will be as the trumpet of II
ssurrection to the evil influences against IA
hitch we have struggled. Opposition, q
ow apparently dead, will start up all
round US. The ~poison-tree of colonial
on will bud afresh. "Public sentiment"
the form of mobs, will gather new ID
The padlocks broken off from Of
any of our northern ~pulpits, by the ham, a
and fire of abolitionism, will be re. m
aced by stronger ones. The LegisIa- tn
res which have hitherto favored us. will 70
state TO aid a declining cause. The tn
urch will be dumb. The wave of a to
lghty reaction will sweep over US: and alb
thing but the intrinsic vitality of our tai
lnciples. will preserve our organization so
utter ruin. tn