Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-10

more. For with what propriety, or consist
ency, or effect, can ask them to abandon
what acknowledge their right to adhere
TO! Will my acknowledging their right
to butcher their fellow beings, give efficacy
10 my prayer that they abandon the prac-
tice? By no means, on the contrary, the
very first step towards the accomplishment
of my object is, to convince them of their
wrong. And this is very considerable
and important step, which, once gained,
sets me high upward and far onward in the
prosecution of my object. Really, really,
my brother, it strikes me that the inconsist-
ency is on your own hands. What If |
would persuade men to abandon course OF
wrong doing, shall at the outset acknowl-
edge their right to do the very wrong
would dissuade them from? Thou that ex-
hortest to consistency, art thou thus incon-
slstent? Out upon it-out upon it, nv
brother! Away with it! 1t is unworthy
OF your sound head and good heart.
(3.) No, because he is reprobate. But
satan may be required to remove his own
obstructions to the advancement of Christ's
kingdom: so may wicked men to remove
theirs. repeat,-no legislation is asked
for, IN turtherance of the Peace cause, that
must be backed up by violence. To refrain
from present and future violent acts, is what
alone is to be petitioned for.
a. your terms, here used, are altogether
TO vague and indefinite so that am una
BILE to ascertain whether you understand the
Declaration as I do, or not. If you under
stand the Declaration to prohibit, under all
circumstances, the use Of as much "physic.
al force as would be necessary to run away
from danger, or to use other measures equal
ly innocent and harmless, you and under
stand it very differently.
60 Very prudent! very discretionary
and withal very consistent ! 1t appears to
you that it is for man to infiict some penal.
ty but arhat penalty, you do not now un-
dertake to decide! II you will go and look
UP your authority for mans taking venge,
ance into his own hands, you will doubtless
find, in immediate connection, the pains and
penalties all plainly marked out and defin
ed !! To facilitate your progress in search
of the needful authorities, permit me TO rec.
ommend, for your early consideration, the
theory of William Paley, and the practice O
Pontifex Maximus Constantine
co. formerly walked in much dark
ness, and practised many Inconsistencies
and it is not great length of time since
became fully established in the doctrine.
avowed last week. l have not recently
signed petitions,-although it is but shor
time since the Telegraph contained forms
Of petitions, accompanied with remark:
that might have been construed into full
sanction of them. My mind was not Their
fully settled. can still sign petitions which
call for no acts of violence-others l can
not. With my present views, however, the
Telegraph will continue TO be vehicle o.
intelligence on these subjects, for those oil
my fellow laborers who disagree with me
on the points now referred to-they ALWAYS
extending to me the same liberality in al
lowing me to express my views, that they
require from me towards them.
(7) think your impressions quite too
strong, in regard TO any expressions of my
confidence in physical penalties to reform
men. | have now much less confidence in
them than I formerly had and 1 have for
several years, at times, distrusted them.
You are sadly in error, when you sup
pose that Peace-men, by Withholding their
support from the law of violence, virtually
give license to wickedness. No such thing.
This apprehension-or rather misapprehen-
sion-of yours, arises from your having
placed too high value on the laws and
penalties of men, and too low a value on
the law Of God, and its penalties, for the
regulation OF the conduct of man towards
man. This is fault not peculiar to YOU
nor yet to the class of men with which Won
would be ranked. 1t is equally the fault of
large proportion of the protested minis
tiers of the blessed Gospel of peace. Too
many Of them are recreant to their high
calling in this matter. They give too little
weight to the living and eternal law of God,
and too little prominence to its formidable
penalties. They too much set up men in
the place OF God Not few of them will
allow themselves to be- carried headlong by
the opinions and requirements Of men, I'm
til they dash themselves against the very
throne OF the Almighty God commands