Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-07-18

Itnefn. ulS al viii duuiit. Are your
brethren to blame because the States, in
which they reside, have not abolished
slavery2 This cannot be. Though the
Baptists are numerous in ell the States,
they do by no means constitute majority
in any one Of them. Were thew all dis
posed to do so, they could not control the
State in regard TO slavery. / need NOT tell |
yoH how much suspicion would be reused, |
should've Baptists, as denomination, in |
any Of the slaye-holding States, petition |
the Legislature to abolish slavery. Pru-
dence. christian prudence, dictates a diff
ferent course. How can your brethren
be held accountable for not controlling the
Statesf .N..l...
But are your brethren IN the fault for
not freeing their own slaves2 That they
are not, is to me very clear, for three rea-
sons which will now state to you.-
l. In hundreds of families there are
superannuated servants, women and chill
dren, who do little or no labor, and are an
expense to their masters. These cons,i,
tute one class of our poor for whom their
owners are obliged 10 provide. Would
you have your brethren turn them out of
dooTs2 Would you advise them to free
suchi Would It be just, were they 10 do
soi Certainly il would not. Suppose,
then, that all the able-bodied servants, in
such families, were to be set free, then
who would, who could support those who
could not support themselves Were you,
brethren, placed in the situation of many
OF those whom you have advised US to ex-
clude from our churches, you would feel
| this difficulty brought home to your doors.
2. Very few servants in the hands OF
your brethren are wiling to be set free
| This is often tried, for there are many
who are willing to give up their servants.
Now what shall he do who has servants,
that have been born in his family, and who
prefer to continue with him to being set
freeR Must be force them from him o.
Must he compel them to go from him
without .protector-without provision,
and without home2 Even this, brethren,
cannot suppose you would advise.
3. Experience is against freeing slaves
and permitting them to remain in the U.
: States. 1t is no uncommon occurrence
to free slaves. We had, in Virginia alone,
in 1880. 10000 emancipated slaves
These, to very great extent, are poor
and vicious. Very few of these are will
, ling to go to Africa, though the State has
appropriated funds to carry some OF them
They will stay here, though they are fal
from being in an agreeable condition.
These are some Of the difficulties in
! the way of many freeing their slaves
difficulties so formidable that the mos
: pious and discerning do not know how Il
e overcome them. Are you now prepared
- brethren, to say, that all such churcl
= members ought 10 be excluded from chris
= tan fellowship Let It be constantly
y borne in mind, that there were slaves il
y this country before any Of your brethren
y now in existence, were born. So long
:. therefore, as these are slaves by the law
, of tie States, may they not as we'll be il
y. pious families as in those in which Their
= is no piety2 If all your brethren canno
:. free their servants, land have shown yo
= why they cannot,) a0hat shall they do wit
~ theml You would not have your breth
rem kill them, surely, nor would you hav
y them to be slaves in the hands of thos
- who have no piety. What, Task agail
VI shall your brethren do loith their sLaues
=, This question forces itself upon thel
=, =! daily. and you furnish them no satisfat
~ tory answer. But 70! consistency Y, whel
4. art thou y you call on US 10 exclude thel
~ from our churches, because-what? B
81 cause their fathers left them the guardian
v Of servants, and now they take care
themi!l ~
.. 'ei Now, suppose we grant all you affir
10 to be true, (for which must think yc
10 have not adduced any clear scriptur
GU proof,) that sLarery IS morally wrong,
saS ask again, what. shall we do with Of
'aS servants2 Furnish an answer 10 tn
ny enquiry, and you will do what we came
Oh Permit me, brethren, to ask YOU, whe
ou you find authority in the New-Test
e ss ment for your advice You call on o.
he churches to exclude from fellowship Z
re slave holders know you are Bapis
tue and profess to 60 according to the word
up God. Where does that word Justify Y,
III in giving US such adyice--or US in col
ny plying with your advice2 Is it In II
~ scripture, Il Tim. vi, |. p Let as maj
sue servants as are under the yoke, count the
:. masters worthy Of all honor, that the mar
NY Of God aud his doctrine be not blaspher
ms ed. And they that have believing ma
o's ters, let them not despise them, becau
o. they are faithful, and beloved, partak.
sw Of the benefit. These things teach a
ma exhort2" ......
NY Where did either Christ or his apostl
~. au give such advice as you have given!
. No where, | am sure. We delight
much IN hearing as you can in repeatir
the golden maxim o. our Divine Redee
rIen er, As We would thaI.men should do
ing vo1 do ua aran % A. tha,v, IT,,