Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-27
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON, SATURDAY, NOV. %, 1889.
MR.. PIERPoNT's DEFENCE,
[Conciuded I

ton OF our GLORIOUS UNION
cannot but think, gentlemen, that in
this cause of offence, the airs of vonr
colleagues. that look before, are stron oe
than their facts, that lie behind them
What are the facts inthis case? The abol;.
ton of slavery has never, bv me, been
made the subject OF discussion in INV mi.
pit, in any such sense as is ordinarily con.
yeyed by the term, discussion. 1t has. in
very few instances, been alluded TO or
named, in connexion with other questions
Of public interest, and, on one occasion
not in a sermon, in stating to nv peoole
some Of the considerations that had nre-
vented me from discussing, or discoursino
at large upon, the subject Of Anti-Slaverv,
made brlei declaration of sentiments
upon il, merely, as | told them at the time.
10 show that had no concealmen.s. bnt
rather wished 10 have it understood ex-
ac.ly what my feelings upon that cues
ION were. These stated, in The. fol.
loving words, as nearly as | could after
wards write them down. II am asked
whether | am ON abolitonist or not, nv
answer will depend upon what is meant
BY an aboiitlonls'.' Ii the inquirer means,
amen Der of any society, association or
prly, am not an aboInionist. But if
by an abolltlonist,' he means one who
has most cordial detestation of sIacerv,
mall its phases and forms-personaI and
domestic, political and spiritual land one
who, with this feeling, would have all
bfms OF slavery Immediately abolished I
an an G6oLlts0AlSG For, so utterly do | /
de!cSI slavery, that, were il to depend up
Oh my single voice, this days sun should !
nj set on slave, upon the face of The
who.e earth. And, for this single reason, !
llit slavery is a violation o. the eternal |
hw Of God; and believe that whatever
good things it is the good pleasure of God
laat bis creatures should enjoy upon the
,atlh lhey can better secure by keepino
t's aas than by breaking them | have
10, {eI leIt !! to De my duty TO preach up
"a IllS subject; and make this decIara-
ioa merely because, upon this or any 9TH
er, desire no concealment of my opinion
iton ny people. When | do feel il nv /
dur 10 preach upon this subject, | shall
frcI myself free to do SO, and shall try 10
preach SO as 10 be understood
This is all of my abolition preaching.
laat IS whit | said then. say it now;
only ling, that as circum stances and
! nts change, the pressure OF duty will be
't more or less imperalivey 10 touch la
'le pulpit upon this momentous question
| learned, soon after this declaration of
sentiments, that | had given offence by it.
Very well thought 1t very likely
mignt give offence by it, But # gave
offence 10 others feelings, gave vent TO
my own: and so long as | can give vent
10 my own feelings, by expressing them
plainly, others may give vent to theirs bv
finding fault with me.
Bat why this sensiliveness now? More !
than nineteen years ago, when the great
question was before Congress whelhe.
Missouri should be admitted to our Clio,
rlous Unlcn,' with tie curse Of slavery en-
laled upoa her, a fervent prayer went up
irom Hollis street pulpit, that that black
cloud might be perinitted to overshadow
10 more, than il then darkened, Of our
great and good land. AT that time. there
was enough of the love of liberty,. and
consequently Of the hatred Of slavery,
awe among US, to make it impossible for
lae Representative of Boston feelings and
interests, in the Congress Of the United
Dates, TO show himself in Sale street, on
his return from Washington, without
meeting some manifestation Of the indig-
aanI feeling that he had excited among
his constituents, by his vote on that ques-
uon. At that tlpe, there was no inlima-
uon, from any quarter, that an anli-slavely
prayer did not go up as fervently from
Tue peoples hearts, as il did from the pas
%rs lips. Then, the e1teNSion of slavery
threatened the integrity of our glorious
union. NOr, nothing is so dangerous as
us a6oiition! The former was then the
exciting topic : the latter now. Have
uoas laws altered since that time, ---or is
j The peoples hearts2 When few more
neemen shall have been shot down, at the
sue Of the printing press, by the minons
y slavery; few millions more of free
peopIe's petitions tramplec under foot by
tue'r own servants at Washington; and
lew more free citizens of Massachusetts
Muaapped for the slave shambIes of Vir-
S'nla. the people Of Boston will begin TO
mink mat they hare something 10 do with
slavery; and If fhe clergy will have no.
.h'ng to DO with 1t, they will have nothing
10 do with the clergy.
AS to the fears Of the Committee. that
look forward to dissolution of our glo-
I'ous Union as the effect Of The anti.
slavery question, am happy TO say that
40 moi sympa,hize in them. The few
, sS mat have, are all upon the other
sac. While, in this country, there can
Z, sustained free press. and free pull
p pu, nave no fears for The republic. AT