Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-07-31

va DI1ASS GISuIuGIltS ITOHI TIC scriptures,
which find it hard to answer Well,
my friends, the end of it was, that Sylvia
made an abolitionist of my wife, and my
wife made an abolitionist of me.
When my feelings were thus reused
on the subject was anxious to discover
some way by which we could benefit the
colored race, and best atone for the wrong
We had done them. thought l discov-
cred this in the Colonization plan and
for seven or eight years labored in that
cause with as much zeal as ever felt on
any subject. If you ask why | did not,
during this time. boldly demonstrate with
others against the sin of slavery, | must
answer, that, in addition to the natural de-
Ipravity of my own heart, l was prevent
ed by the conviction that | was doing
enough ofmy duty by working for Colo
nization. After time, my views began
to change. 1 will tell you briefly how it
happened. If you differ from me in the
differences | draw, | have no controversy
with you. my brother. Work in your
own way. Ionly tell you what effected
change in my own mind. had from
the very beginning been occasionally pain
ed by remarks heard. When l recon-
mended the scheme to shareholders, they
entered into it warmly, and said they
should be right glad to get rid of the free
colored people; they were convinced
such a movement would render their
slave property more valuable and secure.
These things panied me little. Still l
thought l might do good by laboring for
Colonization; and | did labor zealously,
until the discussion at the North forced
upon me the knowledge that the Society
has been working si1tsen gears to carry
off one fortnights Increase of sloves -
Then was discouraged, and nv hands
dropped by my side. A visit to the Cher
okees gave me some Thoughts concerning
Colonization as Missionary enterprise
Many of the Indians had become converts
TO Christ; they had improved in the arts
OF civilized life; and there was light in
the eye, always kindled when men begin
to think about the soul and its existence
in future life. But the difficulty was,
the same country which sent them mes
sengers of the blessed Gospel, likewise
sent among them cart-loads of rum. I
remembered how missionaries in pagan
lands dreaded the arrival of ship from
their own covntry; because where there
was one sailor that would speak to the ma
lives of God and the Bible, there were
six who would lead them into drunken
ness and debauchery. Why, my dear
hearers. should be afraid to take any
congregation, in the most moral town
even this audience, if you please-and
set you all down in the midst of heath
en- land, as missionaries there. should
be afraid you would not all be fit for your
work
Fhe lecturer neglected to point the
moral but he obviously meant to ask,
What then can be expected of ship-loads
OF Ignorant and degraded slaves, landed
on a Pagan shore?
Alter emancipated all nv other
slaves, continued he, l still held one
man In bondage several years. He seem.
ed to be incapable of taking care of him
self. My friend said it would be wrong
to emancipate him; he was so stupid, be
: would suffer if he had no master to pro-
/, vide for him, and would soon come upon
the county He certainly did seem very
stupid so continued to hold him as q
!, slave. But oh, how | bless God that
:. voice of warning and rebuke reached me-
e from the Free States Oh! expect tt
S sing about it through all eternity! 1t LEI
r me to ask myself are you not deceived il
n thinking you keep this man from motive
K of benevolence? Is it not the fact tina
5, you like we'll enough to have him to blacl
r your boots, and catch your horse? | call
n ed him to me and said, 81 give you you
u freedom. Whatever you earn is you
$, own. If<you get sick, or poor, come t.
o me. My house shall always be hom
at TO you" About year after, met hin
If riding on poney. WELL" said
: how do you like freedom2" "Ot
IL massa, the sweetest thing in all the world
If I've got hundred silver dollars stowe
re away in box!'' The last time talke
= with him he had laid by sly hundred do
a. lars II you let a man have the manage
| ment of his own concerns, though he
~ stupid, he will brighten up little.
t? When 1 was three or four years ole
| could say off all the alphabet, and spe
to some small words; but it was soon disco
In cred that had learnt all this by rote, an
did not know one of the letters by sigh
a l was taken from school, and one of m
lg fathers young slaves became my prime
an pal teacher. He would lead me out III
h der shady tree, and try to impress tt
mt letters on my mind saying,-'Thats gre
ut o, like the horse-collar; that's I'll, Liz
III, the garden gate, that's little G. like yol
St fathers spectacles. He was much brigh
ice er than / was, but was sent to colleg
lot ard he was sent into the cornfeld. E