Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-01-02


They have gone but little way before two
men are seen a short distance before them. |
The sheriff calls for aid, but they do not
stir. In the name and by the authority Of
the commonwealth he requires their assist
ance, in arresting and securing this criminal.
But no, their aid is withheld, because if ar
rested he will be punished, and to aid in
arrestiEg him would be to aid and abet the
barbarous, unchristian system of furnishing
men by physical penalties. And SO the
robber escapes. Is this or is il not the 2rac-
teal working Of these new sentiments 2
If it be, then it conflicts with the positive
requirements Of the government, and will
create some "houble" and " disquiet," at
least.
But again no man who adopts the SEN
timents Of the Boston Declaration" can
ever be witness in any suit at law, wheth-
er criminal or not For our civil courts are
not mere advisory councils. Their decisions
are all enforced by physical compulsion.
An orphan girl is left under the guardian
| ship of covetous wretch who abuses the
trust reposed in him-perverts her estate TO
his own use, and at eighteen turns her from
his door feeble, destitute, homeless girl,
while her inheritance is in the Golfers of her
guardian. Three of her fathers neighbors
can by their testimony re-invest her with the
title OF her paternal estate. But they have
adopted the sentiments" Of the Decla-
ration," and they cannot testify in the case,
because this would be aiding 80 compel
men to do right" which is altogether un-
christian. Arson is coming TO be common
crime In some parts of the country. Sup
pose some abandoned creature in this village,
or vicinity, should conceive violent antipa-
thy against citizen of this place, and
should seek TO crafty his spite by burning
his dwelling house. The first time he is
unsuccessful-the fire after being kindled
goes out. The horrid attempt is discovered
by the family, and for whole month alter
ward that family are kept in state of con-
tinual alarm. A hundred times the father
starts from his broken sleep, imagining that
he sees the glare or hears the cracking OF
fire. After few weeks another attempt is
made-the fire kindles rapidly, and but FOL
the passing of a neighbor just at this mo
ment, the house and its inmates must have
been desnoyed. He sees the spreading fame
and the guilty wretch stealing from his hor
= rid work. He gives the alarm, and the fir,
, just kindling into fury, is qnelled But h,
cannot tell of the criminal, for that would b,
10 aid the unchristian work of prosecution
, He may perhaps visit the incendiary anc
: endeavor by moral suasion TO reclaim him
4 But he cannot even threaten him with ex
t posure if he renews his attempt, because i
is not right to threaten that which il is no
3 right TO do. His arguments must all b
drawn from the retribuiions of eternity
And If, as is common in such cases. III
wretch be an infdel, the success Of the per
suaslon will be at least doubtful. And III
j un happy family must live on in state c
0 distracting alarm, ard finally perhaps, peris
: IN the flames of their dwelling simpI
3 ask, is or is not this the course of conduct 1
which the adoption Of these sentiments vii
drive man? Can man, adopting thes
sentiments aid in arresting criminal-ca,
he bear testimony in any suit at law?
, HARVEY CURTIS.
, simply ask,"-with what proprety or consis
tency, or justice, does brother Curtis refuse 70
10 answer my questions, and yet claim the nr;v;
| lege of questioning me at pleasure7 And how CA
r know. if undertake to answer. thar 7 shall ~
be "called to orderl' He has at leas, two d;s,;
, questions. "One thing at a time, nv bro,bar
, lone thing at a time.''
Pa'ence' and rest assured that, at the
proper uIne and place in the argument, your ques
'ions snail all be answered in the fullest manner.