Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-13
From the New-York Evangelist.
LETTER TO j. A. JAMES.

NEw-ENGLAND, Oct. %, 1889.
Req. ]. A. James, Birmingham, Eng:
l have Read with great interest your
letter in the New-York Observer of Ang.
81, to American Christians, upon the sub
ject Of Slavery. have also read The an.
madversions upon that letter by the Edit
ors of the New Yol Observer in sue
ceeding paper, and the letter to you over
the signature of a New-England Pastor
coltaiEed in the Observer oil October IL.
For many years, | have felt deepIv-in-
terested for the slave, and have endeavor-
ed by Conversation, by correspondence,
and by reading extensively upon the sub
ject, 10 become acquainted with the state
Of the public mind in New-EngIand ia
reference to that question. And am
compelled to the admission. that the apa-
thy which, even now, pervades not mere
~ the mercantile and political communi-
~. but the churches of New England, is
net in The least exag eerated in your fraler-
nal letter. Aud there is nothing TO me
more surprising than that sincere and
hon,st men. in view of the facts with
which all are acquainted, can make such
representations as those of the Editors Of
the Observer and A New England Pas.
tor
Our lawyers, merchants. physicians.
and young mechanics, are enigratlno eve
ry day to the savehodiag regions of The
South and the Wesl You fluid them in
finenliat men in almost every county of
those extensive regions. They manifest
no hestancy IN becoming the owners of
slaves. By industry and by marriaoe
they obtain possession of immense plant
atoms. And it is a notorious fact. that
none are more ready to advocate the sys
tenn of slavery BY prscept aud by prac-
tice, than those who are reared among the
hills and the valleys of the free NORTH
This is fact of such indispurable notori-
ETY., that the Hon. Henry Wise, of Vlr-
glhla, said two years ago on the floor of
Congress, Il appeal to southern gentle
men for the truth Of the remarkable fact.
that the emigranls from the North to the
Soulh>are as ready 10 become masters as
any who are hereditary masters Nv
boyhood was passed in pleasant village
on the banks of a New-EngIand stream
banks never trodden by The foot of a
slave. Aud yet many of my schoolboy
playmates are now shareholders and slave
ry-defenders at the South. One of the
representatives from South Carolina
| think it was the Hon. Mr.. Legare-
stated not long since, in Congress, that he
had travelled extensively in New-Ene
land, and that he found the opinion OF
men OF leading intelligence, upon the sub
Ject oil slavery, just what the shareholders
could wish ii to be. Whatever he might
nave meant by this statement, it is yerv
certain that he did not find the spirit Of
Wlioeriorce pervading the Northern
Ssales. And yet you are told by New
England Pastor. who caano be unae.
qnalnted with these general facts. that
Ihnety-nine one-hundredths OF rs are a.
earnest and as hearty in our hostilnv =
slavery. as DR.. Beman, or Or. Pa,,an - =
Mr. Kirkl "' u
The same state of feeling unon the
subject of slavery is manifested bv onr
New England cIergvmcn. who 90 to lhe
South. They freely marry into the svs.
lem, and buy into the system, and defend
the institution BY their vote 10 presbgte-
RES and synods. as patriarehai institu.
lon, 10 accordance with Christianity. r