Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-02-06
q u Il d @ R A p 10
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY. FEB. 6, 1899.
Yerrsnnes. January 2s, 1899,

Vergennes, January 28, 1889,
To my PSSaters :-Desirous of furnishing you
copy commence the next inside form with, be-
fore my return, have discoyered nothing in the
papers, aimee leaving home, with which am better
pleased than with the following letter which orig
inally appeared in the Natioual Intelligencer, at
Washington, from Wm, Slade, in defence of the
AboliiOnsts Of the North. o. s. MURRAY.
"Messrs Editors IL ask small space |
to notice the communication of Samuel
NJ. Semmes In your paper of this morn
ing. am not going into an argument
on the question of slavery. know, and
that, too, by extraordinary experience,
that an argument, if were disposed 10 Of
fer one, could not fad place in your pa
per. But desire to disabuse "the aboli-
tionists ofthe North" many OF whom are
my immediate constituents, of a most Sc
rious charge which Mr.. Semmes brings
against them.
81 abhor, (says Mr.. s. as deeply as
any man, the abolitionists of the North.
Whilst they are protesting the greatest
sympathy for our slaves, and invoking
the wrath of Heaven on us for holding.
them, they practice the most revolving
treatment and oppression towards the col
ored population around them.'
The charge against the abolitionists of
revolving treatment and oppression tow
ards the colored population around them,"
| meet with an unqualified denial. There
is not in il even shadow Of truth. On
the contrary, "the abolitionists of the
North" while they are endeayoring to
convince the South that slavery is wrong
and ought to be abandoned, are sedulous
and untiring in their efforts to elevate and
improve "the colored population around
them" This they endeavor to do by la
boring to remove the cruel and crushing
prejudice to which they are subjected =
by aiding them to form just estimate of
the true dignity of their nature; by i'm
pressing them with the conviction that
they are MEN; by intoxicating upon them
the duty of temperance and industry; by
learning them the value of EDUCATION BY
teaching them to respect themselves rs RAJ
tional, responsible beings, and to deserve
the respect of others by the fulfilment Of
their social duties, peaceful submission
to the laws, and steady resistance of the
temptations to which their unhappy con-
dtiOn peculiarly exposes them.
Such, sir, is, VIGOROUSLY. the truth with
: regard to the relation which "the aboli.
tionists Of the North" sustain "towards
the colored population around them" Sc
notorious is il, that it has become stand
ing reproach against them that they ar,
encouraging an amGlgGmation of tn,
white with the black race and the publi
mind is belabored with arguments to prov
that the latter can never be raised by then
from their present degradation, but mus
while remaining in this land forever fee
its crushing weight.
There is an injustice in the charge
have thus repealed, too fagrantto be pas:
ed in silence, But while repel it, tax
pleasure in expressing my conviction tn,
the respectable gentleman who has mad
it is unconscious of its injustice al
sure he has not taken the pains TO obtai
accurate information with regard to " ii
abolitionists of the North" for, if he ha
he would have become convinced that s
far from meriting the charge of "revol
ing treatment and oppression towards Il
colored population," and, by necessal
consequence, otthe grosscst Inconsistent
and hypocrisy, they are acting the part
the good Samaritan, bending, in compa
sion, over the neglected and outcast All
cans among them, pouring oil into the
wounds. raising them in their helplessnes
strengthening them in their weakness
aud thus furnishing the only hope to the
OF enduring and permanent good.
affix my name to this communicate
supposing, from what observe in yo
remarks Introductory to Mr.. Semme'
communication. that you may otherwi
decline its insertion. If you are willil
% publish it anonymously, you W
please to do so. Respectfully, your OF
dent servant WILLIAM SLADE.
Washington, Jan. z, 1882"