Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-21
Aug. 13, 1899.

Irx Ingrah0m, containing an attack upon iona
than p. Miller, agent of the Vermont Anti
Slavery Society, and upon the Executive Com
mi:tee of the Society," for employing him as a lee
turing Agent. Brother HOlcomb, one of the Exec
utive Committee, prepared, and forwarded to the
Chronicle reply to friend Ingrahan,, which reply
was refused place in the Chronicle. Brother |
Holcomb has, therefore, requested place for it in
the Telegraph, the substance Of which is given be-
low. As the article to which the reply is made
has not been in the Telegraph it will be necessary
for the reader pay particular attention to the
tracts and the statement of the arguments.
To the Editor Of the Vermont Cbroa-
acle:
Sir:-I noticed an article in your paper
Of Sd inst, from the Rev. Ira Ingraham,
treating upon lectures delivered by Col.
J. P. Miller, in Middlebury. last month.
In Mr.. Ingraham's article I find the prin-
ciple laid down, that Whatever a socie-
ty do by their appointed agents, they do
themselves, unless, in some suitable way
they protest against his official acts -
Being a member of the committee that
authorised Mr.. Miller's agency, deem
it proper for me to reply to Mr.. Ingra-
ham. I perceive that he has very care
fully avoided giving his opinion in regard
to slavery or the doctrine of immediate
emancipation. The main object seems to
have been, to show the inconsistency Of
| the Colonel, and to hold up to public gaze,
the Committee which gave him his pow
er as agent of the Vt. A. S. S., until one
or the other retracts. l have no obiec-
tons to this. What we abolitionists want,
is, to have all important attersdiscussed;
and when any of our agents do any thing
that the agent of the Vt. L. M. S. or any
one else, thinks wrong, we should like to
have them aid US in Strengthening them.
/ will examine some of the principles
laid down by Mr.. Ingraham, and thank
! you to publish them in the next No. of
the Chronicle after receiving them. In
his preface, my brother says,
"Those lectures are mostly on subjects
connected, more or less directly, intimate
: ly with moral and religious truths and
duty, without the guards of an ecclesias-
teal licensure, or the restraints, or So
lemnity which have some check upon the
e hayward mind and heart, in the delivery
r of sermon, or the performance of any
: exercise strictly religious. That they are
3 frequently, if not generally, made in the
: house of God, and are naturally associat,
: ed with those interests which conspire to
j render the place Of worship solemn, and
t therefore from the nature Of the case must
$ touch the deep springs of human charac-
t ter and conduct"
I believe those lectures should not only
be connected with, but should be compos-
ed entirely Of religious truths and duty.
| believe also that it is the duty of Mr..
Ingraham, and all others who are under
r the restraints ofan ecclesiastical licensure,'
2 to come forward and plead boldly the
, cause of the enslaved-that they be imme-
e diately released from their bondage. |
4 believe the house of God to be the proper
: place in which to make this plea, and
: that it should be made on the Sabbaths, as
i well as on other DAYS.
Y Mr.. Ingraham ssys,-'A lecture, and
the object which it PROCESSES to advocate,
Y are not one and the same; nor is soeie.
if ty, and the cause which it Processes to ad.
/ vance. one and the same. We do not ne.
: cessarily oppose both by opposing one. -
; This doctrine consider to be sound, and
}. am thankful that he has advanced it, also
J, that he has so happily illustrated it, bv q
Il reference to the temperance cause and its
IT advocates. On the same principle, | see
II not why Mr.. Garrison could not denounce
? the Clergy of the northern States, as com
IS ing short of their duties to the enslayed
d and not denounce the ministry of Christ.
d appointment. On this same principle
L those wearing clerical CARDS may be de-
e nounced as caring more for the fleece thar
g the flock, and in 50 doing aim deadl,
a thrust at the institution of Gods appoint
E ment for advancing the Redeemer's king
5, dom and the welfare of mankind. Or
IS this principle. rum-sellers. and temperate