Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-23

lions in this holy cause have met, both at
the North and South, the most determined
and often the mos, lawess resistance2 And
why has open violence been most uniustifa.
bly, winked at and tolerated by great mass
of our most respectable citizens, and even by
the officers Of the law7 Either the people
Of the whole Nation have undergone a
change Of sentiment and character in regard
10 the great evil of slavery, or the manner of
operation has been most unhappily errone-
Gus. AS the change OF public feeling occur
red soon after the commencement ofthe pub.
LEGATIONS and other proceedings of those who
originated the Anti.Slavery Associations,
think that change has resulted from those
proceedings. The peculiar feature, which,
as apprehend, has caused them to defeat
their own object, is the ertreme and intern
perate zeal by which they are distinguished
Not only the slave holders, but the ministers
OF religion, and all others who do not par.
take Of this Characteristic peculiarly, are
prescribed, aud spoken in language Of re.
proach
Could it be supposed that people so
high-spirited as the slave holders Of the
South could be cowed into compliance by
bitter reproaches2 Had the Rev Doctor
Edwards. and others who publicly espoused
the measures of emancipation adopted in
Connecticut soon after the revolutionary,
war, called slave-holdels MAN-sTEALERs, in
staring capitals, as is done in the declaration
ofthe convention at Philadelphia TO which |
have before alluded. would il not have excl
ted, in the Northern Yankee, more OF re.
sentiment than conviction and less of COM
pliance than opposition2 The Southern
people have felt, and to a great degree, Just
iy. that the Aboltionists ofthe North were ad.
dressing their fears, & not merely their under.
standings or consciences. They have been
addressed 10 terms Of opprobrious crimina-
ton, rarely softened by the language OF res
pect. This has made them inaccessible has
wrought up a temper which resists convic-
ton or favorable influence, and has, | fear,
put off emancipation at least half century
beyond the period when it might have been
effected; and excluded from the slaves those
moral and religious influences which were
conducive TO their present and future good.
This manner of addressing the public on
these subjects can never result in the good
which is honestly intended, but must contin-
ne TO render less and less hopeful, the great
objects Of your sincere endeavors Could a
y
en-. hope for favorable audence2
ifthe whole North were united in the
course in which the aboltionists are now
pursuing, it would have no tendency to over
come the opposition the South. 1t might
dissolve our national union-which YOU pro-
fess, and trust, with sincerity, to appreci-
ate according TO its inestimable worth-but
would only aggravate the aversion OF the
South TO measure which they will never
adopt from coercion, uless by servile insur-
Ieciion. which your society so pointedly
deprecaie. think too, the American Anti
Slavery Society is not only aggravating the
condition of the dapc. and converting his
hopes into dark despair; but the free ne
groes are suffering under the prejudice and
party spirit which its intemperance has en-.
gendered. Party spirit entrenches the soul
and forifcs both head aud heart, against
reason and moral influence. That society
is also endangering the peace and union Of
the churches in the United States, oy making
participation in their excuses, practically,
II not in form, term OF communion In
deed. there seems to be- no interest OF prima-
ny Importance IN our country political or re-
llgous, which is not put in jeopardy, by the
honest men who are embarked in this be-
nevolent. but unwise and disastrous enter
prise, as it is now conducted respect their
motiyes while deplore their errors HUI
manity, palriotim and pieiy long TO see their
ultimate end accomplished, but weep over
the desolaton which marks their course.
Your society, gentlemen, embraces many
whose names | venerate, and not a few OF
my personal and highly respected friends
AS you requested my sentiments, could do
no less than give them with plainness and
sincerity. l trust, although cannot hope
for your concurrence. that you will do the
same Justice to my motives which | have
done TO yours. II my views Of the subject
are correct, the convention at Albany can do
no good to the slaves or TO the country, I'M
less they advise to an abandonment the err
rors which have hitherto characterised the
AnliSlavery Society. lam. Gentlemen,
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
ROGER NJ SHERMAN.
Rev. Joshua Leaytt and II. B. Stanton.