Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-01-23

to reform human governments, Is apparent
from the following considerations:
l. The signers of the Declaration dis
claim "allegiance to any human gorern-
ment," evidently aiming. not at any par
ticular forms or features of human govern
ments as wrong, but at any and every hu-
man government, which is or can be form
ed.
2. They recognize as binding upon them
only "ihe laws OF kingdom which is not
of this world"-a kingdom (which has no
geographical boundaries" This evidently
refers TO the spiritual kingdom Of Christ
No other government is to be recognized as
possessing any rightful authority over US.
8. The idea of authority and government
implies The power and the right to enforce
obedience. But all such power and right is
denied to any human government. No peo-
pie or magis,racy are allowed to repel for
eign invasion, nor 10 "ofer resistance TO
domestic troublers ofthe public peace or o.
prirdte security" Nor is it deemed right
for any government TO compel the payment
of debts, or TO punish criminals by fines,
imprisonment or otherwise. Now to deny
the right to enforce commands, is in effect
to deny the right to command. For COM
mand without penalty and without right
;o'inflict that penalty is mere advice. Nor
is this remuneration Of civil governments
merely. 1t applies to all exercise of human
authority. Not only is the civil magistrate
shorn of all authority TO restraia or punish
crime; but the parent also instead of being
The head of the family, which God has
given, him, is merely chairman Of volun-
tary association. He may persuade, if he
can, but he must not command; for the
right 10 command implies the right TO en-
force obedience. The same principle ap-
piled TO schools would make them associa-
lions of very doubtful character, to say
the least, in which each scholar has as much
authority as the teacher. True it is not
necessary that teacher should govern only
by The fear of the rod. But there must be
the acknowledged right to use it if il be
deemed necessary, or authority and govern
ment cannot exist. Let parents in the
hearing of their children, or let trustees in
| the hearing of the whole school, announce
| to teacher that he must not punish the
children, and every one will see that he can
have no authority in that school. He NAV
persuade, or coax, or Aat,er, but he cannot
command anything. And the adoption by
the community of the sentiments Of this
Declaration would be equivalent 10 their
influence upon schools ndfamlies, to a gen.
eral law passed that no ieache, should in any
case punish scholar for any consideration
whatever; and that no parent should ever
employ physical coercion to restrain chill
dren from wrong doing.
These, if understand it Alright, are :
part Of the anticipated and inevitable re
suits of the adoption of that Declaration b,
an entire community. H. Curtis.
n.
at the close of his introduction above that, in his
view of the case, he has not yet arrived at tn
"RaerHs Of The question" Be as patient as yo,
cam my brother, until you reach that desired an.
desirable point,-your preliminaries shall then re
ceire full consideration, in connection with III
body Of your work. Understand me, then-,hi
is the "mGHner' which have all along chosen q
adopt-this is hOU | have proposed, and do We
propose TO follow you.
Notwithstanding your protest tina, have No
followed You at all, yet maintain that in reply;n,
o-your No. l, undertook TO follow you, as near
IN tins manner as the nature Of the ease woul,
permit. l undertook TO go forward and draw som,
inferenees that might take you over to the sen,i
ments Of the Declaration. You then demapde,
that should refrain from drawing infereuces. an,
informed me that that part Of the suhiec, which
"isheu 10 examine, IN connection with what yor
were introducing, should abe subject of consid
Grafton IN due time" This is one of the tb;nr
which | ala Isl to when said Won had rso,;rs,
me 10 stop" and wait. did stop, and am nov
waiting Tor yon to arrive at the point wher, car
resume my work in my own way.
did not design to complain of the shortnes, .
your articles. only mentioned the fact 10 accour,
IN part Tor the turn things had taken between ma.
30 much for the introduction.
have now reply to make to the article. No.
way OF correcting brother Curtis apnrehens;o,
or al least to prevent the Non Resistance Societ
oeihs misapprehended, by him and others. An
'nis reply may, possibly, afford him some relief o.
.he points already made by him, to which be mar
'es'S so great an anxiety for yes or a no.
Whatever may be brother Curtis design, hi
POSiions and conclusions calculated to give ,b
) impression that III Nor