Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-15
VERMONT TELEGRAPH,
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. IS, 1910,
NON.RE STANCE.

NONRESIS TANCE,
Friend Curtis having left the ground, it
remains for me to examine his work. There
is no doubt of his ability to do full Justice
to his cause-to do all that can be done for
it. But whether he, or any other living
person can show it to be the cause of nura
Christianity, is another and very different
thing.
In order to get more Immediately at The
main argument, shall pass by, for the pres
ent, his statements, in his introduction
three weeks ago, as to what he shoaced'-
or as | should say attempted to shown
his 'reconnoitering the subject last winter;
except the statement sho,oing' the DESIGN
of Non-Resistance in regard to shu,oan
governments This l cannot pass over
without correction, because on this point
the advocates Of Non Resistance have been
either grossly Inexperienced or wickedly
misrepresented. The language of bis state
ment runs thus:
And that this new doctrine was aimed
not at the abuses of government, but al
government itself. That its design is not
to reform, but to sap and destroy all hx-
man governments IN the family and the
school as a0eU as IN the Slate
will not say that friend Curtis chose
this language with malice aforetaoueht'-
intending to deceive-because | design to
refrain from impugning motives, and from
all other unpleasant personalities. But al
lowing his heart 20 have been right, his
head must have been entirely wrong,-for
the language used involves the making uu
OF false issue. The impression given, in
relation TO what is supposed to be war Of
determination for the removal of government
from among wicked men, leaving them tc
follow their own vile inclinations, is utterly
| false. Non-Resistants claim to be the fol
lowers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince
oil Peace. They claim it to be the RICH,
and privilege of the subjects of his king
dom to be governed by his laws-which arr
summed up in the great law of love-anc
to obey him rather than men. They hole
all war and fighting to be violation of the
laws OF his kingdom. They therefore fee
In duty bound to withhold allegiance from
all governments based on the principle of vi
olence, involving war and bloodshed, as all
existing governments do. They expect tina,
depraved men will continue to have their vi.
client governments, in their own way. and
bite and devour each other, as they always
have done,-until the peaceful kingdom o,
Christ swallows up all such governments, e
his glorious reign becomes universal. They
hold it to be the duty of all who would be
the followers of the Prince of Peace &c
withdraw themselves from all the institu.
tons OF men which involve violence and
blood, and to regulate their conduct By the
heavenly law of love. They cannot con.
ceive Of the consistency of protesting TO be
governed by this law, and at the same time
destroying human life, or aiding and abet.
ting in its destruction. They hold thai
what individuals have no right TO do them
selves, they have no power to delegate 9th
ers TO do-that they have no more right tc
throw their own lives or the lives of other,
into the hands of community of men, thar
they have to hold them in their own hands
. | r ~ ,..l
from all participation in human govern
ments, all of which are based on the prime;
pie that human life is to be taken at human
discretion.
II will be seen, therefore, that no VIC
lence is to be feared from those who hole
and practice Non Resistance. / hav.
thrown out these statements here, becaus,
those who have taken it upon themselve.
TO oppose Non-Resistants have, as l saic
before. either grossly Inexperienced o.
wilfully and wickedly misrepresentec
them. Be il which way it may, it is tn,
/ right ofthe accused to be understood. anc
TO set forth their own sentiments for them
selves. BY false accusation odium NAV
for while be heaped upon the heads o
! the innocent-but that must be a bac
cause which is under the necessity of re
sorting to it, and will ultimately be injur
ca by Hsown measures. as surely as Their,
y d'scernnaeot and virtue in the people