Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-02-26

I'd, discussed and adopted; and having seen
he following queries-statements and ar
guments in the VT. Chronicle and feeling
willing, and even DESTROYS that the opposers
Of the resolution should be permitted 10 lay
their arguments before the public, have
thought proper to ask you TO copy the fol-
lowing from the Chronicle into your paper,
together with some remarks of mine.
J. HoLcoMB.
THE DENUNCIATION.
At the last annual meeting of the Ver-
mont Ani-slavery Society the following
resolution was adopted:
Reso5red, That those ministers who, with all the |
light they now enjoy III regard to the sinfuIness of
the STAKEHOLDER aud the suffering of the slave OPP
pose the cause OF Emancipation, remain silent |
on the subject, unworthy of support or OF con-
hdence as religious guides and teachers.
Wishing to understand exactly and be-
yond questioning who were thas denounc-
ed. we inquired Of the Secretaries, as fol- |
lows -
I'VE suppose that it the resolution
means 10 designate as unworthy of con-
fdence,' &c. all ministers who oppose
the movements of the existing anti-save-
" Societies, or decline giving them coun-
tenance and aid. We will thank the Sec
retares to inform US whether this inter
probation is perfectly correct, and, if not,
how it varies from the exact truth"
The last Voice of Freedom brings an
answer from one OF the Secretaries,
which we copy at length:
1.-THE resolution suppcses that there are
ministers who oppose the cause Of eman-
| cipatlon, or, what is nearly the same
thing, remain silent on the subject. Who
doubts the truth of this proposition, as ap-
pIlcabe, more or less, 10 some protested
ministers of Christ in every denomination,
| in The free states, with the possible excep-
ton Of the Friends, and without even
this exception in the slave states2 What
is more notorious to the observer Of pass
ing events. than the fact, that MANY of
the leading clergymen of Vermont have
Wrapt themselves in a moody silence on
the slave question, pl lying every expedi-
ent to stife its discussion in the church.
or else arrayed themselves in determined
opposition to all the active means in op-
eratoln Tor the deilverance of the slave
The resolution neither affirms nor denies
that it is the duty of ministers TO connect
themselves with existing societies; but if
we are fortunate enough to comprehend
its import, it means that the protesting
Waterman on the walls of Zion has no
business to ground arms and hold a par
ley with the devil, while men, and minis.
ters and churchmembers are providing
about the city, not only devourlng wild
oWs' houses, but widows themselves and
their offspring with them. The resolu-
ton seems to hint that a class ofmen spe-
ciaIly commissioned to lift up the warn.
ing voice against all sin, should not ex-
pect to escape the rebuke of discrmin-
atIng, reformatory, progressive age, if
they seek to play the neutral while the
Lords host is marshaIIing for the over.
! throw OF a system Of wick eddess, in view
OF which Heaven and earth are moved
In word, the resolution seems 10 poin,
10 long line of ministers in New Eng.
land, who are he ping the Chronicle keen
silent as a church-mouse on the worlds
question, and it cries out to them-Bark
bark! bark against the sin of slavery
Take your own way, good, kind friend
but bark !"
The only definite information here
given is, that the resolution was meant to
include many of the leading clergvmeu
Of Vermont" We are not told distinct
ly whether our Interpretation is "perfect.
" correct" or not, although simple
yea or nav would have been verv easy
and very short
The resolution, then, affirms that "ma.
ny of the leading clergymen in Vermont
; Iare unworthy of support or Of conf
dence as religious guides and teachers,
t because "lhey oppose the cause of eman
clpation, or remain silent on the subject
l. Now, in The first place, if we give
the words cause of emancipation" any
other than narrow and party meaning.
: it is not true that "manv leading clergy
men, or that any "Iead,ng" clergyman
or that any clergyman whatever in Yer
mont, opposes it or is silent on the sub
ject(a) We defy the secretaries, with
the whole society to aid them, to name
one. The inference therefore is irresisti-
BILE, that our Interpretation of the resolu-
ton is perfectly correct" and to get be-
yond the range of the denuncialion a
clergyman must approve and aid the
movements of the existing Anti-SIavery
Societies. d. But not to insist upon this,
2. We ask secondly, that the attitude
assumed by the Vermont An,i-Savery
Society towards many of the leading
clergymen of Vermont NAV be atten-
lively and seriously considered. The