Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-15

Does he claim the right to take her life ?
Not at all. Does he claim the right to
whip her, or punish her, with other phys
ical violence. at his own discretion. for
neglect or refusal to obey his mandates
think not. 1t would crafty me very
much to know the limits which he mas
prescribed to his "rightfal authority" in
"rwling orer" his wife. But the point
Fan be settled without The two ques-
tons above which l have presumed to
answer for him are sufficient If the "do-
mestc constitution" does net give him the
"righful authority" to take the life of his
wife, or to punish her at discretion with
physical violence, than human govern.
| ments cannot grOto out of at, or be IN.
| grated anto IT, The stock, then which
ne has prepared to receive his cion is
dead matter-always has been and al
ways will be. The vital principIe-if
may so call it-of "human government"
is It's power to take slife, and punish with
| physical violence, at discretion. The
domestic constitution being entirely
destitute of any such power, the former
cannotsderive the least nourishment or sup
port from it. His argument then falls 10
the ground. just as the living cion perish
es when placed upon dead stock. There
| is not shadow of likeness between the
two institutions. The difference between
them furnishes the whole ground for the
objection brought by Nom Resisiants
against the doctrine that God has ordan-
ed governments based on violence.
The numerous passages Of scripture
which he has brought in support of the
domestic constitution are nothing in
point,-for the domestic constitution is
not the thing objected TO. The objection
is, to arguing from this to another nstitu-
ton, based on entirely different principles
the principles of the two being as diff
ferent as creatures of Gods wisdom and
goodness, and creatures of mans denray-
ity and perverseness
Having now disposed of his main argu-
ment. there is nothing remaining of his
article, except some parts of his recapitu-
laton in his introduction-of his last
winters work. These items need but a
brief notice, and so better be attended 10
in this place, perhaps, than elsewhere.
In regard to paying taxes, | find differ
ent individuals holding different senti-
ments. Some think the example of our
Savior warrant for their paying whatev-
er taxes are exacted from them-at the
same time protesting against much Of the
taxation as robbery. Others think the
protest will not avail much while the tax
IS paid. These withhold such parts Of
their taxes as they cannot pay conscen-
tiouslY. The town taxes-such az for
the support of the poor, schools, and high
ways-are probably paid by all. The
State tax, which goes very much in sup
port OF the works of vioIence-an odious
militia system among other things-some
have refused 10 pay. So their properly
has been seized and sold at the post
Probably friend Cults will complain of
such, as making difficulty. Let us see
then if there may not be instances in
which he would make the same difficulty.
Suppose the constituted authorities of Vor.
mont should levy State tax for The ex.
press and avowed purpose of carrying on
war OF conquest against Canada. The
exactors come TO friend Curtis he under.
standing the object-aLd demand the tax.
Would he pay l.? l presume not. And
II not the government has the same diff
Guilty with him that it has with the Non
Resistant. And if he claims the rloht to
have conscience for himself in one mat
ter, why is he not bound to allow the
Non-Resisant to have conscience in an
other matter2
Again He brings it as q charge
against Non-Resistabts that they will not
aid government in doing its work Of vio-
lence upon criminals. AS an offset to
this [ charge it upon him, that there are
cases in which he will not aid government
IN Its work of violence. He would not