Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-07-08
ERMoNT TELE APH.

lowing sentiments, uttered by the Savior, |
{ Whatsoever We would that others should |
do unto you, do ye even so unto them,' and, |
He tha, is not for me, is against me- i'll
properly applied, and enforced, will do the
work. 1t is sometimes difficult for men tn
see that they are necessarily on one side or
the other Of the great moral questions which
are being presented. apprehend, howev
er, that the actions Of men go one way or
the other, let their feelings be what they
may. believe that the longer the northern
people hold their peace, or apologize for
shareholders, the 4onger the slave must pine
in bondage, the declaration of shareholders
TO the contrary Notwithstanding Itappears
to me that, as the most healthy part Of the
human system must restore the affected part,
so must the northern States apply the cure
to slavery Admitting this to be true, the
enquiry arises, what can be done in, and by,
the most sound part of our confederated sys-
tenn, for curing, or removing, this moral
gsngrene
maintain that the first and most efec-
the move must be in the church. be-
lieve that ministers generally at The north
think they are opposed TO slavery. But
have they as yet, as body, done or pro-
posed any thing that strikes at the root of
the evil 2 think not. There are, in the
whole, many honorable exceptions. But
| the greater part have generally acted on the
same principle as the politician, only indi
their vicinitv. Hence the necessity of &C
| ton BY members Of churches, TO obtain ac-
lion iii the ministry. 1t appears clear to
me that, could united voice of remon-
srrahce go from the northern churches, to
/ The southern, on the sin Of slave holding
and the duty of forsaking that guilt, the
soon heave out this iniquity from her bor-
ders. saw an old friend to-day, who has
been at the South and who saw a slave
J holder few DAYS ago the other side of the
mountain. While conversing with the man
! on the subject Of slavery, the southern man
! told my friend that if the people wished TO
do away slavery, the church must first get
rid Of 1t. This man owned As slaves, and |
think was from Missouri. The slave hold
ers themselves hold in contempt those al
the north who apologize for the system Of
oppression which they practice, and which
their judgmen, tells them Is wrong in the
abstract, bot 10 which they hold on, as the
rum seller does 10 his business, (i. e) for
! the sake of gain. My friend said he called
on Henry Clay in l834-saw about so Of
his slaves-said Clay told him he owned
800 in the whole, and that if slavery should
be done away he should lose vast amount
of properly. That MIR. Clay had one slave
about 80 years of age, who transacted bust.
ness In his law office-Ihat Clay requested
my friend rotsto inform this slave of the
privileges of the people in Vermont if he
did, he was fearful the slave would run
away. That he Clay had taken pains 10
instruct him, and my friend said he was as
good penman as he ever saw. He also
said that on certain occasion, the slave
inquired of him respecting the people where
be came from, but he did not tell him, be-
cause he had promised Clay he would not.
The slave told him he generally Jared well,
but had had strong desire for liberty since
young child, and would live on a crust
day with his freedom, rather than be slave.
and have all he wished to eat and drink
Mr. Clay told my friend that he had 10 tell
his slaves, that the people at the north did
not fare so well as they did in order 10 keen
them. This is the way they are kept con-
tented and happy! They dare not tell
them the truth, lest they leave. Nv friend
said Mr.. Clay treated him in a perfectly
gentleman!y manner, only that he required
OF him pledge, as before stated. My in
formant also stated that he saw an acquain-
lance IN Kentucky who formerly lived in
Cornwall, VT. This man told him that
those drivers who would press and extor,
the most labo. from the slaves, procured the
highest wages,-that he then had 40 dollars
per month for't service-that he had been
offered certain sum Of money if he would
hold such intercourse with the female slaves.
as TO improve the stock. He also said thai
my friend must be careful what be said
about slavery, or speaking with the slaves.
FOR ne might be hung up without Judge or
jury, -that school master instructed some
slaves about four miles from there, and was