Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-04-22

northern apologist.
II. Our Relation to SLAVERY.
Under this head he commenced with the
origin of American slavery. Queen Isa-
bella, who was among the first to transport
Africans TO the West Indies, he allowed to
have been actuated by good iutentions-nao-
ttUes of nercy--in entering upon the slave
trade,-because it would be bringing these
heather under the influence of the Catholic
religion Some historians have it, too, that
it was done in kindness TO the Indians who
melted away SO rapidly underthe rapacity
and avarice of the Spaniards, the cons,itu-
ton ofthe African being capable of holding
out longer under them IF those who COM
NIT such acts, on such pretexts, are entitled
to credit for good and mercifuI intentions.
then have studied common sense. and hu-
man nature, and the rule of judgment given
oy our Savior TO no purpose. The good
ness that engages in kidnapping class Of
human beings, dragging them from home
across the ocean, and violently subjecting
them to the fortunes of a living death, under
the pretext of bringing them under the in
fiaenee of religion, is a part of. the same
goodness or benerotence which holds slaves
In lntermlnable bondage, lest liberty should
be curse 10 them rather than a. blessing,
Out upon such goodness and mercy 1t is
most shocking abuse of language. 1t is
most reckless and ruinous self-deception for
human beings to fiatter themselves that they
are moved by such heavenly attributes,
while they are doing such works of hell !
And it is not charity, but ,nonstrous self.de-
fusion, to give them credit for any such
thing:
| he cleared the United States and Eng
land from any guilt in regard to- the COM
nsencemenf of slavery. He held them. re-
sponslb4e, however for its continuance
but oy the time he had got through talking
about the relation sustained to slavery he
the nation in general, by the State in which
we live in particular, and by ourselves as in
dividuals, it was very difficult to know who
| he left in the blame. In this consisted the
heresy and mischievous tendency of his
discourse lis whole bearing was, to ex-
cuse all parlies-to wash all hands of apv
guilt in regard to the blood of our slain and
crushed brethren. I ask those who heard
him TO tell me, if they can, on whose shout
ders be placed the crushing mountain of
guilt that must be attached to such a. system
ofoppression as he portrayed in the begin
ming OF! his discourse Isabella, who be-
gan it, was allowed to have had good in
| teptionS, and southern. shareholders who
continue it are to have credit for honest
CONNECTION that bondage is better than lib
erty for the slaves !!
| His next work was to acquit the North
Vermont ia particular. There had been too
| much stress on the adjustment of slavery
and the slave trade in the District of CO.
lumbla. The accomplishment of this OBJ
Ject would not be removal of the kew from
the arch, as had been anticipated. There
was 40 possible way in which the legisla-
tive power of the North could be brought 10
bear for the adjustment of slavery He
found ways to show abundantly how any
and every vote that could ever have been
cast from the North agains. slavery would
have effected nothing for its removal. AS
if to break up The greatest slave market this
side Of New Orleans-and that marke, in
the metropolis of the nation, and bringing
revenue into the national treasury-were
small thing! As if TO have refused adnis
sion to the Union, Of several large slave
States-thus- preventing the enlargement of
siaVeholding power in Congress, aud of
course of slavholding influence in the ma.
ton and in the world-would have been no.
thing! And as if the casting Of all posi-
bic influence on the right side of this mo-
nentous, question had not been infinitely
better than TO have cast any on the prone
SIDE, or to- have remained silent and inac.
i've spectators, while the works of darkness
ana diaooilsm were going on He acauit-
ted the North generally. and Vermont in
particular, of all responsibility for the pres.
ent existence and continuance of slavery at
the South Vermont, be declared, had al
ways voted right on this subject. When
he got through he was corrected on this
point, In relation 10 the admission of Mis-.
sour. And in relation to The North in gen.
eraL he win allow me 10 call his attention
TO the Atherton gag law of last year And
what does ne do with the fact that, as gen.
| eraI thIn0. men WIN 90 from tho MI.