Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-10-13

The first resolution, declaring that
slavery is sinful under all possible cir
cums,ances," has been great stumbling
block 10 NE: and no doubt has to thou
sands of others. As | noao view 1t, the
truth of the resolution is clear and should
be explained as follows When per-
son heirs slaves according to law, the
guilt does not so much consist in his heir
ing, as it does in continuing TO be the
legal owner. Aud if The laws of state
are such that man feels compelled to
hold the relation of master, there is GER
tainlv guilt somewhere, and it must be
thrown on the law making power, and
the pretended owner of his fellow man.
Let them settle the matter between them
selves.
I will say few words on the 18th
Resolution. which is as follows That
when the majority becomes corrupt, the
adage, that union is strength" ceases 20
be true that then diuision becomes
strength l think this is incorrect, at
least in one respect. and think you must
so see it. The longer the northern
churches hold united together, and are in
full fellowship with slave holding church
es, the stronger they bind the slare. Is
it not so? So on the other hand, the
more there are united in doing a good
: work, the stronger they move. Then as
J matter of course, union is strength.
But when two thirds of the members of a
church pull one way, and the other third
he other way, there can be no union, any
farther than in name l think however
that where there is union the strength il
increased TO do either good or eril, and
/ guess, Orson S. Murray, tina, you can't &c
i away from it. (D .....:.
; | will quote one sentence Of the ad
: dress adopted by the Convention, whicl
seemed TO me to convey wrong views a
: to the power of the Almighty The pas
sage is this -" And what if God ha
: carried forward some OF his work by spcI
instrumentali,ies as he could get" Hal
o the convention said, What If God ha
n chosen to carry forward some of His worI
e through such ins,rumentalities for time
: it would not have seemed to me so mucl
like doubling His po,rer TO command sue
instruments TO accomplish his work a
He chose. Perhaps you can make tn;
passage read smooth and right.
you can, shall be glad TO see it done. e
:" Nothing further. this ime. 49,.
= Oct Z, ls4l- J. HoLcoMB.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
i (l) If the resolution stood alone, without ar
manifest connection or bearing, It might
chargeable with want of expIicltEess. 1t mig
then be necessary to qualify with something lii
the following: the object being g0od-when ii
!! majority become corrupt. &c. But in the ca:
K, under consideration, what have here supple
l. is necessarily understood. The resolution w
r. designed TO be refutation of the doctrine th
:, union is paramount to everything else, in Il
pursuit of good object-or, otherwise, the do
" trine that there is strength in proportion TO nun
u bers, irrespective of principles To my ow
IS mind, therefore, the resolution, considered in i
e. connection, is perfectly correct.
s. (2) Perhaps it would have been better that til
!, sentence had read something as follows:-' B,
what if God has hitherto suffered some Of h
= work to be carried on by imperfect instruments
a. ities!' Yet am fully prepared to defend Il
DC truth Of the sentiment as now expressed by Il
el language used in the Address. There are SON
3. wild notions entertained in regard to the poD
). Of the Almighty. 1t should be understood an
remembered that his potcer never transcends
,cisdom and goodness. All will admit, at ono,
IS that he not do torong. So, on reflection, al
VI will admit that he not do iacOnsistently-
= is, any one thing which he does must be consis
70 ent with every other thing which he does. l
therefore, he creates beings of such nature tn;
their happiness depends on their freedom {
v choice, he cannot of course, depriUe those sam
D, beings Of their freedom Of choice and yet kee
Is them happy. Now if these beings have tn
d potcer Of choice, they have the same pOtcer
!. disobey him that they have to obey him. And
j he grants them the power to disubey him, h
cannot at the same time reserue to himself Ii
= power to compel them to obey him. Tosay tn;
. he could have created rational intelligent being
o and held them accountable, and at the same tim
o deprived them of the power of choice, would
!. TO impeach his wisdom and his goodness. An
if the power Of choice be given, then there