Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-11-30
Letter from brother Porter:
East Randolph. Nov. ls. AZ.

/ am much pleased with the course
taken in your useful and well conducted
paper. admire It's independence-rs
plain dealing-and its ami sectaridn char.
acler. view itas the "LIBERATOR"
of Vernon. and may i; be as ample in
condemning sectGrian slavery, as has
been the old " Libera.or' 10 denouncing
political or domestic slavery. | like its
fearless course in regard to "free inquiry"
open, fearless free inquiry after truth.
| remember when was nothing but a
Universalist then supposed | was
free inquirer after truth. But how exclu.
siye was that inquiry-how partial, how
selfish. Z" Free" to inquire iElo the er.
fots Of orthodoxy. Free. to Inquire as
far as would be beneficial to our sect
but no farther. It may be true that the
Universities, as denomination, are as
liberal and as tolerant as any other, and
perhaps more sos but still they are
/" sec" AID the term ssect" seems TO me,
synonymous with exclaslveneSS.
Now have nothing to say about The
particular dogmas Of universities, or their
| theological views. But l have something
to say in relation to their inconsistency
with the general principle offree Inquiry
| Do their periodicals, generally, admit
j well written articles into their columns on
The great subject of the abolition OF Save.
ry2 DO thew suffer one word of inquiry
ION this subject TO appear in their papers2
Has not their leading and most influential
journal, published an article on the sub.
ject of fogging soldiers in the British
army. and made severe remarks on that
J. savage and brutal custom; and has not
The editor Of this same Journal, refused 10
publish similar articles on the subject Of
aogging men and women of the South,
and grinding them 70 the dust during
1 their whole lives! Or has he ever made
one condemnstory remark ontbis savage,
cruel, and God. dishonoring custom?
Have no! the Uniyersalist papers exhibit
ed studied silence on the horrid subject
of siaVefy2 Have their clergymen, as
general thing, (of course there are ex.
ceftions) opened their mouths for the
dumb. and preached the glad tdings #
freedom from southern slavery, and the
opening of the southern prison house
Do they, in fact, remember those that are
in bonds as bound with Them
Have notthe w.iters,sthe teachers, and
the preachers of Universalisrn, as body,
commended long ard loul against the doc.
trine of endless misery in The future state,
as cruel. unjust and -God-dish nyrino?
DO not these same writer's, teachers, and
preachers, as body, exaibi,-to the world
some OF the most splendid written pieces
on the salvation of Sinners Have they
not taught Us that we have right to ex.
pect foIg iveness aud mercy at the hand Of
Omnipotence, without any particular mer.
1t OF our own. or even without repentance
10 this llfe2 Have we not heard sermon
after'sermon on Divine benevoence, set.
4 fng forlh In strains Of eloquence the infn-
lie love, the unsearchable riches, The
adorable goodness of the great Jehovah,
10 His erring children D. thew not
tell US that we can do nothing in this
world to obtain eternal life in the word
to cone? Have we not often heard them
quote that passage of holy writ, which
declares that God hath made of one blood
all natonsto dwell upon the face OF the
whole earth. 10 prove the impartiaIity Of
the Almighty. and also to show that all
men are brethren, and are the equal
chlldfen of one common Father, even the
great Creator.
II Now it all this is admitted. and all the
writing. and teaching. and preaching, 10
2 The world, cannot make one soul beltet
off in eternity: would il not be more con.
: slsleut for them toseypend their time aud
their TALENT. 10 better the CONDITION ofrheir
: fellow creatures in this world And
titheir Universal philanthropy, is co-eslen'
I sive with their benevolent prelensions'
: would not their colorsd brethren OF tho
i lSouth come within the scope ofther Uni'
$ versal, impartial charity2 Are not then