Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-04-20
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
Editorial Responsibllity.
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 20, fs4

EO1tOrAoA kteSPOmsADAltys
Brother Bronson, in his article to be found
on the first page, manifests that hitherto he
has been in the habi: Of holding me as an
endorser for all the sentiments published in
The Telegraph from the pens Of others. unless
show to the contrary in comments. As
this view of his may be an index to the
views Of others, il is proper that should
"defne my position Tin regard to the mat
ter. Now can not quite think that brother
Bronson has always in fact done, what he
seems TO think he has been at liberty TO do
in the case. will not go back 10 enumer-
ate cases. will specify only single case
Of recent occurrence. Take the Address Of
the Melho1ists on Burlington District.
Did brother Bronson suppose that | endors-
ed, as my sentiments, every thing contained
in that Address, Look particularly at
what is there said Of 'radicalism.' 1t was
manifest that the writer Of that piece was
utterly ignorant OF the derivation and literal
meaning Of the word, or else that he was
perfectly careless in bis use Of it. He used
il as though il was incapable Of being used
in good sense-as though radicalism was,
in itself, necessarily wrong, and could never
be right This was a mistaken use of the
word. The word comes from the Latin,
radir, which signifies root, OF foundation Of
thing. Hence, 10 be radical, is TO take
things by the roots. He who weeds gar
den must be radical, or he will effect lit.
tle-so in regard to him who would root out
vices and sins from the world. Take slave
ry, if you please. The thing which strikes
most effectively at the root or foundation Of
this overgrown enormity, is the preaching Of
the doctrine that il is sinful under all cir
cumsiances TO hold human beings as prop
alely repen;ed Of and forsaken. He who
breaches this doctrine is the greatest posi-
Die radical on this subject. From all this,
il was plain to my mind that the writer Of
the article did not understand the propeI
Specification and use Of the word. There
were other things in the article which did
not suppose any one would think necessa,
rily endorsed merely because ] published
them without comment. The names of the
Chairman and Secretary Of the meeting
were signed to il; and was willing TO lei
readers form their own opinions of its merit
Brother narrower. of Waterbury, sent me
the manuscript; and il was not in my hear
10 be so illberala az TO exclude it. publish
ed il cheerfuly, as do, and shall, grea
many other pieces which contain things tina
do not endorse.
ISL propose, IN future, to be rery lib
erai foacards all Christidns- all lovers o.
truth and holiness aid human SALVATION
IN the matter of publishing Driters to b.
considered themselves alone responsible 70,
1nhat they communicate. To Insure 9
place in The Telegraph, every piece inrolo
ing in any a0ay a statement of facts, mus
be accompanied NTH responsible sigma
turef 10 be at least kept in my hands: am
the more ioho consent to accompany thei
published communications Nth their o1o,
proper signatures, the better. II strike
me thai the propriety and usefulness Q
The entire course marked out in this para
graph a0iu be apparent to euery liberal 4
unbiased mind.