Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-01-26


and law making power, by which the per-
son is made slave. To one or more Of
these parties il attached the sin Of slavery.
But few, il any, will charge the sin of
slavery on The slave. Whatever we may
think concerning his right, and even his
duty TO leave his master in certain cases, I
muh think that ordinarily, under the exist
ing slave laws in this country, prudence and
duty require him, patiently TO submit to the.
outrage. t5) But the Shareholder inasmuch.
as he freely ayails himself of the power
which the law affords him. (6) is ordinarily
guilty Of the sin Of slavery. Yet there are
possible cases, in which the person legally
holding slaves is not chargeable with The
sin of slavery. Two cases only will na,ne.
l.-Asperson outtof pity buys slaves for the
purpose Of giving them freedom but the
Jaws may forbid the liberating Of slaves in,
the State: if not, they may require them
again to be seized and sold into bondage
, The slaves must then remain short time
in the hands of the purchaser, till be can
put in execution his benevolent intention OF
llberatiDg them. can see nothing wrong
in this Shareholder. (7) Again suppose
young man, the sole heir 10 his fathers
estate, has been broughtu up with family of
slaves, consisting Of father, mother, sons
and daughters. He has a strong attach
ment TO them, and they To him. His whole
employment for some years has been to
superintend the labor of the slaves. on a
small plantation Of his fathers. He mas
|imbibed SO much of the spirit Of the gospel
as to abhor slavery. On sudden he finds
himself an orphan, and the possessor of his
deceased fathers estate, plantation, slaves
and all. Will it be sinful for him 10 re-
main SHAREHOLDERS till he buries his fa,he-2
Filled with grief, perhaps lie hardly reflects
on the abhorred relation which he holds 10
some of his fellow beings. In a short tine,
however, all his circumstances are brought
TO his view. A debt Of Two thousand dol
lars must soon be paid, and his slaves are
liable TO be sold for the payment. The Law
IS such that he can not al once free them,
and have them remain il safety on The
plantation. By negotiation with The cred
itor, he gives up he farm COR two thousand
FIVE hundred dollars, cancels the debt OF two
Thousand, takes The balance, FIVE hundred,
and slaves, removes 10 a free State, pur-
chases two hundred acres of land, lakes
deed Of one hundred in his own name. and
of the other hundred in the name of the
father, now al once freeman, a freeholder,
a husband, and the head of family, tay-
ing power to govern his own house, accord
ing TO the rules of the gospel. This trans
action required tue term Of some. months.
before The relation of master and slave
Irlss..ld be. dissolved. can not see that sin
could attach to this Shareholder under these
supposable and possible circumstances. (8)
But since we admit that slavery is siaful
under all circumstances, we are obliged in
this case TO charge the whole on the law
making power. All who make lie laws by
which slavery is constituted, and all who
have any influence in making them, and all
who neglect TO use their influence for their
abolition, are more or less guilty. These
are the sinners. CO.
A. Resoired, Therefore, that inasmuch as
slave-halding involves, so far as human dis
cefnment can go, the highest crimes which
lis possible for men 10 commit against their
Maker or their fellows, il follows that those
who Commit these crimes are among the
highest criminals before God and the uni.
verse;
This would follow, if the qehoie crime of
slavery was chargeable alike on every ind-
vldual who in any measure participates in
IL. But il is with slavery as with all other
crimes Of communities, some may parlici.
pate In il in greater and some in less
degree. The sins of intemperance, of Sab
bath breaking, of RIGHTEOUSNESS, of profan-
Hily, Of evil speaking, are all chargeab!e OF
This nation aad we may all be involved in
the guilt of these crimes, but some more
and some less; and who are the highes,
criminals before God is mol for man 10 de-
clare. (10)
IS. RESOLVED, That whatever is sinful in
those who are not reckoned as christians, is
more sinful in those who make spretensions
10 christianity and holiness - inasmuch as
The character OF the STA is ag yrayated In
proportion 10 the light enjoyed = ard these
on their own showing enjoy grediersli5hf
than any others-and Iuribermore inasu1uehi
as these set themselves up and are followed
as examples.
"6. Resoired, Therefore, that slave hold
ing ministers and church members are sin
ners above all other shareholders
This assumes what is neither proved nor