Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-11-11


more efficient influence upon their political
action. And they hope that the effect of
this will be, as il has, indeed, been, to some
extent, to provoke to jealousy" the opposite
pa,fy, and lead those who belong TO 1t, to
see the proprety, and duty. of uniting, on
all proper occasions, with the Wings in bear
ing testimony against slayery-in sustaining
the right of petition, and in adopting the
measures which the petitions, both to the
state and national legislatures, touching the
subject Of slavery, have prayed for.
They believe that if abolitionists will have
the patience and perseverance, which the
good cause in which they are engaged de-
mands, they will, ere long, see IN both the
other parties decided advance towards the
point of doing all that can properly be done,
in opposition to slavery. And they hope TO
see, in due time, the WHOLE NORTH, what
ever may be its divisions upon other mat
tiers, coming to be Of one heart and one soul
upon the great point ofmdintoining ifsr'ghts
and interests, in opposition to the slave pow
or which has SO long ruled the county
They believe that this result will be more
surely and more speedily accomplished with
out that separate organization which, dlsre-
garding every thing else but slavery arrays
itself in hostility TO every other party, and
in hostility peculiarly bitter, against all alb
oiitionists who do not pronounce its Shib-
boleth, and wear its livery.
In the spirit, and tone, and temper,
which strongly characterize the proceedings
of that party, and especially in its "breath-
| lngs out of threatenings and slaughter"
against those abolitionists who will not WELD
its weapons and wear its uniform, they see
anything but an omen for good to the cause
of abolition ,-unless good can be hoped
from the strong feelings of repugnance and
alienation, which bitter dcnuncation, will
produce in the bosoms of those whose CO.
operation must be finally obtained, in order
to carry forward, to any practical result, the
great movement against slavery.
These, as | understood the matter, are
some of the reasons which have induced the
abolitionists of Vermont to refrain from sup
porting the third party ticket at the late
election | might add others, but forbear,
as did not sit down for the purpose of go
ing fully into the sublect-my main purpose
being to ask you topublish my Connecticut
letter. IA copy of which / herewith send
you) that your readers may see the "head
and front of my offending" and possess the
means of Judging whether deserve the de-
dunciation which il has brought upon me.
1t was written when was in very bad health
and presents but a summary and imperfect
view of my sentiments upon the third par
~ question.
word upon another subject. The Ed
itor of the Liberty Standard charges me in
the article you have copied, with having
voted for" the gag" at the extra session of
last year. In your remarks upon it you say
AS to Mr. SHADES course on the gag res
oluiion be rsn cn":.t g - '"" -"
accept it, and say-that | voted for no rug
resolution, in the sense in which that phrase
is usually understood, and in which the Ed
itor of the Liberty Standard evidently in
tended to have it, understood, aud in which
the Editor of the Liberty Standard evidently
intended to have it understood in his article.
The resolution referred TO, was to this effect
II have not the resolution at hand. and
cannot, therefore, give its words) that, in-
asmuch as the Extra Session had been called
for special purposes connected with the f.
nanclal condition of the country, it was not
eXpedlent 10 consume the time in receiving
and considering petitions upon other sub
Jects-excepting petitions on the subject of
bankrupt law. The resolution did not
single out abolition petitions, but embraced
all petitions except those of the description
above referred to; and this, from any disrc-
gard of the right ofpettion, but simply from,
desire to conine the Extra Session to the
urgent business for which it had been called
so that it might be done, and the Session
closed, as speedily as possible-leaving the
ordinary business of legislation, and the
question OF slavery among other things to
be considered at the regular session which
was to follow. The whole matter was very
appropriately treated as a court of Justice
would dispose of its business at a special
session, held for the purpose oftrying par
ticular cause
l have never claimed, and do not now
claim, nor do | understand any body to
clam, that abolition petitions shall be treat
Ell with any more favor than other petitions. |
In the resolution for which | voted. they |
were treated just like other petitions, except |
ing those connected with the special bust
ness of the Extra Session, and for obyious
reasons, the bankrupt question. What
more than this can any reasonable abolition
list want? Nothing it seems TO me. And
yet am charged, in the name of abolition
with having voted for "the gag %
have answered for myself" Let nv
fellow citizens judge between me and nv
accusers.
Yours in the cause of Liberty
and Truth,
WILLIAM SLADE.
Oct. IL, IS42.
AS the Connecticut letter, alluded 70 ,horo