Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-03-18
of the following, special invitation, moved by

of the following, special invitation, moved by
Mr. Robinson
"On motion, voted, that al persons present be in
ri1dto tale part in the deliberations Of the Convcn-
ton"
Under these circumstances it was, that the
audience took part in the discussions, in OPP
position to Mr.. Burnley, and claimed the right
to cote upon the question at issue. But tins
was denied thcm-Mr. Burnley con'ending,
and the chair deciding, that, under the above
invitation, none but those who had signed
the abolition pledge were entitled 10 vote !
and accordingly, an audience which filled
the Court House to overlooking, sat quietly
mum, while ten individuals against three
being all the qualified voters present-adop-
ted the resolutions as the sense of the meet
ing Herein lies the head and front of the
offending which Vindex associates with the
idea of rotten eggs aud brick bats, and would
iain torture INTO design on the part Of the
majority 10 kick upa row ! The idea is
preposterous ard we defy him to point to
single act that will bear 1t out. But Vindex
presently lets us into the true secret, of his
grievances, when he informs US that it twas
"lhe intention in calling the convention that
"Mr. Burlcy should be the sole manager and
"almost the only speaker" But why invite
call present" to participate in the deibera-
tons of meeting where one man was to do
all the managing, all the talking, and all the
cotng! Manlesly under the suppostion
that no one would dare to raise an opposing
voice, land that the sentiments advanced would
60 to the world as the sober second thoughts
OF large assemblage where discussion was
challenged 1t was the Illustration Of this
little intrigue that smells so strongly of "phys-
ical force" to our correspondent and when
he llnds that in a meeting of some hundreds,
his odious resolutions are driven to the wall
with lesst han a baker dozen TO endorse them,
the cheapest way he can account for the re-
suit is, to lay it to a mob. Let the gaIl'd
jade vince.
Secondly, we repudiate the doctrine adj
vanced by Nindcx, that the Church is to be
the mere creature of public opinion, blown
hitler and ththcr by every varying wind of
popular sentiment. This is ID new idea to
us. We had supposed it the peculiar pro-
vince of the church TO maintain the truth, as
interpreted by itself, even in defiance of
public opinion, and to stand lirmcst when
popular delusion was most rife without. But
no. 1t seem that the church having assumed
to "diract and control public OPINION" is
bound in turn to be directed and controlled
by that public opinion and when thus ar
raigncd, it is It's duty to acquicsce in the
arraignmcnt, and set about return to that
immocajh Standard" popular opinion -
This is the new system Of evangc!ising the
churches by resolution. "Nmdex," for in
stance, is Il Deacon of his Church, and be-
ing spiritually endowed beyond the Pastor
and Congregation. feels called upon to clc-
vate the standard of religious duty. He ac-
cordlngly appeals to "public opinlon"-calls
"A meeting, if you please, of all who SYM
pa,hise with the oppressed" without regard
) 10 age, party, sect, or moral or intellectual
; character, and proceeds to the work OF
> sprituaIizing the church, by a series ofharsli
censorious, illiberal and anti christian reso-
Iulons. The culprt fresh from the peniten-
, iten,iary, the tipler in his cups, the gambler
r and the backleg reeking from the stew, unite
: with the inGdel, the scoiler, and the deacon
: in unanimously declaring the church desl
Q tutc of the spirit of religion."- And here i
. the end of the law. This is "public opn
Z ion"; and the church is " bound to acgui
t esce !" Nothing further remains, but for th'
>, congregation to join the most popular delu
n sion OF the day, and for the pastor TO devot
S himsefto abolition, antimasonrv, moral re
: form, morus multicaulis, or in short, what
t ever "public opinion," shall indicate as tn
e great evangelical field Of labor. Verify, "
t live in an age Of wonders.