Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-04-13
' o l.. XIV. NO "a


claims for him, think it is small n,n
that is left for him to occupy himself ahon,
in the case.
(5) If brother Holcomb insists on ,ho
applicability Of his comparison, let him s.v
either the one thing or the other r. eirbo,
that it is morally wrong for the esear;o,
fugitive to take what he stands in peris bjOS
need of, so far as be can obtain it wi,bon,
violence, or that it would be right for b;n,
to use violence and knock men down
can see vast difference in the two rbiDr.
and think have abundantly shown !, .,
taught by our Savior
(4) Brother Holcomb begins now TO ma,o
himself understood-or to understand him.
self, on the subject. 1t is not the moroy
onrong of the Address with which be Ia.
had difficulty - but the inerpedienev of j.
If now understand him, he does not 8eDr
that the slaves have perfect right 10 every.
thing that is claimed for them in the case
Of course he will not say that in the siob,
of the Great Moral Lawgiver there is thief,
Only brother Holcomb doubts the eroed;.
ency of making it knopn to the lavex
lest they "be guarded more closely" This
is precisely one of the principal objections
which have always been in the mouths Of
proslavery men against Anti-Slavery move.
meLts in general. 1t has always been said
that it is inerpedient for US 10 touch the
subject of slavery at all, because the South
would make the chains tighter. For the
same reason Moses ought not TO have told
Pharaoh to let the people CO., for he
made Moses preaching the occasion for in.
creasing the burdens and tightening the
chains on Israel.
If brother Holcomb "could see no argu-
ment in " my drgumentum ad hominem, he
could feel it; and that was better. When
he came to feel what would be jusli6abIe in
the case of his daughters, he could feel
what would be right in the case the lave 10
like circumstances. There is nothing better
to aid ones moral perceptions, in regard 10
the claims of the slave, than to place ones
self, or allow ones self, as near as possible,
TO be placed in the slaves stead.
(5) On this subject
co am glad TO see my brother recurring
to this point again, and making sure of be-
ing understood here. II is where | am han
py 10 find him.
(7) Ifhe should be brought 10 trial. But
who would bring him 10 trial? What iv-
ing human being would undertake to ar
raign and punish fellow being for On
nocent yielding to necessity" to prevent
"starving and freezing," and 10 escape from
the " matchless, horrible Bastilc % Where
could jury be fuunl to render d verdict
against the respondent? What would not
jury do, after doing such thing?
(8) If "cirH law" can be found that
| would so outrage nature, and reason and
right, is it not high time for US TO be bearing
testimony against it2 Can it be Guty 10
make it paramount consideration to shape
our conduct sc that we unavoidably give
sanction TO such law?
(9) Nor does the Address, nor wout
sanction the taking of a horse, under any such
circumstances as have attended the flight Of
any slave through this region, under your
observation or mine. 1t is only contenGea
that there might be justi6able occasion ID IA
possible case. That is all. And low 'e'
me suppose a~case. | will again suppose
the fugitives TO be your own dear Children
They are on their way to the home oil lns'
fond, affectionate, and frantic parents lDs5
are within ten miles of home - toot-sofe-
exhausted from hunger and fatigue - '''
piratical pursuers on their track, but >IV''
distance behind, and every moment 9a'D'"9
upon them. Now the fends come 10 >'-''
of their victims, and raise a savage O'O'1
hound yell, to terrify and overcome '0sD'
AT this critical moment and in this o'''I
ful Strait" the hapless fugIuVes' I''''
desperate by the awful circumstances
( ing horse and wagon by the SIDE u ~
road, without stopping to inquire ""o,s
is, or whether they may Lave It, no
, it, and while the one holds the fe'D' 49,
other uses the whip, until they reach ~.
open doorssand extended arms " os'' -.
the jury that would make thett or eve" .b
slightest ,respass of it2 Its TO jos' s.'4
"dreadful straits" that tie escaping ''D
are sometimes driven
4 (1O) | can not see why brother tn0 va
should persist in calling ii "sfed''"5' :, II
yet not call it "vioIation OF the sP"" 49,
the moral lap." 1t is using lanSOaS' -
loosely. l say that all stealing IS d U r,....
III