Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-12-21

as defy the animal eating world TO show.
Vest Brookfeld.
The meeting in this place was we'll at
tended. The well disposed and quiet audi
ence was slightly disturbed by few young
rowdies who wished TO show their syn,pa-
thy for fashionable religion, which ! was
identifying with Phariseeism and material
ism. Il was all in character. REMARKED
TO the audience that should judge they had
been having popular revival or some other
mischevous excitement. II turned out 10
be so. A principal leader in the row, in the
gallery and about the door, was ascer,alned
to be the son of man who was leading
one in promoting and carrying forward their
revival. This man had, not long before,
been deprecating the appearance among
them of any work of reform that was I'M
popular with the revivalists = like Anti
Slavery or on-Resistance = lest il should
be the occasion Of disturbance. He did moi
| know but Temperance lecture could be
received. But nothing less popular than
I that. He seemed TO understand, as others
do what materials his religion is composed
of-tha, instead of being fixed and endur-
ing principle, it is titful, evanescent animal
| feeling, jostled and set aside by the approach
Of humanity and truth. Ii it were itself
great and everlasting truth, ii could not be
injured or disturbed by the approach Of an
other great truth.
| The Discussion at Wiliamstoun.
The fall of snow on Thursday night and
Friday morning retarded our progress = so
1 that we did not reach Williamstown until
late in the forenoon of Friday. Found
Alanson St. Clair on the ground, together
! with several friends and supporters Of vio-
lence assembled around him. What there
was left of the forenoon was spent 10 set
ling performances. The friends of violence
moved for Moderator, TO govern the meet
ing and keep order. told them and the
| assembly that had not come to Williams
town TO be governed by any human being
but myself for to have any authority exer
cised owe. me. My terms had been pub
lished to the world = and they would find
me abiding by them. The discussion itself
upon which we were proposing TO enter in
volved the very question as 10 the righteul-
ness Of any such authority as il was now
sought TO set up IN the case. The setting
Of il up then would in itself be shameful
begging of the question: violent decision
Of the question before the arguments were
heard. II was my view that the common
/ practice Of governing meetings, by moder-
aiors and rules Of order, is wasteful Of time
and destructive of good order. That ii is
inconsistent: with free discussion, and there
fore hindrance TO the finding of truth. But
more than This, ii is part Of a sy stem OF
violent restraint upon human liberty, which
no one has a right TO impose upon himself
or others. II would therefore be useless,
and worse than useless, for this meeting, or
any other human beings, individually or
collectively, 10 undertake 10 set up any au-
lhorily over me. | held 10 self-government,
and mutual forbearance, patience and kind
ness. After remarks for and against, an
individual, who had assumed workmanship
pro tenn, put the question to the audience
, BY calling for show of hands. On calling
for the negative, he doubtless saw that The
vole was lost, and so did not make a declar-
, alton Of the vote, but resumed The argument,
or allowed it 10 be resumed-l do not recol-
lecl whether the argument was recon-
menced by him or another-in favor Of hav-
ing moderator. Pretty soon some one,
determined on having u moderator, by fail
a means or foul, moved that moderator be
!, appointed over Alanson ST. Clair The
S mover was one of ST. Glars friends and
: supporters. The motion was seconded-ir
q good humor and sport supposedly FRIEND
0 of free discussion. ST. Clair, manifestly
g fearful that this motion might prevail, arose
# and entered his dissent. The motion wa:
: withdrawn, and he manifested acceptance
$ as be afterwards styled il, of the paragraph
e heretofore published from the Declaration
d Of Sentiments Of the Non Resistance Soci
l. ETY., as embracing questions for discussion
g This placed me on the affirmative, and re
B, qulred that should take the floor first, 4
ID which ! had no objection, IL subsequent,
appeared that his plan was, 10 secure |;
Of himself the closing speech, at the end @
\ each session. This would not have laulte
Of him for, SO long as he could have reache
re il in the exercise Of honesty, fair dealing
~ or common decencY. But either conscious
n ness of The badness Of his cause, or of hi
Il. own impolency, or both, led him to ute
id recklessness and disregard Of anything rea: