The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-07-19

That the church as body was 02rc.,
behind the age in every moral enterpri;c
That the church was responsible, this dsv
for the existence of Slavery in America =.
That the clergy were race of corrupt hyn
ocrites, and he was prepared to prove it,
They protested that their rule of condue,
was, "to do to others as they would Be tons
unto" Their practice was to retain in bon.
dage their fellow men. And that PRACTICE
was Endorsed b. the Synods and Presbvte.
ries and Conferences of the American
church. lie did not wish 10 attack II.
church or the clergy, but if they stood in
the way of the great moral enterprise, he
was prepared TO tilt at them both. He said
that the clergy denounced only the crime,
and vices which were unpopular that thew
were iusincere in their professions and cor.
rupt in their practices. The Roman Cath.
Ole church was the only one which pre,sn
ded to take right ground on the question Of
Slavery, and the old Pope, rascal as he was,
had been the only christian corporation
which had Illuminated its Bull against Sla>
very. The Pope was the best christian in
the world with the exception of the Sultan
of Turkey. who was far ahead of Christen.
dom. And if he might believe the New
Testameni,the Devil himself wasmore hon.
est and sincere, in his professions. than the
American Clergy. for that Book informed
him, that the old fellow 'belevcd and trem.
bled." That by the common law the Clcr
gy as body were guilty of Murder and
! Robbery. They were accessories before,
during and after the fact.
. Mr. Knapen.an Universalist Clergyman,
ION reiterated expressions from Bradburn,
and others that the meeting was free one,
and if any body doubted what had been
said, time would be given,) declared that
what had been stated, did not apply to bis
denomination, that their principles were too
pure to flourish in a slave country, tha, only
nino clergymen Of his persuasion could Be
found south of Mason and Dixons line
They protested Universal brotherhood
and nil without distinction Of color or con.
dition found repose and comfort within tho
fold of his church. The convention of L.
niversalist Clergy of Vermont. had Passc..
resolutions condemnatory of Slavery.
Bradburn said that if tho Northern Uni
versalists had any thing 10 do with their
Southern brethren, they were the most bra
zen faced hypocrites Of the whole gang
inasmuch as their professions wero broader
than the rest Of the Christian Clergy, AMI
their practice the same, they especially ,of all
christian denominations, deserved the dee.
pest damnation.
So Mr.. Knapcn took nothing by his mo-
ton.
: After Bradburn had denounced the Church
and clergy. the constitution and Congress,
he made desperate lunge at the Suprcmt
Court of the U. S. He said they were oil
Il dishonest gang led ON by the blind Spirit
OF Slavery. He modcstly called our resPec.
ted Senators at Washington ''boobys," IN.
fit for their situations. and OF less conso-
quence than "Church MICE" for the latter
would squeal when pressed.
The Rev. Mr.. Bril- rly, Of the Baptist
Church said that the Statements respecting
the church were false, and he could shew
it. lie calculated TO print a sketch Of tho
proceedings, and lei the wnrld know what
had been going on in the convention.
An abolition meeting being ever regsr.
Ged az liberty Hall where equal rights
were enjoyed by all sexes. Mrs. Belsey
I.afils. colored Indy, interrupted, and ad'
dressed the meeting, complaining OF abuse
to her son Samuel by The publication Of
handful BraGburn challenged MIR. Briefly
to discussion. Mr.. Briefly declined oral
dispute, but the columns of his paper shoul9
be opened. Bradburn had no time to wage
newspaper controversy with Tom Dick and
Harry. A thousand newspapers were like
wise open 10 him, but he hasn't thousand
hands The fact is undeniable that tho ase
was always in advance Of the church IL er'
cry Moral Enterprise. He had called th'
clergy hypocrites, and he should again h'
called them hypocrites TO their faces YOU
ure hypocrites, and the church and clergy
of Vermont are hypocrI;es. The people Of
Vermont were hypocrites. and he had NJ
regard for them or the State either, no more
thar rs they were fellow men. Collins sad
that he stood out before the audience y SIN
gle handed was ready to meet Mr. BneT!
with the whole Baptist church at his back
with the whole clergy of the State OF Ne''
mont at his heels he asked no favor, ne
would accept the challenge Of NewsPapei
controversy and glad of it though all h'
writing had been done by proxy for SIX
weeks. 1--WE saw the fellow writing at three
several times during the day The nee
ting adjourned till evening.
The friends of impartial freedom in Vef' +
mont, have long been earnestly looking iOf'
ward to the day when the fetters of slavery
in this Union should be struck of, and arc
rejoicing in every effort made for that great
benevolent purpose whichis consistent with
the Union, laws and institutions, which have
been handed down TO them by our revolt {
tionary fathers. This can be done only By
a long and persevering appeal to public seq
timent North, South, East and West. The
progress of this glorious cause IN Vermont
has been more triumphant than in any Othcf
state in the Union. II is heartily embraced