Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-20
LET Us REASON ToeETHER.

wanting IN discernment as TO suppose that
the friends ofcommuniiy virtually give in
vitation to all, to exercise their perverted
sel6shness at pleasure in appropriating to
their own use what has been produced BY
the benevolent. These are as regardless o.
the facts in the case, as they are destitute o.
reason touching it. No friend of a com
munity of interest has ever undertaken to
justify the exercise of their perverted pro.
pensities, on the part Of those who would
build up individual interests, to the destruc.
ton ,fthe general good. The better dis
cernment ofihe individuals am now deal
ing with. is perverted by carrying before
their eyes trifing pieces of gold. or silver,
or copper, as the case may be, which take
their attention from every thing else.-
Their better reasoning in the case is per-
verified BY The perpetual blows that have
fallen upon their heads in the violent sys-
tenn ofthings SO universally prevalent.
If,here be any reason left, let US reason
together. Suppose an advocate Of the
community principles TO be situated, by
force of circumstances, among the devo-
tees of individual interest. Suppose him
withal to be a practical advocate of phys
Illogical reform. Ofcourse part of his
efforts will be turned to procuring fruit for
the sus,enance of himself and any others
who may for any reason look to him for
provision Of food. Now when he has by
Iaudable means made such provision, the
question arises to know whether there is
any thing in his professsed principles. as
a friend of community-any thing in rea-
son ANY thing in rig ht-any thing in de-
cency or good neig hborhood, that will JUS
tify his neighbors, for the promotion OF
their own Individual interests, to remove
the fruit he has produced. from the tab'e,
as fast as he brings 1t f,rward-or from
his hands before he can get it to the ia
ble--or from the trees before be can get il
into his hands-to the deslitulion Of those
with whom he is in covenant2 None will
for moment justify the deed from any
consideration. The most depraved of all
the devotees to individual interest, must,
on examination, be ashamed to undertake
the defense of such an act. The violent
all hold il to be wrong. among themselves,
to rob one another. Of course they must
see that there is scandalous meanness and
detestable inamy added to the wrong when
they unite together and fall upon the be-
nevoent. The suggestion, on the part OF
the friends of community is, to all, TO give
up individual iuteres. to humanity, and
make The f,mIy one, or family Of fami-
lies, with no jarring or clashihg interests.
But while nine out of ten continue to re-
jectthe proposition. it is not to be constru-
ed into an invitation to the nine to rob the
tenth and divide what he produces among
themselves to the building of themselves
up in their peryerseness. ...>..
There is another point on which | wish
TO reason with the advocates OF violence,
while we are about it. The singular no.
tons TO which | have already alluded, as
entertained by some, are not all of their
singular notions. as to the relations be-
tween them and The advocates of univers-
al benevolence and good will. Tney have
strange views as to the right of speech,
and the propriety of using it, as it pertains
to the peaceful. They seem to suppose
that if an individual discard the use of the
law of violence. he at the same time SUR
renders the right of speech which belongs
10 others 1t is not to be pretended tina,
he has right to use such language as
does frequently come from the noulhs o.
others. But is ne to be deprived of Ian.
guage which they may rightlully use!
see not why. Il is not TO be denied that
there may be violence and wrong commit
ted, in the use of words, as well as in the
| use of blows. The former is not TO be justi
fed any more lhanlhe latter. And no adyo
cate of peace and love can consistently uss
either. But TO call things by their RICH
names. on proper occasions, and to adap
Language to circumstances, so flras some
times TO use great plainness of speech,
cannot conceive to be inconsistent with The
! law Of charity and goodness. On the con