Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-08-09

it was wrong to take human life; and
were not required to pay into the public
treasury to support the militia, because
they received no valuable consideration
in return; that all whose sentiments &C
cord with the Quakers in those things
were designed 10 be exempt from military
duty bythat act. That the act in relation
to conscientious scruples was passed be-
fore the Nom Resistance doctrine prevailed
in this country, except among the Qnak-
ers, and was designed for those who would
protect their property by law, but have
scruples about fighting themselves, either
because they are TOO holy or too good 10
fght--such as The peace men Of the old
school, whosay il is wrong 10 take human
life, but hold to enforcing the penalty oil
the law in the collection of debts and put
ting down mobs, Sc; and that it was new
er designed 10 beapplied to Non-Resist-
ants. s....4.s 80 81
| He proved that if Non Resistants were
designed 10 be included in that act, thai
government designed 10 prosecute the Non
Resistants by compelling them TO trample
upon their own consciences. and worship
the image or pay three dollars annually,
without receiving any valuable considera.
lion in return. Thus making the govern
ment band of prosecutors and robbers,
(which he would not admit But in the
decision of the court, he declared that they
we're robbers and prosecutors and that he
was co-worker with them.
He proved that he did not endanger his
country by not training, and that warriors
and fighting men are the dangerous men,
ard are all that endanger the rights and
Liberties of any people, He showed 100,
that TO condemn the innocent, snatch him
! from his family, and confne him IN pris-
on. is species of slavery, and that those
who are the instruments TO do il are as
guilty as the auc,ioheer that sells the slave
at the post.
| After he had taken his seat. he was fol.
lowed by an able lawyer without money
and without price, who sustained him in
the ;rath and correctness of what had been
said, and introduced much additional proc
10 his favor. But all to no effect. The
court appeared 10 be perfectly deaf 10 al
their arguments.
The Judge Advocate General appeared
TO make his plea against the defendant
Now the court seems TO rouse up, will
his eyes and ears wide open, ready TO cate
every word against the defendant. III
speaker said that he respectedJ. A. Spear
as neighhor, and even loved him os
citizen, but argued that he should be fc
; ed, Notwithstanding what Blackstone ha
said, and what j. A. Spear had proved j
5 relation 10 it, because he did not belev
: in God; and attempted TO prove it froi
: the TACT that in certain convention
v (which J. A. Spear did not attend, an
' was not within forty miles of somebod
e said something against The Bible. II
Q court received this as good a.gumen
i when little while before they tried
Q compel him 10 testify, and in that san
e court another man was not suffered to le
S lily because they said he did not believe
ot God. Iris man that was not suffer
!, as witness. (hough protested inide
r is to be believed as quick as any man
is town.
il But the speaker attempted 10 prove II
S, men were not religious beings; and u
y training had nothing to do with servi
m God that no one was serving God VIII
j. he was at home about his business, nor
:. going to meeting, only when he was int
D. Meeting House.
IS The speaker was so baseIy ignorar
ID that he did notsknow as there was al
ne difference between Shakers and Quaker
it and because the Shakers of New-Ham
nd shire pay Caesar FOR protecting Them,
yh thought the Qlakers in VI. did the san
or He pretended to understand the militia 10
be but d lid not know that the Q1akers we
lst among the exempts. When he was a:
no ed what government saw fit 10 exempt
he Quaker from doing military duty for,
ue said it was because he wore his W
he brimmed hal. and could not convenien