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

lie
10 say we shall do one thing, is the right 10
say we shall do another thing The right
to take Ten cents, is the right to take ten or
ten thousand dollars. In fact, there is no
end to the crime and mischief majority
may commit. A majority Of this country
have always consented with southern kid
nappers and pirates; and il continues to this
day, and only because majority is willing
to let II continue. Majorilies, then, are no
more likely 10 be right than minorities. In
deed. minorities are more often right than
msJorpies. Look at Christ and mis- fellow
reformers. They were a minority. And
Christ was crucifed because a maiority de-
manded it-not because some one had pre-
dicted that some one would be killed at some
time or that God sent him for that very
purpose. Look TOO al the reformers of our
present time. The aboIilionists are minori-
ties; are they wrong2 The Non ResistaLts
are minorities; are they wrong2 All re-
formers are in the minority when they first
start. GaIlileo was alone when he discoy-
cred that the earth was round, and revolved
on its axis, and the majority demanded that
he should be shut up in PRISON, and his life
taken If he did not swear that he was wrong,
and the religious teachers of his day went
with the majority because il would knock
their foundation from under their hell, and il
would have no place for an existence. Their
craft was in danger. Thus it is with the
religious teachers Of The present day. They
go with the majority for the sake of their
support. Now your association may not 90
TO all the extremes that msioriies have done
formerly. The people are loo. enlightened
for them TO do it, ifthey should choose to do
IL But the principle is there. If they
have right to say who shall come in, they
have right to say who shall 60 out. An
association on true principles needs no votes
TO see what member Of the great family shall
come 10. 1t will throw the doors open for
all mankind, and bid them GONE and
ParIake, without money and without price,"
~
This seems TO me to be the only true
association which will remedy the e.
wills Of the present state OF society,"
You agree with me that the earth belongs
to unirersaI man, and not to Individuals );
and can see no reason Why The products
Of this universal farm do not belong
alike to the whole race. The plea that
" that which man produces is his extend
ed being" has no weight with me !; for
all will admit that mans talents are not
to be boarded up for his exclusive benefit.
His knowledge belongs to the race
His products belong to the race. also. If
they do not, be has right to let his fell
low men starre, If he has his store-house
full Of bis own products. For If he has
a sole, exclusive right 10 them. it would
not be wrong to keep them, even if the
world were starving Ht
Cd. IL GOreyns By Majorities. l have
treated upon this subject so fully under
the head Of gorernment. that | will only
add that man must be allowed 10 govern
himself. Let them learn the relations
which they sustain to external nature
study the laws Of their being-dispense
with their dark heather mythologies-
learn 10 live nov; and there will be no
u
use for votes. voting and arbitrary magis-
trates with their bayonets pointing at The
hearts Of the minority.
There is one feature which | had nearly
overlooked, or forgotten. But just casting
my eyes over the Circular which you were
so kind as to send me, | find in Article
III, sec. Ist, the fJllowing "The Pres.
ident may vEfo any plan. measure or
proposition adopted by the board Of direct
ors.". Il has been great bone Of conten-
ton among the "powers that be."wheth-
er this power ought TO be. allowed TO an
executive ofa republican ~ government
and | see no reason Why II would not be
i liable 10 prove similar bone in such an as
sociation--,o say nothing Of the arbitrary
power it gives to One Man, after all that
is said Of magistrates ruling. a42
81. They haze a property qualification
for poting. Article '. sec. 8. Of your or.
ganizarion reads as follows ssEvery
slockhoIder shall have one vote for the
first share Of capital stock. and one vote
. for every FIVE shares thereafter, on all
matters in which expenditure Of money
is DIREcTLy concerned, but no stockhold.