Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-16
CHARLES BURCHARD.
Letter Of Cyrus C2arhe 10 his brother Leriy.
HAMuT0N, N. Y. july 2O 1914.

ILhMlllON; ~ JULY ~, lO44E
My dear Brothcr-Your letter ofthe 18th,
making inquiries about our ncighbor, Mr..
Charles Burchard, this day came to hand.
In answer to your inquiries, | can give you,
upon responsible testimony, the facts rela-
tive to his anti-savery history Mr.. b. re-
sided about two miles from this place. in the
town of Madison, and is man Of very mod
crate standing in the most varied and ex-
tended Specification OF the term--and until
his letter upon the question of tie moral ma
ture of his vote for Henry Clay, was as OBJ
scure farmer as resided in the town. He.
has been known by his immediate neigh
borS as an 'abolitonis in the abstract."-
During the year lS4O, lie was strong lIar-
rson man. and eXposuIated with his neigh
Dor abotionStS tor EreSumlng upon the
nghtlulneSs OF casting vote for James g.
BirncV. On one occasion, he stated to FL
der Woods and Dr. J. s Douglass Of this
village, (who have long been favorabIy
known us Liberty men, in effect the fol-
lowing: 'That fthey would vote for Har-
rlson this once, after that they might put him
into any place in the Liberty ranks, and he
would go it." In the summer of lS41, q
distinguished sIavehoIding Baptist minister
of Georgi0, by the name of Davis, visited
this village, and was invited to preach in our
Baptist theological institution on the sabbath
day. On Monday evening, Mr.. Davis deiv-
cred a sermon in the Baptist Westinghouse
Iof this village, in defence of the right to hold
human beings in perpetual slavery He
commended that he was opposed to slavery,
Il IL 4
slavery was as much milder and better cal
cuIated to impress the mind of the slave
with moral and religious sentiments. than
that system Of slavery prevalent i'll the days
of our Savior and his apostles:2 and said he,
, II that system was permitted and sanction
ed, how much less can American slavery
be called in question by rcHgIonists!"
You will doubtless be surprised to learn,
that Mr. Burchard defended the man who
uttered this most bIasphcmous doctrine,
both in public and private At discussion
agreed upon the day following Mr.. DIS dis
play, Mr.. b. used his influence to prevent
the presentation of truth--employing means
which even his best friends admitted were
very discreditable; occupying the evening
by iuterrupting the speakers with frivolous
objections, and defeating the object of the
= meeting,
After this, Mr.. B. went to Virginia on bu-
siness where he saw lots of slaves sold at
auction. On his return, he declared that he
could not hereafter vote for a STAKEHOLDER
but did not identify himself with the Liber-
ty party During the winter of lS43-4
he was thought to be gradually verging to-
wards Liberty party principles. Last Feb
ruary, few members of the Liberty Party
of his town thought him pretty much con-
verted, and in order to encourage and con-
firm him, nominated him to a minor town
office, | think it was for assessor AT this
time, he voted with the Liberty party; but
during the spring Immediately after the
town election, his stability in the party was
considered as doubtful, until he came out
with his letter; to the no great surprise of
any one--the Wings saying all along that
they confidently relied upon his vote this
fall. This case with its comments, and
representations in party papers at a defiance
from the scene of action, will have vastly
more influence than at home, where the
man and the circumstances are known.
Atfectionately your brother,
CYRUS CLARK.