Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-22

atrociously; more atrociously even than one who
comes to the al result by art and seduction.
The law operates, in foro conscicntiG, not the
slightest p%alliation for his criHS
But he may take another course. He may
publicly and privately reject and r%epudiate that
law. He may let all the parties concerned most
explicitly know that he abhors ~ sin sanctioned
by that law; that all the rights given him there
by he utterly renounces, and the very thought of
taking advantage of the law fills him with hor-
ror; he may just as sacredly regard and treat the
rights of his own family and Of DR.. Beecher's,
as if no such law existed:-and may then go to
work TO procure the repeal of such law? SO
acting, would he be an adultererl Or course
~not-whatever legal relation andrights the law
might giye;-and however that law might pro-
duce some results which he could not prevent.
Now we have an analogous case in slavery
The law may establish a certain relation, result
ing in certain rights and liabilities, between DR.,
Fuller and certain coIored persons residing on
his plantation. In this case two, courses are
open to DR.. Fuller. lie may 1ke advantage
of that law; give his orders to pie to Go
his work:-by his own authority fix on the
amount of food and clothing which he will give
them for their labor-oompel them to remain in
his service; and do various other acts authorised
by the law; though without much, or any per-
sonal abuse either from the lips or the whip
In such case he is a STAKEHOLDER. So acting,
his defamation about the law;'-the legal re-
%latlon' which he cannot reyent:'-'organlc sin
-'being a Shareholder in LAWS the rankest
'nenscnse' which the churches were ever called
upon to stand or sit under.
DR., Fuller may pursue different COURSE
lie may utterly r%epudiate all the rights given by
the law; and refuse to exercise one Of them, in
any manner Or degree. He may explicitly tell
those colored persons,-'So far as Sm concern
ed, you are as free as | am;--youtinay 90 to
Canada, to New England or to any part of the
world-or if you choose to stay with me, | will
pay you such wages, as we can mutually agree
upon.'-He may also tell them, that if they
remain with him the law will visit them with
certain perils and liabilities which he cannot
prevent. But, in relation to him they are free;
the old he will support, in consideration Of
the work they have done;-the rest are free like
himself.
So acting, is he slaye-hOLdcr'-Not at ALL
r no more than DIR. Beecher. The law can nc
more maize him a STAKEHOLDER. more than it car
make him an adulterer.
DR.. Fuller might say, in reply to such a sup
position, that if he should tell his slaves what
have suggested, that not one of them would
leave him. Very well, then he does not AOlo
them. They are voluntary in remaining:-anC
if some wicked law injuriously affects them aitel
!, DR.. FuIler's death, then he can speak of a law,
which ne cannot prevent. If they choose tC
5 remain, and he bargains with them, and treats
them as free laborers in every rcSAy@, &lel
surely he does not hold slaves.
Or DIR. Fuller might reply with the usua
r cant, about the cruelty about turning them OF
' to shift for themselves-their incompctency to
take care of themsel ves,' &c, &c. But i
they choose to leave him aud 90 to Canada o
. elsewhere, he need not fear but that they under
stand their own interests quite as well as h,
= does. If they remain with him, he can instruct
) advise, and assist them in self management, a
much as he does now.
3 Now, here is the palpable mistake Of Messrs
4 Bacon, Beecher and Stowe;-of DR.. Woods ii
1 a long article in the Puritan, and of all TIT
= speakers at Brooklyu:-They habitually spoke O
: the STAKEHOLDER as made such by Iaw;-of slave
E holding, as an organic sin, for which The slave
holder is not guilty. Now, slaveholding is ia
e king advantage of certain laws, which give It
From its very nature therefore, it must be al
individual sin,not an organic sin. The lay
may authorize slavery, murder, concublnage
dueliing.-The stakeholder, the murderer, AK
the adulterer-are those who take advantage o
those laws, to exercise the powers there in con
veyed. 1t is very singular that amid all the dis
%cussion of these gentlemen, it did not occur tt
S them that slaveholding is very different thing
t from a relation established by law
: The Missionaries among the Indians hav,
: shareholders, in their churches: j. e. men VIII,
: take advantage Of certain wicked laws, and re
Y tain their fellow beings as property. We ask
j the Board, to instruct their missionaries to admi
o no more such missionaries. The Board, and it
| defenders reply to US: that the law establishe
= certain relations and rights, which we cauno
e prevent, and which our missionaries and churcl
members cannot prevent-Very weI];-but you
!, have not answered our memorial at all ,-r~rd,
e not ask you to sit in Judgment on the laws O
d other nations, though that you have done;--w
: ask you to take cognizance of those who TAX
advantage Of those laws, and hold slaves. oh
but replies DR.. Beecher, there is a legal rela
+ ton of master and slave Certainly, we kne,
IS that before; but we bring before you the mel
who take advantage Of such a legal enactment
There are such in the mission churches; an,
you make this mighty stride in logic; 'As tber
is alegal relation between master and slave, W
excuse those who are shareholders by necessity.
This profoundly shallow discussion about OF
ganic sins, might very speedily be brought to
e close. If by that learned epithet it be simpl
meant, that a community, as such, may eBlc
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