Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-11
THE FREE W. AN
FROM OUR BOSTON CORRESPONDENT
Boston, .4pril 25H, l848.

satlon with MN. subsequent ref1ecuOn INDUCES mc
to write out part of our argument in the form OF
dialogue which will be found below found it diff
cut to confne him to any particular train of thought
which may account for the wide range Of topics EN-
braced The discussion is necessarily much abbrevi-
ated, though strictly correct far it goes. The
'thrd person." alluded to above left before con-
versaton commenced. He soon began to speak to me
of sermon he heardas Sabbath, as shifting him" &c
B. How did it hit you?
"A. The minister Rev. Matthew Hale Smith,
preached on the duty of keeping the sabbath holy,
and pointed out many ways in which people break the
sabbath. Some men, said he, do so much work on
Saturday that they do not attend meeting Sunday
or if they do are not in a fit condition to enjoy the
services of the sanctuary This was exactly my
case am often obliged to do two days work Sat
urday thought always attend meeting
b. Do you attend Mr. Smiths meeting constant
ly?
"A. have for the year past. l consider him the
smartest in the city. used to attend Rev. Hub
bard Wmsow's meeting in Bowdoin street. and since
he left attended Rev. Mr.. Kinks.
Wishing to understand the bearing of his religious
anu VI lis FCh5 4EldIlNC "
very, asked him
B. What do you understand by the new birth, or
christian conversion?
a. To be born again is to have full conviction of
sin-to see the necessity of Savior-the danger Of
continuing in rebellion against God-to give up your
self body and soul to be the Lords and be willing to
be eternally damned, and feel as if even Hell would
L. 10 H.,
there
B. Do you think you have experienced this change?
n. Yes think | can testify that know from
personal experience what this great change is.
After some further conversation relative to the
great benefit of the sabbath institution to man, and to
New England in particular on which he eXpatiated
freely, said to him
B. Well, sir just as came in you made one or
two remarks which rather surprised me--you said
that the working men of the north were all slaves
and worse off than those of the south
a. 0, say some things do not believe. The
man was talking with was an old man and a demo-
crat, and knew what would please him. think the
working classes are well enough of.
B. You said also that you did not care any thing
about slavery at the south.
;, a. Yes, said so. I think slavery is wrong, and
that it ought not to exist; but have nothing to do
with it, and don't trouble myself about it.
B. But how can you reconcile this kind of feeling
with the great doctrines of the gospcl-to do unto
others as ye would that others should do unto you
to love your neighbor as YOURSELF &c. Are they
sistent?
"A. Perfectly So man HASN'T got to be an aboli-
zionist to be christian.
B. Well, sir; the bible has wisely laid down a STAN
dard by which we are to test the characters omen 1t
says-"By their fruits ye shall know them"-it lays
down the great law of love the foundation and es
sential substance of all religion Now, care not
what mans professions may be- professions are cheap
enough. | want to see the evidence that this great
law Of love has any practical influence on his charac-
ter and his conduct. | try him by this Standard
weigh him in this balance and must confess my honest
belief that very many who make the loudest profess
ions of christianity have less of it than even avowed
infdes. When see professor of religion reviling
the abolitonsts in spirit of bitterness, and testify
ing both by word and deed, that he nothing for
slavery, | cannot but think "that mans religion is
to heaven He is merely paying tithes on mint anise
and cummn, and negecting those weightier matters,
Judgment, mercy and truth. Now, sir-if your child
or wife in slavery, and ubject to the slave laws
of the south, what would you d. or what would you
wish to have done by others? That is the test ques-
ton. St Paul says-"Remember those in bonds as
bound with them" He who neglects to do this, falls
short of his duty.
a. Poh that has nothing to do with slavery-it
has no reference to slavery at ALL
b. What! No reference to slavery?
A. No; not in the least. 1t is the most foolish and
silly idea in the world Slavery allowed by the
Bible, and directions given for the sale of slaves and
sometimes of freemen.
b. The seryi de you speak of in the old Tesla
ment was quite a lferent thing from our southern
slavery.
a. Well, we have nothing to do with it 1t does
not concern us-we have no power or right to compel
the south to abolish it.
b. We certainly have power over it in the District
and territories Slavery exists in the District by our
own laws, for which you are as much responsible as
: any other voter. Only few days ago we read of
and imprisoned with the captain and crew of vessel
in one of our jais. What do you think of such an
outrage Is it not shame that such thing could be
done in the capital Of this boosted free and christian
nation, and under the very nose of congress
A. o. don't care any thing about it. 1t is the
Sdies joohSheS piece of nonsense in the world to be
continually harping about slavery The slaves are
much off than they would be if it was not for
your miserable abolitionists They are whipped and
abused much more than formerly.
b. How do you know that
a. have good many friends at the soutl-they
all tell the same story.
B. But there are many who tell a different story,
men whose opinions can be relied on and whose OPP
porunities for judging have been ample, even slave
holders themselves testify that public attention has
been called so much to their peculiar institution by