Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-02-11

presented and adopted, with the exception OF one
resolution, which was wisely omitted" The reso-
luton to which he alludcs, us not having been
adopted, ,cus adopted; the purport Of which was,
that the Pcrfcctonists ought TO romuncratc those
persons In this town, whom they had seriously In
jurcd. This resolution being Of local and private
character, was not ordered to be published.
There was a committee appointed at this meet |
ing to present the preamble and resolutions to tho
heads Of the Corporation, and they were instructed
to urge particularly upon their attention the propr
city Of complying with the resolution nstalludcd to,
hoping thereby TO cyadc tho necessity OF further
prosecutions. This committee was also to confer
with them relative to their future course Of conduct
"A Citizen Of Puincy' says "Thc preamble and
resolutions were adopted ON the cvcningof Dec. 9th,
aud hurried OF TO the press the next morning, be.
fore the committee appointcd for that purPosel had
time 10 confer with the remaining Pcrectionisis, in
rcgnrd TO their future conduct and report to the
adjourned meeting on the evening Of Dec. 9th'-
Here again he is in error. The meeting at which
the preamble and resolutions were adopted, was
held on Monday evening, Dec 9th, and they were
sent &c the press the neT "Wednesday, instead Of the
snerf morning. The committee waited on the lead
ing PeIfectonists the next Tuesday morning
after the meeting, but they deferred giving an an
swcr some two days, and gave II just in time for
the committee 10 report nt the meeting held Dec.
9th. The gentleman seems 10 think the proceed
ings of the meeting held Dee 9th, ought not to have
been sent to press until the committee had reported
to the meeting held Dec 9th But why so : The
citizens deemed the business Of sufficient interest
and importance to warrant its publication, land
even "a Citizen Of Pqtncyr did not object TO the
vote ordering IT, publicniion,l and there was no
reason why il shonld be deayed-there was i'm
propriety In Immediately sending the proceedings
TO the prcss--and those who forwarded tbein arc
exculpated from all censnrc.
But says the gentleman, "Thc offending party did
gle, a satisfactory answer in regard TO their future
course. and the only answer that could be reasona-
ably required Of them The answer, no doubt
pctcfjy sotsfiofory 70 him but the citizens OF
Putney, at very large meeting held on the evening
OF Dec 23d said by a unanimous vote, that IL sons
not satisfactory 10 he1. Aud shall the judgment Of
one man outweigh that Of large nuRsT OF the prin-
cipal citizens Of the town.
But what was the answer given The commit
Tee reported that the leading Perectoniss refused
TO acknowledge that they had injured any one but
promised that their conduct, and that Of the mem
bers Of their association far they could con
troll their action, should be governed in future by
the acquisitions Of moral and statute laws. Now,
sir this language among common people, would
mean soms1ling but In the mouth OF Perfectonist
il amounts to SOLEMN nothiag They positively
assert that the moral law is abolished They have
proclaimed Il upon the hill tops, and rnng Il through
The valleys, that they exempt from all written
law and they glory in their freedom. They are
impcled 10 action by inward impulses, and pretend
TO be dvinely inspired. They way b Inspired, but
their inspiration L Of gssiioaall, character. The
dccalogue is not regarded as obligatory, not even
the command prohibiting murder A Pehectionst
belonging TO this association was heard tosas that
he would kill man rs soon as reptile IF the
Lord told him TO do IT, However vicious their
conduct and aggravated their crimes, they will not
admit that they transgress any law that IS binding.
The law within them, BY which they governed,
they assert 10 be superior TO all external law. IL
may be inquired II the leaders here have not re-
nounced their former principles. No ntimation
has been given that they have rcnounced an iota OF
their principles. In the notice Issued Dec. 2lsf,
announcing the suspension Of the publication OF
their paper, these headers bold the following Ian
guage I'VE commend, for the present, to the re-
examination Of perfecfionsts and the scrutiny Of
the world the general views Of Bible truth, Of The
ology, and Of personal experience, which we have
been called to publish Thus Peneciionisis are
put back on review, that they may learn the les
son more perfectly.
Now, tie impossibility Of shining il an article
which stands in bold reliefupon the face Of their
creed If they have done right, in every respect in
time past, they can do than right for the time
TO come. Hence 10 sum up the whole, they have
promised to do just as they have heretofore done
l. this satisfactory SO says "a Cifiken OF Put
new! This is being satisfied with just nothing at
ALI But, even, should they be compelled, by the
pressure Of exterior circumstances, TO change
their course Of conduct for season. without n re.
nuncaton Of their Perneious principles, there could
be no radical reforni-
Bat they promised that nothing Of leeniious
character or tendency should appear in their paper.
This AZ first view appears very Epecious, but
amounts to nothing They will not acknowledge
that they have published any thing Of such a
character. They could re-publish all the offensive
matter that has hitherto appeared in their paper,
and according to their construction il would be no
violation Of this promise They could continue to
set forth principles of the most immoral tendency,
in perfect keeping with this pledge. Such promi-
scs are of no value.
Should wayfaring man fall into the hands Of a
lawless banditti and lie beaten and bruised and left
shalf dead BY the way-side and should the offend.
ers be expostulated with for their conduct they
might reply I'VE are a privileged fraiemity-ex-
empt from all external law-having a law within
US which is the rule of action-and to resolve all
doubt as to the pTopreiy Of course, we are d.
uiRey inpirod!s"
Nevertheless, to allay exasperated feeling thew
Pnomtse to be governed in future by wholesome laws;
which promise is couched in such language as to
deceive the people, but with them means that they
VIII do just as they have done so fer as circumstan-
oes will admit but they will BE- careful in future
and not be detected. And forsooth, this is pro-
nounced satisfactory and they coyertly resume
their former course Of conduct!
But the gentleman thinks they have repcnted /;
and all the evidence given is a worthless promise
relative to the future Repentance has Something
TO do with the past" as well as the future Conyic.
ton OF wrong done is Indispensable. But Perfec.
tionsts have no such convictions for they will ack
nowledge no sin. Here then is an insuperable bar
'iei' 'iOfeoNeI, thc lcelllnhc irults OF genuine
repentance appear not only in reformation Of con-
duct, but in reparaton for injuries already inflicted
They have manifested no disposition TO make resti-
tuition. II no evident marks Of true repentance APP
pear, what confidence we have in any assurances
relative TO future action
But the gentleman, in trying 10 make II appear
that Perfectionsis have rcpented, has been render
ing them Il graiuitous and thankless service. Re-
pentance has no place among them. 1t implies the
eristenoe OF SIM and this they never admit. The
security Of the saints is represented as the key
stone in the arch of Perieetionism.n Should they
acknowledge they hare siHHed even admit it pos
sibe for them 10 SIM they would thereby knock the
keystone out Of their own arch, and the whole fab
rie would fall TO the ground. They profess to be
"standing the plain Of eternity beyond the iudg
menti" and we might well expect repentance
among the sinless nteligences Of heaven as TO OBJ
tain an admission Of its existence among Perfec-
tionists. But, says the gentleman, Il would not
seize the bolt Of Joyc, TO drive them into the dark
abyss, but would much rather give them a chance
TO show the sincerity Of their repentance by a well
ordered life in future thereby fitting themselves to
partake with Putney' and others, Of the fated calf
in innocence and joy 1t has been shown, that the
very position they occupy utterly precludes the pos
sibiliiy OF repentance yet, the gentleman would
"gire them a chance" TO do what they declare TO be-
impossible for them to do
IL IS hoped the gentleman docs not feel disposed
ill tad ealfn aud IA "a g.