Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-02-11
REDFIELD on SID VERY.

Churchman'S Mdgdzine, entitled, "lelecuons
"upon the Fate of John Brown and the pro-
"priety and Justice of his execution, and the
general want Of Candor in the Northern
"Press in regard to the Affair."" Like all other
productions cmanating from the pen of this
distinguished jurist, this article bears the i'm
press of thoughtful preparation and deliberate
utterance For this reason its contents are en-
titled to consideration.
The first part of the article is devoted to an
expression of the opinion, and the reasons upon
which that opinion is based, that the execution
of John Brown was Just. On this question we
shall not take issue with the Judge In COM
mon with the Republican press generally we
have repeatedly expressed our belief in the JUS
tlce OF Browns sentence and we know of no in
considerable number ofndividuals who have en-
tertained different opinion upon this subject.
Having disposed of this matter the learned
Judge proceeds to make charge against the
Republican press of the North as follows
"More than moiety of the Northern press is
occupied in the most elaborate and studied
abuse of the entire mass OF Shareholders in the
South. There is nothing too bold, or too
bald, to utter in the way of imprecation against
them"
This wholesale charge is unaccompanied by
any specifications, and is unsupported by any
proof 1t to be sure rests upon the solemn state
ment of the Chief Judge of Vermont and will
therefore perhaps be treated by the South as an
inform ton filed against the Republican press.
. boe, &c 1 IL 81
we shall and do deny the correctness of that al
legation. The Republican press land it must
be that portion of the Northern press to which
the learned Judge alludes) generally is not oc-
cupied with studied abuse of Shareholders or
any one else. The Republican press confines
its structures to those out-croppngs of Slavery
which, reaching beyond the confines of the
Slave States, affect unfavorably the political
condition and social relations of the inhabitants
of the Free States. 1t seeks no occasion to de-
tail the iniquites of Slavery that are perpetra-
ted at home and upon Southern people and
chattels; but when these iniquities affect di-
rectly free people is it not time to speak out
Shall the people of the North sit still day after
vent by fraud and violence the election of
Northern man, for fear of "abusing the entire
mass of shareholders? The Northern press
rebukes the treason and disunion proclaimed
by the South in the contingency of the election
of Republican President is that "abuse of
the entire mass of slave holders? The North
ern press has time and again condemned the
means by which the South sought to force
Slavery upon Kansas; was that "abuse of the
entire mass of slave holders? We opine not.
Wherein, then, we would ask our learned friend,
does this elaborate and studied abuse consist?
We apprehend its existence outside of the
fevered Imagination Of southside advocates
cannot be demonstrated.
But we must pass on. We next come to the
Judges defence of Slavery, whichis so full and
ample, especially for the leading light OF the
Vermont Judiciary, that we cannot refrain from
giving it entire. Ponder it carefully, We igno-
rant friends of freedom, and see what blessings
are vouchsafed to those whom you have erro-
neously been surprising were deprived of the
inestimable privilege of liberty
"At the North, too, all who regret the ex-
istence of slavery in the country-and it is not
to be disguised that the number probably ex-
ceeds moiety of the Northern, or Free State
populaton-all such persons, with few excep-
tons of such as may have been at the South
long enough to observe something of the con-
dtion of slaves there in regard to physical conf
fort, come naturally enough to the conclusion,
that there is great discomfort, and great want
Of moral and religious culture among them as
class. And there is naturally enough associ-
ated with this idea the belief and expectation
that their social condition would probably be
very much improved, at once, by becoming free.
And after having arrived at this conclusion,
it is natural enough to adopt what seems but a
necessary corrollary, that the slaves will hail
with delight the first offer of freedom.
"But Brown confessed to a sad dsappoint-
ment in this particular, and we think any one
who had fairly instituted comparison between
the black population in the Free States and the
slaves, with reference to physical comfort and
social advantages, would come to the inevitable
conclusion, that it was impossible not to give
the preference to the slaves. The advantage,
of the blacks in the cities and towns at the
South may, no doubt, be very considerable oyel
those upon the plantations, and in the more ru.
raj districts And the comparison is more nat
urally made between the slaves in the towns anc
Cities and the free blacks at the North, thar
between the whole slave population, and tn,
free blacks at the North because those who
make this comparison at the North more com
monty obtain their knowledge of the condition
of slaves from staying for longer or shorter peri
DDS in the Southern towns and cities.
'But after making all proper allowance upol
this score, it will be impossible for any fair
minded man. who has examined the subjec
fairly, to convince himself that the slaves coulC
for many generations, if ever, be so well pro
vded for, or so happy in state of freedom, a
they now are. This results necessarily from thu
superior capacity of the whites and the fac
that, in the present relations of society at thu
South, the black receives more than an equiva
lent for his labor, in the wisdom, forecast, AM
calculation of his white owner. 1t may no
seem so to a Northern man, and especially i
he have imbibed the slang cant of the day t,
any great extent. But it is, in fact Just as Ger
tain, and just as obvious, as it is that children
obtain more than an equivalent for their labo
in the protection of their parents, or that TIN
operatives in a cotton mill, or wooden mill, ar
really more benefited than injured by being EN-
ployed at such prices only as give them com
Portable subsistence, and at the same time max
their employers wealthy. Just as ii man mus