Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-10-10
TINE GREAT QUESTION 9UAIN.

the Shareholders Of our nation by ihtr northern
sympaimsers. Mcn IN our iree states Nfed and educ
aed under the light Of the gospel With majority
Of the sup courtof the United sases that black
man have no rights, that white men ~ bound 10
spect." They encourage aud apologize iof those who
fpr forty years past have ally seut 10 premature
graves more than twenty thousand inns cnt human be-
ings They assa those who hold that &c right Of man
% life and liberty is received from the Cicatur and there
FORE should be held sacred. They dt5 that govern
mcnts are bound 90 observe the same jay Of mmuiahle
lusure which controls the intercourse o good men with
each other. With these facts before me- astonlsh-
cd 40 what supposed your proposition U lct slavery
mains untuuched and permit iOurmii Ha Ui human be-
ings 10 continue degaded brutaized sa out from the
hght OF truth aud hopes oi heavens Willie we not only
possess the rgi 10 euaucpate them lt urged 90
do by the dictates NJ humanity, figon, by every
moral and political obligation was moved 20 PROFOUND
20 you the radical qucstous which di0 as knes that
dI& answers would Show whether ylu were loyal tD
ui1 pvernment or secess0nist at neart Whether
yoIv&e christian n feeing an iuhdri in purpose
lint assistant eaiior says hc has lad alaioaoe dis
~hssi1fVtth mc un those pointa That does not say
where hsTov stands on the questions lsopoundea. hc
says they are ud anti slavery doctrines that every read
knew before hu proclaimed , all rrstuod thar the
doctrines weFr Old as che gostr1leu A ~. fslrg
Goda atiBulC % Justice bn as object was 10 draw
him out, and lei your readers understand whes CT be-
held 90 them. lie ays be sought some common ground
on which we might stand together so did the dev when
be tempted the Savior lie only asked the NAzarne 10
fall down aud worship him just as your assistant editor
wishes us 90 spare slavery lie Is sorry that cannot
ask God 10 bless our government lie should not mis-
represent mc, Ny prayer is daily and hourly Tor the
puuheaiou ui uur s1tcrumcut thatt may ac worthy of
Gods blessing uut never can consent 90 ask Gods
blessing upa the cNcrtiou oi ts Ouotcs 90 cuslafe OF
murder oui fellow men. Ncf could 1 ask God To- bless
us boo returning the institution OF slavery ooud goW
asstst4qt eaifor make such prayerl
There seems 20 be atrouuie in your assistants mind
as Go having atose goyernnent' and preserving slavery
az the time. When he shall have thought more
aud reflected longer he will lind 10 impossible save
hc government caiaphshcd by our fathers anu % main
taiu slavery az 'Ac same time ia other words, f the
republic lives sitrfy dies II correct f hc intends
say that would destroy slavery as the only means OF
nd ha lttau
had be said that would never labor pray for the
establishment of sla,eulldiug savedeaug govern
mtnt, icouid her wish he were AZ willing to ayow his
own doctrines as 20 learn mine When be lays his eud
and object 90 the republic without reference to
slavery be simply utters an absurdity. He says he
looks 20 the constitution TO define rights and duties
IN regard TO slavery l pity him ! would point him 10
higher source than human laws Or human consttl.
tons would point him to that all peunating law which
is written with the finger " God upon the hearts Of an
men, in al ages, and m all climcs teaching each that
our creator has greH us the right 10 rc, he rght to
"es Dtaea oh us Ia" or accoids with IT, tie says re-
Joice in thercbcon a. means 90 destroy slavery, am
sorry 90 see any man admitted 10 speak through your
columns thus rscss OF truth. fuf twenty years have
abor,d to prevent this blood aud suffering tas whole
sale slaughter OF one people Eighteen years since
signed an address 90 the people of TIE United States
ioreiehng that war and boodshcd aud dissolouon II
the Union would follow the annexation OF Texas Tie
extension OF slavery the prostitution " our government
70 the support of that insututon. Seoessonts denied
my pphtcy pug neither seccssiouists nor those who
sympathze with rebels, shall faisiiy my own biography
nor the history of our government shall your
ant editor by the utterance uutuths 10 respect 10 my
sell prevent me from uumasking his real position. II
may snCer at the "hgher law" which gave him existence
which holds him responsible for his conduct by which
shall be Judged hereafter but he should do il opcn
devluy.
Your assistant says ne had thought to comment on
several Of my fallacious statements. All, nv dear
Walton, my insgnihcauce has saved me from the c1-
posufe Of your assistant editor sorry that can't
say the by him. l wrote at first and now write
4a ia ,f .farf
so IS any other man who promuyates the ideas which
nave recently appeared in your papen Dons ieil me
that this is uudieuhtd labor that 'it is meary killing
mes WIN oodsin'' l shall oe my own judge on that
point There is superCous arrogance manifested by
your assistant editor. that tells he is accustomed
70 me ordinary aisenires of gentlemany epd friendly
compaTasion OF thoughts He next TN alt uita the
frcsileuts proclamation Of emancipation. Well sir,
shall not nov attempt 10 defend the Presidents cause
My object has heeu and Is 10 learn the moral and
poHtieaf rtetrs OF yOtr assistant eaitor
lie next refers Co john Qliucy Adams opinions
Well, l supposed that had some knowledge Of that
satesmans doctrines andarncples but really did not
take up my pen 20 dcfnd Mr. Adams so much as TO er-
posc your assistant editor
But even 30 regard 20 the memory of that iiusrious
statesman, your assistant editor indugos his penchan
Tor misrepresentation. The reader ~ hs iTclc will
understand that MI Adams euunciatcd the views con
talued 10 the quotations, bis opinions. Nothing
is farther from thC flct Mr.. Adams acting 10 the
aWaucusia 10 81 IUIuluu President with the arUu-
ments The views oi he Executive, and they were 50 cx
pressed and To quote them the views Of Mr. Adams
constitutes misrepresentation OF fut, and Islander
upon the memory " that venerable statesman.
Sir your assistant editor would have done for
your readers had he frankly ayowed his doctrines
requested than he has hy misrcpesenting that of de-
departed statesman When he undertook to instruct che
people through your paper, be should have let his read
crs understand whether he was in favor Of secession W
against il Is he for the government Of our fathers
agnstt Is he in favor Of justice 30 the slaves or A.
gainst IT
Butyour assistant editor after referring to one living
President and 70 ono who has depaci 90 his reward A.
gain returns 10 his misrepresentation Of mys r. Surely
D. |
hoped TO see him select position for himson2 He Is
evidently opposed 10 10 the President, and to John
Quincy Adams. Those Presidents and myself have op-
posed slavery piracy and crime, and he is opposed
us Judge he intends future time 10 take posi-
non with criminals, pirates and Shareholders. though
he says it is impossible for him to conceive Of tho
state Of mind that would devote the South to the butch
cry " which spoke. Where where on what occa-
sion did speak OF butoherng the south / said moth
ing relating 20 that subject except ask the question
whether Americans were less guilty when they eusaye
Africans, than were those Afeans whom hutchered,
because :hey enslaytd Americans I did not suppose
him capable Of cOnoeying that love OF justice, that law
OF the Most High, which Awards the penalty Of death to
Tue enslAvers and the murderers Of their fellow men 10
those who butcher neghbors and and brothers
m order 70 overthrow our government and establish
slAvohoding Olgarehy upon its ruins. have no hcsi-
and unyeldug, warm and glowing, comes from the
bosom u God may be meeted out 20 both master and
slave to your assistant editor and myself the old
men, 20 the women and children Of The south and the
north and 10 all mankind, and had the power would
AWAKEN and elevate the mind Of your assistant editor
20 conceptions OF the same pure aud holy emotion O.
Again we must remind our correspondent
that we decline entirely to enter into any gen
eral discussion Of the tonets of the Anti
Slavery party, of which he has been so long a
leader. We have never agreed with him
we do not now We have always maintained
that the Constitution defined our political
rights and duties in respect to slavery, We
do still. Our correspondent believes that a
"higher law than human laws, or human
constitutions. even the law which is written
upon the hearts Of all men, in all ages and in
all climes, is the one by which our rulers
and we are bound to administer the Govern
ment. We believe that Gods revealed Word
declares the moral principles which relate to
this subject Of slavery, and to that we refer
as the arbiter of dispute. He believes that
the "higher law written in the heart +" is here