Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-30
Anti-Slavery "Reminiscences.



grati6ed to notice, In late February ICY mum.
Der Of the WAroHMAN AND JOURNAL, a commu-
ncation, freighted with the most delightful anti
slavery "reminiscences, from the hand of this very
redoubtable hero, this veteran abolitionist, this
old-tme restless agitator, G. c. Briggs. As often
as my mind has reverted to these darker DAYS.
and perilous times, have wondered whether this
man were still living, in this new era Of universal
liberty; and II so, where2 1t seems that he still
survives, and that his present home is in the
pleasant and thriving city OF Rockford, Illinois,
Though only boy at the time how well, vet. I
remember that at the time of the organization OF
the old Liberty party" Mr.. c. G. Briggs founded
at Burlington, and for several years successfully
conducted, the Liberty Gazette. an organ OF abo-
lition sentiments,-a paper which subsequently
became the Free-Soa Courier, under the manage
ment of the late brilliant and versatile L. A.
Stansbury, and, afterward, the Burlington Cou-
rier, under the editorial control OF G. c. Sampson.
This old Liberty Gazette was one Of the first
newspapers remember ever to have seen. To
the last, whatever It's cognomen, II remained
faithful, steadfast to its early principles It is
Lamartine, believe, who says that 1t is sufHcient
evidence that liberty Is divine that the character
istic instincts Of youth are all that way. Was
this the reason Of my boyhood's fondness and ad-
miration for the heroic old Liberty Gazette, whose
very mechanical appearance even is to this hour,
clearly impressed upon my memory?
Mr.. Briggs meantime, not only did valiant SER
vice with his pen, In those days, in behalf Of his
political views, but wthal, being zealot in the
cause Of freedom, and staunch advocate of the
ne OF immediate emancipation, his fluent
md stentorian voice were often heard in
bn round about where he lived, in defense
HVSlave. He was sometimes accompanied by
one, not 10 much, 1t is to be presumed, to serve
the purpose of the "horrible example," as to
show that, though considered only a chattcl at
the south, he yet possessed, and often in an emil
nent degree all the attributes Of true manhood.
remember his coming out into the neghborhood
just out Of Burlington where / then lived-ac-
companied by one Clark, a mulatto runaway
slave. Clark gave very entertaining account OF
his experiences in bondage and out, and, in con-
cluson, called up his friend Briggs. " Being very
much OF my own complexion" says Clark, face
tiously, 81 presume he will be listened to with
not less interest than has been so generously &C.
corded unto me-" Mr.. Briggs then came forward
and made a few modest remarks. This was the
writer's first introduction to this gallant and
sturdy defender Of the dusly save-and this was
nearly forty years ago.
In the meantime | was personally conversant
with one incident connected with the anti-slavery
career of Mr.. Briggs, which, it seems to me,
should be set down in his biography, and be
spoken OF to his everlasting honor. have al
ready, many years since, published the substance
OF the affair Your readers, however, may be
tha 1aaa inta taJ ;,,ti
It will be remembered that when the great
Daniel Webster died eyervbodv WAS militant with
his nraises F,,ogv ,yas on oIr,os, o,,or,h,d,,,.
Inns On almos, evorv n,a,torr, in oir,os, 60.
mint fTbeodore parker's heinv n no,ah,o 49,,
lion, the denarted s,a,asr.n NOS ,ho ,rar,
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on,oa,nn, T., p,,.,,nr,on 49, =. ls
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mn to,n,or,,, .sos,do,. -, ~, 'nI n.o''i,
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~ 49, "o'''' ue'''o'ee ''e auuress'
~ ~, u 'l''s us,o'iso, winch was ~hoiiy
ora,ieod a,a,o,n, 49,, A. wat..,, 'no uN
-, =. o,o. a"u always
at,a $500 w s,oao' nau 'ne 'ener-
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rio, - Ia ,han ,-,,ooIoI o. - ~. ny y.
e;,;n, foo, da,a oh.r,o, "a - T.. r ,,.s
cessiop .ra r,,.b iii. sd .....,,, ,,;.,,.i..
and resstless logic, winding IN by not onlv as
persing the "godlike Daniel /" for his political
heresy and shameless recreancy to his former
avowed lifelong principles, but, II | remember
correctly. arraigning the venerable speaker him
SELF for his political apostasy and for practically
playing into the hands of the kidnapper and
stakeholder. by thus perverting history, and vir-
tually apologzing for going down into the dust
before one OF the wickedest most atrocious sys-
tens Of inhumanty and wrong on which the sun
in theheavens ever shone.
Nothing could well have been more manly,
fearless, bod-nothing more thrilling or impress
sive,-than this evidently honest, this obviously
unprecedented, yet impassoned, indignant re-
buke 1t was received in perfect and painful 81
lence. The assault was terrific, the Indictment
terribly severe; yet not word by way of justif-
cation or self-defence was attempted in reply. 1t
may be thought that this dumbness was the
dumbness Of silent contempt-a speechless rebuke
of what was esteemed to be an outrage on such
impressive solemnities l think not. My own
impression is that the congregation was simply