Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-25
The Church and the Negroes.

The publication of the speech of Rev. j.
L. Tucker, DID,, now of Mobile, Alabama,
upon the relations of the church to the col
ored race, delivered before the church con.
gress held at Richmond last October and
which the WATCHMAN briefly reviewed in
a recent issue, has called out fresh storm
of denunciation and denial, especially from
the colored people themselves. Indignation
meetings have been held in various parts of
the south. The swelling tide of dusky elo.
qusnce has "precipitated resolutions reso-
nant with denunciation of the reverend
doctors "incendiary utterances," his tina
Lightly" and his "indecent haste to insult
the intelligence of the colored people !" by
describing to them Unfortunately what
might possibly be the infirmities of few
of the race that develop here and there, as
in all other races-a fungus, excrescent
growth, that shocks society as Guiteau,
and other like monsters of depravity." Per-
sonally and for his I" licentious utterances,"
feelings Of indignation and utter contempt"
are expressed, his "virulent charges and
wholesale denunciation "of the colored race
are met "with an emphatic, unqualified de-
NAL" and denounced as false, slanderous
and shameful" Several colored clergymen,
who endorsed DR.. fuckers statements, are
held in unmeasured adherence and their
names "linked inseparably with Judas
Iscariot and Benedict Arnold" 1t must be
admitted that these resolutions both in their
tone and substance-or rather lack of sub
stance-contrast very strikingly with the
quiet, candid, conscientious discourse Of DR..
Tucker and his well substantiated state
ments Of alleged matters of fact. Appar-
emily the doctor is thoroughly honest in his
disavowal of any intention to speak con
temptuously, or even unkindly," of the ne
groes, and sincere in the fulfillment of his
purpose ito give to those who do not know the
negro race somewhat adequate idea of
their present condition, with philosophical
reasons for that condition" His speech is
marked throughout with kindness, charity
and spirit of consideration for the ne
groes' misfortunes, while for the perpetua.
tion in this country of what he finds in his
analysis Of the negro character are the in
grained vices of "untutored barbarians,"
he does not scruple to charge the enslavers
of the race with their Just share of the re-
sponsibility. From a private letter to the
WATERMAN we take the liberty to quote
DR.. fuckers explanation of the manner in
which he became conspicuous in the agita-
tion of this subject:
"This pamphlet" he says, sis contribution
at my own expense towards the solution Of one OF
the great problems, II not the greatest national
and religious problem of our day. Every step In
1t has been taken against my will and In obedience
TO what seemed duty and even necessity, except
the first / need not have spoken at Richmond
and had surmised the stir that would follow,
would have stayed at home In quiet retirement.
Once when | was a boy threw a stone at hor-
nets nest. may truly say that every step and
desperate self-defence. What said in Richmond
has been said before by myself and others, and Is
not only true aud known to be true by southern
men, but is very far short Of the whole truth.
Had been speaking TO o southern audience there
would have been no stir, 1t would all have passed
rs uuisms. But there was peculiar conjunc-
ton OF circumstances, peculiar audience, and
some dozens OF newspaper reporters present,
Hence awoke the next morning to find myself
unpleasantly famous-or infamous-as the negro
paper, the Richmond Star, had 1t. Thus felt
forced TO prove my case by Witnesses, and 80 pre-
sent some seventy names OF bishops, clergymen,
chief justices, judges, lawyers, doctors and mer-
chants. ltwould not be easy for any one to gather
seventy names OF higher standing, social and pro-
fessional, OF men who are necessarily unpreju-
diced and unbiased. | do not mean to write
seventy Names but to induce seventy gentlemen
10 write their own names The tenor Of the letters
show that they aim at telling the exact truth
With such witnesses can fearlessly rest my case"
The New York Observer, which has given
some attention to this subject, is preparing
for publication mass Of information sent
directly to that journal, which, If it is just
to style Dr. fuckers pamphlet the case of
the prosecution, is expected will be pres
entation of the case of the defense. The
matter should be treated in no partisan or
sectional spirit. IL DIR. fuckers allega-
tions are true, or measuably true, that fact
should be conceded, not blinked at or covered
up; and so far as the truth-even if 1t is as
bad as the prosecution has painted its
known it should be the occasion of care
full review, and, If need be, thorough re
vision of the methods OF prosecuting the
work among the freedmen in order 10
secure the greatest possible efficiency. 1t
should not be the source of Encouragement
and faltering, nor least of all, the subject Of
controversy fought on the old sectional
battle line. We trust the Observers prom
ised publication will be calm and strong and
convincing. This, rather than noisy vapor
ings Of indignation meetings and truculeni
resolutions, is demanded TO answer DIR
Tucker and his array Of witnesses conclu
sively.
In brief address before the Mechanics
exchange, St. Louis, Senator Edmunds, re
ferring to the transportation problem, said
ave must do justice to those who have
placed their money and brain in enterprises
which have given us an easy means Of com
munioation, as we'll as to ourselves Al
long as these means Of communication ar,
liant mn M long will the unitv and nros