The voice of freedom. [volume], November 09, 1839, Image 2

About The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848

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ing the com. of Agriculture to report a bill for the
encouragement of agricultural societies, granting
a sum for premiums, not exceeding 25 per cent of
the sum raised, by such societies for this purpose;
supported by Mr.' Brown.opposed by Mr. Partridge
and rejected; Mr. Needham moved to reconsider
this vote rejected.
The chair appointed the following committee
on the inquiry relative to taxing steamboat stock,
Messrs. Brown, Baxter and Huntington.
Mr. Mattocks introduced a bill repealing the
act providing for removing obstructions in Pas
sumpsic nnd Moose rivers, which was referred to
coin, on Roads and Canals. Adj.
2 o'c lock, P. M.
SENATE.
Blll.-By Mr. Tracy, appointing a com. of three,
to let out by contract, for a term not exceeding
four years, "the labor of prisoners in the Stale
Prison, twice read and ordered to be engrossed
for a third reading.
Bills. On motion of Mr. Tracy the rule in case
of hills, was dispensed with for the time, and the
bill appointing a committee to let out the labor of
the prisoners in trie state prison, was reau a thin:
time and passed ; laying a tax on the county of
Lamoille, twice read and referred to the coin, on
Manufactures.
Resolution. Dooming the town of Glastenbury,
the sum of $931,54 reported by the com. on fi
nance, with a statement that the town had return
ed no grand list for the last three years, tho' rep
resented lor the same length ol time. Laid upon
the table on motion of Mr. Cobb. Adj.
Tuesday, Nov. 5th.
SENATE.
Prayer by the chaplain.
Mr. Pierpoint moved that the vacancy in the
con. on Banks occasioned by the absence ol Mr.
Kittridge, be now filled. Motion sustained, and
the ballots being taken, Mr. Converse was elected
l: fill the vacancy. . .
Mr. Jones had leave of absence from and after
to-morrow morning.
Bills. Repealing the act incorporating the Vil
lage of Woodstock, reported by Mr. Adams, with
a proposal of amendmeut, providing, that the act
shall not take etlect without the consent ol a ma
jority of the votorsofeaid Village, to be ascertain
ed at a meeting named for the purpose. Amend
ment adopted, aud the bill read n third time and
parsed.
Bill. By Mr. Pierpoint, relating to the Bank
of Rutland, twice read and referred to the commit
tee on Banks. Adj.
house.
Prayer by Rev. S. Kellogg.
Messrs. Onion, Ashly and Closson, obtained
leave of absence after Menday morning.
Resolution. By Mr. Sh;t uck as follows:
" Whereas a great portion of the time of this
House is taken up by a few eloquent gentlemen in
making long speeches upon trifling subjects, to the
annoyance of a great majority of the House, and
whereas the session is far advanced and requires
expedition and economy in time ;
"Therefore, resolved, That for the future there
be an evening session of this House, to commence
at 7 o'clock, to be devoted wholly to the debates
of those able gentlemen on questions of amend
ments to the revised statutes ; provided that no
subject shall ba debated till after it has been final
ly acted upon by the House."
Which was read and after a few remarks by
Messrs. Fairbanks and Brown, the chair refused
to entertain the same.
By Mr. Fairbanks, altering a rule of the House
so as to require the assent of at least ten members
to sustain a call for the yeas and noes which lies
on the table, under tho rules of the House, for one
t,ay-
By Mr. Brown, instructing committee on Mili
tary Affairs to inquire into the expediency of ex
empting inhabitants of unorganized towns, and
in cases where they would be obliged to go out
of town to do duty, from military duty adop
ted. By Mr. Richardson of Waitsfield, instruc
ting Judiciary Committee to inquire into tlie ex
pediency of further legislation to protect creditor?
in cases where credit is obtained by false preten
ces passed.
Bills introduced. By Mr. Walker, annexing
pirt of Norwich to Thetford, ordered to a third
reading; from the Senate, relating to state prison
after some discussion by Messrs, Brown, Coolidge,
Chandler, Fairbanks, Ilazen, Dillingham, and
Partridge Messrs. Coolidge, Fairbanks and Ha
zen for, and other gentlemen against, a referenee
a motion to refer the bill to the select com. already
raised upon this subject, was negatived, 111 to 78.
Mr. Coolidge moved to lay the bill upon the table
for the purpose of amendment, and made it the or
der for to-morrow morning agreed to. From
the Senate, bill repealing act of 1833, relating to
retailers qf distilled spirits: Mr Sanborn moved to
make it the order for Friday morning-carried, SO
to 54.
Petitions.-Two from citizens of Orange county,
for ' moral reform' referred to a select com. of
three; of David II. Sumner and others, to com. on
Banks.
Reports of Committees. By com. on Roads and
Canals, against incorporating Granville Turnpike
Co., and the bill was dismissed: by com. on Wan
ufactures, bill incorporating Newbury Mill and
Factory Co., amended and made the order for
l nday next, at the suggestion ol Air. Dillingham
that the chapter of the - revised statutes on limited
partnerships would supersede the necessity of spe
cial acts, of incorporation for mechanical, manu
facturing and merchantilo purposes; by committee
of Claims, byls to pay Uzms Seymour 5?o0 Anson
Davis f bu, ordered to a third reading; by commit
tee on Military Affairs, against petitions of E,
Eddy, Daniel R awson and oihers, and the account
of Charles D. Kasson, and the House concurred
bi'l relating to Craftsbury Rifle Co., and it was
made the order for h nday morning next. Adj.
2 o'clock, I'. M.
HOUSE.
The chair appointed the following committee
to. consider the petitions relative to moral reform,
viz: Messrs, Dillingham, Fairbanks, and Waite.
Resolutions. By Mr. Brown, providing that
motion to lay any bill, ice, on the table, hall be
decided without. debate; and nlso for evening ses
sions, after to-morrow, to be devoted exclusively
to the revised statutes rvyhjch lie on the table one
Uy by the rules. Adj.
Wednesday, "Nov, 6th.
SENATE.
Prayer by the chaplain..
Mr. Edgei ton moved a reconsideration of the
vote yesterday, passing chap, 103, on the subject
of jiil limits, and on the question, will the Senate
reconsider the vote, the yeas and nays were de
THE
manded and the voto was reconsidered, yeas 17,
nays 9. The question being upon the final pas
sage of the bill, Mr. Edgerton moved to reconsid
er the vote rejecting the amendment proposed by
Mr. Cobb. Mr. Townsley suggested the impro
priety of reconsidering vote's, carried by small ma
jorities, especially as the number of Senators was
daily decreasing by leave of absence. Mr. Tracy
sustained the propriety of reconsideration, stating
that senators might have altered their opinion,
and should be indulged with the privilege of cor
recting errors in judgment, if convinced of the
main question of amendment, extending the jail
limits co-extensive with the territory of the county
was debated by Messrs. Cobb, Robinson, Con
verse and Tracy, in favor, and by Messrs. Pier
point and Townsley opposed, for the reason that
they preferred the entire abolishment of imprison
ment for deb'. Mr. Pierpoint assured the mover
that he would sustain his motion if he would so
vary it, and the question of reconsideration was
put, and carried, yeas 16, nays 10, when the chap,
was laid upon the table.
ref.ilions.-By Mr. McMillan, of M. Morrill and
others referred to committee on Military Affairs.
Adj.
HOUSE.
.Petition. Of 50 inhabitants of Greensboro'
that said town be annexed to Caledonia County,
referred to the General Committee.
Bills. By Mr. Shattuck, increasing pay of
members to 2 per day dismissed. From the
Senate, relative to state prison, called up by Mr.
Fairbanks, who moved to limit the term of con
tract for -the labor of state prisoners to three years
supported by Mr. F. opposed bp Messrs. But
ler, Brown and Partridge and rejected. Mr. F.
proposed sundry other amendments, which were
adopted and the bill passed. .
Reports of Committees. By com. of Education
a detailed report on the subject of the proceeds of
the national domain, with resolutions on the sub
ject laid on the table, on motion of Mr. Chandler;
by Mr. Dillingharr, from select committee, bill fix
ing the salary of chaplain of the state prison at
$100 a vear,"ordered to a 3d reading. By select
committee against the bill repealing the militia act
of 1837, and Mr. Partridge moved to dismiss the
bill motion supported by Messrs. Partridge and
Sprague, opposed by Messrs. Fisk of Waterville,
and iiames, and rejected, when the bill was made
the order for to-morrow morning.
The Senate returned the bill repealing the
charter of Woodstock with a proposed amend
ment, requiring the assent of a majority of the
voters of the corporation; amendment opposed
by Messrs. Partridge, Needham and Brown and
rejected.
Mr. Partridge called up the bill in addition to
the militia act of 1S3.7, being the bill reported by
the com. on Military Affairs, (the fame, with a
mcndme.its prepared by the Military Convention.)
The amendments of the committee, with the excep
tion of the ninth, (providing for drawing money
from the treasury for the payment of services at
drills, &c.) were adopted, when Mr. Hazard mov
ed to amend, by repealing all parts of the act pro
viding for drawing money from the treasury for
such purposes. The nmendmeut was supported
by Messrs. Hodges, Fisk of W., and Miner, op
posed by Messrs. Partridge, Sprague, Kendall,
Brown nnd Shattuck, nnd rejected, ayes 41, noes
151. The amendment proposed by the committee
was adopted. ' Adj.
2 o'clock, I . jU
SENATE.
Bills. -From the House, relating to the State
Prison, providing fur letting out the labor of the
convicts, with proposals of amendment, in whic
the Senate resolved to concur ; repealing the net
incorporating the v iilage of Woodstock, sent in
from the House, nonconcurrod in the amendment
nronosed bv the Senate. Mr. Pierpoint moved
that the Senate persist in adhering to the amend
meiit, when Mr. Robinson called for the reading
of the petition of the inhabitants of Woodstock,
from which it appeared that the Villagers of Wood
slock, 'like most other villagers, were divided in
opinion on many mailers aim tilings pertuirnn
to their present and future prosperity ns a commu
nity, lhe amendment o! the senate requires t tie
consent ol a majority ol the rotors ol the Village
of Woodstoclc, at a meeting warned lor the pur
pose, before the repeal of tne law. lo this, the
House object, refuse to concur, aud return the bill
to the senate. J. he motion of Air. Pierpoint to
adhere, was carried yeas l.j, nays If.
The Senate went into joint assembly. Adj
HOUSE.
Mr. Grover of Wells obtained leave of absence
afier to-morrow morning.
Mr. Bailey introduced a resolution for the ad
journment of both Houses on Thursday morning
14th inst., which wa.v laid on the table.
The Senate came in, and the following appoint
ment was made in mint assembly:
Wm. P. Sawyer, jail commissioner for Lamoille
county. lhe joint assembly adjourned lo lues
day afternoon next. ; Adj.
J HtJUSPAY, Nov. 7, JfeTJ.
SENATE.
Prayer by the Chaplain.
Mr. Swift, of the com. lo whom was referred
the resolutions from the Slate of Indiana, relating
t: Slavery, made a written report, which was
read, and the accompanying resolutions passed.
HOUSE,
Prayer by Rev. S. Kellogg.
Messrs. Cheney, Partridge, Smith of London
derry, and Jewett, obtained leave of absence after
to-morrow morning.
The resolution for a joint assembly, to elect
certain military officers, was sent from tho Sen
ate with a proposed amendment, which was con
curred in.
Report of Committees. Several were introdu
ced and disposed of.
Engrossed Bills Passed. Fixing salary of chap
lain of the stale prison; to pay Anson Davis $00;
annexing part of Norwich to Thetford; to pay
Ozias Seymour $60.
The petition of Orson Thayer and others, was
referred to the com. of Ways "and Means.
The Senate returned the Woodstock corpora
tion bill,insistingon their amendment: on motion of
Mr. Partridge, -the House insisted on its disagree
ment. Mr. Brown introduced a bill appointing a collec
tor in the town of Stow, which was referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
The House resumed consideration of the militia
bill, the first question being upon an amendment
offered by Mr. Fisk of Waterville, providiug, first,
that no person shall be required to go beyond the
limits of his own town to do military duty (except
VOICE OP FREEDOM.
to regimental reviews ;) and 2nd that inhabitants
of towns containing less than 25 persons liable to
do military duty, on being enrolled and equip
ped, shall be exempt from doing duty in time of
peace.
Mr. Kendall moved an amendment to the a
mendment, providing that where inhabitants of
towns are joined in one company, the persons in
each towns, may meet by themselves within their
own town, for ordinary company trainings. Mes
srs. Kendall, Partridge and Brown supported the
amendment to the amendment, opposed by Messrs.
Fisk of W. Walker of Whiting, Fisk of Eden, and
Eames. Mr. Bard suggested a modification, by
requiring a request of a majority ol the members
of any one town and also excepting meetings of
the company for election of officers which were
accepted. Adj.
2 o'clock, P. M.
SENATE.
In consequence of the temporary absence of the
President, -from illness, Mr. Converse was called
to the chair, by vote of the Senate.
7J7Z.-Rclating to the Rutland Rail Road Bank,
reported by Mr. McMillan, that the same ought
not to pass. Rejected upon a third roading.
The House sent up the bill, repealing the act
incorporating the village of Woodstock, adhering
to their nonconcurrence. Mr. Pierpoint moved
that the Senate insist upon the amendment, carri
ed, yeas 15, nays 11. Adj.
HOUSE.
Mr. Partridge proposed to suspend for this af
ternoon the rule of the House, devoting the after
noon sessions to lhe revised statutes; agreed to.
Resolutions. Requiring the assent of ten mem
bers to second a call for the yeas and noes rejec
ted. Excluding debate on motion to lie upon the
t: ble withdrawn. Providing for evening ses
sions hererfier, to consider the revised statutes
adopted.
Bills. By Mr. Hdogcs, from, com of Ways and
Means, making appropriations raising a tax of 3
cents on a dollar for support of government, and
authorizing the treasurer to borrow a certain sum:
severally read twice and laid on the table.
The House resumed consideration of the mili
tia bill, and the discussion was renewed on the
amendment offered by Mr. Kendall to ihe amend
ment of Mr. Fisk of Warterville. Messrs. Par
tridge and Rice supporting and Mr. Fisk of War
terville opposing it ayes 107, noes 94; so the
amendment was nllopted, and the remaining sec
tion proposed by Mr. Fisk of W, was withdrawn.
The amendment as amended, was rejected, when
Mr. Miner moved lo amend by releasing certain
exempts from the payment of an equivolent ($3)
in money, supported by Messrs. Miner and Bridg
man, opposed by Mr. Partridge, Needham, Bard
Kendall, and rejected, 171 lo 11. Mr. Waite
moved to strike out $3, and insert 82 rejected.
Mr. Bard moved to amend, so as to make the mon
ey paid into the town treasury by exempts, subject
to the order of the Quarter Master of the regiment
Mr. Thomas moved to add, ' to be disposed of in
the same manner ns is provided in the act for the
deposition of money raised by fines' accep
ted, and the amendment adopted. Mr. Richardson
t)f V. moved an amendment to exempt members
of cavalry companies which were disbanded by
the act of '37, and are not organized rejected.
Mr, II. also moved to strikeout lhe section for
annual reg:montal reviews hereafter ; withdrawn,
when Mr. R. moved to substitute ' once in len
years' for annually. Supported by Messrs Richard
son of W. Dillingham, Wheeler of Montpelier,
opposed by Messrs. Partridge and Thomas, and
adopted. Adj. to half past 6, P. M.
Ilollis Street Church.
Adjourned Meeting, SeptemlcrZO, 1S39.
Deacon SAMUEL MAY, Moderator.
After lhe organization of the morning, Mr. J.
Crane, offered the following Preamble nnd vote.
In reply lo the communication of the Rev. Mr.
Pierpoint, of the 10th. inst., which appears on rec
ord, which lias been published to tho world, it is
only necesessary, now, to sny, that the conclusion
that he arrives at, viz ; that his zeal in the Tern
pern uce cause is " the head and front of his of
fending" is not true: 'nnd against which conclu
sion we do now enter our solemn " Protest. "
We fully uelieve, from lhe tenor nnd spirit of
ilia: communication, that lhe breach is so much
inrreascJ. that there is no prospect of a reconcilia
tion, an., that wlnlo lie is with us there will be no
" peace" in which case our H purity" will be en
dangered therefore, with our sincere wishes for
his future welfare,
r l .1 l. t i. rv ... , ,
v oieu, uiai wit: jiev. jonn ricrponu, lie and is
hereby respectfully requested to take up his con
nexion as the Pastor of Ilollis Street Society.
The question being upon the acceptance of the
foregoing; was decided by written ballot as fol
lows:
Whole number 123
Yeas, 63
Nays, 60
A true extract from the records
Attest, A. II. BEAN, Clerk.
Adjourned Meeting, Oct. 7, 1S39.
Dea. SAMUEL MAY, Moderator.
lhe meeting having been called to order and
the proceedings of the last meeting read, the fol
lowing communication from lhe pastor was read
by the Clerk, and ordered to be printed, together
with the vote passed at the last meeting.
Attest.
A. H BEAN, Proprietor's Clerk.
1 o the Proprietors cf Ilollis Street Meeting
House.
Gentlemen: The doings of your body, at its
last adjourned meeting have been duly communi
cated to me by your Clerk, and are "now before
me. In reply, allow me to say, First,
r rom the document before me it appears that
you have declared by a vote of 63 to 60, that you
do not approve, and that vou will not sustain the
principles of entire freedom and independence of
your pulpit, as those principles have been il ustra-
ted in my ministrations.
As in my last communication to vou I said
" If I cannot stand in a free pulpit, I will stand in
none ; I shall, therefore, till the present contro
versy is closed by a dissolution of our connexion,
or till that vote is set aside, continue to supply
my pulpit by such exchanges as I may be able
to negociate with my brethren ; believing that
their services will, at present, be more grateful to
you than mine.
1 reply, Secondly, that, m ray last communica
tion, profess myself prepared for the result of
any action that you might feel yourselves prepar
ed to take. By your second vote 63 to 60 your
ask mc to lake action. For that, I am rot pre
pared. In my last, I proposed to you this alterna
tive : If the individuals aggrieved are, still, a mi
nority.of the society, they may severally find re
lief by withdrawing themselves from their pews
and, if they are a majority, they may seek it by
displacing me from mv pulpit." Your vote in
stead of displacing me, or taking a single step
towards dieplacing me, respectfully requests me to
displace myself. The vote is, " That the Rev.
John Pierpoint bo, and is hereby respectfully re
quested to take up his connexion, as Pastor of Ilol
lis Street Society." That, in the first place, is
not what I proposed to do ; and in the second it is
what, of myself, I cannot do.
For, 1st. my connexion with you is the result
of a mutual contract ; a contract in which, impor
tant interests rnd legal rights and responsibilities
are involved ; and, as it takes two parlies to make
a controct, so it takes two to un-make it. My
connexion, as your Pastor, is one, therefore, that
neither party, alone, is competent to " take up," or
to break up.
And,2dly. you will do yourselves lhe justice
io consider that, in this controversy, I am not the
active party; nor, in my last Letter, did I propose
to be. In this analysis of the parts of society, the
people have put themselves into the active voice,
while the pastor is thrown into the passive. The
enterprise of displacing me from my pulpitis yours.
I have a work of my own to do ; and have neither
the leisure nor the spirit to do yours. If, when
you come to take yours actually in hand, you
find it an enterprise of greater magnitude than
you had supposed, while you looked at it from a
distance, vou will, surely do me the justice lo say
that it is a work to which I did not invite you. If
" the rowers have brought you into great waters,"
it seems lo me that 1 am the Jast man into whose
hand vou should put the laboring oar, to bring
you out.
Nevertheless, seeing that this controversy is not
pleasing to me, and that 1 desire for my own sake,
as well as yours, that it should be brought to an
end as soon as it cstti be, with justice to the rights
and character ol both parlies ; seeing, too, that
we are, as yet, afloat upon the same bottom, and
have a common interest in saving our ship from
total wreck; I will cheerfully do what in me lies
to save the ship, whatever may befal the crew.
To this end, we must, first, take an observation;
that we may know exactly where we are.
As, in your movements against me, both last
year and this, only the vague and general charge
ol handling " exciting topics, has been brought a
gainst me, without any distinct and specific allega
tion ofofTence against the law of God or man,
was left to guess out, as best I-j might, the riddle
of mv transgression ; or, to solve the mystery of
my iniquity by means of such light as I could get
from other sources. Doing my best with mv
means, I came to the conclusion, and declared it
to you and to the ivorld, in effect, that my zeal and
efiorts in the Temperance Cause was the " head
and front of mine offending." This is in the Pre
amble to your last vote, you distinctly deny ; and,
against the truth of thisj my declaring of your an
nual parables you have entered your solemn pro
test. Here, then, Gentlemen, we are at issue. In
my Letter, I tendered to you this issue. In the
Preamble of your last vote, you have deliberately,
publicly, and manfully tnueti it. -t Ihis is the true
issue in our case. It is now fully made up. It
is ready for trial ; nnd neither party to this con
troversy can proceed another step towards the fi
nal settlement of it, till this issue is fairly and
finally tried. I respectfully demand it. Let the
party, that shrinks from it stand out before the
world where, by so doing, he will place himself, in
the judgment of Him who has said ; " Every one
who doeth evil hnteth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
In the proceedings that you instituted against
me, a year ago, 1 iorebore lo lender to you the is
sue that has now been tendered and taken. There
are witnesses around me who know that
spare you'M did this ; and that I then entered n
dilatory pica, at the suggestion of others, rather
than lay open to lhe world the case as it then
stood. For more than six years, individuals
your body have been casting upon my spirit the
weight ot their rebuke. I have stood under the
pressure, and have stood ufir wlnle it.
the rebuke of individuals only, however heavy
were the men that bore upon me. But now, that
the weight of your Society, as a body, falls upon
me, it shall crush me it shall grind me to powder
or i win mrjw u on, inrevcr.
My character, as a man if not a a Christian
Minister is my only livelihood. It will, probably
be my only legacy to my children. Your cen
sures cast upon me, are matters of record in the
books of your Society. So shall be, if I can get
it mere, the award ol an impartial tribunal, pass
mgjudgment upon your course and mine. If that
condemn me, it shall be a condemnation that nei
thcr I can take ofl while I live, nor my children
when lam dead.
As lo the bar to which this issue between us
shall go up for trial, it is obvious that, as no one
is allowed to be judge in his own case, we must
agree upon some competent tribunal; alike in
the talent & impartiality of the men thatcompose it.
Nothing but the decision of such a tribunal ought
to be satisfactory to yourselves, or will be so to me
or my friends. If, on this point, you concur with
me in opinion, and will appoint a Committee of
your body, empowered to make arrangements for
a mutual council, before which you will carry the
issue that is now made up between us, for trial
and final adjudication, there shall be no backward
ness on my part, nnd no unnecessary delay ot any
stage ol the proceedings, from the time that I re
ceive the first communication of' your committee
mi me award ol our mutual council shall have
been carried into full effect.
Respectfully your friend and servant,
JNO. PIERPOINT.
Boston. Oct. 7lh, 1S39.
Good News. The Washington Globe says
that orders have been given to prepare a sloop of
war and a schooner withallpossible despatch, for
cruising on the coast of Africa, in execution of the
laws of the United States against the disgraceful
traffic, in slaves, and for the protection of our law
ful commerce in that quarter.
The king of Prussia has given orders that all
periodicals on the subject ofEvangelica!! Missions
among the heathen shall for the future be ex
empted from postage all over the kingdom. In
IbJJ, this monarch did the same for n book of
hymns.
Latest accounts from the South state that the
yellow fever, which has prevailed extensively in
that part of the country this season, Is abating.
THE VOICE OF FKEED0M.
MONTPELIER, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1,1839.
Abolition Ancient nnd Modern.
Why is it , that the measures of modern aboli
tionists are met with mobs and violence, when no
such opposition was manifested against abolition
in the days of President Edwards and his coadju
tors ? This question has been asked by one high
among our great men, as an argument to show.
that there must be something wrong in modern,
abolitionism something in which it differs wide
ly from the abolitionism of Edwards, and Hop-,
kins, and others of kindred spirit. But we think
the inference hardly follows from the premises as
sumed. Let any man read the remarks of Ed'
wards, and he will find them as severe as the Van-.
gunge of modern abolitionists.- He was not afraid;
to call sin by its right name, nor to denounce a-,
gainst slaveholders'the judgments of a righteous
God. Some other reason must, then, be found,
to show why mobs and violence are brought out
against the measures of modern abolitionists, ra-.
ther th an in former days, besides the pretence that
their language is more severe against slavery, or
slaveholders. And there can be no difficulty in.
finding reasons in abundance.
1. In the days of Edwards, the ministers of'
Christ, generally, condemned slavery, and prayed
for the oppressed. They were united in their tes
timony, and it was respected by the people. Now,
many in the ministry are ready to deny, or exten
uate the sin of slaveholding justify or excuse
slaveholders, and condemn all anlNslavery move
ments. The ministry are divided. Half speak
in the language of Ashdod, contradict the testimo
ny of their brethren, destroy its influence, and
encourage mobocrats to despise and reject it. How
long can a house thus divided stand ?
2. Modern abolition implies action. In theory
Edwards and others were thorough, and their in
fluence was good ; but they did not grapple the
monster with a fixed determination to slay him.
And many in these days abhor slavery in the ab
stract, who are afraid of any measure, that im
plies action. Said a learned divine in the late
Convention, slavery is the greatest curse of the
country," but when a resolution was proposed
which required him and others to come to the res
cue, and try lo free the nation from this curse, he
opposed the resolution because it implied action I
Words are but wind and will soon blow away ; but
action, fixed, persevering action, is another thing,
and must be resisted, and mobbed down.
3. The spirit of slavery is more bold and ram
pant, than it was fifty years ago. Then, we had,
as a nation, just broken our chains. Many of
the States had liberated their slaves, and slavery
was almost universally condemned. And in the
states, where it was retained, compassion for the
master triumphed over justice to the slave. It
was said, not that the slave could not take care
of himself, but that the master could not live with
out slave labor. The whites could not endure to
labor under the southern sun, and they must have
blacks to labor, or abandon the country. Hence,
the clause in the Constitution, allowing the atro
cious slave trade for twenty years. In those days,
slavery had to stand nn the defensive, and was
willing to sue for favors, and receive, as a loon,
what she now demands as her right. Then, she
was weak, and spake out of the dust. Now, she
lifts up her head, bold and rampant. Then, her
spirit lurked in southern rice swamps aud was glad
to be secured in her own limits, but now she bold
ly advances from the south, raises her crest at the
north, violates the sanctuary of freemen, and sets
her bloodhounds on to bite and devour all, who
dare resist her demands. Mobocrats, whether in
high life, or in low life, are her willing tools, and
she delights lo employ them.
4. The commercial relations between the north
and the south are much more extensive, than in
olden times. This is a fact so notorious, that it
is needless to produce any proof. But we may
add, it has a powerful effect. The northern mer
chant, who thrives by southern trade, wishes to
enjoy the good will of his customers, enjoys oc
casionally their hospitality, and divides with them
the gains of unrequited labor. He enters into
their views, learns their language, and is ready
to apologize for their domestic institutions. And
when " mcyi of property and standing in society?
arc needed to head mobs against abolitionists, yon
may expect some of these gentlemen merchants
will be ready for the service.
5. Northern silversmiths and other craftsmen
find a profitable market among slaveholders, and
they are as fond of the wealth, which they derive
from this market, as was the man, who made silt
ver shrines for Diana, raised a mob, and set all
the city of Ephesus in an uproar. Gain is to such.
godliness, and they are ready to cry out "Great
is Diana of the Ephesians," when their gains are
enlarged.
6. Family connexions and social intercourse
!iave within forty years, greatly increased between
lhe north and the south. Formerly, it was sel
dom that a northern daughter married to the south;
that a young man from the norlh entered into bus
iness at the south; that a family moved from the
free states into a slave state or that social visits
were exchanged. But now, southern planters take
our daughters for their sous to wife, and give their
daughters to our sons for wives : a connection
with slaveholders is formed, and social visits are
interchanged. Formerly, very few clergymen