J[ohn] W. Lewis to Frederick Douglass, August 8, 1854
For Frederick Douglass' Paper.
LETTER FROM J. W. LEWIS
PLEASANT VALLEY, Vt., Aug 8th '54.
MY DEAR DOUGLASS: —That was a noble sentiment, cherished and uttered by the Revolutionary Fathers of this nation, that "resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."—Would to God that the present generation would so act in obedience to God, guided by the principles of justice, as to prove themselves worthy of descendants of so noble a band. I assure you, sir, that the Green Mountain State is in motion. The important political events, so startling and alarming in their character, shaped and developed by the aggressive slave power, have an influence in Vermont too deep and strong to be misunderstood by the present corrupt American Administration. Resistance to tyranny is the rallying cry in all parts of the State. And as all the Compromises between Freedom and Slavery are rendered null and void by the base treachery to Freedom by the reckless politicians in the Nebraska Kansas villany; our ministry and Churches feel themselves obliged by surrounding circumstances, to direct their religious influence to shape the public opinion right in favor of Freedom. Such is the anxiety of the public mind on this question now; if a minister is silent on the subject of human Freedom through the Sabbath, however eloquent he may be otherwise, he meets a rebuke from his parishioners. The fact is, generous human nature, aside from the influence of human tradition, or modern sectarianism, or party corruption, cannot justify silence at so alarming a crisis. I have letters from all parts of the State calling for lecturers, and in every place I go, nothing short of an out and out Anti-Slavery lecture will satisfy the people on the Sabbath, or through the week. Anti-Slavery is the soul of Christian Theology now-a-days. I am glad in my soul that it has come to this, for if Slavery is illegal by the laws of God, and irreconcilable to the principle of humanity, nothing but a corrupt public opinion has kept it alive and in existence in this nation. And public opinion has been created and shaped by the mighty ecclesiastical machinery of the country. The Church as well as the Government is in a sad dilemma. The larger sects have been cut into smaller factions. They are distracted and perplexed amidst secessions, until many of them beginn to feel and say as did the brethren of Joseph in Genesis xlii: 21.
And that many Ministers and Churches at
the north deeply feel the force of the words,
I have not a doubt. And the base insult
thrown in the face of the three thousand
Clergy, signers of the petition to the United
States Senate against the Nebraska perfidy,
will doubtless do much to exhaust the
patience of the North. The political movements
in this State are quite encouraging;
the mass meeting at Montpelier, on the 13th
of last month, has left a favorable impression
on the mind of the people. General Walton,
however, declined the nomination for
Governor. Judge Royce, the Whig nominee,
at the Ruthland Convention, being right
before on Freedom, has been interrogated on
the Temperance question, that being an
important plank in the Republican platform
adopted by the mass convention. He has
fully endorsed the whole and given his full
concurrence. His name will doubtless be
hoisted at the head of the Republican ticket
in this State. Ryland Fletcher, the nominee
for Lieutenant-Governor, is a strong, true
Liberty man. Mr. Bates, for Treasurer, is a
Free Soil Whig. In the several counties
there is a fusion of Whigs and Free Soil or
Liberty men, but in no way to compromise
the principles so long advocated by the
Liberty party. If we could but have Frederick
Douglass, and his able co-laborer Watkins,
with our humble self, to scour this State
until the September election, I am fully
confident much could be done. The underground
railroad keeps in successful operation
in Vermont. A short time ago, a young
woman from eastern Maryland, passed on to
Canada via St. Albans, and Rouse point; her
escape and adventure were full of interesting
incidents. Of her history, quite an interesting
little narrative might be written.—
On Tuesday night last, a young man, four
weeks out of slavery, from Richmond,
Virginia, stopped at my house on his way to a
land of Freedom. During the last winter,
spring, and this summer, we have had
companies of two and four at a time, arriving at
St. Albans, and leaving for Canada. In no
instance do our citizens let them lack for
substantial means for their comfort. And
such is the feeling of that whole community,
a kidnapper would endanger his life to
attempt an arrest. "Resistance to tyrants, is
obedience to God," is the motto of all.
Yours, as ever,
J. W. LEWIS.