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Letter to Editor
July 26, 1837
Vermont Telegraph
Brandon, Rutland County, Vermont
What is this article about?
In a letter dated July 15, 1837, from Middlebury, 'FAIRLY' asks Mr. Murray if Northerners should raise an army to exterminate Southern slaveholders, deemed irredeemable criminals, per moral, rational, humanitarian, and biblical imperatives.
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Full Text
For the Vermont Telegraph
MIDDLEBURY, July 15, 1837
Mr. Murray: Dear Sir:—I wish to ask you a question, and should like an answer to it, either through the medium of your paper, or privately. It is generally admitted, I believe, that when individuals are so deeply involved in crimes, that the interests of the community and the dictates of strict justice require that they shall receive the highest degree of capital punishment—they are beyond the reach of moral reformation. Now if all Southern slaveholders, are "menstealers," "robbers," "flesh merchants," "kidnappers," "soul-dealers," "thieves," "rascals," and "cutthroats," and "wholesale pirates," would it not be expedient, lawful and justifiable for the Northern people, would it not be their imperative duty, to raise an army of sufficient physical power, to march against this band of "southern desperadoes," and exterminate them from the land? Do not nature's laws, the dictates of reason and justice, the calls of humanity, and the injunctions of the Bible require this?
An answer is respectfully requested by
FAIRLY.
MIDDLEBURY, July 15, 1837
Mr. Murray: Dear Sir:—I wish to ask you a question, and should like an answer to it, either through the medium of your paper, or privately. It is generally admitted, I believe, that when individuals are so deeply involved in crimes, that the interests of the community and the dictates of strict justice require that they shall receive the highest degree of capital punishment—they are beyond the reach of moral reformation. Now if all Southern slaveholders, are "menstealers," "robbers," "flesh merchants," "kidnappers," "soul-dealers," "thieves," "rascals," and "cutthroats," and "wholesale pirates," would it not be expedient, lawful and justifiable for the Northern people, would it not be their imperative duty, to raise an army of sufficient physical power, to march against this band of "southern desperadoes," and exterminate them from the land? Do not nature's laws, the dictates of reason and justice, the calls of humanity, and the injunctions of the Bible require this?
An answer is respectfully requested by
FAIRLY.
What sub-type of article is it?
Provocative
Persuasive
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Morality
Religion
What keywords are associated?
Slavery
Slaveholders
Extermination
Northern Duty
Moral Reformation
Bible Injunctions
Southern Crimes
What entities or persons were involved?
Fairly.
Mr. Murray
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Fairly.
Recipient
Mr. Murray
Main Argument
the letter questions whether northern people have an imperative duty to raise an army and exterminate southern slaveholders, portrayed as grave criminals like 'menstealers' and 'robbers,' as required by nature's laws, reason, justice, humanity, and the bible.
Notable Details
Uses Strong Epithets Such As 'Menstealers,' 'Robbers,' 'Flesh Merchants,' 'Kidnappers,' 'Soul Dealers,' 'Thieves,' 'Rascals,' 'Cutthroats,' And 'Wholesale Pirates' To Describe Slaveholders.
References Moral Reformation Being Impossible For Those Deserving Capital Punishment.
Cites Nature's Laws, Reason, Justice, Humanity, And Bible As Justifications.