The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-21

> on which, alter due examination, you entertain
9 and think worthy to be published.
Your position is-lhat aboilionists, in forming
: a distinct political party, with view to effect
change the Government in relation to peculia
subject, violate the constitution of the American
Society. You concede, that action, in unison
with Que or both of the po tcal parties existing
: the time Of the organization Of the Society-anC
; since, no matter how Prolean the shapes they
have assumed from time to time, was contempla
ted by the Constitution that to vote with then
and assist them to elect such OF their partizans Il;
are favorable to our views is allowable. Neither
is there, in your mind any question, that, accor
ding to the Albany resolutions, we ought 10 vote
for no candidates for certain offices who are not
fully with us the subject of immediate emanci-
patton. If the foregoing is what you grant, the
whole question, so far as it is practical one, and
worthy Of consideration, is narrowed down 10 this
May abolitionists themselves, select for their
suffrages such of their fellow citizens as they
know TO be true to the cause of human freedom
men who consider the abolition of slavery as
the mos! important political question now pressing
on this nation, and hold them up, separate and
apart, as The representatives of their principles
or are they bound by the constitution to vote only
for such abotonists az the nominating caucuses
of the Wing and Democratic party may respec-
lively select for them-men who regard every
subject coming before them in the course of legs-
lation with an eye, first to the consolidation OF
their party--nert, to the furtherance of emanci-
patton. This is the true question You may
perhaps reply, that we are not bound TO vote for
such-but that every voter may if he choose, vote
for any other abolitionist whom he may prefer TO
the one in nomination. But if this be so, we
may, instead of two parties have three or hun
dred. Each manor if he draw to him five or
ten or twenty more, who shall thus vote-is in eff
feet. party
wish that the loose expression "moral and po-
litical action had not been inserted in the "Dec-
laration"-since political action is but species
of moral action. As they now stand, they seem
| TO some persons to mean different and almost OPP
poSite things. If moral action had alone been
spoken Of all confusion OF ideas would have
been avoided. By moral action was intended
peaceful action-such action as can be put forth
in consistence with the constitution and laws ofhe
country--and such as is, therefore, peaceful.
1t was opposed TO forcible; and any one will be
convinced of this who in reading the Declaration.
will notice how carefully the projected anti-slave-
ny movement is contrasted with the forci6le part
of the American Revolution. If am right in
giving this comprehensive meaning TO the word
moral, ali our action was intended TO be of that
Icharacter,-whether we acted on the politics-or
the relieion-or the commerce-or the mechani-
cal, or laboring interests Of the country. 1t was
all moral, because persuasive and peaceful. IT.
was to all ntents and purposes what you call
system OF MORAL sUAsIoN, to be followed up as
believe, by corresponding course of action.
You say, that the constituents of the ''moral
SmaSiom" of the Constitution are, warming, 0p-
pea1 petition, remonStrance, argument, prayer"
But abolitionists have voted retrospective of par
ty and only for those who are in favor of the
great principle of emanci patton" Now ! am I'M
able to see how, in virtue alone Of any one Of
these constituents or of any number OF them COM
blned, an abolitoniSt claim to vote at all /; or
if it be conceded that he vote, where is the
ground of his obligation to vote for candidates
presented by two parties-boh as such, hostile to
him-any more than to vote for such as he may
himself select without any reference to these par
ties, but simply with a view to principles! It'll
may be replied, the ight TO vote is right prior
to the institution of the Society But is any
thing gained by this9 For it may also be said,
that the right to form third party, or 10 vote for
third party if formed by others, is just as old
and as undeniable as the right to vote. Persons
acquire no additional political rights--neither do
they lose any-by joining the Society. All that
the Society asks of its members is to use the
IlShtS diIeduy poSSeSSeu Ill SUCH way DIS VIII
best promote the peaceful emancipation of the
slaves, whether it be, by influencing the existing
parties, or any other which may spring upI
in the country and be more effective for that OBJ
ject.
Suppose, there had been in existence at the
time of the formation of the American Society,
three instead oftwo political parties in the country
would the Constitution bind US TO vote for any
two of them 10 the exclusion of the third Or,
suppose, that, persons not members of the Anti
Slavery Society, and, therefore, not bound by
what you believe to be its rules in this matter,
were noao to nominate as their candidates, none
but men Of good moral character and of the most
approved ant-slayery sentiments? Where would
my excellent friend Lewis Tappan be found on the
day of the election? doubt not, in his proper
place, supporting the right men,
And if such party were to rise up, setting out
with never so few honest men, who had become
at the practices Of The two parties with
which they had heretofore acted, would you be
the first 10 address them on this wise ?-"Y on
had better return aud vote with your old parties
they are very corrupt, it is true; and, as parties
utterly opposed TO your views, but just as sure as
you vote by yourselves, and set up candidates
who truly represent your principles and try by
ri0;d adherence IN Thorn and bv the renlhlican