The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-08-31
From the Franklin Messenger.
THE ABOLITION MOVEMENT.

LIE ADOLlllON WV EMCN l.
Our readers are aware that candidates have
been nominated for Office in this state by abo.
litionlsts who profess to have no regard to the
principles and measures of either of the prom.
inent political parties of tie day. We have as
yet said little or nothing in regard to this move
ment, for we have believed, and still do believe
that the course which has been adopted is i'm
polite and will not fail to inure essentially the
success Of Anti-slavery efforts. To suppose
that even one third of the freemen Of Vermont
will throw aside their political principles, cast
off the candidates of their parties. and vote for
other candidates solely on the ground of their
abolitionism, while at the same time they can
vote 70. candidates of their own political party
who will do as much by their public acts to
promote the cause of Anti.savery as the third
party candldates-we say, to suppose this much
is preposterous in the extreme. Comparatively
few, very few, we apprehend, will perceive any
wisdom in voting, as general thing, for third
party candidates. But we have no desire to dis
cuss this matter at the present time. We wish
merely to introduce one or two extracts on this
subject, 10 the reader.
1t will be recollected that the Aboltionist
State convention, in May last, nominated Chs
K. Williams for Governor, Paul Dillingham; for
1t. Governor, and Henry F. James for Treas
urer. The Voice of Freedom, the organ of
the abolitionists in this State, in the same num-
Der in which the proceedings of the convention
are published, contains ;he following editorial
remarks from the editO-, C. l.. Knapp:
Whatever may be said in favor of national
nominations by abolilionists, or of State nomia-
atoms in states where the public authorities
have frowned with cold contempt npon the ris.
ing spirit of Liberty, we cannot persuade our
selves that any very urgent necessity exists in
Vermont for party org anizalion for anti-slave-
ry purposes. Indeed, we cannot see what
Legislature, constituted wholly of out-spoken
abolitionists, would be likely TO do in advance
of what has already been done at the hands of
the present and past Legislature down fromls36.
For five years in succession, large body of
the people have sent up petitions to the legisla-
ture praying Legislative interposition in various
forms, in favor of our outraged countrymen. As
often has the Legislature responded, with scarce
ly an exception, an almost literal compliance
with those requests; and this without distinc-
ton of party. When we are invited to lift the
standard of a distinct organization in this State,
these facts at once present themselves, and
leaue US ,cith a great scarcity Of reasons for
enHSting in such an undertaking -enlisting at
a time 200, when we can have no assurance that
either of the existing parties will present can
didates less favorable TO free principles than
their predecessors, and when, too, both these
parties know that the presentation of pro-sla-
very ticket would be as the death knell of all
their hopes. No party organization can make
itself very effective, without the life giving i'm.
pulse of sound and substantial motives. We
know it is said that the existing parties have,
by their conduct at the polls, dishonored their
fair professions, andcannot therefore be trusted.
So far as their conduct has compromised the
interests of freedom, we would be the last TO
pallia.e. The late convention, at least some of
its leading members, were unsparing in their
condemnation of those freemen who, at the late
presidential canvass, deposited their votes for
shareholders. Nor do we justify them. But
pe cannot but reflect that the usry candidates
nop selected to bear aloft the standard of con-
sistent a6oHtionisna, are rilyguihy of the SELF
same offence. Moreover, zoe hare yet 10 learn
that either of them has been much distinguished
for his advocacy of aboitionism, though, we are
free to admit that all are quite lenient towards
our cause. We venture The prediction that no
candidate phit behind them on the score of
sympathy for the slare, ,oiH be nominated By e.
Their party for the ensuing elections.'
This prediction fully verified the regular Wing
nomination vt Waterman