Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-02-24
ABOLITION, LIBERTY PARTY, sc.

To tic Editor Of The Ph@air;
| Dear Sir The object of this number is TO con
trovert the position taken by you, that the Northern
Wings have done all in their power TO sustain the
right of petition. If by stating few facts can
successfully do il, you WILL of course, allow that SC
far as this matter has bearing upon its course the
liberty pnriy does not Z" do injury TO the country
and ..reut object il has in view by pursuing its
I "a w political action" The proposition now
being considered is the second of the SERIES and not
l1tlsa.l bird, as stated in No 2.
Many are of the opinion that TO sustain il, what
the wings have actually done in behalf of this right
need only be stated. AS you seem TO regard il of
considerable importance, we will then, in the first
place do this; in the next place inquire how much
the wings have accomplished by their efforts, and
in the third place see what they might have done
more than they have done. 1t will then be admit
ted that the majority of the Northern Wings ~
Congress have at times voted in favor Of the right Of
petition but we will be very careful not to forget
that at other times they have not done so, and that
they have both directly and indirectly voted against
il. Some of them have 4" lodged the question al
together Their course has been such as cannot
fail to convince every candid observer that their
votes on this question have been either way, just
as policy dictated, thus plainly showing that il is
not matter Of practical and real principle with
them to secure this right. It gives us pleasure to
know that among them there few honorable
exceptions, who would sooner part with their right
hand than pursue such course. Among those few
are Messrs. Adams and Giddings. II is painful
fact that less than half dozen Of the Northern
wings in Congress have invariably stood up boldly
and manfuly in their places in defence OF the right
Of petition Now, sir, as indefatgable as those few
have been, do you suppose that even they have
done oH ia their poteer to sustain this right'
But leaving this branch of the subject let us now
what the efforts of the Northern wings in Con.
gress have accomplished Is the right of petition
sustained' No Has il been No Is il proba.
bic that il will be until it is done by the liberty par
tyr No. Perhaps You will say that it would have
been done, had not the Northern "locofocos" voted
against it. You may think so, but am far from
believing it. If the democrats had voted for it, the
wings would have voted ugnins, it, 1t is settled
policy with the leaders Of the wing aud democratic
parties, for those Of one party to openly court the
South and coverily coax the North, while those of
the other party ostensibly court the North but vet
are covertly pledged the South or else the lead.
ers of both bow " in humble subsection to the will
of slavery, and thus menny sacrifice the rights of
the North, while, until If late, they have managed !
TO keep the confidence of unsuspccling but iniu.
red people. So it will be seen that il would have
been considered better policy BY majority Of the
Northern wings in Congress TO have voted against
the right Of petition had the democrats voted for it,
On the other hand, suppose we admit that the wings
have really done all in their power 10 sustain this |
right, does not Prore thai he ichg party is unable
and incompetent 10 sustain snered rights and
oSgh therefore 10 be superseded By haf cam
We have now arrived at point where it may be
properly asked what might the Northern wings
have done more than they have done /? In the first
place, 1t should have been their privilege as il was
heiI duty to have viewed this right as a matter of
vital importance, which, if can Judge from ac-
ions, was not the In the next place, if the
Northern wings in Congress had zealously followed
he example of Messrs Adams * Giddings, the right
would have been established long ago. Only make
he south know that the north is really in earnest to
'noy her rights, and there will be no more trouble
Had, then, those wings been strenuous in efforts to
ustain the right Of petition, the southern wings
would have yielded. But alas, the northern wings
lare 60 further than to make so much of show
IS they think will save their bacon at home. while
hey hoPeSto do the same at the south. In the third
lace the wings might have circulated petitions a
nong the people, instead of leaving this for few ,
eaous and worthy abotionsts to do. In the fourth
lace, the wings might have brought this subject
eiore their national and state conventions. In the
lh place, they might have forced it upon the last
xtra session of Congress, instead of which they
hmely submitted to policy, and said nothing about
t. In the sixth place, they might be doing some ,
hing about ii in Congress nO'o In the seventh !
lace, enough has been said show that the north
rn wings In Congress have done but very little 10 j
ns,ain the right of petition.
Next week, by your continued indulgence, will !,
lake an effort to show that the liberty party move
tent does not go directly to aid The locolocos'
Yours, most respectfully, ,
rattleboro, Feb. 20, ls43