The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-06

put III oppoSitioh ~ JUS views vi Jul Hioia
obligations. 1t is standard which you do
not, and ought not to come up to. The
duties of life are numerous and varied not
single and exclusive. Men have private
and personal interests which they must and
should protect, while they are not forgetful
of the claims of humanity, and the interests
of the great family of man.
/ Hence, / come to the conclusion that
any great and efficient party which shall
act right upon the subject of slavery will
have other interests also in charge and
that when the power of Federal Govern.
ment shall stand opposed to the injustice
and wrongs Of the slave system, it will be
exercised by party seeking other objects
also beside this, or by parties, conflicting in
deed upon other subjects; but under the In>
fuence of a correct public sentiment acting
rightly and unitedly upon this.
But it may be said that the progress of
public sentiment is too slow without some
other means Of exciting The public mind
than the mere discussion of the subject
Now, setting aside the tendency which |
believe dependent party action would have
TO prejudice mems minds, and retard instead
of promoting the progress of truth, what
has been the fact in this State? As early
as 1886 the Legislature passed resolutions
declaring it the duty of Congress TO abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia and the
Territories by a decisive majority. The
memorial to Congress Of 1887, and the acts
of the Legislature since that time, of kim
dred character, are so well known that they
ba oIr oil 70 Vat
all effected without such Independent ac-
ton and consider the assumption that
such action would hasten that corr ection of
public sentiment admitted to be necessary,
as wholly gratuitous.
conclude then that shall continue
steadfast, 'unwavering and uncompromis-
Ing" in my adherence to the Wing party,
even to voting for Mr.. Clay as President.
And shall do so not only ms a citizen. but
as an Abolitionist. For believe the Wings
} must and will take care to protect and car
} ry along with them this great interest; not
: because party policy might require it-not
for the purpose of flattering and conciliating
Third Party men-but because it Is right
they should do so-because consistency
with their professed principles requires it
because their own interest dictates ii, and
because humanity and religion demand it
at their hands.
, Believing then, as | do, that the Wing
party in Vermont, and might add, in
Massachusetts is already essentially ants
slavery in its sentiments. and that it is be-
coming more and more decidedly such in
all the free States; would do no act tend
ing 10 disunite it and impair its energies.
! am MIR. Editor, proteciionist. And |
: believe The Wings even of Vermont, have
not yet, as a body, appreciated how essen
TALLY and vitality important the protective
principle is. TO their interests and prosperi-
ty. But should not look upon myself as
acting wisely TO draw off from their ranks.
and join new party whose only avowed
purpose was TO carry out the protective
principle, when | knew that the tendency
of that course would be to weaken the
Wing party, in whom all the hopes pro-
lection must repose, and to strengthen that
party which is in the main, avowardly hos
, tile to it. Rather would |. even though i
, deemed this the only political principle
worth contending for, continue TO sustain
and support that party which has indeed
other objects in view, but which, am fully
assured will not be forgetful of this. And
| would act upon precisely the same prn-
ciple in regard to the ti-Slavery enter
: prize.
know that where darkness so thick and
} deep has settled over the public mind as il
has done in relation TO this subject, its dis
pension is not the work of moment-ihat
Loft Inf cd hob
| its of thought and feeling can be no other
than the work Of time. | therefore wait,
: anSiously indeed, but with full confidence
and hope, the progress of the correction of
: public sentiment in the free States, which
: shall array the general government in oppo-
, sition to the impolicy and injustice of The
slave system, which shall clear Congress
from the responsibility Of unfolding it, and
J thus strip it of its main encouragement and
support-and that further correction in the
; slaveholding States, (if it be not indeed a
simultaneous work. which shall result in
complete and universal emancipation.
: have now. Mr.. Editor, answered your
r inquiries in what | deemed the fairest man.
ner, by stating what would be my course
: in that position Of things which consider
ed would most probably occur and per =
l ceive that can not como up TO your STAN
r dard. In the first place we doubtless differ
; in regard to the degree ofimportance which
S should be attached 10 the general political
= interests of the country. In the next place
would not, upon the mere theory that il
s ,Oas 'crOng 10 support a stakeholder, give my
= vote in such way that it should tell for a
I STAKEHOLDER still, while it was also sacrific-
: ing not only the interest of the slave, but all
:, the other political interests of the country
' interests which deem indeed subordi-
nate, but still ,oorth preserving.
In conclusion, if it can be a matter of
: any interest or consequence TO know what
n l would do in the possible or supposable
o case, that could see rational probability
e that my vote would aid in effecting a remo-
J. val of the whitening curse of slavery from