Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-09-27

may select men OF notorious immortality, who have
not the fear of God before their eyes, to act in the
solemn and responsible capacity of judges and of
fcers ofthe people? Let the passage he produced,
# it is any where to be found in the w ord of God.
No such instructions are found in that blessed vol
une, and if, on any occasion, you arrogate to.
yourself the right and assume the responsibility of
voting for wicked men, you do it without the sane
ton Of " thus saiEhtbe, LQrd,urdo itsin 0pep and
NJ fB M hfaa
~ ffustng 70 aq y M EsIF n! Z q s6rH
INSs iha ieaftal FebeIIion agAig Got.
" M sf 1leiAQ eF II ng and safe pathway which, .
liz 81 I'd hnf cast UP and leveled, for the
broad and destructive road along which prof1igate
politicians are leading the thoughtless and infatu-
ated multitude. Do you imagine that even the
present crisis, important it is, jusfes you in a.
hardening the great landmarks, established by
Jehovah himself, as beacons TO direct your courses
for the dimly Pickering and uncertain lights of po-
litica expedency? When you reject the great
principles laid down in the Word of God to govern
your conduct in the choice of rulers, you must
permit OTHERS to do the same. The inevitable
consequence will be, that each party and each in
dividua left to the vague and dangerous teachings
of eXpediency will find well established and
common principles OF action; and uniofs in regard
to the moral interests of politics will be matter
of stern and rigid mpossibility. If the morale of
pOIllCS IL w Dc uGlEIHlHleu ny Will uldy appear
to parties the pecunlary interests of nation, no
permanent standard of right and wrong can lie es-
tablished. You will find yourselfo out on the broad
and turbulent ocean of unce tainIy, drifting in con-
trary directions, destined never to reach the same
haven; and doomed to miss the port of permanent
political rectltude and prosperity. The Bible rule
is the safest and the best in all circumstances.
Every other is vague, uncertain, dangerous, chan
cling with every election and accommodating itself
equally well to the honest convictions of opposing
political parties. Each party will honestly believe
that the rule is on its side, and each by abandon
ing the inspired rule will be sure to go wrong.
Sd. Foting for immoral men is sinful because it
affords darect encouragement 10 1lce. Whenever
a proane swearer, gambler, duelist, or a slave
holder is elected to Office his vices and crimes be-
come matters of public federation. The higher
the office, the more these crimes are brought out
to public view, and the more extensive is the tole
ration exercised in regard to Them And what is
the effect on the public mind of this widespread
and deliberate liberation? 1t familarses tie pub
fLc conscience to vice, btlnts and yitaLes its pa-
ceptions of its enormy. encourages profgae
politicians to aim at the high places Of power, ami
incuIcaes on the nation this awful lesson that the
intellectual qualifications Of candidate must take
precedence of his moral attributes in govern
ment of aw 1t teaches that capacity of intellect
is superior to moral Uirue; and this lesson of rank
infdelty, nculcated and enforced by your exam
pie at the polls protects crime from the righteous
severity of merited reproof and cheers it onward
in its aims for power with the highest assurances
and the brightest prospects of success. 1t gives
vice passport every where. 1t makes it respecta-
bic in erery society for who would think Of with
holding from the man, whom a nation of Chris
tans delights to honor, the polite and cordial at
t tenlons of his own family? Would you dare to
D elevate TO office the remorsetess debauchee of
=. your own neighborhood, who spends his life in
d multiplying the victims of seduction and misery
5 Why would you not9 Because you know that the
= elevation of such man office would be virtu-
e al endorsement of his character; and because, by
: giving INN importance, the influence of the act
would be appalling to the great interests of reli-
n gion and fundamental morality. What, then,
n must the moral influence be of elevating slave
It holders, gamblers and dueIists to the high places
= of power in the nationF Is not the bestowment OF
office to be regarded, all times, as special fa-
n vor, bestowed by the people on the incumbents
l. and is not this especially the when the presi-
e dency Of the United States is the gift conferred?-
d And can you be so far infatuated as to bestow thi,
o special honor upon gambler or a STAKEHOLDER, OF
l. a duest, without toreseeing, that it is a specia
: endorsement of his good character, and marked
e encouragement to profigacy and crme If wick
ed men, are worthy of the highest offices and hon
IS ors of the nation: what has vice TO fear? VIVA
il greater encouragement, what higher counte
j. nance can 1t demand? If your ntelects are no
IF fearfuIly darkened and your conscience scared al
n with hot lron you must perceive that the eeva
rs ton of an immoral man TO Office strengthens tn
S. hands of the ungodly and gives counlenance I,
If crime. 10 vote for such man is violation O
J. Christian obIigation-is a sin against God.
j. 4tb. To Uote for immoral men is sinful 6ecaus
such men ocW aeucr regard and protect The right
l. God an the administration CfgoUernment.
,r Civil government is of divine origin. Inspira
l. ton has assured US that "be powers that be arr
J. ordained of God, and whatsoever resisteh h
l. power, ressteth the ordinance of God" This il
al the doctrine Of revealed religion fcivi govern,
b. ment is of divine appointment, if it is an ordi
of nance Of God, it should be so administered as no
,r to infringe the divine law, and as not to rea,
t. the authority and obligations of Christianity, l.
lie not well established and ncontrovertible truth
tn that God has rights at stake in the administration
of civil government.
NIL Has he not laid down in his Word the funda
= mental principles of all righteous and proper leg
lsation? Has he not Instituted Sabbath OF
49, which human governments are forbidden to plac,
'o the foot of voations Has he not name whicl
" human governments are sacredly bound to venc
;; rate' Has he not an agency in the affairs Of ma
= tonS which rulers are bound 10 recognize ant
u, acknowledge Has he not laid down great prin
III ciples Of righteousness, which he requires us Il
~ observe in all our intercourse with foreign nations
81 Are there not great national sins officially commit
y ted by those in authority, and ratified hy the REQ
at PIE by continuing the perpetrators in power ne
OF handing an ingenious aud public humiliation be
~ fore God? These things deeply affect the right
az and the hODors of JeboVah; thew deepIV Gamer