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


hese rights are AMONG the prime objects OF civil
government.
And in the exercise of the elective franchise are
we not under the most sacred obligations TO renuef
to God the things that are Gods as we'll as unto
Caesar the things that are C@sar's! Is any man
qualified to sway the sceptre of office safely Tor
the great moral interests of his country, who does
not recognize and acknowledge civil government
to be the ordinance of God, and that he mas SUI
preme rights and most sacred interests at stake IN
its administration? How obvious, then the I'M
portance, how imperative the obligation OF retus-
ing to vote wicked man into power. VIII such
a man be careful not to trampe on the high pre-
negatives of Jehovah? Will he studiously recon-
mend that legislation at home, and maintain that
diplomatic intercourse abroad which Is IN strict
acc rdance with the great principles OF justice and
righteousness, revealed in the Word of Cod
Will he be prompt and faithful to frown on the
profaneness and profit gacy of those within the
reach of his official influence? Will such man
conScientiousy labor to wresG the sabbath from
those extensive and destructive ordinations,
which have been legalized by government! WIN
he devoutly and cheerfuly recognize the agency
of God in the prosperity and adversely OF the ma,
tion9 Will he call the people to mourning and
Iamentation for their national sins3 Will he fill
all the offices at his disposal with such individuals
only as in civil matters will render unto God the
things that are Gods! You know that an immor-
al man cannot be depended on to do these things.
You know that he is not to be trusted with the
honor and rights of God as the great benevolent
founder and source of civil g9yeEnms IS WY VI
as w M III M M lhan FIJI galng
iH nav N gFeaf vs. A5Es ss 81 5ealI; YOU
~ YOU
...Iii " y ey0iiF NlsiSa fear oYp.sopl.
y Sd re vote for VT elQs beFalase
tm aoingth yea ARE fals Es itAafr
say there are pecuniary interests at stake; such as
free trade and sub-treasury, or tariff and ma
tional bank, which justify you in giving your vote
for men, whose characters are obnoxious to the
charge of immortality. What is this but saying,
that the great interests of national morality are of
less moment than the pecuniary interests OF the
nation? What is it but maintaining that we are
under higher obligations to promote national
wealth than we are to promote national moral
rectitude? What profigate prosperity is pretera-
bic to righteous -and that in those ca ses,
where we are obliged to sacrifice the pecunlary
interests of the nation or its morality, we are to
choose the dollar and cent side of the alternative
as one of paramount importance!
Tell me-tell me in the fear Of God-whether
national morality is second to any national inter-
est whatever And are you willing, for tho sake
of free trade and sub treasury or for the sake OF
a tariff and national bank to risk the high interests
of national morality3 Are you willing to stand
forth the advocates of the doctrine, that righteous
ness far less than an extensive and active COM
merce and OVERLOOKING wealth, exalts naton?-
And is this the great lesson you are willing to
incucate on your children, and on your chldren's
children, as the prime article of your creed, re-
speeding the means of national prosperity! You
start back from the Incubation of this doctrine,
derived from the poluting school of a remorseles
and rampant infdelity.
You have Moth hardihood and impiety to avow
such sentiments before your children or before the
world. Why then do you vote for immoral ru-
lers? Has not God assured you that when the
wicked bear rule the people mourn?" Do you
not vote for such men because you are willing that
society should endure the deleterious influence of
their immoraItes, for the sake of the pecunary
and party advantages which you and others may
rece;Se from the election? You are willing that
rpra virtue should languish and the community
ltcomo corrupt by the example of those in author
ny, provided your party may be in the ascendan-
icy, and pecuniary prosperity come in upon the ma
ton sc like the waves of the seal"
Are these the principles on which you are going
to act in the choice of rulers? On these principles
you do act, when, for the sake of free trade and
a sub treasury or for the sake of tariff or nation
al bank, you are willing to give your influence to
the election of profane swearers, gamblers, sab
bath-bre akers Shareholders or duelists. How can
you hold up your heads before the world, while
acting on these principles? What confidence can
you have that your ways are pleasing to God, that
your prayers are acceptable, while you are DELHI
eratey sacrificing on the altar of gain, the great
principles of everlasting righteousness; the high
and sacred interests of fundamental national mo-
rality?
9th. 1t is sinful to vote for immoral men, be-
cause it jeopardizos the interests of the poor and
oppressed of the country. IF any part off nation
stand in need of righteous and impartial legisIa-
ton, the poor and oppressed have a strong and
peculiar claim to- the sympathy and aid of govern
ment. That it is one of the prime and indlspen-
sable objects of government to protect this class
from insult and wrong is evident from the Word
of God. jeremiah, 21st: 10" o house of Da-
vd, thus saith the Lord, execute judgment in the
morning and deliver him that is spoiled out Of the
hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire,
and burn that none can quench it, because of the
evil of your doings." Is not that government
wckedy defective, which neglects to mete out the
justice which the poor and spoiled may demand
as a rght1 The Bible is full of maedictlons a.
ganst both governments and individuals that neg
lect and trample down the poor and needy. They
are as much entitled to liberty the proudest ar
istocracy of the land. TO deny them the full pro-
lection ofrghteous and impartal laws is open anc
papable injustice, an act of fragrant and undenia
BILE immortality. Civil government was especially
ordained for the protection of the weak agains
the arrogance and domination fthe strong. Lib
erty, with protection in the exercise of liberty, il
each individuals right and to deprive one of th
liberty, except for the commission of crime, is as
really sinful as violently to plumber man Of hi