Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-10-11
From the Christian freeman.
What a man does By another he does
by HIMSELF

IN courts OF law, than in all the transactions OF life
1t is so just and plain principle OF human con-
duct, that no man, it is presumed, has the temerl-
ty TO call it in qestion. BY way Of example, sup
posing that one man hires, or, in any manner, in
stgates another man do some criminal act, such
as murder robbery, or theft, the common voice of
mankind would apply this maxim to the person so
hiring or instigating another, aud say that, mas
mach as he caused the ofense to be committed he !
committed it himself Hewas the chief offender,
and should suffer the fuirSuAaf the penalty
The chief priests and elders, Who covehanted with
the betruyer of the Redeemer for thirty pieces of
silver, were no less guilty, to say the least, than
the false-hearted disci pie whom they gated
and when he remorsefully threw down the price
Of innocent blood before them, they took counsel
and appropriated it to pious use, thinking thus
to relieve their accusing consclences.
But supposing man. instead of hiring the crime
committed, actually paying a guid pro quo, in mo-
ney, or any other valuable consideration, just
clothes another with the power requisite 10 the
commission OF the crime by personal act of any
kind, does this alter the case? Not at ALL He
would still be the principal offender But, suppo-
sing man, by certain course of conduct should
Icounenance, commend, and honor another man,
notorious for practices that are condemned by
the Divine law, and destructive to the peace and
welfare of society; there certainly could be no in
Justice done to this man in chasing him as parta
cepS criminiS, partaker in the crimes which he
thus countenances, aids, and abets in another Ifl
in some of our towns there should be found gang
| of gamblers, known as such, far and near, and
some man in the town, church nember or
otherwise should declare 1t to be his intention to
vote for one of the gamblerS-the ShreWdeSt and
adroitest ofthem-for the highest office in the gift
of the town, would it be unnst to say ofthat man,
how strong soever his avowed opposition to gam
bling, that he publicly counteuances, aids & abets
gamblers, and shares their guilt nasmuch as he
does his utmost to give them currency in society,
to pOpuarze their crme, to invest them with
kind Of faCitiouS nportance,to Obliterate from the
public heart Just abhorrence of the vice, and re-
commend the billiard table, the card-pack, and the
dice box to public favor? ..
We come now to apply the foregoing maxim,
thus illustrated, to the conduct of those citizens,
who avow it, as their fixed determination, to vote
for Henry Clay or James K. Polk, for the Pres-
dency of these United States Without bringing
to view any other of the gross crimes against God
and man, which stain the character Of at least, one
of these men, we fix upon their position and senti-
ments on the subject Of sIagery,L
! 1t is probably known to every voter in the Uni
ted States, that both these men are Shareholders
champions Of the slave-system, practical tyrants,
each holding large number ofmen, women and
children, as chattel slaves, goods, property, and
using them not as human beings, but as beasts of
burden. All their precious, God-given rights they
trample down, and doom them to grovel in de-
graduation the most abject and cherries. They
have torn from their heads the crown of honor and
glory which their Heavenly Father put on, s. sub
stituted yOkes and chains They both advocate
and defend the slavery which they practce-Mr.
Clay declaring it to be the duty of the Federal Co.
vernment to protect it, and Mr.. Polk avowing it to
be the true policy of the nation to extend its slave
dominion. Each is pledged openly, should he he
elected, to use the executive functions for its per-
peuatIon, and prostitute the government OF the
nation to the eXecrahe uses ola slaveholding poll
cy. If the citizens of the United States will con-
fer upon them the power, they will use the power
thus conferred, for the purpose of strengthening
and consolidating the awful system of human hon
dage, which fills the land with blood and shame
The proofs on this point, both from thrlr past his
tory and present sentiments, are sadly conclusive,
and have long been before our readers. We might
/ fill columns with quotations from their writings,
showing their entire SubServienCy to their fellow
Shareholders, and consequently hostility to liberty.
Who can doubt that both would eagerly welcome
Texas to the Union? for even Mr.. Clay says he
Should be glad to see it, annexed, and has mo
personal objection to the measure, soon as it
can be conSnmnated with safety TO the Union
! Who can doubt that they would resist the repeal
of the national slave laws, by which thousands Of
slaves are held in bondage, and the character of
the nation covered with disgrace? Who can doubt
slave trade, and WELD the mighty functions of The
Federal Government for the defense of American
slavery, and, consequent overthrow of American
i liberty?
The man, then, who votes for either of these
practical and theoretical tyrants, does his utmost
to strengthen and perpeuate slavery. They pro-
mise to use the power which he, in common with
many Others, would bestow, for this very end: thew
are pledged to do the work of slavery, and resist
the advances of liberty. n
IT, then, it be true that 'what man does by an
other, he does by himseIf,' and Henry Clay and
James X. Polk would, in all human probability
use the political power ofthe chief magstracy, 10
give permanence and perpetuity TO American
siavery-how is it possible for man to vote for
either Of these candidates, without mourning the
awful guilt involved in thsr crimes against human
ty, and sharing with them the dreadful RESPONSE
blty! t-..t..
Who, then, will thus involve himself in the
guilt and disgrace of what hash justly defined
to be the sum of all vlainies?' Will the Chris
tian do it, and think to appear spotless before the
God of the oppressed, when he shall make inqu-
silon for blood? A Christian cast his ballot in fa-
vor of system of gigantic wckedness-the very
transcript of hell;' which snatches the bible fron
millions of our countrymen and covers them thick
with the shadows of death; which makes merchan-
disc of immortality, and turns back the gushing
streams of Calvary: which effectually expunges
the whole Decalogue, and involves the rankest
atheism? Will Christian do all this with the
] ballot entrusted to him to be used for the promo
ton OF human happiness and the upbulding of the
Kingdom of Heaven on earth? The bare suppo-
stiou sayors of infidety Religionists, Wing and
] Democratic religionist will do it. in their frenzed
/ rebellion against the King Of Nations, but Chris