The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-23
From The True Wesleyan.
Voting.

A report was circulated In Vermont,
that the Wesleyan Discipline required all
oar men TO vote with the Liberty Party ;
and on that account, Clay Party man
IA Freewill Baplisl) and "a Van Buren,
Party u,an, {, Methodist Episcopal } with
great emphasis, asserted that every man $
vote should be FREE, and unlrammeiled
by seclarian creeds, &c. And yet they
both are in bondage to political pro-s'ave-
~ sects, who will disown then, If they
do not vote with their party night or
wrong Let them try it once, by voting
the Liberty Ticket, and see if their ola
party will not use the party whip. Which
is the worst--lo he bound TO Sacery
party, by political trammels, or to be
bound to The Liberty Party, by moral
principle, expressed IN religious creed
The above report, however, Is false !;
but if II we're true, our vote would be as
free as theirs; and in one sense as much
freer as liberty is treer than slavery
The spirit of liberty will lead our men
away trom the slavery parties, whether
our creed does or not Yea, and common
sense will teach US that voting with kem
is voting for slavery; or at least, Is neg
leclin2 10 vote against 1t; while votInS
qgsM the Liberty Party is voting JOr lber-
". This little act is greater III lis eliectS
than any or all our other acts Al alsc's
the rights and interests of God and man
t,r time aud elernily, far beyond What we
can think Of Every sincere Christian
abolnonist, when he sees that slavery
must be pu. down by law, aud that "t
other party will do it, except the A'OeTf3
Party, must Of necessity join them unless
the seeming interests Of his church, and lis
attending influences keep him back, al
they may. if his church Is pro-slavery.-
But as the seeming, as well as real inter
esls Of our connection favor the same OBJ
iect, we expect our members VIII haV'
every inducemenl to vote Tor just men
men in favor of equity, equal rights to al
men; SO that if the Liberty Party is bull
upon moral principle, and the other TIVE
on the injustice of slavery, our re''glo'
will bind US 10 the Liberty Party In INT
state, as we'll as in the church..
The great excuse for pro- slavery vot
mo IS, that the North can do nothing
against slavery. But it is believed b.
some Of the wisest aud best men In tn
nation, that the North can, by direct an'
indirect means, destroy the whole system
speedily. These men are better lniorme
on this point than their opponents the.
have labored hard and suffered much $
and all for whom and for what? Nc
for themselves, nor for Office, but for tn
slaves, and for The principles OF Jusllc
and mercy.
MIR Stewart, of N, Y, was off red tn
nomination for Governor instead OF M
Seward by a party who could secure HI
election but he chose rather to sut1er "a
fiction with the Liberty Party, than
enjoy the pleasures of sin Tor a season 5
and he is fair sample of the rest OF th'
heroic band OF patriotic philanthroplS's-
They sacrifice office, honor, money eas'
and even life itself, for principles as pur
and immutable as the throne OF God
Are not they more worthy OF our vot
than the unprincipled, partlzan demi
gogues, who sustain slavery, and sacrlhC
The interest of the nation, TO promote tt
interest of party. Is 1t safe or wise, f(
us 10 trust our rights aud Interests IN II
hands of men who trample the rights ar
interests of nearly three millions Of OF
counlrymen under foot, for the sake
their own emolument? Surely, II th'
could promote their own personal al
party interests by sacrificing ours TN
wonld do il. BETA SIGMA.
The Peculiar Institutions