Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-08-02

every whcreelsc. If Slavery or Anti Slavery was to
be the direct, predominant, and absorbing issue in a
political contest, the success of one candidate being
the overthrow, and of the other, this consolidation of
the system, then indeed it woul be grossly and
shamciully inconsistent for a protested aboonlst,
for any reason 10 vote fo the pro slavery candidate
But when the existence and non existence of slavery
is not the direct ISSUE but another question: which has
most important bearing upon the prospective des
tiny OF thus institution in our country, then the consis
tent nb0llionst must make his election view of the
real issue, and contribute 10 the of hatcandi
date who will make the most favorable disposition of
the great question do endorse, in the least
countenance Mr. Cay's savcholding by voting for him
for the reasons above st,ed than should endorse and
countcnance Mr.. l'rney's or Mr.. Smith sentiments
and practices on the subject of religion by voting for
them because they are abolitionsts But am not
acting out the reprobated doctrine Of choosing the
least Of two evils and not the safe principle of
choosing neither? think not. ! choose a positive
good in this case; and more choose the greatest
possible good within my reach do what in me lies
10 avert very great aud threatening evil in the only
way in which my effort can be effective II we should
wait until we found candidate entirely uneycepon-
abe in every respect, before casting our vote for him.
through fear of endorsing wha, is wrong II woud:be
exceedingly rare in this imperfect state that we
should feel it our duty to go TO the polls at all. We
should virtually dsfranchse ourselves.
But Mr.. Clay, STAKEHOLDER as he is, has given alum.
dan evidence, through long life, by many public
declarations and acts, that he is at least no friend to
slavery and would take earnestly hold of any scheme
which he should see TO be practicable and peaccable
,or us removal. am not wihou' nope Oh YET seeing
HIM before he dies an ardent advocate of universal
emancipation. am aware that he is opposed TO the
present aool'lon movements, ana am sorry Tor IL
but he is honestly opposed TO us, and think when
ne becomes oe'cr 10 understand me views ana pur
poses Of the great body OF ant-savery men at the
north, he will think better of u.s. and sympalhlze IN
our feelings ana dolngs against slavery.
iut II Is asked again, now can CHRISTIAN Vo'e ior
man so morally corrupt as Henry Clay? lput but
little conf ipnCC the rpDrpSeDatlDDS OF n man
character ny eNasperaleu Poli'cnl opponents whose
h,ercs! IL Is 10 magnify ms detects, ana hlde ms eN
Ce"ences. nh' Iienry Gay II, years past nas oeei'
ue'p'y hecttd WIN the iaShionnole wees OIL inc so'i
e'ywr'e nc mas 'ou, Is ptonapy pu' 100 iue, ana
ne suffers ior theni now IL Is out ret'ou'ion oi
whlch ne mas no right TO Complain but mat Mr.;
Gay scnaracet noe ana mas Oeen ior years as eoou
as tlat oil most OF our publc men, VINO are not PRO-
tossing Christians do honestly believe: and when
near su'h pure ana spo,ess men as John oWncy
ADAMS anu lne, dofc fte'inghuyscn, VINO nave ioI
years oeea IN hao's oil me closest pnical ana socia
intimacy WIN nm, speak OF hun AS pdirt0t ana as
man IN the most eu'ogistc strains cannot be maze
10 oelieve ny the exaggerated representations OF MS
pol''ca' enemies mat ne Is so very corrupt IL does
h3, SAM 10 reason. ~ Is moral inconsistency
Wnlch cannot ne believed 1hcse representations arc
all made ior political effect AMI not from any regard
10 inc puoic morals. Mr. Gay mas never cen IN
!elPe l am assured on he oes nu'nolnyi anu
~ an ms re'i'ohs as cHen' husband anu miner,
I've 10 u"cNctp"p"h'ie "nu tAenpIary' AS n'us'c'
ne is prov Toa'iV KIND ana indulgeni.
uhiess we ac' upon tue prlnclpe ma! we WIN VOC
ior no ma VINO IS not christian IL Is NOT easy 10
Draw inc ne dehhl9 the extent III moral qia0ncn'oh
which 'eht to sa'lsiy our conscience J, is Clear
however, me CHRISTIAN ui'y 10 wl'hho'u 'is No,e
from every man obviously wanting IN moral ihugri
W. ana voluntarily addicted I" wee lopu Hr' LAY
IN ths cns'' would, nave no dono, re Io', sI'Ii
aer: IN IN coming contest however me Srcat issue
whcn 'mlN nave ihir,y stated sNs 'he respective
rliulua'es as "otttooiS very "luch out VI ''c way
ihey are 10 he regarded rather as the opponents OIL
two widely different and adverse policies. II one
succeeds, we are 10 haNea s'avehodng na''oh whose
ihhao'ahts rehcilrd from 'heir rgI'in governments
ana conquered free country, and cursed lis virgin
soil oy pantng upon 1t Tie fouiest syseA' OF oppres
so" y" WHICH hc sun ever sohe yoked 10 'hc c"i VI