Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-07-26
NJ WRER so.


lers whose lahors have been devoted to the exten.
sion and prosperity of the system Of slavery
What is familiar to many persons, but not so to
all-since our Constitution was adopted, one grand
object of which was to secure the blessings of Lib
erty to the people and posterity, the Congress Of
our own choosing have added to the Union seven
new sluveholdng states and have increased the
pecuniary burdens of the free States in nearly the
same proportion. And now rhe executive power
of the nation is all devoted to the annexation Of
Texas to the Union, with all its nterlnnabie sla-
very thereby leaving to the free states one alter
native only: that is, to dissolve the Union, or DO
forever Subservent to the control of the slave pow
err; and be taxed at their pleasure for the support
of slavery. We have all along bowed too submis-
svely to the control of the slave power in the Sc
lection of candidates Cor President and Vice Pres-
dent, and we have cheerfulIy helped elect them
to office. So long as we continue thus submissive
to their will and power, they will have and enjoy,
as they have for many years past, three times their
just proportion of all important and lucrative off,
ces, and of the Presidential patronage; including
the treaty spulatons, fostering slave labor, to the
detrnent of the labor of our free citizens.
Here would impress one fact upon the mind
and memory of every reader. There has been no
time since the adoption of the Constitution of the
U. S. when the slave power, or slave states, could
have procured the passage of any law Of Congress
sustaining slavery if they had obtained no aid from
the free states. There has been no time when the
free states have not been able, if agreed among
themselves, to elect President and Vice Presi-
dent, who would have patronized their free la
Dor, and guarded their rights against the encroach
mens of the slave power. And now, this very
year, the free states have right to elect so many
Electors of President and Vice President, as to
give fortyseven as maj ority ofelectoraf votes o.
yer all the slaves states can give. Thus power 10
ENTHUSIASTICALLY in the free states if they will
exercise it, TO relieve themselves, from and after
the Sd day of March next, from all encroachments
of the slave power, and from all burdens Of sup
porting slavery; and all the sinfufness and re-
proach of our national patronage of that institu-
ton, and cast that sinfulness and reproach upon
the individual states where slavery exists.
ask the freemen Of the free states, Why will
you not do it? Whether you call yourselves wings
or democrats to what principle of our constitution
or Declaration of Independence, do you adhere, in
your party distinctions? What desirable result of
your party strife do you seek, except the Offices
which emanate from the President? And how few
of you will share any Office worth your labor to
obtain it? And what more can the shareholders
ask ofyou, in subservency to their views and Pc
cuIiGr institutions, than for you to help them elect
the nominee OF either of your parties?
suggestion has already been made about tho
influence of the shareholders in selecting candid
ates for President and Vice President. l discov-
err nothing in the nomination of Henry Clay at the
present time obnoxious TO that remark, unless it
he, that his principles and habits promise more for
the support of slavery, probably, than those of any
other Wing who would be apt to obtain an elec-
ton. He was born and grew up in their own
slave region; he brought along with him that dom
ineering spirit which begins in early life, by con-
troll Of slaves, and terminates in that spirit of du
cling which he has so often manifested in ripper
years He owns large slave property, tor which
he claims the same protection which other slave
holders claim fer theirs. Not only this pecuniary
interest," hut the principles in favor of slavery and
of its perpetuty, which he has frequently asserted
in public speeches, furnish the most sure pledge
that, if he elected all his acts, where slavery
was concerned, would be in favor of slavery. And
the universal opposition of slave labor to free la
Dor, exclude all reasonable expectation of his
proving to be the man whom the free states ought
to desire for President
With regard to the nomination of James X.
Polk, there is some evidence of that the dictate
| of shareholders altogether 1t appears certain,
| Mr.. Van Buren, would have been the choice of the
free states-indeed of Inc majority of the conven-
ton. The old objection, of his being pledged a
ganst aboshing slavery in the District Of Column
hia stood against him; yet his opposition to an
| immediate annexation of Texas to the IN, SO
we'll satisfied the Democrats of the free States,
that they were pretty well agreed in him for their
candidate. But his notions about Texas would
not do for the south, and the shareholders in the
convention took the subject into their own hands,
and did as they always do--obtained help enough
from the free states TO carry the question in favor
of slavery Thus they procured the nomination
of James X. Polk, knowing him ready cooked and
| primcd, to follow President Tyler in hurryug
| Texas into the Union with all her slavery; and
this at the hs card Of an immediate war with Mex
leo, and possibly with other powers as friendly to
| Nht m In