Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-07-19

ject of religion, by voting for them because they
are abolitionsts. But em not acting out the rep
rotated doctrine Of choosing the least of two evils
and not on the safe principle of choosing aelher
1 think not. choose positive good In IRIS case
and more choose the greatest possible good with
in my reach. | do what in me lies, to avert very
great and threatening evil, IN the ony way IN
which nv effort can be effective. Ii we should
wait until we found candidate entirely uneXcep-
tionable in every respect, before casting our vote
for him, through fear of endorsing what is wrong,
it would be exceedingly in this imperfect state,
that should feel it duty to go to tho polls at
all. We should virtually disfranchise ourselves.
But Mr.. Clay, STAKEHOLDER as he is, has given a.
bundant 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 peaceable for its removal. am not without
hope of yet seeing him before he dies, an ardent
advocate of universal emancipation. am aware
he is opposed to the present abolition movements,
and am sorry for it but he is honestly opposed to
U.S. and think when he comes better to understand
the views and purposes of the great BODY OF anu
slavery men at the north, he will think better OF u.s.
and sympathize in our feelings and dolngs against
slavery.
But it is asked again. how can Christian vote
for man so morally corrupt as Henry Clay?
put but little confidence in the representations of
mans character by exasperated political opponents
whose interest is to magnify his defects and hide
his excellencies. That Henry Clay in years past
has been deeply infected with the fashionable vices
of the society where he has lived is probably but
too true, and if he suffers for them it is but
retrbution, Of which he has no right to complain
but that Mr.. Clay's character is and has been
Tor years good that of most Of our public men,
who are not protesting Christians, do honestly
believe; and when hear such pure and spotless
men John Quincy Adams and Theodore Ere
rbo bo,o b,hi Of
the closest political and social intimacy with him,
speak Of him as patriot and as a man in the most
eulogistc strains, | cannot be made to believe by
the exaggerated representations of his political
enemies that he is SO very corrupt 1t does not
stand to reason. 1t is moral Inconsistency which
cannot be believed. These representations are all
made for political effect, and not from any regard
to the public morals. Mr.. Clay has never been in
temperate, am assured on the best authority and
in all his relations a citizen, husband and father
he is uneXceptionable and exemplary. AS mas
ter he is proverbially kind and indulgent
Unless we act upon the principle that we will
vote for no man who is not christian it is not
easy to draw the line defining the extent Of moral
qualification which ought to satisfy our conscience
1t is clear, however, the christians duty to with
hold his vote from every man obviously wanting in
moral integrity, and voluntarily addicted to vice..
To put Mr.. Clay in this class, would, | have no
doubt be a foul SANDER In the coming contest,
however, the great issue WHICH lllllh nave lulT-
ly stated, sinks the respective candidates as md
uiduaiS very much out of the way. They are TO
be regarded rather as the opponents Of two widely
different and adverse policies. If one succeeds,
we are to have Slaveholding nation whose inhab
itants rebeed from their rightful government, and
conquered free country, aud cursed its virgin soil
by planting upon it the foulest system of 0ppres-
sion on which the sun ever shone, yoled to the
of our destiny: by which act we shall plunge into
a bloody war, sadded with debt Of amounted
millions-the organic law of our glorious constitu-
ton destroyed-the political relations between tie
north and south changed-the demon of slavery
placed upon throne high and Lifted up" where
he can laugh to scorn our puny efforts to dethrone
him; and our country made a Kissing and by
word throughout the civilized world. And all this
to please the unblushng advocates of perpetual
slavery, and set of unprincipled and selfish spec
ulators in Texas land scrip The notion of the
southern annexatlonists is open and avowed. 1t is
to extend and secure the "pecuiar institution
The correspondence connected with tie late Trea-
ty negotiations shows this beyond contradiction
This rie,C Of the question cannot be blindcd
If the other succeeds, then all the evils we have
enumerated will be averted. We shall have no
Texas, no war, no change in the constitution, no
national disgrace, and the peculiar institution in
our country left it is, to stand or fall upon the
territory it has already cursed and withered and
exhausted of life, subject TO the influences which
are now successfully assailing it. What hater of
slavery-what lover of his country can Hesitate as
to the course of duty in this crisis?
Thus have imperfectly set forth my views of
personal duty in the approaching canvass. l felt
it due to friends with whom have politically acted
for time paste be thus frank, that they might
understand and appreciate my motives. l wish to
act openly and honestly in all that do, and refrain
from every thing which should feel ashamed to
be proclaimed from the house-tops. great and
fearful crisis in my opinion, presses upon this ma
ton. wish SO to discharge my duty in reference
to it as to preserve conscience void of offence to-
wards God and man.
CHARLES DURCHARD.