Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-06-21
THE FIR E Z NJ AN.
For the Green Mountain Freeman
Letter from Hon, VIM, ?, Briggs,

LtUICI lIUul llOll' W Ill, J., DIlHSS'
Nh. EDIToR:-Your readers would not have
been troubled with this communication but for the
naked malignity of the Waterman, Who could
suppose that men protesting to be the organs of
great party in an enlightened State, could so far
forget what is due to themselves and to the public
press of the country, as to he willing to magn
fellow-being (much less a subscrber) with such
unmerted vtuperaton and abuse; and that, mere
ly from the fact that such felow-beng has seen
fit to express his views upon the signs of the
times and the alarming portents in our political
horizon. How ungenerOus and assassn-like it is
for for the controllers Of the presses and types of
the land to hurl the envenomed shafts of party
malignity at the humble citizen who has no such
weapons to WELD in his defence.
And again; how unfair, not to say insulting, it
is to the readers Of that Journal, to publish let
ter under an editorial of ISLANDERS refuted" with
out giving those readers the original, to enable
them TO be the judges of the fact whether the one
is SANDER" and the other '' ISLANDERS refuted."
Such a course is unworthy of them and of the
cause they profess to support.
But intelligent beings act from motive; and those
editors could give reason for their course in this
matter. They dare not give the original TO their
readers, from the fear that those readers, like
themselves, must believe that there is much more
truth than poetry in the facts and differences there
in contained.
And can only say to those editors that, if they
decline to study and practise the principles of the
golden rule, they would do well to pay more at.
tenton to that common but expressive maxim
that " moasses catches more flies than vinegar"
have no more ambition for newspaper con.
fict with Mr. Phelps than he can have for a war.
fare with me. | will, however, say to that gentle
man, if he chooses, can carry the war " into AT
rica;" can tell him what was written on the bach
my first nomination to the Senate, and why tina
nomination was long withheld, and who causet
it to be withheld, and | can tell the senator, fur
ther, that it is law of nature that no animal
much less man, can move on matter without eav
ing an impress or track, and that my eyes hav
seen the foot prints of several gentlemen. But il
these matters forbear, because bear and forbea
was the noblest motto of heather antiquity.
What | said Of Mr.. Phelps in my letter to Col
Miller, was said as being necessarily incident t
the history ] was recitng of " Men, Things an
Opinions" Mr.. Phelps is, as all who know hir
understand, an adept in the science of speci;
pleading, and as such, has been compelled to con
feSS what he could not avoid, and therefore he
admitted the main fact in the issue; and that j
that he did inform the southern Senators that
was an abOlihoniSt Yet he says, in his letter
the Waterman, &c Mr. Briggs evidently wishes
be understood that he has been prosecuted for opl
ions sake. There is not the ightest foundatic
for such a pretence." Now, let me ask the Log
elan (for this he claims to beg why he gave sue
information to the hotspurs of the south. Was
to court for me their confidence and respect?
was it not rather to draw down upon my het
their detestation and vengeance for professir
such sentiments! Yet, no persecution for opinion
sake;-oh no, not the "slightest pretence." He
beautiful is logic when combined with SENATOR
wisdom. Whether Mr.. Phelps made the decl
ration which was so universally conceded to hi
about going without the niger on his back,
wholly mmaterial to the issue, except so far as
tends to show that he has no ant-slavery sen
ments lurking in his bosom. And should a Ju
of twelve freehoders be empanneed at Monp
ler to try the fact whether such declaration W
or was not made, should have no fear of the W
dict, even if the editors of the Waterman shot
constitute a portion of the PANEL. But will S
to the Hon. Senator, in all sincerity and cand
that if he wishes or expects reelection, he mi
expect and agree to carry, not one only, but
entire number of 'human chattes' which shall
found in the district and territories. How \
Phelps can declare, in the face of the public, Il
he knows nothing of petition which was sent
from this place and signed by citizens of both
lticaI parties, addressed to the Wing senators q
praying for the confirmation Of Col, Hyde, is m