Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-05-24
THE FREEMAN ON ANNEXATION.

ihc IIcenlan says tnat OWcr papers nave (nllS)'
represented Mr.. Clay's letter on annexation just as
did the Freeman 1t might have added the North
Star to its list and probabya dozen more Locofoco
newspapers. We'll, sir, there is not criminal in
the world who could not say that other men have
been as criminal as he--but would that be good
defence? The fact that Messrs. Clay and Van Blu
rem agree in one point has led to the loose asser-
| ton of general agreement between them but of
what weight are such assertions against the letters
themselves? Let the Freeman publish them, and
then its readers will see for themselves. Let it
show that Mr. Clay not only is against annexation
no,o, but that he expresses his opinion against it
upon grounds which will joreuer be as strong as
they now are. Let it show that Mr.. Van Buren, is
committed-by his own language, and by the adj
missions of his frends-to 20 for annexation as
soon as majority of Congress shall be fori These
are the facts and to mslead the North--to conceal
the facts from the opponents of nnnexation--is 10
help annexation. by the course it has commenced,
the Freeman is helping that accursed plot, and help
ing it more efficiently, too, than were it to come out
as an open advocate of it. BY keeping its readers
in the dark-by leading them to oppose Mr.. Clay
upon whose election the defeat of annexation de-
pends-by iomcntng divisions, and thus aiding at
the North the supporters of Martin Van Buren, who
is pledged for annexation-this ms-called Green
Mountain Freeman is doing the work of the slave
ocracy.
In contrast to the miserable misrepresentation of
the Freeman, we give our readers the following
from paper which is an anti slavery paper. 1t is
from the editor Of the National Anti Slavery STAN
dard -
have read about dvo columns of his IVAN Buren,s1 letter
with admiration of its ability, aud with hearty concurrence
the sounduoss aud business Of Of that portion. ut
professions aud with his admirable arguments shockc and
gused mo- When the period Of cuye action arrives says
he the considerations taken may lost the
WEIGHT they at present possess il the estimation of the pa
tune arse to 1ccl materially not 10 chunsc the whole
lie opinion infje test of right wrong But this
not al the writer undertakes to lead public opinion into dis
regard of all that he had deliberately urged He tells the coun-
Try that the condition which all his imposing and solemn
ectons be aside, is persistence part of
Mexico to Texas shall produce conviction of
majority Of the people that the permanent welfare
lutte safety of ALL make necessary that the proposed
had beioe said Nothing extensively known,
than that Texas was wesicd from Mexico through the nsu
mentality of citizens of the United States. Equally is
that this done in direct contravcnon of
our Goveament to prevent our citizens from engaging in this
enterprise It. T,, ,,. ,o.. NJ. w.. r,....., ..,.,,
ciy of his Government Obviously justification
ting fulfil our treaty obligations toward Mexico by restraining
suio or p h ag now " iF N9T ne a'es ,
ton now, will he two, three, five years hence and
lawos citizens foreign Adventures and freebootor may
ring periods ustiuby 1--WE continuing unable to RESTRAIN
them, certainly should under Mr. Van Bun0 carry
against Mexico conjunction with the Texans, and thus
co, which Mr. Van Buren, tells might and would Justify
nexation all hazards If this be plain and papabo
tempt to pevcr public opinion, seduce our citizens from their
duty and to encourage acknowledged crime agans neghory
and friendly State know not what is If it be the most
contemplate dupcy and esus then there such thing
is moral distinctions, aud virtue is but nume
TIM NtfIn
the people should become convinced that they Texas
Mexico should perssn reclining it, though compelled to that
pesance by our wrong and majority of Congress
should concur with the people in the that
if, charge of the responsible duties of President
hold be employ the Executive power carry
to full and fair effect the wishes of majority Of tho people Of
the existing sates thus consnionay and soomny
e PLATO English choose me President with view Of get
get il for you, 'BE THE CONSEQUENCES WHAT THEY
al look upon cny letter satisfactory, He is afraid,
STAKEHOLDER as he Is 70 name shANERf' while Van Buren,
the WORLD that to annex Texas viii be 10 for
he appears this letter, should have glad
have more Of the phantopst and reiormer still,
cannot deny that upon tho WHOLE the letter appears
sactory 1t carefully written Van Bu;cn's, but
the height of heaven above IN honesty lately declared
aton would support him sooner than would Mr. Clay if he
either for it, yneomted against it, did then
but that both in favor of it, feared hoy were. Ii
the declarations before had been reversed and Clay had
fully redeemed pledge thus given Which, may add my
conduct has for many years given"
| we leave the freeman TO defend ITSELF and 10
answer the Standard-if it can; while to all hon.
est antislavery men we say-hero is leading man
of your own ranks, who had determined to oppose
Mr.. Clay and support Mr. Van Buren,, in case the
first not committed against annexation and the
latter was their positions reversed, and he sup
ports Clay. Can you do any better? Is there a
sane anti-slavery man who thinks Birney can get a
single electoral vote; or that the third party can
possibly do any thing more than to divide the Wings,
(nine-tenths of whom are anti-savery,) and thus
help Fan Buren,? We know there are some who
will say No; and they are third party leaders
broken down and disappointed office holders and
Office seekers, who, having nothing to hope for from
the Wings or Locos, stake their desperate fortunes
on the rise of a new party; but we believe their
words belle their judgments if they say so,