Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-10-11

vote them into power in order to prevent the tri~
umph ofa ticket still more Objectionable. Nav
you honor one devH in order to prevent others from
honOrng two!
1t is important here to inquire, whether Won cor
justify yourselves in voting for any candidate, but
on the grounds of his intrinsic quaifcatio for the
office, to which the people seek to elevate him1--
What do you think, Beloved, of the doctrine, that
it is just and proper to elevate man to the Presi-
dency Of the United States, who is morally unwor~
thy ofthe high station, because he happens to be
associated with somebody on the same ticket who
is acknowledged to be every way worthy of the
Vice Presidency Is not this the principle invol1
we'd in your conduct, we will vote a knave into the
highest seat of power because he is associated with
a saint Where can you find, my Christian
friends, a principle of political action more radi-
cay anti-chrlstian and censurable, than this, that
we will overlook in question so important as the
election of the highest officer in the nation the IN
trt71sic merit of the candidate; we will be deter
mined by the adventurous circumstance, whether
the candidate for subordinate station will be an
upright and able incumbent? When when will
you learn that it is wiser, safer, more honorable
not to vote at all thar TO give the sanction of your
example IN favor of such principle of political
action, as this? Besides, what claim has any man
to your vote for the Vice Presidency who has Civ
en- his influence to the election of stakeholder s.
dueliSt! Is it right for him thus to strengthen
the hands of the evil doer? Vas he naoued 10 do
1t BY The Holy Ghost and The great principles Of
everlasting righteousness? Is it not evident. thai
in taking this step he is acting the part of Jehosa-
plat, who joined affinity with Acab, and that to
him may be applied the language of the prophet to
that king of Judah, "Shouldst thou help the un-
godly and love them that hate the Lord?o The
truth is, that when devoted Christian gives his
influence as nominee to the Vice Presidency in
favor of the election of wicked man to the Presi-
hDn Gtn., l.,
interests of religion and humanity. And is it right
for you to sustain him in this act of wrong-doings
Will you make his sin your own by Joining with
him in this wicked affinity with Ahab? Will YOU
thus encourage him to repeat the otfences3 Is it
not your duty, rather, to rebuke his wickedness by
Withholding from him your votes!
| And would further remark that this compro-
mise of principle in choosing between two moral
evils, and in voting for men of prohigate charac-
ter in order to secure the election of worthy cam
ddates is fatal to the purity of politics. No de-
partment of human life stands in greater need Of
being thoroughly evangelical than this. From men
of all parties the cry is raised and reiterated that
the politics of this country have become exten-
sively and fearfully corrupt. And why has profit
gacy poured so full stream into this department.
of human action. Il it not from the notorious
fact, that the citizens of this country have for years
been acting on the principle that we are bound 10
choose between two moral evils' This is the no.
Iitical morality which they have with singular ash
duty nculcaied for years both by precept and ex-
ample. Can that man ever be thoroughly reform
ed, who practices lying in order to prevent others
from stealng;or uses profane language in order ia
deter others from engaging in open robbery? And
can the department of politics ever be thoroughfy
evangelical and reformed MS long as the doctrine
prevails, that men must vote for sabbath
shareholders and duelists, in order to prevent 9th.
ers from voting for assassns and annexationists?
| HaV NJ how and bo, t.. r.
utation, that the election of an immoral man is a
moral eU'II That his example Is deleterious to
the dearest of all national interests the interest Of
religion and morality? And is it not evident. that
you cannot invest such man with the insignia Of
official power without corrupting society through
the influence of his profigate examples? And do
you seriously hope to reform the wide department
fpolncs by elevatng men already profligate!
Are you ignorant of the painful and weestabIish-
ed fact, that the possession of power corupts iye
where it reforms one? Are not good men some
times corrupted & ruined by its all fascinating in
huence: What, then, must be its influence on
men all ready immoral in practice and corrupt id
heart: And are you seriously and honestly con-
fdent of evangelzing this great department or hi-
man life, by plhcing under the corrupting infiu-
ence oil official dignity and power, men, who are
already the slaves of corruption and profigacy!
Is it as reasonable to suppose that bad men will
evangze and reform the department of politics.
rs tnaC poHtIcai power VIII make nrOtilgate men
still more prohigate? Would YOU think Of reform.
ing the church and ministry by the admission Of
uncovered and wicked members? Danish, then,
the deusive and deleterious hope that the politis
cal character OF the nation he purified and e4-
allied by filling the high places of authority with
profigate ncunbents. How Obvious then, and
ho,C indispensable the importance Of choosing none
bat able and good men, the very best men in com-
munity to act in the high and responsible charac-
ter of rulers of the people. lfyoh make this the
rule from which you will never depart, Won will
still ind, that through the corrupting influence of
power on good men, there will be, as great an
amount of prof gacy, as he nation can bear with
with safety for the high and most sacred interests
OF Free Government. But if you allow your.
selves to vote for wicked men IN order to prevent
the election of others more wicked or because
they may be associated with candidates of high
moral qualifications, you will find profIgacy al
ocGyS dominant in the imposing walks Of political
Effective it an aliOWed inlet and il will swell to
an overlooking and all destructive deuge.
(To BE coNTINUED.)