Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-09-20
Voice from the Democracy,

Voice from the Democracy,
We have seen nothing during the campaign so
cogent in argument, and encouraging IN aspect, as
the hand Hill below, which has just been issued
with the signature of more than ONE HUN
DRIED DEMOCRATS, in Madison county, N.
York. Let honest Democrats of New England
read it, and weigh its arguments, and do likewise
CIRCULAR.
To the Democrats ofthe County Of Madison.
Brethren-We are and have long been, MEM
hers of the Democratic party. We believed that
death alone could terminate our connection with
it. Its advocacy of universal suffrage its jealousy
of National Bank; its views respecting the pub
lie lands; and its desire for liberal commercial
intercourse between this and the other nations of
the earth: all meet our warmest appreciation In
word, its principles are our principles; and the
longer we have tried them, the more we love them.
Such being our strong attachment to our party and
its principles, the question, which we shall quit
the party or its princpes-s deeply painful. But
deeply painful as it is it is nevertheless forced up
on us; and we cannot escape from giving it prac-
tal answer.
The National Democratic convention threw
aside Mr.. Van Buren, for the sole reason that he
would not yield to all the demands of the slave
power of the South; and took up Mr.. Polk, in his
stead, for the sole reason that he would. The de-
votion of Mr.. Dallas to that same power was also
the sole reason for preferring him to the other
gentlemen named for the yce-presdency. Now,
in view of these facts, it is certainly not too much
to say, that our party has, through this convention,
abandoned its princip les-has ceased to be party
for the protection and restoration ofhuman rights
and has become party for the destruction of those
rights-has ceased to be party for liberty, and
has become party for slavery.
1t is obviously true, then, that the question,
whether we shall abandon our party, or abandon
its prnci pies, is forced upon us. How shall this
question be answered by us? If we endorse the
a.
thereby cling to our party. If we re ect those do
ings as our deep hatred of slavery prompts us to
do, we thereby cling to its principles. Brethren,
our choice is made; answer is upon our lips.
From the bottom of our hearts say:-"Much
as we love our party, we love its principles more;
and now that it has abandoned the cause OF free
dom, we abandon it; and never will we return to
it, until it returns to the cause of freedom when
our party shall return from the service OF slavery
to the service of freedom, we will gladly return to
it," And now what we shall do In the mean time
what we shall do while the Democratic party
continues false to the principles of liberty-is an
other question, demanding an answer from u.s.
Shall we be active or idle? Shall we witness, I'M
moved, the encroachments of the slave power?-
or shall we resist them? To be idle, at such a
CRISIS, is to be traitorous to God and man. We
must therefore, be active. Shall we Join the Whg
party ?-That would be to join party opposed to
all our principles, and party no less devoted than
the Democratic to slavery. That the Wing party
is moving heaven and earth to elect to the chief
magistracy of this nation that artfuI, naughty slave
holder, who has done more than any other fifty
men in it, to extend and perpetuate the dominion
of slavery, is reason enough why no lover of free
dom can consistently join it. Shall we join the
Liberty party? Why not? Because, say some
that party is not committed to our views on such
subjects as bank, an Independent treasury, tar
if True, it is not. But neither is it committed
to the opposite, nor to any, views on those sub
jects. The Liberty party goes at the present
for but one thing-and that is, for a triumph ove
slavery. 1t asks all, however great the diversity
of their views in relation to money questions. tC
assist them in achieving this triumph. This ACHE
we'd, and the Liberty party men will be as ready az
ourselves to turn their attention to these mlno
questions. Were our own children in slavery, W.
should then be glad to have the question of human
rights-of human liberty-dsposed of, before any
time was consumed with mere money questions
But, other mems children are in slavery; and thei
children are dear to their hearts ours are tC
our hearts. We see no good reason, then, why
we should not join the Liberty party-a party des
tined, in our judgment, to q speedy triumPh anc
to the honor of accomplishing immense and un
mingled good to mankind. Have many of you
come to the conclusion, that it is your duty to ol
this party? We affcconately invite all of yo
who have, and all of you who are at all inclined t.
it, to meet with us in county convention, to b.
held at MorrisVllle the 21st day OF Septembe
next at / O'Clock, A. M.
Let us meet there 10 mingle our sympathies, 8
to minge our counsels, and to agree upon meas
ures which shall tend to bring this county and thi
congressional district, to declare themselves, a
the approaching election, on the side of the slave
of righteousness and of liberty. We trust tina
some of the able and eloquent men in our siste
counties, who have recently quit the Democrat
party for the same reason that we have quit II
will meet with on this occasion.
Come, brother democrats of the county OF Mad
sou come to this convention-come by thousands
We shall most heartily welcome all that come
but we shall denounce none that stay away. If an
of you refuse to help US in the holy cause of free
DOM we shall not thereby be moved to anger, bu
to sorrow We shall not despair of your CONVEX
sion; but we shall patiently wait to see you by gu
side.
Madison County, August, 1914.
(Signed)-John G. Curtis, Ralph |. Gates, a
C. Stone, Edwin G. Messenger, John |. Dorm,
Woodcoek, and one hundred Others