Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-16
ADDRESS.
TO THE FREEMEN OF THE FIRST CON-
GRESSlONAL DISTRICT IN VERMONT.

dress YOU we desire on this occasion, briefly to
invite your attention to some of the prominent
questions you are to decide at the approaching
State and Presidential elections.
He who does not perceive in the crisis now ra-
pidly fastening to lis contamination, principles
involved which are elevated far above the mer-
cenary conflicts Of interested partisans bitterly
contendng merely to suppant each other and OBJ
tain that place and power, which each accuses the
other with seeking principles as widely separa-
ted from those as right is from wrong, IT'S good is
from ey-principles coeyal with mans creation
on which the foundation of our republican edifce
rests, and reaching forward in their results to the
latest posterty is not even an ordinary, much less
close, observer Of the times in which we i've
In few short weeks, under the obligations of an
oath, we are to perform solemn duty having
direct hearing either for or against, not only those
vital principles on which every free government is
based, but as0those Of morality, honesty, virtue.
While the Liberty party would seek to pro-
mote and sustain the true financial economical and
industrial interests Of the WhoIe country, and ex-s
tend their beueGts to every individual under the
influence of her laws, yet they cannot he blind or
inscusibe TO the fact that so desirable an object
ran noVor 10 att}ined without 6r5t recognizing and
respecting the natural and inaenabc rights of
each and all of her individual members. The
right to enjoy is condition precedent to actual
enjoyment; for all experience teaches that so long
as the former remains unacknoWledgcd, the latter
will be withheld. While, therefore, we would
by no means neglect these interests, yet the real
advocates OF liberty make the repeal OF cruel, OPP
preSsve aud unequal IaW8-the aooIIIon OF that
giant monopoly Wlich aPPFoPrlateS 10 ltScII the
bodies and souls OF millions OF our fellow men
in short the abolition of slavery and savcholding
IN all Its numerous rahl1lcatIons, an OBJECT PARA
MOUNT TO any mere partial or selfish scheme Of
party Or individual aggrandizement dgnfcd by
their friends with the name of "measures," but
never deserving the appeation of principles.
Let US now contemplate fora moment the issue
presented by the Two parties III this country call
ing themselves by way of distinction, Wing and
Democratic. The people at the north have been
induced to believe that the question at issue was
whether National bank ora Sub-trcasnry should
constitute and Income the regulator of the currcn-
cY-wheher Iailf for protection or ono for
revenue with mere incidental protection should
be estabItahed--"hethor ENecutlYepoWo and pat
ronagG to6GlhGr, W'll the veto should OF should
not be restfalnct &c Inc changes are constant
ly rung on these questions in the free States while
the true issue Is Kept oQt Of sight and artfuy con-
ceaed, for the exceeding good reason that if gen
orally known and understood by northern frcemen
lt.Would instantly In one section OF the Union,
like thoflta SIrocco of the desert, forever blast
the political prospects Of both parties. These
parties stand alike at the extreme verge of this
precipce-they hear the rumbllng OF the volcanic
fires OF Liberty beneath ard around them, ready to
burst, as 1t will ereong, with rcslstess power
while neither dare accuse the other, for both are
equally guilty. W hat Is bank or sub-trcasury,
tariff or distribution but the mere incidental
questions from " hIeh each party Is STRIVING to
manufacture political capital at the expense OF the
other| while Slavery, Its extension and perpetu-
alton, with all itf dark and horrible features, is
the paramount oWcci-the all absorbing question
when governs the movements OF Doth, Lake a
trghu and relentless monster IRON shod and pan
oPlled with boots aud spurs and scourge, Vt sits
astrlde both the leading parties and VIII ere long
preclptato their ruin unless they timely unite Their
efforts with the increasing hosts OF liberty IN put
ting period to his existence
These, fellow citizens, are not lotions but stub
born realities. ii you dlsheIleYe the lncontestI-
bic evidence on winch they are based, discard
them. But If you believe, then we simply ask
you to act upon your CONVICTION OF truth at the
@ialIot box, that great lever of political reform.-
Who and 10y what power, we ask, were the nom
nations of those parties made and controlled at
Baltimore last May: What but the CALLING dlcta-
ton of slavehodng oYerseers and the Texas
scheme sacrificed Mr. Van Buron to James X
Polk and George M. Dallas! Says the leading
and ablcst organ of the democratic party alWaSh
ington, "Nerer 1c7S there more real0fhGb(e prog
Of the porer Of the S3Nth 1chen upjteG, than IN
controlling the nomination Of thai Convention. u
But did not the same power also 'conroI' the
nomination of Henry Clay? Says another south
ern and leading savchodng organ,
''Nlr Clay is Southencr. Virginian by birth
citizen Of a sIagehoIding State and slavehold
er himself. All his connections by blood and mar
rage are in the slayehodiug states, which mus
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