Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-03-23
From the Christian Freeman.
Who are the TOrieS2

At the time Of the revolution, the friends of A.
mercan independence were denounced as Wings
their opponents as tories. The Wings contend
ed for the natural equality of men, and for the
right of the people to throw off oppressive govern
nents, and substitute in their stead such should
recognize and protect, rather than deny and de-
stroy the rights of the citizen. The tories on the
other hand, contended as earnestly for kngly pre-
negatives, branded the patriots of '76 as traitors,
affirmed that the civil authority vested in the king
was ordained of God, and denounced all who re-
sisted it as resisting the ordinance of God, and
should therefore receive unto themselves damna-
ton. Thus the questions at issue between the
Wings and tories are mainly two
1st Are all men created equal, as is asserted in
the Declaration of Independence? and
2nd. Have people a RICH to resist the existing
political society, by force, as the Wings of'76 did
resist, in their attempt to throw off the yoke of
King George, and establish an independent sove-
reignty?
Upon both of these questions, the Wings main
tanned the affirmative-the tories, the negative
Time passed on--the independence of the colonies
was acheved-the troubled elements became calm
and in the new order of things old party lines
were Of necessity, nearly or quite obliterated.-
We heard no more of Wings and tories-demo-
crat and federalist became the rallying words of
political cIanshp-and subsequently, democrat and
Wing. 1t becomes question OF some interest,
them is the Whiggery Of the present day the
Whiggery of '76? In answering this question, let
us bear in mind the principles maintained by the
Wings of '76-the equality of all men before the
government, and the right of the people, to sub
vert, by force, existing political institutions, and
to throw off their allegiance to the powers that
be-" Now look at the positions maintained by
the Wings of the present day, upon these very
principles. We summon their pet writer, Juni-
US" to give testimony-and for his sentiments we
justly hold the party responsible, inasmnch as his
work, to which we refer was published at the in
stgaton of the party, and has been endorsed by
its presses, and circulated by its committees.
Concerning equality of rights, ( Junus" writes
in manner that cannot be misunderstood. In
section 25 of his pamphlet on " Political Adolf
ton" speaking of the competition which would
be created by emancipation between white and
coored aborers he says: '' 1t would certainly
seem hard to bring such suggestion to operate
against the colored race, # indeed they are enht-
led to The same right IN The same society Wib oChite
La6orerS of this country" Here it is broadly init
mated that one class of men are not entitled to the
same rights that another class is entitled to. But
in his 3lst section, Junius" is still more explicit
Says he, " While it is claimed for them that we
are bound to admit them to full equality with u.s.
when every feeling of nature reVolS at the propO-
sal, and when the grant would threaten injury to
the country, it is suitable to enquire whether they
have right to demand it at our hands: Candidy
ace do not think they haze" This is explicit Let
it be borne in mind that C MUS is here speak
ing of equality of right, the only claim which the
friends of the coored man ever made on his behalf
and that it is this equality ofright, which "Juni-
US" denies to them. We stop not NOW to argue
the point whether all men are " created equal"--
1t is sufficient for our purpose to remark that this
is the doctrine affirmed by the Wings and denied
by the tories of '76-and here is presented the
lspectacle of Wing champion maintaining tory