The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-16
ADDRESS OF LIBERTY MEN.

ADDRESS OF LIBERTY MEN.
The Ann Arbor (Mich.) Journal contains
the following address by twenty-four Adolf
tionists of the county of Washtenaw. All the
signers are respectable citizens. Mr.. Ed
munds has been at different periods the Abo-
liton candidate for Senator and Representa-
tive, and Mr.. Barker for Supervisor OF his
town.
The undersigned, members of the Liberty
party in the State of Michigan, (some of us
having given it our hearty cooperation and
support since its first organization,) have
been so strongly convinced of the fearful sin
Of slavery, and so deeply impressed with
we have sundred old political ties and con-
nected ourselves with party whose object
has been and is the overthrow of slavery in
our country. Political organization, if not
the only, was in our judgement, the most eff
cient means of reaching the evil which we
wished TO remove.
But a new question connected with slavery
now presents itself. The Annexation Of
Texas to this Union is strongly urged, we
fear by majority ofthe people of the slave
holding States, and is warmly advocated by
one of the political parties of the Northern
region.
Formerly our contest was with "Slavery
as it is - now we are compelled to encoun-
ter the new issue, of the extension of Slave
nv by the Annexation Of new Slave domain
to our already wide spread Territory. As
Abolitonists, DESTROYS Of the eventual de-
struction of the Slave system within our pres
ent national limits, we feel equally determined
to prevent its extension by the acquisition
of additional Slave Territory. The one is as
much our duty as the other, and if TO secure
one of these objects, we are compelled tenn
porarily to abandon the vigorous prosecution
Of the other, we do not perceive how we ex-
pose ourselves to the charge of inconsistent
cy, or why we are not strictly in the line of
our duty.
The immediate overthrow Of Slavery in the
District of Columbia, in the Territories of the
United States, or in the Slave States Of the
Union, by the direct action and influence of
the Liberty Party, it is idle TO expect. But
it may be in the power ofou party, by CIV
ing a proper direction to our votes to prevent
the annexation of Texas, and the sanction of
this government from being extended to Tex
as Slavery. To do this, however, we must
make the sacrifice Of voting for Presiden-
tial candidate who is himself STAKEHOLDER.
We must cast our suffrages for Henry Clay,
relying, as we implicitly do, on his long tried
character for integrity, for the fullflment Of
his pledge. if elected President ofthe United
States, that he will not on this question an
ticipate the will of the people, nor give his
sanction to any scheme connecting the po-
litica destinies of the two countries, that
shall not have received the general approval
Of the nation.
Influenced by the same feelings of hostility
to the extension of Slavery by the Annexation
of Texas, we might maintain our present re-
lations TO the Liberty party, and cast our
votes for Mr.. Birney. But could we do SO
with the same probable results Would it
not be casting our bread onto uncertain wa
tiers! Might it not be the means Of elecring
Mr.Polk land securing the accomplishment Of
the very object by the Slave interest, which
the Liberty party wish TO PREVENT Dare
we run such hazardl Dare we pursue
such line of action in this great crisis, as
10 render ourselves liable hereafter TO the
bitter reflection, in the event of MIR. Folks
election, the Annexation of Texas, and the
protection of this Government being extern
ded to Texas Slavery, that we could, but
/ for the pride Of the party tcoutd not prevent
this result! If we can prevent such con-
summation, and do not, who among US can
shield himself from the reproaches ofhis vio-
lated conscience?
If Mr.. Clay shall be elected to the Presi-
dency, the cause of Slavery. which it is our
great object to exterminate from our own
! land, and from the world, will not, under his
administration, be extended to a foreign
country, upheld by the power, and sanction
ed by the authority Of this nation. Enter
tanning such convictions, and feeling conf
dent that the election of Mr.. Polk would be
hailed as the grand decision of the nation.
in favor Of the immediate annexation of
Texas, and the consequent extension ofthe
dominion of slavery, under the fostering care
and protection of our own government, we do
! NOT hesitate TO avow to the world our inten-
ton of voting for Henry Clay for the next
| President of the United States.
Robert Edmunds, Saline.
Jacob B. Sumner,