Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-20
II II Il r II r. Z NJ A N
For the Freeman.

For me freeman.
MEssRs.EDIToRs:-It has been the fate of aboli-
tionists whether laboring politically or religiously
(using the common distinction) to meet at every
stage ofthelr progress, the most bitter censure and
reproach. When in accordance with the spirit
and letter of the Constitution, they have freely and
faithfully discussed the highest practical interests
of human life; the most important Of all practical
subjects within the scope OF religion or politics;
when they have ventured to revive the we'll nigh ex-
ploded doctrines ofthe declaration, they have incur
red the sore dispIeasure Of the minions of slavery,
and for their presumption they have been fero-
ciously assaulted, stoned, beaten, dragged through
the streets, and threatened with death. The bare
suspicion of abolitionism was a sufficient pretext
for rushing over the guarantees of the Constitution
and committing brutal outrages upon unoffending
citizens. When by using the freedom of the press,
the people were aroused from their long sIumber,
and the spell Of political chicanery was broken
through, and the theory and practice of slavery
laid open, then the accusation on thousands of
tongues, from the sage of the %surplice to the bab-
bier OF the grogshops waS-reckleSSneSS, madness!
At length the friends of human rights were con-
WINGED that to act etfectualIy, they must act politl-
cally-:hen they honestly Inquired how shall we
hest employ our political activities Shall we CO.
operate with the two great parti es of the day;
They knew that slavery had grown and dourished
under the control Of both those parties. 1t had
long been the ruling question in their national
'convcntions-th6y had lostered and cherished the
institution until some of our dearest rights had
been surrendered; the very pillars of liberty they
have violently assaulted; the old basis of equal
rights which our fathers laid beneath the republic
they would remove, that domestic slavery might
be substituted.
The question returned, can we act with those
parties who have thrown our country into such an
attitude, and brought distressing pecunlary embar-
easements upon us by continuing the odious sys-
TEN of American slavery. Shall we take Il course
in which we must reproach ourselves for our dis
honesty, for our adherence to wrong? Has earth
any prizes that we would buy at so dear a rate?
No, the case is plain, the necessity unavoidable
both parties are radically and essentially wrong,
and we must forSake them. The inquiry then was,
shall we withdraw from the field of political ac-
ton, and live in our private pursuits regardless of
the interests of our country? Do we owe no du-
ties to society? May we receive its numerous
benefits without making any returns? Shall we en-
Joy the blessings of its institutions, and refuse to
rally round these institutions when in jeopardy 4?
No, this would be base ingratitude, ignoble selfish
ness. lie who retlres into inactive solitude is
chargeable, SO far as his religious obligations to
others are concerned, with moral suicide. There
remained then, but one course permitted bv in
tegrlty, honor and religion, and that was, act the
ChrtSttGn ctts2en. Such were the steps which led
to the organization of the Liberty party; and tho,
1t was the result of moral principle and a pure
love OF country, 1t occasloned the same wrath and
reV'Iing which had been henped upon aboIitIon-
lists at every step in their former history. The
newspaper presses poured out their torrents of a.
ouse and talsehoods, representing the party as
rant ana hopeless; abolitionism as diving awav
Just gaspIng for breath. But these true Liberty
men were conscious that they had oetaken the
groud hrst occupied by Washington himself. that
slavery was the creature of law, and should be
aoohSneu by law; they appealed to the baIlot-box,
not the oayonet; having faith in the power of rea-
son, truth and virtue, they expect to achieve n
III SOIIOuS imam any vet
arising from from force and arms.' Thew have
pursued their course undismaymed by the clamor
ana forgery of surrounding partizans, facing all
manner of obloquy and violence up to the
present period. And now for breaking away from
the pro-slavery parties and keeping clear of the
false and treacherous lights of their blind leaders,
and following the poIestar of their holy princi-
pies and doing their duty faithfully as Christian
freemen, they are held responsible for all the evils
which may result to the country from the election
OF James K. Polk. The wings arrive at this con-
cluslon by the same process of logical irr4sitabIe
reasoning as that of the man, who said Moses was
the meekest man, JOB was the most patient man,
therefore-David killed Goliah.
We are told, that if Texasis admitted the res