Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-07-26

and prevent all the evil could in the world.
ana shall continue to do so while live in H.
MS principle am bound 10 carry ~ the polls
as well as every where else. If Slavery or an
ii-Slavery was to be the direct, predominant,
and absorbing issue in political contest the sue
cess OF one candidate being the overthrow, and
OF the other, the consolidation Of the system,
men indeed 1t would be grossly and Lhamefully
Inconsistent Tor prolessed aboIitonist, for any
reason, to vote Tor the pro-slavery candidate
but when the existence and non-pXistence OF
slavery IS not the direct issue, but another qtes-
non, which has most important hearing up
on The prospective destiny of this institution in
our country, then The consistent abolitionist
must make his election in view of the real is
sue, and contribute In the success of that can
didatc who will make the most favorable dispo-
sillon OF the great question. do no more en-
hnrSe, or IN The least cuuntenancc Mr. Claws
slaveholding when | vote for him for the rea-
sons above stated, than | should endorse or
connienance Mr. Birney's or Mr. Smiths senti-
ments or practices Oh The subject of religion.
by voting for them because thew are abolition
lists. But am not acting out the reprobaied
doctrine ol choosing the least Of two evils and
MOI ON the sale principle of choosing neither?
| thlnk not. ! choose positive good in this
case; and more, | choose the greatest possible
good within my reach. do what in me lies.
To avert great and threatening evil, in the on
~ way in which my effort can he effective. If
we should wait until we found candidate en-.
tIIey uneXcepiionable in every respect, before
casting our vote for him, through fear of en-
dorslng what is wrong, il would be exceeding
ly rare in this imperfect state, that we should
leel It our duty 10 60 TO the polls at all. We
should virtually disfranchse ourselves.
But Mr. Clay, Shareholder as he is, has given
abundant evidence through a long life nv ma-
ny public declarations and acts that he il AT
least no friend to slavery, and would take earn
esty hold of any scheme which he would see
to be practicable and peaceabIe for lis removal
am not without hope Of yet seeing him be-
lore he dies, an ardent advocate OF universal
emancipation. ! am aware he is opposed TO
the present abolition movements, and am sorry
for il; but he is honestly opposed to u.s. and |
think when he comes better TO understand the
views and purposes of the great body of anti
slavery men at the north, he will think better
OF us and sympalhze in our feelings and doings
against slavery.
But IL is asked again, how can Christian
vote Tor man so morally corrupt as Henry
Clay? ! pu but little confidence in the repre-
sensations of mans character by exasperated
political opponents, whose interest is 10 magni-
~ his defects aud hide his excellencics. That
Henry Clay in years past has been deeply in
iecled with the fashionable vices of the society
where he has lived is probably too true, and If
he suffers for them now il is but Just relrihu-
ton, OF which he has no right 10 complain;
but that Mr. fHaY's character is and Hus
been ior years Ms good as that of most OF our
public men, who are not protesting Christians,
do honestly believe; and when | hear such
pure and spotless men as John Quincy Adams
and Theodore Fielinghuysen, who have for
years been in habits OF the closest political and
nj mi ~ L..
triot and as a man in he most euIogistic strains
! cannot be made to believe by the exaggerated
representations of his political enemies, that he
Is so very corrupt. IL does not stand TO rea-
son. IL is moral Inconsistency which cannot
be believed. These representations are all
made for political effect, and not from any re-
gard TO the public morals. NJ Clay has never
been Incorporate, am assured on The best au-
thority; and in all his relations as citizen.
husband and father, he is unexcepionabe and
exemplary. As a master he is proverbially
kind and indugent.
Unless we act upon the principle that we will
vote for no man who is moi christian, it is not
easy TO draw the line defining the extent OF
moral qualification which ought to satisfy our
conscience. II is clearly, however, the chris
tian's duty to withhold his vote from every
man obviously wanting in moral integrity, and
voluntarily addicted to vice. To put Mr. CLAW
in This class, would, have no doubt be foul
Islander. In the coming contest, however, the
great issue which | think have fairly stated.
sinks the respective candidates as individuals
very much out OF the way. They are to be
regarded rather as the opponents of two wide
ly different and adverse policies. II one sue
ceeds, we are to have a slavcholding nation
whose inhabitants rebellcd from their riphtful
government, and conquered free country, and
cursed its virgin soil by planting upon it the
ionlest system OF oppression on which the sun
ever shone, yoked 10 the car of our destiny;
by which act we shall plunge into bloody war
-saddled with debt of amounted millions
1.-The organic law of our glorious consi-
tuition destroyed---the political relations he
tween the north and south changed-the de-
mon of slavery placed on a throne "hgh and
lifted up" where he can laugh to scorn our pu-
ny efforts To delhrone him; and our country
made kissing and hy-word throughout the
civilized world. And all this to please the I'M
blushlng advocates of perpetual slavery, and a
set Of nnprincipled and selfish spectators in
Texas land script. The motion OF the south
ern anneXaiionisls is open and avowed. IL is
tn extend and secure the ''peruliar institutions -
The correspondence connected with the late
Treaty negotiations shows this beyond contrib
dlciion. This Uietc Of The question cannot be
blinded.
II the other succeeds, then all the evils we
have enumerated will be averted. We shall
have no Texas, no war, no change in the CON
siituiion, no national disgrace, and the peculiar
institution In our country lett as it is, 10 stand
or fall upon the territory il has already cursed
and wlhercd and exhausted of life, subject to
the influences which are now successfully as
sailing it. What hater Of slavery--what lover
OF his country can hesitate as to the course of
his duty in this crsis'
Thus have mperfectly set forth my views
of personal duty in the approaching canvass.
! ieli 1t due to friends with whom have po-
liicaly acted for some time past TO be thus
frank, that they might understand and appreci-
ate my motives. | wish 10 act openly and hon
eslly in all that do, and refrain from every