Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-08-07


immediate adoption of measures for It's extinction l
within their respective limits; and by electng and
appointing to public station such men ana only
such men It's openly ayow our principles, ana VIII
honestly carry out our measures,
The constitulionaty of this line OF action can
not be successfully impeached. That 1t VIII ter
inmate, if steadily pursued, in the utter overthrow
of slavery at very distant day, none WlIl doubt
We adopt it because we desire, through ana ny me
constitution, to attain the great ends Whlch tue
constitution itself proposes, the establishment OF
Justice and the security of liberty. we insist nor
here upon the opinions of some, that no slaVenold-
ing in any State of the Union is compatible with
truo and lust construction Of the constitutions; nor
upon the opinions Of others, that the Declaration
of Independence, setting forth the creed OF the ma
ton that all men are created equal and endowed
by their Creator with an inullenable right OF her-
~, must be regarded as the common law OF Amer
lea, antecedent TO and uuimpared 10y the conStItu-
ton; need we appeal to the doctrine that slave
holding is contrary to the supreme law oil the SUI
preme Ruler, preceding and controlling all human
law, and binding upon all legislatures IN the en-
acment OF laws and upon all courts IN the ao'hlh-
istration Of justice. We are willing to take our
stand upon propositions generally conceded: that
slayeh0ldlng is contrary TO natural right ana JUS
tice; that it can subss nowhere without the sane
ton and aid of positive leglsatlon; that the con
sttutlon expressly prohibits Congress from deprl-
wing any person Of liberty without due process OF
law From these propositions we deducc, by log |
ical inference, the doctrines upon which we insist
We depreca!e all discard among the States; but do
not dread dscord SO much as we do the subuga-
ton of the States and the people to the yoke OIL
the sIaveholdng oigarcliy We deprecdte the
dissolution of the Unon dreadful political ca
lamty; but if any of the States shall prefer DISCO
luton to submission to the COnstltu onal action of
the people on the subject Of slavery, we cannot
purchase their alliance by the sacrifice of lnest-
lnable rights aud the abandonment OF sacred du-
ties.
Such, fellow citizens, are our views, principles,
and bjects We invite your corporation IN the
great work of delivering our beloved country from
the evils Of slavery. No question half so lmpor-
tant that Of slavery engages the attention of the
American people. All others, in fact, dWlndle
into nsigntcance in comparison with it. The
question of slavery is, aud until it shall be settled
mustbe, the paramount moral and political ques-
ton of the day. We, at least, regard it; and,
so regdrdlng it, must subordinate every other ques
ton to it.
1t follows as necessary consequence, that we
cannot yield our political support to any party
which does not take our ground upon this ques
lion.
What then, is tho position Of the political par
ties of the country in relation to this subIect!-
One of these parties Processes to be guided by the
most liberal principles equal and exact justice
to all men" "equal rights for all men )" "niex-
ible opposition to oppresson," are its favorlte
mUttos. 1t claims to be the true friend OF popular
government, and assumes the name of democratic.
Among its members are doubtless many who cher
ish its professions ssacred principles and believe
that the great cause OF freedom and progress is TO
be served by promoting its ascendancy. But when
we compare the msxims of the SO called democrat
ic party with its acts its hypocrisy is plainly re-
veaIed Among its leading members Wo find the
principal Shareholders the chiefs Of the oligarchy.
1t has never scruped to sacrifice the rights of the
free States Of the people to the demands of the
slave power. Like Sir Pertnax McSycophant, it's
northern leaders believe that the great secret of
advancement lies in Glowing we'll" No serVillty
seems too gross, no self-dcgradaton too great, to
be submitted TO. They think themselves well re-
warded if the unity of the parry can be preserved
and the spoiIs Of victory secured, IT, in the dis
trIbutlon of these spo!s, they receive only the
jackall's share, they content themselves with the
reflection that little is better than nothing. They
doclailh loudly against all monopolles, all special
privileges, all entertainments personal rights
all distinctions founded upon birth, and conpen
safe themselves for these efforts Of virtue by prac
Using the vest oppression upon all their country
men in whose compilations the slightest trace oil
African derivation can be detected.
Profoundly do we revere the maXims of true
democracy; they arc identical with those of true
Christianity, in relation to the rg hts and duties o
men as citizens Aud our reverence fordom1crat
c principles is the precise measure Of our delesta
ton of the policy OF those who are permitted K
shape the action of the Democratic party. Pot
zeal concert with that party under its present lead
ership is, therefore, plainly impossible Nor d,
we entertain the hope which many, no doubt hon
eaty cherish, that the protested principles OF tbs
party will at length bring it right upon the qucs
ton Of slavery. Its protested principles have beef
the same for near halt century, and yet the sub
lection Of the party to the slave power is, at th
moment, as c0mpatG rs ever There is no pros
of oOv rlq far tlnh
ocratS whose hearts are really possessed by a gen
erous love Of liberty for all, aud by an homes
hatred of oppression, shall maniully assert the
individual independence, and refuse their supper
to the panders of slavery.
There is another party which boasts that it i
conservative in its character. Its Watchwords ar
ga tariff" ga banking SYSTEM" "thc Union as
is" Among its members, also are many since
opponents of slavery; and the party itself, seekn
aid in the attainment OF power, and anxious +
carry its lavorite measures, and bound together b
no such protested principles as secure the unit
OF the democratic party, often comedies much
their antl-slaVery views. 1t is not unwilling, |
those States and parts of States where ant-slaver
sentiment prevails, to assume an antl-slayery att
tude and claim to be all anti-slavery party Lik
the Democratic party, however, the Wing part
maintains alliances with the shareholders.
proposes in its national conventions, no actio
against slavery 1t has no antl-slavery article
its national creed Among its leaders and chan
pions in Congress and out of Congress, none al
so honored and trusted as Shareholders in practc
and in principle. Whatever the Wing part
therefore, comedies to anti-slayery, must be reu
family conceded. Its natural position is conser
alive. Its natural line of action is to mainta
things as they are. Its natural bond of union
regard for interests rather than for rights. The
are, doubtless, jealous opponents of slavery wi
are also jealous Wings; but they have not the &c
eral confidence of this party they are under Il
ban Of the Shareholders; and in any practic
anti-slavery movement, as for example, the repe
of the laws which sanction slavehodng in ii
District of Columbia would meet the determine
opposition of large and most influential sectic
of the party, not because the people of the fir