Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-03
SPEECH OF BERIAH GREEN,
Delivered at the Liberty Convention, holden at

Delivered at the Liberty Convention, holden at
Albany, Dec. 4th, 1874.
Mr.. GREEN remarked, that he did not think
best to speak further at present, on the subject of
the Native American party, so much having al
ready been said on that subject !; and especially
as he should take the same side with his friend
Gerrit Smith, who had just taken his seat.
Mr. Green went on in some general remarks
in substance as follows 1t has been common
(said Mr. g. for those who refuse to unite with
us as friends of freedom to call us men of ONE
IDEA, This they had done by way of reproach,
and to show us up as shallow minded men-nen
of contracted views and circumscribed philan-
thropy, &c. He was willing to admit that we
are men of"One Idea" and from its magical in
huence we would not escape. 1t was grand,
comprehensive, and woodworking idea--an
idea that regards man as man-that honors and
respects him as man-and looks upon all as G.
quail brethren-an idea that will not be restrain
ed in its action and influence until the brother
hood of the race is acknowledged, and inaliena-
bic and equal rights are accorded to each indi-
diyidual ofthat brotherhood.
1t has now come to pass Continued the
speaker) that after due reflection, therefore, we
are willing to adopt this Grand One Idea as the
protested friends of freedom, and wear it as our
insignia We are however, to make wide dis
tincton between an idea and mere notion we
must make wide distinction between what is
merely incidental and what is essential In this
light Abolitionists abhor and oppose the Chattel
principle, in its application to man, as the essen
tial element and evil of Slavery Against this
essential element we all stand pledged; and
herein is the grand difference between us and
those who suppose themselves as much opposed
to slavery as any body-but they look at the in
cidents of Slavery-we at its elementary princi-
pies; and affirm (said Mr. g. that in so doing
these very individuals become themselves the vic
Tins of the chattel principle in the loss of their
manhood They prefer the Incidental to the es-
sential. This class Of persons are always sac
ri6cng the means to the end. In this view the
chattel principle is widely spread over the land.
1t enters the churches and the halls Of legisla-
ton where it secures its victims, and even the
friends of freedom are not exempted from danger,
by misapprehendnng mere incidental for the
great One Idea which we hail as Gods presence.
When any problem occurs for us to solve, we
are warned to be careful lest we get off the plat
form, and weaken ourselves and thin off our numb
ers. Now in relation this very Native AmeFi-
can party-it is not because man is black
merely, that we as Abolitionists, are to stand
up and vindicate his rights against oppression,
but because he is a man and we, as Liberty
party, feel ourselves pledged to render assistance
wherever the hand of oppression is about to fall
heavily upon man. In this respect our English
friends, he thought, had failed. They went TO
the battle for West India negro emancipation,