Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-07

with the gold of the shareholders to cast into the
treasury of the church AT home, as anecessa-
ny consequence, they have become the studied
apologists ofthe oppressor and without either
discrimination or Justice have attacked the
friends of the oppressed. With the ignorant and
uniformed among us, with those who seek apol-
ogies for inactivity in the great cause of human
ity and freedom, this may do mischief for time
whilst among you it may strengthen, we trust
for brief period only, the hands of your en-
emies and the abettors Of slavery. Nevertheless
we are not without ground of hope that there
are many men of reputation and piety in the
Free Church of Scotland who will steadily and
boldly resist this attempt to implicate the great
body of its members in unfolding the impious
system and will give their countenance and sup
port to the noble efforts you are making for its
complete extinction, You may rest assured that
we shall not allow this grave matter to pass over
in silence nor lose any favorable opportunity that
may be afforded us of defending you from cal
umny and of pleading the cause of our enslaved
brethren against those whose sympathies, we re-
greet to say, are more largely manifested towards
the oppressor than the oppressed.
We now turn to sub lects Of more bright and
cheering character 1t is with the greatest salts
faction we observe the progress of right princi-
pies among the different sections of the Chris
tian church in your country. The consciences
of mutitudes have evidently been awakened to
feel the deep criminaity of slavery, and the du-
ty of the church to purge itself thoroughly from
all connection with it. This important move
ment, so accordant with the benign spirit and
precepts Of the gospel cannot fail to augment its
force, and pursue its triumphs, until the reproach
which has been cast upon the church, as the bull
wark of slavery shall be forever done away, and
the walls of the captive be heard no more within
her borders. Continue your labors of love in
this direction. 1t will be fruitful Of blessings,
under the Divine benediction; as your chief
strength, so your chief hope of success, lies here.
Next in Importance, to this movement in the
church, we regard the formation and progress of
the Liberty party AS deeply interested specta-
tors, we have narrowly watched its course during
the late presidential election, and have little to
deplore beyond the unprincipled conduct of its
enemies, and the sad detection, in few instan-
ces, of those whom we have been wont to regard
as standard bearers in the cause of the ensaved
OF this we are convinced, however, that so long
as it maintains its antislavery PLATFORM irrespec-
tive of party claims and personal objects, SO long
as its aims be single, and its action pure, it will
increase in numbers and influence, until by its
moral and political strength, it shall break down
every opposing barrier, and the great end for
which it was formed, be perfectly accomplished
We have to congratulate you on the first tri-
umph of the antislavery cause in your national
legislature, during its present session the revo-
cation of the rule which prevented petitions for
the abolition of slavery from being received by
it, is proof that public opinion has felt the pow
err of your principles, and that the House of Rep
resentatives itself, with whom it originated, could
no longer resist its course. This opens the way
for vigorous, united, and extensive appeal tc
this body on the greatest questions that can en-
gage its attention. We are persuaded that you
will not fail to avail yourselves of it, and pour
your petitions into the House until its power
shall be exerted to redress the mighty wrongs o
NlllCll YOU COlllp-dlu' w . oldll wall Will Illt
deepest interest for the fruits Of this great victo
ny.
In relation to the annexation of Texas to thu
United States, our hopes and fears alternate
The INSCRIPTIONS character of the present Gov
eminent, the avowed intentions of the Presiden
elect, the stake which the shareholders have il
the question: fill us, at times, with serious ap
apprehension and alarm We fear lest by som,
violent measure Of the executive, or some wretch
ed compromise of Congress, the fatal step ma
be taken, and the new republic be permanent,
devoted TO slavery, and bloody war risked, no
have great interests at stake, apart from those c
humanity and freedom, in that part of the world
Every lover of peace, as well as every friend @
liberty, above all, every Christian both in you
country and in ours, should exert himself t
avert so great calamity from the human race
On the other hand, we cannot abandon the hop
that so fearful catastrophe may be prevented
when we consider the divided councils of tn
democratic party on the subject, the avowed ho
tility of the Wing party as body to such mea'
ure, and the determined opposition of the Libe
ty party, and the Aboltionists generally, to S
infamous scheme. To this we may add, tt
utter scorn with which civilized Europe woul
regard such an abandonment of all right pril
ciples as it would involve. We look also to ii
attitude which Texas herself assumes on Il
question. 1t is evident she does not press f
annexation, however much some of her peop
may desire it; and in fact, her interests, right
understood, are opposed to it. Once secure
her independence, with free institutions and
free people, she would rapidly gain strength d
yelope her resources, and consolidate her pc,
er. But we need not speculate further, ina
much as short time will probably decide tn
momentous question.
We have learned with satisfaction the propose
Anti-Slavery Convention which is suggested
be held in the city of Washington. We tru
that this convention of the friends of liberty al