Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-20
TBY WILLIAM GOODELL.7


no man who votes against Liberty. 2. Never
be bribed by expectancy to neglect an opportu-
nifty of voting against slavery
''nasmucb as ye did At not unto one of the least
of these my brethren, We did it not unto me-"
If we really felt as though our incarnae Savior
was in letters at the south, we should not omit inn
proving an opportunity to vote against slavery,
through fear Of disobliging our political party,
defeating our favorte policy in respect to a sub
treasury, tariff or a national bank!
But the Saviour tells US distinctly, that when we
omit relieving the least of his brethren, we omit
relieving Him. And He tells US, likewise, that
for this sin of omission very many, at the last day.
will lie condemned.
"But this" says the objector, is mingling
religion with politics ; and religion and politics
should always he kept distinct"
What do you mean by minging religion with
politics? If you mean to say that religious sects
ought not to seek secarian ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, or eX
elusive advantages by political movements-that
one sect ought not he established by law, to the
prescription of another sect-that religion ought
mot to be made the staIking-horse for selfish pol
q iticians to ride into power upon, then you are
correct; and there is nothing in the political action
proposed by abolltionists, or in the religious mo
tive urged in its favor, which locks like any Of
4 lese things.
But if you mean to say that political affairs
ought not TO be conducted according to the prime
iples of religion, then you say political affairs
ought not to be conducted upon principles of equi
~ and iuslce-the principles of honesty and
honor-the principles of mercy and humanity
the principles of eternal truth and righteousness
the principles of equality and human rights For
all these principles are among the fundamental
principles of true religion.
The objection if it avail anything for the pur
noses for which it is adduceG, is available for 9th
c.L.o l.; pA "a L.
son, why there should be no political action against
man-steang, then it is good reason why there
should be no political action against horse-steaI
ing. The argument luns thus:
Religion forbds all theft. And religion must
mot be mingled with politics." Therefore we must
not vote against theft Religion forbids adultery.
And "religion must not be mingled with politics"
Therefore we must note vote for laws against
adultery!
Religion forbi'ls gambling. And "religion must
not be mingled with politics." Therefore, we
must not vote for laws against gambling!
Religion iorbids swindIiug. And religion
must not be mingled with politics." Therefore
we must not vote for laws against swndllng!
Religion forbidS per Jury, bribery, arson pra-
cy, murder, and high treason. And " religion
must not be mingled with politics." Therefore
we must not vote for laws against perjury, br-
berry, arson, piracy, murder, and high treason.
Religion forbds savery;-in othorwords, it
forbds theft, robbery, man. stealing, piracy, aduI-
t.ry murder.sgFor slavery consists of these, and
i, ''the sum of ull villainies." But "reigion must
not be mingled with politics!" Therefore we
must vote for no laws against slavery!
Religion forbids the ensaVemeDt of the white
laborers ofthe North, for the same reason that it
forbids the enslavenent nf the coored labOrerS of
the south. But I" religion must not be mingled
with politics" And SO, if laws be made to en-
slave them, according 10 the prediction of M'Duf-
flo Inns q for lnNVg pmancInate the
white laborers of the north. If the doctrine Of the
objection be worth anything al all, for the pur-
poses for which it is adduced then it is good
in lhe case of white slaves it Is in the case OF
colored ones. But who believes one word of this
logic when applied 10 white people' Not oue.-
And therefore, no one IN his senses can believe
it when applied to the of other people.
The notion that men must not act according to
tho principles of giOn in political affairs, is the
same, in substance, with that which hypocrites acl
upon who make great professions of religion, but
neUer lei their religion mingle itself with then
secular affairs so much as 70 be governed by prn-
cples of honesty, iustice aud mercy in their deal
ings with their fellow men! Who would not de-
spise such religion as this? Let the ohIectoI
himself be pointed to u professor OF religion who
Ia VIGOROUSLY dishonest in his political manage
ment, dishonest in his political promises, and what
would he say1 Would he excuse It all because
Hs religion must not be mingled with politics ~
No! He would utterly condemn the Hah VINO
could thus lay aside his religion when attending
10 the CONCERNS of politics. He would brand him
as hypocrite ut once, because his religion did not
control and govern his politics. And he would
Judge rightly.
70 mingle religion with politics, as Obotionists
propose, is nothing more nor less than being gov
erned by the pure principles of morality and reli-
gion, OF honesty and justice, and acting from mo
lives of disinteresed good will to man and obedi.
ence to Cod in all our political conduct. What
honest man would object to this And who but