Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-07
iii Z FIR Z Il NJ A N.
T VI IIIV 7 IVIII'E
ELECTORAL PRINCIPLES.

God, in his original grant, decided to man domu-
ion over the creatures Of the earth, but no domn-
ion over his fellow man. All our rights Of author
ity over man are derived from God by an after
grant, and for very different purpose. Gods
own glory was concerned in the obedience of man
to his righteous law. Open transgresson was
contempt of his authority and blocked up the way
to his purposes of mercy to fallen man. CAN the
foundations of the EARTH" [says he {" are out of
course" Hence arises government God has in
stitued and ordained government to keep his own
world in order and regulate the outward conduct
Of man, as Introductory to the gospel and the eX-
ercises Of redeeming grace Man has no right
over man but by deputed authority. God there
fore has revealed with the greatest cearness 10
u.s. his will and our duty in all these respects. |
come now to say, here are the principles on
which we are to act, aud on which we are bound
to act. have no right to act from caprice, or
crafty sell-Will or self interest have 10 right
TO take cXpediency into consideration and sup
posed results, and then say, sail things consider
ed, shall discharge my duty and oath to vote for
IL man to office who is utterly deficient in the quail
iticatons that Col has prescribed in such case" /
am not to be drawn into the ranks of a party to
sustain a wicked man for fear another party may
elect one more wicked. Am obliged to prevent
an evil at all hazards-the hazard Of moral prnci
pie and the sacrifice of prior moral obligation to
God? Who will thus argue? Obedience is mans
results are Gods. He has pointed ont our duty
and enjoined them upon us, with n perfect knowl-
edge of the end, the results, from the beginning !;
and our want of fidelity is infdeIity, We are in
duty bound to examine the records OF divine truth,
the nlallible rule Of duty, and from them Judge and
act as we expect to give account to him who has
the destines of nations in his hands.
God has granted to no being, angels or men, his
right to bis creature man; and whoever opposes
his rights, wages war with the powers of heaven,
and will sooner later, receive the doom OF Pha-
raoh and his host. The proclamation will never
cease to reiterate 9" let my people 90" Mr. Edi,
tor, fully accord with the sentiments Of Mr. Clay
when he says, speaking of abolition, " their pur-
pose is aboIition-uniYersal abolion-peaceabIy
if they can" Another truth, among other things
that are not true, that he has spoken. "For the a
/
gency of their powers of persuasion, they now
propose to substitute the powers of the ballot box"
Yes wonderful and criminal as it may seem 10 be,
it is nevertheless true. And here, Sir, allow me,
to prove the morality and duty of such course of
action. First God demands il. Elk. IS, "Thou
shalt provide out of all the people able men, such
as fear God, men Of truth, hating covetousness,
and place such over them to be rulers, Sc Da-
vid, with his dying breath, and ii confluence OF
reasons and authority, joined with A spirit of IN
spration, records the emphatic words He that
rueth over men must be just, ruling in the fear OF
Cod" He must be influenced by sense of his
accountability to God for the authority depued to
him. He ought to treat his subjects as of the same
nature with himself, depressing and inJurlng none,
and by an equal administration of justice, restrain
others from oppression and wrong. His influence
will be as the light ofthe uncloued morning, and
in his days shall the righteous flourish, and a
hundance of peace" The example Of Jehosha.
plat, after having been reproved by the prophet,
sci judges in the land throughout all the lenc-
ed cities of Judah, and say to the judges,
take heod what ye do, for We Judge not for men,