Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-06

were to be regarded BY US mainly as occasions
for ascertaining the progress of our principles in
the community, the increase of our numbers,
and as tests Of the fidelity of our friends.
Our organization as a party was in 1889,
two years after the full development Of the in
.iuuitous scheme of Texas annexation. We were
quite aware Of this scheme We knew how
greatly the obstacles 10 abolition would be in
creased by its success. We demonstrated against
it before the public. We pettioned Congress
and the State Legislatures against it. We insis-
ted ON its observation-disclosures deprecated
the shame with which we should be visited by
the lust every where, for meanly conniving at
the wrong done to Mexico, that we ourselves
might ultimately take advantage of it---shame
that would be aggravated, too, teniold by the
only motive that spurred US on to the deed ;
the perpetuation Of the curse of slavery. We did
all we could do against annexation, and, If mis-
take not, originated nearly all that was done by
any party, to prepare the country to resist It,
But we never once dreamed, important as we
felt the question of annexation to be, OF making
it THE question of our party----ot making Its de-
feat the sole object Of our movement, and when
we had succeeded or failed in this, dissolve ;
having no more to look after, There was nc
one among US numskull enough to propose such
thing.
But why not, in order to carry or defeat
particular measure that we approve or condemn,
unite ourselves for the occasion TO one Of the
~ 10 xy0,tld destroy III
A single instance Of coalition would be enough
II we should propose uniting with the wings,
such Of the Liberty party men as had formerly
been Democ rats, would at once fly off from US,
and return to the Democratic party. So would
il be if the case were reversed. Nor could they
ever again be marshaled as Liberty party.
You, Mr.. Editor, are competent to Judge in such
matters, having once as member OF small
party in this State, submitted to the process of
absorption by larger party for particular OBJ
ect; since which, as far as have learnt, you
have not been restored with enough Of your orig
anal anti-masonc shape and gesture, to be recog-
nized by such of your former friends as would
not submit themselves to the process by which
you have been so transformed.
will admit for a moment, and with view
to placing your objection to the course we did
pursue in its strongest light, that it was practical
bic for our leaders to transfer us in body
to the wing side; will suppose with our aid,
you had succeeded in electing MIR. Clay, and
that we had thus secured the country, so far as
any party could secure it, from annexation;
where would the Liberty party have been An
nihiIated--absorbed And what would the coun-
Try have gained by its very magnanimous sell.
immolation Security against annexation ioT
four years, the longest period TO which, from the
quadrenniaI recurrence of our presidential cleo
tons, any such security can be extended. Ant
what would the Liberty party have gained TOWARD
their great object, the abolition of slavery in thu
United Statesl Nothing, absolutely nothing
The blood-king would still have been seated oil
the throne of his power, as he was in 1889
when with the Carthagenian oath we banded to
pether against him for eternal war whilst al
organized opposlton--the only opposition tina
can ever be effective, would have passed utter
ly away.
And who would have been at the head of the
government, dispensing at his pleasure, its hon
orS due, its emoluments there? One who hat
begun the world poor and without slave, bu
whose successful industry enabled him now tt
count countryman in chains as the blessed re
ward of each years virtuous toll; one whose
neighbors we're shareholders; whose relatives ant
connections were shareholders; whose fortunes
:and whose fame were embarked with slavehol
ders: whose personal habits and notions Off RICH
and wrong we're peculiarly those of slavehold
err; who deliberately published before the worlC
that the extinction Of slavery in this cOuntr!
must be looked for at some indefinite period
and only by the operation of natural causes c
the most disgusting and demoralizing influence
one who dogmatizes thus : Law may make mai
property; time will sanctify the deed one who
disregardng the spirit of the constitutional
plainly expressed object of the const tuton---th
we'll known expectation Of the country, at tn
time the constitution was adopted, that anothe
slave state was never to be added to the orgna
number, to lied day and night, year after year ,aS
pifted with the ever enduring activities OF a dis
embodied spirit, that ne might bring INTO IN
Union Missouri, in her garments uNwashed iron
the blood Of our fellow men--ftom the blood c
fathers, of mothers, and their little ones. Tn
man who opened the flood gates Of slavery, s
that they have never again been shut down; VII
refers, with gratifying selfcomplacency to tn
success with which he resorted to alternate blan
dishments and menaces to seduce or expe tn
keepers from their places; who even now vaunt
this as the most mertorious effort of long pc
litical life; and who, notwithstanding all that h
has done, to bring into dishonor the fundamer
tai principles of the government, has yet the I
mazing address, as if it we're satisfaction, to lea
in his trim half the people of the free states
shouting with hoarse throats, in dust cloud
"Behold the great evangile of human freedom
in these days." Now, sir, did the Liberty part
show no wisdom in resisting the enchanterE