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

sentative to Congress from this district the friends
of Mr. Dillingham; were wont to press his claims
upon the aboIitonists in this wise. "He is as much
of an abotonisk as Mr. Putnam" said they
''more talented aud experienced, and, wthal, be-
ing in favor with the newly elected administration,
he can effect much more for the anti slavery cause
than any one else" And many were thus Undue
ed to vote for Mr.. Dillingham; who had become
heartily disguised with the reckless and unprinci-
pied course of the democratic party, and resolved
no longer to remain in its ranks. Now these ind-
viduals, and the public, have had ample opportu-
nifty, during the late session of Congress, to note
the labors of Mr.. d. in the cause of human free
dom. The House of Representatives, in particu-
lar, has been the arena of an unparalleled strife
between the friends and the enemies of American
Slavery; the subject has been discussed in all its
bearings; and in what instance has Mr.. D. stood
up aud manfulIy proclaimed the views and deter
limitations of his constituents upon the subject?-
The infamous annexation scheme has here been
deliberately considered and perfected: the Consti-
tution the rights, the interests, the good name of
the Union-yea, perhaps, the Union itself-have
all been offered up to crafty the insatate mawsof
slavery; and yet, Mr.. Dillingham; has never thrown
hnsefnto the breach and warned the more reck-
less that, in the madness Of their party ZEAL they
were sacrificing the birth right of freedom to the
basest purposes of despotsm. To be sure, he
gave his vote against annexation; but in that silent,
suen manner, that showed conclusiveIy he did.
not indulge in the luxury of a conscience on the
subject but merely to keep fair book with his
Sti hO Int hot inI;
protest. in the name ofthe democracy of Vermont,
who have SO often declared against the measure,
might have embroidered the services of New Hamp-
shire, of Maine, of Connecticut, of Michigan, to
have given much as a silent uote for Liberty,
and thus defeat the inquitoGs scheme? At least,
could an anti StaUery man do less than this?
Again. If we mistake not, Mr.. Dillingham; has
offer voted, in the legislature of Vermont, to in
instruct our delegation in Congress to oppose the
admission of any slavehoIding State into the
Union. And yet, few days since, he voted for
at least did not vote against the admission of
Florida as slaveholdng State, and with consti-
tuition containing the most revolving features of the
Islaveholding States-such as denying its Iegsla-
ture the power to emancipate slaves, and grant
l'O''S'
groes mulatos, or other persons of color, from
emigrating to this State, or from being discharged
from any vessel visiting her ports:' this last, the
tsource ofthe present difficulty between South Car
DINA and Massachusetts, and which, if persisted
in by the southern States, will ultimately affect a
dissolution of the Uuon. Now, if these are dis
tinctve features of an abOIitionist-if this is the
M b,u
croachnens of slavery-we say emphaticaIIy, give
US pro slarery man.
| P. S. Since writing the foregoing, we learn
from Washington that Mr. Dillingham; finally vot-
ed in FAVOR OF THE ANNEXATION OF
TEXAS Gracious Heavens! what are we com
mgto? Must Vermont stoop from her proud po-
sition, and join with New Hampshire in carrying
offals for baby-stealers and womcn-whippersi Yes,
she stoops even Io,Uer than New Hampshire; for
while Mr. Dillingham; has thus given the voice of
the Democracy y of Vermont in favor of the
scheme, Mr. Hale, of New Hampshire, manfuIly
resisted it to the last Must Vermont-who spurn-
ed slavery with her earliest BREATH and who has
ever occupied the front rank against its unconstt-
utonal observation-disclosures she be pressed into
a support of the Democratic ~ scheme of enlarg-
ing the area of freedom by acquiring millions of
ofterritory be titled bv the hands and en-
riched by the tears and blood of millions of hu-
man cattle? Yes,-so it is ! And Mr.. D1LLING-
HAM is the instrumental man who boasts of his
adherence to strict construction of the Constitu-
tion-.hs regard for the rights of man-who has
often recorded bis vote in the Vermont Legislature
against this iniqutous scheme--and who profess
professionalism meaning in words-no flesh in
mans obdurate heart? Will men worship at the
shrine of party, though they must eat the words
yet warm upon their lips, belle their sincerest pro-
fessions, and wade ankle deep in the blood Of
their fellow men : 1t looks so !
But why should Mr. Dillingham; vote thus? The
iniquy might have been perfected without af-
frmatve vote from Vermont-and thus one star
left in the constellation of the Union, free from
the bloody faint. The vote was in opposition to
the honest convictions of nlne-enths OF the So
called democrats his state. They have uttered
their voice against it in the Legislature, IN their
primary assemblies, and in petitions and remon-
strances to Congress. We repeat-why did he do
it? Ee must answer for himself; but we predict
that the indignant voice of a misrepresented,
betrayed, injured people, will ring in his ears yet
louder and longer than in the case of those who
baseIy lent themselves to consumale the less out
rageous Missouri compromise.