Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-31

have become distinct people; and if we maintain
our principles, must continue to be. And any at
tempt TO amagamate with either of the political
parties, will prove disastrous both to US and
them. To US it will be like the association of
Gods covenant people with the Gentle world, and
to them, like the Ark of God in the temple of Da-
gon. Those who are strenuously contendng that
the defeat of Mr.. Clay and the election of Mr..
Polk was owing to the refusal of the Liberty Par
ty to become identified with the wings in the late
presidential election, are either deceived them
selves or intend to deceive others. Forcould such
an association have been effected, it would only
have proved disastrous to the wing cause. Had it
once been known that James G. Birney and all his
adherents had gone over to the support of Mr..
Clay, his friends at the south would have unan-
mously forsaken him. And such9 is the pre-
judce at The north against the liberty party that
more would have been lost by this movement even
here than could possibly have been gained As it
was, the abolition speeches, and other efforts which
the friends of Mr.. Clay put forth little previous
to election, with view to seduce the Liberty Par
ty, did more towards efecting his defeat and the
!
by the Liberty party. Cassius M. Clay, by his
flaming abolition speeches in New England, and
elsewhere, probably did more towards bringing
about this result than any other man-even James
G.. Birney and Joshua Leavitt not excepted. 1t
was not Ahe abotionists that defeated Mr.. Clay,
or that elected Mr. Polk, but the abolition speech
es and efforts of the Wings. They have defeated
themselves, and on them, and not on us, rests
the responsibility. Had they understood as
clearly as did the friends Of Mr.. Polk, that No
man can serve two masters;-that he will either
hate the one and love the other, or else he will
hold to the one and despse the other" and
had they adhered to it as closely they never
would have attempted to form such an unnatural
alliance between such inveterate enemies as slave
ry and abolition, and their efforts would have
been attended with mach better success. 1t APP
pears that none have been benefte by this at
tempt to form a coalition between the wings and
aboIitioniss bot the so-caleA democratic party :
By it the wings gained nothing at the north and
lost nearly all at the south. And it is not to be
denied that the ranks of the liberty party were
greatly thnned by it. Many of whom, in spite Of
all our efforts to the contrary, were seduced ant
went over and for this once voted the viii:
ticket; whilst still greater number which had
just come over to US in consequence Of the bold
and unprecedented stand which the democratic
party had taken in favor of slavery fearing les
they should be swallowed up in the vortex o
whiggery, went back and for this once voted 70
Mr.. Polk. Thus it was that the Liberty Part
was probably deprived of nearly one half of it
numbers, and that at time when they were mos
of all needed We have however, great reason
to thank God that even remnant has been lei
. who have not bowed the knee to Baal otherwise
r we should have been as Sodom, and been mad
like unto Gomorrah. And, considering the lltt
experience we have had in such war, it is rathe
an establishment that we have come off as well a
we have And now it is to he hoped, and eve
! expected, that our friends have by this time suffer
ed sufficiently to teach them the folly of aiding o
assisting either of the other parties in the eectio
p of their candidates, and that they will hencefort
q enter into no compromise with them, even coul
- they by such means secure the election of our ow
4, candidates. Made up, as the liberty party is,
dissenters from both of the other political parie,
Il it is indispensable that we act in good faith tc
~ wards each other.
o And such as are not disposed so to do ought nc
! by any means to reckon themselves as beongin
to the party, or on any account to be ocknowedg
ed as having any connection whatever with US
e Respectfully Yours,
. GEORGE PUTNAM.
20 Albany, Dec %, 1914.