Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-08-28
Maine Liberty Address%Extract,

that admitting all the evils of slavery as they
affect the religious and moral character Of our
country, and Justly as we may be, by cherishing
and uphclding, and extending slavery rendered
obnoxious to the charge of being nation of
hypocrtes, of being false to all our professions
of love oflberty, of just an equal rights to all
men-leeling as we do that slavery is the great
controlling interest Of the country and fast draw
ing into its vortex all others---what remedy shall
we apply to cure the evil, and how shall shall we
apply itl
The question is natural and pertinent. And
we respectfully, answer it, in the first place, by
asking of you by what MEANS the slave power,
Or in other words, the shareholders have acquir-
ed, and, for near half century, held the con
trolling power in the government, while they
have ever been, in numbers, q small minority,
and the freemen have always been a great ma
iortyl The answer, though not honorable to
our sagacity, or evidence Of strong attachment to
the great principles ofliberty is obvious. Slave
ry, with the people of the Slave states, is the
great undivided, absorbing interest, or deemed
so to be, however enormously. Hence, whatey-
er they may call themselves, whether democrat
or wing, as minor interests may prompt, on all
questions, which they suppose may affect the in
terests of slavery, the slaveholding states present
an undivided front. In servile ranks they all
rally in support Of tho institution Of slavery. No
matter that, under its deadly influence, religion
is but another name for oppression, and duelling
and assassination an index to their code of NOR
atty and honor---no matter that under its inAu-
ence they may be growing poor, SO long as they
can draw the deficiency from your hard earnings
no matter that they are receiving tho contempt
and Gcorn of the civilized world, they cling to
slavery, and will while they can crafty the lust
for arbitrary and irresponsible power and their
love of dleness, and vicious indulgence. While
they can fatten on the spois Of Office, or reveI
on the luxuries extortod from unrequited laber--
: on the contrary tho citizens OF the free states
have no such interest, one and undivided, round
: which to cluster, and on which to concentrate
: their efforts They have from the commence
ment, been divided into two great political par
ties, each believing that the interest Of the coun-
try would be best promoted by having their own
partZans in the administration of the government
and SO nearly balanced, that the ascendency
could only be acquired and maintained by severe
and protracted struggles, each party has sought
l aid from the shareholders, and courted it more
or less successfully, as they have been mora OF
less subservient to the slaveholding power, and
prepared to sustain this favorite institution
$ Of slaveholders The success of parties in thG
free states has usually been in proportion to the
: abect devotion, manifested to the slave power
8 From the very organization of the two great po
litica parties in the free states and as the eXpe
rlence Of more than forty years has shown, they
will and necessarily must be welded in the hands
of shareholders, as instruments to batter dowr
the great principles oGliberty, equality ofhumaE
rights, on which our free, republican institutions
It are founded, and which are antagonist to slave
8 ry, that diabocal, but only cherished institution
c of one half and soon to be majority Of tht
n states Of this Union.
Yes, fellow citizens, it 10 by your divisions
. while we hope and believe you are all aiming a
one great object, the protection and perpetuatioI
. offree institutions, that slavery has been length
: enning her cords and strengthening her stakes
a till she'has planted herselfin the seat Of power
= showing that she is theGod of our Country
# But do you ask, ifthe two great political par
ties are to be abandoned, what does the Libert
q party expect or hope to accomplish Fellow
r Citizens, the great principle of the Liberty part
is hostility to slavery--ctern2l emnity to this a
E bominable institution---the re-establishment O
those great principles of Freedom, which GU
fathers fought to secure and which slavery h2
q cIoyen down---the inalienable right of every hu
V man being ofevery complexion, and kindred, ant
language, to life, liberty and the pursuit Of hap
= piness Is this weak partyl You fellow citi
n zens can make it strong. Is it a despsed par
q tyl You can make it respectable. Is it fear
s full minority in the United States! The people
Of the Free States oOn make it the majority.
= can then wipe out the stain of slavery from on
capital 1t can prevent the admission of NOR
slave states into the Union. 1t can cut off tina
= fungus, Texas, which Internationally ha
, been engratted on the tree Of liberty. 1t Cal
| conhne the monster within its constitutional lin
its, and there leave it to Tnouldcr in its own in
,f rinsc rotenness, till it becomes the loathing o
q those who fancy beauty in its form and proper
Il tons. What prevents this consumation SO de
v voutIy to be wished The power is with thu
- voters in the free states Is it but for them Il
! will it, and it is peacefully, quietly, safely AM
. constitutionaIy done. Let the still small voic
= of the ballot box utter your fiat that slavery sha
# cease, from our land, and that voice will be rev
erberated in thunder tones through the lengt
and breadth of our whole Country-liberty t
the captive and the opening of the prison to then
that are bound.
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