Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-11-19
NO. u.


Mr.. EDIToR In my last weeks number endea-
vored to exhibit the position occupied in relation to the
Liberty party, both of those who have seeded and
Of those who have not in order that the point at Issue
which is under consideration might be fully under
stood, before come to the consideration of the di-
rect question Of secession as proposed by Bro. Prn-
die. And lest it should be thought that have mani
tested too much severity towards those who differ
from me, would observe that it has not been my in
tention in what | have said, to impcate them in the
least otherwise than by making it appear that by the
made Of reasoning which they have seen fit to adopt
they implicatc themselves This mode of reasoning
however, consider perfectly faacious being founded
on a supposed analogy between the church and po
itcal party; which analogy, it IS obvious to me- does
not exist. And have been led to this conclusion
from u consideration that the church and potca
party very differently consttuted-that they are
severaly bound together by very different ties; ant
that consequently, the obligations which we are under
to each of them are very dissimiar Our allegiance
to the church we sustain only by adhering to the
constitution of the church. And So long as this is
f Funded on the Bbl in principles consequently
anti slavery in their character. These principles W.
are IN duty bound to carry out, regardless of conse
quences the acton of the church, or of her consti
tuted authorities to the contrary notwithstanding. Gu
relationship to the church, therefore, instead of requr
ing us TO favor slavery, lays us under obligations
cred as the law of God to do all in our power for it
abolition. But the case is widely different as relates
to a nOlitical marty hoUn M constitution n
adhere to; consequently, we can only sustain aegi
ance to the party by acting with them. When we far
to do this, our relationship to the party is of necessity
at an end. When, therefore, the party adopts mea
sures which of prosavery character, Or sets VI
Shareholders or proslavery men for candidates, it is
once duty, as Christians and citizens to abandon
the party and to neglect to do so, would be to do vic
lence to our church obligations Our religious ant
political principles must not be averse to each Other
Consequently, we must preach and pray and act 70
the slave. And in doing this we shall be conssten
with ourselves. And whatever others may think of us
we shall claim to be consistent Christian abotonists
We love the slave, and we love the church, and can
not be prevailed upon to abandon either. And be
lievng that their interests are identified with eac
other we design to labor jointly for the welfare ofbott
We have no disposition 10 change our relationship /
the church, believing that can enjoy all the piet
that we live for as we are and that we can do muc
more for the slave than what we otherwise could.
others are of different mind they will, of course, &C
differently. If they honestly think they can do NOR
for the slave, and enjoy greater degree of piety,
seeding from the church than by remaining in it, it
for them p act in acrordsnce With their own conyic