Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-29
From the Liberty Press.
PETEHBoRo, Dec. 30, ls4t

"'NNN ~ ~OJ AOHO'
Mr. Baihy,-For several years, I have spent
portions Of my sabbl;hs in preaching the Bible
view Of Civil Goycrnment,-or, as it is reproach-
fully called, in "preaching politics." Many
think, that, if, in the place Of this exercise, |
mad advocated the claims Of The Liberty party, I
should have done more good. But, every days
observation conyinces me, that Liberty party
men, as we'll as other men, have radically defec-
tiye conceptions of the nature and Office of Civil
Government, and need to know, far more than
they have hitherto known, what the Bible teach-
es Of that nature and Office.
l would that many more anti-slayery lecturers
mad betaken themselves to 'preaching politics."
Had they done so, we should not now see, on
the right hand and on the left, considerable num-
bers Of Liberty party men ready to choose pro-
slavery voters-ldherents of pro-slavery parties
for reformers aud rcmodellers Of Civil Gov
eminent. l am informed, that there are to be
two great Conventions held in our State for the
purpose Of discussing the question, whether it is
right for the Liberty party men to choose such
voters for such a responsible service. Strange,
that, at this time of day, there should be need
Of such a discussion Strange, that it is yet to
be decided, whether, in the esteem Of Liberty
party men, they who can vote the helpless, UNI
offending, poor into the hands of Clay or Polk,
or any other traficker in human flesh, are fit
persons to devise the lorms and specify the du--
ties Of Civil Government! Oh, when will Lib
erty party men learn to keep their eye and their
heart on first principles! 1t is only by forget
ting these principles, that they can ever incline
to do that, which violates them.
know not, that my private business, laying
claim as il does, to all time, will allow me to at
tend lie great Conventions, to which have re-
fcrred. Should | however have the pleasure of
attending them, should like to submit to them
the following Resolution;
Whereas the protection,of the weak and ig-
uorant against the designs Of the strong and
crafty, and the ever watchful and tender care of
the poor-especially the poorest of the poor
constitute in the light Of the Bible, a large share
Of the business of Civil Government:
Resolved, therefore, not only, that he, who
has heart to rob, and buy, and sell, the poor,
is unfit 10 administer Civil Government but.
that he, who can choose such u one to admins
ter it, is himself unfit to reform and remodel it.
This Resolution being disposed OF, should
like to test the Republicanism of the members
Of the COnvsaloR. BY offering the following
Resolution
Whereas the great distinctive doctrine of Re-
publicanism is, that "All men are created equal
Resolved, therefore, not only, that Republican
ism is all entire stranger 10 the hearts of slave
holders, but that he is very imperfectly a%cquain>
ted with its genius, who, for reasons however
plausible, can consent to vote political power
and influence into their hands.
Do these Resolutions virtually affirm, that ma
ny of our most honored and admired citizens
are ignorant both of Republicanism and of the
merciful intent of Heaven in the gift of Civil
Government? They do:-and it becomes those
citizens, not to deny the truth of the Resolutions,
but to cast off their own unworthy views ofRe-
publicanism and Civil Government.
The readers Of this letter will, perhaps, say,
that | am too rigid; and that such rigidness will
diminish, rather than increase, the numbeCs of