Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-06-04
May %, 1876.
How long Halt Ye!

There are multtudes of men in Vermont, and
throughout the free States, who admit the whole
ground of saveys abomination, and the right and du
ty of the American people to seek its overthrow, as an
end of the first Importance; but who have nevertheless
by an undue partzan attachment, or peWersion of
the mental vision, hitherto cherished the belief that
the wing party would yet prove itself competent to
this end Such mems conscences greatly sooth-
ed during the last presidential election, by the
of portion of the northern whg press upon the ques
ton of Texas annexation. The bold avowal of the
Boston Atlas, and kindred prints, which approx
ngly echoed by the Vermont Waterman, ETC.. that the
acquisition of Texas, with its fragrant violation of the
constitution and perpetual slavery would be virtual
dissolution of the old Union, and an outrage that
should receive open and eternal resistance, con-
sidered conclusive evidence that the wing party was
the genuine Liberty party, and os far in advance OF
all other friends of the oppressed its protesa-
tons more bosterous. Well the integrity of the wing
party upon this point, has been thoroughly tested and
we ask those to look candidly at the result
and decide if that organization is entitled to the least
confidence as an anti slavery instrumentaty. The
annexation question came up before Congress in its
worst possible shape, so far the violation of the
stuton and the perpetuity of slavery were concern
ed-and in both these respects it received an afirma-
tive decision. Mark it: some feeble resistance was
made to the unconstltutionaliy of the act Mr.. Web
ser protested against the violence done to organ
ic law; but not effort made to acpe out The curse
Of Slavery from The TeraS conStitution-no note of a
larm was sounded against giving the preponderance
to this dangerous eement-no stood up boldly to
proclaim the determination of freemen not to submit tC
this unhallowed scheme of the slave power All were
submssiyo-not to be sure, giving the measure then
positive support, but without the moral courage and
manly daring to show determined resistance! Note
too the subsequent course of this party The late leg
isature of old Kentucky that pattern wing State and
embodiment of Henry Clays sentiments, unanimous
ly approved of the annexation scheme, constitutional
violation, eternal slavery and ALL The late Legislature
of Massachusetts, also-a State whose citizens have
been mmured in southern prisons, and whose author
lied agents, with the broad seal of the State in tnel
hands, have been mobbed from southern Cities at the
risk Of their lives and whose leading politicians were
the first to raise the cry that annexation would prove
dssoluton-her Legislature has just deliberately re-
fused to proclaim it their determination to every
constitutional and peaceful means to check the alarm
ingy increasing power of slavery And this is the
virtual decision of the entire party throughout the
land Look further, at the present position of this
party. With the nation plunged in war to extend
the area and strengthen the power of slavery-the e
gitimate fruit of annexation--we find the wings in
Congress, and indeed throughout the country, while
they denounce the course of the administration which
has involved US in war; and profess to regard it most
unrgheCus, both in its nceptonprogress and tenden
cy are nevertheless compelled to chime in for its pros
ecution, through fear ofthe unpopular charge of "e
,car federalism" While they lack the daredevil patr
otism N which ensures present success to the dominant
party they also lack that integrity and moral frmness
that battles for the Right and True however unpopu
lar, and which would command the respect and Co
operation of all just In their present position il
must be apparent to ALL this party is utterly powerless
to accomplish anything against that gigantic power
which now holds the nation in allegiance, and is hurry
ing her. with the swiness of desperation, to that cr
sis when even repentance cannot save us from ruin.
And, in conclusion, let us inquire, what are the pre-
sent prospects Of this party which challenges our sup
port as an instrument for the extirpaon of slavery
So far as the next presidency is concerned, we are
yet in uncertainty; but among the candidates before
the public is Judge Mclean of Ohio; and the proca-
nation has already come up from the south that his
claims are entirely inadmissble, the ground that
his toie is an ABoETIoMsT! The ground for this
charge appears to be- that Mrs Mclean although not
technical abotionist) has been engaged, together
with other benevolent ladies' in promoting the welfare
of colored children in her neighborhood
Now we ask those who DESTROYS of so using their
influence as to aid in the abolition of slavery if there
is any thing in the past course present position or -
ture prospects of the wing party that warrants them in
hoping for anything from that source?
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G37We anticipate our usual publication day this
week, on account Of the convention accordingly we
AFRO not ohle t r;,, n M ~ tho canvnnfion