Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-29
Letter Of Hon. Jacob Scott.

|U1D4S iAaICli w 9uSSC9l AO" AW~ W ~ ~
citizens, who with Inc have an interest in the triumph
of truth, and the establishment Of the principles Of
freedom and equal rights. | have lived long enough
to learn, that profession is one thing and practice is
another; and that the actions of men stamp their char
acters, whether moral or political, Hence, if o man
processes to be a friend of temperance, and his actions
and conduct all tend to the support of intemperance,
we are warranted in coming to the conclusion, his pro
fession to the contrary Notwithstanding, that he is a
friend Of intemperanco. So in a political point Of
yiew-if Il man processes to be a friend to universal
freedom and equal rights, and in his political action
~withholds from a portion Of his fellow men those ines
Unable rights, we are forced to the irresistible c%onclu-
sion, that he is either dishonest in his professions, Or
that he labors under some fatal mistake. The latter
we would gladly believe is the case. If these princi-
pies are correct, and this ground tcnable, how will
they apply to us at the north upon the subject Of sla-
very? Scarcely an individual can be found who does
not profess to be opposed to the system of slavery in
the United States and yet they tell us they have moth
ing to do, nothing that they can do politically to remove
this evil from the nation. And here we are at issue.
In a republican government, where every voter is a le-
gislator, and where the choice of officers affects, not
only the stability of present laws, but gives character
to future cnactments, voting is one Of the highest du-
ties we car perform, and stamps our political character,
The enactment Of laws is to secure to every man his
rights. In the language Of MIR. Jefferson" no man
has IA natural right to commit aggressions on the equal
rights of another; and this is all from which the law
ought to restrain HIM" Hence, if the doctrine be true
that the people are the reservoirs of all power, and
they, in their individual capacities have no right to
commit aggressions on the equal rights of others, it
follows Of course, that Our representatives, as our a.
gents, have no power, neither moral nor constitutional,
to pass laws to infringe upon the rights of a single in
dividual whether white Or black. And if we support
men for Office who are directly or indirectly III favor
of hlchng from a portion Of our fellow men their G.
quail rights by Legislative enactncnts, or who are not
in favor Of repeating those laws, the legitimate tenden-
cy Of which, are to deprive the blacks of their rights,
ana p~erpctuato their chains, do we not thereby uphold
and sanction slavery?
Once more; We are often met by individuals, who
claim to be abolitionists, who are opposed to having
this subject III any way connected with politics: it is a
moral question say they, and if it is ever done away,
it will be by moral suasion. | hold that it is %impossi-
Bile in the very nature of things, thus to overthrow
slavery! Our moral influence in the free states is lost
and destroyed by our political action. What we CON
denim morally, we sanction politically at the ballot-box.
For instance, how long think you, would it take to a.
bolish capital punishment in the State of Vermont, in
this way? Politics is defined to be the science of
Government. We say the people are morally opposed
to this feature in the science of our State Government,
and yet year after year, they give their sulrages for
men they know are directly or indirectly in favor of
this feature in our criminal code. Never, no, never
would it be abolished for the simple reason, that we
o@vcrturn at the ballot box what We endeavor to estab-
fish morally. Thus it is with us, and thus it has been
we support mon for office, who when elected and
clothed in their official power, foster, protect and guard
by Legislative authority this holl-born system of despo-
tism. It is a political as well as a moral question. 1t
enters into the science, and iniuses itself into all the
ramificltlons Of our Government, in all our ciyi! and
religious Institutions We see its cncroachmcnts. And
there is only one way that it can ever be abolished,
and that is by political action. The South will laugh
us in the face and taunt us with hypocrisy SO long as
we take this course-and slavery with its iron hoofs,
will riot in the degradation and bondage of our fellow
men. But lest some may say that this is merely the
opinion of an obscure individual, and therefore emit
tied to but little consideration, | ask you to listen to
the sentiments that come gushing forth, as it were,
from the tomb Of Mount Vernon, upon this subject
"There is not a man living, who wishes more sincere
ly than | do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of
it, slavery but there is only one proper and %efiectual
mode by which it can be accomplished, and that is by
legislative authority and This as .IT us my suffrage
ciA go, will mol be tOanting:"-GEo. WASHINGTON
Thus we have the opinion of one of the wisest of men,
that it cannot be abolished only by political action, and
this to be effected by the slhragcs of the feemen.-
VIII any one hesitate longer with regard to the course
he ought to pursue? Can there be ono so infatuated
with the idea of party, as to refuse to act up to the
promptings of his moral sensibilitics !? But the ques-
ton is asked again and again, what can you do? It
is beyond your control-you have no constitutional
power to reach it ? [ would do with slavery what eve
ry skilifll General would do with an enemy who had
invaded our land, and entronched himself behind his
breast work, and thrown up his outposts to protect his
main body. lie would storm his outposts, and destroy
every guard that prevented access to the main body,
and prepare the way to enter the very citadel of the
enemy's camp. And this we can do constitutionally.
Slavery in the District of CoIumbia-the slave trade
between the States-the law passed by Congress au-
thorizing shareholders to enter the free States and hunt
down our fellow men who have escaped from servile
bondage, and with force of arms arrest and carry them
back into slavery, there to be tortured by the lash and
burning irons-these are the outposts of Slavery
And these in the name of God, and the Constitution
and humanity, | would storm, and leave the monster nc
foot of land to extend itself upon. Slavery thus con
demned by the political action Of the General Gov
eminent, and thus confined, would die of itself. Free
men Of Vermont, what say you ? Is not liberty and
freedom of more value than mere party? $50 far as
my suffrage udH go, il pdA not be a%oanting." More
anon.
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