Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-23
The Liberty Vote

Was not so large on Monday, as we had no.
ped; not so large as it would have been if all
Liberty men felt the importance of the ballot
box testimony against slavery, Being in mi
nority they too easily persuade themselves to
stay at home and thus unconsciously do an in
Jury to the cause whose principles they profess,
and whose object they desire to promote. Ev-
cry Liberty voter, even though he is alone in
his town, should attend the polls as matter of
religious duty, and give his vote for the great
principles he has espoused. Not few pro-
fessed Liberty men, on Monday last, neglected
to do this Still, we think we shall show some
thing of an increase in our vote.
Our vote in the State we think will go up to
22OO-it might have been made 5000, had all
who call themselves Liberty men in the State,
gone to the polls. But the aggregate vote of all
the parties in the State will be considerably less
than usual-and to have held our own under
such circumstances is some evidence of vitality
Still we are disappointed that the Liberty vote
is not larger. We must do better next time,
For ourself, we feel very little interest in the
result The two great parties are so substantial
ly one so far as the issue between Liberty and
Slavery is concerned, that it can matter very
little which furnishes the officers, who are ex-
, Pected to serve their brief term as the mere
subalterns of the Slave Power Liberty has
nothing to hope from either Democratic or a
Wing triumph, and as much to fear from the
one as from the other. Parties that are in ALI
nnce with Shareholders will do nothing for the
redemption Of the oppressed.
The Democrats have undoubtedly made some
political capital out of their hostility to the Ii
cense law. Not few Wings, who are directly
or indirectly interested in the liquor traffic
abandoned their own tickets to support those o
the Democrats-thus showing that devotion t.
the Rum interest is stronger passion than de
votion to party. The Courant treats these de
sertefs very tenderly. 1t says it has no RICH
20 speak ofthem reproachfuy-that their at
tachment to genuine Wing principles is firm
and that in another contest, the party may rely
upon their firm and vigorous support. This
once they preferred Rum to whiggery, bu
they'll come out right side up in the next battle
Because Liberty men would not forsake their
party and their principles, and vote for slave
holder, they have been bitterly denounced by
the Courant, and subjected to reproach and
calumny without stint-but when number OF
aristocratic Wings, wholesale and retail liquor
merchants, taverners, and consumers, forsake
their party for the promotion of the Rum inter
est, the Courant still recognizes them as genuine
Wings, and discaims any right to speak re-
proachfuly of them! OF course-there's a:
much difference in folks as in anybody"
The Wings were as anxious to avoid the
Temperance issue as the Democrats were tC
force it upon them. Had they met it manfully
and said: we will sustain the Law, not as Wings
but as friends of humanity, not as party ques
ton, but as a great moral principle, they woulC
have swept the State like whirlwind, and moi
left a single place of refuge for the Rumoc
racy.-(Conm.) Charter Oak.