Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-15
The Liberty Party,

We ale in Politics, as every where else, to act
in character, Here as every where else, our
activity is to be a fair expression Of our princi-
Piles. We cannot otherwise maintain our integ-
rity and power-cannot otherwise exert upon
mankind a healthy influence. Through our
political responsibilities, we are to confer upon
the world substantial benefits, or to inhict upon
it heavy injuries. The cause of Freedom espe-
cially cannot but be effected we'll or i'll by our
aims and activity here.
In our political sphere, slavery claims to be at
home. Here it publishes its maxims, and sets
up its pretensions, and defines its position, and
shapes its arrangements, and enacts its laws
labors by night and by day, cunningly and I'M
weariedly to f%ortify itself. Here it multiplies its
victims; and tries hard to ~legalize absurdities
which shock c%redulity ITSELF and outrages which
no form of patience, however trained and tried,
can endure.-If even three true men meet each
other in the political sphere, alive as they must
be to the claims of Freedom, and hostile as they
must be to every form of slavery, how can they
help forming a Liberty party? Are they not
such in principle, ain and spirit? Are they not
such i'll the convictions, affections and purposes
they cherish? Such are they not in every thing
distinctive in their character How can they
be any thing else, then, in their plans, methods
and exertions? If they are united in aim, p1in-
ciples and spirit; can they as sincere men be
other than one in expressing themselUes-in their
activity? As they are aILiberty party at heart,
must they not in head and hand also be a Liber-
ty party?
Can such men, whether few or many, be ex-
pected TO choose parties, pledged to the support
of slavery, as their cOa9jutors? To act with
them? Such inquiries imply a contradiction,
flat and strong, enough to %suffocate any body
who may attempt to swallow it. What sort of
an opposition to slavery should we be likely to
make in alliance with its cunning and determin-
ed supporters? In alliance with those, who
require us to go with them in raising to the high
places Of the Republic candidates, who defend
and practice s%lavery--who go the length of main
tanning that long persistence in it "sanctions and
sancti6es Il"
Nor can we, If we are at one IN principle, aim
and spirit, "sCGtter our vOtes" consistently with
wisdom and integrity. Are We not in our rela-
tons to each other and the objects around us, to
be in plan and effort visibly what are in convic-
ton and persuasion and ELECTION invisibly.-
Are we not otherwise in conflict with ourselves
sin appearance what we are not in spirit p
Must not this be to reduce our character, and
of course our power. Are we not bound in
Applying our principles to the objects around US,
to exert ourselves to the best advantage-so as
to make the most Of our strength and resources.
The answer which such questions demand must
be a formal and full justification of the Liberty
party organization. The principles which re-
CURED the friends Of Freedom to exert themselves
at all in behalf of Humanity, required them to
exert themselves as wisely and effectively as
possible. They must then lay themselves out
in the great enterprise, to which they are Heav-