Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-08-26
The EIectiOn"m0ur Candidates.

In less thar two weeks the Freemen of Vermont
will be called upon to deposite their %sufrages in favor
of the principles by which they would be governed,
and the agents whom they would empower to carry
out these principles. This duty is of no trifing impor-
lance, and upon its faithful discharge is suspended con-
sequences as broad as the universe, and as enduring
as the existence of man. 1t is no question Of fnan-
cial economy or mere governmental eXpediency that
is now presented to the American people for their de-
cision. The time has been when the nation was con-
vulsed as with an earthquake from centre to circum-
ference with the agitation Of questions of this nature,
the decision of which, either way, would have been
comparatively of utter insignifcance. But we have
now reached a point in the history of our nation when
the great question must be decided by the suffrages of
freemen, whether our Declaration of independence is
a living lie, or a practical truth whether man is born
to the inalienable right of liberty, or doomed to the
calling yoke Of slavery whether America is the land
of the free, or the dungeon of slaves; whether this is
an asylum of Christian liberty, or a refuge of legalized
heathenism whether the capital of our nation shall
be consocrated as the temple of liberty, or as the pub
lie market Of Christian men, women and children
whether our highly favored republic shall fulfill its
glorious mission of standing upon the high places Of
the earth and procldiming political and religious re-
%demption to a grooming world, or fulfill its well-begun
work of sending abroad the direful ravages of war to
perpetuate a system of human thraldom that finds no
parallel in the darkest abyss Of heathenism.
That these are the real questions now before the peo-
pie of this land for final decision, no intelligent observ-
er of public events can deny. How, then, will the
freemen of Vermont acquit themselves in the approach
ing crisis? We cannot doubt for a moment what they
will design to do but may not some mistake in the
means used for the accomplishment of the desired end
Can, for instance, any freeman of this state, who de
sires above all to bring his political power to bear di
rectly against this giant iniquity which eXalts itsel
above all which is called great in the land-which hms
brought church and state to bow at the footstool of it,
power and fulfil its behests,-do SO by casting his suf
fragc with either the wing or democratic parties? Thin
is the question. In behalf of the groaning b%ondman, il
the name Of millions of freemen, whose rights and in
terests are trampled in the dust by the arrogance ant
encroachments of the slave power, we again ask-Ca,
he do ii? We say unhesitatingly, HE CANNoT-and t.
our reasons for thus saying, we ask the attention of al
honest and unprejudiced minds.
Which party has ever, directly or indirectly, incor
porated an anti-slavery principle into its nationa
creed, or committed itself to an anti-slavory measure:
Which party, having by turns held the power since
the formation of the government, has ever made an eff
fort to abolish slavery in the district of Columbia, il
the territories, and the trade between the States-al
of which, according to the often repeated resolves Of
both parties in the Vermont legislature, are within the
clear constitutional powers of Congress? Which par.
ty has ever attempted to repeal the law of '93, by
which slavehunters may retake their victims in any Of
the free states, and by which freemen may he fnet
and imprisoned for feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked fugitive? Which party refused, in the las
Presidential election, to wreathe their choicest laurels
around the brows of hardened and deliberate slave.
holders, and do their utmost to place the reins of gov.
eminent in the hands of men pledged to stand sentry
for "Southern rights" find Vhich party refuses to do
|, the same in the nert election? Which party refuses its
highest practical sanctiJn-the furnishing of men and
money-to prosecute our war with Mexico, for the
propagation and eternity of American slavery? Which
party refuses its fullest fellowship to shareholders and
slavery propagandists of the darkest and most inhumar
dye? Neither. Indeed, the choicest and leading spir
its of each party -the"embodiment of their principles
will be found among those
"Whose treasures of gold
} Are dim with the blood of the hearts they have sold
Are these things SO? and being SO, are either ofthesC
parties entitled to the confidence and support of thu
friends Of Liberty? Let honest and ingenious minds
Judge.
In this connection we designed to speak of the can
$ didates presented by the Liberty Party for State off
: GERS, and dwell at length upon the peculiar claim
which they possess to support at the hands of the PEG