Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-06-10
The Liberty Party.
BY J. G. WHITTIER.

" Be patient, oh, be patient; the germs of mighty
thought
Must have their silent underground, and in the earth
be wrought"
We are by no means surprised to witness, at
times, in some of the advocates of the Liberty
movement, signs of Impotence ana dlsappoint-
rent, in view of its slow progress, and the diff
culties which thcken along its path. The feel
ing betrays itself in the extreme anxiety Of some
to find occasions for coaescing with one or the
other of the old parties upon some collateral Is
sue Others, on the contrary have watched the
tantallzmg course of these parties, and compar-
ed their professions with their practice, until
they have become thoroughly disguised, and
have learned to look with suspicioft and dstrust
upon the professions and right action, even, of
those who have not yet entirely separated from
them. They hold that no good thing can be
done by Wing OF Democrat that they who APP
proach nearest to the standard of the Liberty
party, and yet hesitate to Join it, are filter sub
lects Of dehunciaton and reproach than those
who are the sworn allies of slavery. They seem
to think that it is not safe to be magnanimous;
that it is bad policy to admit that there is any
right feeling or commendable action ON the sub
lCCI vi slavery DCJOHu llLlles VI VIC Pdit1
with which they are connected,
Both of these classes have become inpatient
they have lost somewhat of their confdepce liz
the certain triumph of the Truth; they walk by
sight and not by faith they have become YEA
ry in well-doing, forgetting the inspired promise
of harvest in due time, for such as faint not
The one, regarding only the slow numerical
growth of the Liberty party, and not taking in
to account the mighty and pervading influence
of its position and principles, to the power of
which John c. Calhoun has of late been compell-
ed to bear reluctant testimony, is turning anXi-
ously to the old parties, and unwarned by past
experience, still fondy hopes that the politicians,
who deceived him in 1910 and 1874 will prove
faithful and honest in lS4S. The other class
have become severe and unehartable; Wing and
Democratic concessions to the growing anti
slavery sentiment find no favor iii their eyes, and
they hold themselves bound to rebuke sharply
those of their brethren who are weak enough
to acknowledge these CONCESSIONS and who, in
the spirit of the APOSTLE, rejoice that the Gospel
of Abolition is preached, at any rate, and with
whatever nlotive, Both lack faith in the omnip-
otence Of Truth; one can see no hope save in a
numerical majority, or coalition with one of
the old parties the other Is so doubtful of the
integrity Of his brother and so suspicious of all
others, that he must needs deny or disparage the
very fruits of the antisslavery agitation, when
manifested out of the pale of his party, One
becomes lax and confding the other over vigil
ant and exclusive
For ourselves, we united with the Liberty par
ty in 1910, after having fairly and fully tested
the sincerity of politicians of the two old parties,
on the plan OF questioning candidates, and vot-
ing for such as gave the most favorable respon-
ses. To use an expression Of Charlyle'swe fousd