Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-29

We commend the following communication to
our readers, especially in Vermont The old
parties in that State have gone further, perhaps,
on the anti-slayery question, than in any other
State Nov, Just suppose they were equally an
ti-slavcry in every free state of the Union what
would it avail against the influence Of slavery in
our Federal Councils or general politics? twill
be seen that both Wings and Democrats, while
passing strong anti-slaycry resolutions in the leg
islature, practically nullify them by sustaining
the entire pro-slavery policy of their several par
ties, acting as national organizations. They re-
solve that they will use all just and lawful means
to accomplish the overthrow of slavery, and then
90 straghtway and use all their efforts to elect
President pledged by his practice and principles
to support or extend it.
How can any reasonable whig or democrat
expect the Liberty men to disband their party,
while Inconsistency so gross and ruinous contin-
ues to mark the policy Of the cid parties! Let
our friends in Vermont stand firm The con-
ccssions already made by the old parties show
what their consistent voting has achieved. For
the sake of securing all that they have won, and
bringing up both whig and democrat, in that
State, to consistency Of anti-slayery action, both
in their federal and state relations let them adj
here to their own organization If they compro-
mise, who shall contend against the spirit Of com
promise in the old partics
Nor can they be justly charged with fictitious
ness in such course. Doubtless the moment
the wings and democrats in Vermont sincerely
resolve that they will not only talk against sl4-
very in their legislature, but refuse their support
to any candidate for Office under the Federal
Government, who is a supporter or practlcer OF
slavery or who will not uniformly sustain all con-
stitulonal anti-slayery action, there can be no
controversy.
We trust that the recent divisions in some
sections may have no influence in lesscning the
zeal of our Vermont friends. They, at least,
are unlted-there being no differences Of opin-
ion among them, either in principles or policy
large increase of the vote in the state will eX-
ert a wholesome influence upon our friends in
other States
PARTIES AND POLITICS IN VERMONT
BRANDoN, Vermont, July |, lS47
DR., BMLEY;-ln your "Inroductory" in the
first number of the Era, is the following pass
age:
''In Vermont, though the dominant p1rty wa:
antl-slavcry in It's state policy, still, in conse
quence Of its connection with national party
controlled to great extent by pro-sayery sent.
ment, it (he Liberty vote) rose from $3.50 in
1915, to 6,67l in 1916"
As the wing is the "dominlnt" party in this
state, the above paragraph might convey the i'm
preston that the democratic party was not can
tl-savery in Its state policy" Now, sir, nothing
can be farther from the fact and to make this
appear, propose to quote two or three legsla
tive resolutions, being a fur specimen of the
Thousand and one which have emenated for the
last twelve years from the prolific "Resolutior
Department Of our legislative mill
"ReSO3ced by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatiges Of the State Of Trmoat, That We
believe Congress have the power by the Con
stituton of the United States, to abolish SLAYER,
and the slave trade in the District of Columbia
and in the Territories of the United States; anc
if Congress refuse to abolish slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, that the seat of the Genera
Government ought to be removed from that Dis
trict, to a place where slavery and the slave trade
does not and cannot exist
"ReSOlced, That we believe Congress has tn
constitutional power to prohibit the slave trad
between the several States in this Union, and tC
make such laws as shall efectually prevent thi,
trade, and ought to exercise that power.
"RcsOlved, That the Constitution of the Uni
ted States ought to be amended, SO as to proven
the existence and maintenance of slavery in an
form or manner"
By turning to the House journal for 1912
page 1873, we find that the foregoing resolution
passed unanimously, every democrat and wh
voting for them,
The next year. both parties in the legislator
adopted, unanimously another batch Of resou
tons. of similar import, one Of which is so eS
I'D hoe oon J., .
in the subsequent practice Of those parties tina
we give it entire.
"Rcs0lvcd, That we desire the speedy abol
ton of slavery throughout the whole land; an
that we will use all Just and lawful means with
our power to accomplish that end.
Can any doubt after reading these resolve:
that the wings and democrats of Vermont ar
"fanatical" Abolitionists of the most rabd chal
actor! With what contempt would they tire,
the base insinuation that they could ever be il
duced to nominate or support for office a slave
holder, or any man who would countenanc
slavery! If duelling were fashionable at tn
North, it might cost the wretch having the tc
merity to make so slanderous an imputation, hi
life
But here query naturally arises as to VIII;
disposition wing or democratic National Cor
NcntlOn would make OF Such resolutions. l. e
very introduction, at such Conventions, would
least be an era if not "National Era" Ho
would Congress and the Presidents of these alb,
litionists, entertain such propositions!
Another important query also arises, in cons'
quence of the following historical fact: The nel
year after the passage Of the foregoing resoll
tons, the very men who unitedIy sustained thel
deposited their votes for James X. Polk, or Her
ry Clay for President. In order to assist in rec
onciling any little seeming inconsistency in tn
conduct of these good aboltionists, we earnest
commend to them careful perusal of the letter
and speeches of the former, and the ever-to-b
remembered speech of the latter to the Senat
in 1889, endorsed by him personally, in 1874.
We trust, however, that these men, SO prolifi
in good resolutions, will cheerfully unite with a
others of like sentiment, without distinction c