Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-03-09

ment. He would not only know, but feel it. Hence
he would scmtinize with a jealous eye, and what is OF
more consequence, with an enlightened eye, every ac-
ton of the government, and every measure that would
have any effect upon his pocket Now, as have
said, when much of the revenue is raised by tariffs,
no man knows what it costs him; and the great policy
is to keep him in ignorance, that he may be more
manageable, and be brought blindly to support the
views of Office seekers, Office holders and those mon
led men who look to government for the support it
gives to their various a~varicious schemes.
Ii direct taxation on the principle suggested above,
were the only resource for the support of government,
we should soon see the Mexican war closed, Or rather,
it never would have had a beginning. If our rich
men were obliged to put their hands in their pockets
and foot the bill, self interest would prompt them to
put a veto on all such improbable investments.
Again, Shareholders pOuA haze 10 be tarcd according
tothe "three fiths" provision in the constitution
This is an important consideration, and has a direct
bearing upon the very existence ofslavery. Letslave
holders understand that their slaves must hereafter be
taxed, and the greatest obstacle to abolition, namely
the profits of slavery to them, would be shaken.
Convince them that they never can derive more
profit from their slaves, and they will get rid ofthem.
Diminish those profits by taxation or otherwise, and
you weaken the letters of the slave.
Nor is there any injustice to Shareholders in the pol
icy. AS long as they choose to hold property in man,
let that property be taxed. They have ever enjoyed
the benefit of representation" which was the other
feature of the compromise, without yielding in return
the Quid pro Quo. They take the lions share, and
ostoarn - thnir rirht A uraof prOnortion Of tho py-
penses of government has no other object or influence
but to benefit them. Look at the efforts of diplomacy
in their favor. Look at our national legislation-the
messages of our Presidents and particularly at that
abominable and dastardly recommendation in Folks
message, to pay for the Amistad negroes. Look at
the Florida wal, begun, continued and ended for sla-
very. Look at the Mexican war, that spawn Of the
greatest of all modern denominations, in which the re-
sources of this boosted free, great, pious, enlightened
and christian nation arc exhausted, and an enormous
debt of untold and uncared for amount is creating for
posterity to pay, and all to crafty the Unsuitable lust
and fill the bottonless NAV of slavery.
We say then, emphatically, and none but dough-
faces would say otherwise, lei them pay for Il. They
are the recipients of its benefits, if such they may be
called. How long will non-slaveholders consent to be
taxed for the support of slavery and all its monstrous
demands? How long will we fight its battles and foot
the bills like servile slaves to its mandates?
Look again at the efforts made by our slaveholding
rulers, to raise 4 revenue to carry on this accused
war by means of a tax on tea and coffee, so that the
poor shall still have to pay equal to the rich. Thg
love and regard the rights Of the poor, do they? This
is fine democracy indeed. But there is no meanness
too small for slavery, and no grovelling too low, O
base, or cringing for its lickspittles. The slayehold
ers are so much in the habit of s%ponging from thu
slaves, that they seem to think they have a right t.
sponge from the whole north; indeed from every bod,
who will consent to the operation; and this system
will be pursued just go long as men are spell boun,
by the influence of party spirit.
Side by side the two great parties are running thu
race for power, each using its utmost efforts to out
strip the other, each denouncing the other and expo
sing its dastardly tricks, and each striving for tina
which is more mean and contemplate; if by any mean
they can gain the least temporary advantage, eithe
by tripping up the heels, or otherwise impeding tn
progress Of the other. We say then, if you wis
your influence to 90 towards abolishing slavery, com
out from among them. Wipe the dust from your eyes
see where you are and resolve never to vote for sa
very or obey its mandates. Come up on to the hig
ground of freedom. Survey from this eminenc
the field of action. Breathe the free air, uncontam
mated with %slavcry's p~ollutions. Think of your hg
responsibilities as a man, in relation to your fellow
man and to God. Examine into the bearings of thes
and all other political or moral questions, upon the e9
lstence of slavery. See if we are not witnessing il
death struggles, as tt is trying to plant its black bar
ner and bloody hoof on the hearth-stones of Mexico
"Be in at the DEATH" If slavery is wrong, fight
m%anfuly. Espouse the right and press forward wit
all your energies, This Is no time for cold-bloode
i~nvectives. Has there not been blood enough shed
this helish WARP Denounce it, disown it, contracttf
circle from which it derives support,cut off its supple
wither and crush it Send no more men to Congress
who will blow hot and cold with the a breath;
condemn the war in words, while they vote for SUI
plies to carry it on.
If there is anything smaller or meaner than sac
shutting, show it up by all means, and let our eyes
diverted for a moment by a look at it, even though
should make us more sick of human d~epravity than v
are now.
God grant that the last hours of slavery may
fleeing by us already, and that we may yet live
see our country redeemed and disenthralled, and
free and truly great as she boasts herself to be.
Yours for truth, justice and liberty.
Boston, Jan. 18th, 1848. A. II. B.