Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-08-03
From The Cincinnati Herald
Liberty LeaguerS~ Garrisonians"~
AbOIitiOniStS.


There are comparatively few western men or
southern men, who have corret idea of the diff
ference of opinion which prevail among the OPP
ponents Of of slavery. They confound the Gar
rlsonlans with the Liberty men, and both with
the Leaguers, and all with the Abolitionists who
yet act with the two great political parties. 1t is
desirable that this misapprehension should be
rectltied, and we ask the attention of our read
ers and especially of our exchanges, to brief
statement intended to remove it.
The Liberty men are those slavery opponents
who are organized as political party, in half or
more than half the States of this Union, making
the questian of slavery or freedom paramount to
every other question, and aiming to abolish
slavery under National and State Jurisdiction
through the constitutional action of the Federal
and State Governments This party is repre-
scented by the National Era at Washington, the
Emancipator, at Boston, the Herald at Phadel-
pha, our own paper, here, and many other pa
pers in different parts of the country. The
members of this party differ among themselves,
as to the extent of the powers of the National
Government on the subject of slavery; but they
all agree in thinking that Government can and
should abolish it in all places where it has ex-
elusive jurisdiction, and discourage it elsewhere
by example, recommendation, and every legiti-
mate means, They all agree, also, in regarding
this as the primary duty of the Government
not to be postponed to any other-though no
other shonld be neglected This agreement, in
regarding the question of slavery as of PARA
MOUNT importance, and in determining their po-
litical action by this consideration, is the bond
of union among Liberty men, and constitutes
them political party.
The Gasrlsonians are the members of the old
American Antslavery Society as it existed prior
to 1899, and those who concur in sentiment with
them. They are called Garrisonians simply be-
cause Mr.. Garrison is their most distinguished
leader. These antislavery men admit all that
the shareholders claim in regard to the guaran-
ties of slavery in the National Constitution and,
believing these guarantees to be Ubiquitous and
dishonorable, denounce the Constitution as a
covenant with death and an agreement with
hell" and demand the immediate dissolution of
the Union of the States They perform, how
ever, no practical measures to effect their OBJ
lect. They refuse to vote or to ARM and con-
fine themselves to denunciations OF slavery and
It's abettors. This constitutes a sect rather than
a party and are represented by the I.iberator, at
Boston, the Antslavery Standard, at New York,
and three or four other papers
The Leaguers are a body of citizens, who
formerly acted with the Liberty party; but be-
coming dissatisfied with the determination OF
that party to adopt no other political issue than
the single one of slavery or freedom, held a
Convention last year in the State of New York
and adopted a new political creed of nineteen
articles, and nominated national candidates sup
tn ba
Of this party hold themselves bound to inyesti-
gate all political questions, and to carry forward
at the same time and with equal steps, all politi
cal reforms.
They generally, if not universally, adopt con.
stitutlona opinions, precisely the reverse o.
those of the Garrisonians. They hold that the
Constitution of the United States, of its own
force, abolshes slavery in the States, as we'll as
in the National territories and jurisdictions; and
that all saveholding is, at this moment, prohibit
ed by that instrument. They hold that Congress
has constitutional power to enforceths construc-
ton, and to secure freedom to every person by
law. They denounce the Liberty men because
they do not adopt their extreme views-they de.
nounce them also, because they, not seeing the
practicability of pressing, successfully or advan-
tageously dozen or twenty distinct issues al
once, prefer to make the one regarded by then
as most important, paramount to every other
The Albany Patriot, at Albany, and two or three
other papers, represent these citizens.
, The Abolitionists and slavery opponents, who
yet act with their old parties, are those who re-
} gard the abolition of slavery in the United State
| as desirable thing, but are indsposed to make
the slavery question the paramount issue
Those citizens differ widely from each other il
their views of slavery. Some regard it as po
litical evil only; Others as criminal, Some be
leve that Congress has power to abolish i
throughout the country; others that the jursdic
ton of Congress over the subject is confined tt
territories; others demand its abolition in thu
District and wherever it can be reached
They agree in thinking that the practica
:, work of Legislative antislavery will be done b,
one or the other of the existing partes and they
rather choose TO stay where they are than to TAXI
t an Independent position. Wing and Democratic
antislavery papers generally express the views o
these citizens, These are the leading distinc
y tons between the different classes of antslaver
men in this country. purposely abstain from
comment We endeavor to give facts and leav
our readers to Judge. G.