Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-13
For the Green Mountain freeman.
Reflections. for Candid Men.

dred years since the son of God came down from
Heaven for the special purpose of enforcing the com
mand of the Most High, that man should Glove his
nelghbor as himself" Yet strange to tell that in our
own highly favored land where it would seem that
last expermet is making prove whether the great and
heaven-bon principle Of human brotherhood can be
carried out in this lower rld-wheher nalienabe
rights, civil and religious liberty find permanent
home on the earth; even here three millions of immor-
tai beings, members of the great broth ,rhood are
signing and groaning, in the most cruel slavery ever
devised by the haters of man; even here egaized
oppression, holds conspicuous rank in the catalogue
OF offences for which this nation groans and bleeds
Here also, war, with its cries of anguish and despair
with its gore-cloted victims, with all its nameless
horrors, exists. Our beloved country seems ready to
be added to the list of corrupted states and to 90 down
with the rest all stained with sins of crimson dye to
the vast tomb of nations. Who is not ready to ask
with the most trembling solcitude, how can she be
be saved? And what is the answer? Why, the good
men of our country, mean to include all men of vr-
tuous sentiments have it in their power to direct the
destnies of this nation When they see that the acts
of our government in violation of its fundamental
principles and at variance with the moral law of God
let them put forth all their social and political nAu-
ence to arrest or prevent the evils. Let each one
close his ears to the mandates of political party and
honestly form his opinions in the sight of the ON
nicent God, and in the full conviction that his acts
will meet him again in the day when the secret of
mems hearts shall be revealed Having formed his
opinions in accordance with moral principle let him
tearlessly express them In government like ours
a manly avowal of our adherence to right and our
determined opposition to wrong would result in a
correct public opinion. There exists among us a
fear of avowing our moral sentiments upon political
questions Such disposition pervades society like
poisoned atmosphere in which every noble sentiment
gasps and dies. Oh that men would frankly express
their honest n1ignltion on every occasion of public
wrong-dolng. But the mere oppression of our moral
sentiments is not the full measure of our duty we are
not thus discharged from the responsibilities which
rests upon christian citizens Avowed sentiments
indicate black hypocrisy, unles' they lead to cores
pondent act on. When we believe public act to be
wrong, we have no mora right to be silent, and W.
must not only express our opposition to such an act
but see to it that wrong be done. We mus choose
men to represent us who are governed by sound
al principle, who love right Justice and mercy better
than personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, Or party success A
course of conduct like this, am well aware would be
fatal to the old organizations of our country If this
is all the mischief to be apprehen1cd the republic
should endure it with great patence-yes, with hearty
> rejoicing. If any man, upon calm reflection, finds
That he values his political party highly than he
does justice and right, let hin break of his connoc in
at once let him learn to surrender party for mora
principle and stand FORTH if he stand alone" the
friend OF righteousness. Let all good men do this
and old combn tons formed for selfish purposes woul
4 quail before them But, sir, different course hu
been, and IS still, pursued The gro,t nl5s 90 viii
the party right or wong; they connve ut its sins
readily as they commend its virtues; they accept
Its nominations and do all its billings. To this Gus
W may we attribute the present unhappy and tlu con
), dlhon of oar country. BY this blind ana reckless de
rotlon to pary the county has long been visited b
ID an lmpudent, voluble, and mercenlry PATRIOTISM til.
,e bushcS at no mcanness, shrnks from no artifce
secure It's selfish and gnobe purposes. The egislg
/, ton of the land il committed to trading politicians
hucksterng their talents and their influence to the pa
v y, or the measure, or the man. that bids in the shap
ID of emolumont Office the highest price for the con
le modlties which they vend. The distinguished an
h. peculiar fayorite in the old parties is he who consult
I'd most assduously the weather vane of popular fvo
50 that he may ascertain to what point his conscenc
ID should be set How can our laws be either wise {
in ust when such men make, and such men administt
IN them? How can the liberties our fathers meant to 81
ly cure for their postority, be safe when guarded
lie hands so tlhless? Would to heaven that the pit
ure thus dark were but the stretch of fancy but ala
er its gloomy hues are but the stern colorng of truth
rk Can the true patriot, he watches the measures
our government fail to see the cause the judgement
H. which now aflct us, and to rembe in view of thos
III store for US? Can he shut his eyes against the fac
It. so clearly painted upon our hstory-that the cause
I'd our calamities is the slave domination, the love
party, and office? These have crushed the spirit whc
actuated our fathers, and led the North to submit
I'd the most degrading oppression and the most hum;
I'd ting condition.
ne One OF the most efficient agencies in brinrin
he about the state of things now witness is the rres
Newspapers circulate in christian America that wouI
j. have found numerous subscribers in the cities of I'll
It, Plain, on the day the avenging fires fell from HEAVIER
The editors are men whose hearts seem to have be
come osshed In the exercise of their vocation hard
ly ened IN feeling corrupted in principle men of n
conscience and no shame. Such men are appaude,
E. courted and bbed and the people gather round sue
I'd papers, sucn moral slaughter houses and snuff III
I'd fumes and feed upon the miserable garbage-enoug
nd to make society collapse and PERISH loathsome mas
ce OF fostering corruption. rejoice to see at least fe
ii papers of salutary nduencethe organs of truth di
lis usng correct principles, and making wiser and bette
of the inmates of every hamlet and habtation they vsi
lie Such, sir inmy judgement is the character of til
IN "reen mountain FREEMAN R. F.
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