Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-13
THE FIRE NJ AN.
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
Letters to an AntiSIaVery Wing,
NUMBER FOUR.

DEAR w You have heretofore, through the infu-
ences OF great crises" and "other important ques-
tons" been induced to continue with the Wing party.
You have considered it the 'east of two evils" to
do. You have Intentionally acted for the good of
your country in so doing do not question the puri-
ty OF your motives in doing you have, although it
IS wonder to me how you could persuade yourself
that it was your duty. The opposite course seemed
to me to be so plainly the path of duty, that is with
some difficulty that can realize that every that
has so much or half so much information on the sub
ect of slavery you have, should not it to be So
and if honest, follow it. So diverse are the opinions
of men.
But what is to be the crisis now, and what the 9TH
err greatquestons, that will render it your duty to
tnue still with your party? Is there anything now
that we not likely to have, or something like it, at
every presidential election? 1t is an easy matter for
demagogues to raise the cry of crisis or anything else
that will induce people to give them their suffrage
Can you again persuade yourself that it is your duty
to vote for STAKEHOLDER for president or vce-presi-
dent? If you continue with your party, you must
vote for STAKEHOLDER. Will the same reasons that
have led you to remain in your party heretofore apply
at the present time?
Suppose that your party--as it is likely it will
should nominate Gen. Taylor for the high office Of
presidents il consistent for antisavey men to vote
for him? To me the idea is revolving. The Wing
party is opposed to the war, yet it puts up the great
hero in it, for the highest gift of henation!
And you, an antisavery man, are going to sustain
the party in such an act? Gen. Taylor is both the
hero of the arocious Mexican War; and great slave
holder, yet anslavery opposed to the in toto,
are about to elevate him to the office of chief mags-
trate of our great nation.
Suppose that you should undertake to prove to an
intelligent foreigner who should notice your acts that
the whig party is opposed both to the and to sa-
very; how do you think you could succeed? You
would try to dot doubtless, by telling him that other
interests led you to sustain him. But would he not
with much simplicity ask if there not other men
in our nation capable of holding this office, who have
had nothing to do with the war, and do not hold slaves?
0 yes, you would say, we have men enough in the
free states, who are better qualified for the office than
he is but so many are determined to have him for the
candidate, and he is popular at the South that
could not succeed so well with any northern man as
can with him. But are not his friends in the south
principally shareholders, and in favor of slavcry?-
That is true but it is necessary at any rate to have
their help or we cannot elect our candidate. Then
are you not governed Or (entrely inAuenced in the
selection of your candidate by shareholders? 1t is
true that we have to pay consideration to their
wishes, yet the party at the North is opposed to slave
ry, and if they could get the power they would abol-
sh it at once But he says, do not see how you ex-
pect to abolish slavery when you have such a slave
holder for president, who will others have done be-
fore him, appoint Shareholders to all the important Of
fees of your government, and thus keep the power
and influence of the nation in the hands of slavehod-
ers. | cannot see but that the whole influence OF
your party is in favor of slavery You put up for your
candidate the man that Shareholders choose and SO
far as see, let them govern you in all things.
If you are antisavery men, why don't you vote for an
antislavery man for president?
The foreigner is not convinced, after all you have
said, that your party is antisavery party Neither
can you make him believe that you are a consistent
antislavery man. Your inconsistency is too papable
for any unbiased foreigner not to see it
| should not like to undertake to convince twelve
intelligent men, if you were aragned before them or
the charge of inconsistency, that you were consist
ent antislavery man. | should expect to lose my
case; so glazing would be your guilt of the charge.
But perhaps Gen. Taylor will not get the nomina.
ton. Well, if he does not, you must have slave
holder either for president vice president So thai
you must vote for STAKEHOLDER if you vote with YOU
party. In either case your antislavcryism must be
washed overheard Past and sad experience has
shown US that it unsafe to vote fora slavehoding
vice president is to vote for slaveholding pres
dent.
see no way for you to escape the conclusion tina
you are not a consistent antislavery man, You hat
better plead guilty at once and then will recommend
you to mercy and thus you may save your neck from
the halter of an unbiased and impartial decision Of
disseminating and righteous community.
AS ever your friend,
IJBFRTAS