Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-10-12
GREEN MOUNT AIN FREEMAN

this connexion Dissolved Neither party will stand
FIRMLY, and act decidedl for freedom while it exists
and nothing but rmess and decision, ,Cih correspond
ing action at the ballot Dor, effect the great object
To talk and resolve will amount to nothing The slave
power will laugh at it a so long as it can persuade
us to give our votes for its candidates.
have been very much impressed with a considera-
ton of the character Of the discussions which the
Free Soil movement has produced, and their probable
effect on the popular mind 1t is refreshing to go in
to political meeting and hear men, with all the earn
estness of Presidential contest discussing the ques
ton of hAman rights, and devisng measures Tor
restraining the aggressions of slavery breaking lis
yoke, and raising oppressed humanity from its deep
prostration have been delighted t, mark the con,
trast Of twenty years. remember when democrats
went by the names and gorled in it, Of Jackson men
when they erected hickory poles, and moved round
them, shging praises to the hero of New Orleans
That was when slavery had full and undlsturbed con
troll, and the North did not knol0 It. Now see no
hickory poes but | see men, late OF the party,
IN quiet orderly political meetings, where, instead Of
hurrns for Jackson hear their deep toned and hearty
responses Of appreciation, when great truths concern
ing human rights are brought out, and their telngs
as men are appealed to- The responses come forth as
| can imagine the response did in a Roman theatre
upon the annunclation of the noble sentimen -"I am
MAN, and nothing that concerns MAN can be forc On
to ME-" There is something eevating, enrolling and
huInanlZng IN such exercises as these. They exert
an influence akin to that of the discussions of the
outions when the minds of men were 50 intensely &C.
cuped with the zone idea" of Independence
cussons which had so much to do with forming the
character Of the who laid the foundations of oui
government and carried it through its early perlls.-
Would to God there something that could raise
up another generation of men like them. There must
be something besides "Iay'or Clubs" or any other
man clubs to- ut.
have done. You have my reasons for the course
| have deemed it my duty to take. Were this an or
binary question, your ettor would have remained un
answered But cannot be silent when such ques
ton is in agitation. 1t is not in my nature to shut my
self up in cold dignity at such crisis as this. can
not be indifferent, and cannot appear Indifferent
You know me well enough to know this. Great sur
Prise is manifested, in certain quarters tiny course
when no man who knows me, ought for moment t.
have suspected that would submit to such nomna
ton for President that made ut Philudelpha-espe
caIly considering the manner in which the proceed
lngs of the convention were conducted. | cannot,
will not, be led Uindto,d to the ballot box by any par
ty. have heretofore gone with the wing party; bu
have done it upon the open ground Of principles
measures deemed by me important. And | have Civ
en- reasons for my course not always, know salts
factory to my abolition friends vet reasons gve
openly, iran ky, fearessly cannot 90 with m
wing friends in this election, for reasons which Civ
with the same nnkness, and as little fear. If
would carry out my cherished principles in regard t
the great, and now paramount question of Slavery,
must go for the Buffalo nomination. There is II
other alternative. | am not the man to "holt betwee
two opinions" in such case. My mind is made ur
| support the nomination. and submit to the public III
reasons for doing It.
remain yours very truly,
WILLIAM SLADE