Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-11-02


when they urge you to believe, that while men
live, and eat, and drink, as usual, the whole
course of human thought human reasoning, and
human action, is turned tOpsy turUy; that a new
epoch has arrived in which men, politicians eS-
peci0ity, forget themselves, and their associates
and their interests, to accommodate themselves
to the promotion of something which they call
oohig party. You may Judge the character of
their mission, when they claim an equality of
political virtue with the pioneers at the Buffalo
convention, in the use of the term Free Soil
BY this do they mean soil free from slaveryl-
No. By no means. If they did, they would not
entrust it to the of Gen. Taylor, or any 9TH
er STAKEHOLDER. But they must necessarily mean
soil free far sla0ery Then STAKEHOLDER is the
man for them. But che is not the man for me-"
Again you may Judge Of the character and OBJ
ject Of their mission, that forswhich the plain
tlffs have employed them to itmerate among you,
by their presenting to you the same facts, (ao,
not facts, but guesses) and urging the same
reasonings which would utterly defeat Tayl0r's
prospects, if they were urged, and gained Gre
dence, south of Mason and Dxon's line.
Again, you may feel more sure still, if posi-
bic, of their object and mission, when you hear
them ulge against Mr. Van Buren, that his views
and actions, eleven years ago, were favorable to
slavery. Ask yourselves, is not this mere pre-
tence4 Can you credit the notion, that they
really object to him because he was, eleven years
ago, bordering in his feelings upon the position
now occupied by their favorite candidate! Is
not their objection really this, that Mr. Van Blu.
rem, now, bears no affinity to their candidate,
either in interest principle; possessing no in
terest or feeling favorable to the extension Of
slavery, or to slavery ITSELF but, in conformity
with his present views and feelings, is firmly
pledged to act in opposition to both! when they
know, also, that he never forfeited his pledge in
his whole life
Again, you may see further into the object
and mission of these itinerant counsel of the
plaintiffs, when they urge upon you the absolute
and almost physical necessity of voting for Tay-
Tor or Cass; and the utter unworthiness of Cass,
to receive your support, even in this issue be-
tween slavery and freedom. What is the found
alton of this decided preference for Taylor over
Cass upon the issue now before you? Cass, to
be sure, has one black streak about the Wilmot
Proviso, put on, to procure the votes of slave.
holders; Gen. Taylor, politically speaking, is
black all over; bred, and born, and brought up
and educated a Shareholder, with his immense
property vested in slaves and slave plantations
to be nearly destroyed by the abolition of slave
ry, and its value greatly diminished by prohibit
ing its extension.
General Cass, also, has enjoyed the benefits of
great school in civil Offices, and especially in
the civil concerns of our own country; while
Gen Taylor, both by his own confession, and
the belief of his best friends, and all who know
him, or his character is merely military man
and destitute Of education or experience in any
other department. He says he never gave &
vote in his life. However, they tell you thai
Gen, Taylor is a very honest man. Well, We
have many honest men, who possess no othel
qualification for President. But what proof
have you of his honesty, except in the assertion
of those friends the most of whom never saw
; him, and they say it, to recommend him as
candidate for the Presidency? You have it il
this, that, while he knows, that the North anC
the South have different and opposing interests
and feelings upon the issue now before you, t.
be tried and knows, that they, at The North urge
his claims upon grounds which would surely
defeat his prospects in the SOUTH he remains
num- No Northern man can d aw from him
any information whatever, upon those matters
which it concerns the north to know, and which
the south so well know, that they, unitedy, pro
nounce him safe for their slave interest. Blu
who, in the name of heaven, has imposed upoT
you and me this necessity of voting for Taylo
or Cass, or any other man who can be founC
warning and voting for slavery Have the plain
tiffs in this suit so surrounded us, and depressed
US, and cornered us, that our rights of conscience
are gonel | know they are on their way, ant
that with rapid strides, to render the exercise o
{ our rights of conscience of no avail in our po
itical affairs and are determined to secure t
themselves the power thus to cripple us by
victory in the very suit you are to decide in No
vember next. And if we help them, or let them
obtain and get into the Union one slave state
more than the free states then existing our fate
will be sealed But have INDUCED hope tina
we were not yet thus cornered, and thus degra
ded have indulged the hope, that the openl!
declared purpose of the united south, never t.
vote for President, who was not firmly pledged
to support their institution of slavery, and to OPP
pose every thing in the character of the Wilmo
Proviso, and their forcing upon the North the
candidates of the respective parties, Taylor anC
Cass, as suitable persons to satisfy such claim
and openly declaring them safe supporters o
their slave institutions, and safeguards agains
every thing in the nature of the Wllmot Proviso
would be a sufficient warning to every homes
Freeman in the north, to nerve his whole self
soul and body, to resist, and ward off, such ;
wicked attempt, to render the slave power SUI
preme, aud reduce the inhabitants of the fee
states who hold all the power to control thi:
subject, if they will only unitedIy arise, and use
it, to the position Of mere tributaries to those
who are thus degrading US.
But how is this hope darkened by the scenes
> with which you daily become acquainted
, Where are the great men of this state, to whom
we have nrusted our greatest political interests
and who should feel common interest with you
; and with me, in measures to resist the power o
slavery, and unburden our shoulders fiom 1T
demands, and take from lis its reprnach; wher
are they aud what are they doing! You readll
/ answer: They are in Vermont, urging Peop
TO elect to the office of President of the Unhe'
States, that highest office in the known world
! that Office which should be filled by no other
than men of the best established morals, thu
highest grade of intellect, the most enlightene'
! understanding, of the most thorough knowledge
of all ouvov institutions and national interests
1, Ia, 10 ala