Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-02-10
CIR ZEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN.

He presented, as is usual on such occasions, the sub
iect of the paper, and gave all interested an o%pportuni-
ty to do such business as they might desire. The a
gent of the Gazette wa also present, and attended to
its interests. Soon after this, Mr. Briggs addressed us
a somewhat spicy letter, complaining that we were
making a special affort to extend the circulation OF the
Freeman over territory which belonged exclusively to
him, and assuring us if we persisted in this course, he
should claim the entire State as his field, and show us
such competition as he was able. We replied, in a
conclllatory manner, that We had undertaken nothing
more In his district than to collect our dues; but made
no formal surrender of this section of the State to him,
nor pledge that it should be shut out of the pale of our
efforts to help on the cause of human freeman. In
deed, what right had we to transfer the Liberty men of
the I'D congressional district over to him? We have
too enlarged views ofthe rights of our fellow men, to
attempt any such thing. We are willing that all such
in the Sd district as prefer the Gazette to the Free
man, on account Of its merits, or location, should give
it their patronagc-and the more its circulation is
extended, the better; but, should any be so foolish as
to prefer the Freeman, we claim the privilege Of graf
flying them. And we cheertully grant the same priv
lege to Mr. Briggs, SO far as our power to license ex-
tends.
~ During the last session of the Legislature, a
State Convention was holden at this place, in accor-
dance with previous public notice, for the purpose of
deciding upon the best ways and means for conducting
the ensuing political campaign. This convention, at
ter several adjourned sessions, unanimously agreed up
on a plan, which contemplated Tie general circulation Of
Liberty newspapers as the best means of Propagatlng
our principles; and a committee ofthrec, two Of whom,
if we mistake not, were from Mr.. Briggs d%istrict) was
chosen to ascertain at what rate one, two, or three
thousand extra copies Of papers could be obtained
This committed made application to us, and our first
reply was, that we would furnish them ct the actual
cost-one dollar. But upon more reflection, knowing,
by past experience, the arrangement it would make in
our regular list, and considering that our nelghbors OF
the Hatchman and Patriot, as well as many other po-
litical papers in the State, had virtually reduced their
terms to 81 per year, thus rendering it necessary, in
no small degree, for US to follow their example, or be
supplanted by our opponents, we finally made the fol-
lowing proposition, viz, that we would reduce our en-
tire list to Al per %yoar-tbe exact cost of the paper
provided the friends would guarantee us, by a general
fund, the amount Of ten cents on each Liberty voter in
the State, amounting to $500 there being 1000 such
voters. This was less than hqlCof the actual sacri-
fee we made on the list we then had; but We were
willing to make any reasonable sacrifice for the pur-
pose of carrying out a measure which seemed essen
tial to the best interests of the cause. The query was
raised, whether, ifthis plan was adopted, other Liberty
papers in the State might not complain; but the reply
was, that they, by their own admission and claim,
were merely iocai papers, established to supply the de-
mand in certain counties or congressional districts,
and that when such counties or districts came to act
in their local capacity, whatever was deemed neccs-
sary to sustain and extend the circulation Of such pa
pers, should then be done and if the burden Of such
localities was thereby increased, their benefits would
be enhanced in a still greater proportion by the in
creased means of diliusing light and truth, and build
ing up our cause, This proposition was unanimously
accepted, and the agreement signed by all the friends
present, with the express understanding that circular
copies of the agreement should be immediately sent
to prominent friends in the different parts of the State,
and procure, if they approved of the plan, their pledge
that the small sum for each county, $50 on each 100
1LNbCItJ NCbDlo5J MUM " luNCu IL VA~i iCAI NO"hlI
meeting. We accordingly sent, among others, a few
circulars to Franklin county. All to whom we appli-
ed, with one exception, heartily approved of the plan,
and made pledges to an unexpected amount. Recent
ly, however, through the efforts of Mr., Briggs, those
friends have been induced to change their views Of
the plan-to question its justice, and, apparently, to
look with suspicion upon our motives in entering into
the arrangement.
Nov, we have no loud and long osscverations Of
honesty to make in relation to this affair. If a mans
life and general conduct do not c%xonerate him from
the charge of dishonesty and trickery, all his protcsta-
tons to the contrary will not avail. But this much
we may say these Institutions do moi lie simply u
gainst us, but against the twelve or thirteen good and
true men who signed the agreement. To them we
appeal.
(3) All we have to say in reply to this remark is,
simply, that it is lcholLy and totally destitute Of huth,-
We never intended, or thought, that the plan adopted
would lnjuriously affect any liberty paper under heav-
en-. In putting such sentiments into our mouth, Mr.
Briggs either wholly misunderstood our meaning, or is
guilty Of a most malicious Justification.