Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-06

election of members of Congress, it is vastly more
important. Sound in his constitutional opinions,
if bill containing the Anti-SIavery safeguard
should pass Congress, it would receive the sane
ton OF the President If unsound, the benef-
cent policy OF that body would be defeated
Sound in his principles should Congress be I'M
able to Iegislae on the subject, his Executive ac-
ton would supply the lack of legislation If UNI
sound even wholesome legislation would be ieop-
arded by his influence. Slaves now are held in
Oregon Would this be- had we a Chief Exc
cutive of right principles and feelings on this
question Slaves now exist in the Indian Ter
rltory west Of Missouri, and in the portion of
Texas north Of 36 deg. 30 min. Had we a
President of right views and sufficient nerve,
would not such instructions be given to Govern
ment agents in those territories as would abate
the nuisance! A pro-slayery or servile Execu-
tive would appoint such officers in the territories
of New Mexico and California as would favor the
illegal introduction of slavery An Executive,
sound in constitutional views. and energetic
enough to do It's duty, would appoint officers who
would assiduously labor for the presentation Of
the growth of any illegal practice.
Need we say more 1t is extreme folly to
suppose that this question of slavery in its rela-
tons to the Government can be eyaded. The
free States may agree not to consider it-uot to
| inquire into, or care for the views of presiden-
tla candidate concerning it. The slave States
cannot be charged with any such want of sarac-
ity. Shareholders know that the Government has
been used for the purpose Of fostering the inter-
ests of the system. They now demand, in disre-
gard Of the common law, and ofthe Constitution.
the privilege Of carrying it into free Territory
First they prevent all legislation against their
design; next, they must have an Executive that
shall favor it. And what say the non-slaveho-
ders! Oh, it is all wrong, wicked, foolish, ru-
nous, disgracetul; but they are distracted by
demagogues, who are anxious t. withdraw this
question from Presidential politics. We have
patriotic warnings against sectional questions,
and test calculated to array the North against
/, the South under cover Of which a man slips in
to the Presidential chair fully prepared to COM
ply with, or wink at all the exactloms Of slavery.
All the WhiIe the sdyeholding interest has been
united, arrayed against every opposing interest
Its supporters, pretending that opposition to it
was sectional illIberal, intolerant, have obtained
the control Of the General Government to such
an extent, that no man now can be selected as
Presidential candidate who is not understood to
f favor their policy. That policy is slayeryexten-
sion-but wherever slavery exists and thrives,
! lfee lODOferS are depressed, ana driven out
Slave labor and free labor are clearly repugnant
to each other; they cannot both co-exst and pros
per He who farors the extension Of free labor
2 must be hostile to the extension OF slave labor
q and gice urSd. Now, do we not know that the
slayehodng interest will sustain the claims of
f no man for the Presidency, who is an enemy to
the extension of slavery? To suppose anything
y else, is indicative Of extreme fituty They de-
f mand a candidate who shall favor such extension
j. or not resist it =! But such a candidate must be
0 an enemy to the extension of free labor, in the
! territory into which it IS proposed to introduce
! slavery. lie cannot be friendly to both, favor
both promote both; love light and darkness, sus-
: tain contraries. And do the opposers Of slavery
j. think they can shake off the responsibility of
= meeting the shareholders on this very issue? 70
: eyadeit to shrink from it, to declare that they
e will not make it question: will not inquire into
# the opinions or policy of Presidential candidate
5 on the subject, viii not suffer it to be made test
e in the Convention for nomination, is to aban-
don the cause of Freedom, TO yield all that Sla-
y very demands, to put themselves completely in
f the hands of Shareholders. To act positively
. for slavery is one form Of prosIayery policy Not
e to art At all, simple N0jt-rcSjdance when it is
c absolutely certain that Shareholders will support
e no man for the Presidency who will not allow
them to carry slaves into free territory, is Just as
+ truly pro-sIayery. Non-action, under such cir
!, cumstances, is consent and participation in their