Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-07-26
From the Spirit Of the Age.
William Lloyd Garrison,

This man and his party have never shared the
sympathy of political abolitionists at all; nor ev-
er acted with them III any political matters, but
have stood aloof from all political action, being
very strong aboitlonIts in the abstract, but en-
phatcally talking, and do nothing, aboitionts.
The well known character Of their creed is,
that slavery Is so entirely, continually, and hor-
rdy, an evil that churches that DO not condemn
it, stand condemned to destruction: that gov.
crnment, that does not destroy slavery, should
itself cease, and better one be established;
that the United States Constitution being as they
say pro-savery document, should cease to be
treated as bond of union of these states, and
one be established that would scout slavery from
this continent. Such is the outline OF their
creed, as H. has long stood in public estimation;
and probably as warranted by their own speech
cs and publications. Probably, Frederick Doug
lass the talented fugitive slave in a speech of
lis, has exhibited his own views in connection
with that creed, as nearly in common sense
dress as it can very we'll wear. His expressions
were nearly these:
MIr A. -L.---l. ~--', .t..,.I etlnour supporting
this horid system of slavery, let the church 90
down and start anew; and if the Constitution of
the U. States cannot stand without supporting,
and being supported by this horrid system Of
slavery, let the Constitution 90, and establish
one Of better moral character, and one more
congenial to the feelings and rights of a Chris.
tan people"
Political a5oIitioniss, whether under the cog
nomen of liberty party, or free soil party, have
never entertained these views or subscribed to
this creed. They on the contrary would not
doom the Church to destruction, but would have
them reform and take up a constitutional and
persevering opposition to slavery till 1t ceases to
lnfest the moral and political interests of our
country. They would not abandon the Const.
tuition, but support it to the utmost and have it
amended according to its own provisions, so far
us defects exist The most of them consider it
well enough now, with one exception, if the
courts would construc it by the same rules, by
which they cOnstrue all other instruments to
wit, by its own terms, its own preamble, and the
necessary meaning Of all the language used in
it. That exception is the three-hfhs principle
with regard to representations, by which the
shareholders keep twenty or more members Of
Congress, at the expense of the United States :;
and 10 guard their slave interests; and have
twenty or more electors Of President and Vice
President; for all Of which, the North have no
benefit III return.
Many political abotioni5ts, liberty party, free
! soil, non extension abolluOnlstS, consider, with
out doubt, that if the Constitution had not in
the outset fallen into the hands of the true
| friends Of freedom, who would have been dis
posed to conStrue it i'll favor Of freedom, none
but the paragraph about three fthS of all other
persons would ever hive been liable to the i'm
putallon OF prosavery since the year 1908, when
one prohibition ceased concerning emigration.
In word, venture to say without fear Of
contradiction, that no class of our citizens under
any appellatlon whateyer are more determined
supporters Of the Constitution than the political
2botionists, if we except the unwingness to
subscribe to that pro-slavery construction OF it,
which serves as a shield fer the shareholders, to
pursue their fugiuvcs Ilto free ates, and carry
them back into slavery. Yet how often and I'M
blushingly have the pro slavery papers present
cd before the public, the Garrison party and
their creed as the true representative of all DO
litcaI abolitonsts, and especially SO of the lib
cry party. The introduction aud the manner
Of treating the subject, indicated a strong de-
sire and determination, TO cast odum upon the
liberty party and diminish their influence, and
such is It's tendency upon the free soil par'y.-
Although the political papers that oppose the ex-
tension of slavery, have repeatedly made allu.
sion to this deception, and stated this subject
truly before the public; those rec Give no beue-
fit from it who content themselves by reading
prosavery plpers which do not oppose slavery
If any among US remain under the deception
propogated by such unjust application of the
principles OF action Of the Glrrison party, to the
liberty party form rIy, OF the free soil party now,
it is hoped they will read this, and throw off the
deception. MENTOR.