Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-15
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN

Of the great Convention ITSELF | shall say but
little. Its proceedings and every thing connec'
ted with it will of course be reported by COM
petent gentlemen of the press now on the plat
form. It would be invidious to dwell on partic.
ular Speakers where all did so well. Pioneers
in the great cause of human Freedom, such as
S. P~Chase, Samuel Lewis, Briggs and Mahan
of Ohio, Leavitt and Cummings of Massachu-
sets, Stanton of N. Y, and many others sus-
tanned themselves nobly; while the recent ad-
ditions from other parties including such men
as B. F. Butler Preston King, Judge Nye and
Culver of New York; Brinkerhoff, Tilden and
Fitch of Ohio, Adams and others from Mass.
Snodgrass from Maryland, and men from other
States were not whit behind their other breth-
rem in enlightened and animated zeal for the
cause.
In the afternoon of the first day the loud and
repeated calls of the crowd, brought on to the
stand man of no ordinary appearance and Gre
ated no ordinary sensation.
" His form robust and of elastic tone,
lroportioned well, half muscle and half bone"
After the applause with which he was greeted
had somewhat subsidized, he proceeded, without
circomloeution to the work before him. His
sledge hammer blows, dealt with unering aim
and giant strength on the two old parties and
their recent nominations told with marked eff
fect-while his severe and caustic exposure Of
the Wing party--showing that they had desert
ed their great leading principles, for the sake
of availability, in the nomination of a slavellold
ing warrior for President to be justly deserved
and unanswerable. This man was JOSHUA R.
GIDDINGs. He did not wait" he said, for
the enemy to attack him. He carried the war
into their camp" and the manner in which he
held up the indignant scorn of his countrymen,
the servility and duplicity of Northern Wings
and Democrats, who, for the sake of office and
party,were willing submissively to cringe change,
and give up their principles, and actually wear
the collar rivited round their necks by southern
Shareholders, was a caution to all easy politi-
clans, who, with puffbals, foodwood and other
light substances, are floating down the popular
current.
The eloquent Henry Bibb and Frederick
Douglass addressed the Convention-the latter
briefly on account of i'll health. Both sympa-
thised with its objects.
In casting the eye over the ocean of heads
which are here assembled inside and outside of
the great Ohio tent, from all parts of the Free
and many of the Slave States, and witnessing
their enthusiasm and enity of purpose, one can
not but be strongly impressed with the sublimity
of the spectacle.
Much is said and written against excitement.
Every party in turn denounces it unless calcula-
ted to promote their own interests. The Wings,
although they now think too much excitement
prevails on the question of Slavery extension,
were yet quite willing to avail themselves of its
aid in 1910, and no Cuba Blood could be
more fiercely excited on the track Of poor
Seminole or negro, than that same party will be,
ere the canvass closes, in invoking the war spir-
1.-THE slavery spirit, if not every other evil
spirit promising success in posting their chnmpl-
on OF war and slavery INTO the White house al
Washington. The Democrats too are not
whit behind their brethren, the Wings, in oppo-
siton to every excitement except those favoring
their own party! For my part am in favor OF
wholesome degree of excitement or enthusi-
asm in the promotion of good cause. be-
lleve with a celebrated modern English writer,
that
"Northing is SO contagious as enthusiasm.
1t is the real alegory Of the tale of Orpheus-
it moves stones. Enthusiasm is the genius Of
sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories
without it."
R.V. NJ.