Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-04
For the National Era.
An Address TO Zachary.

Zachary, the contest is now over, and the re-
suit IS, that the people say they will have thee
ssjAsnt, Before thou enterest upon such
2prtant station Of honor and trust,
to enEeat thee to consider we'll
nbout to do. Consider thy coun-
der her relative position among the ma
y5Ds or the earth. Remember that the great
principles upon which this Government is foun-
ded are, the advancement Of general liberty and
the elevation of man in the scale of being
Thou believest in defensive war; then 90 back
to the struggle in which thy fathers were enga-
gcd, look through their words into their bosoms,
and there behold the motives by which they were
actuated in the struggle for liberty. Bear in
mind that the privileges which VIC enjoy were
obtained by the shedding of blood. Thy faith.
ers barred their bosoms to the bayonet, that they
might establish a free Government, and that we,
their descendants, might enjoy the benefits of
the same. Trace down the history of our coun-
try, bearing in mind the object which our ances-
tors had in view, until thou contest to the pres
ent and then behold our condition as a nation.
Thy fathers fought IN defence of the principles
of liberty: thou has just returned from the field
of aggression, still smoking with the blood of
those whom thou hast conquered for the purpose
of wrestling from them that which thy fathers
rose in rebellion to defend. Consider well the
agtating question that now shakes this Repub-
lie from centre to circumference; weigh well
its bearing upon the destiny of Americas polit-
ical fame.
Behold all the most enlightened nations of
the world, now free from the national curse of
slavery that is now about, if not checked to sink
the glory of our country, and leave her name to
be lost in oblivion. Other nations have been
jealous of us, and longed to see us fall, on ae-
count of this national crime. They have rdi-
culed us because we profess to be free people,
and at the same time Cypress millions of our
citizens. 1t is evident that we must fall If we
do not put this evil away from among us. John,
at whose death the nation mourned and the peo-
pie wept, said that the question of slavery was
Of such great bearing upon the policy of our
Government, that it was in some way connec-
ted with every question of policy that could a.
rise. Great as it is, some of our people at the
South say, let it be greater; exclusive as it is,
let it be extended still further; others of our
people will never submit to its extension, so
that we see the inevitable consequence of ex-
tension will be dissolution, with all its dread
consequences; in this way we may overthrow
the pillars our Government. Again, Zachary,
thou hast been elected to the ruler of Christian
nation, and it woul& be,spnpased, that if the
Holy Spirit has - heart that
thou believest
\ thou dostuk
God thGSVss
break in pdeS
est that we, asNdl ppressed the
poor andtrampled upon TIN innocent; and if we
persist in our course, the wrath of God is in
store for u.s. and we cannot expect anything else
but the awful and righteous judgments Of His
power but if we repent, the Lord, in the pen
titude of his mercy, may yet smile upon US and
forgive us. The eternal decree of Heaven hath
gone forth, that he "wil turn the wicked into
hell together with all the nations that forge
God"
Zachary if thou considerest these things
thou must see that this crisis IS the pivot upor
which the destiny of our Government must turn
slavery being extended, we fall; otherwise W,
may stand. Not only is it important to us, bu
the action that we now take will affect in a grea
degree all the nations of the earth; because W
are an example of republlcanism; we are tryin
an experiment that has never been effectuall
tried hitherto-that is, whether the common pee
pie may or may not be intrusted with their ow
government If we succeed, other nations wi
adopt our plan if we fall, the scheme of repub
licanism is lost, perhaps forever. Already Re
publcs are about to spring up on the other sid
OF The great waters; and while the trumpet {
Liberty is announcing the birth of distant Re
publics, shall the dying knell of one be hear
in our own country? Shall LATTER having le
other nations to the Threshold of liberty, aban
don the platform, and dye our flag in our ow
e blood f.? Zachary, these are awful and solem
questions, which hang upon the adjustment {
the question Of slavery extension.
, know that thou hast not much power direct
!. ly, but only consider thine executive influence
, When thou spcakest, the Nation listens Tu
u they are not always bound to obey thee, BIT
l. they reverence the voice that cometh from tn
v White House, and hearken unto it. Seeing
:. then, the great influence which thou hast, whit
ale in authority, the people rejoice but whe
he wicked beareth rule, the people mourn"
|. thou hadst Bible with thee in the army, hoI
e thou hast read these things. Now, we hoE
that thou wilt be righteous, and rule US with wi
T. dom, that we may rejoice. A great number TIL
voted for thee believed that thou wouldst be favo
!. able to our free Institutions, and not veto d.
y viPs PrOviso; and thou wilt certainly have n
- SpeCL unCO JEeSe.
y We had Martin, and Lewis, presented to
II besides thee, for our suffrage, bnt the MAORI
g 1egour people said that they believed that the
re wouldst be more favorable to Free SOIL and "
n hope thou wilt not deceive them 1t has been
- - custom among rulers, not only in our countr
IL but in others, too, to consult the wise men Of Il
III nation, and we trust thou wilt conform to prec
E. deut. We of the West will send up Thomas,
- wise and prudent man, that spoke good words
le the people concerning thee from the East thu
9s will send down John and Daniel, men skilled
wisdom, and we hope that thou wilt listen wit
- they instruct thee in the best way, for, "Whe
d. no counsel is, the people fall: but in the mul
III tude of counsellors there is safety" One mo
4 thing, Zachary, | will say, and have done
a that is this: thou art elected the President of
lr free people, and yet thou art monarch ov
n some three hundred souls. Now, ask thee,
~ all reason, does not that look rather hard? L
- me beseech thee never to take thy departure
III the Presidential Chair, unit thou hast unrivet
those chains, and set thy fellow citizens at Ii
erty, and in SO doing set an example to the n
+ of thy slave. holding brethren. How dost tn
Ne expect to administer the sacred and white
w dinances Of free Government, with thy han
C. all red with oppression? Consider how tn
he wilt be liable to ridicule by other nations, W
ID, will celebrate the Anniversary of American
pi deDendCnce nv oi.tinr tho g etars and otr;no