Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-01
For the Freeman.
The old Year and the new Year.

The year 1o48, so cventfll to the Kings and
Nations of Europe, has been scarcely less so,
to our spreading Republic.
In this year, many of US have lived and acted
for four years to come,-and some, for even
longer period. Politically considered, this has
been an intensely important year Ito our whole
nation)-and the most important subject, is still
unsettled.
The beginning of this year, gave us dem
onstration of the unstable character of Gen. Lew
is Cass The close of the year, gave him the
result of that demonstration. 1t augurs well
for " our beloved country" that no northern man
can become President, who repudlates the jeff
ersonian principle, (called of late) the "Wilmot
Proviso"
The old year has also developed the character
of selfrighteous Whiggery. In former year,,
the wings have thanked God -
that they were not like the democrats, allies Of
slavery but this year whggery has elected the
only incorrigible lSlaUe Holder ever chosen Pres
idont. did Gov. slado, Hon. H. Everett
in this State, or Henry Clay and Daniel Web
ster the national leaders of the wings, counsel
or advise them to do it? Far, far from it. Had
these, and ether State and National leaders been
headed or regarded whiggery might have passed
along-und perhaps had another chance to de-
ceve the Nation. But it can deceive no one
hereafter.
The old year has been noted for sin: it has
also, for reform. The Baltimore and Philadel-
phia Conventions were so VIGOROUSLY subservi-
ent to Slave-Holdng power and interests, that
the People could not endure it, and would not
and thanks to freedoms God, they did not en-.
dure it. The Conventions at Middlcbury and
other places, showed that anti-slavery leaven
was working powerfully in the public mind
The leaders.Cl pseudo democracy, insisted thai
it was only the work of a few lawyers; the first
Tuesday of Sept showed them plainly their mis-
take: for how could dozen federal lawyers il
this State, cast 5000 votes?
And in the old, past year, the Convention was
holden on the western border of the Empire
State" Hunkerism denounced it a "herd o
wild BuAao's;" and implored and importuned
"come back to your party ":-as a further evi
dence of the genuneness and stability of thu
free soil movement, Lewis Cass received in Yer
mont, 5000 votes
But the spirit that gave rise to the Buffalo
Convention, was felt at Washington; it movet
, our National councils; and him who dwels il
the White House. 100000 votes for Van Burcl
and Adams,-is the smallest part of the result
: of the free soil movement, in July and Angus
last. Will any man say, It's the ignorant AM
! unstable part OF community? Let him think q
f John G. Whittier, and William Cullen Bryant
: and last not least, John P Hale, in the U. S
Senate.
In fact, " one idca," if it be a right one, is IA
better than 10 idea at all. If hunkelism G
Whiggery have any idea, pray, what on cart
: is it?
2 In the past year, the free Soil, Liberty move
= ment, has changed the tone and spirit Of Cor
e gress, flor the constituency always rule the
J.. representatives. and brought SLAVERY into a
s imploring minority and Thomas II. Benton
} with a spark of liberty in his breasts the OF
= poncnt OF J. c. Calhoun. In the old year, peal
S which, but tor slavery, we might have had, a
r, along-hus been restored, We have now n
It more war for James X. Polk to glorify, as oil
+ Nebuchadnezzar did his Babylon, that he ha
built our Administration have no Ten Reg
J, mental bills, to urge through Congressional t
T. be differed by the Executive.
=, q And with aspects and prospects, cheering t
h the lover of God and lAberty-the .Neo Year hi
n commenced; and is rolling forward. Whiggel
$ and bunker Democracy, also processes to 10,
10 liberty and hate slavery. But what is professic
E. good for, when practice gives it the lie? Ifar
y man would be Democrat let him act lii
y Thomas Jefferson. If any would be Viii
n let him renounce u. Taylor and his administr
}. ton.
hi Free-Soil Liberty men-and women of We
,e mont 1t is plain to the whole world, that t
of contest not0, is only between Liberty and 81
n. very, Will you this year, act worthy Vt 70
c. sires-your fathers and mothers of 1776-a
j. of Him who abolished slavery in Egypt? wi
We the law Of kindness ever on your lips and in 20
r. heart, settle into the work inform yourselve
enlighten your neighbor. With nothing to hi
Il der and every thing to encourage, our trust is
sh God, our weapons truth, and the RALLOT- nc
cd ONCE A WHIG AND TWICE A FREEMAN.