Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-30

y 'o'Oiuued ~ clothe the naked, feed the |
hungry, "r even give cup of cold water
to our wrnnged and outraged fellow.man.
If we do this and he thereby escape we are
subjected to fine and Imprisonment.
Thus the influence and power of this
Government is now welded, 10 rob men of
their liberty instead of securing its enjoy.
ment. Both the Wing and Democratic
parties insist that this law SO subversive of
the Constitution, and so dshonorng to hu-
man nature, shall remain as it is, unmodi.
ed aud unrepeaed We insist on its re-
peal.
While this nation maintains the coast
wise slave trade, and prostitutes lis flag to
the protection of cargoes of human flesh;
while It maintains commerce in the bod
les of men and women in the District of
Columbia; while it permits slavery and the
slave.tIade in our territories while its pow
err and influence are put forth to return to
chains and slavery those who are following
out the instincts of our common nature, we
cannot hope or expect that the rights Of any
portion OF the people will be long secure.
be governed by those principles of justice
and righteousness which give security to
human freedom. We regard the men who
lend their aid to sustain the Compromise
measures Of the last Congress, as opposed
to human Liberty and to the best interests
Of our country.
Nor is this all. Slavery has made such
fearful nroads upon the rights of conscience
and free speech that no security is extend
ed to the citizens of Free States who hap
pen to visit the Slave-holding portion of the
Union. Freemen from New. England, and,
indeed, from every Northern State are seiz.
ed, enslaved and sold from owner TO owner
like swine in the market. Yet our FEEDER
|. al Government makes no effort whatever to
prevent these outrages upon the free cit-
zens of the North, while lis powers and ut
most vigilance are exerted to seize and re-
turn to bondage the slaves of the South
Against this supineness Of the Government
in protecting the liberties of freemen, we
solemnly protest.
There is, at this time, much said in re-
gard to the annexation of further territory
from Mexico, and of bringing Cuba into The
Union. To all increase of the Slave pow
er by annexation Of more Slave Territory
: or the admission of more Slave States we
are inAexbly opposed.
On these points we are agreed There
is but one mind and one opinion among us.
Against the laws, the measures, and the
nc rtI oh
ceasing opposition. The men, the parties,
who continue these laws in force, while
they suffer one freeman to be enslaved. we
regard them eminently hostile to tie inal.
ienabIe rights of mankind, and therefore
as utterly disqualified to hold Office in a
free Government. 1t would indeed be gross
absurdity i'll us to oppose these measures,
and then sustain the men or parties who
uphold them. And we can but look with
distrnst upon intelligent men who avow
) their love Of freedom, and then turn around
and vote for men or for parties who sustain
the measures TO which we have REFEREED
Nor can we confde in men who appear so
> much engaged in favor of tariff to pro-
teot one portion of our laboTi"g men. ana
refuse to vote for any candidate who is not
8 in favor of such tariff, while they sustain
D for the highest Offices in our Government
s those who maintain the laws by which la
: borers in the District of Columbia and in
l. the Territories are bought and sold like
II beasts in the market. We would draw with
n distinctness the line of dema rcation which
= separates us from the whig and democratic
T. parties. We oppose slavery, the slave-trade,
81 and the fugitive slave law. We oppose ev.
s. cry man who yields his support to those
is laws, or who sustains for office those who
lie either uphold them, or who remains silent
g and passive in regard to them. With such
D. men, with such parties. we have and car
as have no political fellowship
III There are points of minor importance
" on which we may entertain different opin
Ia ions, and on which some of us may agree
10 with one party and some with another, Blu
" on the fundamental doctrine of the dIvorc
IL ing Of the Government from all support O
nc Slavery and enlistlng it, everywhere with
~ in its constitutional jurisdiction, actuall
III on the side Of Freedom, we fully and cor
rs' daily agree. And we solicit earnestly a
y, respectfully, the influence, and the vote O
Cd all who concur in these views. We car
not to which of the political parties the
nd are or have been attached. We regard tn
IN issues existing between these parties a
ne either obsolete or of minor consideration.
as We are in favor of the improvement G
ny our Lake harbors aud River navigation
nd wherever such improvements are necessar
ne to protect our foreign commerce, or tn
,se commerce, between our States.
la The old question of National Bank an
'te the distribution Of the proceeds of the put
ar lie lands are not agitated by either of III
", parties. We are in favor of appropriatn
In The public lands gratuously.
'lIl We regard all efforts to divert the pull
VS., lie mind from the great question Of huma
es freedom in order TO make up political is
IS, ue upon the question of Tariff, as wors
ial than useless, and merely calculated to sui
- serve the cause of oppression.
de We have referred to these topics for til
Oh sole purpose of expressing our entire Col
he viclion, that there is neither in substanC
ng nor in fact, really any other issue or impo
les tant question now pending before The matte
m than that of Liberty and Slavery. III
ese idea of suppressing agitation on that su
eat ject by the present Compromises while OF
nat Government robs men Of their liberty,
he utterly preposterous. Those questions mu
ur- and will inter into the next President
i've election. Every elector of the Free Stat
to- will then be called on to sustain the Cor
md promise measures of the last Congress.
or Both the Wing and Democratic partl
We have deliberately taken the stand in fav
we of those compromise measures. The VIII
ito aud Democratic parties appeal to the pcop
nan to unite with them in sustaining their pr
ticular measures But we would ask WI
bill great objects, what distinctive purpos