Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-03

l am not blind to the adverse signs. The
wave of reaction, which, during the past year
swept over Europe, has reached our shores
The very barriers of human rights have been
broken down. Statesmen, writers, scholars,
speakers, once their uncompromising professors,
have become the professors of Compromise
All this must be changed. Reaction must be
stayed. The country must be aroused. The
cause must again be pressed-with the avowed
purpose never TO moderate our efforts till crown.
ed by success. Applause. The Federal govern
ment, everywhere within its proper c%onstitu-
tional sphere, must be placed on the side of
freedom. The Slave Power, the fruitful parent
OF national ills, must be driven from its su-
premacy. Until all this is done, the friends of
the Constitution and of human rights cannot
cease from their labors nor can the country
hope for any repose, but the repose of submits
sion.
Let men of all parties and pursuits, who wish
well to their country, and would preserve its
good name, Join in these labors. Welcome
here to the Conservative and to the Refromer
for our cause stands on the truest conservatism
and the truest reform. In seeking the reforms
OF existing evils, We seek also the conservation
of the principles of our fathers. Welcome es.
PNNiu'J " ~ yOuHSs " YOU 1 dIpGdI WlIl
confidence. Trust to your generous impulses,
and to that reasoning of the heart, which is
often truer, as it is less selfish, than the ~calcula-
ton of the brain. Enthusiasm, Do not ex.
change your aspirations Tor the skepticism of
age. Yours is the better part. 1t IS said in
the Scriptures, that " the young men shall see
visions, and the old men shall dream dreams y
on which Lord Bacon has aptly remarked, that
the palm is given to the young men, inasmuch
as it Is higher to see visions than to dream
dreams.
Do this, and you will most truly promote that
harmony which you so much desire. You will
establish tranquility throughout the country.
Then at least the slavery question will be settled.
Banished from its usurped toothold under the
Federal Government, slavery will no longer en-
ter, with distracting force, into the national pol
itics-making and unmaking laws, and making
and unmaking Presidents. Confined to the
States, where it was lett by the Consultation, it
will take its place as a local institution, for
which we are in no sense responsible, and
against which we cannot justly exert any polit-
lcal power. We shall be relieved from our pres
ent painful and irritating connection with it ;
the existing antagonism between the South and
the North %softened, elimination and recrimina-
ton will cease the wishes of our fathers will be
fulfilled and slavery will be left to the kindly
influences of morals and religion.
10 every laborer in d cause like this, there
are satlstactions unknown to the common polit-
zeal partlzan. Amidst all apparent reverses-
notwithstanding the hatred of enemies, or cold
ness OF trlends-he has the consciousness OF
duty done. Whatever may be existing lmped-
lments, his also is the cheering conviction, that
every word spoken, every act performed, every
vote cast for this cause, helps to swell those
quickening influences by which Truth, Justice
and Humanity will be established upon earth
Cheers. He may not live to witness the
blessed c~onsummation. But it is none the les;
certain. Others may dwell on the Past, as Sc
cure. Under the laws of beniicent God, the
Future is also secure-on the single condition
that we labor for its great objects. [Enthusias
have spoken of votes. Living in a com
munity where political power is lodged witt
the people, and where each citizen is an cleo
tor, the vote is an important expression of gu
opinions. The vote Is the cutting edge. 1t il
well to have correct opinions but the vote
must follow. The vote is the seed planted
without it there can be no sure fruit. Tit
winds OF heaven may in their benefcence scat
ter the seeds in the furrow; but it is not from
such accidents that our fields wave with a gold
en- harvest. He is a foolish husbandman whc
neglects to sow his seed and he is an unwist
citizen, who desiring the spread CT certain prin.
ciples, neglects to deposit his vote for the can
didates who are the representatives of his prln'
ciples.
Admonished by experience, of the timidity
tho irrncD1ntinp Tho utopt of Grpopocg in an
public men, particularly at Washington, amidst
the temptations Of ambition and power the
friends Of Freedom cannot lightly bestow their
confidence, They can put trust In men only Of
a tried character and indexible will. Three
things at least they must require the first is
back bone the second is backbone; and the
third is back bone. Loud cheers. My Ian
guage is homely, but 1t expresses an idea which
| would not have forgotten when | see a person
of upright character and pure soul, yielding to a
temporlzing policy, | cannot but say, he tCantS
back bone. When | see a person loud in profes.
sion of anti-slavery in private, but hesitating
and uncertain in public, and failing at the time
of trial, | say he tUantS a back bone. When | see
a person careful always to be on the side of the
majority, and unwilling to appear in a small
minority, or, if need be, to stand alone, | say
also, he WaatS d backbone. Applause. Want
ing this, they all want that courage, constancy,
and firmness, which are essential to the support
of PRINCIPLE. Let no such men be trusted.
Applause.
To vindicate freedom and to oppose slavery.
so far as | could do it Observation-Disclosures
earncstness, and yet, | trust, without any per-
sonal unkindness on my part--has been the OBJ
ject near my heart. Would that | could I'M
press upon all who now hear me something of
the strength ofmy own conviction Of the i'm
p~ortance Of this work Would that my voice,
leaving this crowded hall tonight could traverse
the hills and valleys of New England that it
could run along the rivers and the lakes of my
c~ountry-lighting in every humane heart a bea
con flame to arouse the slumberers throughout
the land. Sensation. In this cause | care
not for the name by which may be called
Let it be democrat, or " loco-toco;' if you please
No man who IS in earnest will hesitate on &C
count of a name. | shall rejoice in any associ.
ates from any quarter, and shall ever be found
with that party which most truly represents the
principles of freedom. Applause.
Others may become Indifferent to the prin.
ciples, b%arterlng them for political success, vain
and short lived, or forgetting the visions OIL
youth in the dreams of age. Whenever | for
get them, whenever | shall cease to be constant
in maintaining them, through good and evil re.
port, in any future combinations of party, then
may my tongue cleave to the roof Of my mouth.
may my right hand forget its cunning! [Cheers,
And now as | close, fellow citizens, let me
say, if from this place, trould make myself heard
by the friends of freedom throughout the Com
monwealth, | would give them for a rallying cry
at the coming election, three words-"FREE-
DOM, UNION, VICTORY"
THE peroration of the orator was received
with the most earnest applause, followed by
three cheers tor Charles Sumner, three cheers
for Horace Mann and the cause.
ZZ
A WCHRIsTIAN Anti.Slaveru Cnnrnn.