Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-09-04
National Convention.

We are 10 have convention; that is SET
ted-and two good men and true will be
put i'll nomination for the Offices Of Presi-
dent and Vice President. Some Of our
leading Free Soil papers are mighty dOzy
over it, and have forgotten apparently, that
there was such thing as Free Soil par
ty; in fact, a writer in the Era assumes the
ground that we must organize new party,
and take in more freights, by adding to the
breadth and length OF our platform. The
mammoth meeting at Ravenna thought diff
lerently; and has given us the time and the
place for glorious gathering. Organized
or not organized, we are in a place where
we must act. We cannot avoid it. The
system of slavery is stronger than ever be-
fore; its forces better drilled; its advocates
more vlgilant; its champions more daring;
their tools more servile and time serving
Slavery has lifted her hand, and told the
clergymen of the land that Gods law must
not be denounced against slavery or any Of
its enactments. 1t assumes TO dictate to
the pulpit, and silence the convictions Of
conscience; but this cannot be; as long as
slavery is regarded as sin, so long will the
moral sense of mankind revolt against it,
Strike from the minds of the people the be-
lief that Gods word disalows such iniqui
ties as slavery, and you have at blow made
them all atheists
Look at its evils. 1t annihlates mar
rIo ha al hO n
inspiration; it destroys conscience, and bids
the slave obey the will of his master;it kills
the power of the parent over the child; ant
makes him the property of his owner, anc
places the life Of the slave in the hands o
irresponsible power: strips the female of al
protection, and makes her the creature o
unbridled lust; it blots the slave from mora
existence; sends him to the grave in mora
night, and clouds his future in eternal black
ness. Tell US that Gods word uphold
such terrible outrages he is bold bias
phemer who utters it; stabs truth to thu
heart, and drives right from the abodes o
men. This is but single feature Of tn
thing; conceived as it is in spirit Of iniq
ulty and outrage, every measure it adopt
is wrong and oppressive. Sweet water
cannot flow from this bitter fountain. |
seeks to perpetuate itself by diffusion; by eX
tension; and, trenched as it is in the hear
of our national politics, it makes part G
the national heart; and sends its black bloc
through every part of the system.
1t is cortupting our national morality
our literature, our pulpts; our domesti
circles; our city merchants are its mer
tools, and beggars for its favors; our North
ern mechanics who make articles for it
use, must be its apologists.
Thus situated, we cannot turn from il
it is cancer on our own breasts, and a
ulcer in our own stomachs. We cannot
if we would, evade the struggle; we cannot
il we would, drop agitation; it is hea'
ing, restless volcano of wrong and outrage
and that sense of right which binds US {
our own welfare, leads us to defend tn
slave; will put eternally in motion this as
citation. When the wings stoop low at il
footstool. for fayoss, .tlEs' depl - pres
! heralds it on tie wings Of wind, an
the people drink full draft Of oppositio
( to the abasement. When the democrat
stoop for favors, the wings cry out that the
r are services; and that they are the true Lii
erty party. and that all the "reigion an
decency" is with them; and thus the viii
masses are tinctured with opposition {
slavery. The fruits of these mutual recrin
4 nations are seen i'll the production of fa'
tons. Greeley and Seward men, fghtin
n the other wing of their national organic
r ton, and pushing the Websterites to tt
I wall On the other hand we have DEM
: cratic boilers, and Van Buren's hosts, an
a spirit of strife set up in the very heart
Y the great National Democratic party TT
y controversy won't sleep; politicians won
e let it; truth won't let it; freedom won't Il
II it: God won't let such fostering corruptic
. rest in quiet Justice, deep planted in oil
!, bosoms, will point the finger of slow, III
e moving scorn at the tedious pile of lie
. outrages heaped up around the black thror
n of slavery. 1t is hated by the civilize
= world, and hunted by the spirit Of Christ
e gospel, wherever it turks or seeks a shelte
}! We cannot go back or disband; we nee
. :, not try it. The position ofthe old parti
f as naturally impels us onward as the hea
o ing ocean, lashed by a tornado, does IL
!, gallant ship; our vessel is launched "
: must keep her manned aud we'll provsio
n ed, and steer straight for the port of un
!, versal freedom.
For the sake of truth, don't let us slice
# but call the friends of onr cause, from Il
e granite hills of New England to the slav
s cursed fields of Kentucky, to counsel wi
e us at Cleveland on the Oath of Septemb
e next, to renew again our vows of hostli
= = to this towering lie.-Ashtabala, (OM
. Centinek