Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-08-14
Wing Consistency and Abandon
ment of Free Principles.

huN III" uOohNOuCN inv PlAhOipASo VI
freedom, which, for years past, they have
protested 10 cherish, and which they have
made merit of protesting over the other
parties-even the Free Sellers. We would
be glad to avoid our convictions on this
point, but we cannot. The fact appears to
US to be incontroyeritibe Let US GO to
the record =
AS late as the 18th of November, 1850,
the wing party took the lead in introducing
into our Legislature and passing the follow
ing resolution -
ResOlved, That the people Of Vermont
do not approve of the recent Act of Con-
gress relating to persons escaping from
service of their masters : holding it to be
opposed to the great principles of civil lib
erty; and we will use all constitutional
means to procure its repeal, or such mod
fcations of it as to protect the rights of our
own citizens"
At the state convention at Bellows Falls,
which was said by them to be fully repre-
scnted and singularly unanimous, the wings
passed also the following resolution, as en-
bracng the present views and rule of action
of their party =
ReSOlUed, That in the moderate and dis.
Greet, land practicable measures recommend
ed to Congress by the present national adj
ministration, and the firm determination to
repress internal disorder, execute faithfully
the laws of the land, and maintain inviolate
the faith of public treaties, we recognize
measures and principles, to which we give
our cordial appreciation and pledge hearty
support"
And this resolution, which declares the
cordial appreciation Of, and pledges the par
ty support to the moderate, and discreet, and
practicable measures recommended to Con-
gress by the administration, and their de-
termination to execute them, was passed
deliberately, and with the full knowledge
that the compromise measures are the great
and leading measures of this administration
that the fugitive act was recommended
by Webster, and its passage secured by
Fillmore, and that both, officially and 9TH
erwise, have repeatedly declared their de-
termination to sustain it,without permitting
the least modification, and to use the whole
power of the government in executing it.
Now we put it to the candid and honest
of all parties, even among the wings them
selves, whether this resolution of the state
convention is not, in effect, a complete
abandonment of the position taken on the
fugitive slave law in the resolution of the
Legislature of 1851 ? and whether, indeed,
it is not, under the circumstances, full
surrender to the slave power, by all the
wing leaders of Vermont, of all the Free
Soil principles they have so GENEROUSLY
proclaimed, in all their public resolutions,
since 1874?
The position of the wing party on the
slavery question, previous to the nomina-
ton of Gen. Taylor, was, we were ever
ready to admit, mainly good one. But
it has been growing worse and worse ever
since; and now no man of discernment
can help seeing, with so many glazing
proofs before him, that the party is ire
trievably sold and gone over to the slave
power. If this be SO, how can those in
their ranks who are honestly opposed to
the aggressions Of slavery, and especially
its embodied enormities SO outrageously
and insultingly thrust upon us in the shape
Of the fugitive act, support their tickets
any longer? We confess we can see no
way for honest men TO do so, with such
facts staring them in the face.
But some of them may say, perhaps, " |
cannot go with the Free Democracy, be-
cause l disagree with them on other prin-
ciples." What principles those Of the
Tariff? Why, the Free Democrats are all
themselves in favor Of tariff, and so re-
solved in state convention in May; and we
do not believe there is one in that party in
Vermont, who will not 60 as far as Fillmore
has gone on that subjective certainly will
Do you object TO the Sub-Treasury! Why,
the administration have adopted the Sub
Treasury The Free Democrats make no
issue with the wings on any of these points.
But they do make an issue with the admin
stration, and with the wings who declare
they approve and will support it, on the
slave bill, on which that administration and
the slave power have put the grand issue of
the slavery question. Wing Free-SoiIers,
therefore, have nothing to Icae on the score
Of old issues by leaving their recreant par
ty; but, as we believe, they have much to
gain on the score offreedom by joining the
Free Democracy.
But we ask them not to take our word
or that of any partizan press but let them
examine the facts for themselves, reflect,
and act accordingly.
The Watchman says the late Free Dem
ocratic Convention did not pass single
resolution condemning the Old Liners
Will the Waterman point us to the resolu-
ton Of the wing State Convention which