Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-13

For the Freeman.
Mr.. EDIToR:-The perusal of yoRr editorial
in the Freeman of Feb. 10Th, on the Union of
the 3lst Of May, l849, afforded me not a little
satisfaction. The wise and skillful mariner will
always profit by the dangerous shoals and quick
sands from which he escapes. Experience is
sometimes a dear school, but be is d wise schoI-
ar who heedS her timely admonitions. 1t is an
old adage that o large bodies have no souIs,"-
perhaps it would be nearer the truth to say they
have little souls, aud the larger the body the less
the soul. tits to be regretted tbut it is not the
less true, that men in an associated capacity
will do what they would not be willing to as.
sumo on their own individual responsibility
The true, disinterested, honest hearted politi-
clan, W no seeks to reform the abuses of his
country, is frequently shocked atthe short. sight
edness of tiDe-serving political d~emagogues,
who, blinded by their own selfish schemes, ap-
pear to see nothing beyond party triumphs and
temporary gains. Wealth gotten by fraud
soon vanisheth," power obtained in like manner
is equally as baseless, Political parties some
times appear to forget that by a law of neces-
sity their political responsibilities are weighed
in the same scale of cause and effect that all
all other relations of life are,-hence we so
frequently see them jostlod by party lcaders,and
thrown from their true centre. But when a par
ty is able and willing to see its own faults, there
is hope In its case. | cannot but think it ar.
CUES ~favorably Tor the head and heart ofthe editor
Of the Freeman, that no is not only able but
milling to discuss honestly The merits of the IN
ion of the 3lst of May
neither admit nor deny the conclusion to
which you arrive time will d~evelope. At the
same time permit me to hope that the " light of
truth " shed among those franks which for
merly " comprehended it not - may continue to
shine, till oil " pride of opinion is so far dis
PEELED as to enable us to bring back the stand
ard :" to its original height. Experience has
thus far demonstrated that the policy of lower
ing the standard below what "true wisdom
would dictate" was a mistaken one. We can.
not safely calculate on The ultimate triumph of
any party, only as it is based on sound moral
principles, 1t was not the policy of the old
Liberty Party to be governed by pride of opin-
ion--to be ~factious or self willed. They said
as early as 1845 in National Convention, that
they were ready TO give their candid support to
either of the other parties, whenever they would
adopt and engraft into their national creed their
fundamental principles. They say, "We have
already said we are ready to prove our devotion
to onr principles by CO operating with either of
the two great American parties, which will open,
ly and honestly in State and National Conven-
tons, avow our doctrines and adopt our measures
until slavery shall be overthrown." But it was
not their policy to compromise their principles
Tor any temporary gains, | have always regret
ted as all old Liberty man, that " pride of opin-
ion" should have forced into existence the old
Sub-Treasury, which Liberty men had wisely
and mutually agreed to lay upon the altar of
civil liberty. Why lumber ourselves with these
old obsolete issues, when we ought to be strip
ping ourselves for the race and Harvesting for
the battle? Let us save the drowning man be.
fore we look after his hat! 1T is only where
the rays OF light are brought to a focus that ex-
IRENE heat is produced" but when they fall d.
vergently over a large surface, there will be no
sensible effect. The revival of these old issues
produces disaffection in the Liberty ranks so
the Democrats can easily see that in " in endeaV-
oring to avoid Sylla they have fallen into Cha
rybdis p The recent Developments Of the
slave power ought to Danish all selfish conside-
ra.ions from every true American, and enable
all-of every party, to concentrate their forces
against the common enemy. Depend upon it,
Mr.. T., the old Liberty men will deal a blow
'0hen and tOhere they can, in favor of human
freedom; and | believe they will, to a man, be
willing to sustain an antl-slavery PLATFORM
such as you anticipate. On such a platform you
will find them ever ready to do battle against
the Goliath Of American freedom but they will
meet him, like David of old, unencumbered by
the trappings of old obsolete party issues. Up
on such a platform they will be willing to labor
with every party for the realization of the Dec
l%aration OF independence" the equal rights of
all men," Yours, B. REED.
Waitsfeld, March 1851.