Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-26
The Free Democracy and the
Presidency.

E10SlQenCy.
We last week, in a somewhat extended arti'
Gle, discussed the question whether the Free
Democracy could consistently think of uniting
with the National Democrats on any candidate
for the Presidency whom the latter would pre-
sent-arriving at the negative conclusion
Since the article was published, the National
Era has come to hand containing a long and
lucid editorial, which, after going through a
similar course OF argument, and arriving at a
similar conclusion, closes as follows:-
"The great practical question then arises
Shall the voters of the United States, opposed
to Slavery, opposed to its ascendency in the
Federal Councils. opposed to its control of the
Federal Executive, opposed to its schemes of
propagandism, in favor of divorcing it from the
Federal Government, and restricting it to the
States in which it exists, content themselves
form en- organization, teith a view to make them
operative at the baltot-bOr?
Their sentiments are prescribed and de-
nounced in their respective parties. They
must ALLURE them, or expect to be treated as
outcasts from political fellowship. Mr.. Bayly, a
member of Congress from Virginia, in a letter
explaining the course of himself and his asso-
ciates in Introducing the Compromise resolu-
tons into the Democratic Caucus, avows that
the object was to exclude Free Soil Democrats.
He could not exclude them by name, and the
only mode of reaching them was by making a
test, the acceptance OF which by the Free Soil
Democrats, would have been equivalent to the
reputation of their heresies as the rejection
of it would have been an act of selfexcommu-
Gus, will succeed in the National Democratic
Convention and what the WING Caucus adopt
ed, can scarcely be rejected in the National
Wing Convention. All Anti Slavery senti-
ment will be voted a heresy, and those who
entertain it must either abjure themselves or
their parties. What will they do? If they
hbjure themselves, where is the hope of Free
dom? What hope for themselves? What can
bhSJ w v jig CdubG VI IlDCIby al lHO Jump Va
Slavery? They will be permitted to vote for
Slavery, but not to participate in its triumph
Having placed the reins in its hands, they can
not expect to check or direct its march. They
will have given power to a Tyrant to grind them
in the dust.
There are men in the country who have long
since cast aside the shackles of party. There
are Wings and Democrats, whom party con-
.siderations cannot hold in relations where they
must slife or foreswear their highest convic-
tions. There will be an opportunity for these
to unite in an effective organization during
the next Presidential canvass. 1t is stated that
a National Convention of the Friends of Free
dom is to be held at Pittsburgh, some time in
June next, after the action of the old party Con-
v%entions shall have been announced. May we
not hope that that Convention may lay down
such 3 platform as American freemen can stand
upon, and feel that they can act in harmony with
the constitution, in obedience to the Democrat
ic Principle, with proper care fol every public
interest, with q strict regard to the rights of all
the states, and with a paramount devotion to
the cause of Freedom? II will be impossible,
we think, to make even a tolerable demonstra-
ton, should the Convention attempt to marsha
a party, or to set up candidates, on the single
issue Of Slavery, without regard to other ques
tiohs. Many are anxious to act against Sla.
very, and make the question of paramount con,
sheraton, but not to the neglect of other i'm
portant questions.
We do not believe that one hundred thousand
voters could be mustered on the simple issue
of Slavery, as now presented but were an or
ganization formed, which should take the Dem
ocratic Principles as its central element, ant
apply it f~earlessly and consistently to all tn,
questions relating to Intervention, Public Lands
Education, Elections of Officers, Governmental
Expenditures, Tariffs, Glass Legislation AM
Slavery, it would be able, if not to affect deci
sively the result Of the next Presidential cleo
ton, to command such support as would max,
it thereafter q powerful element in the %politica
world. 1t would attract to its standard Demo
crats disguised with the rule of the Slave Pow
or, and the everlasting contradictions in which
1t has involved their party Wings, dissatisfied
with the want of any fixed principles and witt
the time-serying tactics of their party Lane
kefoEners, who must see that little can be hopet
for their peculiar views in political organization
sWayed by the jmmovable Conservatism GROWING
out OF the compIlcate monopoly of Land, Labor
erS' and Capital, prevalent in the South PhiIan.
throplsts, who have long labored in vain to in
troduce into the conflicts of parties ideos o.
Human Brotherhood, and to infuse ipto Govo,O'
men'S the spirit of Humanity. All these could
act ~lth such an organization, and discbargf
al 'neF outleS as citizens, in consistent obedi.
ence to Princinle TLo. OOS9i'