Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-11-18
The .latform of Gerrit Smith.
The flowing document tells its oa

The latform of Gerrit Smith.
The lowing document tells its own
story II
Tohk Voters of the Counties Of Os,oe-
90 and MADISON You nominated me for
a seat il. congress, notwithstanding be-
sought '&1 not to do so. In vain was my
resistan TO your persevering and unrelent-
ing purpose.
/ had reached old age. had never held
Office. Nothing was more foreign to my
expectations, and nothing was more foreign
to my wishes, than the holding Of office
NY multiplied and extensive affairs gave
me full employment. My habits, all form
ed in private life, all shrank from public
life. Ny plans of usefulness and happiness
could be carried out only in the seclusion
in which my years had been spent.
My nomination, as | supposed it would,
has resulted in my election and, that too,
by very large majority. And now | wish
that could resign the office which your
partially has accorded to me. But, | must
mott cannot. To resign it would be a
most ungrateful and offensive requita of
the rare, generosity which broke through
your st8Mg ATTACHMENTS to party, and be-
- 1AlrasT '-te7 a.. as.a- Iha ,neculiaritiea
( of whose portugal creed leave him without
party. Very rare, indeed, is the gener-
osity which was not to be repealed by po-
| litical creed among the peCuiarities of
which, are =
lst That it acknowledges no law, and
knows no law, for slavery that, not only
is slavery not in the Federal Constitution,
but that, by no possibility, could it be
brought either into The Federal, or into
State, Constitution.
Cd. That the right to the soil is as nat.
ural, absolute and equal, IS the right to the
light and the air.
3D. That political rights are not conven-
tionaI, but misunderstanding in all persons
the black as well as the white, the female as
well as the male.
4th. That the doctrine of Free Trade is
the necessary outgrowth of the doctrine of
the human brotherhood; and that to i'm
pose restrictions on commerce is to build
up unnatural and sinful barriers across that
brotherhood.
9Th. That national wars are as brutal
barbarous, and unnecessary, as are the vio-
Ience and bloodshed, to which misguided
and lrenzied individuals are prompted; and
that our country should, by her own heav-
en.trusting and beautiful example, hasten
the day. when the nations of the earth
shall beat their swords into pIoughshares
and their spears into pruning hooks; ma
ton shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more"
9th. That the province of Government
is but to protect-to protect persons and
property and that the building of railroads
and canals and the care of schools and
churchesfall entirely outside of its limits,
and exclusively within the range of " the
voluntary principle" Narrow, however, as
are these limits, every duty within them is
to be promptly, faithfully. fully performed :
as well, for instance, the duty oil the part
OF the Gayal Government TO put an end
10 the Fhsho? manufacture of pauper
and madmen in the city of Washington, as
the duIyo on the part of the State Govern
ment to put an end to il in the State.
9Th. That, as far as practicable, every
officer, from the highest to the lowest, in
Guiding especially The President and Post.
master, Should be elected directly by tie
people.
need not extend any further the emu
meration of the features of my political
creed - and need not enlarge upon the
reason, which gave, why | must not,
and cannot resign the Office which you
have conferred upon me will only add,
that | accept it; that my whole heart is
moved to gratitude by your bestowment of
it; and that, God helping me, will so dis
charge its duties, as neither to dshonor my
self nor you. GERmT SMITH.
Peterboro, November 9th, 1862.