Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-26
VOLUME TX. NO. 35.

0uNii N0lHB tuS Cdse' We CdnnOI ny any dCI Ol
ourssupport Gen. Pierce for the Presidential Of
hce, without losing Our respect for the principles
which constitute the foundation of Democracy.
10 do so, would be to emulate the conduct of
the epterprising individual who undertook to
perform Shakespeare's play of Hamlet, sgih The
part Of Hamlet omitted.
Thomas Jefferson, the apostle of Democracy
IN his writings upon our system of Slavery,
says:
With what execraton should the statesmen
be loaded, who, permitting one half the citizens
thus to trample on the rights Of the other, trans
foshs these, into dcspots asa those intD enemies,
destroys the morals of the one part, and the amor
pdtriG of the other" i "Can the lib
critics of nation be thought secure when we
have removed their only firm basis, a conviction
in the minds of the people that these liberties are
the gift of God That they are not to be viola
ted but with His wrath tremble for my coun-
try, when | reflect that God is just that His
justice cannot sleep forever that considering
numbers, nature, and natural means only, rev.
olution OF the wheel of fortune, an exchange of
situation, is among possible events the Almigh-
y has no attribute which can take side with us
in this contest" " But we must
wait with patience the working of an overruling
Providence, and hope that is preparing the de-
liverence Of these our suffering brethren. When
the measure of their tears shall be full when
their tears shall have involved Heaven itself in
darkness, doubtless God Of justice will awaken
to their distress, and, by difdsing light and lib
erality among their oppressors, or at lenght, by
his exterminatinS thunder, manifest his attention
to the things of this world, and that trey are not
left to the guidance of blind fatality"
Thomas Jefferson never bestated to avOw his
sentiments and we, bis disciples, cannot with
out dshonor submit to the gag ; the pledge to
resist all attempts at agitation, we cannot sub
scribe to. We therefore enter our protest against
it.
When Convention calling itself Democratic
so far loses sight of the principles of Democracy
as to pledge itself and its candidates to suppress
agitation on subject Of commanding Importance
and the nominees Of that Convention accept the
pledge, we hesitate not to say that we feel bound
by our allegiance to Democratic principles to
reject the pledge and its candidates. We have
labored for the Democracy we have rejoiced
at its triumphs, and been depressed at its defeats.
We regret now to separate from those of our
hrathrnp with ,ybor, bnu re- al
for the advancement of Democratic principles,
who now seem willing to compromise those prin-
c.p!es for SaYehoidmg SUPPORT
Men change, but principles are eternal. 1t is
for no slight cause that we now take stand as
Independent Democrats, Independent the plat
form adopted by the politicians who assembled
at Baltimore but not independent Of the sacred
principles of Democracy, which are enshrned
in the hearts of the American people ; indepen-
dent, as regards submission to The insolent de-
mands of the Slave Power, but willing and de-
srous to co operate in all efforts to establish and
make permanent the great principles upon hch
the Republic was originally founded.
But, some may ask, as you repudiate tne plat
form adopted at Baltimore, upon what platform
do you stand ? The question is pertinent, and
easily answered The Mass Convention of In.
dependent Democrats which met at Buffalo in
August 1648 resolved {" that our fathers ordain'
ed the Constitution of the United States in Or
der to establish justice, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty;
but expressly denied to the General Government
all constitutional power to deprive any person OF
life, liberty or property, without due legal pro-
cess that Congress has no more power to make
u slave than it has to make king that it is the
duty of the Federal Government to relieve itself
from all responsibility for existence Or continuance
of Slavery, wherever that Government has con-
st;utiona authority to egsIate on that subject,
and is thus responsible lor its existence that
we will have no more Slave States and no Slave
territory that we demand cheap postage tor the
people, a retrenchment of the expenses and pat
ronage of the Federal Government, the abolition
of all unnecessary offices and salaries, and the
election, so far as practicable, of all civil officers
free grants of land to actual settlers on our pub
lie lands, and the abolition othe national debt"
To this we may add the resolutions adopted
by the Independent Democracy OF Massachusetts
at their recent Convention at Worcester, viz.
Resolved That we cordially concur in the
sentiment expressed by the late Democratic
Convention, that the Federal Government is
one of limited powers, derived solely from the
Constitution and the grants OF power made
therein ought to be strictly construed by all the
departments and agents of the Government :
and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to
exercise doubtful constitutional powers ! and
therefore,
Resolved, That Congress possesses no au-
tborty whatever to legislale for the rendition OF
fuptiyes from service or labor, such legislation
being a dangerous encroachment upon the SOW
ereigntv of the States, clear violation of their
reserved rights, and, in the form which it has as
sumed in the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, repug-
nant to the principles of the common law, to the
spirit of Christianity, and to the sentiments of
the civilized world. We therefore demand its
immediate and total repeal.
Resolved That any future acquisition of
territory by the United States, whether by pur-
chase, treaty, conquest, or otherwise, ought to
be and must be upon the fundamental condition
that Slavery shall be wholly and forever excluded
from such territory.
Resolved, That the Constitution vests in
Congress the power to open and repair harbors,
and remove distractions from navgable rivers
and it is expedent that Congress shall exercise
that power whenever such Improvements arc
necessary for the common defence ar for the
for the protection and facility of commerce with