Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-09-02
THE FREE SOIL MOVEMENT.

THE FREE SOIL MOVEMENT.
We propose 10 offer few rcmarks upon the
sio proceedings Of our Free Sol brethren.
Ca the abstract question Of Slavery there is,
between them and US no controversy. Like
them, we regard 1t a huge wrong TO one por
uon Of our population and fraught with guilt
end dsnger 10 the rest cause of strife and
DIVISION among the States and deep and damn
disgrace to the nation.
Blu, It IS bound MP ia our political system. 1t
Iegalized 10 the States where o. exists and re-
oognzed IN terms By our Federal Compact But
Two ways remain open for ITS abohuon-one by
tie voluntary action of the States IN which 1T
exists the other by revolution. We know that
here IS az present little hope of the first but are
se prepared TO adopt the second
Hopeless as the case may now appear-obstl-
naely as the people of the South cling 90 their
wicked and injurious lnsutuuon-wo would yet
rather RELY upon the power Of truth, the adYanc-
ING spirit of the age. and the alsuodmg nfu-
ence Of Christianity. to exert their energies up
on the minds Of Shareholders, and thus bring
them to a sense OF the guilt of slavery and IN
duce them to abolish IT, than TO resort to violent
measures.
We are bound up in political compact with
sayeholdeTs. The act which so bound as was
neither theirs nor ours. Grant that they are guu
ty--not Of originating Slavery, but OF clinging
10 H. chershng il, and abouug 10 extend If, still
this does not absolve Us from the performance OF
the duties which, under the Federal compact
we owe to them, nor them from the duties "hicn
they owe TO us 4 Christian wife IS not eXoner-
aicd from the duties of that relation by the I'M
christian, or even vicious, character OF her nus
band but, if his conduct at length becomes m
tolesable, her last sad alternative Is to seek an'
obtain divorce. Have we IN our marriage re-
lauon with slaveholdlng States, reached that fear
iul point which warrants US to seek dissolution
Of the bond There are very few who viii say
So
Well tins brings MS one step nearer to thi
point at issue between ourselves and our FREE
Sol brethren. WIN they permit US TO ask then
few plain questions
Are you ready TO dissolve the Union and d
You desire TO do SO
II You answer m the affirmative, then why ar
You seeking to elect man ofyour party as Tres
ident of the United States Would 1t not b
better to initiate measures for the abrogatlon {
The Constitution, and the establishment of Ne
cenederucy, from which Slavery shall be eXcluC
ed
But as your answer is, that you have no sue
object, permit US TO ask you how you expect
live ~ union with men with whom you refuse
hold political fellowship: DO you not see IN
the rule you propose 10 yourselves, Whatever ma
W NNhl NlAtNAioN0 WIN lfEalA ~ s'tN -'''N ''
and preservation of the Union, is tantamount
It's dissolution ? for the very idea OF union pr
supposes reciprocal political action.
We may nay, if you please, we are bound
bear our testimony with all possible earnes
ness against the system Of Slavery; but we co
tend with equal earnesness that we are not c
onerated from the duties which our union WI
the Shareholders imposes upon U.S. and that al
action, intended to separate US from them, Is c
sentally revolutionary.
The great majority Of those who compose U
FREE Sol party are earnest, Christian men; a.
We know that they will not treat lighuy !
teachings of Him whose name they bear.
pray not" said He of his disciples, " that tn
shouldst take them out of the world but II
thou shouldst keep them from the evil DO 9
free Soil friends think, in view of these renal
able words, that it Is His will that they shot
lake themselves out of the Union, or out OF
two great parties which divide the country 1
world needed the disciples Of the Redeemer; o
| II these Free Soil men are Christians, the Uu
needs them, the Wings need them, the Der
cfS's need them--not as antagonists, but as
zeI ;, as friends, as guides, as co workers.
4 gain: In the Parable of the Tares we hi
an Impressive lesson to warn US against mistal
zetL A man sowed a field with good seed
an enemy came in stealthy and sowed tares
lis servants were grved at seeing these
pants growing among the wheat, as our ire
are gneved 10 see so abominabe thing as II
cry mixed up with our excellent political inst
lions and whether they attribute 1t TO SataI
70 Treat Britain, they too, may very truly
claim, An enemy hath done this ?" Well,
owner of the field in question had some G
ana faithful seTants-as our Free Soil fire
are good and faithful citizens but they wei
Nuie indisereet. They proposed at once to g