Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-04
Fol the Freeman.
To the Free Democracy of vt,

claims of freedom, and genuine, practical De-
mocracy, we must see 20 it, that the attention of
the people is drawn to the true issues involved
in the approaching election, and that all the
friends of our cause are marshaed for the con-
test. The Free Democracy of Vermont stand
now precisely where they have stood for years.
They stand on the Buffalo Platform, the Pitts.
burgh Platform, and the Platform adopted by the
united Democracy Of Vermont on the 3lst day
Of May, 1649. The great leading doctrines of
all these Platforms are identical. The chief
corner stones of them all are human freedom
eternal opposition to slavery g. its encroachments
principles above spoils,-and the maintenance
Of that Democracy which Jefferson taught, and
the fathers of the Republic supported. To all
these principles, all the Democrats of Vermont,
who supported HoRArIo NEEpHAM for Governor
in l849, gave in their adherence and pledged
, themselves to maintain. The regular Democratic
organization of the State nominated Mr.. Need.
ham as its candidate, and the organs Of that party
announced him as the regular candidate of The
united Democracy. Tina, organization Is now
with the Free Democracy and the principles it
then promulgated are the principles of the Free
Democracy now. Those who opposed the can
dda;es and the platform of the 3lst of May,
lS49, were denounced and treated as 3" boilers "
from the regular organization of the Democracy
and from the true Jefersonian faith. The simple
question, then, which comes home to every
Democrat who intends to adhere to Democratic
usages and principles, is, will you abandon your
party and its doctrines ? or will you support
both To this qnesliou,it would seem that there
could be but one answer, in the mind of every
Democratic voter, who is not disposed to follow
leaders, at the expense of all the essentials of
Democracy, and that is, :" | will 60 where Dem
ocratic principles lead, with the organization
that upholds them" Can this be done in con-
nection with any organization that endorses and
sustains the Baltimore Platform of the party pro-
Tossing to be Democratic? If the principles
adopted by the united Convention of the 81 of
May, ls49, were correct, the support of the
Baltimore Platform is wrong, and the support of
the party which sustains it, is wrong. What
true aud consistent Democrat in Vermont, can
sanction and support the Fugitive Slave Law?
But any one who supports the party that cndor
ses the Baltimore Platform, supports that law,
and pledges himself to maintain it Whit true
and consistent Democrat in Vermont can sane
ton the principles Of the old Seiiion Law p
But any one who upholds the Baltimore Platform
lends his sanction to principles more aTocious
than those embodied in the old Sedion LAW,
for he pledges himself to assist in putting down
free discussion upon the subject Of human
slavery
| These things should be brongh, to the minds
of all the Democrats of the State, in order that
they may see what the true issues are, in the
present attitude Of political affairs, Every Free
democrat should make it his business 10 pre-.
sent to his "Old Line " brethren the true posi-
ton of the different parties, and the principles
which are involved in their support. Now that
the Presidential contest is over, mon will look
more to principles than to party success.
On the other hand there are considerations
tons which ought to be suggested to our breth-
rem OF the Wing party. For many years that
party in Vermont assumed high anti-slavery
ground, and by that means kept large propor-
ton Of ills members in its ranks who would oil
erwise have abandoned it. Its anti-sIHvery po.
IA o. ,,neoii d,fo ~
it continued ascendency in the State than any
or all other causes combined, When the Wing
party of the nation succeeded in eecllng slave
holder to the Presidency aud it was found nee
essary, in order to secure the support of the
South TO maintain its ascendency, the anti
slavery tone of the party in Vermont, was es.
true anti-slavery party" it has becoQe just as
pro.slavery as the Old Line Democracy, and the
Wings and Democrats of Vermont, and Of the
nation, are found standing upon platforms which
are identical in their opposition to oil anti slavery
action, and in their subserviency to the wishes
and demands of the Slave Power. The tic
"nSh oouHu uht oiuNci1 hOHpCio vi hO w HiH
party to its support, is effectuslly sundered The
support of the Fugitive Slave LAW and opposi.
ton to all discussion of the subject of slavery
and the aggrcssions of the Slave Power, have
become part Of the Wing creed, and he who
supports that party supports them in fact, if he
does not in name.
Added 10 this, it must be evident TO any ex.
perienced and careful observer of the political
signs of the times, that the Wing party is in
state of dissolution. Some of its leading organs
announce that II is deaa-that it never can
rally from the defeat it sustained at the last
Presidential election, and that it is worse than
useless to endeavo to sustain Its present organi-
cation. Others openly declare that if it is to be
sustained, it cannot be sustained upon The "old
issues that the sub treasury policy is the set
tied policy Of the Government--that the cues.
ton of protection is settled by the people and
cannot be unsettled and that the party must
look for other grounds upon which 10 maintain
itself. In this state of affairs, to what issues
can consistent anti. slavery Whigt]ng except
those presented, against both Of the old parties,
by the creed of the Free Democracy The
platform OF principles upon which our organiza,
ton stands, embraces all The principles and meas
urcs which are essential to the establishment of
a true, liberal, progressive and American policy
in the administration of the Governments pol
icy based upon the Declaration Of independence,
and having for its fret and highest object the
establishment and maintenance of Freedom and
free institutions among men,
These views and considerations should be
pressed upon the attention of the anti slavery
Wings OF the State, and they should be shown
that the only real antagonsm Of principles ex-