Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-05-05
From the Burlington Courier.
Something Marvellous.

Mr.. EDITOR "A new and astonishing
illustration of the fact, that great effects re.
suit from little causes. seems to have occur
red to the Northern Inquirer, while medi-
tatng OH the following statement contained
in the Grcen Mountain Freeman. The
Freeman, it would seem, had represented
that the two great political parties in this
country, which had so long been contend.
ing with each other had at last united with
each other in the single idea of upholdng
slavery; that it was this one idea that over
threw the Wilmot provlso, and established
the compromise in its ruins; that it was
this one idea that produced its like IN the
the one idea platforms at Baltimore, 1t was
this one idea that elected Gen Pierce, the
one idea candidate for the Presidency and
prompted his one idea inaugural address 1t
was this one idea that enacted the Black
Law of Illinois, and led to the attempts
lately made to legalize temporary slavery in
New York and Pennsylvania; and finally,
it is this one idea which is now controlling
every appointment of the new adminis,ra-
ton; and which will, unless the people of
the free states arouse themselves in re-
sis;ance to its present alarming progress,
soon control, not only the federal, hut every
state government from Maine to Mexico.
The Inquirer admits that there is good
deal of good truth in all this, and the result,
it must be supposed, of his profound inqul-
ries, ascribes all these prodgious effects to
" the babbling" and "clack" of the abok.
tionists! In his opinion the mass of the
people would sympathize much more with
the slaves. "did not few incendiary agita.
tors, by their Incendary dongs, render it
unsafe for them to do So" Here, accord.
ing to the Inquirer, you see the mass of the
people OF this great nation, held back from
noble work of humanity and Justice which
they are disposed to perform; the two grea,
antagonislic parties of the nation shaken to
pieces, and peacefully mingled together
the action of state governments and of Con
gress thoroughly controlled and the Presi
dent himself, with the army and navy under
his command, put in fear, and constrained
to act far more energetically for the support
OF slavery than he otherwise wouIdl by the
mighty impulse ofthe "babbIng and clack"
of not many but few 'abolitionist agita-
tors =
Was there ever such thing heard of be
fore? Will not these agitating individuals
become proud of their prodgious power,
and "babble" and "clack" more and louder
than ever Z Being such mischicvous fellows,
will they not love to agltate the nation more
than formerly, and divert themselves in
making 8" the powers that be" quail before
them-and keep US all in state of alarm
and confusion, till we hang them up as trai.
tors, as the editor of the Inquirer (no, this
same editor, however, spoke of doing sew.
eral months ago? All attempts, of this sort
have, indeed, as yet, proved unsuccessful
The more these few agitators have been op-
posed, the more they have increased From
the days of Wilberforce, and Clarkson and
Fraklin, they have been extending. and
multiplying, and gaining strength. Was not
the Inquirer, whatever might have been his
secret convictions, greatly off his guard,
and deplorably imprudent, to give these
" babbiing and clacking agitators" such
new and dangerous notions in regard to
their consequence and prodigious power
But let us not be alarmed. Such ag,ators
will find they have hard work to do yet,
before they will bring this nation to believe
that "all men are created equal-endowed
with the iaalienable right of libertyW Still,
great effects Sometimes result from little
causes; aud perseverance has done. and
may yet do wonders. Go ahead, friend.
but mind that you always 60 in the right
direction. YouIs truly, VI
April Is, 1853.