Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-04-13
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

its startling PROJECT OF opening all the territory
acquired, or TO be acquired, by the United
States. to the whitening dominion of Slavery,
must inevitably, We think, create new era in
The Anti-Slavesy movement of the North. 30
deep and general an excitement as now pervades
the free States, In view of this new and daring
attempted aggression of the Slave Power, will
certainly result in some thing Of no small mo-
ment to the cause of Freedom. But what will
be the character of this new era, so clearly pre-
figured by the everywhere multiplying signs Of
the times9 Will it involve weakening extern
sion of the Free Democratic Platform, for
the accommodation of the old parties-the low
sring of the standard for the purpose Of secur-
ing, for the time being, important political alli-
ances9 or will it consist in the strengthening OF
the anti-slavery basis of that platform, and the
raising of that standard, so that the coming war
fare will be more directly turned against the
institution itself, and, instead Of being content
with restricting the growth Of its branches,
cause the axe to be put to the very root OF the
tree,
These are questions which it is time the friends
of freedom were everywhere bordering.
There never was and never will be, so general
an excitement without the one of the great par
ties out of power avaling themselves Of it to re-
gain their lost ascendency.
The Wing party are not only out OF power IN
tbe nation. but all the old issues, on which they
formerly rallied, have become too obsolete to ad-
NIT of any hope of a successful rally upon them
again. Their situation, then, at the North, Is
one Attending them peculiar temptations Tor
Selling on the rev element as an important
means of success. And in our own State, whose
masses are proYorbially anti-slavery in sentiment
will this be especially the case. Accordingly,
we find them already moving in the matter The
Middlebury Register, some weeks since, put
forth leader distinctly suggesting the forna-
ton of new party, based on opposition to the
Nebraska Bill, the present Administrations and
all further extension of Slavery" great Re-
publican Party Of the North-a party embracing
all who are earnestly devoted to free, republican
principles party holding to the maintenance
of good faith in the observance of compacts and
treaties, at home and abroad; party based on
the spirit of the Constitution, and pursuing the
same policy as itsfounders in regard to Slavery /;
party of right, and truth, and justice, and
honor There must be NORTH. All who are
earnestly opposed to extending Slavery and to
increasing its power in the affairs of Our Gov
esnment, must be united"
This article hos been copied and endorsed,
with various additional propositions, by nearly
all the leading Wing presses Of the State, and
all virtually proposing to the Free Democracy
to join them in the new party, in which, accord
ing to the Watchman, the Wings are to take
the lead, and from which, suggests the Mercury,
withiits usual righteousness, the Barrier & Field
portion Of the Free Democracy are to be ex-
eluded
Now, with the exception of the probably tenn
porary question of the Nebraska Bill, what kind
Of platform is here Swallowed forth, on to which
the Free Democracy are so confidently invited to
enter! Does it pronounce I" Slavery a sin against
God and crime against man An institution
of which =" christianity, humanity, and patriot.
ism alike demand the abolition 7" Does it con,
tain any pledge for unceasing hostility to the
Compromises of 1850, and " demand for the re-
peal of the Fugitive Slave Law, like the two
cardinal features of the Pittsburgh Platform =
We do not see them. Suppose the Nebrask;
Bill is withdrawn, or SO modified as to he accep
table to all those who acquiesced in the Com
promises of 1850, land they are the whole Viii.
party,) would not the majority of the new PRO
posed party, the then pewerless Free DemocrAc,
included, decide still to acquiesce in those Com
promises, Fugitive Slave Law and all If SO
where would tho Free Democratic portion of TIN
new party find themselves then And suppose
again, that the unquestionably strongest mai
of the Wing party, Willard Fillmore, who j
now making the tour of the South, and tryin;
to mend up the rupturcd ties between Southern
and Northern Whigs-suppose Millard Fillmore
who, though opposed to the Nebraska Bill
signed the Fugitive Slave Bill, and still stand
pledged to support it, comes up for the Presi
dency of 1856, would not that majority go il
for his support II 80, where would the thu
amalgamated Free Democracy find themselve
then
These are questions which every honest Free
Democrat should be able to answer satisfactory
ly for himself, before he seriously entertains an,
such propositions as those to which we have beer
abiding.
Such are the temptations which are held forth
go on the one side to the Free Democracy, for what
itsecms to US, must inevitably lead to weak
cning extension Of the Platform, and the lower.
ias of the rstandard they all stand pledged te
sustain. ts
But there comes up potent voice on tn,
other side William Goodell, tho well-knowr
author Of the most searching and able work 81
the Slavery Question, perhaps ever written, ha
commenced . monthly Journal in New York
7. 'called the American Jubilee, which, being bu
50 cents per year, he andan influential humble
Of his old Liberty associates, propose to throw
broad cast oyer the whole land, and in which
undetahe chapgsg Aspset otsthe crisis, he urge
on the Free Democracy, with arguments which
II y difcult 70 gainsay, the duty of raising thei
standard, ao, as no more to recognize s.Slave pro
perty Slave hunting among Freemen" 'sn,
more, delay in repeating all acts of th,
governments that favor, or recognize Slavery,
Hno more compromises with Slavery and n,
more construction Of the constitution on the as
sumption OF compromises" But 90 on tn,
ground that :" there can be no liberation o
freedom it Slavery prevails, and no liberation O
Slavery, If freedom is to PREVAILS" and carr,
9 the war into Africa accordingly