Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-12
MONTPELIER:
TO WHICH WILL 1T COME AT LAST.

Nv ~ WILL ~ SoAAA IA AfaSA
The fact may not be known to all eur readers,
that the old anti-slavery party, which, though
not a political party itself, has yet unquestion-
ably ever been the foundation and mover of the
more numerous Liberty, Free-Sol and Free
Democratic political parties, have, within the
past few years, been gradually separating into
two divisions, and have now taken separate and
distinctly different positions, not so much in
principle as in the mode of action, the most ex-
pedient to be pursued in bringing about their
common object, the abolition of American Slav
cry.
One of these divisions, under the lead of Wen
dell Phillips, Garrison and other men of much
intellect and strong purpose, go openly for the
dissolution of the Union on the ground that the
Constitution, as the shareholders claim, is a
compromise with, and protection of slavery.
The other, under the lead Of Arthur Tappan,
Gerrit Smith, VIM. Goodall and other men OF
high position and talents, go on the ground that
tie Constitution, rightly construed gives nei-
ther sanction or protection to slavery that it is
in fact, an anti.s slavery instrument, and that, al
the liberties of the country cannot be preserved
in, the march of the Slave Power towards the
entire control of the Republic, and as that in
strunent necessarily involves the powers of pre-
serving those liberties, the Constitution gives
Congress full and rightful power to abolish sla-
very both in the States and territories leaving
it only as question as to the time or crisis at
which that power shall be exercised.
Tho Phillips and Garrison wing of the party
held large and ably represented convention at
the capital of New Hampshire on the 2lst and
22nd of June, when their bold position was set
forth and defended both in their resolutions and
in the powerful speeches of Phillips and Garri-
son, which, in the strangely altered aspects Of
affairs, were received by the gathered assemblage,
embracing most of the members of the legisla-
ture, with absolute favor and even applause.
The other wing of the anti-slavery party, OF
the Tappan, Smith and GoodaIl school, met at
Syracuse, was numerously and ably represented,
and continued their convention through the 26,
81 and 18th of June, when they passed a series
of resolutions, preceded by a long and formal
declaration of principles which, as fully embody-
ing and explaining the former we have this
week published in full, that cur anti-slavery
readers may see the groundwork of this now
clearly defined, and very important anti-slavery
movement eff the day.
This last named party occupy middle ground
between the Garrison and the Free Democratic
parties while the Free Soil or Free Democratic
party, though not going to the same extent, is
nevertheless, essentially based on the creed oil
the Goodall and Smith creed, to which they, a,
party, seem every year to be nearer and nearer
approaching And. under the growing aggres-
'sions of the Slave Power, it would not be at all
surprising to see them soon occupying tie com
mon ground ground which we have long be
lieved to be tenably, and as such altogether pre-
ferable to the more startling one Of dissolution
of the Union. But to one or other of thest
positions, we believe we shall all now soon BIZ
driven. And in the language of cur caption
we conclude---'' to which will it at last come =
Let every honest opponent'of slavery be ponder
ing itin his mind; for the hour Of choice ant
action, as every sign in the troubled politica
heavens indicate, is evidently not far distant