Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-16
THE AMERICAN PARTY.
pREsIDENr SHADES ADDRESS

| Gdt SeSsto", JUty l1"', '"'0.
GENTLEMEN oF TnE STATE Council You
are assembled in Special Council, in accord
ance with a call from your President, upon
the request Of Constitutional number OF
Representatives, respecting ten Councils with
in the jurisdiction of the State Council OF
Vermont.
This being a Special Session, shall refrain
from giving any statistics concerning the
Order within our State, and conhne my adj
dress to the considerations OF the stirring
events connected with the recent National
Convention holden at Philadelphia, together
with the noble action Of our delegates at that
Convention, and the consequent position in
which it places US in this State, in reference
to the great question of American Slavery,
and Political Romanism. The delegation in
Philadelphia will, presume, present 10 this
Council statement of their acts, that we
may judge Of the appropriateness OF salutlog
them with the plaudt Of "well done, good
and faithful servants" 1t was apparent to
every rejecting mind, that the National Coun-
|cil would have to meet, in its deliberations,
the question of Slavery in connection with
that of Romanism; and it was hoped the
South would meet the issue in the spirit Of
patriotism, and agree to settle upon such
basis as would secure to the Free States those
constitutional rights which, forming vast
majority of the voters of the Union, We have
o right to demand. This result would in all
probability have been secured, only from the
fact that the Empire State was not represent
ed by those who reflected the views and wishes
of the Order upon this question. The great
heart of the Free States beat true. Willing
to do all in their power to settle The question
upon just, equitable and constitutional basis,
the delegates from the Free States went to
the utmost verge Of right, 10 their great de-
sire to fix upon some basis that would meet
the views of their constituents, and not COM
promise the principles Of humanity and free
dom. But in their efforts 10 do this, they
we're met with demand that at once dissipat.
ed all hopes of Compromise, and compelled
the North to assume broad ground, and pre-.
sent to the Council their ultimatum, and insist
upon recognition Of its claims as the only
ground upon which concert Of action could be
maintained, and the Order remain a unit, in
its opposition to the political pretensions O.
Romansm. The Council, by majority vote
laid down platform Of principles embracing
the views of the South upon the question o
Slavery extension, and the doctrine of popu
lar sovereignty, as applied to tho settlemen
of all Territory belonging to the Nation, to
gether with refusal to restore the Missouri
Compromise line, so wantonIy destroyed b,
Congress at its last session. This action o
the National Council, so repugnant to ever,
sense Of right, justice and equity, met with
f strong and firm opposition from the Who'll
North aud West, New York excepted. Will
ing as The Free States were to yield ever
thing but principle, for peace, union and bar
mony, they were nevertheless determined t.
be true, unwaveringy true to the great doc
trine of human rights Upon this platform
with this noble and vital principle reigning il
their hearts, with the eyes of the whole ma
ton fixed with intense anxiety upon thei
actions, they stood firm and true. Forced a
had been by the South the Slavery issue upo
them, they met it, and nobly, too; and 70
the first time in the history of our country il
National Conventions, North was found
Yes, gentlemen of the Council, to the North
ern delegatesof the American party belong
h the honor of first, in National capacity
finding Nmth, H0ing, pitot North
Buried up, as it has been for years, in tn
grave of Slavery dctation and norther
e doughfacclsm, it at last found a resurrection
The trumpet blast Of freedom broke the sea
that Shareholders had placed upon the sepul
chre, and paralysel the guard of doughtace
: that watched its remains, and it arose; an
now stands forth in all its pristine beauty
= vgor and power. Its appearance was halle
with shouts of praise and thanksgiving an
from hencciorth its course is onward, dispens
ing in its pathway the great blessings Of liber
: ty and equality, crushing out of existence tn
foul and bIighting curse of Slavery.
And, gentlemen Of the Council this is no
all. The minority Of that Convention deeme
: it their duty, as it most certainly was, t
secede. Peaccable they convened, and wit
i, calmness and great deliberation, formed
platform embracing principles in harmon
A.. with the spirit OF the age, and in accordanc
with the highest dictates of freedom and right
The platform without rotten plank, larg
enough and strong enough to hold worlc
, is already occupied by the State Councils c
/. Ohio, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connect
cut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and W
are here to-day to stand, trust, side by sid
with our sister States in the defence of th
principles promul gated by the minority DELE
t gates OF the National Council, and with theI
s occupy this platform through all coming COZ
$ tests; living in hope Of witnessing the ushel
), ing in OF that day when these principles sha
u u be recognized by all Free States in their poll
: ical action, until the whole power and infuenc
! of the Federal Government shall be throw
t in favor OF Liberty and against oppression
= thereby declaring Slavery sectional and Lii
e crty nationals through all coming time.
The State Councils Of Ohio. Massachusett
= Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey an
II Pennsylvania have, with great unanimity {
,, feeling, sustained the course of their delegate
II to the National Convention, and it remains f
J. you, gentlemen, TO pass judgement upon ii
t acts of the delegation Of Vermont in til
t. National Council.
y The North having, by the acts of their Rel
- resentatives at Philadelphia, formed then
m selves into distinct organization. with pla
N form OF principles, We are naturally led to IL
and ascertain our true position, and the groun
is we should occupy in future. / trnst you wi
70 not deem it impairment if | suggest the cour
Il OF policy that seems to my mind the true OF
to pursue, occupying, as we do, high and ell
= waited ground, endorsing, as trust we ma,
s, the great and important principles embrace
S, III the resolutions of the minority DELEGATE
to Philadelphia, and to which our own del
cation On We ihair Lcoria. ca-LLiaI and alnau