Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-06-08
tOcrklp Gree Dress.


ing IN TINS state, to the rank and file OF the
order, will show this 1t Is rather long. but
we publish it entire for the benefit of our
readers
We have no remarks to make on the docu-
nent now,-and only ask how such mole
like schemes look in daVhght--whether such
cabalistic signatures have really an Am,j-
oon look, in print, and whether such loose,
indefinite palaver about American rrinci-
pies is meant to serve any other purpose but
to blind the eyes of the unthinking to the
real aims of the managers of the concern
viz. the securing Of votes for Office without
regard to the really important questions
which are now pressing themselves on the
public mind throughout the nation
MlDDLEBuRY, April 10Th. lS55.
r. The members oftbc screroi Councils
m the state of Ue,o,out
1t is with pleasure that address you again.
Since my last communication to the different
Councils in the State, we have had II practical
test, (though not to its fullest cXtent,) of our
strength at the polls. We have, without
doubt, elected our entire ticket for Council
Of Censors We were opposed by the full
strength Of leading men in the state, who
sought to break down our organization and
editors of leading papers, though strongly
and politically opposed to each other. also
strangely coalesccd to break us down But
they failed to alarm the people The nick
name they saw fit to bcstOw upon Us, Of
- HlndOos,' lost its charm. The sturdy
yeomanry Of our State look more to principles
that underie all political organizations. than
they do to names that may be used to
lao,
steadily increased in numbers, and new or
CARNATIONS are being formed from time to
time.
This shows conclusively that the people
have only to become truly acquainted with
our objects and principles. to endorse then.
and unite with us in carrying them out To
say, however, that we have no opposition to
meet with, would be falshcation Of fact -
We are still assailed from source that shows
the weakness of Misrepresentation and the
folly of ialschood, Men who have heretofore
stood forth the strenuous defenders Of right.
have abandoned that cnviable position and
joined with the noisiest of our defamcrs in
the TRADE Of abuse against us, traduciug our
friends and misrepresenting our objects and
principles.
They seem to think that they have found
out that the true glory of our country IS not
to curtall foreign influence, and the oycrbeur-
ing policy of Rome, but to grant unusual
fitvors to both, even at the sacrifice of all that
is good and holy, and as Americans we should
prize above price
The leaders of the old political parties are
loud and long in their denunciations'of secret
associations, midnight cabals, ,vc while one
Of those parties is in several States organic
ing secret clubs, styled - Sag NIGHTS" with
the promise from those who have the power
to perform and fulfil, that all efforts put forth
for the accomplishments of the end designed
shall not go uHGrarded These secret club,
take to their embrace all clas ses Of foreigners
and elevate them to place Of trust and power,
to the exclusion Of native sons Of the soil
Hence, with what an i'll grace comes from
this source the senseless cry Of persecution
when directed against us How grievcd
must such men be at the fact of others assO-
ciatlng together to resist foreign influence,
and save the country from the power Of that
class Of men whose only thought or care is to
ruie or rum. Thus are we ussailed
But allow me to cali your attention to
another charge that is raised against US and
to one of the arguments used by those who
oppose us. While they admit that our OPPOSE
tion to the political prctcnsionsot Romanism is
right, still they seem to think they see on our
organization a concentration ofpower and in
i'uence that will be welded for the support
and Advancement Of American Slavery They
allcge that we are bound, Of necessity, to obey
the hehests of slavery, and submit to all it,
arrogant pretensions and claims But. ask
by what authority is this argument used
against us !; Do our autccedcntS Justify tins
grOundless suppositipn L. there anything.
resulting from our action that ustiiics such
an assumption Are We not as American
citizens free Have not all our honest i'm
pulses been on the side Of human freedom
DO we not look to the good of our whole
country Can we as honest Americans be
influenced by any other motive than the wei
fare of our country and here, | would ask
If the welfare of this nation is promoted
through system Of oppression that extends
itself through half of the State of this Union'
No sensible man would answer this question
IN the affirmative. For any intelligent man
to presume that our national greatness and
glory is, or can be enhanced by the farther
extension of slavery is presuming too much
upon the common sense Of any well informed
mind. But while We admit all this. we are
free to confess that we have no constitutional
power to lcgislate upon slavery in the several
States. 1t is in this sense beyond the power
OF congress, and its ultimate BOLTON, partial
or final and complete, is a question Tor the
several States in which slavery is located to
decide upon. This view is that adopted by
all who have bestowed any thought upon the
subject whatever. We look upom the Federal
Constitution a. a document in which is en-
bodied more Of genuine Republicanisu than
any other human document upon the face Of
the earth. That Constitution was, in its own
words, established " IN order to form a more
perfect union, establish Justice, insure dun,es-
tic tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the gocrai ireltar,, and
secure the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
mr. poSterity" Hence, we can but look upon
any system Of policy that initiates against
the general welfare" Of the nation. and
takes from any " the blessings Of liberty,
as an infringement upon that noble instru-
ment, and gross violation Of it, spirit ami
excellence. We have sworn to SUPPORT that
Constitution and no human power can, am
sure, cause us as Americans to sWcrve from
IT Its privileges we enjoy, its duties we
rouid fdHhtuYy erccute, and its requirements
obey. This is the extent of our obligations
and these are equally binding upon the
South as the North
But while we are free t. express our
opinions upon the question of Slavery, aud
use all constitutional means to secure its re-
moyal, let us be careful that we do it with a
night spirit aud with desire to convince
ana not to aggrayate to cOnciiuta and not
to engender bitter feelings Of hostility. indi-
yldual or State, We are all Nom bcrs Of the
same national family, and deeply interested
IN all that goes to enhance our power and
glory We should therefore most heartily
deprecate dissolution Of the Union, aud the
formation Of distinct State conledcrlcie. dos
utute Of a central controlling power TIA.
dissolution OF this Union of States would pre-
pare the way Tor civil war, border hruil, and
connections, that would in their consuuna-
ton cause the heart of every lover Of luina
nifty to mourn and weep.