Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-01

atchman, What of the Night I?

WhaH but night can be seen in this hemi
sphere, when the dark cloud of Slavery fills the
horizon; when senators of the United States
announce from their stations, that the fall of
Slavery domination would carry with it the de-
struction of the Federal Union9 | consider
those threats powerless, unless they prophetic
of the hidden plans of Slavery, to stiae, at its
first movement, every support Of Freedom. And
possess sure salvo against any final success
Of measures Of that nature, either hidden or in
open day.
In the first place. think the principles of
Liberty are too deeply rooted and firmly cstab-
lishcd throughout our country, to be trodden
under foot by Slavery, as iorbiJdng as its aspect
now is.
Secondly, think the Constitution, though
shamefuly scandalized bya pretence that it
sanctions Slavery, will stand firm against all the
attacks of the Slave Power
Thirdly, if tue Constitution will not stand
against the attacks of Slavery, let it 60. Let
us start anew, and get something that will stand
the test And we may us well try its strength
now as when the dire system Of slavery has eaten
off few more cords that support it,
! am decidedly of opinion, that the only way
to preserve the Federal Union, is to rescue the
Government from the hands of Shareholders, and
the sooner we unite in the use of the ballot,box
for that purpose, the better If the Slave Power
continues triumphant-if the Shareholders con-
troll all appointment to office, and draw off for
the support of Slavery all the fat salarcs--to
support the aggressions upon Liberty, they may,
in time, dishearten the friends of Freedom, and
wear them down, while their foes riot upon
their ruins But let them attempt in any other
way to break down our Federal Government,
and the freemen of the North would not be apt
to aid them. They would not dare to stand I'm.
der it when it comes down; and where would
they stand, and not be themselves crushed by its
fail Let them take their station on Slave ter
ritory and wait till the friends of Freedom come
to help them and what could they do there
without the patronage of the President, and the
salaries, which are dispersed by him only.
| The late measures of 1850 and 1856. aroused
such spirit of Freedom, that some hone was
inspired of its continued growth; but the pros
poets are in some measure scattered The great
party of Know Nothings suddenly filled our
country, and we were left merely to conjecture
where they came from or what they would unite
upon in the final result had no doubt but
that the great proportion honestly meant what
they prolessed-war upon Roman Catholics and
new immigrants seeking to influence the affairs
of Government but did not suppose this of
those who took the lead in that new party. and
leading astray the more honest men. It was
obvious that their tendency was to divide people,
and split up old parties, and prepare materials
to work into some one party, new or old as they
should choose. But the nomination of Messrs.
Fillmore and Donelson, for President and Vice
Presdent-they being Shareholders of the first
cut-painly tells us that Slavery was at the
bottom OF the whele movement, artfully deceiv
ing and drawing into it honest men, and even
Abolltionists. But it is hoped that none will
suffer themselves to remain under deception
about names or things. They are warranted in