Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-18
The Bradford Convention.
BRADFORD, Feb. 9Th. 1853.

from Rev. Mr.. johnson, was sent to me with a
request that it should be printed in the Telc-
graph. They reject it because they are not will /
ling the public should see their misrepresenta-
tons and mcanness. Mr. McIndoe (of the
Windsor Aurora and JomnaD does not feel that
he is under obligations to publish it !; and mas
much as the Telegraph accuses him of favoring
the Convention, he is afilid the printing of this
will give it an appearance that way.
1t is the wish of many of the friends that it
be published in the Freeman, as that has
wider circulation in this County than both the
other papers-besides it is but doing Mr.. John
son justice to do 50. Yours Truly,
J.D.C.
THE ANTI-sLAvERY CONVENTION AT BRADFORD.
To Dr.. Mann, Editor Bradford Telegraph:
Ma. EDIroR,-I may presume that as pro-
fessed Christian, and as Democrat, you are in
favor of free discussion and of the freedom of
the Press and may presume also, that you are
willing to lend the columns of your paper to
those who think you have done them injustice;
especially should you be willing to do SO, when
you have full power to write what, and as much
as you please, in reply.
81 wish to notice briefly your leader, in the
last weeks number of the Telegraph, headed,
|" Dissolution of the Union-A Northern Re-
public, &c." To your theories as expressed
near the close of your article, do not propose
Q reply. II your religion or your Democracy
teaches you that "when one law, either good
or bad, is trampled down and successfully re-
sisted, there is an end to all government, L
must allow you to enjoy your belief
You object to the counsel given to not obey
some laws on the United States Statute book
suppose you mean the Fugitive Slave law,
among others. Do you think there would be
an end to all government if that law was DISC
beyed? Must all laws be obeyed just because
they are enacted by the majority of the people,
or by the party in power? wish you were a
Slave, and a fugitive Slave, just long enough to
learn better moral philosophy or, that you
were in Austria, or in the Pope's dominions,
long enough to learn that every law which a
man Or set of men may choose to enact, is not
to be voluntarily obeyed.
You say, bad government is better than
none atall." Suppose it is, does it follow that
we may not refuse voluntary Obedience to laws
requiring us to violate the laws of God What
ever you, as an Administration Democrat may
say, have not so learned Christ"
Tyranny" you say, sis by far preferable
to anarchy" But does it follow that we may
not try to abolish tyranny, or to reform the
Government? No one wants anarchy. We
want freedom for all; whilst you uphold tyran-
ny and cry out against those who try to remove
or destroy it,
You say that % the Constitution Of our Coun-
try ought to be revered and held in sacredness
next to the revealed will of God, hardly allow.
ing ourselves to think it possible for it to be
destroyed" Against such infdeity l cannot
hope to persuade you, until you learn thai
Slavery is sin and evil 50 enormous that the
Constitution cannot sanctify it; but from such
reverence for human doctrine would pray
"the Good Lord dehrer u.s.
And since you hold that :" we in Vermont
have nothing more to do with Slavery in the
several States than we have to do with the reve-
nue. imports of Great Britain" can only utter
my protest against such Misanthropy.
But it was my intention to correct some Of
your statements, respecting the Convention.
You call it L" an out and out Garrisonian, Dis
union State Convention. By what authority
do YOU denominate it? Is there anything III
the Call to justify you? The Call was signed
by about four hundred persons; and probably
not over tpenty of them were in favor of disun
ion. And as for the dongs of the Convention
the charge is wholly groundless. Among tht
five officers elected, not one was in favor of dis
union. Among all the resolutions passed, no
one said Dord against the Constitution, OF
about disunion. The only shadow Of founda
ton for your charge is, that resolution favor
ing disunion, was offered and discussed, but no
passed; unless the fact that some of the Speak
ers in the Convention favored the resolution
would make it a disunion Convention.
Editorial honor requires you to do justice tt
your political opponents. | introduced the res
olution and favored it but am unwilling fol
you to do injustice to those who opposed me il
that matter. If you are willing to let you
readers judge for themselves whether it was
disunion Convention or not, you will publish
the resolutions which were passed. This 20,
are now in honor bound to do, and then as
faithful ehronicler you owe it to your readers
Wherin any of these resolutions are erroneous
you have an opportunity of showing. You wi
find them published in the Green Mountai
Freeman, and probably in other papers. Then
as your readers will want to know the charat
ter of the resolution which did rot pass, wi
here give it to you. 1t is as follows:
WHEREAS, The Union of the States was form
ed by unholy compromise with Slavery and tn
Slave-Power, which demanded the continuanC
of the African Slave Trade, representation
Congress for Slave property, and the deliverin
up of slaves escaping from their masters
Whereas, these compromises were incorporate
into the Constitution and whereas, ever sine
the adoption of the Constitution, and OWN
principally to its Pro-Slavery compromise, tn
number of slaves has been on the increase, til
Slaye-Power has become more and more don
inant, and the Federal Government has bee
one of hestrongest allies of the Sldye-Powe
50 that almost every power under the control {
the National Government is now made subserv
ent to the interests of Slavery; therefore,
Resolved, That the Union aohich sras formt
in sin should be dissolued, and the Constitutio
which was framed in iniquity should be repud
ated, and the way prepared for the establish
ment of A new Northern Republic, in whic