Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-22
The Coming 'Campaign.

S OS0 SAsPSho%'
AS the time approaches for calling Conven-
ton for the nomination of State Officers, the
enquiry is made, who are to be selected as our
standard bearers for the ensuing political year?
SO flr'as we have the means of knowing, it is
pretty generally understood that an entire new
ticketis to be selected at the coming Convention
which we understand, though not by authority,
is expected to be held sometime in June.
Our present worthy Governor and Lieut.. Gov
ernor have held their places for two years and,
although they command The confidence and re-
spect of their constituency, yet in accordance,
with party usage it is expected that neither will
claim reelection to the Office they now hold.
However, the name of the Lieut.. Governor has
been favorably mentioned in connection with
nomination for Governor the present year. The
| Treasurer has held his Office much longer time,
and the principle of rotation in office is even
more applicable in his case than the other two.
The selection of new ticket will increase
the number of attendants, and add to the inter-
est as well as the Importance of the Convention.
We have no claims of special favorites to urge
for nomination. Indeed we dono for q general
thing recognize any claims of this kind The
people may have right to claim the services of
such men as they deem best-qualifed to discharge
the duties connected with the several offices
within their gift, and the general harmony of
the party may demand, but we deny the right
of any individual, or set ofindividuals, to claim
the Offices. We have in our mind a number Of
worthy and competent men to fill the different
places on the ticket. We are not lacking for
men of talent and integrity, and the question
before the Convention undou btedly will be, who
of the many worthy candidates presented by
different friends shall be selected to make up
the ticket
While for ourselves, we have no personal
influences to govern us in the selection of candi
dates, we have fixed and abiding principles that
will be our guiding star in this and all future
campaigns. Our motto is, "measures not men,"
1t is an ancient one, but too little needed in
modern times. Policy, instead of principle, is
too prevalent in the political world.
We are associated with party whose chief
cornerstone is opposition to human bondage
and to 6kestension of Isnsssfcan Slavery. 1t
is of the utmost Importance, then, in making
the selection of candidates, and especially for
the first on the ticket that man be taken up
who is right on this great question-one in
whom the masses will have full confidence.
The Freeman was an early pioneer in this
great political reformation While the other
sentinels in the State that mounted by its side
upon the watch-tower, at the commencement,
have disappeared, or become merged with other
interests, the Freeman still survives, and the DO
tent truths that have been proclaimed through
its columns from year to year, are now embraced
by a large majority of the voters of the State,
made up from no one but from all the political
parties heretofore existing.
While we have the charge of the editorial
department of the Freeman, we intend it shall
lose nothing of its high Anti-Slavery tone and
character-neyer intending to run into fanati-
eism ofany kind, butalwayscontending manfully
and fearlessly for the principles tho Freeman has
so long advocated. We shall never Intentionally
assist in the nomination or election of any indi-
vidual to the highest Office within the gift of the
voters Of the State who is lukewarm or Indifferent
to the question of Slavery. We want no cold
hearted Journalist, but Il man whose soul is in
! the work, and who will battle the institution
of Slavery with the same zeal us did Gen. Jack
son the U. S. Bank, and who will never ground
his arms, until it become scctionalized, and its
!, progress stayed,
e The Kansas battle oas not, and probably ,oil
not be, the last to be fought before Slavery give
u up the ghost, and ceases to get the dominion
over more Territory. If aside from the effect o
. popular sovereignty in the votes of bona fde.in
= habtants we cannot interfere with the State au.
:, thorties, where it now exists; we do claim
theright to stay its progress and surround it with
o guard, as we would a beast of prey, or an un
b wholesome malady, till it dies out for the lacl
e of nourishnemt or by the hand of Right
y eous 0mnipotence. We cannot expect to sen,
e men into our national councils to effect thi
z work. unless the body polite is healthy a
70 home. The eyes of the nation will be upon us
~ in this matter. If we manifest a dispositior
to relax our standard in this particular, and
place at the head Of our ticket u man who ba
k heretofore mingled in the affairs of the natio,
o and gave no evidence of determined earnestnes
g on this question, or if We place upon the tick
y ct any other man with no avowed principles o
is opinions, but tame and luke warm on this sub
4 ject, then Vermont may cease to boast of he
ID consistency and devotion to cause nearest tn
Z heart of nine-ten of her population. w
y will not willingly consent to any such degener
= acy. Wego, first of all, for u candidate rial
Il on this question.
u Next, we want a firm and consistent frien
A. Of Temperance, who will exert his influence Il
a. the maintenance Of law and all honorable 9,
" actments for the suppression of Intemperanc
of Added to these qualifications, we want a fir
"o friend Oh Euucation anu Che promotion OF Li
WIS erature. Believing that Temperance and Knou
W edqe are the necessary elements with which
"" combat Vice and Ignorance, we 60 for the wi
y spread Of the two former, in ord,r to supprt
and dethrone the latter.
the Give us a candidate, then, like Hamlin,
in Banks, or Chase, and the position of Vermo
in these matters will be understood and inste