Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-08
Before and after the Convention.


ed with the language used by the Burlington
Times for few weeks past, but to show it's
honorable backing down, and somewhat "lofty
tumblng," we again give its language before
the State Convention, in order to the better
contrast it with the language after. Here is
what is said before the Convention
g With such name us that of Hiland Hall
to head the State Ticket, we will be more than
content, and 50, we firmly believe, will be the
great mass of the voters of Vermont, who are
proscriptive and bigoted platforms that, for
years past, have been weakening the public SEN
timent and lessening the influence of this
staunch and really conservative State, in the
Union.
The great and vital issue, now before the
American People, is the Lecompton Issue. =
And the broad platform, Anti-Buchanan and
Anti-Lccompton, is quite small enough for the
great masses of the PEOPLE who desire to vindi-
cate the true principle of Popular Sovereignty
and maintain the supremacy of the true popu-
lar rights, in this party-ridden Country. Any
narro0er platform, would only tend to distract,
and defeat the great uprising of the people
against the abominabe principles and policy of
the Administration, touching Kansas, and to
confirm in National Power the odious olgarchy
that now possesses only to abuse it.
A platform upon which now stand such
statesmen as Crittenden, and Douglas, and Sc
ward, is small enough for all who love their
country, and seek to defend its honor and
maintain its prosperity. At any rate, it is the
one on which we mean to stand.
A distinctive political Temperance Party, OF
distinctive Abolition Party, is unavoidably
narrow and proseriptive, in terms even, and as
such is unsuited to the temper and the spirit,
both ofe6ur institutions and our people A
Party whose broad basis is Constitutional LIB
erty and Good Government in proper hands,
includes both, and assigns to each its true inn
portance and position. 1t is tolerant of differ
ences of opinion, while it yields no jot of prin-
siplo. Unstable, digni6ed, patriotic, conserv-
ative Such party long maintained an honor
able and honored ascendancy in Vermont, anc
the era of it's restoration, we gladly believe, ii
at hand"
Down with the marrow, proscriptlve ant
bigoted platforms of lS54-5-6. " Anti-Bu
chanan and Anti-Lecompton is small enough
and any narrower platform would only tend tx
distract and defeat" " A platform upon which
Crittenden, and Douglas, stand " is the one Oh
which the Times means to stand Restore tn
old Wing Party But here is what it said tn
next day after its Editor attended the Stat
Convention at Montpelier
"We have had the privilege to attend a grea
many State Conventions, in Vermont, and tt
have our patriotism warmed and our politica
III tod xyt no
ible fidelity, and steady attachment to freedom
of the Freemen of the Green Mountain State
And more than once, in far-off Texas, have GU
affections turned, from the spectacle of the par
ty-ridden and exclusively sectional politca
manhood that prevails there, to the wide, free
generous and independent thought and action o
the manhood of noble old Vermont, and longe
once more to breathe the pure air of her valley
and hills, symbolical of the atmosphere of tru
Republican Liberty with which she has sur
rounded herself.
For the first time in five years, we found our
selves, yesterday, again among sagacious an
true-hearted voters of Vermont, convened to Sc
lect their candidates for the Offices of State
And we are sure that it is no exaggeration t
say that finer body of men, or more intelll
gent and influential, and scarcely larger, new
er assembled in convention within her limits
As if by common impulse, and certainly with
out concert, not less than five hundred men, at
tached to the principles of the Republican par
ty, as laid down in the Pi1iiadelphia Platform
of 1856, and resolute for the supporter thos
principles, come together from every section
near and remote, of the State, and re-athrmln
their fidelity to the political character OF vel
mont, as recorded in her annals, and establish
ed by long series of triumphs in behalf
n 4 so~ht &c Man tha
proceeded, with degree of unanimity tina
renders the result a matter of easy prophecy
and with good feeling that springs from Ing
found below"
"Wide, free, and generous independer
thought and action " re-affrming their fide
ity to the political character of Vermont. y
But, surely, Mr.. Times, they did not say any
thing about that platform upon which 20
and Mr.. Douglas stand Nor about restorin
the old Wing party; nor the State to any sue
condition as she was in while they passed resc
lutions acquiescing in the Fugitive Slave Law
and the one like the following in 1852:
RESOLVED, That the series of acts of the Thir
ty-First Congress-the act known as the Fug
tive Slave Law included-are received and az
quiesced in by the Wing party of the Unite
States, as settlement in principle and SUI
stance of the dangerous and exciting question
which they embrace; and SO far as they ar
concerned, we will maintain them and insis
upon their strict enforcement until time an
experience shall demonstrate the necessity
further legislation, to guard against the evasio
of the laws on one hand and the abuse of the
powers on the other, not impairing their pre-
ent efficiency and we deprecate all further az
itation Of the questions thus settled as DANCE
GUS to our peace; and will discountenance a
efforts to continue or renew agitation wherevt
Or however the attempt may be made; and "
will maintain this system as essential to the n
tionality Of the Wing party and the integri
Of the Union
Oh, no! no No such thing Mr.. Time
but we are glad you are " beginning to grow
little sick " of attempting TO raise Ned &c
orally with the libcrty-loving people of VI
mont. Read tho noble Platform of June
1858. After you have been out of Texas
few years, you will have clearer head, a
your brains will have got cooled off. We
been in Texas.