Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-29
The New State Convention.

we had no Time 1or lengthy remarks upon
the proposed new State Convention. last week
as the call only reached us as we were on the
eve of going to press. Had we seen the call be-
fore our remarks on Mr.. Pingrys not being a
candidate, we should have noticed that he de-
clined, and should not have made them Mr.
Pingry has shown himself honest in his political
associations, by thus refusing the use of his
name in this connection. And we are further
most reliably inform that Mr.. Sbafter has
said in plain terms to those who put up his
name as candidate for Governor, that it was
against his wishesand feelings. Webelieve Mr..
Shafter is prepared to "give the Republicans
still longer trial"
What we propose of this Convention is to
examine its resources and responsibility in pre-
tending to act for the slavery people of this
State. We have before said, as have our CORES
pondents, that it would have been more condu-
Give to u perfect harmony of the anti slavery
cooperation with the Republican party to have
pul oiic VI bhclI uttuH viz tooiitb liChtb
But we have not forgotten that for the past two
years, we have had both of the State officers
from the ranks Of the old Liberty Guard of the
State We have not forgotten that the former
Wings came up heartily and cordially to their
support, giving the ticket the largest vote and
majority that has been given for twenty-five
years. 1t may be true that some felt aggreyed
because the ticket was made up wholly from
one wing of the party, and they got up a Wing
Convention-as they had perfect right to do,
as every man has a right to his belief and opin-
ions-but none who had entered the Republican
ranks in good faith went off to its support.
And now that the selection happens to have
been from the other wing of the party, but
composed of men who entered heartily into the
organization, in company with the other portion,
with Che avowed understanding that the party
should know no Wing, no Democrat, no Free
Soiler, but only Republicans, does it necessarily
follow that honest anti-slavery men who pledged
their political faith to that organization, are
now going to bolt because they are in
turn called upon to show the same personal
magnanimity which they asked in 1856? There
isno lowering Of the standard; the platform is
the most decided, the most anti-slavery, of any
one since the organization. 1t is even more anti
slavery than the Radical one itself, and was
enthusiastically and unanimously adopted And
now are the anti-slavcry people going off at the
beck of an unprincipled few like Guy G. Samp-
son and Others of the Garrison dissolution i'm
practicables IT'S true there are two or three
honest men in this radical move, who have been
frightened by the gas of such contemplate DEM
agogues as the Editors 70 the Burlington Times
and Brattleboro Ph9nir-men who have been
asleep for twenty years. The remainder of the
Radical party are those who never went into
the Republican organization, but who have
steadily fought it, and withheld their votes, and
now seize upon the first good opportunity to fan
disaffection. They have the same right to their
organization, opinions and Conventions that the
Republicans or Fillmore Wings have; but we
trust that those of the anti-slavery people who
aided in clecting Fletcher and Slade, and in Civ
ing Vermont the name of the Banner State,
will show the same good faith and unalterable
purpose that characterized their action then.
1t is true the Legislature of last fall did not
show that firmness and backbone in considering
the Personal Liberty Bill which we should have
been glad to have seen still that is not to be
charged to the State ticket it is to the Repre-
sentatives alone, and the people of the respec-
tive towns who elected them. The resolutions
of the State Convention are even more decided
than the requirements of that bill eve glory
in the fact that Vermont has never, by Const-
tuition or Law, sanctioned the guilty fantasy
that there can be property in man," said the
Convention. Then let us see that that ig carried
out to the very letter in the next Legislature.
Those principles will not only prevent any one
holding Office or acting as counsel who shall aid
in returning fugitive slaves, but will prevent The
arrest Of any man on supposition that he is or
has been slduei
One word of the present call for Convention.
We may be taken up for saying that the movers
in this are seeking to fan disafection. But we
would like to know what else they can make of
call for Radical Convention, asking " all OPP
posed to the Republican and Democratic nomi-