Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-10

and the Outlines of the History of the Prin
cipal Parties in the Country to the Present
Time, etc., etc. By R. Mckinley Ormsby,
Boston; Crosby, Nichols & Company. 1859.
A book with the above title page has actually
been printed, but has not yet, as we can learn,
passed through more than one edition. The
title is a misnomer. 1t should read-A History
OF the Wing party and of the rest Of Mankind
since the creation written in highly miscel-
laneous manner, and interspersed with a great
variety Ct useless information, bad logic and
worse morals, of no possible consequence to the
narrative together with plea for Slavery and
the Slave-Trade. Commencing with the nroad
of the Normans into England, this history is
brought down to period within the memory of
The youngest child, ETC., ETC. Written in II
style and sentiment pleasing to Democrats and
Shareholders.
The Wing Party was often abused and ma
ligned in its lifetime, but its suiferings then
were nothing in comparison with this inAiction
of its selfconstituted historian and if the
spirits of the departed were permitted to revisit
mortal scenes, Clay and Webster would make
haste to give Robert Mckinley Ormsby some
very distinct and feeling "raps.'
The writer sets himself forth as a Wing,
writing of the party to which, through all Its
existence, he was most devotedly attached
Some partiality might have been excused from
such loving pen. Itwould have been becom-
ing to have given praise where commentator
was deserved, and when he censured. 1t would
at least have been decent to have shown no rel.
ish Tor the task. If he could not approve the
measures which the Wing Party sustained, he
might have given them the benefit of fair state
ment, with some of the reasoning that led the
minds of great men to give these principles their
support. This would have been more becoming
Il historian than the sneering and contemptuous
manner in which he treats the merits of the
measures of this party whose history he assumes
to write.
Now the Wing Party, in its day, was a good
deal of an institution. 1t, beyond question,
held in its ranks large majority of the intelli-
gence of the Nation. 1t advocated principles
which it honestly supposed were for the best
good of the whole Country. The arguments
in which its doctrine were set forth, were never
fairly met and answered. 1t supported wise
and patriotic measures. It upheld the Consti-
tntion and the laws of the land 1t did not
fllibuster. 1t opposed the acquisition of terri
tory. 1t was devotedly in favor of tariff 1t
was welded to internal improvements And its
greatest virtue was briefly comprehended In
this; 1t was uncompromisingly hostile to the
extension of Slavery into free territories In
behalf of these principles, it waged war for
moro than twenty years upon the Democratic
party, who held the opposite opinions. 1t was
sometimes victorious, but generally defeated in
the Nation; corruption, intrigue fraud and
double voting prevailing often then, as now,
in the presidential contest But in 1850, the
leaders of the Wings, instead of standing firmly
on the ground which they had hitherto held, of
no more slave States. and no more slave terrific
ries, began to yield to the demands of the
South. This policy, while it gained them no
strength at the South, ruined them at the
North. The mass of the party North, who had
been always opposed to the extension Of Slavery
refused to follow their leaders,-and soon, with
those Democrats who were honest enough to
pursue the course marked out by their convic-
tons, unitedly, formed the great Republican
party, which to-day contains in its ranks, more
than threefouIths of the Wings of the free
States, and IN Vermont comprises them all ex-
cept this historical Robert. The glory of the
Wing party is to be found in its long con-
test for government and a constitution as I'M
derstood by the fathers. And it has no record
of shame, for it Instantly repudiated its leaders
who attempted to sell it into Slavery. 1t loved
freedom better than the name of Wing. Names
it regarded as but the things of day, while it
esteemed its principles as of the most vital con-
sequence. 1t changed its name, but it retained
the principles that had always characterized it..
And we believe, with few, and by no means shin
ing, exceptions those who, in the free States,
were Wings in lS48, hold now the same princi-
Piles they then held and are changed only in
NAME
But Robert, after assuming that he lisa Wing,
and giving his readers to understand that his
own notions are good Wing doctrines, condemns
the Missouri Compromise line as unjust, une-
quail unchristian, uncivilized, barbarous, hea.
thenish and unconstitutional kind of
school district legislation. The reason why
he thus condemns this compact is because that it
has tendency to keep Slavery in its present
limits. He regards Slavery as such a necessary
" instrumentality in making this Country
" the freest, happiest, most prosperous, and
most perfect Republic that man has ever enjoy.
Q ed that it is both unconstitutional and I'M
: christian to hinder in any way its extension
g And the man who utters that sentiment, is q
Vermonter, and calls himself Wing! 1t is a
consolation to know that he is a Wing only III
). name like pirate, sailing under the flag of c
nation whose commerce he plumbers and des
troys.
After this, one needn't be surprised to learr
that Slavery in all its forms, with all its hor
rors, the African Slave Trade, and the Demo
g cratic party, and more especially Doctor Jane
Buchanan, are emphatcally endorsed by R
Mex. o. as Divine &C instrumentalties " fo
the preservation of human liberty, and the up
u building Of Gods kingdom in this world; tina
+ the doctrine of Daniel Webster that Slavery i
the creature of local law, is sneered at =" as fal
1t lacious," and his other doctrine, 'no NOR
slave States and no more slave territories i
dismissed as " senseless; :" that the cutlery o