Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-15
What are the Qualifications?

MR, EDITOR II n0tlce tnhG SONS w Wv
newspapers of the day, in presenting candidates
for the support of the Republican party glVe'
as an additional qualification, their former iden-
tity with the Wings.
Some of your patrons have thought that the
Freeman even, has squinted in that direction.
1t can hardly be supposed, however, that the Or
gan of the old Liberty Guard that has fought
for the same principles for which it now con-
tends, when it's supporters were few. should in
its present prosperity Intentionally swerve from
its former course, or give any preference to can
didates on account of their previous record.
| would not on any account have you detract
from the moral worth of those great statesmen
who were once shining lights in the old Wing
party-but would impress upon your mind
the fact that there are thousands belonging to
the Republican party in Vermont, eUen, that
have no particular love for the doctrines of the
old Wing party, and were the questions now be-
fore the people, that divided the country under
the administration of Jackson, their position
would be very different from what it now is.
Do not understand me by this that they OBJ
ject to candidate in the Republican party be-
cause he was once Wing. But that they do not
regard that as an essential element in the matter
The question is not, what position candidate
held in some other party; or, to what party he
once belonged but what is his present posi-
ton! and what claims has he upon the party
to which he now belongs, or what claims has
that party upon him in his present relations
If the Wing party had been right on the Sav.
cry question, such men as Cassius M. Clay
Henry Wilson, Charles Allen, Lawrence Brai-
nerd, and Ryland Fletcher, would have never
left if, Had the Democratic party stood right
upon this question: F. P. Blair, John. G.. FIRE.
mont n. P. Banks, and Ex-Gov. Boutwell,,
would all undoubtedly stand enrolled among it's
numbers. But the great question of the ma
tiOnahty or locality of Slavery which in lmpor-
lance swallows up all others, caused those men
10 discard their former associations, and enlist
ander the Republican banner, in order to stay
'he progress of that institution into the free
Territories OF our country. Are Chase and
Banks any the less worthy of support, or Sew
ard and Collamer any more SO, on account of
their former party proclivities
Had the policy of Jefferson, Benton, and
Houston, predominated at the South, instead of
the doctrines taught by Calhoun, the position
of the Democratic party would, at this time, be
very different. 1t must be remembered that
TOombs and Wise and other like men, formerly
Wings, help swell the number of Calhoun
disciples. New Hampshire and Maine owe their
present position in the Republican column to
the active cOOpera tion of those formerly with
the Democratic party In Vermont recruits from
the same party, together with the old Liberty
Guard, swell the column with grand and i'm
pressve numbers. From this number NAV be
selected the best of talent with all other reoui-
site qualifications for official position. Shall
Fairbanks and HolbrOok, on account of their
former relations, stand better than Brainerd
that Old War Horse of Freedom, or of Hun
ton, Bradley. Chitlenden, or Needham, because
their former record was not upon Wing parch-
ment la the selection of State officers, for
the two past years, it has SO happened that all
the candidates were from one branch OF the Re-
publican party; our Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress are all from the same source
| attribute no design in this, they are all good
men and true. But in making up the State
Ticket, the present year, may it not be we'll to
have these facts in mind, and above all, confne
the qualifications of candidates to present issues
rather than the past?
l appeal 10 you, Mr. Editor, whether it does
not become you, as the organ of the old Free
Soil party, to take neutral course on past is
Sues and regard every member of the party in
every thing, save talent, with equal considera-
ton.
BY taking this position and contending man
fully for the present principles of the party,
free from fanaticism on the one hand, and with
determined purpose to save free Territory from
the blight of Slavery on the other, you will
continue to retain that confidence so necessary
to the Influence of every newspaper in the
party. A SUBSCRIBER.
The Democracy of the country have stood on
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