The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-16


desire to see the nation divorced from all respon
slbllity for the maintenance of slavery
3. The prohibition of slavery in the terrific
ries is another measure of the National Admin
lstration, and another land mark in the progress
OF the nation toward freedom.
4. The Seward-Lyons treaty for the more ef
fectual suppression of the Slave Trade is an
other measure Of this Administration, which
cGaracterizes it at home and abroad as hostile t
Slavery wherever the Government can, as il
Judges, rightlully and safely strike it blow
And this treaty has been justly spoken of by th.
press of England great step in advance OF
anything that this Govern ment under former
administrations could be induced to axe on this
subject aad will take rank in history as the
work OF statesmen who We're in harmony with
the humane and Christian sentiments of the age
3. The Homestead bill, giving homes 10 actual
settlers in the now unoccupied territory of the
nation, and thus inviting Tree labor to settle :
and occupy, and make free the virgin territory
of the great West, is another work of the pres
|
always, and hitherto successfully opposed by
the Slave Power, but which has now become
| law in the interest of Freedom
6. The recognition of Hayti and Liberia, rec
commended by the President In his message and
passed allnost wholly by Republican votes, is
another measure which gives character to the
present Administration, and proves beyond a
question that Slavery no longer rules in the
National Councils.
These are some of the acts OF the present
National Administration which show which way
it's face is set, and in what direction il will con
tinue to countless the schemes of those W no ca
themselves " conservatives shall be consumma-
ted by the election OF an antl-Republican MT
jority Ut members OF Congress- If more evil
dence is needed of the position of the Admins
traton ON this question Of Slavery, 1t can be
found abundantly in the Jew article of war for
bidding the army from being slave catchers, in
the law con6scating and lberaing the slaves
employed by rebels III their war upon the Gov
ernment,-in the bill now on its pass ,gs, and
which will undoubtedly become law, giving a
trial by jury to fugitive slave, ana forever
estopplng the rebel master from retaining his
servant, by compelling him to prove his loyalty.
AS indicative of what the policy Of the pres
ent Administration Is, and setting forth that
policy specifically, SO that no man can mistake
what is meant, we think the Convention at the
outset should approve IN detail the above acts of
the Administration as Indicative OF its policy,
and as the judgment of those wEo are in favor
of supporting the National Administration
And the Convention should not content itself
with this declaration alone 1t must lake action
for the future, as we'll as approve of the past
On the question of Slavery, it must not be 81
lent, or deal in vague seneralities that mean
anything or nothing to suit the accommodating
| consciences of those who use a Convention only
as means OF getting into Office. 1t should
charge the blame of the present war, where 1t
belongs, on Slavery. even at the risk of disturb
ing some conservatives who endeavor to make it
appear that the Repu blIcans are equally respon-
of Slavery, in its attack upon the Government,
should be made as fatal to that institution As.
under the Constitution and in obedience 10 it,
can be accomplished by the people that its
power in the National Councils must be forever
broken, that it must never be suffered 10 in
crease its power by invading free territories and
bringing new Slave States into the Union there
from that the Constitution is henceforth TO be
administered in the spirit of Freedom and for
the advancement of those principles upon which
our free institutions rest, and not for the aggran-
dizement or perpetuaton Of Slavery,-tha, no
peace shall be made with rebels in arms against
the Government, and no compromise made with
treason in any of its forms, that the power and
authority of the Government shall be INDICATED
by the strong arm, and the strength Of treason
completely and finally broken there shall
be no division of the Union, and no concessions
to the demands of saveholdiug interest, and no
stipulations in their behalf made by the General
Government, but that that interest shall be left.
like other material interests in the country to
take its chances under the Constitution, ana at
the ballot box, and that henceforth the Con :
stituton shall be construed and adminst cred ac
cording to Its true intent and spirit, and not in
the interest of Slavery be perverted from lis
original purpose to I" form more perfect Union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility.
| nd Of