Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-08-11
T., r, Redfeld az he In and es be Yves,

speaker once held Inherent views from tuose ne
expresses now, and may possibly be reasoned with
from the position be occupied little more than
ten years ago, il he cannot be convinced that the
ground be then stood upon was infinitely stronger
more humane, more in accordance with the spirit
and teachings of the fathers, than that he now
occupies. Mr.. Redfeld used to write for the
FREEMAN, when the paper was, as II Is now, the
incorporating foe Of Slavery, the outspoken
advocate Of freedom and we regret that man
Of bis ability, who has once been right, should
now, when, if ever, the nasn needs the aid Of its
strong men, make his bed with the enemies OF his
country, and give aid and comfort to those who
with infinitely less brains than he possesses, are
doing what malignant spirit Of disloyalsy can in
spre and give them wit to perform, to weaken
the Government and help the snemies Of the Re-
public. We thought Mr.. Rsdfeld not only had
intellect enough, but was warmly enough attached
to his country not to lend himself to the base
uses Of party which has no word Of cheer for
victories over treason, and offers no thanksgiving
for the successes that have restored the old fag
to many thousands of miles Of territory from which
rebellion had driven it.
But we were disappointed. Mr.. Rsdield'
though choosing most OF his words with care, and
dealing in convenient generalilies in his speech
Saturday, did yet lend bis influence to the men
who are doing all their little might is capable Of,
to weaken the arm of the nation, and prevent its
success in the conflict with traitors. lie dis
coursed learnedly Of the constitution and its ga
cred character Of the wise and santed men who
framed it Of the great and good men who adj
minstered il in its early history, and Of the men
who were now overriding it's limitations and dis
regarding its guarantees. lie did not, however,
--as one might reasonably infer, mean southern
rebels, by the bad men who were endesyofiog to
break up the Union and destroy the constitution,
but with an effrontery Of statement which ought
to be yelled by an ignorance to which be can lay
no claim, boldly charged this crime upon the Ad-
ministration and the only party in the country
that has with any earnestness withstood the as
| saults Of armed traitors upon the Government.
| II was not the awlessness Of treason which he
rebuked, but the lawessness OF those who are
standing by the Government and unfolding the
old flag. lie had not one word Of condemnation
Of jeff Davis ard bis confederate traitors, but his
choicest rhetoric was turned upon Abraham Lin
coin and those who with him are sustaining the
Republic and he was cheercd to the echo by
those who denounce the war, oppose the consorIp-
ton, sneer at thanksgiving for the victories Of
Federal armies, and declare that the war ought 10
stop, leaving treason to dictate terms to US with
the bayonet when we are powerless to resist
And the best reason he could give for thus organ
izing resistance to the Administration in its pros
ecution Of the war, was that it was antislsyery,-
in bis judgment unconstitutionaiy so.
As we have already said. Mr.. Red6eld did
not always utter sentiments so delightful to pro-
slavery auditors. He was once an ant-slavery
man Of the advanced type. In 1851, it will be
remembered that Hon. l.. B. Peck declined to
accept the nomination Of the Free Democracy Of
Vermont, for Governor, because he could not sub.
subscribe to their platform. 10 that platform, we
find, among other things,the following declaration
Of principles;
That it is the duty OF the Federal Government
to relieve itself from all responsibility for the ex-
istence or continuance Of Slavery in the District
Of Columbia, and erery ,phere else that Congress
possesses constitutional power to legisate, and is
thus responsible for ts existence; so that freedom
instead Of slavery shall become national, and
slavery instead Of freedom shall become sectional.
That the only safe means Of preventing the O.
tension OF slavery, into territory now free, is to
prohibit its extension into all such territory by &C,
Of Congress.
That no more Slave States ought to be admit
ted into the Union.
That the fugitive slave law enacted by the Con.
gress lately expired is unjust, unconstitutional, u
derogation Of the fundamental maxims of free
government, and ough. to be speedily and forever
repealed.
That we oppose the base and unwarran,abe &C
cusaon that in opposing the Slave Power we are
wanting in loyalty to the Constitution and the
Union; and that we insist that fidelity to the I'm.
ion is best manifested By unrseniing Efforts 10 re-
store The Government TO the old Democratic policy
Of liniting, Encouraging and loealizing the inst.
tuition Of Slavery.
That the law passed by our late Legislature in
relation to the Hsbeas Corpus 10 proper safe.
guard for the liberties Of our citizens, and Just
exercise Of the power Of the State to protec, all
within its limits from summary and tyrannical
proceedings.
After Mr.. Peck had declined, another conven-
ton was called, and Mr.. Redfsld was put at the
head OF the ticket. In the FREEMAN which con.
tanned the proceedings of this convention, was a
reprint Of an article written for this paper by Mr..
Redfeld, from which We make the following sx-
tracts:
"Having rendered the constitution our alleei.
ance-haying offered upon it our sacrifice -
We demand in turn that il shall fulfil to us and
the people its legitimate office. 1t was "oRpAIN-
ED AND ESTABLISHED " says the sacred instru.
ment to PROMOTE TIE GENERAL WELFARE AND
SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OUR
SELVES AND OUR PosTERITy." Ii was first conse-
Grated in the hearts of the American people in
securing the blessings Of liberty" for oil time
to the northwest territory, which now CON-
prises within its limits more than five millions
of feemsn and has been the very heart Of the ma.
ton, propelng at every pulsation, its youthful,
fRrE, and reno waiting blood throughout every
vein aud artery Of the body polite To that
people may the lovers Of freedom look with great
est hopes. They will never shackle their free
limbs, nor sell their brth.righ. for aught not truly
| republican aud il the mildew Of African slavery
shall ever rot away the lgaments that bind this
Union together, the last drop of warm blood cir