Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-09-04
For lhe Waterman and Journal
TO the F'rekRen The county Of Washinl


our Senators 10 represent us in the next lc-
gislalure, and permit brMher freeman To
suggest few matters for your cOnsidera-
ton. ii we were 10 Judge from HE almost
constant stream of personal abuse which
has flowed from The columns Of the Patriot
into every corner Of The county, directed
particularly against one of the candidates
for the Senate, we might think that the con-
tcst was merely personal. So far from this
do ! view the fact 10 be, that am induced
10 say that il is really contest for princi-
pies; and il any Thing were needed to con-
vince me that The election of Mr. James and
Mr. TtCing would be the triumph oicorrecf
principles, il is the simple circumstance
that tn, ir opponents are trying TO defeat
them almost wholly on grounds OF prl-
vaie and personal character. What is The
real question nj issue! 1t is nothing more
nor less, than whether we 90 for Or against
the present reign Of instructor VT against
Executive power--tor or against runous
experimentation or against We OES in
advance OF legisl8lion-for or against cur-
rupion in high placcs-t0 or against Po-
Htical REFORM, thorough aud coThen-
suratc with The poliiica abuses, which are
weighing down the country and undermln-
ing its free institutions. II this does not in
volve principles, then know not what the
term means, II il dues not involve princi-
pies vital 10 the interests Of the people, am
very much mistaken In this view oil the
contest, it seems tn me that no man can
hesitate as To the choice he should make
il he is for reform and for a return 10 the
oden days and happier times, he mist vote
for Janes and living; il he is for continu-
ed experiments and innovations upon The
| constitution s the whole system Of govern
ment, he must vote for Waterman & Kins
man. But il is my purpose TO take more
particular view OF the contest: the cahdI-
dates now nominated by the Van Buren,
party were our Senators last year. Did
they do any thing, either for their own hon
or or for the honor Of the county! HE
Patriot has declared in general lcrhs that
they faithfully represented The deinocra-
cy.' What does that mean, unless il he
that they let the county and their cnusiltu-
EMS look ont Tor themselves, while the hon
orabe Senators were "Ia,th(uily represent.
ing the" Van Buren, Darty2 That they
"laithiul'y"-i. e. according to the extent
ofther ability represented the party, | an
willing to admit: but that their cxertion.
or speeches contributed TO advance the hon
ur or the interests of the county, am YET
10 learn, design 10 particularize single
instance in which these gentlemen very
faithfully represented" the sentiments o
Mr. Fan Buren,, and also of the great body
of the Fan Buren, party. III recurring Il
the Journals of The Senate, page so, fnC
that Mr. Grandy introduced preamble AM
resolution declaring slavery "ineonsisten
| ,,,tb La s,,,,,, inIes IF ronUb1;rou oopoS,.
ment," and instructing and requesting on
delegation in congres, to use Their infuenc
in favor Of abohshing it in the District o
Columbia.
On looking at the 50ih page, find tina
Mr. Porter moved that The resolution be in
definitely postponed, i. e. dismissed; tn
ayes and noes were taken, and the AYE.
stand as follows "Messrs. Barnes, Beck
with, Briggs, Converse, Hammond, Howe
: Keyes, KINSMAN, Merrill, Phelps, Por
ter, Steele, WATERMAN-IS."
Fifteen Senators, no wings and 5 ". B.
; voted in the negative. This same resolu
ton was up afterwards, but no definite vot
i taken, as others from the House were sui
q stitnted.
Again: On page 100, ] find that tire
: resolutions on The same subject were rccc
= we'd from the House, the second being
e these words:
+ "Resolved, That Congress DOES POI
sess the power to abolish slavery and III
h slave trade in the District or Columbia"
Page ll2, | find this subject again up, q
II the question shall the resolutions pass. M
: Henry called for the ayes and noes on Il
u second resolution (above quoted) and the
q were as follows:
a AYES-2S, Mr. Kinsnian with four oil
>. er Van Buren, men and eighteen Wings.
d Noes, viz: Mes.rs. Barnes, Me
70 rill, Smile, and WATERMAN-all Va
81 Buren, men!
y thus find Messrs. Waterman ard Kin
man voting against resolution declarr
t slavery inconsistent with repnblicansm, ar
" nstrucling our delegation in Congress
es 90 for lis abolition in the District al,
N find Mr. Waterman denying the po,cer
o. n congress over slauery in the district! Tn
J" call faithfully representing" Mr. ~
r Buren, and his inaugural, by Mr. Wdterma
~ who goes the whole figure, and by NJ
Is Kinsmon, whose scrupes compelled him
20 dissent from part OF the pro.slavery cree
ne Ishould be happy TO know whether the pr
te slavery and Van Buren, creed was as iail
OF fully represented by their votes on the oil
- err resolutions but as the votes were n
e, taken, by ayes and noes, cannot be graf
he fed in this respect.
le Thus much for Messrs. Waterman ar
III Kinsman, OF whom take leave with II
~ single remark that know Of no merit thu
y possess in any considerable degree, unle
.. it lie their devotion 10 Ydn Burenism
D right or wrong.
). Fellow citizens: there are men presen
- ed for you: suffrages OF widely difiere
Of principles and possessing high charact
ct lnr intelligence, frmness, and patriotism