Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-11-29
Judge Cheyes' Letter.

p~esfecsy eousiStepr WIN this - rcsensat,on
Judge Cheves' Letter.
In our last lumber on this subject, we very full
~ expressed our views on the subject of abolition
and the true policy of the south on the slave ques-
ton; but recur to it in order to condemn Judge
Cheves' labored effort to identify one of the
great political parties Of our country with aboli-
tioniSm and the fanatic foes of the south. On this
question we belong 10 no party; we war against
the incendiary, whether he rallies under his own
black and rufian flag, or plants himself under the
banner OF Whiggery or democracy; but we believe
the Abolitionlsts to be too insignificant in number
and character, ever 10 be dangerous to the peace
Of the south, and that they can never grow into a
separate political party strong enough to effect
any of their objects.
In times of high party excitement, and especial
y in sections where the great political parties,
which divide the people Of the Union, are nearly
at an equipoise, both parties will play, and do
play for the abolition vote, as a mere make-weight
in the game. They use the abolitionists for party
purposes, that's all; and, accordingly, we find that
there are aboItionists and reviling enemies of
southern slavery in the ranks of both p%arties-the
irresistible attraction of general politics, howev-
er, completely neutrnlIzing or rendering utterly in
significant their efforts at a separate political Or
ganization.
We, however, cheeIfully and gladly acquit both
Wings and Democrats, as bodies, of any partici-
patton in the vaccinations or purposes OF aboll-
tionism. They are both constitutionalIy ard po-
litically sound on this great question; and while
each has abolition allies or supporters in the pres
identjal game, neither is the ally or supporter of
abolition ends and aims. 1t would be in our opin-
ion, gross injustice, to identify democracy with ab-
olitionism, because Duncan, Morton, Leavitt,
Morris and Blrney are in its ranks, and it would
be equally so, in like manner to wrong the Wings,
because Adams and Giddings hail under their ban
ner; and we candidly believe that there are more
and worse enemies of southern institutions among
the northern Democrats Than the n~nrthern Wings,
although we Indignantly repel any in1putation Sn
the patriotism and constitutional fidelity of the
former to southern rights.
Furthermore, so long as the vote of the South
shall be worth what it is in the presidential game,
and especially so long as the slavehOlding interest
shall enjoy the equality that it now does, or any
approximation to It, in the Senate of the Union, it
is little short of absurd to imagine that political
abolitionism can acquire any sort of importance.
Any candidate for the presidency, who should be-
insane enough to plant himself on abolition ground
in the canvass, would band the south in solid phal-
anx rs one man against him, and ring the death
knell of his hopes. The united south, with but a
respectable party at the north, can always bestow
the presidency on the object of its choice and the
representative of its principles.
Our past experience, too, has shown that the
weight of the south has been heavily felt in 1.-THE po-
liticaI balance, and has almost always monopoliz-
ed high federal office. The southern or slavehol-
ding States, have given sir out of our ten Presi-
dents Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe,
jackson and TyIer) to the Union-the northern OF
Notwithstanding States have given but four, name
ly. John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martin Var
Buren,, and VIM. H. Harrison, and of these four
the two last named were chosen by a large major
ity Of Southern votes, and the last named was
native Virginian, flially devoted to the rights anC
49, rl- I--I Il L.. I:Al - IL 49,
first named enlisted IA strong southern support.
Again, of the six southern presidents, five were
reelected to their high office, and each occupied
it for eight years, and only one, The present incun
bent, will have occupied it but four years, givin,
in all to the slaveholding interest the possession
and control Of the presidency for forty four year
Y out of the tfty-SiT, while of the four non-Slave
=; holding presidents, three occupied the presidencv
: but four years each, and one, the lanented Harri
u son, only a little month, giving in all to the non
>" slavehOlding interest the possession and control o
The presidency for only ttcelve years nut of tfty-sia
So of the chief Justices of the Union, the south ha
n = had three, (RutIedge, Marshall and TaneyO an
We the North but hoo, (Jay and EIlsworthO out o
as Is the five %incumbents of that august judicial seat
IT, At this moment, the southern or slaveholding in
1T tereSt enjoys IA monopoly of high federal office
executive, judicial, legislative, military and naVa
John Tyler, a Virginian, is president, and his cal
I" met consists of John C. Calhoun, a South Carol
man, secretary oil state; UeoTge M DlDn, a Aet
H. tuckian, secretary of the treasury; John Y. Mason
IA Virginian, secretary Of war; Charles A. Wick
'S life, a Kenturkian, postmaster general; John Ne
son, n Marylander, attorney general; and WIllial
~, Wilkins, IL Pennsylvania, (the single exceptio
et on The list secretary of war; Roger B. fancy,
u, Marylander, is chief justice of the United State
IL Willie P. Mangum, a North Carolinian, is pres
ne dent of the senate, and John w. Jones, a Virgin
as an, speaker of The House of Representatives; III
va southern men stand at the head of most of the ii
~ portant committees OF both branches of Congress
gre Winfield Scott, a Virginian, is major general
our army, and James Baron, a Virginian, SEMI
We officer Of our navy; and to crown all, Henry Ola
10 IA Kentuckian, is the Wing, and james r.. Pol
on- "A TenneSseean, the Democratic candidate for I
my next Presidency, securing to us The future as W
MS the past. Ii this be not the lions share of y
litical power, words have lost their meaning
aw Ibis be not enough to satisfy the South, she mi
in be Unsuitable indeed.
Of
u To identify the Wing party and the success
their candidate for the presidency with abolitic
M, +ism and its triumph, is to assume a fearful respo
= si5ility-it is little less than proclaimins that evr