The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-07-30
ADDRESS
OF THE WING STATE CONVENTION TO THE
FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF

OE III
Fello1r Citizens:
The last address submitted to you on an
occasion like the present was issued under
circumstances o. great intrinsic interest, and
at a crisis pregnant with hopes and fears of
the most absorbing and agitating character.
1t emanated from a Convention numerous
beyond all former domestic precedent, and
unsurpassed nthe patriotism and intelligence
of its members, and it was promulgated on
the eve OF an election more important than
any that has occurred since the formation of
our government, both because it was des-
tined to affect the interests of an increased
and still increasing population. and because
il involved the triumph or defeat not only of
disputed principles, but Of new, strange and
alarming schemes OF National policy and
sectional aggrandizement. But though tie
stroke was great, and the prognostics were
threatening, yet such was our confidence in
the intelligence and incorruptibility of the
American people, that we scarcely permit
ted ourselves 10 doubt the success of our
cause, the decisive victory Of the principles
for which we were contending, and the signal
overthrow of the various factions, which tho
acting in combination, agreed in nothing
but their common hostility to the measures
of the Wing party, and the statesmen who
advocated them.
But in these a~ntiC:pations we have been
disappointed. The long tried stability of our
own people led us 10 reposea charitable con-
fdeDce in the irmness and wisdom OF the
citizens of other States, which the event
shows to have been unhappily misplac9d.and
while the freemen of Vermont have abun-
dainty redeemed their expressed and i'm
piled pledges, we ave witnessed with NOR
LITIGATION and alarm. the detection of numer-
Gus sister states which every consideration
Of self-interest and patriotic duty entailed
upon us TO count as our own, and the conse-
quent triumph Of the i'll assorted cabal, which
had tried 10 gain the a~scendancy over the
CT avan spirit of the larger and less obnoxious
portion of its own party. We have seen the
candidate oil that cabal, selected, not because
he was distinguished for the possession of
any one quality required in the head OF Il
great nation, but because the very want of
them rendered him a fit instrument for the
selfish purposes OF those who raised him up,
elevated TO the Executive chair by a great
majority of the electoral votes. We have
seen the administration thus brought into
power, exercise, even before its legal organi-
cation, an influence subversive of every prin-
ciple of %virtuous liberty, and accomplish by
the boldest intrigues and the most b3refaced
corruption, measures hostile to the spirit, and
probably fatal TO the permanent existence, of
our national character-and al this hour we
hear in every quarter, from the official ga
Zette down 10 the humblest echo, the note of
preparation for n fierce onset upon almost
every principle of policy that makes the fed
eral union desirable.
We do not propose at present to give an
exposition of the weakness, v~enality and cor
ruption, which has led to so deplorable a re-
suit. You are already sufficiently instructed
rs to the means that lave secured the cleo
ton of a candidate, whose enmity and whose
friendship to the protection of domestic in
dustry is proved by one and the same docu-
ment, who was avowedlynominated bvsouih-
ern politicians, because his whole public ca
reer had given irrefragable evidence of the
nanowest and most unrelenting hostilil " TO
every Northern and every National interest,
and who was supported by the Northern
Democracy. because in their eyes the integ-
rity of the Union and the sacredness ofthe
constitution were but Of small account. when
opposed to the temporary ascendancy of their
party.
The election is matter of history, and like
all history, derives its own importance from
its connection with the future which it infiu-
ences either as a cause or as a beacon or ex-
ample. To the past then let US give but
transitory regrets, and devote our wisest eff
orts and most active energies TO a~verting the
evils which threaten, and securing the bless
ings which may yet smile Upon the uncertain
future.
1t will be well TO devote a moment to n
view of the respective positions of the two
great parties which divide the Union, before
we discuss our own proper vocation, our right
full expectations, and our duty.
The dominant party is composed of fac
lions held together, as one ofthem has ieei-
ingly and torcibly said, only 'by the cohesive
force Of public Plunder,' and it would be i'm
possible TO state any one principle in which
they are agreed, except the comprehensive
one said 10 have been enumerated by one of
their great lights, that to the victors belong
the spoils Of political warfare Ii is easy TO
see that, however comforting their doctrine
may be in the abstract 10 those who hope TO
profit by il, it is nevertheless attended with
pretty serious difficulties in The application.
The %'victors' are unhappily out of all proper
ton to the 'spoils; : the candidates are a
hundred fold more numerous than the off,
GERS, and the number of malcontents must
necessarily be much greater than hat OF the
rewarded. Agreeing then in nothing but
this one principle, which is of itself an apple
Of discord, and being destitute Of a comman-
ding head. who might impose silence and
submission upon disappointed or refractory
paEtizans, the prospects Of a vigorous and
harmonious administration of pLblic affairs
under the present inefficient executive are
far from lattering. Butbesides these causes
of individual heart-burning, jealousy and
alienation, there are wider grounds OF discord.
The anti-rariff politicians of the extreme
South demend that the Executive shall fulfil
the conditions Of his nomination, and satisfy
the pledges implied in his whole political
life, by exerting his entire personal and po-
litical influence, and expanding the energies
Of his administration, in a crusade against the
rights and interests of the free laborer ofthe
north; and in the mean time, they look ask
ance at the Cabinet, and though thrice invi-
ted, keep aloof from all participation in the
concerns of national Cover nment. On the
other hand, the ingenious Northern casuist.
who found in the notorious letter TO Kane
professions of great devotion 10 the interests
Of domestic industry, require a rescript con-
firming their Interpretation of that most je-
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