Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-22
ADDRESS
Of the Wing State Convention to the
People Of Vermont.

Fellow Citizens,-The last address SUBJ
mitted 10 you on an occasion like the pres
ent. was issued under circumstances of great
intrinsic interest, and at a crisis pregnant
with hopes and fears of most absorbing
and agtating character. 1t emanated from
convention numerous beyond all former
domestic precedent and unsurpassed in the
patriotism and intelligence of its members,
and it was promulgated on the eve of an e.
lection more important than any that had oc-
CURED since the formation of the govern
ment both because it was destined to affect
the interest of an increased and still increas-
inc population, and because it evolved the
triumph or defeat not only of often disputed
principles, bu, Of new, strange and alarming
schemes Of national policy and sectional ag-
grandizement But though the stake was
great, and the prognosiics were threatening,
vet such was our confidence in the iniell-
genre and incorruptiblity of the American
people that we scarcely permitted ourselves
10 doubt the success Of our cause, the deci-
sive victory Of the principles for which we
were contending, and the signal overthrow
of the various factions which though acting
in combination, agreed in nothing but their
common hostility to the measures Of the
Why party, and the statesmen who advocate
them.
But in these anticipatons we have been
disappointed. The long tried stability OF
our own people led us to repose charitable
confidence on the 6rmness and wisdom Of
the citizens of other states, which the event
shows to have been unhappily misplaced, and
while the freemen of Vermont have album
dainty redeemed their expressed and implied
pledges, we have witnessed, with morilfica-
ton and alarm, the detection of numerous
sister states which every consideration of sell
interest and patriotic duty entitled us TO
count as our own, aud the consequent tri-
umph of the ill-assorled cabal which had
been contrived to gain the ascendancy over
the craven spirit Of the larger and less OBJ
noxious portion of its own party. We have
seen the candidate of the caba selected moi
because he was distinguished for the posses.
sion of any one quality required in the head
of a great nation, but because the very wan,
of them rendered him 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 mower. exercise, even before its legal or.
oon;zation an influence subversve of every
1rinciple of virtuous liberty, and accomplish
by the boldest intrigues and the most bare
faced corruption, measures hostile to the
shirt. and probably fatal to the permanent
existence of our national character-and al
this hour we hear in every quarter, from the
official gazette down to its humbest echo
the note Appropriation for fierce onset up
on almost every principle of policy, that
makes the federal union desirable.
We do no, at present propose to give an
exposition of the weakness, wealthy venality
and corruption, which have led to so deplo
rable result. You are already sufhcIentll
instructed as to the means, that have secured
the election of a candidate, whose enmty
and whose friendship to the protection of do
nestle industry is proved by one and the
same document, who was avowedly nominal
ed by the southern politicians, because his
whole public career had given irrefragablt
evidence ofthe narrowest and most unrelent
inc hostility to every Northern and every
National interest, and who was supported by
the Northern Democracy, because IN thel
ewes the integrity of the Union and the sa
credness of the Constitution were but o
small account, when opposed to the teinpora
ry ascendancy of their party.
The late election is matter OF history, ant
all history, derives its own Importance iron
its connection with the future, which II III
Auences either as a cause or as beacon
example. To the past let us then give ou
transitory regrets aud devote our wises' ell
forts and most active energies to aVeftin'
the evils which threaten, aud securing Ill
blessings which may yet smile upon the IN
certain future.
Ii will be well to devote moment TO
view of the respective positions OF the wv
great parties which divided the Unlon' DC
fore we discuss our own proper vocation
our rightfuI expectations, and our duty.
The dominant party is composed OF dlne'
Ell, Caetious held together, as one oil then
selves has feeIngIy and forcibly said, oni
'by the cohesive force of public plumber
and il would be impossible to state any on
nr;ncipIe in which they are agreed, exceI
the comprehensive one SAID 10 nave pee
enuncialed by one of their great lights, I'M
to the victors belong the spolls oil poiliic'
warfare. Ii is easy to see that, howeVt
comforting their doctrine may be IN the al
. stract, to those who hope to proht by It, IL
nevertheless attended with pretty serious di
6culties in the application. The victor
are unhappily out of all proportions TO %
'spoiIs,' the candidates are hundred io
more numerous than the offices, and Il
number of indictments must necessarily
greater than that of the rewarded. Agre
ing in nothing .ut this one principle, who
is Of itself an annla nf discOrd and beln