The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-26
= He CA LEDON An.

I was provoked. Blood was shed and has since
flowed freelyj--the Mexicans fighting for thei
homes md their hearths-we for more extend
ed dominion Our Government is still wa
ring n war of conquest against this unhappy
and distracted nation, war in which we car
gnin no laurels and which can benefit no in
terest in our country, but that of the slave
holder, and it may appropriately be termed
THE SLAVE HOLDERS WAR
So long as slavery, shielded by the Consti
tuition held portion of our race in iron servl
tudc, we could only deplore, while we coulf
not remove the evil, but when, not conten
with disregardng the inalienable rights oftha
ill-iatc race her gigantic influence is brough
to bear upon the free labor and enterprise OF
the north, and our interests are sacrificed tha
we may be crushed down to a level with these
who have drawn the deadly weight of this in
stituton upon their own shoulders, it is at least
time far us to pause, before we yield so much
that we cannot tread our own mountains, with
out feeling the blightng trammels of slavery
Driven by the arbitrary and overbearlng
policy of the South, to that extremity Mt which
has no other rational alternative, than to unite
in maintaining our rights, in opposition to the
oncrouchments of slavery. We ask no iavors
of the South. We seek no protection from the
general government which will in the least
prejudice her interests. We even concedc to
her representation in Congress far greater
than the proportion of her population. But
,I,n H.aT lie
that we shall be taxed 81 the blood Of our chill
dren shed, to sustain an unholy war of con-
quest, the design of which is, to extend the A.
rea ofslavery, and thereby improve the mar
ket for slaves, il is high time that the lines of
party should be drawn on this question:
FREEMEN'S RIGHTS, or SLAVE-HOLD-
Frs DEMANDS.
Our next election of member of Congress
may have an important bearing on this subject
which every candid man should seriously CON
slider. The choice is between Mr. Peck and
Mr. Chandler One of these two must be e.
lected and votes given for them or any other
candidate will affect their election. If Mr.
Peck is elected he goes as an able advocate of
these party measures which afford such etiec-
tive aid to slavery. IfMr Chandler is sue
cessful, we send firm and decided supporter
of Northern rights and Northern interests, and
the unwavering opponent of slavery measures
Here is our choice. We must be represented
by a man whose whole influence will go in ia
vor ofsluvery, or by one who will stand on the
high ground of determined opposition to this
hostile system. The House of Representa-
tives will be nearly equally divided, and the
question ofth continuance of these slavery
measures may rest on the result ofthc election
in this district How then can any candid
man, who regards the rights and the welfare
of the north-who deplores the suffering of the
slave-or who views with just apprehensio
the arbitrary encroachments of the South, in.
cur the responsibility of sustaining these slave
ry measures, by giving direct or indirect
support to MIR Peck We have reached cri-
sis when the claims of party should yield to
the claims of country, and when the public
good should be regarded as paramount to ev-
cry other consideration. J,P. +.