Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-08
The South and the WiImOt PrOVisO.

There is no installing the signs which are thicken-
ing on every hand, that the question involved in the
Wilmot PrOviso is to be all-controling in the ap-
preaching presidential election. At least, the south
are preparing to rally in support of their one idea and
happy will it be for the cause of constitutional liberty
and humanity if the north, for once, being forewarned,
should be prepared for the conflict.
The Richmond, (Va) Inquirer, the organ of southern
democracy, thus sounds the tocsin for slavery:
" But some of the southern papers say, why push
on the war, if the Mexican territory acquired as an in
demnity be admitted, through the action of the free
States, as free territory, to the exclusion of southern
rights? Why not stop the war and withdraw our
forces, and not add another inch of territory? These
very arguments are calculated to encourage the north
in their grasping designs. 1t looks like an entire sur
render at discretion of southern rights to the antl-slave-
nv p%rCjudices Of the north. 1t would, moreover, make
, our government the leughing-stock ofthe world, to be
insulted and assailed by every nation who fear the
progress of our free institutions and would combine to
put us down. 1t would be a dishonorablc retreat from
a position which we have boldly taken, and which we
cannot abandon without injury and disgrace. Our
true policy is, to finish the war, to secure sufficient
S territory as an indemnity for the wrongs done us by
Mexico; and if then the north shall insist upon making
the whole territory free, and force Us TO separations
t the south may yet receive, for her own use, an equta-
. bic share of the territory thus acquired by her own
blood and treasure. May that day be far distant and
c if we now ingloriously surrender the advantages OBJ
G tanned in Mexico, We a%pprehend that it will give new
encourag &c ment to the northern fanatics aud hasten
the fatal moment"
The Richmond, (Va) Wing, the organ Of southern
w~higgery, by a correspondent, thus speaks of the pro-
c viso, in connection with the wing candidate for Con-
?, gress:
"This startling 'proyso5 which passed the House Of
Representatives, came upon us, to use the language
y of Mr.. Jefferson, " like a fre-bell at midnight" We
Is see clearly the fixed determination Of a very large por-
- ton of the northern delegation to trample on southern
" rights, in contempt Of the spirit of compromise, which
was identified with the formation ofour confederacy it.
~ self. AS southern men, we must regard this question
, as Of paramount importance, and we think it portend
great changes in the present organization of parties
to perhaps the formation, before the merit session Of Congress
al closes, Of a great southern purity.
~ We will not, however, speculate upon this subject
Lrt farther, but come to the candidates now before the
If people of this district. We know not what particula
issues they may bring before the people at this time
le The action of the President in cntailing upon the PEG
pie of this country the present war the conduct of the
nc war since it commenced; its effects on the Treasury
49, and, above all, its operation on the theory of free trade
- all these may be discussed by Mr. Newton, in hn
h. lucid and logical manner. But we think, if we know
the man, the subject which most occupies his mind, il
eS the issue now before the Congress of the nation, or
NJ which that eccentric politician as Mr.. Richie usec
bo to call Mr.. Calhoun, has taken 50 noble a stand. o,
." this subject Mr.. NeCton, and all Southern HIugS, mus
III act Wih Mr.. Calhoun. It's Il matter of the first impor
eo lance that Virginia should send an able and well-in
:, formed delegation to the lower house of the next Con
he gross, TO defend the rights of the South from the ia
he naticisms Of the North. In Mr.. .Netton, the Distric
10 woud hare a Representative armed 10 the teh."