Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-11-11

the General Government was bound to maintain
upon the subject though the constitutional right
so to do | cannot doubt. The South, notwlth-
standing its vast accession of slave territory not
content to leave the question where the Consti-
tuition has left it, to the States in which it exists,
seeks its further extension over new and fertile re-
gions, where as yet there are no States and where
slavery as yet has no existence 1t to aid in this
great work, this glorious enterprise, that the sum-
mons is made to the democracy of Pennsylvania,
to buckle on their armor,' and be prepared in
time for the approaching conflict do not be-
lieve they will do battle in such a cause. The
victory promises neither honor nor renown.-
The general who offers to lead us will fail to
gather laurels from such field and to the COM
mon soldier small indeed will be the reward
Why this call was made upon the Democracy of
Pennsylvania, am at loss to conceive. 1t can
not be that the Secretary of State desired to in
corporate the doctrine of the extension Of slav-
cry over free territory into the Democratic creed.
If so, for one will submit no Interpolation upon
the creed. Who made him fudge in Israel?
"The practice has been too much encouraged
heretofore, of permitting certain class OF poll
ticians to make every question that arose assume
party character. The South having within
her borders a majority of the Democratic party,
has from time to time forced upon us, as party is
sues, questions having not the slightest, reference
to party principle This was done on the Tex
as question Sir, this should never have been
made party question. The principles that d-
vide, as by broad boundary, Democracy from
Federalism, existed long before the question of
Texas annexation neither are they subject to
constant mutation. Yet the annexation of
Texas was made test Of party fidelity, Be
cause Mr. Van Buren, would not square himself
by this rule of party discipline, he was struck
down at the Baltimore Convention, under the OPP
Grafton of two-thirds rule. do not complain
of the choice that Convention made. Indeed,
the apprehensions | entertained of Mr.. Van Bu-
ren's defeat at that time reconciled me to Mr.
Folks nomination. But, sir, never could re-
fleet upon the fact without shame and mortihca-
ton, that great Democratic statesman of the
North, whom we had made the standard bearer
and representative of our principles, should be
struck down by the South, because he halted up
on question in no way affecting the established
and fixed principles of our creed. If Northern
men, Northern Democrats, will longer stand by
in silence and see their best and ablest men I'M
molated by the South, for not marching up to ev-
cry and any issue they choose to make, then in
deed is the Northern Democracy but the adjunct
and tool of the South.
If the South can succeed in making the ex-
tension of slavery over free Territory" party
question, as she did the remuneration of Texas,
it will make something of a change in the party
relations of men. If all who oppose this new
test and touchstone of party fidelity are to be con-
verted into Wings, certainly those who support
it will be transformed into Democrats 1t is for
tunate for Silas Wright, the noblest Democrat OF
his age, that he died before this transformation
had taken place with him. Henry Clay, after
strayng in search of strange gods for quarter
of century, will return to the fold of the party.
Under such test, he might become the candi-
date of the Democratic party for President in
1913, and thus some men be caught in trap
they had set for Others trust ever to be found
standing firm upon my principles as Democrat
value them, and have thus far maintained them
through life; but | will adopt no such issue as
that now attempted to be imposed upon the De-
mocracy of this State Let those receive the
yoke who choose to wear it. 1t shall never gall
my neck"
RcsOl0ed, That it is with pride we hail and
acknowledge the Hon. David Wllmot, as our
representative in Congress. We anticipated
much Of him. He has already more than filled
the measure of honor we had promised from him.
We first see him standing out fearessy and a.
lone among the delegation from this State de-
tending labor, against the MUST exactons of cap
ital. Next we find him the champion of free
dom, striving to preserve the integrity of free
territory from the aggressions and arrogant de-
mands of the slave power. We know him fear
less in the discharge of his duty and exhort him
to persevere in the cause of Justice and right.
ReSolyed, That we fully approve the "Wimot
Proyso," restricting slavery from any territory
hereafter to be acquired, which is now free
That we here solemnly declare to the world our
cheerful and cordial acquescence in the constl-
tuition and its compromises. That we seek
not to invade any constitutional right of the
South but pledge ourselves to maintain and de-
fend them. That we hold in equal adherence
that fanaticism which would strike down the con-
stitution in order to abolish slavery, and that 9TH
er fanaticism, alike dangerous and unreasonable,
which regards slavery as the great conservative
principle of our free institutions, and seeks thro
the Intervention of the National Government and
the National armies, its propagation over the free
soil of this Continent. We believe the time has
come when the freemen of this Republic should
take decided and immovabe stand upon this
great question. The safety of our institutions,
the hopes of Freedom, our own, and our coun-
trys honor demand an inhexbe adherence to
the principle of the Wilmot Proviso. We say to
the South and to the world, we stand by 1t.
Contrast with the foregoing the following proceed
ings lately had in the Wing State Convention of Mas
sacAusetts by the "true Liberty Party;"-
The following resolution offered by Mr.. Pal
frey, elected very animated discussion, viz -
ResOIUed, That the Wings of Massachusetts
will support no men as candidates for the offices
of President Ind Vice President, but those who
are known by their acts or declared opinions to
be opposed to the extension of Slavery.
This was opposed by MesSrs. Winthrop, Dim
on, and Gray, of Boston, and advocated by Messrs
Palfrey, G. F. Adams, Charles Sumner, of Bos-
ton, W. G. Dwight of Springfield, Judge Allen
of Worcester, and S. c. Philips of Salem, and
was rejected.
The Portland Advertiser (whig) isingenuous enough
o. al q H.. -