The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-09-18
From the Waterman.
Progress--Mr Buchanan's Let
ter.

That locolocoism is progressive, admits
of no questions; in principles, its progress is
downward-and in the estimation ofthe peo-
pie, it seems also 10 have n rapid progress in
the same direction. As TO grave matters of
principle: it is within the recollection of the
people that the locofocos in Vermont origi-
nal!y proicssed to be opposed to the anncXo-
ton ofTcXas. On this subject they profess
ed to occupy high grounds, in common with
the Wings, and voted with them on various
occasions in the legislature. But the Balt-
more Convention uttered its savocratic e.
dict in 1914, and the locoiocos of Vermont
tamely submitted; the yoke ofMr Polk was
put OH without n murmurand the vote ofthe
sole representative oflocofocoism in Vermont
was given for Texas and perpetual Slavery.
Progress dOrmcud was that, in our judg-
ment.
About that time it was objected by the
Wings that annexation would produce War
with Mexico; and then the locofocracy had
the good sense TO deprccate war. They
were apparently quite as averse to war
as their Wing neighbors, and spared no pains
20 make us all believe that war would not
iGllow from annexation. Even Mr. Polk
boosted Enumeration as n 'bloodless achieve
ment," and our peace loving locofocos hug
ged him closer than ever. Alas, in one short
year Mr. Polk got a war upon his hands
without declaration by Congress, and so an
unconstitutional war: but here again the To-
coioco doctrine of unconditional submission
was evoked, and we found the party rcd hot
for war Another progressive step down.
wards, if we mistake NOT.
In the progress of this war, it became evil
dent by The seizure of sundry Mexican states
by the establishment OF temporary govern
ments, aud by the declarations and promises
of our governmcnt-that conquest was the
object; and the Wings took ground against
the summary annexation of Mexican terrific
ry, and especially against SLAVE territory Here,
too, the locofocos originally had pretty good
appreciation ofthc correctness of Wing prin-
ciples: they protested to be with them against
slave territory, just as they formerly profess
ed to be with the Wings against annexation
and against War: So they have oflate talk
ed strongly in favor ofthe Wilmot proviso
and bravely insisted upon the exclusion of
slavery rs n condition precedent to further
annexation. That is the present ground, and
the next downward step will be to back ou
from Il, whenever the file leaders ofthe party
give the word of command To that they
will come at last. Mr. BUCHANAN is then
Secretary of Statc-the man whose business
it is to make the treaty with Mexico, if the
time shall arrive between this and March A
| l84S: and he has announced his position
On the 25th of August he wrote a letter tc
the locoiocos of Berks county, Pennsylvania
in which he says:
After Louisiana was acquired from France
! by Mr. Jefferson, and when the State of Mis-
souri,, which constituted part oft, was a
bout to be admitted into the Union, the Mis-
souri, question arose, and in its progress
threatened the dissolution ofthe Union. This
was settled by the men of the last generation
as other important and dangerous questions
have been settled, in spirit of mutual con
cession. Under the Missouri compromise
slavery was "forever prohibited" north of 81
deg. 30 min, and south of this parallel TIT
question was left to be decided by the PEG
pie. Congress in the admission of Texas
following in the footsteps of their predeces
sors, adopted the same rule; and, in my opin
ion, the harmony of the states, and even tn
security the Union ITSELF requires that tn
line ofthe Missouri compromise should b.
extended TO any new territory which we ma
acquire from Mexico.