Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-02-04
From the Washington National Era.
The two Million Appropriation Bill.
wlLMoT's PRoyIso.

NC lWO HlHllOH dppl phiJ iNPOi'NN
recently by Charles J Ingerso to enable the
President to negotiate peace with Mexico, will
come up next Monday, as the special order
1t is supposed that the question in regard to
Wimots Proviso will then be considered.
1t is well that the freemen of the country
should be apprized of the management used to
pervert the power and treasure Of the republic
to the extension Of slave territory.
1t will not do, after the decided demonstra-
tions of the Democracy Of the free States, tot
bluff them off by an abrupt denial Of their de-
mands. But, if their patriotism can only be
cheated into the idea that it is very unkind un-
wise unstatesmanlike, to embarrass any appro-
priation bill with such condition as that con-
tanned in Wilmot's Proviso, that will be all that
will be necessary. General Cass accordingly (sol
say tie letter-writeis) gives out that he will
support no embarrassing proyso, hut, should sep
arate proposition be made, to exclude slavery from
any territory that may be acquired from Mexico
he will certainly vote for it. A few leading
Democratic prints, in different States, are
equally patriotic. lie, every tub stand on its
own bottom-away with these rders-dont en-
barrass the operations Of the Administration
with questions of internal policy Suchis their
advice. 1t is not in form an abandonment ofthe
position so generally taken. by the Democratic
party Of the North and West at the close of the
last session Of Congress-but it is so in fact
Democratic members i'll the House (how many
we know nnt) have also become penetrated with
a profound conviction oGthe necessity of strength
ening the arm of the Executive, and excluding
the embarrassing association of all questions Of
internal policy. No one can tell the appliances
brought to bear to produce this wise conclusion.
The result is, as usual, division in the Demo
cratic ranks of the North and West. When the
question came up incidentally, a few days ago,
shoulder to shoulder stood the Southern Wings
: and Democrats powerful esprit du corps
made them unit, in action, and concentrated
their efforts. No attempt has been made in any
7 quarter to induce them to abandon their ground.
l They first associated with the war question OF
domestic policy; and openly, boldly, have they
: declared that, sooner than permit the exclusion
Of slavery from any territory to be acquired, they
| would either recall our armies or divide the
Union-thus demonstrating the real objects Of
the war. From this ground they have not re-
coded. And no recreant press of the south has
labored to undermine their purpose. Here, too
i they have the countenancc and sympathy of the
organs ofthe two great political parties-whilt
: the Northern and Western Representatives, be
Il cause they were anxious to divorce the question
of the acquisition of territory from a yexed ques
d ton of domestic policy, and demonstrate to the
= world, that whatever may have been tn" motives
1 cf those who were most active in originating the
: war, it should not be prosecuted for the exten
Vt sion of slavery are denounced by the organ o
It their party i'll this place, taken under dealing
e by few servile presses in the free States, ant
S subjected to every kind of annoyance g. adverse
1t influence.
d Let not then, the lovers of liberty throughout
$ the country wonder, should the attempt to a
+ mend the Two Million Appropriation Bill, By
adding Wilmots Proviso, prove failure. Th'
e cry will be, " Do not embarrass it-et it pass
= we can settle the other question another time.
: Ay-at another time And when will that tim,
+ come! Not during this Congress 1t will puz
+ zle even Preston King to find suitable mo
: ment for introducing a distinct proposition lik
t that limited by General Cass "That Iegisat
for territory not yet ours? Absurd" And il
= there will be no appropriation bill to drag
: through, the proposition would never be enter
! tanned
We give the people warning Let then
express their sentiments freely, in such wa
that their Representatives may know their back
/, ing. No time is to be lost. The question vii
, come up next Monday, aud probably severa
h days may be occupied in the discussion of It.
So sure as the slave power has controlled TIN
y legislation of Congress hitherto, so sure will
j. it control it in this instance, unless Representa-
tires of non-slaveholders be encouraged by thei
y constituents to stand fast
J, When the Confederation owned but one Ter
+ rltory, they decreed perpetual freedom as its fun
e damental law. But now what do we see! Tht
9 sons of those noble statesmen plundering veal
a neighbor of its territory for the sake of exten
, ding human slavery!