Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-06
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN.
The Democratic Party and Slavery.

The Democratic faPly and Slavery
The New York Globe, leading democratic paper,
holds the following language:
But short time ago the principle of free territory
embodied in the Wimot Proviso, had scarcely an op
ponent in the free States. In Pennsylvania, Ohio, N.
York. and other States, Legislative bodies were near
" unanimous in favor fths principle They reflect
ed the sentiment of the press and the people. lnI
some of these States there is appearance of change
The cause of this is only to be sought for in the fact
that the agents of the people at Washington and the
patronage of the government in their hands, OPP
posed to this principle The press too in some cases.
has become more mid in the advocacy of principle
One proof that we state the cause rightly is evident
from the fact that the changes have alluded to- are
almost invariably found in the ranks of the democracy
the administration party. tits this party that has
the loaves and fishes in their keeping. The patron
age of the government is the cause of whatever
change has occurred The people of Ohio are nearly
unanimous in favor of the free territory principle, and
yet it is supposed that the democracy of that state
have selected delegates TO a National Convention,
who favorable to the nomination of candidate for
the Presidency, who believes that it is unconstuton
al for Congress to eglslate in favor of free territory
The people cannot be said to be free agents in their
political action, so long the patronage Of the gen
eral government can be used to control them We
yield our judgments to the views of the government
regardless Of what our real opinions may be- Men
preach democracy and equal rights and yet the ma
iorty of their political actions run counter to their
professions. Men often boast of their democracy,
when they have done nothing during their whole
lives but to fatten and grow wealthy on the spells
drawn from the pockets of the laboring classes
0F7The foregoing is plain and honest statement
of the facts the case One year ago. or during the
last session of Congress, when the Wilmot Proviso
first introduced nine-enths of the democratic par
ty In Vermont were in favor of the principle and de-
termined to maintain it at all hazards. The scheme
Of Texan annexation, after having been denounced
for years as originated and designed to enhance the
power of slavery had been submitted to and ncorpo-
rated into the creed of party The war with Mexico
followed, as consequence, and they felt bound to
sustain the administration in its prosecutions bit lest
it should for moment be supposed they we're sane
tionng scheme of territorial conquest for the benefit
of human slavery they were unanimous in favor Of
the Provlso principle. The only democratic represent
tive in Congress from this State, gave the measure his
hearty support The leading poitcians-the conscr-
vatves--the "Old Hunkers" to use New York
phrase,-even those enjoying Or looking for office al
the hand of the national executive were outspoken in
its support. The democratic press gave no uncertain
sound upon the subject but claimed for its party the
paternity of the measure. Indeed, in every proper
way, this was asserted as cardinal principle among
the democracy in this State, and no one, unless he
looked ahead, and duly estimated the patronage and
power Of the national executive in its control of the
partiz2n leaders and partzan followers of the country
would call the commences of their professions in
question.
But now behold the change! Not democratic
press in the State and scarcely prominent politician
still maintains its fidelity to the Provso principle, ant
is willing to stand Or fall with it in the approaching
Presidential election. Even one of the delegates cleo
to the Baltimore Convention, who; not eighteen
months since, if we are correctly informed, openly
coveted seat in the approaching convention that he
might meet the South upon the Provso question, ant
give them to the knife, and the knife to the hlt
now that he is elected, publicly avows his determine
ton not to make the support of this principle ties
question in the selection of Presidential candidate
And we make no question but that every one Of thu
six delegates from this State will unhesitatngy giv
their support to Lewis Cass, Levi Woodbury., o
any other Northern man with Southern principles up
on the question of restricting slavery from newly ac
CURED territory.
p Now what hath wrought this change? Have thes
principles changed Or is there less necessity for faith
: fully carrying them into execution? Not at all TIL
Notifying truth must be told:-the national admins
raon is in the hands Of the slave power and it is be
coming matter public notoriey, that no pepper
politician lcho adleres to The ProUSo principle can
any case be recipient Of erecuue patronage therefore
all who are looking for favor with the present or sue
ceedng administration, should that prove to be dem
! ocratic-pledged as all expect it to be- to the sav
interest,-mus crook the knee and do its bidding
Thus as oe believe, to gut the desires Of few reck
less and unprnciped Office seekers, is the mass Of tn
democratic party in Vermont-honost, and even anti
slavery hearted they may be,to be fastened to tn
car of slavery and made to do its most servie work.
e We'll may the Globe ask, above, "s this either de
f mocracy or republicanism?"