Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-06-02
sA TURDAY EVENING, MAY 81, ls4s.

tinel is fast departing from that standard of hon.
orabe and fair controversy which it marked
out for itself at the commencement Of its new
life. We give it timely notice that we shall
not follow it.
Our readers will recolect that we copied
from the Sentinel few days ago, para graph
purporting and manifestly intended, to show tina,
Ant-Slavery Wings could not consistently sup.
port Mr.. CLAY for the presidency, because, as
the Sentinel argued, Mr.. CLAY is opposed to
the exclusion Of Slavery from the Territories
Of this Union ;"--for proof of which it referred
to and quoted resolution offered by Mr.. Clay
in the U. s. Senate, some ten years ago. affirm.
ing the inexpedency and Injustice of abolshing
Slavery in the District of Columbia, We took
occasion to expose, as we think fairly and pro-
pery, the shallow sophistry which was expend-
ed in the effort to place such premises and con-
illusions in logical relation.
We also took the same occasion 10 Law down
what we hold to be the WING doctrine respect.
ing interference with Slavery in this Union -
and this we briefly did as follows:-
-" The Wings, while they claim the right
"to oppose its extension, have repeatedly and
always dsclaimed any right or intention to
interfere in any way with Slavery, as ii crisis
Gin the States They do not pretend that the
Constitution gives them any right to such in.
reference. Slavery is exclusively a State
affair, or " institution" as it is pompously call.
"ed, and AS SUCH, the question of abolishing or
continuing it. pertains exclusively to the in
dividual States. Far otherwise is it, however,
ri Tn no o,Ton If ;,,,..
"ritory where it does not now exist &c.
This view, awkwardy enough expressed we
admit, but yet sufficiently explicit and inteligi.
Die, is precisely that taken recently by Mr. GIN
DlNGs, portion of whose speech we quoted
Mr.. Giddngs, to be sure. argued that Slavery,
being strctlya State institution" and under
"the supreme and unlimited control Of the sev.
eral States, TO abolish or continue at their pleas
ure," the act of Congress establishing it in the
District of Columbia is unconstitutional This
position. which ought to be correct, and we hope
is correct, Mr.. Giddiugs holds, as cur readers
will perceive, (but not as the Sentinel repre-
sents) as corollcrp from what he had previous
ly laid down. 1t is his argument from fore.
are glad Of it, and trust the Supreme Court Of
the U. S. will decide. God forbid that we
should shrink from any SUCH consequence of
Wing doctrine.
Having stated these views and positions, as
held by the Wing Party, and certainly, so far as
extending Slavery is concerned, (ihe main point)
held also by Mr. CLAY and Mr.. GIppIsGs, and
ton, as quoted by the Sentinel ,-c called upon
that paper, as we had right, under the circum-
stances, to do, to "lay down the democ ratio
platform on this great question" The follow
ing appears in this mornings Sentinel as its re-
ply
An article appeared in the Free Press on
Monday evening, purporing to define the posi-
ton of the Wing party on the question of slave
ry We read it through carefully strong in the
of the platform upon which so much an anti
slavery profession has been based, but were in
volvcd in the end in deeper mystery than ever.
! According to Mr.. CLAY whose opinions the
Free Press is supposed to endorse, any act or
measure on the part of Congress, designed to
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia, be-
sides other evils " ,couM hare direct and an in.
irritable tendency 10 disturb and end1nger hc In.
ion." According to Mr.. GIDprSGs, whose
statements are also endorsed by the Free Press,
slavery exists in the District of Columbia " IN
direct rioiation Of The spirit and letter Of Me con
stitution !" and according TO the editor of the
Free Press, slavery is exclusively State affair
and has nothing to do with the constitution or
Congress in any way! Look at it
Now, with distinct recollection of the re-y
small pettfogging Of the Sentinel respecting
the action Of the recent Locofoco District Con.
vention in Burlington, and its point.blank dc.
mails of the correctness Of our version of the
Resolutions in regard to Free Territory which
were presented at that Convention and "voted
down." we have no room to doubt that its asser-
ton that "according TO the editor Of the Free
Press, slavery is exclusively State affair, and
has nothing 10 do ,ciih the Constitution or Con.
gress in any ray" is a designed, as it is a
mcan Misrepresentation. We neither expressed
nor hold any such opinion, and the Sentinel
kno,rs it. Any opinion that we do advance, on
this or any other topic, the Sentinel is entirely
at liberty to refute or let alone, as it pleases
but it is honorably bound not to garbe and mis-
'tp'cstht tIit uelDcTdtcll WINS VI
political opponent for the amusement of its
readers, or for the small purpose of ridiculing
what it has not the magnanimty or the ability
TO answer. We are entirely serious in our
opinions in regard to slavery, and the rights
and powers of the Free and Slave States re-
specting it. The Sentinel has the right, un-
doubleday, to hold the discussion in regard to
Free Territory as " ridiculous and disgust.
ing,'-But while the Party to which it belongs
is so agi,ated and divided on this question, (of
Free Territory that its existence and success
are known to depend upon the adjustment or
non-adjustmeut of it; and while the Union is |
ringing with the violent denupciation Of one
faction OF Locofocoism against The other on
account OF a difference on this question alone,
if there is not propriety in our calling on one
Of the organs OF that Party to define is position
respecting it, there is a gross impropriety in
that organs misrepresen,ing and Illustrating
ours.